Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-09-13


Another inmate of the Insane Asylum in
| this place, Rev. Peter II. Shaw, an aged
| Presbyterian clergyman of Brooklyn, n.
| Y, was last week released by order of
Judge Smalley of the United States Court
at Burlington, on the ground of non-insan-
ity. The following account of the case,
with comments, we copy from the Burlng-
ton Free Press:
Mr.. Shaw's case is a peculiar one. He is
an aged clergyman of the Presbyterian
church. We find his name in the roll of
Presbyterian Ministers published in the
New York Observer Year Book for 1879.
He had become untitled by years and in
trinity for pastoral labor, and five years
ago resided in Brooklyn, n. Y. with his
daughter and her husband who are, we be-
lieve, respectable and well-to-do people.
He had, we infer, become perhaps some
what childish. He had a way, some of his
relations say, of borrowing money, which
he could hardly hope 10 pay from his own
resources, most of which found its way to
the pockets of an invalid son, who had lost
leg in the war, and has since died, after
Ilc WI
IDENTIFY become burden to his supporters
for he was suddenly sent from Brooklyn TO
Brattleboro, and committed TO the asylum
as an insane person. His son followed him
there and secured his release after ten days
confinement. He then went to visit some
friends in Mortified, Mass, where he
preached several times, and received writ
ten and other assurances from those in dali
ly contact with him. that they discover no
signs of insanity about MIN. He went
thence to Barnet, VT, where he has a
brother and sister, who, we have been told
are not wealthy, and who probably did not
find it convenient TO keep the old gentle
man. From Barnet, in May 1867, he was
sent again to Brattleboro, by the selectmen
of that town, as an insane paupcr, and as
such he has been confined in the asylum
for over fUc years, supported there in part
by the Selectmen nominally, but in reality
it is supposed by his Brooklyn son-in-law.
Information regarding his condition was
given by an inmate of the asylum who had
himself been discharged by legal process
Mr.. Shaw was brought from Brattleboro,
on writ of habedS corpus, and appeared
in the United States Court for this Dist let.
He denied that he was either insane land
his appearance corroborated the deniaD or
a pa upper. He told his story, with hesita-
ton on some points, for, as he stated, with
dignity, the details were inexpressibly
painful to him, because his confinement
and treatment which preceded it, were the
acts of his own kindred.
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anu was ."'iihii''eu vi phys ician certih-
cafe that ne was insane. But he had been
very quiet in the asylum and had commit
| teu no insane act Inc Judge at once or
dered Mr.. shaw's discharge, saying that he
could see in him only an infirm old gentle
man that hospital was a more suitable
place for him, if his relatives could not or
would not support him, rather than an in
sa ne asylum, and that such treatment for
an aged clergyman seemed to him very
singular. The Judge added that If finding
1t easier to borrow money than repay it was
a species of insanity, good many of us
would be candidates for Brattleboro
We have nothing TO say in regard to Mr..
shaw's treatment by his relatives-the
iacls are enough without commenting on
mat point. But we do say that our State
Insane asylum is not the place for the con-
hnement of sane men. Furthermore, it
seems 10 us that physicians who make dis
eases Of the mind their specially ought to
be able to determine in less than five years
time, from some look of the eye or use OF
language, or action of the brain of a patient,
whether he is really of sound or unsound
mlnd, ana should not be compelled TO fall
BACK Tor proof OF insanity on tho statements
Vi Ie'"''eS Ut inc cer''he"'e oil distant