In re Atcherley
In re Atcherley
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal by Dr. John Atcherley from an order of a circuit judge dissolving a writ of certiorari which had been issued to the chairman of the commissioners of insanity commanding him to send to the circuit judge a certified copy of the proceedings had before the commissioners in the matter of the appeal of the present petitioner to the end that their validity might be ascertained.
The petitioner was taken into custody on a warrant issued by the district magistrate of Honolulu and based upon an affidavit sworn to by the sheriff of the city and county of Honolulu. After due hearing the magistrate found that the petitioner was insane and that it would be unsafe to allow him to be at large, entered judgment to that effect, issued a commitment authorizing detention at the insane asylum until the patient becomes sane or is discharged according to law and sent to the chairman of the commissioners of insanity a certificate of his findings and judgment together with a brief statement of the facts upon which his judgment was based. From that judgment the petitioner appealed to the commissioners of insanity. The latter, after hearing, came to the same conclusion on the merits as had the magistrate and entered judgment dismissing the appeal and committing the petitioner to the custody of the superintendent of the asylum.
Under the present writ the petitioner attacks the constitutionality of Act 149 of the Laws of 1909 under which his examination and commitment were had. All of the grounds and arguments now urged, however, on this point were presented upon certain questions reserved by the circuit court, first circuit. See In re Atcherley, ante 535. It is there held that the act is not unconstitutional for any of the reasons stated. The questions there decided will not be now re-examined.
As to the alleged invalidity of the proceedings before the commissioners. The hearing occupied parts of three days. Nine
The return shows that the petitioner at the close of the evidence “argued and testified” for two and a half hours. He cannot reasonably complain that more time was not allowed him. The return also shows with reference to the four persons whom the petitioner named as proposed witnesses that the attorney representing the Territory upon the request being made for such witnesses admitted .that they would testify to the effect claimed by the petitioner. No further request for their appearance was made. The petitioner appears to have accepted the admission in lieu of the testimony itself. Moreover, without specifying it, the evidence of the proposed, witnesses as outlined at the time by the petitioner yvas immaterial and inadmissible. The same is true of the evidence of other persons of whom no
The return shows that the petitioner had a full and fair trial before the commissioners. There was no invalidity in the proceedings.
The order appealed from is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN THE MATTER OF JOHN ATCHERLEY, AN ALLEGED INSANE PERSON
- Status
- Published