Chap. 829.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 1670, 1683 and 1693 of the
code of Virginia, in relation to lunatics and lunatic asylums.

Approved March 8, 1894.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sec-
tions sixteen hundred and seventy, sixteen hundred and eighty-
three and sixteen hundred and ninety-three of the code of Virginia
be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 1670. What justices to do if person be insane.—If the justices
decide that the person is a lunatic and ought to be confined in an
asylum, and ascertain that he is a citizen of this state, then, unless
some person (to whom the justices in their discretion may deliver
such lunatic) will give bond, with sufficient surety, to be approved by
them, payable to the commonwealth, with condition to restrain and
take proper care of such lunatic without cost to the commonwea!th,
until the cause of confinement shall cease or the lunatic is delivered
to the sheriff of the county, or sergeant of the corporation, to be pro-
ceeded with according to law, the said justices shall order him to be
removed to the nearest asylum and received, if there be room therein,
and if not, to either of the others.

§1683. Delivery of lunatics to their friends; terms thereof.—Ex-
cept in the case of a person charged with crime and subject to be
tried therefor, or convicted of crime and subject to be punished
therefor, when in a condition to be sotried or punished, the board of
any asylum, or the court of any county or corporation, may deliver
any lunatic confined in such asylum, or the jail of such county
or corporation, to any friend who will give bond with surety, with
the condition mentioned in section sixteen hundred and seventy ;
and where a lunatic, except as aforesaid, is deemed by the superin-
tendent of an asylum both harmless and incurable, the board may
deliver him, without such bond, to any friend who is willing, and, in
the opinion of the board, able to take care of him without cost to
the commonwealth.

§ 1693. Contracts for their care and maintenance.—The court in
whose jail any lunatic is confined may, when practicable and proper,
contract with some fit person for the maintenance and care of such
lunatic out of the jail until such lunatic can be received into an asy-
lum, and no longer, and make allowance therefor, not exceeding what
is authorized for a lunatic confined in jail; the expenses, services and
allowances mentioned in this and the two preceding sections shall
be certified to the auditor of public accounts for payment.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve the sheriff or
other officer to whom the order of the justices directing the removal
of a lunatic to an asylum is directed from the duty imposed upon
him by sections sixteen hundred and seventy-one and sixteen hun-
dred and ninety-five to ascertain, immediately after receiving said
order, by written inquiry of the superintendents of the asylums,
whether there is a vacancy therein, and, if necessary, to make said
inquiry at least once in every month thereafter of the boards of
directors of each of the asylums. The provisions of section sixteen
hundred and seventy-three shall apply to a lunatic who has by the
court been committed to the care of some person out of jail, in pur-
suance of the terms of this section, as if said lunatic was confined
in jail.

2. This act shall be in force from its passage.