Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-20
STATE HOUSE.
Change in Law Relating to Insane
Persons.
First Act Reported by Committee
This Session.

NC SOilSluCiCu Tic III 81 dCt VI lIle Sto-
sion. 1t is relative to the law pro-
viding for the commitment of insane
persons to the asylums of the State
The changes are of the utmost impor-
tance it is claimed by able lawyers who
have looked into the matter. Hereto
fore any relative could make COM
plant that person was insane. The
amendment provides that only a blood
relative, husband or wife may do SO.
The act is as follows:
Section /. Section thirteen of chap
ter one hundred and forty-three of the
Revised Statutes, as amended by chap
| ter two hundred and forty-four of the
Public Laws of eighteen hundred and
ninety-seven, is hereby amended as
fellows:
| In line four strike out the word rel
alive" and instead thereof insert the
words 'blood-relative, husband or wife
of said alleged insane person. also in
the same line strike out the words Tin
| their town." also in line six after the
word INSANE" insert shall appoint a
time and place for a hearing by them
| of the allegations of said complaint,
and shall cause to be given in hand to
the person so alleged to be insane at
least twenty-four hours prior to the
time of said hearing, true copy of
said complaint, together with a notice
of the time and place of said hear
| ing and that he has the right and will
be given opportunity then and there
to be heard in the NATTER also in line
nine strike out the words "to the
hospital and instead thereof insert the
words either to the Maine Insane hos
pital or to the Eastern Maine hospital,
so that said section, as amended, shall
read as follows:
Section 10. Insane persons, not
thus sent to any hospital, shall be sub
ject to examination as hereinafter pro-
vided. The municipal officers of towns
shall constitute board of examiners,
and on complaint in writing of any
| blood relative, husband or wife of said
alleged insane person, or of any justice
of the peace, they shall Immediately
inquire into the condition of any per-
son in said town alleged to be insane;
| shall appoint time and place for a
| hearing by them of the allegations of
| said complaint and shall cause to be
| given in hand to the person so alleged
| to be insane, at least twenty-four
hours prior to the time of said hearing
a true copy of said complaint, together
with a notice of the time and place OF
Il said hearing and that he has the right
and will be given opportunity then and
there to be heard in the matter; shall
cali before them all testimony neces-
sary for full understanding of the
case; and if they think such person in
sane, and that his comfort and safety,
or that of others interested, will there
by be promoted, they shall forthwith
| send him either to the Maine Insane
| hospital or to the Eastern Maine In
sane hospital, with a certificate stat
ing the fact of his insanity, and the
town in which he resided or was found
at the time of examination, and direct
ing the superintendent to receive and
detain him until he is restored or dis
charged by law, or by the superinten-
dent or trustees. They shall keep a
record of their doings, and furnish a
copy to any interested person request
ing and paying for it.
Section 2. Section thirty-four of
chapter one hundred and forty three
of the Revised Statutes is hereby
ii d1lC1uGu DIS lOllOWS. olIlke Out ill VI
said section, and instead thereof in
sert:
Section "a. In all cases of prelmi-
nary proceedings for the commitment
of any person to the hospital, to es-
tabish the fact of the insanity of the
person to whom insanity is imputed
there shall be required the evidence OF
at least two reputable physicians given
by them under cath before the board of
examiners, together with certificate
signed by such physicians and filed
with said board, that in their opinion
| such person is insane, such evidence
| and certificate to be based upon due
inquiry and personal examination of
the person to whom insanity is imput-
ed; and certified copy of the physi-
clans certificate shall accompany the
papers of commitment of the insane
person to the hospital
The work of the committee now en-
gagged in examining the accounts of the
| 70 Pa, tro will no 1ofa tlo