New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-15
TURNING LUNATIOS LOOSE.
Talk WITH DIR MACDONALD.

TALK WITH DIR. MACDONALD.
HIS REASONS FOR HOLDING THAT THE RECENT RE-
LEASE OF CERTAIN PATIENTS WAS IMPROPER AND
DANGEROUS To THE COMMUNITY.
The startling attack by the French maniac
n,bonroue unop the defenceess women III Fourteenth
a. last tuesday brought home every one the Danger
of pe,mtting unatcs to be free from proper resrht
Fortunate crcumst ances alone prevented terrDie
tragedy This has stirred the public because the scene
occurred in one of the frequented streets OF Newhok
But hardly a newspaper can be read without seeing
some instance to show with what suddenness lunaic
heretofore considered harmless may break out ana per
haps commit murder Dubourque had before assaulted
persons aud being arrested for that violence had been
DISCHARGED because he insane, and his murderOus
weapon restored to him.
Dr. A. L. Macdonald in conversation with TRIBUNE
reporter Yesterday reviewed recent cases IN WHICH
lunatcs who in ms opinion ought not to be at large
have been turned loose upon the community Dr Mac
donald welknown acnist and superintendent or
the Insane Asylum on Wards Island. When Dr. Strew
retired from the charge OF the Insane Asylum on
Backwel's Island Or. Macdonald made temporary
supern that for lodr months he had under his
care nearly persons presenting every con
ceivable phase of that disease. Dr. Macdonald also Is
professor Of diseases of the mind and nervous system IN
the medical department OF the University OF the city OF
New-YOrk.
The present feeling Of dstrs of asylums for the in
".
Consequently while this feeling pretominates 1t
Will not be surprising If every patient taken
before a referee jury is discharged from the asylum
one patient already has been discharged from the Utica
Asylum one from BoOmingdale and three from TINS IN
sttu,ion Not satisfied with al examination or the pres
ent condition OF patient. the referee wants to 20
back three or four years and bring up all the phases OF
his disease that may ayoraby upon the PATIENTS re-
There have been four writs OF haheas
corpus release Of patients o. mine The urt was
for William Keatiug second Maitland third Dixon and
fourth AdrIc These wTits all have been nstlSaed by
the same persons After the wrts had been served some
newspapers began TO attack the management Of this
asylum Interviews with the hysicens instigatng the
wris published, and their motive may be Inferred
from tho prominent suggestion that more medical at
PENDANTS ought to be appointed
ALTHOUGH Keating's writ granted first. Maand's
case was the first taken mp. There was no objection
whatever to Maands discharge. He had been permit
ted to remain u the asylum merely for his own good
This was his second term and ii was feared that he
would suffer another relapse If he went out and mingled
with the world again But he wanted to 60 thea, prob
ably his attracted some attention and he
gained a little notoricty went down 10 see Judge
Donohue and Maitland discharged without any for
nal hearing In Dixon's LIS mother, after paying
retainer of $50 and having another demanded Of her,
listened to sound advice ana refused TO proceed.
where luuatc has been released from that proper re-
stTaint that protection bOth 10 the public ana MIN
ofall-trldes.' barber, an artist OF the white.
wash brush and clergyman: lie was ar
orderly conduct Once he sent to Blackwels Island
OF violence preferred by his father and brothers lie was
sent the wOrkdOuse for year in default OF $1,000
bail such a severe sentence Is evidence Of the
Inv of his offence is very unusual send prisoner
10 the wOrklOuse for 80 long term While an inmate
0f the workhOusc lie was adudged insane aud was iuy
committed TO the asylum Hc had epilcptc hti rom
time 10 time He was extremely violent ana nlae ire
quent attacks upon ms attendhhlH Shuct ne
became qudcter aud seemed much improved. 10 test
this Improvement and ascertain whether or not was
real, due to the dlninntlon OF me useHe OF ony 20 lhe
temporary effect OF the treatment, he was placed In
Il was .oon Sc, that he rcaps.d into his former violent
state when the effect Of the medicine diminished He
during week that his before the referee On
the day before his discharge he arrnyed himself In IAN
tasti dress plated his beard, tei cOorcd nandker
chief around his head and WAVING auoi her handktrcht
went dancing and shouting aboit the ward On inc inc
very morning OF Aldrichs discharge while nj breakasJ
WED one Of the oiher patients in the face and then
began 10 Kick the right and left He was seized
and OverpOwcrcd by the attend ants Ihe referee TOOK
only the testimony OF Adrcls father and two brothers.
No medical testimony establishing bis sanity was taken
The Corporation Counsel stated behalf Of tue Com
the Defendant had 10 desire to retain any
patient whose discharge was proper. The buildings
were greatly OyercrQwded ana tne 1ppro prIttu9h
was insufficient for the support or the inmates OF the
asylum They would be very glad 70 get rld OF zoo II
thc discharge could DO granted with sey 10 lhe com
nunity. The law required that no patcht after htyn
the fling OF certificate D} me luat Ins
was q and proper act such certificate the super
referee Of his accord questioned me- and related
ali the circumstances Of the In spite OF all these
facts the referee reported that Adrch vas and always
hal bccu, perfectly sane. Accordingly he was dis
charged.
miss Oncr Ia Lunacy and sheriff Tie testimony
I'm support Of his sanity given by two former
attendants OF THE asylum whose services HAD been dis
peused with account of charges that l brought
against them one Of these attendants was the same
man who WIS associated with Lawyer Mndy Of excise
fame, and who aferward gave the testimony that
secured Mundys indictment by the CRAM Jury on q
charle Of blackmaii DR.. SireW was rcIu' sted 10
position sDcriutCudcnt OF the Insane
Asv MN on BAckwells Island after bis ncOmpct ucy
had been by ali Investigation OF the Ned
zeal Board HIS examination vi Keatng on the subject
Of decisions IA sample OF the whole he SAID
Heating, they say you are subject TO DC
ing ont of the four physicians VINO were
examined only two testified that Heating was
sane / testified that KeatInR had been committed 10
Backgel's Island violence His father made
the charges against him His family came 10 the asylum
and gave "a history Of actual physical violence. HIS
| father wrote letter to protesting
| against bis sons discharge aud threaten.
| ing TO hold the asylum responsible II
lie released from custody. testified thar while in
the asylum Heating committed numerous acts OF VIC
lcnce and that he dangerous 10 be az large
>tand in his own behalf Keating answered qucs
t!Ous In rambling lnCOhcrent manner. Inc lacness
cut short tue examination and the jury de-
tcrinncd that Kcating was and always had been per
| fectly sane.
Bloomngdale by jury from the same panel and the
same Commissioner In Lunacy had humorous side 10 It.
For after had been pronounced sane ana discharged
from the custody OF the authorities, he went back 10
tn sym aZtIn saying THAI he had returned to study
Music He Is Inmate % BiOOuhnSlalc ana The
surrrintcrdcnt cannot induce him 10 90 away. lie says
that II he driven away lie Will get himself cointtci
| ana come BACK Hgtln -.