New-York tribune., 1872-08-30
HOCAL MISCELLANY.
EEw-YORK LUNACY LAWS.
NC xvu,cu YNADpouATE LTGIsLATION

,,sp n, tbe manner In which its reporter success
fully feigned insanity and secured an entrance INTO
tbe Bloomiugdale Lunatc Asylum attracted the a'eI-
lion Of the public and was eagerly read by all who are
interested iu a modification of The Lunacy enaemens
Of the state Disappointment was expressed IN some
quarters that the amateur unatc had only been con
uoted 70 The doors Of the Asylum and the continuation
ef the narrative was awaited with mpationee, nasmuoh
sit will deal with questions which will soon be the sub
sect Of official investigation
Among the curious letters which the discussion on TINS
subject has called forth from Ebenezer Haskell OF
No 1Coa Archst Philadelphia. who arrested IN that
eitv ON MAY a. 1866 on a warrant issued by Alderman
Hutchinson on the oath OF his son. George W. Haskell
charging him with threats. and having large dirk
hni,e" When brought before the Alderman. no one
appeared against him. hut In default of hail he was com
it;od 10 the County Prison The constable surrendered
HIM 70 officers Of neighbOring station-honse ana
she next day he taken the Insane Department oil
the Philadelr Ia Almshouse. where he was received
npon a certificate of insanity made by pracuclng den
tsi one Of the physicians OF that institution Dr. s. W.
Butler. made q similar certificate, which during the
trial Of che question Of his lunacy before jury, he
said was necessarily based the statement of Mr. Has
kes sons" Judge Brewster in his charge to the jury
in the same trial. said 1t appears that defendant
4ndor commitment for breach Of the peace was taken
first 70 the amshouse. and then upon certificate on
tanned by the statement OF his sons TO an insane asy
ium II such proceeding, eau be tolerated, our cOnst
All waste paper On June 70 tie prisoner was released
by his wife. and in September Of the year he was
again nearceraed in the Pennsylvania Hospital for the
Insane at the request OF ms wife and three sons aud
npon another certificate Of lunacy During the period
oi ms confinement which covered nearly two years he
made four escapes aud in the last effort broke
his leg He succeeded in eluding the vigilance
Of his keepers and reached private hospital by the as
sstance Of his friends, where he remained until he re-
covered from his injuries having In the mean time been
discharged on writ OF habeas corpus from conemeht
IN the Insane Asylum On Nov II, 1863 trial in the
Court OF Common Pleas was begun before jury on a
TaveTse OF an inquest previously TAKEN ana asted t
Nov. 2S. resulting in verdict establishing his sanity
Mr. Haskell at the time Oh hlS trst incarceration was
over o. years O age anu haa Deen I0hS anu ven r
among the leading business men OF Philadelphia These
faets stated on the authority OF pamphlet which
be has sent 10 THE TRIBUNE. In his letter he says;
While in the institution robbed by my relatives
times. at last my case was brought up before Judge
Brewster and was discharged MY experience leads
TO believe that there is not an insane asylum IN the
country that VIII refuse 10 receive patients sane or ~
upon proper guarantee of the payment Of their
board assure you that you have sincere sympathy
IL your wOTk OF exposure.
WHAT Is HOPED or THE NEW COMMISSION.
TO ne Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR / send some facts about recent legisla-
tive action which may be OF interest am glad you
have taken up the subject for satisfied gross abuses
often occur. While the Commission appointed by the
Governor may fan 10 discover existing abuses in lunatc
asylms, il can hardly fail TO learn what abundant Op
portunites for great wrong the treatment Of alleged
unatics our present laws afford. On the charge Of in
sanity man may be consigned TO indefinite imprison
ent By Justice of the Peace the charge be certified
y7,r tbA law would afford more security. Were his
I'D OF his liberty TO be taken from him, on
ihe allegation OF nsu. Vne "a" "o'iu uSis' on rioi0
extended inqmry. - ppm ,-.----
Repeated efforts TO mTf5te The Iaw on tbs subject
have failed those who suffer cannot make themselves
passed both Houses; but it was limited to NewYOrk
The GoVafr refused to give it his Signature. At the
H. session two bills wtre introduced which we're under
siood 10 have been prepared under the Goysrnors s
peySn one provided that person should undertake
ibe care OF hnatic as business except when licensed
ly the state Commissioners Of Charities No charges
had then been made against the Boomingdae Asylum
IIe provsions Of the bi were, doubt suggested ~
ho possibility OF abuses in other private ESTABLISHING ats
oy he care e nc insane 9, less gYe ana er less re-
stead Of allowing any two medical men , 20 con.
