The Washington times., 1927-01-14

IN other hospitals.
From this report alone we might
be justified in concluding that II
or the % patients were of unsound
mind, and their release on techni
calities was mistake.
But there are more things In
Heaven and earth and economical
administration than are dreamed
OF in the headline skimmer's phi
losophy.
Take the case OF e. C. Bonniger
for example. referred to In re-
cent article. Bonniger. a veteran
OF the Spanish.American War. is
one OF the patients who hasn't
gone back-yet.
His release came August 5, after
nine years Of confinement.
During his stay at the asylum his
pension accumulated until now he
has several thousand dollars to his
credit, and he Is carried on the
rolls Of the bureau as entitled to
a considerable monthly sum.
But during the five months since
he left the institution. not cent
either of his accumulated pension
or his current payment has he been
able to collect.
All this time he has been de.
pendent for every necessity of life
| food, clothing, shelter-on the few
dollars his attorney has been able
to advance him, on the slender
chance that Bonniger may eventual
ly collect from the bureau.
Cared For by Attorney
As the attorney IL now caring
for some three or four others
in like situation, the amounts ad'
vanced must necessarily be small.
BonniRer and his fellow-victimS are
up against 1t hard.
That Bonniger doesn't fly off the
handle, that he keeps calm and we'll
poised under these distressing cir.
cumstances and the bitter feeling OF
resentment that must come to him
now and then at the thought OF his
unjust treatment goes further to
prove his sanity and mental equi.
librium than 40 examinations could
door undo.
The proof OF the pudding Is In
the eating Of it. How many allegedly
sane people could stand five months
Of such grueiling trial?
But he can't stand the strain
much longer. "Mr. McDougal," he
told this writer few weeks ago, II
guess III have to go back to
Lizzie's."
That was the second time we'd
heard a similar sentiment expressed.
and we wanted to see IL the reasons
for such an extraordinary idea
tailed, and we asked him "why?"
In Struggle for Life
The reasons tailed to T. 81
can't go anywhere, see anything, do
anything. I'm in q continual strug.
gle Just to get roof over my head,
clothes on my back, and food in my
stomach.
II was locked up for nine years
inside the asylum, and now I'm
locked up just as much outside.
I've been away nearly five months
and / haven't got a cent Of my
money yet. Do you suppose they're
trying to force me back to the
asylum"
It was a natural enough thought,
under the circumstances. A court
OF law had decided that the hospital
was not justified in holding him;
he was exercising his right az an
American citizen in walking out;
he was entitled to his pension. and
yet because he had exercised his
undoubted right. he was deprived
OF the pension that Congress had
established as needed and proper
for an old soldier whose working
days were passed; and he had
proved by five months Of hard trial,
that his mental condition was
equal to the average, IL not better.
What reason could there be for not
giving HIM his money?
Reasons Bureau Advances
The reason assigned by the Blu.
reau il that compensation will not
be paid to mentally incompetent
persons.
Guardians must be appointed to
receive the payments during the
period of incompetency.
But Bonniger has proved by his
conduct--the most convincing OF
tests--that he is not mentally in.
competent. During all the five
months of uninterrupted nerve
stress and hardship. his behavior
proves his possession OF a well
poised, evenly balanced disposition
that many persons of unQuestioned
sanity could not achieve.
How much longer will he be able
to stand the strain? How much
longer before the hospital author
tiles will add another name 10 the
roll OF those who were released ION
technicality" and have returned
to the asylum, presumably because
they had no right to leave 1t in the
first place?
The "technicality" referred to BY
DIR. Moves is the clause in the Con
stltution Of the United States which
provides that no person shall be ne.
privcd Of life, liberty. or property
| without due process Of law.
That is the trifling technicalIty
which effected the release Of the %
prisoners, II of whom have gone
Blackburn by jury trial which fond
.--