The morning call., 1893-09-22
MUST BE OBEYED.
Judge Hebbard to Enforce the Law
in Regard to Examinations.

Judge Hebbard took the initiative yes
terday 10 deciding how in the future he will
conduct Investigations of insane people in
his court. His decision grew out of the
recent charges made that the Insane Com
missioners were not properly discharging
their duties according to the law in that
people were committed to aSylums with
out ever having been arrested on a war
rant. Judge Bebbard is determined that
the law must be observed, and that there
Will be no chance for anybody being rail-
rOsded TO prison. So he addressed the
following communication to the Insane
Commissioners yesterday:
To Drs. ID. d. LttSti10, Theo. Rethers, E.
Wfndete and J. T.. Lilienth0I. J. J. McDade,
sheriff, II. c. Haley, County Clerk, aud Dr. s.
o. Il. Potter. Superintendent Home Of the In
ebriGtes-GENTLEM In view of Irregular
lilies recently discovered by newspaper eport-
erS III proceedings for the examination aud
commitment in This city aud county OF persons
charged with being insane, and in view of the
possibility OF great wrongs being perpetrated
III SUCH proceedings by reason of err or. hastr,
secrecy or design on the part OF any officer or
other person, L hereby Inform you that in all
cases OF persons charged with being insane ana
regularly brought before me for hearing ] Will
hereafter conduct the proceedings in the cOurtz
room OF Department 4 of The Superior Court in
tie new City Hall at the hour of 1880 O'Clock
A. NJ.
These sessions of the court shall be omen to
the general public and to which the attendance
OF representatives OF the pr eSS is specially in
Vled. 10 the end that public interests and priv
ate rights may be best SubServed and protected
The law elating 10 this subject Is clearly and
correctly set forth by Hon. j. Y. COffey Judge
OF this court, in au opinion rendered by him on
December i. 1884.
In the decision Judge Coffey SAYS:
Subpenas must issue thereupon TO two or more
witnesses best acquainted with such person to an
pear ana testify before the Judge ct such examine
tloh the Judge must also subpoena at least two
graduates OF medicine to appear and attend sncn
examination and all such persons so subpenaed
must appear and answer all pertinent questions:
tne physicians so called in by process of subpoena
| must near such testimony and must make a per
Sonal exam lnatlon of the aleeed insane person
ana must MAKE certificate OF their conclusions
anu then the Judge, after such examination
anu certlncate is made. if be believes the
! person accused to be so far disOrdered
/ In m1nd as to endanger health. person OF
properly, must make an order that such person be
cohnheu IN the asylum. A record of all such
ceeulngS must be kept by the County Clerk. The
physicians attending the examination OF in
county
Penal Code, sections 22lO-2222-An impression
seems 10 prevail that there certain Commits
slohers or insanity who pass upon these cases. An
examination OF the COLES will make manti est the
ofror OF TINS impression. The so-called Commits
siohers are simply physicians graduates OF medl-
cine, IN good standing, who are summoned In the
same manner as other witnesses TO attend the hear
ing Dut IL Is reserved TO the Judge or the court TO
md the fact and ad judieate thereupon.