Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-12-23
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In the Court of Queens Bench, in
London, hos Just been tired the case of
tombstone art. Gotham. This was on
action for false imprisonment in confii-
ming the plai atitt' in a Lunatic Asylum.
The plaintiff, the Rev. John John
stone, was short time since curate of
st. Mary's, Walworth, and the defend
ant was the incumbent. The parties
cont nued on very good terms for three
years, but differences arose between /
them shortly before the occurrence COM
planned of, which led to the plaintiff
leaving but before the agreed period |
for terminating the relations between
them. plaintiff became candidate Tor
the chaplaincy of st. Mays Hospital,
Paddington. and was, i'm due course
elected. From the excitement conse-
qucnt upon the election, and tn hard
work he hod undergone, it became ne
cessary for Kim to take rest. and change
of mir was recommended. On the night
of the 18th of June last, plaintiff, who
had left his lodgi ,gs at Paddington in
consequence Of a disagreement with his
landlady, returned to his d lodgings at
Wa!worth, and not being able 70 obtain
a bed, he retired to rest on couch.
About half-past . O'Clock in the morning
: he was aroused 10y the defendant, Mr..
Thomas Dry, surgeon, one of the
church wardens, and man in plain
clothes coming into his room. They
: said he must ret up and go with them,
and on asking why, they said they had
got warrant for his apprehension, but
they refused to show it, or give further
particulars. They commanded him to
dress as soon as possible, and w thout
any medical examination, he was hur-
v.in into l.
taken to DE-. Arnstrorg's asylum at
Peckham. On his way he hailed the
olice, but they declined to interfere be-
cause they were Informed he was being
conveyed to lunatic asylum ~ Peck
-. ham. A conference took place at the
9 gate, the plaintiff bcin left in charge Of
the policeman in plain clothes. The cab
was turned round, and they drove to DR..
Grif]iLh's house, when TIE defendant,
Mr.. Dry, and Chapman, the churc.,
+ warden, got Out rang the hell, and
went in. fter an abscnc of TWEEN y
minutes, the policeman rang the bell,
and the answer was they would be out
:. presently. " hen they came out Dr.
$ Grifiiths came t. the cab door and oues.
!. toned the plaintiff as to the hard work
=, he had recently undergone with refer.
: ence to st. Mary's Hospital. The cal
: was then turned round, and the three
n walked back to the asylum plaintiff anC
d the pollen riding in the cab. II,
~ was taken into room in the asylum,
= the dcor loo ied, and an assistant o.
keeper was sent to him. The keeper
ordered him into another room and com
manded him to st.ip, and then removed
&c his clothes, leaving plaintiff alone ii
" the room. Ihere was couch in thu
room, but he was unable to sleep from
IL tha and Off Go -
q He saw the doctor the same morning
& when he was going his usual rounds
If Plaintiff asked him for an ex lanation
y and manded his liberty, but the doc
tor said he could not i.ave it, Plaintiff
y then asked him to write to his friends
., lnent, uiiu re,dorljn adru, u,r,,,
- the doctor and the keeper shook hin
20 violently by the collar, and told him f.
e keep quiet seeing resistance was Use
less, he did so. AT O'clock that nigh
he was placed in strong room with
= grating at the top, through which tn,
IL light Was admitted. A bed was the only
+, ARM ure in the room. His clothes wer,
taken from him again, and in the morn
ing he was orde.e ed into a cold bath
IS where the keeper poured cold wate or
n his head. He demonstrated, but The
q keeper in o. med him it was DR.. Arm
strOng's orders. The cold water treat.
ment was repeated, and medicine w; s
e given him, but he spat it out. He wa,
taken to meals with the other patients
but he fe It so indignant at having to ali
down wit maniacs., tina. he refused
v food for .wo days. Plaintiff wrote a let.
ter to the secretary of the hospital. stat.
ing VIII t had occurred but he received
no reply. He so wrote other letters
during his incarcerat on, and he learn
ed counsel, in opening tn piaintiff's
case, said go little was he Thought TO he
r insane by the lunatic asylum officials.
f that, at DR.. Armstrong; request. he fOu,
times OBLIGATED there as chaplain, and
he was complimented by the Doctor for
) his extempOre sermons. Eventually
the plaintiff was released on the 3lst of
July, the defendant, Mr.. Gotham. hay-
ing failed to OBTAIN q promise from the
plaintiff that he would not take legal
proceedings against him aad those who
mad placed him in the asylum. The irst
Sunday after he was released he per-
formed three services, and on the 10th
of August he obtained DR.. Young and
Sicyeking's certificates of his sanity,
and he also submitted himself to Dr.
Simpson for examination. The COVER
nors declared the chaplaincy, worth EGO
per aunum, vacant in consequence of
his confinement, and he had not since
been able to obtain permanent a = point.
ment.