The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-04
Citizens Generally Depiore the Condi-
tions Recently Brought to
the Public Gaze.
THREE INVESTIGATIONS OF
A JOKE THAT NEARLY LANDED A
SANE MAN IN ASYLUM.
Coroner Brayton Advocates a "Trying
Out" InstftutiOn-Medical Com
mittce to Act.

The insanity trust" is the theme of con-
versation in all the downtown business
places now, and many expressions OF pleas
IRE are heard over the release OF John ROSS
and the Investigations that are to be made
by the grand jury, Board of Health and
Marion County Medical Society. The grand
jury will take the lead in the investigation.
and Prosecutor Ruckelshaus was busy yes
terday hunting up affidavits that have been
made in questionable insanity commissions.
A question has been raised as to persons
perjuring themselves by making afidavits
ir insanity commissions when they were
not personally and fully advised In the
cases. In some instances the persons adj
judged insane or acquitted were never seen
by those making the affidavit. 1t is also
said by those who are defending the dis
pensary physicians and justices of the
peace that the afidavits are mere expires
sions of opinion, 10 the best of their knowl-
edge"
Following is the oath upon which the
affidavit is made "The undersigned, citi-
zen of said county, upon oath declares that
the foregoing allegation and statement of
facts is true and full in all it's parts" The
affidavit is signed by the witness making
the affidavit and a justice of the peace.
The oath the medical attendant signs
reads as follows: Doctor -, of said
county, declares on oath that he has re-
Gently been the medical attendant of -,
of said county. alleged 10 be insane: that
the following is a full and careful state
ment of the medical history and treatment
observed and pursued by him in said case"
QUICKLY FOLLOWED ARREST.
A11~-Ltw H. --l e
a description OF the case and nature of
treatment. In the Dispensary cases in par
ticular many persons have been adjudged
insane soon after their arrest for drunken
ness or on other charges. 1t is not excep-
tional for persons to be arrested for some
cause or other at night and to be adjudged
insane the next day. OF cases of this sort,
and one which gained much notoriety, was
that of William b. De Poy, Of Irvington.
who was arrested one evening under the
influence OF cocaine and was adjudged in
sane the next day. He was released by
Judge Leafhers. of the Superior Court. on a
habeas corpus petition, after a dismissal
in the Circuit Court, where Judge Allen
heard all or the evidence. Since that time
De Poy has conducted his business in the
same businessiike manner that he did be-
fore he was adJudged insane.
The affidavit sworn 10 by the medical
examiners says that they lave within five
days of the Date of the inquest carefully
and personally examined the defendant,
ana that their judgment is based upon such
examination and the statements OF wit
nesses making the affidavit.
The certificate signed by the iusffce of
the peace sets out that witnesses and ply
sicians in the case were Sworn and gave
evidence" and that his judgment upon the
testimony and his personal examination"
Is that the defendant is or is not insane.
The grand jury will begin its investiga-
ton as soon as the Jail cases are disposed
OF and the workings of the insanity
trust will be probed to the bottom. Judge
feathers. when he released John Ross. said
that under the present system persons may
be "railroaded' to the insane hospital and
at the same time the insanity commission
might not technically violate the law. He
said IT was evident.th there should be a
reformation in the law. This was aside
from the decision in the case as the point
raised before him was the sanity of Ross.
REGULARITY ADMITTED.
In the hearing OF the Ross case the al
legged irregularity of insanity proceedings
was not gone into. Justice Lockman, who
presided over the commission, was not
placed on the witness stand for that rea-
SON. John w. Hoffman. his attorney,
called him into the courtroom and had
him sworn. Amos Haynes, one of Ross
attorneys. asked Hoffman why he wished
to place Lockman on the stand. Hoffman
replied that the petition charged that the
proceedings were irregular and he wanted
to present that matter to the court. Hynes
he would admit that the proceedings were
regular. Judge Loathers said if the plant
if admitted that, then there was no use
for Lockman's testimony, and the justice
Of the peace was dismissed.
A case noticeable on the records of in
sanity commissions is that of Pearl Riggs.
She and another woman, living In the
same house. were acquitted of charges
of insanity by a commission composed of
the Dispensary physicians and Justices
Lockman and Stout twice. one inquest be-
ing held Jan. 16 and the other Feb. 1. Feb.
I, a week later, a commission composed OF
the physicians of the City Hospital and
Fearl Higgs insane. and she was commit
ted TO the Insane Hospital. There were
three commissions held on the women in
as many weeks. In which the justices re-
coived 81 each for each hearing, and the
witnesses and physicians each received
fees. The second commission that was
sound mind at first. but 1t is said that
members of the Sixth Christian Church
raised such a remonstrance that the de-
cision was Withdrawn by Justice Lockman
and she was acquitted.
THE PAPERS RETURNED.
The papers had been made out for her
commitment and sent to the Insane Hospi-
tai and a message was sent for the officials
there to return them. They were returned.
w men the protest was Ltdoe Dy the cnuTch
members Justice Lockman made a personal
investigation and ~telephoned to George
Fate, of the county clerks office, to change
the decision ~adjudging her insane. He said
the woman was certainly insane. but the
church people made such a protest thai it
was best to acquit her.
DR.. Pettijohn. jr., says that he did not
nave any words with DR.. Christian over
fees in the case Of William De Poy. Petit
john says that when the commission that
adjudged De Poy of unsound mind was
held Justice Lockman asked him IL he
would swear that De Poy was insane. Pet
tijohn says he refused, and at the time
stated that he would rather have a clear
conscience than a fee. On the witness
stand in Judge Aliens court. when the
habeas corpus proceedings for De Poy's re-
lease were first held, Petti1ohn stated that
he did not consider De Poy of unsound
mind. He said he thought De Poy was not
in his right mind at the time he saw him;
that he was suffering from the effects OF
cocaine. but after he recovered he consid-
cred him perfectly sane. He said he re-
fused TO make affidavit that De Poy was
insane.
HOW A JOKE WAS Y