Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-09-13
The Case of Rev. Peter H. Shaw.


had strong conviction that our State Asylum
was in the main carefully and well managed,
and worthy of all confidence. That be-
lief we have shared, and it has been war
ranted by the high character of the ls'e Super
intendent, DR.. W. II. Rockwell (who hs, lately
in consequence of physical disability resigned
the charge of the Asylum to his sony the stand
| ing Of its Board of Trustees, consisting ofsuch
citizens ss Asa Keyes, N. O. Wiiliston, Freder-
lex Holbrook and Daniel Kellogg, and the uni
| formly favorable reports Of the Commissioner OF
the Inssne, and the Board Of Visitors, which is
composed Of the Judges Of our Supreme Court
But the fact that two pcrtons have within $
few weeks been discharged from the Asylum by
order of Court, as being Improperly confined
therein, is certainly calculated TO raise the CUES
ton, if there is not something wrong about the
management
Mr.. Shxw's Gaze is peculiar enc. He is sn
sged clergyman of the Presbyterian church
We find his name in the roll Of
Presbyterian Ministers published in the New
become untitled by years and inhrmity for pas
torsl labor, and five years ago resided in Brook
Ign, n Y, with bis daughter sud her husband
who are, we believe, respectable and well-to-do
people. He had, we infer, become perhips
somewhat childish lie had way, some Of his
relations say. Of borrowing money, which he
could hardly hope to pay from his own resources,
most Of which found its way to the pockets Of an
invalid ron, who had lost leg in the war, and
has since died, after undergoing q resmputsuon.
lie had evidently become burden to his sup
porters; for he vas suddenly cent from Brooklyn
to BrAttleboro, srd committed to the asylum az
an insane perton His son followed him there
and secured his release after ten days confne-
ment He then went TO visit some friend, in
Mortified, Massachusetts, where he preached fey-
er.l times, and received written and other sssur-
snces from those in daily contact with him, thst
they could discover no signs of insanity about
him. lie went thence to Barnet, VI, where he
has brother and ttter, who, We have been
told sre not wealthy. snd who proba-
bly, did not find it convenient 10 keep
the old gentleman. From Barnet, in May 1867,
he was sent .g.in to Brsitleboro, by the select
men Of that town, as an insane pauper, snd IS
such he has been confined in the asylum for over
fire year,. supported there in part by the State
and in part by the Selectmen rOmin,lly. but in
reality it is supposed by his Brooklyn son-in-
law.
Information regarding his condition WAi given
by an inmate Of the asylum who had himself
been discharged ty legal process. Mr. shaw
wss brought from Brsttleboro, on writ of
ha5cas corpus. and appeared in the United
States Court for this district lie denied that
he WAS either insane (And his appearance cor
rOborated this deni,D or psuper He tod HIS
itory, with come hesitstion on certain points,
FOR, as he stated with dignity, the details were
inexp'es,ibly painful to him, because his con-
fnement and the treatment which preceded it,
were the scis Of biz own kindred.
The Superintendent Of The asylum, on lis
part, could only say that Mr. Shaw va, sent to
mitted on physicisn's certificate thst he Was
insane. But he hsd been very quie, in the sFylum
aud had committed 10 inssnc &C.. The Judge
at once ordered Mr.. SAaw's discharge, saying
that he could zee in him only sn iniFm old gen
tltmAn; that hospital WAs more suitable place
for him, if his relatives could no, OF would not
support him, rather than an insane sfylum, and .
that such treatment for 81 aged clergyman /
seemed to him very singular. The Judge sided .
that if finding it easier to borrow money than
repay it was species Of insanity, & good many
Of u, would be candidates for Brs,ilsbaro.
We have nothing to say in regard to Mr.
shaw's treatment by his relstiyet- facts are
enough without commenting on thst point But
We DO say thst cur State Insane Asylum is not
the place for the confinement Of sane men.
Furthermore. i, seems 10 Us that ply sicisns Who
make diseases Of the mind their spocislty ought
to be able to determine il less than five years
line, from some lock Of the eye or ute Of Ism
,uAge or scton of the brain Of = patient,
whether he is really Of sound or unionnd mind,
md should not be compelled to fall back for
'Soof Of insanity on the statements Of relatives
n the certificate Of distant doctor.
There is another aspect Of this case. Our
tate annually sppropri.tes 5000 for the sup
ort st the ssylum Of the inIsne poor Of the
tale, the money being allotted smong the in
ane psupers, in par, payment Of their expense {
I the Asylum. Mr.. Shsw's name appears in I
be let Of such State benef,aries but if he las ,
cen s. sane mSn al this time and not 4 resident !
Barnet, or legally chsreesble to that town for 1
ippOrt, the Stste has been defrsuded, year AZ '
r year. =
1t may have been very convenient FOR the
rooklyn merchant. who took this method Of
Importing his father in law. TO hsye the all Of
e Safe but the taxpayers Of the State we are e
nfdent would prefer tbs; the bounty Of the
ate should be distributed smopg cur own in Fl
ne poor, Who are such beyond question On n
e whole, thi, Gaze seems to be one which will =,
AT looking into IfMr. Shaw, being zane, WAS
egsly confined a: BrAttleboro, how m.ny more "
ch are there in the asylam2 Aud ought not ii
e Legislature, when it meets, 10 take measures
ascertain the facts, and 10 preyents recur- ii
nee Of timilsr csses NJ