The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-06-15
WELL TO MAKE SURE.

A travelling guard of the state pen
itentiary is quoted as saying that no
nraparation whatever has been made
for the care of the criminal insane
at Walla Walla, says the Tacoma
Ledger. Also the authorities whose
dutv it is made under the new law TO
remove the criminal insane from the
state hospitals. or other institutions 10
WalIa Walla are in doubt as to Wneth-
ed they should proceed without 1ur-
Their order than that implied IN the
law itself. 1t is new, untr1ed ana
little understc cd law and the autnor1-
ties will make no mistake in moving
slowly and carefully. Who are the
criminal insane at the state hospl-
tails for the insane within the purvle"
of the new law? The statute says they
shall be removed. Are they such per-
sons as were charged with crimes ana
were acquitted on the ground of in
sanity? Or are they also such persons
as have killed or injured or stolen or
committed forgery and haye been
committed to the hospitals as insane
without a trial on an ordinary crlml-
nal charge having been had?
The same section of the new law
that says all criminal insane now
confined in the state hospitals for the
Insane shall be forthwith sent by the
authorities of these hospitals to the
state penitentiary and placed in the
control of the warden and confined by
him in the ward or department for the
criminal insane" also provides that
ANY criminal insane person now con-
fined in the state penitentiary shall be
transferred to the ward for the GRIM
inally insane, and shall not be dis
charged. save as herein provided" The
latter provision was evidently de-
signed to cover such a case as that OF
Sidney Sloane. who was committed to
Walla Walla by the trial judge, after
acquittal by a jury at Spokane, under
and old law giving the trial judge such
discretion.
Many criminals go insane While
they are serving their sentences. VIII
they be transferred under the provl-
sion quoted to the department or
ward for the criminal insane, or does
criminal insane mean only such per-
sons as committed crimes While IN
sane? One of the serious problems
of prison administration is what to do
with the inmates that go insane after
being received at the prison. The
number of such insane will increase
with the growth of prison population.
Is the state penitentiary to maintain
a department for those who commit
crimes while insane. and another for
hn
mission of crimes?
These and many other questions
arise and it is well for the state in
stitution heads and the state board OF
control to have the counsel of the at
torney generals office. If it is true, as
la travelling guard is reported as say
ing. that no preparations whatever
have been made for the criminal in
sane at Walla Walla, the inmates of
the hospitals and the jails should not
be transferred. for the law says the
authorities at the penitentiary shall
forthwith provide a ward or depart
ment'' and it further says ''such provi-
sion shall be made for their control
the criminal insane), care and treat
ment. as shall be proper in view of
their arrangement Here again
question arises as to what is the
proper provision for the care and
treatment of the deranged.
Surely the state will not treat the
criminal insane as ordinary prisoners
are treated. The insane need a differ
ent kind of food from the usual pris-
oner. They need more skilful medi-
cal treatment They need more pleas
ant and cheerful surroundings. They
need all of these things and more II
| it is the policy of the state to effect
any cures and surely the state should
not countenance for moment punt
| tive treatment of the insane.
Nothing will be lost by proceeding
carefully. The inmates of the hos
pitfalls will not get away and in the
| meantime the institution authorities
may obtain counsel as to how they
should proceed: