The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-03-06
SAVED FROM MAD HOUSE
A. D. Tucker Of FIOTQ1One,
VIII not % 10 C10In0OCnGG
THANKS 70 WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
And the too Great Anxiety of His
Friends (?)-God Save the Mark

asylum at Chattahoochee, of Mr.. A.
D. Tucker of Florahome.
He was pronounced insane by an
inquisition held before Judge NJ. 1.
Coke on Tuesday, February 25th.
The committee appointed by the
Judge to determine his mental condi-
ton was composed of DR.. A. NJ. Steen,
Justice of the Peace G. |. ROwtOn
and Deputy Sheriff R. L, Kennerly.
These men held that he was insane.
There was nothing else for Judge
Coke to do but commit him to the
asylum.
The inquisition was regular in form
and according to the statute. The
statute provides that if five persons
make affidavit that a person is so
insane as to be incapable of self-con-
troll, then the county judge shall APP
point two citizens and practicing
physician who constitute an exam
lining committee. The committee
examine the supposedly insane per-
son and other witnesses and make
report. If the judge is satisfied from
the report that the person is insane
he shall so adiudge and make order
to the sheriff to deliver him to the
asylum authorities. The act also
provides that the person may contest
if he so desires and have witnesses
summoned in his behalf.
There is no appeal in cases of this
kind.
Mr.. Tucker, through his attorneys
Walter NJ. Davis and Pat. H. Odum,
filed a petition before Circuit Court
Commissioner Henry Strunz, asking
that writ of habeas corpus be
granted. This petition charged that
A. D. Tucker was being deprived of
his liberty without due process OF
law; that he was adjudged insane
without being given a chance to pre-
pare for the lnquisition or to sum-
mons witnesses or employ an attor-
ney to defend him; that the inquisi-
ton was hastily and summarily con-
Quoted; that he is detained and
about to be deported to the asylum
against his will; that he was denied
guardian for his persons, he having
means; and that he has no right Of
appeal.
On the grounds mentioned in the
petition Commissioner Strunz signed
the writ of habeas corpus, and Mr..
Tucker was brought before him
Thursday morning for preliminary
examination. The commissioner,
however, did not make any order,
prefering to hear the case on its mer-
its, which was done.
The examination before the COM
missioner brought out some interest
ing side lights.
Mr.. Tucker is acknowledged to be
one of the ablesI men in the Flora
home colony. He has been a ''kick-
er''-that is to say he has stood for
his rights. In doing this he has Sc
cured the enmity of the powers.
Because he had been imposed upon
by toughs he demonstrated. Then
he was prosecuted. He was insulted
by a gang of hoodlums and able
bodied men stood by and saw the old
man insulted and-laughed. Mr.
Tucker is old and of highly nervous
temperament. He became ill on ac-
count of his i'll treatment. While in
bed he raved some. He was i'll in
this way three or four times during
the past six months. The testimony
showed that his spells lasted from
three to four days. They always oc
Cured at his own home. He never
attacked any one on the street-never
was ill on the street, and yet able
bodied men 20 years his junior swore
that they were afraid of him.
1t was charged at the examination
that he was gotten into town and
into the court house for the inquisi-
ton by means of trickery, and that
each and every man who signed the
affidavit asking for the inquisition
was personally unfriendly to him.
That there was some ground fol-
the charge was apparent by the man.
ner in which the examination before
the commissioner was conducted. 1t
is a rare thing for disinterested par
ties to go down in their pockets and
hire an able lawyer to prosecute a
man for insanity. That is what was
done in this case, and the men who
paid the attorney were the men who
claimed to be friends" of Mr.. Tuck
er. They may have been his friends,
but if the poor old man can be de-
livered from them in future his cup
of joy should be full.
The case was not completed until
after 10 O'Clock at night, when Mr..
Tucker was discharged.
The airing which this case receiv-
ed before Commissioner Strunz will
have good effect in this community
if it but demonstrates that there is
yet some show of liberty under the
constitution in Putnam county.
Chucking a man into the insane
asylum in order to get rid of him has
been rendered difficult. The News
states this and at the same time
casts no reflection upon the honor