THE VICTIMS OF MAD-HOUSES-A DEMAND FOR INQUIRY. There must be some means adopted, with all possible promptitude, for inquiring into the management of our lunatic asylums and the agencies by which persons are there incarcerated. Within the past year a very considerable number of cases have come to light in this city and vicinity, in which perfectly sane individuals had been confined, under false pretexts, in these asylums. The latest of such cases, which is at this time undergoing investigation, gives a new interest to the subject. One of our criminal lawyers received some days ago a letter from an inmate of Bloomingdale Asylum, declaring that he had been sent there by his relations on false charges, and asking that measures be taken for his release. On going to the asylum the lawyer was denied the opportunity of an interview with his correspondent; but being convinced by inquiries elsewhere that the victim was wrongly confined, he obtained a writ of habeas corpus, which was returnable to-morrow. Yesterday, however, the alleged lunatic made his appearance at the lawyer's office, saying he had been dismissed from the institution; but the lawyer, convinced that the discharge was given merely as a means by which the making of a return to the writ might be avoided, directed the man to go back to the asylum, in order that the case might be brought before the court at the proper season. We now trust it will be thoroughly investigated. If the circumstance were without precedent, we should be less earnest in directing attention to the subject. It is but a few months since the case of Commodore Meade, who was incarcerated in this same asylum, stirred up the whole community. It was but last month that the release of a respectable old lady, also from the Bloomingdale Asylum, was obtained through legal proceedings; and it was shown on the trial, that she also, though of perfectly sound mind, had been confined at the instance of certain relations, for their own purposes. Still another case is awaiting decision in this city of an elderly lady confined as a lunatic, the evidences of which are alleged to consist only of her ritualistic practices, and her determination to dispose of her property according to her own will. Nor are such cases confined to this city. A lady was incarcerated in the Trenton Lunatic Asylum, a short time ago, who had given evidence of unsound mind only by the fact of marrying the man she loved. She was spirited away from her husband, who had great difficulty, some time after, in discovering her whereabouts; but on doing so, and bringing her case before the court he promptly procured her release. We had also an account not long since from Philadelphia, by which it appeared that an entirely sane widow lady had, for pecuniary reasons, been shut up as a lunatic, and it was only after the greatest trouble that she succeeded in getting the case brought before the court and securing her freedom. These are facts at once disgraceful and alarming; and when we see such incidents occurring immediately around us-when we see men and women of perfectly sound mind seized and incarcerated in mad-houses, in order that the persons procuring their confinement may carry out some nefarious purpose-it is time that we demanded the adoption of means for inquiring into the management of our lunatic asylums. There is little difficulty in wicked and designing persons procuring the confinement of a victim on the charge of lunacy. It is only necessary that they should procure the order of a magistrate and the certificate of lunacy from two physicians. We must have some changes in the law providing for commitments for lunacy. When a man is accused of a criminal or a civil offence he is regularly tried before a court of proper jurisdiction; he is permitted to produce witnesses in his own behalf and to furnish all the exculpatory evidence he is able to find. Surely, there ought also to be some effective legal means for guarding the rights of men and women accused of lunacy. It is not necessary that the means should be of a kind similar to those provided for the defence of persons charged with violating the law; but they should assuredly be sufficient to provide for self-vindication, and to secure a safe defence against false charges. It is so terrible to learn of such cases as we have recited-it is so appalling to think of sound minded people confined in mad-houses-that every guard against the possibility of such occurrences should be secured by legislation and upheld by legal penalties.-New York Times, Sept. 14, 1869. A LUNATIC CHAINED TO A WALL FOR SIXTY YEARS. The London Gazette of August 9th, has the following: A shocking case of cruelty to and detention of a lunatic has just come to light in Leicestershire. It appears to have been known that a lunatic named John Bagley Wylde, a relative of the late Mr. Wylde, a magistrate of Costock, near Nottingham, had for some ་ years past been in the care of a small farmer named Henry Black, who occupied a farm at Sheepshead, near Loughborough, Leicestershire; but the circumstance and other facts connected with his incarceration were not brought to the knowledge of the chief constable until a few days ago. The latter communicated with the Commissioners in Lunacy, and a Commissioner, Dr. Buck, of the Leicester and Rutland County Lunatic