81 sfI .eaas a should he appointed in every county
for This duty IL also provided thaI IN every case the
record the proceedings before the Justice OF the Feaee
ehond De sent mp 10 the County Judge so soon az the
patent had been committed 10 be by that Ocef sum
manly reviewed and confirmed. or else annulled. To
fugke sure that the County Judge should have knOwl
edge of an cases the physicians were required by the
MI 10 report TO thai officer the fact that they had signed
acerfhoate of lunacy All Superntendents of asyums
for the also to report 10 the County Judges
the arrival their several establishments Of patients
from the respective counties The County Judges were
empowered to reopen the proceedings at any time ana
The -nnnary power of the ordinary magistrate 10 con
fue a madman was not taken away, but all were made
u feel that their proceedings would be examined Dy
higher authority In every county Judicial officer OF
high grade charged with the ultimate responsibility
Tor commitments OF lunaUcs ana Win Wachluhess over
then aiterwar0.
1his proposed legislation was opposed by the Bloom
ingdale Asylum. and Jailed The COMMISSION recently
appointed will render good service II 1t impress upon
The pubic me Ieeessiy Gl reform n our % uIavS %
and suggc-t remedial legislation for TINS eha IL Is wen
of fle Commission. NB.
AJD,y n T., Aug. IS, 1872.
DEFECTS or THE LUNACY LAW.
Ilon ne Commercial AiceriseT, Aag ~
Two reputable physicians and a police JUS
tee IN This city placed in unpleasant position by
Mr. Chamberss temperate and deliberately crcunstan-
u narrative IL appears that the certificate OF insanity
tir examination
supposed patient and that Justice Cox the order OF
commitment without consultation with the physicians,
without question 70 their medical standing, without
d Tt6ont con ers9tioU win the nafient himself III
was only matter minutes time 10 fix the legal
~ d mad-bonse GIeariy n ms speedy work could be
doue case task TO repeat the process
on any other OccaslOn-in such a case as that OF "a
monry-lovine family desirOus Of administering the
fnancsal affairs Of prudent father or
fingy husband. the of rebeious wife anx-
get rd Of disagreeable matrimonial partner
The la1y OF the law is practically tested aud the pos
sbility OF committing an outrageous deed under tne
cover OF legal forms established With the special
affairs OF the BlO0mingdaie Asylum the public nave
nothing 10 do. II Is private asylum admission into
which Is apparently easy, with or without the sanction
Of ts Beard OF Governors and Will receive IN due time
the attention OF the investigating committee appointed
by Gov. Hoffman. The important question at issue Is
The amendment OF the law governing all our lunatc
aylUms strict rules for the examination OF the insane
and careful investigation 0i each case Dy lndcal au
thOnty more competent than that Of an iLlnformed
Police Justice, the chief reforms upon which the
Legislature OF the State must act.
AMATEUR LUNACY.
From The Eceais0 Mai, Acg. %
THE TRIBUNEs amateur lunatic has full
swing that paper to-day, 70 tel the Interesting story
of his cOmmtl0ent 10 BoOmingdale Asylum This he
does with mnuteness OF detail that several columns
are necessary 10 the narrative, and even at that the
reader finds himself only the threshold of the hOrri-
be revelations watch are 20 come BY the Observance
Ssh his task ia columns more and will have
t1buted material for respectable volume on the
The experience Of the amateur shows that shrewd
young nan acting undeI JndlclOus lnsuucuons, anu t