Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-09-28
JURY NOT DOCTORS.
Must Hereafter Decide Luncy
Cases-MedicOs' Act UncOn-
stitutiOnal-COunty CON-
missioners Make I'm
portant Ruling.
SANITY TO BE JUDGED BY JURY
Persons Committed to State Institutions
For Insane Must Be Passed Upon
Legally By IL Good Men
And True. -

And True.
Acting in accordance with a recent
decision of Judge Brashears, the
County Commissioners have. adopted
a ruling providing that in the future
the sanity of persons for commitment
to State insane asylums at the ex-
ense of the county, must be passed
upon by legal jury of inquest COM
posed of twelve members and not upon
certificate of two physicians as has
been the custom in past years.
This question came up before the
Commissioners at Tuesdays meeting
in the case of Mary w. Carswell.
Drs. Cawood and Perrie having GER
titled to the woman's insanity follow
ing the usual examination. In bis
opinion, Judge Brashears held that
the commitment of persons to asylums
upon the certificate of doctors was
unconstitutional. Commenting upon
the matter, Mr.. James w. Owens.
counsel to the Commissioners, in a
report submitted to the Board, point
ed out that in the past doctors
have been paid the sum of
$40 for conducting mental examina-
tions, which, in many cases are of
a perfunctory nature, whereas a jury
of twelve men, each to be paid ST
each for their services, could be
detailed in such cases, the same as
inquests upon dead bodies.
Furthermore, Mr.. Owens recon-
| mended that the patients from this
! county now in the various institu-
tions, as insane, be examined by the
physicians of said institutions, the
expenses to be borne by the county.
1t would seem that this county has a
number of ''insa2e" patients at Mon
tevue and other State hospitals, judg-
ing by the board bills that are settled
for quarterly and the wedding out
which will undoubtedly result from
the denominations, would, in the
end, mean saving to the county.
The County Commissioners had al
ready endorsed the certifications of
Drs. Cawood and Perrie in the case
of the Carwell woman, but after read
ing Judge Brashears' opinion in the
premises, this action was rescinded.
Other business transacted by the
Commissioners on Tuesday included
the following:
Mr.. A. F. Jenkins, of Baltimore,
who has an estate on the Severn
river, sent a letter to the Board
complaining of negligence and inso-
lence on the part of Asbury Collins,
| assistant bridge keeper of Severn
river bridge, while Mr.. Jenkins
and his wife were passing up the
river Sunday evening in their
launch. The complainant said that
although he repeatedly footed his
whistle, using the usual signal, it was
fifteen minutes before the assistant
keeper appeared to open the draw for
Mr.. Jenkins boat to pass through.
Mr.. Jenkins said the man was yerv
impudent and appeared to be intoxi-
Gated. The Board decided to have a
| hearing in the case on Tuesday next.
and Mr.. Collins and Mr.. jenkins have
been instructed to appear on that
date.
On account of the large amount of
traffic through South river bridge, the
Board decided to continue the services
of the bridge keeper at night until
| November l.
| The County Engineer was directed
to advertise for bids for extending
the sewer on Fifth and Carroll streets
at Brooklyn, said bids to be received
and opened on October II.
Because of the apparent negligence
on the part of the constables in the
several districts, in the collection of
the dog tax, the Board has sent noti-
fications to all of them to appear be-
fore the Board on Tuesday next.
The Board wishes to have the law
enforced, and the constable will be
instructed as to their duty in this par
ticular.
Mr.. James Deale, keeper of Ira
cey's bridge, was before the Board
and complained of the small amount of
salary, $25 per month, paid him for
his services, particularly in regard to
opening the bridge at night. The
county had been paying Mr.. Deale at
the rate of SIS per month during the
heavy traffic season down there, but
had decided to go back to the former
salary of $50 per year during the
closed season.
The following insolvencies were
granted: Mary H. Murray, s26. .O5O.
on account of an error in the list of
stocks and bonds credited for assess
ment; DR.. Louis B. Henkel, ,Jr.. s125
upon a horse and buggy, which had
been sold; Jacob Finlass, $1,000,
upon his house and furnishings and
stock in store at Eastport that was
destroyed by fire.
| The Board has decided to call ir
all outstanding certificates on tn.
levy of 1910, and has given notice
that interest on said certificates viii
cease on and after November /.
The Board approved the bonds o.
Thomas McGuckian & Sons, contrac
tors for the construction of a bridg,
near the Annapolis Water Works, an,
of j. 0. Cundiff, contractor for tn
bridge across Severn Run.
Ia addition to paying the usua