Robert PATE (c. 1858-1916)

1 Robert B. PATE¹ (c. 1858-1916) [6304]. Born c. 1858, NC.^1,2 Marr Ida ROSE 19 Mar 1905.¹ Died 9 Jan 1916, Sacramento, CA.^2,3

From the Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA).

February 23, 1913. - "Mine Operator Is Reported Missing. Robert Pate Registered at the Hotel Oakland; Nothing Heard Since of Him. Robert B. Pate, mine operator of Sacramento, who registered at the Hotel Oakland on February 7, has been missing and his wife has instituted a state-wide search for him. He left Sacramento February 5, to go to Santa Barbara and after leaving here went to the southern city from which point he wired to Sacramento for money. Since then all trace of him has been lost, although it is known that he proceeded to Los Angeles. The police were notified by Mrs. H.W. Evans, Pate's daughter-in-law, who lives at 839 Portola avenue, Alameda."

March 7, 1913 - "MISSING MAN IS FOUND IN RENO. May Have Been Drugged and Robbed Say His Friends. Robert D. Pate, Sacramento-capitalist, for whom the Oakland police have been on the lookout since his disappearance was reported by Mrs. H.W. Evans, 839 Portola avenue, Alameda, on February 23, was found in Reno on Wednesday by his stepson, Harry W. Evans. It is believed that confidence men drugged Pate and put him aboard a train bound for Reno, as he was found there in an emaciated condition and penniless.

Pate arrived in Oakland from his Sacramento home on the way to Santa Barbara, and registered at the Hotel Oakland on the 8th of February. Some time later he telegraphed his business associates for money and after its receipt nothing was heard from him until he was found on Wednesday.

He tells a disconnected tale of having met a stranger on a train bound for Reno. This stranger was with Pate at the time he was found by Evans but hurried away after Evans made himself known.

Over a year ago Pate sustained a fractured skull and while it is believed that this may have been the cause of his disappearance and queer actions, the police of Reno told Evans that several similar cases had come under their attention in the last few months, and it is thought that he may have fallen into the hands of persons who drugged and robbed him. The police of Oakland and Reno are looking into the case."

From an article by Samuel C. Gibson, MD entitled "Abnormal States of Amnesia and Subconsciousness." It appeared in the Western Medical Times, Volume 35, 1916.

"Man Suffers Memory Loss; Sacramento Resident found in Reno Hotel, Unable to Tell How He Got There. The mysterious disappearance of Robert B. Pate, of Sacramento, was solved last night, when his son-in-law, H.W. Evans, of San Francisco, found him in a Reno hotel, where he had been for several days. Pate left home in Sacramento two weeks ago and had not been heard from up ot the time his son-in-law found him. Pate apparently, had suffered a stroke of amnesia, or loss of memory, and was unable to tell how he came to Reno, how long he had been here, or why he left home. He professed to know nothing of his movements since he departed from Sacramento. Evans took him home on the No. 23 last night".

Sources

1	"1910 CA, Alameda, Oakland census".

2	"California Death Index, 1905=1939 for Robert B. Pate".

3	"1920 CA, Alameda, Oakland census".