THE ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 61, 15 March 1881, Page 2

THE ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

+ TWELFTH DAY'S PKOCEEDINGS. Dr. France's cross-examination was resumed at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. At the request of the complainant, the witness produced the medical journal and referred to certain entries regarding injuries to Anderson and M'lntosh, but as the doctor experienced some difficulty in discovering other similar entries concerning which he was interrogated, it was decided to abandon this part of the cross-examination till a future period. Witnesß continued — I swear Schultze did not pass blood as alleged. On the occasion in question he had braises on hid face, lie was laboring under maniacal excitement, to fits of which he was subjeot. In saying I don't consider Schultze to be sane at present I mean he is non compos mentis. I have read Dr. Maudaley's " Pathology of the Mind " — it is an authority— and I agree with him that between the lowest depths of idiocy and madness and the highest reach of mental perfection there are numerous shades insensibly running into one another, so that it is difficult to say where sanity ends and insanity begins. I let out Ankartell on the joint certificate of Dr. Diver and myself. The proceedings to secure his liberty were initiated from outside. Ankartell threatened people's lives, and had it not been for another doctor sharing the responsibility of letting him out I would have kept him there longer. I have no recollection of having any communication from outside which induced me to give a certificate for M'lntosh's disoharge. I had several conversations with Dr. Skae bout M'lntosh, and it was against that officer's jndgment that I gave the certificate. I cannot contradict M'lntosli's statement that he was in a cell for four days consecutively on one occasion. It would not be at all right to give a patient a cold shower-bath at 10 o'clock on a winter's night. Under no circumstances would I sanction a showerbath to last ten minutes. I consider such a bath would knock a man senseless. Ido not recollect M'lntosh asking mo to let him out, in charge of a keeper, to see his dead child. The authorities would have been averse to such a course, lest he might run away. I am keeping Gannon at the Asylum till the enquiry is concluded so as to allow the Commissioners to interview him. If we let him out now, he would make his way into the country. lam not afraid of his coming before the Commissioners to make complaints. It is quite natural for him to be sullen and discontented if he is perfectly sane and wishes to regain his liberty. Chairman — Is Gannon still in the back ward ? Witness — Yes-; he refuses to leave it. Although lam anxious to give him a trial, I don't think he is a perfectly sane man. The Complainant — Suppose yon catch twenty men at random in the street, wouldn't you find many ecoentricities among them P Witness— Yes, there are many lunatics wandering at large. Complainant—lf you took half the population of this town could you remove the sane from the insane ? Witness — No, nor anybody else (laughter). Cross-examination continued — The " back " is the worst part of the establishment. It is a bad thing to keep a convalescent patient there, but there is no accommodation for patients like Gannon in any other part of the Asylum. Complainant — Was there ever in this Asylum any instance of a patient becoming pregnant P Witness — Not m this Asylum. One came in pregnant. Complainant — But none has become pregnant there? Witness — No. [Farther cross-examination was postponed till another day.] John Maginnity, hotelkeeper, said — I have frequently been through the Asylum— a dozen times within the past year. On those occasions I saw the patients. From what I saw they were very well looked after, and the management of the institution appeared to be admirable. The Complainant — I think there ought to be some limit to this kind of evidence. Half the city of Wellington might be called in this way. The Chairman — It is impossible for ns to exclude evidence that is offered ; and Mr. Edwards has a right to accumulate evidence of this sort so as to raise a strong presumption in favor of his client. Mr. Edwards — It is necessary to bring some impartial witnesses. Complainant (to witness) — You are not a specialist P Witness — In my early days my father was Hospital surgeon to the 65th Regiment, and had lunatics under his control sometimes. Complainant — Then how does your father's experience come to you. (Laughter.) Witness — What I wish to convey is that I have seen lunatics frequently, not that I have had any experience in their management. (Laughter.) Complainant — How old were yon at that time P Witness — About twelve. Complainant— €lave you ever seen any lunatics outside an asylum P Witness — Yes, a good many that ought to have been in the asylum. (Renewed laughter.) Mr Edwards here wished the Commission to grant a subpoena for a police constable at Picton, who would testify as to M'lntosh'B condition at the time of his committal. The Chairman remarked that the medical certificate re M'lntosh was already an exhibit. The Commission were quite willing to grant the summons provided Mr. Edwards became responsible for the expenses in case the officer had no further evidence to give than indicated. Mr. Edwards replied - that he would communicate with the officer, and let the Commission know the result. In the meantime he would like an adjournment till next day, not being prepared with any other witnesses that afternoon. The Commission, however, were averse to an adjournment at that early hour (4.30), but, not wishing to embarrass Mr. Edwards, were willing to accede to his wish. Mr. Edwards ultimately decided to go on with the evidence of Mr. Whitelaw. John Henry Whitelaw, the Superintendent, recalled, said— Regarding the charges of incivility preferred against me by the complainant, the charges would lie better against the complainant. When he visited the Asylum, as alluded to by other witnesses, he spoke in a very overbearing, peremptory manner. His brother refused to see him, and said he hoped I would prevent the complainant from Beeing him against his will. Subsequent to my interview with the complainant, I saw another brother of his— Mr.

Eichard Shaw — who told me ho could not understand why any complaint had boon mode to Dr. Skae. Mr. Richard Shaw's declaration, already in evidence, is untrue. It is the duty of an attendant to remain present at such interviews, but the rules do not provide for this. Tho patient asked mo if it was usual for me to be present at tho interview in question. I said it was, bnt if a private interview wore desired it should be acceded to, and I then went out of the room. I never told White to knock Marchant down if he wag in the way. When I visit tho female side of the establishment I generally take Miss Brigdon or ono of the female attendants with me. The patients are sufficiently provided with clothing at the Government expense. Coleman, to whom White gave a suit of clothes, hod plenty of clothing. Ganuon has been in the back ward eight or ten months. He is not sane. Buchanan, who is also in the back ward, suffers from delusions. They encouraged each other to incite the other patients not to work. I never kicked Elizabeth Thompson away from a gate; I pushed her away with my foot against her hips with sufficient force to enable me to cloae the gate. Once I threatened to assault White. He was very insolent to me when I remonstrated with him for leaving carpenters' tools about the premises. I told the contractor I would not suffer White to enter the grounds again. At this stage (5.35 p.m.) the Commission adjourned till this afternoon at 2 o'clock. THIS DAY. The enquiry was continued at 2 o'olock this afternoon. Before further evidence was proceeded with, the complainant alluded to the probable necessity of extending the Commission, and directed attention to clause 4 thereof, whioh provided that, in the abßenoe of the Governor, the Executive might extend the Commission. He understood that there were sufficient members of the Executive in Wellington to form a Council. The Chairman — The Commission recognise considerable difficulty in the matter, but have taken steps to prevent that difficulty. Dr. France's cross-examination was then taken up again. The medical journal was again produced, and the witness referred to various entries therein relative to the seclusion of patients and injuries sustained by them. Complainant — With roferenoe to those entries, do I understand that you had sufficient knowledge of the facts whioh they reoord to say that they absolutely represent the facts. Witness — No, I had not; Complainant — You Bhnply took for granted the entries in the books and signed them? Witness — Yes. Complainant — You might have been deceived? Witnoss— lt iB quite possible. It would be impossible for a medical officer to tell what was going on at the Asylum when he was not present. [Left sitting.]