Salt Lake Tribune | 1914-03-06 | Page 1 | Loss of Memory Caused by Fright

LOSS OF MEMORY GflUSEDJY FRIGHT Strange Case of Michael Haitsch, Now in Hospital at San Bernardino, Cal. SAN BERNARDINO, Cal., March. 5. Although German is his nativo tongue, Michael Haitsch, who is supposed sup-posed to have been thrown into a state of mental paralysis by fright and the tortures of kidnapers, demonstrated today to-day that ho had forgotten all about it. A letter came from Haitsch 's sister, Mrs. Martha Kunscli, who is now in Danbury, Conn. It bore a photograph of Haitsch, which positively identified tho man. Tho text of tho letter was in German, and Haitsch, who has been in a hospital horc for several weeks, re-learning re-learning to walk and to talk, indicated indi-cated that he did not know such a lan-gunge lan-gunge existed. Haitsch was found here last month a few dnj's after the police of Los Angeles An-geles received notice from Mrs. Kunsch that kidnapers had demanded j$200 ransom ran-som for hor brother. Hospital Bur-goous Bur-goous say Haitsch presents one of tho rare cases of real aphasia, or Iobs of memory. This condition, they declare, was induced by abject fright or torture undergone by Haitsch. Tho man now is learning to sponk English, but he remembers re-members nothing of his life beforo ho was found staggoring in the postoffico of this city. DANBURY, Conn., March 5. Michael Mi-chael Haitsch formerly livod in this city, but about two years ago removed to Cleveland, Ohio. In January ho sent word to his sister here that bo waa coming back to Danbury to live. That was the last she hoard from him until last month, when she was notified by the San Bernardino polico that a man believed to bo Haitsch had boon found wandoring- around tho streets in a dazed condition.