Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-12-06
Answer to "K"-Explaining the Causes
OF the Condition of The Lunaties
I'm n County Jail.

We publish the following from General
Wright, In explanation of the causes OF the
heartfelt appeal Of our correspondent "K, p
who, in yesterdays APPEAL, very forcibly and
justly urged the attention of the public and
our State authorities TO the condition Of the
lunatics confined in the county jail. As the
sheriff is not TO blame, and can neither inter
vene authority or help the evils complained
OF, we hope the members of the Legislature
representing Shelby county will take steps 10
remedy the defects Of existing laws, and pro-
vide for the immediate relief of the most
unfortunate OF our helpless classes:
Editors zppeaf-I thank your correspond
enL * for Calling pubic attention to a mat
in the adm .nislratlon OF the duties OF my
office. l refer TO The fact of insane persons be-
iDg confined in the county jail.
Under the present regulations of the "Hos-
piIaI for the insane" al Nashville, IN rig GoyS
1totite Is required 70 be given 10 The superln-
tendent before any inmates can be received.
This Is on account Of the crowded cOndit on Of
the hospital, the new wing provided for by the
last legislature not having been completed.
Inc laws OF the STATE provide that ali insane
persons who are likely 70 10 themselves or
Others bodily harm, snail be committed to the
county jail tor safe-keeping until such time us
they can be sent to the insane hospital at
Nashville. So that when a magistrate sends
me a mittimus for the commitment of a lun-
ATTIC or insane person. l ain eJmpe led bg LdlO, to
nOAu 1T DtIHOu III jan until he VI auc CAL Dc
received into the hospital at Nashville. In
several instances (disregarding the rules OF
the state hospitalJ 1 nave sent insane per-
sons TO Nashville 70 be receiver into the
hospital without giving the Thirty
days notice and instead Of getting
into the hospital they have been confined IN me
DdUldsoH county Jait, which Is not SO comfOTtR-
BILE as our Jail, and the bill for their support
has been sent and collected from Shelby
county.
In the case of the parties referred 10 by your
correspondent "k.," noUcs has been given the
superintendent, and l only await 70 hear from
him to send them of.
county tail WIS built for the purpose of con-
6ning criminals, that 1t is not ADAPTED either
10 hospital purposes or TO ths keeping Of luna
tics; IN t no proper provision i, made by the
authorities either Tor clothing, feeding or
lodging any class OF persons, except persons
char Led with crime. Hence, while The l0U
( TceE me 10 receive tLhE cLd1S Of persUg, IL makes
no arrangements Tor their proper treatment.
BY The preSea 1t law eacn county pays all the
expenses OF lis own insane persons, and hu-
manity would dictate that he county author =
ties provide suitable quarters, iood and attsn-
ton in connection with its p~oorhouse for the
unfortunate class Of persons during the time
they have 10 await an order for reception into
the state asylum. The party spoken OF by
your correspondent as being in almost a state
Of nudity, will not suffer clothing TO remain
on her. She il a raving maniac, and while The
Iallsr and his assistants do all they Can 10
amsliorate her condition, they have no means
OF proper control or treatment IN such cases.
AS an OTHER Of the Law, Messrs Editors, l
have nothing TO do but TO obey the law. lean
not legisiRte. IAgres with your correspond
emit that some other place ought 10 be provided
for these people than the county jail, and l
II list II Will soon be done; but as the law now
is. l can do nothing but obey It.
Respectfully, MARCUS ]. WRIGHT,
sherih ofShelby county.
Memphis, December 5, 1871.