The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-29
The Administration Of tho Lunatic
Asylums-A Grave Complaint.
NEvRRMIND, Va, April, lSS1


To the Editor of tie Dispatch:
In no spirit of fault-finding. and with no
disposition whatever 10 c~riticise DR.. Ham.
ilton and the present administration OF the
Lunatic Asylum at Staunton, | write TO Law
before the public. through your courtesy,
what seems to me to be either n grave de-
fault in our laws respecting lunatics, or q
very serious and hurtiul error in their con.
struction by the powers that be.
Application was recently made TO DIR.
Hamilton for the readmission to the asvlum
Of a lunatic who had been released onbond
or bail during the administration OF DR..
Hamilton's predecessor. II was represented
In the application that the parties who had
given the bond were now no longer willing
10 be responsible for the lunatic's behavior.
which had mean time become very Violent
and homicldal ia tendency; that they de-
sired TO surrender him, and that the whole
neighborhood in which he resided was rem
dered dangerous by his insane attacks, du-
ring which ho had even attempted TO take
lie by the Use OF firearms, which he ha-
bitualiy wore and frequently threatened to
employ. The superintendent was request
"a most urgently. under these circum-
stances, 10 order the lunatic's arrest by tel
egraph or otherwise b early as possible.
A very courteous answer stated that II
was impossible for the lunatic In question
10 be received back into the asylum; that
q release on bond had been unwisely
secured, not only without the Qate) Super
intendents recommendation, "but, as II
were, In spite Of him -; and that the only
way Of returning the patient TO the asylum
was by the action of q new commission de
tnquirenQo, &c.
To which the Supcrintendent-stiIl vely
ccurteously-added that he regretted very
much that he could not legally afford the
protection sought; but that even II this lu-
matte was so recommitted there was no room
for him at Stanton; that, candidly, he pre-
ferred not TO take him back TO the asylum,
aud that IN bis Judgment ga Jail or prison
would be q proper place for him."
Now, Mr.. Editor, this n question much
too sacred for the Intrusion either OF per,
sonalities or politics. But Is it true thai
under the laws OF Virginia q neighborhood
cannot be legally protected from a danger.
Gus mailman who snaps pistols nj peo.
pies breasts IL 1t true that the ~releas,
Of such characters can be procured from
insane asylums by processes OF law which
notonly ignore buteven overcomethe judg-
meht and authority Of the superintendents ;
hN really the case that no Provision exists
III our State institutions for the shelter.
treatment, and security OF such u~niortu-
mates, who are no less, but rather more.
Tue subjects Of humane pity ii they are
violent aud homicidal's Aud are we pre.
pared Tor the proposition that Jail or prison
Is the right place for l~unatic's confne.
inent, merely because he Is, to the authori.
tes OF a State institution, who are paid for
their services, a dissgreeable and lnIracia.
BILE patienti
Should like very much TO be informed
on these points; for II the laws be as stated
VIC need \ prompt reyisal Of them for the
protection OF society from the dangerous
insane. WITNESS.