Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-04
Approved November 40, 1873.

No ,6-An act in amendment Of sections fourteen
fifteen, sixteen and seventeen Of chapter twenty
Of the General Statutes. entitled "Of the support
and removal Of paupers and relief OF the insane
1t is hereby enacted, etc.
SEC. l. Section fourteen Of chapter twenty Of
the General Statutes is hereby amended as to
read as follows: All insane persons in any town
in this State destitute Of the means maintain and
support themselves, and who have no relatives in
this State that are bound by law to support them,
and who have no legal settemen, in any town in
this State. shall be maintained and supported by
the State at the insane asylum
SEC. a. Section fifteen Of chapter twenty Of the
General Statutes is hereby amended so as to read
follows: The selectmen in any town shall, on
the application OF the Of the poor Of such
town, make examination and inquiry whether
such insane person has sufficient means 10 support
and maintain himself, and also whether such per-
son has any relatives in this State who are bound
by law to support him, and whether such person
has any legal settlement in any town in this State,
and may institute court Of inquiry IN al. prem.
Uses, before the judse OF PROBATE o. the district IN
which such town is situated and II they shall inst
tute such court OF inquiry, they shall give notice
thereof to the States attorney of the county in
which such town is situated at least ten days be-
fore the time for holding such court, and it shall be
the duty OF such States attorney to investigate
the case and IL he shall be Of the opinion that such
insane person has sufficient means to support and
who are bound by law to support him, or
has legal settlement in some town in
the, State, he shall attend such court Of inquiry
and produce before such court, at the expense OF
the State, such witnesses and testimony as he
deems advisable to bring before such court for
the protection OF the rights of the State in the
premises and said probate judge shall examine and
consider the evidence offered by the selectmen and
State attorney and other evidence offered in the
case and II in his opinion such insane person has
legal settlement in this State and no relatives in
the State who are bound by law TO support him,
and is destitute of the means of supporting him.
self such Judge shall issue his order for the re-
moval OF such person 10 the Vermont asylum for
the insane, TO be there supported provided, how
ever, that the insanity Of the person shall have
been first certified to in writing by two physicians
said probate district who duly Endorsed by said
Judge and the States attorney shall be paid for
his services five dollars per day and his necessary
expenses by the State, his account to be audited
and allowed by the court auditor of the county in
which the court OF inquiry is held.
SEC. J. Section sixteen of chapter twenty Of the
General Statutes is hereby amended so as TO read
as follows II shall be the duty Of the officer
other person appointed by said judge of probate,
to transpor, such insane person TO the asylum and
to leave with superintendent or trustees OF the
asylum or some one Of them, a true copy of such
order with his return thereon and also the certi-
icate OF the two physicians as to the insanity Of
shall be a sufficient warrant and authority for
eeiving such person into said asylum.
SEC. 4. Section seventeen of chapter twenty Of
the General Statutes is hereby amended so as TO
read as follows The costs and expenses incurred
by the examination and removal Of any insane per-
son to the Vermont asylum as aforesaid, except
ing the costs and expenses made by the States at
torney in behalf OF the State should be paid and
discharged by the town instituting such inquiry.
SEC. s. This act shall take effect from its pas
sage.
Approved November s6, 1875.