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

Judge Willrich was confronted yes
terday with the first case of inebriety
that has appeared in the 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.
It SO happens that Judge Willrich has
not as yet appointed a commission to
make the required selection Of jag
curing establishment. 1t also happens
insane asylum, have abolished the de-
partment for inebriates, that was until
recently maintained at that institution.
Consequently Judge Willrich is in
somewhat OF a quandary what to Go
with the inebriate now in the charge
of the probalte court
The case of that Of W. S. Chamber
lain, who presented himself volunt tarily
and the case was examined on the Pc
tition of certain parties who acted with
his consent
Judge Willrich took the case under
advisenent 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 resident 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, or in case the appli-
cant Is married man, and such drunkard,
and hist his family Is public charge, or about
person to the judge of probate Of the county
in said state in which he shall be resident,
or with his consent any friend or near OF
kin may SO apply for him to the judge OF
probate Of the said county, setting forth the
fact Of said habttual drunkenness, and of the
financial condition that he or his said fam
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
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 a committee of three citizens appointed
whenever deemed proper by such Judge, by
Sdlu JuQSS VI pIoUdIS, VI Soiu COuHCy. 1HC
board of county commissioners shall have
the power Of authority, and it shall be their
duty to contract and fix at reasonable sum
the terms price for such treatment, with
the proper party, or proper parties, repre-
eenting such Institute, or institution, and to
audit and allow tho bills therefor upon the
report and certificate Of said judge Of pro-
bate; but 1t 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 a resident. Provided that there shall
not be committed to said institute under the
provisions of this act more than one inebriate
a year for each ten thousand 90, G00), 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 a 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
be non-negotiable and may be paid by in
stallments, or at the time Of maturity, may
be extended at the discretion of the judge Of
probate. If the applicant shall be a minor,
he shall, nevertheless, be and is hereby au-
thorized and empowered to execute prom
issory note as herein required, which shall
be In all respects as valid and enforceable as
if such applicant were of full age.