Evening star., 1916-08-27

Columbia, who at that time were not
very numerous. Now, in addition. IT
receives all the insanity cases of the
federal prisons, for whom there Is
special building securely barred and
elaborately guarded Under these cir
cumstances, the problems of this asy-
lum are individual and peculiar, COM
pared with those of other institutions
the problems of the military mental
defective and the insane criminal
For several years now the War and
Navy departments have had their rep
resentatives working in the psycho-
logical laboratory of the hospital with
a view to studying the insane as they
affect military and naval organization
There is the case of the enlisted man,
for example, who is constantly reacting
against discipline with no apparent
reason except his irresistible tendency
to go counter to any specific regula-
ton He stays out late beyond his
leave and comes in drunk; he is late Tor
roll call and neglects his work, and
proves altogether fractions and unman-
ageable. Such man formerly would
end UP in prison after \ series OF eS-
periences which resulted in a court-mar-
tial. He often became demented and was
eventually turned over to st. Elizabeth s.
Now. under the new methods. when an
enlisted man proves his inability to
comply with military regulations he is
turned over to a psychologist, who puts
him through various mental tests to
determine his proper environment. IL
it is evident that he is unfit for the
army or navy, he is directed into other
channels of work which are more con-
genial and better fitted to his mental
makeup.
The problem of the insane criminal is
very similar. Usually. the man or
woman was forced
Study Is Made of into an unconge-
NAL environment
Insane Criminal. against which he
or she reacted and finally tried to
selves Thus boy who has strong
natural love of the outdoors or perhaps
the sea, but who is forced into
crowded business office, where he sits
all dav long at desk, is apt to stand
it just SO long and then develop crimi-
nal tendencies. This is especially liable
to occur when the mental balance is
poor to begin with. Cases of this sort
are recognized as insane rather than
criminal.
Not long ago ST. Elizabeths received
patient from one of the federal pris-
ons who was under sentence OF lie I'M
prisonment for murder. At one time he
mad served IN the Dul dllcI " al u
lived a rowing and purposeless exist
ence, which eventually got him into
trouble. He became intimate with two
men of rather desperate character In
small western town, who persuaded him
to join them In an attempt to rob a
United States post office. There was
only the postmaster to be reckoned
with, aud they figured that they could
easily get him out of the way by the
use Of a gag and ropes. Contrary to
their expectations, however. the post
Gle, and it became necessary to shoot
him in order to escape with the coin.
Right here. however, the st. Elizabeth's
patient developed his first symptoms.
He was shocked at the shooting, and
STAYED by the side of the postmaster
in an effort to save his life, where he
was found by a number of excited citi-
zens and the sheriff
Thus. at the age Of twenty-five. this
man was sentenced to life Imprisonment
with plenty of solitude in which to think
over his unfortunate situation. The result
was that he became demented and was
sent to the government insane asylum.
Here he again affiliated himself with two
criminals in an attempt to escape. but
was caught owing to the inadequacy of
the rope of sheets which broke and de-
leg. The men in the psychological labo- |
ratory became interested In his case. |
treated him and later turned him out. |
cured, when he succeeded in obtaining a |
pardon. This young man Is now making |
good in the moving picture business in |
New York and recently paid a visit to St. |
to see his friends. the doctors. |
and thank them for starting him in his |
proper environment.