Jacob Levy asylum records

[GregBaron]

Trolling for victims...

Don't get me wrong... even a 3'6 man could take out a full size man if he was scrappy enough. But it would take some effort. Levy could take me down sure... my niece could as well if she ever learns about the concept of "center of gravity". But not without a fight.

When we talk about the attack scenarios, we are talking about blitz attacks. Immediate control of the victims. These women didn't fight, they didn't thrash around, they didn't scream. Now a wiry little bastard with a will can take down a woman who outweighs him. But not with the mastery that would be required to take them out silently and almost instantly. It's hard enough building a scenario with a 6'2 guy being able to do that. 5'2 weighing in at a buck 20? That's going to take some serious imagination.

I can't disagree with you here Errata. How the women were subdued so quickly and effectively is one of the biggest mysteries of the case. I'm not willing to say a little feller couldn't do it though...

A VFI indeed. Although i have heard of Chase i must admit i don't know a great deal of his psychology. Didn't he believe he needed to drink blood to stave off attacks by aliens? I'm probably wrong. However i personally believe that there is a risk in comparing modern serial killers (and even there psychology) with the likes of JTR. Jack wouldn't have had the likes of the info overload from tv or the internet. My opinion only.

I believe you're right about Chase here Jimi. A real nutter as the Brits would say. As for internet and tv, Chase operated pre-internet and many people of today forget how comprehensive and universal were newspapers. But I actually think this is contrary to the point, as pointed out by Garry Wroe more than once, human nature has not changed in quite some time - so the question remains, could Chase and Jtr be afflicted with the same mental/emotional illness?

On another note,while writing the article, i felt i needed to create/discover a profile for Jack. Now i think profiling is greatly over-estimated, brought about by the profile of (i can't remember his name) you know the one, the perp will be dressed in a suit and tie etc. could have been the una bomber? To me that sounds just to good to be true.

Many people poo-poo profiling Jimi. I'm not one of them. It's simply a tool that may or may not be helpful in apprehending a criminal. It actually has assisted in identifying some modern psychos. Of course it's also been dead wrong but nothing's perfect. As for profiling back 125 years, this is indeed difficult and some think worthless. Again I disagree. Back to the human nature thing - but yes, we must be very cautious here and take everything with a heavy grain of salt...

So, when you mention Jacobs night restlessness, there is a term used by profilers to describe this, its called Trolling, trolling for victims. However i do wonder if jacob didn't need to do this. Could he have been trolling for sites. The places where they repeatedly took there clients?
Just a thought.

Not a bad thought Jimi. He may have also been following prostitutes to learn their habits...



Greg

[Errata]

So, when you mention Jacobs night restlessness, there is a term used by profilers to describe this, its called Trolling, trolling for victims. However i do wonder if jacob didn't need to do this. Could he have been trolling for sites. The places where they repeatedly took there clients?
Just a thought.
Keep Well
Jimi(Neil)

Traditionally night restlessness means tossing and turning. The inability to find a comfortable sleeping position and stick with it. In psychiatric terms this means either that there is too much energy in the body to find any comfort in stillness (like restless leg syndrome in the whole body) or that a person's mind simply won't relax. Both happen to everyone now and then, but as a symptom it means it's a common occurrence. Regular restlessness is simply the inability to sit still. The knee jiggling thing a lot of people have for instance. Or the inability to stay seated, or constant stretching.

Some people do cope with this with endless rounds of pacing, or simply getting up and doing something. It is typically not described as restlessness, but I don't know how the Victorians would describe it. However Levy was never observed in a way that would indicate trolling behaviors. First he was in prison, next in an asylum. His options for persistent wakefulness were pretty limited. In his second intake form his wife describes him being out for all hours. If he engaged in trolling behavior, that would be the kind of description to look for.

On the other hand, I get the impression that his wife was a rather... dominant figure. He may have not come home because wandering around the streets in the middle of the night (or he could have been in a bar or brothel) was preferable to an endless round of complaints on his restlessness.

