Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-28
AMNES|A VICTIM
IDENTIFIED HERE
Brother Takes Robert Rich
ards Home to Pittsburgh.
Memory Slowly Returning.

The we'll dressed young man who was
brought to Gallinger Hospital Wednes-
day night suffering from amnesia was
identified this morning as Robert Rich
ards of Pittsburgh, son of r. z. Rich
ards. owner of large grocery store
there. His older brother. r. e. Rich
ards, ir.. who came to this city to take
him home. told hospital authorities
that Robert left Pittsburgh about six
months ago and nothing was heard
from him until his picture was seen in
Pittsburgh newspaper yesterday.
The first hint of Richards identity
came yesterday afternoon when q tele-
phone call was received at the hospital
which purported to come from his faith
er IN Pittsburgh. The young mans
name was given at the time, but DR..
Meyer X. Amdur. chief clinical director.
said that he doubted If his patient and
Richards were the same man, since it
seemed to strike no responsive chord
in the sufferers memory.
Is 20 Years Old.
Robert is about % years old, his older
brother declared this morning ard was
engaged to be married this Summer.
Robert came home one night shortly
after Christmas, the brother asserted
and got together his clothes and went
away without telling any Of his family.
Besides his father and older brother.
the amnesia victim has two more broth
ers and two sisters
Private detectives were employed 10
seek him. but without result until about
two months ago. when friends of the
family notified them that they had
seen Robert working as q waiter in At
lantic City Verification of the ranorr
was sought Immediately. but no trace
OF him could be found.
Yesterday picture of Richards and
the circumstances of his case we're
printed In Pittsburgh newspaper. The
picture was Immediately recognized and
last night T, E. Richards, lr., and a
friend. William /. Stewart, also of Pitts
burgh. left In an automobile for WASH
ington. Richards said today that he
expects to take his brother home to-
morrow morning.
The family has broken up, he said
ana Robert may have to be put in a
Pittsburgh hospital until he regains his
memory.
Memory Slowly Returning.
When his friend and brother walked
INTO his hospital room this morning. a
slight gleam of recognition lit up the
tace OF the patient. He could not place
them, however. and when told who they
were could only say that their faces
were familiar. The name OF the girl
ne was To marry also was only familiar
and nothing more, he said,
Despite his inability to recognize his
own brother. his memory seems TO be
slowly returning. Yesterday he was
visited by Edward N, Finkelhor, owner
OF dry goods store In Pittsburgh. who
sought to Identify him as q former en-
ploye, Finkelhor said that Richards
recollection of the streets of his native
city was fairly good, He also remem-
hered the names of several stores
Richards said this morning that the
name OF his fathers store, the Rich
ards Quality Shop" had familiar ring,
Roberts brother told DIR. Amdur to-
day that the amnesia sufferer had
manifested symptoms of mental in
stability for some time. He was ex-
tremely brilliant IN school, he said, un-
I'll the last three years. Then every
thing changed and he seemed unable To
obtain even pasSable grades.
The brother declared he had worked
for several months prior 10 his disap-
nearance IN a dry cleaning establish
ment.
According TO the story he told police.
he woke up Tuesday morning ON a
bench in Union Station with So In his
pocket and no remembrance of his
past life He wandered about the city
all day trying to find some person or
scene he knew. He again spent the
night in Union Station, BY Wednes-
day night he was thoroughly discouraged
and appealed to the police for
assistance