Asylum, Mr. E. Warner, J. P., and Superintendent Hague paid a visit to Mr. Black's farmhouse at Sheepshead. On entering the living-room, a sad scene presented itself. Seated on and chained to a chair by his wrists was a poor idiotic man, 14 years of age. His legs were also secured by manacles, and the chair was in turn chained to the wall. This position he occupied all day, even when partaking of his meals. Visiting his bedroom, the gentlemen found that at night he was subjected to similar cruelty. There were leg-irons at the foot of the bed, and it seemed that at night irons also encircled his legs and wrists. The wretched man, however, is said to have been treated kindly in other respects, and his well-nourished, healthy, and perfectly clean form showed that he had been well attended to. In answer to inquiries, Black stated that the man had been insane since he was 14 years of age; that he had been in his custody, as found, for the past thirty years, and that for thirty years previously he had been in charge of another custodian, and chained in the way described. Black also stated that he received £1 a week for the maintenance of his charge. From the appearance of Wylde, it seemed as if his confinement, with all its dreadful accompaniments for so long a period, had lost its terrors for him, for when released from his chains he exhibited no joy whatever. Information was at once laid against Black for not taking proper care of Wylde, and the same day he appeared before Mr. Warner and Mr. Johnson, two magistrates of the Loughborough bench, to answer to it. The result was that Wylde was at once removed to the Leicester and Rutland Asylum, at Leicester, where he is to remain for the present in charge of Dr. Buck. As to Black, no further proceedings have as yet been taken against him. CERTIFICATE. I have seen and examined E. Haskell, of Philadelphia, and believe him to be insane. 1866. M. D. APPLICATION. I request that the above named E. Haskell may be admitted as a patient into the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane. December 21, 1866. WM. HASKELL. OBLIGATION. In consideration of E. Haskell being admitted as a patient into the "Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane," established and maintained by "the Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital," we do jointly and severally promise to pay to the Steward of the said Hospital, or to his order, quarterly, in advance, seven dollars cents per week, for board, and to provide or pay for all requisite clothing and other things deemed necessary or proper for the health or comfort of said patient-to pay for all glass or furniture broken or destroyed by said patient; to remove him when discharged; and if taken away uncured against the advice and consent of the Superintending Physician before the expiration of three calendar months, to pay board for thirteen weeks. Witness our hands the 21st day of 12th mo., 1866. [STAMP.] JAMES H. HORN, Flourtown. [SEAL.] TO THE PHYSICIAN OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. Receive the above named patient, if brought within from this date, if physician's certificate is first signed. Philadelphia, 12th mo. 21, 1866. $91.00 to be paid on admission. days SAMUEL MASON, Manager. PHILADELPHIA, December 21, 1866. Having seen Mr. E. Haskell insane, and knowing that insanity is hereditary in his family, I am satisfied that he is now performing insane acts, which make him a proper subject for confinement in an institution for the insane. S. W. BUTLER, M. D. The above certificate is given in such form on account of the inability to find Mr. E. Haskell after two or three attempts. S. W. BUTLER, M. D. Mr. E. Haskell, referred to in the foregoing, has recently been in the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane, from which he escaped. Dr. Jones, in immediate charge, as well as myself, have no doubt whatever that his mental condition is as represented, and that he should be under the care of an institution. December 22d, 1866. THOMAS S. KIRKBRIDE, M. D. The above certificate has no one to represent the M. D. James H. Horn and Richard J. Horn are the only responsible names on it as security for the payment of my board for the illegal detention during the time the inquisition was held over me to declare me a lunatic, that I might not proceed with the suit against James H. Horn. CERTIFICATE. I have seen and examined E. Haskell, of Philadelphia, and believe him to be insane, WM. C. HARBISON, M. D., No. 228 North Twelfth street. JOHN BUCK, M. D., No. 826 North Nineteenth street. June, 15, 1868. APPLICATION. I request that the above named E. Haskell may be admitted as a patient into the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane. ADELAIDE A. HASKELL. June 15, 1868. OBLIGATION. In consideration of Ebenezer Haskell being admitted as a patient into the "Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane," established and maintained by "the Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital," we do jointly and severally promise to pay to the Steward of the said Hospital, or to his order, quarterly, in advance, ten dollars per week, for board, and to provide or pay for all requisite clothing and other things deemed necessary or proper for the health or comfort of said patient-to pay for all glass or furniture |