Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-15
LAWS FOR THE BENEFIT or TIE
INSANE.

LAWS FOR THE BENEFIT or THE
INSANE.
lis altogether probable the new legis-
lature will be asked to make changes in
tie laws relating to the insane. Specih.
celly stated, it Is understood that the SUI
perlntendents Of the two institutions OPP
Grated under state auspices desire and
recommend several changes, and notably
in regard to tine modus operandi by which
the sanity and need OF restraint OF alleged
lunatlcs is determined. II THE GAZETTE
is correctly informed, what is known as
our jury system 10 cases OF lunacy Is re-
garded as one Of the greatest defects or
bad features Of the law. II is intimated
that the average jury in lunacy
cases Is too prone to regard
the patient (who is the alleged lunatic)
as insane. The jury is usually sum
moned In haste ana"selected from the first
citizens the sheriff chances 10 meet after
being instructed to summon jury. They
are told they are wanted "to try a
crazy man, and they file into the court
room pretty we'll satisfied that the sub
ject is crazy, and are not long in deciding
that the unfortunate person before them
is a ut subject for restraint. Very often,
too, we are told, the medical experts"
who are called in to decide as to the men
tai condition Of the man, woman or child
thus arraigned, are not at all competent
to furnish "expert" testimony They
are local practitioners, whose experience
in such cases has of necessity been next
to no experience at all, and their opinions
are yalueless. Like the jurors, they are
p one to accept the insanity theory, and
thus 1t too often happens that people are
consigned TO the asylum who ought not
TO be there, for they are not insane and
do not require restraint. 1t is quite prob
able there is a great deal of truth
in these criticisms, and the sug-
gestions and ideas. advanced by
the gentlemen who are at the head
Of the state institutions ought to and no
doubt will receive consideration at the
hands OF the legislature. Dr.. Wallace
and DR.. Denton are both men Of large ex-
perionce In the treatment and care Of the
insane and their views merit respect.
Moreover both are undoubtedly sincere
in whatever they propose and can have no
other end in view than the Improvement
of the existing system. 1t is to be
doubted, however, il a system such as we
are told prevails in New York and some
OF the Eastern states is desirable. There
men and women are committed to the
mad house with facility that is too often
utilized by base people who desire to ge,
certain persons out of the way. Com
mitments are made hurriediy and private.
ly ON the certificate Of one or more physl.
clans, and sometimes the friends Of the
alleged lunatic are mystifled. to know
what has become Of the party who il
spirited away with a degree of celebrity
and mystery that battles all investigation
for time. Every few weeks
VIC read in the New York pa
pers OF cases where parties
have discovered that this or that friend
who has suddenly and unaccountahly dis
appeared, is an inmate of mad.house
The only resort is an appeal to the courts
and numerous cases are on record where
such persons, detained against their win
were found to be perfectly sane. II /,
generally found, too, that somebody has
motive for getting the person out OF the
way. 1t is iavorlte method Of disposins
of ola people with money. Somebody Ii
always on hand to take charge of the
property. The Texas commission d,
luRatico inquirendo has at least the merit
that its methods are open apd public
The alleged lunatic may employ counse
and have witnesses summoned and there
is no commitment under circumstances o.
mystery and undue haste. II existing
laws are to be amended 1t is quite proba
bic the best features OF the present Law
will be retained, with whatever improve
msnts can be CLEANED from the experlenc,
| of other states,