CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 5, 4 April 1885, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

RE WESTON’S CASE. To the Editor of the P. B. Independent. Sir, —The recent charge of lunacv preferred against Mr. Weston, in the R. M. Court, brought to light a subject of paramount public importance. After the Sergeant of Police made his charge, Dr. Pollen, who was present to medically state the mental condition of the accused, prefixed his opinion by stating there was a clause in the Act which provided that the testimony of one medical man was sufficient to authorise commitment. The question naturally arises why Dr. Pollen desired to avoid the assistance of a brother professional ? who, at least, would share the responsibility of having a fellow creature committed to an Asylum, especially as it was provided by the spirit of the law, if not the letter, as a safe guard against error or design. Fortunately the Bench decided to have the opinion of another M.D., and which opinion, in the ir®stance under notice, was the means of setting the man at large. If, Sir, you would extract from the Lunacy Act the clause referred to, it might throw a more favorable and humane aspect on the matter than it is otherwise capable of bearing.—l am, &c„ Felix.