The Washington herald., 1909-08-11
UNFAIR TREATMENT
FOR OLD SOLDIERS
Attorney Says Veterans Are
Detained at Asylum.
CLAIMS UNJUST COMMITMENT
Attorney Cites Case of
John Jibb, Recently Released from
st. E1iEabetth's Through LeEnI Pro-
ceedings, 10 Prove Neglect and In
consideration OF Hospital Officers.

That old soldiers committed to the
Government Hospital for the Insane do
not receive anything like a square deal
is the opinion OF Attorney Richard p
Evans. who has procured the release Of
several veterans. and who is retained as
counsel for others who he claims are de-
tanned at the institution for the insane
under circumstances which make their
cases pathetic in the extreme.
Mr.. Evans claims there is no Justice IN
the present mode OF committing old sol
diers from the various national homes
throughout the country 10 St EIizabeth's s
without provision for court OF inouisi-
ton to determine their mental condition
BY the present system old soldiers who
manifest only slight and temporary aber-
rations or merely "tantrums" 20 which
most persons Of age are subject. are with
the merest formality hurried out of the
way to St. Elizabeths, where. according
to Mr.. Evans. death alone will release
them II they have not outside friends
TO make Intervention IN their behalf.
Committed from National Home.
The latest veteran, whose case was
brought into court through Mr. Evans. is
John Jibb, committed from Marion
branch. National Home for Disabled Vol
unteer Soldiers. Indiana. Jibb was com
mitted last November. He was suf-
ferer from an ailment contracted in the
army, and became temporarily but harm
lcssly, deluded. In a few days after his
commitment he was a normal man; was
allowed first the freedom OF the hospital
grounds and then Of the city.
Jibb drew pension OF $l2 a month.
Under the law. as It stood before Feb
ruary ., 1909, the patient was allowed
one-siNth OF his pension for spending
money. and One-half Of the remainder,
or s. a month. was set aside as Il fund
TO be given him at hts discharge.
But under an act or February last.
providing for a disbursing officer for the
hospital the disposition OF all pensions
was rearronged, and from that date to
the time OF Jibb's discharge. in June.
there was nothing reserved TO be paid
over 10 him upon mis- release.
Under the present working OF the law
no provision is made for q fund 10 be
unless his pension Is $3.50 a month or
more. For example from a pension Of
$3.50 a month. S55 a quarter goes 70 the
hospital for board and maintenance. SLIPS
to the pCnslOner for incidental expenses.
while N.25 a quarter. or s. a year. is
placed aside 10 be given the patient on
his releace
Habeas Corpus Writ.
When J;bb was granted leave to go
about the city he sought Attorney Evans.
The latter sued out a writ Of habeas cor
pus in the veterans behalf lie was
brought before the Supreme Court Of the
District. Hearing was had before Judge
Barnard, and on agreement Of the dis
trlct attorney that the superintendent OF
st. Elizabeth's. DR.. William A. White.
would release Jibb, the court continued
the case FOR several days 20 permit The
arrangement TO be carried out. Jibb was
released and the writ Of habeas corpus
was discharged.
Discussing this condition further. Mr..
Evans said:
In addition 10 the pension money
which the hospital receives from the SOL
diers committed there, the general gov
ernment gives 500 a year for board and
maintenance Of each veteran. the same as
for an INDECENT committed from the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Il have I'm hand now" continued the
attorney indicating a bunch OF papers,
about forty applications. nearly all from
soldiers. for writs OF habeas corpus. Many
Of them I consider deserving. but it is
impossible for me 20 take all of them up.