Of course my parents marriage may be coloring my perception of that relationship dynamic

[Jimi]

A Profile

Hi Greg
A VFI indeed. Although i have heard of Chase i must admit i don't know a great deal of his psychology. Didn't he believe he needed to drink blood to stave off attacks by aliens? I'm probably wrong. However i personally believe that there is a risk in comparing modern serial killers (and even there psychology) with the likes of JTR. Jack wouldn't have had the likes of the info overload from tv or the internet. My opinion only.
If i may mention(i will anyway!), I am about to order a book, Bestial, by Harold Scechter. it deals solely with the life and crimes of Earl Stanley Nelson, arguably Americas first serial sex killer. You may have heard of the Gorilla Killer or the Dark Strangler, he killed up to 30 women between 1923 and 1930, mainly landladies. What caught my interest is that both his parents died within a year of his birth from Syphilis. Looking forward to reading it.
On another note,while writing the article, i felt i needed to create/discover a profile for Jack. Now i think profiling is greatly over-estimated, brought about by the profile of (i can't remember his name) you know the one, the perp will be dressed in a suit and tie etc. could have been the una bomber? To me that sounds just to good to be true.
You know ,the type of thing they do to promote a product.
So, when you mention Jacobs night restlessness, there is a term used by profilers to describe this, its called Trolling, trolling for victims. However i do wonder if jacob didn't need to do this. Could he have been trolling for sites. The places where they repeatedly took there clients?
Just a thought.
Keep Well
Jimi(Neil)

[Errata]

Thanks tji, hopefully you'll soon return to full health...

There are some strange similarities between JI and JL....perhaps even Koz and Cohen..........maybe our brilliant authorities conflated some of the above........?

As for Errata's claim of JL being small, I said this once also but people chastised me. There are some strong wiry little b*stards...like jockeys...throw in manual labor and a little fellow can have arms like steel cables.....Chapman could have outweighed the ripper but probably couldn't out bench press him....

Clever Trevor's Feigenbaum was a little sucker too...

And remember that Joseph Levy said the fellow at Mitre Square was about 3 inches higher than the woman. Eddowes was 5'0"......

Intriguing but like grasping at air tji et al...


Greg

Don't get me wrong... even a 3'6 man could take out a full size man if he was scrappy enough. But it would take some effort. Levy could take me down sure... my niece could as well if she ever learns about the concept of "center of gravity". But not without a fight.

When we talk about the attack scenarios, we are talking about blitz attacks. Immediate control of the victims. These women didn't fight, they didn't thrash around, they didn't scream. Now a wiry little bastard with a will can take down a woman who outweighs him. But not with the mastery that would be required to take them out silently and almost instantly. It's hard enough building a scenario with a 6'2 guy being able to do that. 5'2 weighing in at a buck 20? That's going to take some serious imagination.

[Digalittledeeperwatson]

Small

Out of the C5, only Stride and "MJK" would've been taller than JL. Tabram was not taller than he. Don't recall the heights of Coles and Mackenzie. Could be an interesting factor to consider. That the victims may have been selected due to their short stature, not to provide a distinct size advantage for the killer, but to keep a smaller killer from being at a disadvantage. Just a poorly worded thought.

[GregBaron]

Solid as air...

Thanks tji, hopefully you'll soon return to full health...

There are some strange similarities between JI and JL....perhaps even Koz and Cohen..........maybe our brilliant authorities conflated some of the above........?

As for Errata's claim of JL being small, I said this once also but people chastised me. There are some strong wiry little b*stards...like jockeys...throw in manual labor and a little fellow can have arms like steel cables.....Chapman could have outweighed the ripper but probably couldn't out bench press him....

Clever Trevor's Feigenbaum was a little sucker too...

And remember that Joseph Levy said the fellow at Mitre Square was about 3 inches higher than the woman. Eddowes was 5'0"......

Intriguing but like grasping at air tji et al...


Greg

[tji]

Hi Greg

It is tantalising isn't it, he seems to fit a lot of criteria but we just can't 'nail' him to anything

I will be honest and say I am not sure Greg, I haven't had much time this last few month to look at Jacob Iscensmidt - sorry Lynn - not through lack of interest but health problems - but hopefully things will work out and will be back on the boards again.

[Errata]

The idea that Levy was a kleptomaniac is terribly interesting. It has little bearing on whether or not he was the Ripper, but it's one of those control disorders, like anorexia or certain OCDs. It does not strike strong personalities typically, which would mean Levy may have been easily bullied.

Also, he was tiny! I know men were smaller back then, but 5'3? 129 pounds? Can a man that small take down a woman the size of Polly Nichols? That's literally the size of my niece and she bounces right off me. If he was the Ripper, we're going to have to adjust a lot of attack theories.

The report refers to syphilitic boils. And I honestly don't know what that means, since boils are not a symptom of syphilis. The best I can come up with is that the doctor meant chancres, but there are no chancres beyond the primary stage. Which by definition would have to be long over before neurosyphilis kicks in. There are a couple of other references to symptoms of syphilis, but not symptoms that would be present during General Paresis of the Insane. So I'm not exactly sure what conclusion to draw from this.

