St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-09-11
LIFE IN A MAD-HOUSE
As Described by One Who Had
Been There.

Fact and fiction sometimes touch,
and the most improbable incidents in a
sensational novel or incredible scenes
of thrilling melodrama are often re-
produced in real life. About . year
ago l was confined in one of our
country lunatic asyiums. l have no
personal grievance, l was properly re-
strained and kindly treated, but while
. there some peculiar facts came to my
notice which l think will interest the
public generally and especially the rela-
tives and friends of lunatics. If such
things can occur in public asylums,
what may not happen in private ones,
where the unfortunate inmates have
no chance to complain of their treat
mente Shortly after my reason had re-
turned. heard the superintendent say
to a patient, who was surrounded by a
group of supervisors, overseers of the
poor and other officials:
:. Il think that this is q clear case of
kidnapping"
My curiosity was aroused and I
dShCu llllll, SoOI do l. Sould hhu ah
opportunity to speak to kim privately,
about his case.
Il commenced" he replied, "a suit
against my father for alienation of my
wife affections; he thought that the
easiest way of settling the matter was
to shut me up here. I've never been
insane for a moment and it's strange
state of affairs that sane man can be
treated as I've been. Don't you think
90, too?
..What doctors examined you?" 1
asked.
..Drs.-and- he answered,
naming two well known Long Island
physicians.
Don't they know the difference be-
tween insanity and reason?' was my
comment on this statement.
''They ought to-" he said; ''they've
had experience enough. I'm inclined
to think that they took my fathers
word for it. for my examination was
careless and superficial. I've engaged
a smart lawyer, however, and hope to
be released SOON"
questioned the keepers, with whom
was on very good terms. about this
patient, and they all declared that he
had never shown the slightest sign OF
insanity and all thought that it was a
shame to have placed him in the
asylum at all. Yet he was kept there
for over two months, when he was
finally released. If his father had been
shrewd enough to put him in a private
asylum he would probably have been
confined there until this day. Itseems to
me that this incident shows that there is
something radically wrong in our in
sanity laws. ANY two physicians,
young or old, expert or inexperienced.
can deprive man of his liberty and
consign him to living death. I'm
principled doctors in the past have
been bribed to certify to the insanity of
sane persons and may do so again in
the future. This case proves that, even
when honest, they may, through care
lessness or ignorance, imprison men in
their right minds. 1t is placing alto
gether too much power in individual
hands. There is not any good reason
why any one accused of having an un-
sound mind should not always have a
regular jury trial, SO that, with the aid
of an able lawyer. he can have an op-
portunity to show the facts of the case
As the law now stands he can have a
trial in special cases, but that is not
enough. There should be a public
hearing of the matter under all circum-
stances.
Here is another remarkable case.
A patient who told me that he never
was insane. but that his father shut
him up because he went on occasional
sprees. was shortly after his confine-
ment made night watchman. A crazy
night watchman! This fact alone is
evidence enough of the truth of his
story. He naturally took advantage of
his position to escape, and made a
voyage to Florida as sailor. On his
return, although in full possession of
all his senses, he was arrested as an
escaped lunatic. He had been kept in
the asylum when was there for over
year at the county's expense. He was
strong. healthy, able and willing to
support himself. vet he was imprisoned
without rhyme or reason. and when he
asked for his release was quieted with
plauoble promises. which were never
kept. l offered to send him LAWYER.
hut he seemed to think that his father
would soon consent to his release-the
rule being in this asylum that patient
must star there, sane OF insane, until