Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-17
Mentally III
Woman jailed
For Six Days
System for HondIine
Such Cases Adopted
In Prince Georges

So sSS ~SSSS
Detention Of a mentally-ill
woman In the Hyattsville lookup
for six days due to a mixup has
resulted In written instructions
for handling such cases by police
and hospitals In Prince Georges
County.
Records show the woman was
jailed on q warrant charging dis
orderly conduct, which, police
said, was signed by her son.
After hearing of the case yes
terday, the Board of County
Commissioners approved a plan
to be followed in the future.
It requires the transfer of per-
sons appearing to be mentally
ill from police stations to Prince
Georges General Hospital if po-
lice are unable to arrange for
preliminary examinations and
transportation to a mental insti-
tuition within q reasonable time.
Order Strict Compliance
Harry w. Penn. jr., superin-
tendent Of the hospital. who said
he wrote the instructions on rec
commentators of a special COM
mittee named several months
ago. explained that four hours
would be considered reasonable.
Strict compliance with the
lplan was ordered by the COM
missioners at a meeting in
Hyattsville after several mem
bers expressed disapproval Of
the manner in which the case
was handled.
Records show NE woman was
Jailed September 8 at 10 pm.
The first commitment paper
was filled out by the woman's
private physician and was
taken to the jail with her. The
second doctor performed his ex-
animation and filled out COM
mitment papers on September 9.
Corpl. j. H. Vincent, who ar
rested the woman, said she was
violent when brought to the sta
ltion.
/ He said he called Prince
/ Georges General Hospital imme-
Idiately to have her admitted.
ibut was told the hospital had
mo room for her.
] Corpl. Vincent said he then
/ called DR.. John T. Maloney,
county medical examiner, and
Twas told he would examine the
woman the next day.
l There was just nothing else
/ we could do at that point"
said 1t. E. r. Thompson, who
i heads the Hyattsville station.
I"but to Jail the woman on the
ldisorderly conduct charge placed
against her."
i Recalls Examination
i DR.. Maloney recalls examining.
the woman September 8. He said
he prepared an authorization for
her admission to Spring Grove
State Hospital for observation.
! Two doctors who have prac-
ticed for five years are required
| by Maryland to examine a men,
llItal patient before admission to
Ian institution.
I 1t. Thompson noted that the
woman Gained soon after mem,
hers Of her family left. He said
the woman was not violent again
.|during the six days.
4 The woman's son praised 1t.
! Thompson and other policemen
who cared for his mother.
IT feel that they did the job
very well and under the circum-
stances were very considerate."
he said.
Police blamed a long week end
which included a holiday as
partly responsible for the delay
in releasing the woman from
Jail. Defenders Day was OBJ
served last Monday.
Sheriff J.. Lee Ball. whose re-
sponsibility it is to transfer
mental patients to institutions.
said he received the woman's
commitment papers the after
noon Of September Is and ar
rived at the Hyattsville station
the morning Of September IA to
transfer her.