But here's an odd idea. Some of the herpetic viruses, especially shingles does cause all of those symptoms. It can also cause encephalitis, thus madness, and then death. Shingles was known then, so I'm not sure why they would say syphilis instead of that. It's weird.

He's clearly suffering from something when he goes in. And he has mood swings. But I couldn't speculate as to the cause. It is not the typical GPI, though. I know that. There is no mention of four or five primary symptoms of GPI. Whether it's atypical or something else entirely I imagine we will never know.

[tji]

This is Jacob's medical records from Stone asylum


Date of Removal, Discharge, or Death. 29 [July 1891]
Date of last Admission. 15 Augt 1890
No. in Register of Patients 1860
CHRISTIAN AND SURNAME AT LENGTH. Jacob Levy
Sex. [M]
DISCHARGED.
REMOVAL [etc]
Died. [M]
Assigned Cause of Death. Exhaustion from General Paralysis of the Insane
Age at Death. 35 [changed from 25?]
OBSERVATIONS.
[CLA/001/B/04/025, Stone Asylum, Register of Removals, Discharges and Deaths, male and female patients 1891-1895]

(a) Name Jacob Levy
Age & sex 34 years - male
Social Condition married
No. in Register 1860
Admitted. Augt 15th 1890
Previous occupation. Butcher
Address of Friends, Sarah Levy (wife) [36 Middlesex St. Aldgate [S deleted in black?] E.C. deleted in red] [red:] 87 Middlesex St. Aldgate
Religion Hebrew
Education Good
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________________
(b) State on admission Habit of Body Temperament
Expressn of Countenance Restless
Vascr & Respy organs Normal
Abdominal Viscera Normal Pulse 95 Tongue Clean
Skin &c Covered with scratches also deeply a wound upon right buttock
wound upon left index finger
stained with copper coloured discolouration Bruises & other injuries Two marks
most likely syphilitic of recent boils on back
Epileptic No Suicidal No Dangerous No
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
(c) Phenomena of disorder manner & period of attack &c
Known patient several years: formerly shrewd business man, now quite
incapable of carrying on the same, giving wrong change & money back
for things bought Says he feels a something within him impelling him
to take everything he sees Feels that if he is not restrained he will do
some violence to some one. Complains of hearing strange noises
Wife (Sarah Levy 36 Middlesex St deposes That he has nearly ruined her
business being quite incapable of taking care of money. Makes away
with every penny he can put his hand on, orders goods indiscriminately
& is continually taking other peoples goods carrying them off. Wanders away
from home for hours with out any purpose. Does not sleep at night raves
and is continually fancying someone is going to do him bodily harm.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
(b) previous history Has had a previous attack. Was sentenced to 18month imprisonment
in 1886 but was sent from prison to Essex County Asylum
Duration of attack.- "Some time"
Hereditary predisposition.- Eldest brother was insane & committed suicide
Previous attacks.- One in 1886
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
Form of Insanity.- Mania supposed cause.- Hereditary
Bodily health - Good Height.- 5ft.3in Weight 9st.3lbs
PM refused in event of death
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________


August 18th.
His wife visited him today & says that he recently took
to drink, and that was the first thing that attracted
her attention to his mental condition he then wasted
his money pawned his goods & from being a good
husband & father became neglectful & unkind
[August] 21st.
[inserted in red:] Return to Commissrs in Lunacy - "
He is suffering from mania says that he feels
compelled to do acts contrary to the dictates of his
conscience by a power which he cannot withstand
Has delusions as to his own importance, such
as - it being in his power to give great grants
of land & money He is free from disease of
lungs & heart, & with the exception of evidence
of [a deleted] syphilitic disease he is in good health [red:] "
[August] 27th
has been well-behaved since admission - at that time he suffered
from Insomnia - now he sleeps well and takes food with a keen
relish - he is loquacious, & apparently does not feel his position
at all - there is a "nonchalance" in his manner wh: is most unfitted
to his condition - [or deleted?] and [something illegible deleted - undefined?] wh: suggests that he is conscious
of a feeling of exaltation - Works on the farm daily.
Septr 4th [red below:] 10st 0lb
No material change - slight improvement - feels that he is
much better & is asking when he may go Home again.
[Septr] 10th
No change to note - October 11th No change of importance.
Octr 26th
The last 2 or 3 days has seemed "out of sorts" - today had an attack of
giddiness & faintness - Heart normal - attack lasted only a few minutes
is very depressed - crying - can give no reason for this - lost his appetite
[underlined:] pupils are unequal - left much larger - inactive - irregular - epiphora -
(iritis?.) Rx. Liq Donovan's 15 min: 3 times a day.-
Novr 8th
had an epileptiform attack today - convulsions were confined
almost entirely to the left side - was not unconscious - has felt giddy
for 2 or 3 days - left pupil much enlarged -
contind page 94

