Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-06
From The .ly.rpaoI rIm-s

rum 'HS H'N"pOu lilirA
The Court Of Queens Bench has been occupied
during four days in the trial of a very singular
case--that of Hall vs. Semple-whirh we'll illus
traits garing defect in the Inv which at present
governs the admission to nsylums of those sup
posed u be insane. The case affords nm exam
Pile how the requirements of the statute may be
rigldly complied with, and yet pufeclly saue
mnn may be seized as he is entering his own
house, forced into cab, and, despite his own
proteHtalions and those of his neghhors, CON
veyed to a mad-house.
The action was brought by the plaintiff, n
tradesman living in Tottenham-cOur road
against the defendant, physician and surgeon,
residing il TOrrngtou square, for having falsely.
negllgently, and without probable cause signed
certificate of the plaintiffs lunaey, and nlao
for having induced medical man Of the maine
of Guy to sign certificate to the same effect.
MIR. Hall, tue plaintiff, is a respectable and
remarkably sensbly looking tradesman, ffty.
Six years OF age, who gave His evidence, nrl
underwent crOss-examinatOn with the utmos,
calmnesi aud shrewdness, and who's. neighhors
testified that lie was n temperate, steady. aud
punctu0l man of business, serving every dnv in
his own shop. He went home one night to bis
no use, aud found man "lounging against the
door" who asked him whether his uame was
HAN. Upon his admitting it, the man said :
" some OF your friends have got supper, and
are very jolly, and want you to come and ioin
them Hall replied that it was mistake ond
putting the key into his door, when he foun1 il
was fastened against him. The strange man
with an assistant. then seized him, and in spite
of his desperate struggles, forced him iuto n eab
but before they could drive off bis neighbors and
the police came up Hall insisted on benc takan
to the station, but the Inspector decided tbat
the warrant for his apprehension was en- renoL
aud he was carried of again in the direction of
Fuham. y
On his arrival Mt Munster house, Fulbam. he
was put into ward with madmeu. but M littIo
uiu inc keeper believe in his insanity TINT he
lent him razor the next morning to shave him.
sell Dr Stone, the me heal attendant examined
MIN, hut found NJ trace OF arrangement thougb
by his own account, he considered him insane
or was inclined 10 consider him SO, seeing tbe
certificate of DR.. Semple," the defendant who
was one OF the certifying medical men, Mr.
EllOti, the proprietor, conversed with him ami
tested him closely, without discovering any indi.
cations of insanity, and two commissioner In
lunacy, hnding Aaw in one medical certi6cate
directed him to be discharged
There is no dispute about these facts. and the
question which naturally arises upon them ia
wnh' conceivable pretext there can have been
M l.r uehtlhg Mr' hail as lunatc. This CUES
Ihe poor man waa under the "delusionn that
ms wife was termagant, which witness after
witness sWore that she was, and that her furons
temper was the plague OF his life. lie was nlso
uhder th4 " deiusl0n" that she was ruinino bio
business by pawnlng his goods and ineurring
uents unknown to him, which several nowne
brokers and tradedpeople proved that she had
ne was lnrther under the " "delusion" that sha
nau persons continually comiug to the honse
against his will, which the evidence for tbe do
lehuaht as well as for The plaintiff showed IN hs
'ne Uulh. These "delus0nsn were natnrally
dlstasteful 10 the person whom they chefv con,
cerned' She went TO her friend. DR. Gny All
mentioned these alarming symptoms. protestn@
OF course, that the " delusionsn were aboIn,at,''
without foundation, and adding some 9th en- ysry
doubtful particulars about her husband = ont
rageous conduct. DR. Guy gave credit to evsrv
word she said, and when DR.. Semple's decIaroy
ton to the same effect was requested be tbonaht
lhe Dest way OF forming an opinion for himsslf
was 10 cal on Dr. Guy, from whom, upon bis
own showing, be took his cue. NF'- MS
Inc result was that this quarrelsome woman
mno t was urea OF her husbands society, and had
Zee" ueen pound over by police magistrate % keen
~ peace '0"arus hun, got two medical certif.
cafes upon her own statemen. elone-fnr ,Laso
Is no evidence of any ding like an iudenapdent
examination-had him kbinhppel and ,aLan ~
an asylum, and fortified Herself wifi two ,ss,t
monlals to her own chRlactsf fro a the samo ,s,,
gentlemen As if to make lier at n,,s si;li L.
er she threatened, some tilne Aft rwar1s ,hos;s
he did not behave hin ieif Rhs ould have HIN
shut up again. "a'e n'in
After most patisT h.gesii, gtion fla Ina.
have found a verdict 70 Ms PlaL i'd, with siGn
damages. WI" ~ioo