The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-21
FIRST INEBRIETY CASE.
Judge Willrich's First Application
Under the New Law.


Under the New Law.
Judge Willrich was confronted yes
terday with the first case Of inebriety
that has appeared IN the pr probate court
since the new law of 1897 went into
effect Under this law the probate
Judge is directed to appoint q COM
mittee or commission whose duty 1t
shall be to select some institution with
in the state in which the inebriates Of
such county may be placed for treat
ment.
1t SO happens that Judge Willrich has
not as yet appointed a commission to
make the required selection Of a jag
curing establishment. 1t also happens
that the authorities of the Rochester
insane asylum, have abolished the de-
partment for inebriates, that was until
Consequently Judge Willrtch is in
somewhat of q quandary what to Go
with the inebriate now In the charge
of the probate court.
The case of that Of w. s.. Chamber
lain, who presented himself voluntarily
and the case was examined on the pc
tition of certain parties who acted with
his consent.
Judge Willnch took the case under
advisement and continued the hearing
for one week.
Following is the material portion Of
the new law which Is chapter 260 Of the
official publications:
Whenever any legal rusident and citizen Of
the state Of Minnesota shall become an habit
ual drunkard in the sense hereinafter defined,
and Is public charge, or is about to be-
come public charge OF in case the appli-
can't Is a married man, and such drunkard,
and his family is public charge, or about
to become q public charge he may apply in
person to the judge of probate of the county
in said state in which he shall be a resident,
with hiH consent friend Of
kin may so apply for him to the judge Of
probate Of the said county, setting forth the
fact Of said habftual drunkenness, and of the
financial condition that he or his said fam
lily may be in, and his desire to be cured
Of said drunkenness. He shall make oath to
the truth of his said statements, and shall
furnish two credible witnesses, who shall
also be residents Of the same county and
state, to further attest these facts.
Upon receiving such application, the, pro-
bate judge shall forthwith proceed to deter
mine if the facts are in accordance with the
sworn statements of the applicant and his
witnesses, and for that purpose may subpoena
and require to appear before him and testify
such other witnesses as he may deem proper,
and If said judge of probate shall be salts
fed, from such examination, that the facts
set out in said application are true, he
shall, without unnecessary loss of time, trans
port and commit the said applicant to any
reputable institution in which inebriates may
be cured, such institute or institution to be
located within said state, and to be selected
by committee of three citizens appointed
whenever deemed proper by such judge, by
said Judge Of probate, of said county. The
board of county commissioners shall have
the power of authority, and it shall be their
duty to contract and fix at a reasonable sum
the terms or price for such treatment, with
the proper party, or proper parties, repre-
Eenting such institute, or institution, and to
audit and allow the bills therefor upon the
report and certificate of said judge of pro-
bate; but it shall be unlawful to appropriate
or allow more than one hundred $100) dol
lars for such treatment in any one case at
the expense and cost Of the county Of which
he is resident. Provided that there shall
not be committed to said institute under tho
provisions Of this act more than one inebriate
year for each ten thousand 100000, Or major
fraction thereof Of the population OF each
county.
The money appropriated and used for such
expenses costs and treatment as aforesaid,
shall be and is hereby declared to be loan
from the county to the individual receiv
ing the benefits of the same. which shall be
payable at any any time within five years
without interest. The party accepting the
benefits Of the said loan shall give his note
to said county for the full amount of costs
for commitment and treatment, when said
treatment shall have been finished and all
expenses shall have been properly reported
to the said judge of probate. This note shall
stallments, or, at the time of maturity, may
be extended at the discretion of the judge Of
probate. If the applicant shall be minor,
he shall, nevertheless be and Is hereby au-
thorized and empowered to execute a prom
issory note as herein required, which shall
be in all respects as valid and enforceable as
If such applicant we're of full age.