1890 Decr 4 [red below:] 9st 3lb.
Jacob Levy. continued from p. 32.
For the last few days has had an eczematous eruption on
both thighs, resembling Scabies - it is yielding to Ung: Sulphuris -
no change mentally - always bright & lively - no despondency since
last note. A. H. Syree
Dec 30th
Eczematous erruption [very deleted?] quite well, patient is very
contented with himself & things about him A Lyons
1891 January 31st
Has been transferred to No 4 Ward. Works on the farm. Is
in the same exhalted state A. Lyons.
March 6th [red below:] 10st.
Still very exalted. Pupils markedly unequal. A Lyons.
May 5th
Has had a boil on his neck which is now getting better, on
Tinct Ferri Perchlor etc. A Lyons.
[May 25th deleted]
July 15th '91 [below:] 8st 7
Is much worse mentally. Is losing strength & weight in
spite of special feeding. Pupils very unequal. [?N G] Evans.
July 22nd.
Is weaker & very troublesome, requires two or three
attendants to dress & undress him. Requires to be
spoon fed. N [?G] Evans
July 29th.
Had an epileptiform attack at 8 a.m. When seen at 8.30
pulse & respiration very rapid & feeble. Pulse 120. Resp. 40
[On?] examination no physical signs of pulmonary congestion.
there are bruises on left arm & over [inner?] end of L. sternum
also [inserted: (slight)] over pelvis at the back caused by falling. Apparently
some [above: (slight)] tenderness over right side of chest [inserted: but no bruising or other sign of injury] He resisted
examination vigorously
at 5 p.m. Resp. 40 moist sounds all over backs of both
lungs. Pulse cannot be counted at wrist (140 at [brachial?]).
he gradually sank & died at 7.52 p.m. N [G?] Evans
See Page 95

From Page 94 Jacob Levy
July 30/91 Statement to Coroner this day
"Jacob Levy - Male - 35 - Butcher - 36 Middlesex St
Aldgate. 7.52 PM - July 29/91 - [red above: Cause of Death] Exhaustion from
General Paralysis of the Insane - In the Male
Infirmary since May 29th last - [red above: Duration of Disease] Some years -
[red above: PM] No - Permission refused - [red above: Present at Death] Charge Attt. Wm. Hewlett
& Mrs. Levy (wife) - "
30th. July 1891 - Ernest W. White
Dead 29.VII.91
[CLA/001/B/02/009, Stone Asylum, Case Book Males No 9 (male admissions 1890-1891)]

[GregBaron]

Two screws loose...

Thanks for posting this stuff you all..

Says he feels a something within him, impelling him to take every
thing he sees. Feels that if he is not restrained he will do some violence to some one Complains of hearing strange noises.

Would these be characteristics of a ripper? Hmmm, little of value left on many victims. Surely just a coincidence…

Makes away with every penny he can put his hands on. Orders goods indiscriminately & is continually taking other peoples goods, carrying them off. Wanders away from home for hours without any purpose. Does not sleep at night, raves & is continually fancying someone is going to do him bodily harm.

Hmmm again, does he really wander without purpose? This description reminds me of The serial killer Richard Chase who roamed California in the late 70’s.. It does make one wonder if the ripper was a similar character (to Chase).

Chase was probably a co-morbid schizo/psychopath, a condition well documented in Rob House’s book. He was a horrible mutilating monster dubbed the Vampire.

Not sure if Koz or Lynn’s JI fits this co-morbid bill as well?


Greg

[tji]

Isn't it interesting to note how his brother's death is described here!

[tji]

With thanks to Debra Arif for locating this. This is the intake record for Jacob to Stone Asylum in 1890.



