New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-21

of wife-beaters, from the Tchoupitoulas
street division, slept in the first precint sta
tionhouse last night, for making nearly
successful ATTEMPT to make himself
widower.
COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.-The following
named parties were sent to the Criminal
Court by Recorder Houghton, to stand trial
for the otfenses named:
Charles Patterson, for stealing four dol
lars worth of pantaloons from William
Chase.
Charles Harrison, for stealing dozen
dollars from Jane Carlen, No % Claiborne
street.
Edward johnson, for badly wounding
Thomas Murphy.
James Carroll, for highway robbery, in
knocking down Officer Byrnes and stealing
a gold watch and chain. Frank Lynch, IN
the charge, was discharged.
Thomas Kelley, arrested
at the instance of p. McMorrow for high
way robbery. was discharged. Kelley then
made charge of perjury against McMor-
row.
WORTHY OF MENrIoN.-One department
has entirely escaped censure from croakers,
namely, the property division, under the
immediate charge of Captain Curtis. This
branch is one of the most important, and
has from the first been conducted ably and
honestly. Captured and abandoned proper
ty, from trife to diamond jewelry, from
paper of pins to a bale of cotton, have been
turned in, and in every instance strictly ac-
counted tor The books, peculiar in them
selves, are kept to nicely, SO that when an
applicant demands his goods, no time is lost
in producing them. At stated periods artl-
Giles unclaimed for long time are sold at
auction, and the proceeds placed to the
designated account Previous to the enact
ment OF the present police law, stolen and
abandoned property went to parts unknown.
and no record was kept Of it. Only few
DAYS ago citizen was made aware that GER
tain articles stolen from him months ago were
waiting there for his claim to be made good
He had no difficulty in proving his claim
| and to his great surprise the valuables were
placed in his hands. The gentleman then
| said he altered his mind concerning the
Metropolitan Police, for previously he had
entertained poor opinion of it. stranger
| stepping into Captain Curtis office, corner
| of st. Charles and Lafayette streets, would
| think himself in an old but weil-regulated
curiosity shop.
INSANE AsYLUM.-The new grand Jury
made long report to the Criminal Court
concerning the miserable condition of the
Insane Asylum, and we give portion OF it:
As it exists it is a nuisance of such mag
pitude and character that its abatement
would be one of the most creditable acts
which could engage the attention or crown
| the efforts OF whoever might be charged
with the administration of public affairs.
| 1t would shock the sensibilities Of the
| court and trespass upon the limits Of credi-
| bility if we were to picture or even attempt
| to recount in detail the wretched condition of
| the unfortunate creatures, of both sexes
and colors, detained as insane in that de-
partment of the Parish Prison which is as
signed to them.
In the eyes of the philosopher or the stu
| dent it is in vain that we arrange the ma
chinery of law for the detection or punish
ment of crime, if we ourselves violate, as
| we do in the case of these poor people,
every law of physical or mental improve.
| ment, or even existence; every sentiment OF
Justice, or even of humanity; every sugges-
ton which the experience or wisdom OF
man has devised, or the authority OF reli-
gion has sanctioned for the safety, health
and recovery of the already sufficiently un-
fortunate insane. What are the circum-
stances with which we ought to surround
them! Abundant light, perfect ventilation,
dryness, ample room internal and external,
grounds for recreation, grounds for Guilt
Vation by the convalescing, books for those
able to use them, work tor those able and
| willing to work ever 80 little, suitable sep
aration according to condition, suitable
clothing, food and rules, wisely arranged
by their operation, to illume or re-illume
in their dormant and feeble intellects what
ever mental spark might yet remain IN
them.
All these conditions and more are quite
within our reach, if we would only deter
mine to be true to that august destiny
which awaits our common humanity by act
ing upon the principle of doing with Others
as we would wish that, under the like cir
cumstances, they should do to us.
This is tie key to the situation, and dis
closes the rules by which we should of
guided.
Could we, or the court, or the city au
thorities, or general constituency, the
, great mass OF the community, by trans
lating effort of the mind, imagine Oursel"e!
in the place and condition of these poor, I'm
fortunate, innocent people, and realizing
this state as ours for only year, or {
t month or day, or an hour how long doe
. the court suppose We would tolerate exist
ing enormities Would it be for an hour o.
a day, or a month, or year!
We have the honor OF assuring the cour
| that if the good people Of our city coult
but see, in all its atrocity, the condition ant
+ surroundings of our insane, it would tingl
with sudden glow the check of ever,
, woman, and fire with indignation the bloot
: | of every man to whom it might be eX
| | hibited.
q We have spoken of the favorable cond
tions which should surround these unfoI
tunate insane people: shall we trespas
4 upon the patience of the court by simpl
enumerating some of the conditions whic
= do SUR ound them
/ Thorough cleanliness impossible; indis
g criminate congregation, irrespective of con
s dition; no possibility of creating or encOuI
y aging any industrial efforts or disposition
U exceedingly restricted space; in winter cold
nakedness more or less absolute, in som
q cases, perhaps, unavoidable; constant damp
ness in winter; cold prison cells bars, bolts
Is chains, darkness, blank wall, despair
this last, seemingly, about their only frient
a How many OF US who are sane woul