The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-09
THIS MUST Be STOPPED.
Massachusetts, Sends Her Insane to
This State.
SEVERAL RECENT CASES IN POINT
Frank #. Abbott Sent From Taunton
(sotsIcib FinIin also OF Taunton, and
Mary Riley From the Same Place, All
Dumped I'm Providenc ce without Notice

The state authorities are now investi-
eating the wholesale free trade which
certain Massa chusetts officers are having
with pauperiusane people which they
are raiiroading into Rhode Island.
The attention OF Mr.. Walter r. Wight
man, the agent OF the State Board OF
Charities and Corrections. was recently
attracted to the importation Of an insane
man by the name of Frank +. Abbott,
who was brought II this state in direct
violation of the agreement which was en-
tered into between this state and Massa-
ohusetts.
The law of legal settlement is different
in the two states, and to harmonizs them
in the easiest way without recourse TO
the enactment of special statdte, 1t
was agreed that no action should be
taken on either side OF the line without
there having first been notice given from
one TO the other of the two bureaus; by
This means the law wCu Il he stretched rs
far as conscience anu prudepcs would
allow, and tho insane who had no friends
TO care for them would be placed under
proper restraint.
violated the Contract
A few months ago the Massachusetts,
officials began TO violate this compact,
but nothing was said about it until this
week, when there was brought to this
city the man Abbot.
Abbott is a painter by trade, and he
was seized with alteration of the mind
while on train which was running
toward New Bedford. lie was taken in
charge by an officer aud carried TO Taun-
ton, where he was ordered committei to
the insane hospital.
Believing that Abbott had a legal res
idence here the Taunton authorlties on
Monday OF this week brought Abbott to
Providence, and without oalling upon
Mr.. Wightman, or sending any notice of
the intended transfsr, the maniac was
carried to his sons house and left with
nobody { care for him. excepting his
wife. who is 30 years Of aye aud in del
icate condition.
Terribly Frightened.
The woman was terribly frightened,
and her husband, on his return home for
the night, found her badly used up"
He notified the police and Abbott was
placed under restraint. The maniac was
In so dangerous n condition that the
police were compelled TO strap him down,
and in the court the next day he had a
paroxysm which was so violent that six
officers were called upon To restrain him.
The court adjndeed Abbott To be too
violent 10 be at large, ana he Is now coll
finen at Cranston.
Abbott has triple legal settlement In
MASSACHUSETTS,, aud by rights he should
have ben detained at Taunton. Ills
father owned real estate at the time OF
his (Atbott's) birth In Andover. Abbott
servei Ia a massachusetts regiment dur
ing the rebellion, and he also had vote
in Lowell Tor seven years. There was no
justification for bringing him into this
state.
On the following day Gottleib Finlin,
German, was landed here from Taun-
ton. He, too, WAS insane, and was car
ried TO his sons residence on Pike street
and left there, without any guardian to
prevent him from doing injury TO the
people In the house.
Another Importation.
On Wednesday there was one more im-
portation. 1t was that Of Mary Riley.
This woman came here directly from
Ireland. She was married here aud sub
sequently returned 10 Ireland for few
years. She again came directly TO this
city. and becoming insane, wandered into
Massachusetts ana was incarcerated In
the Taunton institution.
The Massachusetts officials communi-
Gated with Mr.. Wightman and told him
that they intended to bring her here, as
her husband was an inmate of one oil the
correctional insiii utions at Cranston.
Mr.. Wightman replied that such was not
the case. Tue iaaa had served a short
term. but he had been freed aud was now
. resident of New Bedford.
Despite this information tie woman
was sent here, aud Mr.. Wightman
promptly shipped her TO New Bedfori o
her husbands address, AS the husband
Was the rixht person TO be regarded as
her guardian. The Taunton authorities
learning of this s mt ord To Mr.. Wight
man that il the woman should again fall
into their hands hey would lose no time
in sending her back 60 Rhode Island and
Mr.. Wightman replied hat il they did
that he would st that she was returned.
He did not propose To have ali the poor,
and the ind lent insane OF Massachusetts,
Baddled upon this state.
Mr. Wightman bound TO Know.
Mr.. Wightman has sought for an ex-
PLANTATION from the Massachusetts, off,
GERS. his dealings are with subordinates
whose rank and authority is no higher
than his own. They are supposed, as IA Q
is, to be acting under the direction of
some responsible person, ami his en-
deavor has been to elicit from them
whom II Is VINO gives thess orders.
Every attempt he has made in that d-
rection has been repulsed, aud he has
bsen wavel off with supercilious move
mont OF tine hand. just as though Rhode
lsiand's rights were hardly worth mo-
ments consideration.
de 10 determi1ei now TO bring this
matter To focus, aud IL IL can De ac-
complished Ia NO other way he will ask
the governor OF this state t. interfere
He thinks that q communication from
Governor Brown To Governor Russell
will have the right effect, and that there
will oe an exp .aaation Forthcoming.