Register of lunatics, 1890
Order for Admission to the City of London Lunatic Asylum, Stone ...
No 2,001
In Re Levy, Jacob
Aged 34
JUSTICE'S ORDER. (See Finance Rota papers for 26th August 1890)
Relieving Officer Mr. W. Bosher
Admitted into the Asylum 15th day of August 1890
Of death in the Asylum 23 [changed to 29th?] July 1891
Names and addresses of relatives (if any)
(Wife) Sarah Levy
36 Middlesex Street
Aldgate EC.
Date of Notice sent to relatives
Admission 18th day of August 1890
Death 31 July 1891



[Line drawn through this]
[Stamp changed in red to CL[U] 18 AUG 90 RECEIVED]
To the Guardians of the Poor of the City of London Union ...
Whereas Jacob Levy a Pauper chargeable to the City of London Poor Law Union, and deemed to be person of unsound mind was this day brought before me [etc] and I thereupon called to my assistance Henry James Sequera [Sequeira] a Surgeon, who has personally examined [him] and has certified that [he] is person of unsound mind [etc I have by an Order caused him] to be conveyed by (b) W. Bosher relieving officer [etc] to the Lunatic Asylum ... at Stone ...
This is ... to require and order you ... to pay ... unto the said Henry James Sequeira the Sum of one Guinea ... and the Sum of one pound eight shillings & ten pence unto the said Walter Bosher ...
... 15th August 1890 at the Guildhall Justice Rooms ...
Geo Rot Tyler


[RECEPTION ORDER]
I George Robert Tyler, Esquire being an alderman & Justice of the Peace of the City of London having called to my assistance [etc] Jacob Levy of 36 Middlesex St Aldgate ... person of unsound mind ... hereby direct you to receive ... [etc; same date]
To Dr [?]Ernest W White Medical Superintendent of the City of London Lunatic Asylum at Stone ...


[Order with stamp changed in red to 18 AUG 90 RECEIVED
Whereas I ... on the 14th day of August received notice ... that Jacob Levy ... is deemed to be person of unsound mind I therefore hereby order and require you to bring [him] before me, on the 15th ... at Eleven o'clock in the forenoon, at the Guildhall Justice Rooms ...
[at the Guildhall Justice Rooms 14th August 1890]
James Whitehead

The Guardians ... to W. Bosher R O re Jacob Levy (a Lunatic)
[Expenses for bringing Jacob Levy to the Guildhall and thence to the Asylum by cab and rail (special compt)
Total £1.8.10]


STATEMENT OF PARTICULARS
Name of patient, with christian name at length Levy Jacob
Sex and age 34 years
Married, single or widowed Married
Rank, profession, or previous occupation (if any) Butcher
Religious persuasion Hebrew
Residence at or immediately previous to the date hereof 36 Middlesex St Aldgate
Whether first attack No
Age on first attack 30 years
When and where previously under care and treatment as a lunatic, idiot, or person of unsound mind Essex County Asylum 1886
Duration of existing attack Some time
Supposed cause Not Known
Whether subject to epilepsy No
Whether suicidal No
Whether dangerous to other, and in what way No
Whether any near relative has been afflicted with insanity Yes. Elder brother cut his throat
Union to which lunatic is chargeable City of London
Names, christian names, and full postal addresses of one or more relatives of the patient Sarah Levy (Wife)
36 Middlesex St
Aldgate E.C
(Signed) W. Bosher Relieving Officer [etc]
15th August 1890


CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONER
In the matter of Jacob Levy
of 36 Middlesex Street Aldgate E.
in the City of London
Butcher
an alleged lunatic.
I the undersigned Henry James Sequeira
do hereby certify ...
On the 14th day of August 1890
at 36 Middlesex Street, Aldgate E.
in the City of London
I personally examined Jacob Levy
and came to the conclusion that he is person of unsound mind
and a proper person to be taken charge of and detailed under care and treatment.
3. I formed this conclusion on the following grounds, viz.:-
(a) Facts indicating insanity observed by myself at the time of examination viz.
Known patient several years, formerly shrewd business man, now quite
incapable of carrying on same, giving wrong change & money back for things
bought. Says he feels a something within him, impelling him to take every
thing he sees. Feels that if he is not restrained he will do some violence to some one
Complains of hearing strange noises.
(b) Facts communicated by others viz.:-
Wife (Sarah Levy 36 Middlesex St
Deposes:- That he has nearly ruined her business, being quite incapable of
taking care of money. Makes away with every penny he can put his hands on.
Orders goods indiscriminately & is continually taking other peoples goods, carrying
them off. Wanders away from home for hours without any purpose. Does not sleep at
night, raves & is continually fancying someone is going to do him bodily harm.
[He] appeared to me to be in a fit condition ... to be removed to an asylum ...
14th August 1890
H. J. Sequeira
of 34 Jewry Street Aldgate London E.
CITY OF LONDON UNION.
61, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE, E.C.
16th day of Augt 1890


GENTLEMEN
I have to inform you that on the 15th
day of Augt I removed Jacob Levy
to the City of London Lunatic
Asylum, near Dartford, Kent.
The name and address of the nearest known
relative or friend is-
Sarah Levy "Wife"
36 Middlesex St
Aldgate
[unsigned] Relieving Officer ...


