New-York tribune., 1872-08-29
LUNACY LEGISLATION IN THE WEST
FSTINONY o. A FORMER SANE INMATE OF TIKI

ILLINOIS INSANE ASYLUM.
To the EdHOr OF The Trt6uHe.
SIR: It is a mtter OF universal rejoicing TO the hui
mantarens owe this whole country that THE TRIBUNE
Of York hatso unmlsakaDy esp0nsed the cause Oi
the oppressed inmates OF insane asylums.
send synopis OF Iowas law, as the shorter mode OF
publishing IT, IL through my direct personal agency
the bill was draftd and passed, and l know ITS utility
and value the Inmates Of every asylum in the land
send also defene or the principle OF the b TO educate
the people INTO tn importance of this act for every
State in our Union Yours Tor mn, me 9PPre'iwSdp
No. 1.496 Prairieqre., Chicago Aug. 25, 1871
Mrs Packard wa the wife Of a Presbyterian clergy
man OF Manteno, ILL.,. and was committed by him on
June ls 1860 theasylum at Jacksonville under law
which gave her husand guardian tho right of com
mitment OF a wlh or infant without evidence HIS
ayowed for Ommitng her was that she refused
to accept the doctrine of total deprayty and by giving
uterance to her Bible class in his church was
nurng the Christ, which he felt called upon to
defend by imprisonhg her She was kept in prison for
three years, during O years ana eight months OF Wch
she was kept with ue dangerous patients being oflen
dragged by the hair OF her head about the room com
PEELED daily 10 dodge the knives aud FORKS ana tuh
blers and chairs which hurled at her; never per
mited 20 set foot IA the grounds ana cut on from az
communication with friends She was finaly released
by order of the trustees who did not know OF her case
until the three Years had elapsed. Inc nus
band fed the state 10 avoid mob and prosecution
Mrs. Packard appeard before the Illinois Legislature
Feb. IL, 1861 and by personal appeals ana addresses
finally secured repeal of the law permitting husbands
70 imprlson their wkes without evidence OF lnSahg'
Investigation was aho made the Jacksonville Asy-
lum, aud the superintendent was dismissed Ihe IA"
OF the State, amended under these circumstance
establishes the tnqtrendO lWdtcO by jury DoloiSS
whom the person alleged be insane must appear anu
gives hg tho right oprooess for witnesses 70 DJ &C. ]
ned by the jury. Thelaw Of Iowa referred 10 aIso
yides, In addition thaA visiting cOmmitee-ohe ol
lady-s To be appointed by the Governor, Wno & s r.
specified They cue OF them visit eaoh OF the
two asylums month and look after the u1a.ent
and condition OF pAtelts and see II any arr ipioP
ery detained uniustly placed there. III my are uh
kindly treated the coumittee authorized 70 remove
any empioye OF the Institution guilty OF suon aeton
and such empoye Is held tabe by law ana subject TO
the same ine imprisonment that Would DO meilted
by similar treatment OF sane persons a.,
IL Is required that the keep the address
and names OF the Visiting Committee posteu up ia eaoh
ward Of HIS asylum and every inmate s allowed TO write
when OF what they please 10 the Conttee or 70 any
other person. provided letter goes htOugh the Com
mittees hands. For this purpose the inmates are TO Dc
furnished with stationery II they IRE III eondltlon 10
bo ntTusted with H. Any letter forwarded TO insane
persons by this Committee must be delivered 70 them
unopened and unread by the supeilhtehdent Cor
Oners inquests TO be held wheuddeh deaths occur
Any violating amy the prOislonA OF thIs Law
be punished by nprisonment not exceeding three
years by fine not above 81 900 BOTH in The discretion
Of the Court 1csmony vi insane persons 10 " DO taken
for what ~ ss Ncrth