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Archiver > PANORTHU > 1998-07 > 0899790777


From: Ralph Schwalm <>
Subject: Re: [PANORTHU-L] Mount Carmel, PA
Date: Tue, 07 Jul 1998 01:52:57 -0400


Hi Robert:
I can't give you a comprehensive answer for the period in question, as the
law may not have remained the same throughout this period. In fact, without
more facts, it's hard to provide an answer: in those less politically correct
times, "insane" was the term employed, and I presume your question refers to
the insane as then defined. I think, however, that the rules varied somewhat
for: the indigent insane, the criminal insane, and the , I guess for want of a
better term, the regular insane. For the first two, there is almost certain to
have been some court involvement. For the latter, I think the answer is maybe.
Now this is partly because I'm no expert on this, but also partly because I
believe there were several roads to admission for those in this group. One
could voluntarily admit oneself; this obviously didn't require a court hearing.
Someone could petition the court to have you committed. The court would then
establish a commission to review the matter, which would hold hearings and make
a recommendation to the court. These records would be at the courthouse in
Sunbury. And the third method that I am aware of, and the one that has been the
basis for many a novel's plot, is the one in which someone claims you're insane,
gets statements from two doctors who examine you and conclude that, yes, you are
legally insane, and proceeds to have you admitted. As far as I know, this
didn't require any sort of hearing, the closest thing to a formality was that
the doctors had to have a J.P. certify as to the genuineness of their signatures
and as to their standing and good repute. These records would have been lodged
with the asylum. However, note that I think there may be an overlap in the law
in at least some cases, particularly where the insane person had property:
generally a so-called committee was appointed to oversee the affairs, especially
financial, of the insane party. This did require a court proceeding, and,
technically at least, periodic reports to the court by the committee. It's
certainly possible that evidence of the committment might be found in these
records, which would not technically be commitment proceedings. I'm not sure
when the "two doctor" law changed, but I strongly suspect it was in force
throughout the period you referred to. I assume, since you mention Mt. Carmel,
that the individual in question was from that town. If so, you need to start by
checking the county courthouse records at Sunbury. The borough would not have
been involved. Feel free to email me if you have any further questions.
Ralph

Robert Josephs wrote:

> 1. Does anyone know if PA law required at least a court
> session/hearing/case before an individual was committed to a mental hospital
> between 1925 to 1945?
>
> 2. If the answer is yes, would the records be available for family research
> or to the general public? Where would you write for such records?
>
> 3. Would Mount Carmel have held such hearings between 1925 and 1945 or would
> the Sunbury Court House be the venue?
>
> 4. If you want to answer off the discussion line, my email address is Robert
> at .

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