The Washington herald., 1909-07-22
POLICE ORDERED
TO PROBE ASYLUM
Danger Of Escaped Insane
Patients Considered.
COMMISSIONERS TAKE ACTION
Upon Motion OF Commissioner West,
the Board Asks Police SuPerintend-
ent to Make Report and Advise
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Prediction Made
by The Washington Herald.

As exclusively predicted In The Wash
ington Herald yesterday, the Board Of
Commissioners OF the District govern
ment, upon motion Of Commissioner
Henry L. West, issued an order yester-
day, directing the major and superln-
tendent OF police TO report TO tho Com
missiOners all facts that have come under
his official notice in connection with the
alleged escape Of insane inmates Of the
Government Hospital for the Insane.
The order says: In view Of the pub
lished statements regarding alleged In
sane persons being at large. 1 move that
the major and superintendent Of police
be directed to report to the Commits
sioners such facts as his records may
show in connection with this matter, to-
gether with such suggestions or recon-
mendations as. In his experience. he may
deem advisable"
Commissioner West said after the ad-
Journment OF the board that the action
Of the Commissioners in this case would
largely depend upon the nature of the
report made by the superintendent OF pO-
lice and his suggestions and recommended
lions in the case. which have been asked
| for. The Commissioner said that II the
police superintendent in his report showed
| that dangerously insane persons escape
from ST. Elizabeth's and were a menace
70 public safety, some steps would be
taken TO present the matter to Secretary
Ballinger, Of the Department Of the In
terror. under whose direction the asylum
management comes.
VIII Advise Remedy.
He said that II the records Of the police
department showed that conditions ex-
listed as had been presented IN the local
papers, then accompanying the report OF
the superintendent Of police would be
suggestions and recommendations rene
dial Of the matter formulated upon the
experience Of the police department
Commissioner mcfarland. after APPROX
ing Commissioner Vests motion. said he
did so because the motion was made by
the Commissioner In charge OF the police
department which has special care OF the
public safety. He said II was a question
not of the care and treatment Of the Dis
trict patients, which matter came under
the supervision OF the Board Of Charities.
but Of police regulation.
Mai. SyIvester's Report.
Mai. Richard Sylvester. superintendent
OF the metropolitan police department IN
his annual report 10 the Commissioners
in 1903. discussing the insane OF the Dis
| trict. said In part:
THE dependents when once placed In
/ institutions should receive the most gem
erous attention that means and skill can
provide. 1t is to be regretted that circum-
stances frequently cause the officials of
asylums or sanatOriums 70 permit partial
/ ~ cured inmates TO leave the same on
/ furlough or parole and many patients
/ from asylums throughout the country are
at large without certificate OF clearance
| OF recovery. These subjects are liable
! TO de .elop a mania at any time and any
where at the cost Of human life, unless
certified 10 as cured.
mo patient should be permitted 20
leave an insane asylum, except under
guard and protection Of an attendant The
/ occasions are not rare when the police
are called up to apprehend persons who
have been extended privileges such as
have been mentioned. And instances
might be cited IN which the securing OF
such persons has been attended by much
anxiety. labor. and risks
TT not infrequently happens that indf-
/ viduais who are arrested for crime or
who come within this jurisdiction and
show signs OF insanity are found upon
/ investigation TO have been paroled from
some institutions where they have been
under treatment for mental disorders.
Need for Judgment.
Experience prompts this suggestion:
/ That those who are charged with the
| care OF insane persons should exercise
/ wise judgment and be thoroughly con-
WINGED of a patients recovery before
granting furlough or discharge. 1t Is diff
| hcult 10 determine when the mildest type
/ may become the other extreme. The
| superintendent is called upon this subject
| nearly every day for advice, If not for
action, not infrequently by persons with
\ imaginative grievances"
| It is expected that Maj Sylvester will,
/ IN accordance with the order Of the
/ Board Of Commissioners, file with that
/ body this morning a report upon this
subject with recommendations and sug-
! gestions for the protection of the people
| from insane persons at large.