The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-08-31

ANOTHER insane man in Jail, not muir
derer, to be sure. but that piece of good
fortune is not due to lack of effort on his
part. What mode of procedure will be
taken in the case of the two men now in
prison, who will undoubtedly plead that
diseased minds were responsible for their
deeds. cannot be stated now. but there is lit
tie doubt that they should be tried for their
crimes. If acquittal follows on account of
insanity, they should be sentenced for the
balance of their life to some institution
where they will not be able to jeopardize
other lives. To merely commit them to
an asylum from which they may be re-
leased upon decision of regained sanity
is not sufficient. The two men referred to
are undoubtedly guilty and are liable to
severe punishment If they are not fit
subjects for prison cell they should be
given in an asylum the number of years
they are liable to spend in prison.
REFERRING to the election of United
States Senator, the Hackensack Rebu6i-
can said cit is useless to deny that to be
candidate for United States Sena-
tor in New Jersey requires ready cash and
a good deal of it." The State Gazette
took exception to these remarks and re-
piled that cit doesn't cost great deal of
ready cash to be candidate for u. S.
Senator" Fairly viewing both sides of
the question we are inclined to believe
that the Republican has the better end of
the argument. 1t is all rot to attempt to
deny that money is factor in such con-
test Why, right here in Burlington coun-
ty it has been openly boosted that money
is to be plentifully used this fall in secur-
ing certain nominations. Who is to fur
nish it We agree with the State Gazette
that the good voters are insulted by such
a state of affairs, and the only way to put
stop to it is for the people to come out, en-
masse, to the primaries, and select dele
gates who will pay some attention to quail
ifications of candidates
AN aggravated assault by crazy man
at Burlington, and murder at White Hill
by one who is claimed TO be insane, have
caused many inquiries to arise on the sub
ject of insanity. The Burlington case
shows peculiar line of incidents. Wal
lace, the assailant was first attacked with
insanity in 1894, and became so bad that
he was sent to the asylum. While he was
there his wife applied for pension, and
in January of last year, commission was
appointed to inquire into Wallace's insan-
ity In the testimony taken were sffida-
Wits from Drs. Ward and Felty, two ply
sicians at the asylum, both of whom said
that Wallace was undoubtedly insane
Dr. Felty testified that the man had been
in the institution for two years, and was
deprived of his reason in very great de-
gree. DR.. Ward gave the same testimony,
adding that she has at all times been ex-
tremely violent The commission found
the man insane, and Howard Flanders was
appointed his guardian. The for m of APP
pointment says guardian of person and
property Was Mr.. Flanders consulted
regarding the release of his ward from
the asylum. In January, 1896, Wallace
was adjudged insane and at that time was
pronounced Extremely violent" In less
than a year from that date he was on the
streets of Burlington. An ex-policeman
who has had experience with the dement,
ed man says he has not seen any change
for the better in William since his release
When Wallace was set free two citizens
gave bond for his good behavior AL
lowing that such a procedure is all right,
what position % these men occupy now?
The man who vas assaulted has lost some
time, been put to some expense, and may
yet suffer permanent Disagreement Does
the bond cover this2 IF Wallace was, in
January, 1896, insane to "a very great de-
gree" as DIR. Felty testified, were the
asylum authorities justified in releasing
him even ON the bond in October of the
same year? The recent occurrence shows
that there was not sufficient recovery of
mental powers to make Wallace safe
man to be at large.
VOTERS of Burlington county should
bear in mind that the Constitutional