The Washington times., 1924-07-14
MEMORY IS
THOUGHT
GONE
Wife Says Minister Evidently
Underwent Extremely
Cruel Torture
BY international News Service.

BY International News Service.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich, July
14.-Medical tests were to be made
today on the Reverend Oren c.
Van Loon, "K. X. K" branded
Berkeley, Mich, minister, to learn
what powerful drug was given
him during the eleven days of mys-
terry when his mind became blank
and memory slipped from him.
The Reverend Mr.. Van Loon dis
appeared June 80.
Taken From Hospital.
He was taken from Nichols hos.
pital today, placed in an automobile
containing his wife, Lura, and
driven out of. Battle Creek, osten-
sibly for his home in Berkeley.
The mystery which surrounds his
disappearance, eleven days ago,
and eventual discovery on the
streets here, his back branded tx.
K. K" and his mind dazed, was
still unsolved.
The pastor was smiling as at
tendants removed him from the
hospital in wheel chair.
Il am very happy to be leaving"
he said. Asked whether he could
remember anything of the eleven
days when he was missing. he
shook his head.
Grave fears were expressed by
his physician, Doctor A. F. Kings
ley, that the experiences of those
hidden days would never be re-
membered.
Its exactly as thought .e had
been under an anesthetic, for that
length Of time Doctor Kingsley
said. He can no more remember
what transpired in that period than
a patient can know what took place
on the operating table.
II have examined carefully for
skull fractures or bruises. But he
has suffered no such injury. He
shows the symptoms of drugging
and as soon as he regains his
strength we will endeavor to de-
termine what drugs, if any, have
been administered to him."
Memory Lost.
Memory of those eventful eleven
days has slipped from the mind Of
the Reverend Mr.. Van Loon as
completely as a ship disappearing
below the horizon. Memory is
there and yet it is gone. There is
a veil drawn over those days which
no one seems able to lift.
In subconscious self, however,
memory is torturing him as his
wracked body was likely tortured
when the burning brand was scared
across his shrinking shoulders.
Fitfully in his sleep he murmurs
to himself about "those men"
Again he cries out, don't let them
hurt me-" Again his limbs con-
tract. His knee bends and his face
witches in pain. burrows of agony
deepen his sunburned forehead.
Hair Is White.
The hair against the pillow is al
most. white, striking contrast to
the brown of his face.
According to his wife, much of
that silver has appeared since he
left his home in Berkeley June 80.
A little beam of light struggled
into the darkness Of his memory
for a moment yesterday. Perplex-
eddy he put his hand to his fore
head as he tried to remember.
II got into an automobile with a
stranger, man in Ford. No, IT
wasn't a stranger, it was some one
I knew. He drove up to me as l
was waiting for the car from
Berkeley to Royal Oak and offered
to give me lift. We got out at
the bank in Royal Oak. I came
out. l was waiting for a street car
-" and he pitifully stopped. Tears
came into his eyes and he hid his
face in the pillow.
aren't you going to try to solve
the mystery Of your disappearance
and branding?" he was asked.
He shook his head, and smiling,
said:
II don't want to know. My ef-
forts to learn who is responsible for
this backward toward
the weird Kinks on his shoulder
would merely create more
enemies. God knows there is suf-
ficient strife and dissension and
separation among Christians. That
Is why I preached against the burn
ing of the cross.
Il want to bring those misguided
men and women into peace and
harmony. I want them to know
that the cross of Christ is the en-
blem of unity, not Of separation"
Sees Burning Cross.
Before the cropping mind of the
minister flashed the vivid picture
OF a night near Royal Oak when
the klansmen burned a cross on a
hillside and held their mystic rites
II can see that cross burning
In the night he went on. ut
seemed to be then a sacrilege to
use an emblem Of peace as a sym.
Dol of separation and hatred. There
was the fright of women and chill
dren living in the vicinity not un.
derstanding the ceremony and beg
ging me for comfort. So I preached
sermon against the burning of
cross.
There are klansmen in my own
church and they didn't like it. A
few of the boys left and l received
some letters Of criticism but no
threats
Although the pastor declares he
VIII not investigate his mysterious
branding, his wife, Mrs. Luna Van
Loon, is eager to learn the truth.