Saturday, August 23
Robert, the Evil Doll
In 1900, Robert Eugene Otto was born in Key West, Florida, USA. Gene, as he came to be called, was the youngest of the family’s three boys.
The Ottos were a well-to-do family. But, unfortunately, money did not make them kind. By many accounts, they were often cruel to their servants. One of the servants who was very badly treated was a young girl. Apparently, she knew a few things about voodoo. To get even, she made a special doll for young Gene. Some say that she sewed a curse in it.
Gene gave the doll his own first name, Robert, and took it everywhere with him. Robert was about 90 cm tall and made of straw. Reportedly, the doll had been made to look just like the boy. It even wore clothes like Gene’s.
It soon became clear that Robert was not an ordinary doll. Mr and Mrs Otto sometimes heard Gene talking to Robert. Of course it’s not unusual for a child to talk to a toy. But someone – or something – always answered in a completely different voice. Who was talking? Was it Gene or was it Robert?
Strange things began to happen in the Otto house. Pictures fell off the walls and broke. Doors locked themselves. But no matter what happened, Gene always said ‘Robert did it.’
Perhaps Gene was right. Other people claimed to have heard the doll giggle. Others said they had seen it running up the stairs. People walking by the house sometimes saw the doll watching them from the turret-room window!
Gene was a talented artist. He grew up and went away to school . For several years he lived in Europe, where he studied and painted. It was in Paris that he met his wife, Anne.
The Gene’s parents died and he inherited the house. When Gene and Anne moved in, the young husband found Robert in the attic. Gene’s fixation on the evil doll began all over again.
Anne hated Robert – and she especially hated her husband’s fascination with the doll. Finally, to make Anne happy, Gene put Robert in the tower room. Still, Anne claimed that she could hear someone laughing and running around in that room. But when she went upstairs to see what it was, she found only Robert.
Gene and Anne died in the 1970s. Robert was taken to the Key West Martello Museum, where he’s on display today. But beware! Visitors report that their cameras malfunction when they try to photograph Robert.
Some also report hearing someone – or something – tapping on the glass of Robert’s display case. When they turn to look, they see the doll’s hand on the glass. Is Robert still scaring people?
[Adapted from 'Strange But True Stories']
k@ly$hA @ 11:08 AM