[Draft notification 18th Augt 1890 to Mrs Sarah Levy 36 Middlesex Street Aldgate
that her husband has been removed to the City of London Lunatic Asylum at Stone.
Frederick W. Crane, Clerk.


[Note 31st July 1891 informing her that her husband died at the Asylum on the 29th July 1891.
F. W. Crane

With envelope addressed to Mrs Sarah Levy 36 Middlesex Street Aldgate E, marked Gone Away.

August 4th 1891
re Jacob Levy deceased
Sir
I saw the widow Mrs. Levy yesterday she is staying with her sister in law Mrs Barnett, 87 Middlesex St. she was aware of the death.
...
[?]J A Chapman R [?]O
[to F. W. Crane, Clerk]


CITY OF LONDON LUNATIC ASYLUM ...
NOTICE OF DEATH ...
Jacob Levy a Pauper Patient admitted into this Asylum on the Fifteenth
day of August 1890, died therein in the presence of Attendant
Wm. Hewlett and Mrs. Levy (wife) on the Twenty Ninth day of July 1891.
Dated the Thirtieth day of July 1891.
Signed Alfred Hobley
Clerk of the Asylum.
I Certify that the apparent cause of Death of the said Jacob Levy [as ascertained by post-mortem examination - deleted], was
Exhaustion from General Paralysis of the Insane
Signed Ernest W White
Medical Superintendent
To the Guardians [etc]


Draft notification 31 July 1891 to his widow of his death.

[Errata]

Errata

You seem to be reading a lot from what is posted.

This is the intake record, not the more substantial medical record. We don't know what detail they did (or did not) go into with the medical records, but this is an overview.

I know. But it does state the reason for commitment. It's why I say he may have been crazy, his records would show that, and of course, you don't have them. But the guy who decides whether or not this guy goes into an asylum made his decision based on family history. And that's just sad. It may have been a good idea, it may have been a bad idea. But it was based on flawed logic.

John Dee correctly deduced that the plague was coming from the rats. He said it was because rats were under the auspice of the moon, as was disease, therefore.. etc. No. And we'll throw in a "Huh?" for good measure. So he was right, but he was right in a way that made it kind of beside the point that he was right. Bad reasoning. And I have no idea how that whole line of thinking resulted in rats as opposed to cats or fish or whatever, but rats it was. And he was right, but let's face it. He was right out of blind luck.

Levy could have been mentally ill. He could have benefited enormously from his time in the hospital. We don't know. But if he did, it was not thanks to the superintendent. That guy was pulling a Dee. And it may have been the best information at the time, but it was the best of bad information. He didn't cite a history of disturbance in the patient. He cited a history of disturbance in the family. Either because there was no history in the patient, or because he thought for some reason that the family history was more important. The behavior cited barring the suicide attempt is normal given the circumstances, and even the suicide attempt isn't really unusual. So of course his medical records could shed a lot of light on this, but if you look at the intake form for Kosminski, you see the kind of detail you could reasonably expect. That detail isn't on this one. It's worrisome.

And it's nothing to do with your find, or the fact the medical records don't exist anymore. You did a fantastic thing. It just brings up the inherent horror that comes from thinking about the idea that someone could be institutionalized for bad reasons. Even if Levy was legitimately ill, the reasons Levy were admitted for could easily apply to a perfectly sane man. Gives me the willies.

[tji]

Hi Lynn

Yeah we thought it was something worth considering, shame we can't locate the prison records.


Errata

You seem to be reading a lot from what is posted.

This is the intake record, not the more substantial medical record. We don't know what detail they did (or did not) go into with the medical records, but this is an overview.

Hi Phil

Yes we noticed this and are looking into it but as of yet we don't know for definite, but I suspect that it probably was the case that a 'higher up' would have to sign off on the patients.

[Phil Carter]

Hello all,

I have a question that perhaps someone will know the answer to.

I noticed that Godfrey Lushington, Under Secretary of State, well known within the genre, signed the said letter of release.

Was it normal for this man to sign ALL such release letters of ALL such "criminal lunatics"? Through the whole land?

Phil