The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-23
Hearing Insanity Cases in
District Court.
More Privacy in Examinations
Advocated by Many.
Some Destructive Shore Resort Fires
of Years Gone BY.

The uresent method OF dealing with the
eases of insane persons Is causing consid-
erable dissatisfaction, aud commission,
which shall be empowered TO examine
and pass upon them in private, has been
suggested as an improvement oil the
system, now in vogue of bringing them
into open court. where, owing TO their
mental intirmities they not ilfrequentiy
indulge in distressing exhibitions. Iiere
certainly is need of some such change, as
any one will admit, after visit TO the
district court w hon the-cnses- -of some OF
the moro severely afflicted are under con-
alteration. OF late the number OF insane
persons brought Lefore the court has
been nprecedentedly large and In some
Instances the unfortunates have become
almost frantic. 10 the morbid doubtless
these exhibitions furnish entertainment
OF certain kind. but to the healthy
minded they are distressing in the ex-
treme. Just why 1t should be necessary
to drag persona bereft OF reason, INTO
open court where crowd OF idle, curious
and unsympatnetic persons Is always 10
be found is not quite clear. Perhaps the
practice has it's foundation in the desire
To prevent the commitment of persons OF
sound mind by designing relatives or
friends. But this same end could be con-
served were the cases heard in private
with only the persons Immediately con-
cerned ia attendance. The unfortunate
would not then be subject to the violent
excitement which lsrge crowds usually
Induce in these of unbalanced mind while
the court would have an equally good, II
net better opportunity, of passing upon
the mental condition of those brought be-
fore 1t than 1t has under tho present sys-
TEN. Assuredly there should be some
change IN the method of examination, SO
that such exhibitions as have recently
taken place in the court room may not be
repeated.
The destruction of the cafe and dance
hall at Crescent Park early yesterday
morning recalls the fact that there have
been other serious fires at summer resorts
along the bay, and, curiousIy enough, In
neither OF the two most important In
stances were the burned structures ever
rebuilt. The Vue de lEau Hotel on the
east side of the bay, very popular place
OF resort during the summer, was burned
: to the ground and It's biaekened fnnnda-
tions, overgrown with weeds, could be
seen for many years afterward. The most
serious and destructive fire, however, was
that which swept Rocky Point OF It's mos [
imposing buildings in March, 1853. Up
to that time a magnificent hotel occupied
the site on part of which now stands the
Pavilion. On the other side of the road,
and where the dining nall is at present
situated, was long two-story building.
In the first-story of which was the inn
mense dining hall, while overhead were
many rooms occupied by the large force
OF employees on duty at the point during
the summer. The fire broke out in the
hotel, OF which the only occupants were
the family of the manager of the place.
who lived there during the winter. How
1t started was never definitely ascertained,
but it spread with remarkable rapidity,
until the whole structure was in flames.