Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-29
PROCEEDINGS IN LUNACY
MENTAL CONDITION OF EIGHT PER-
SONS INQUIRED INTO.
Case of Wm. Galloway. Who Recently
Ran Amuck Through Emer.
gency Hospital Buildings.

The lunacy proceedings today in the Or
phans' Court branch of the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia were presided
over by Justice Cole. AS a result OF the
filing of petitions in the clerks office few
days ago by the District Commissioners
the mental status of eight persons was in
quired into late in the afternoon, their
names being Joseph o. Bryan. Margaret v.
Weir, Ruth NJ. Howe, Elizabeth Crittenden
and Roseanna Barnes, all white, and VIM
Galloway. Charles Tillman and Samuel
Davis, colored.
1t is set forth in the petitions that the
parties mentioned are INDECENT insane per-
sons. without property or estate, of homi-
cdal and otherwise dangerous tendencies,
and that if permitted to remain at large in
the community the rights of life and prop
erty will be endangered and the public
peace imperiled.
At the time of the filing of the petitions
Justice Cole appointed two physicians as
medical examiners in each case and direct
ed them to make their examinations, ana 10
appear and testify as to the sanity OF the
subjects of the proceedings this afternoon
in Criminal Court No. IL. In addition to
the physicians a number Of lay witnesses
were in attendance to testify. The cases
had not been concluded when this report
closed. Attorney A Leftwich Sinclair ap-
peared in behalf Of the petitioners.
Case of Galloway.
William Galloway is the large colored
farmer about six feet tall, and weighing
over 200 pounds, who was shot by Officer
Carroll at Freedmen's Hospital Tuesday
evening. He halls from the vicinity of Up
per Marlboro, Md He was brought to the
city on Sunday afternoon by two friends
and taken to Freedmen's Hospital. The
man had with him letter which purported
to have been written by a DR.. Hume OF
Marlboro, in which it was stated that the
bearer was suffering from an ulcer on the
leg which necesstated an operation. The
physicians in charge of the hospital admit
ted the patient. and it was their intention
to perform the operation on WEDNESDAY
morning. Galloway was not favorabiy i'm
pressed with the idea of having his limb
operated upon and the matter seemed to
affect his mind considerably. He finally
made up his mind to escape from the insti-
tuition, and on Tuesday evening he was
seen passing through the gate. attired only
in a night shirt. 1t was with great diff
Guilty that he was gotten back into the
again, and the united efforts of the phys-
clans and nurses could not detain him.
The police We're telephoned for and in the
interim Galloway armed himself with a
large piece of scantlng and was running
around in the grounds of the hospital like
a wild man. No one dared interrupt him.
and he proceeded from one place to an
other. breaking out windows and doing
other damage TO the frame buildings.
Caught and Gagged.
Finally the negro was placed upon a
couch and a gag was placed in his mouth.
The following day he was transferred to
St. Elizabeths Asylum on a temporary per-
nit for confinement pending a judicial in
quiry into his mental condition. The ply
sicians appointed to examine him were
Drs. Harry S McCard and Van j. Davis.
Their examination convinced them that the
man is unquestionably of unsound mind.
Galloway was not present at the hearing
of his case. 1t was stated that he was not
in fit condition, mentally or physically to
be brought from the insane asylum, and
that he is confined to his bed.