ART. 59] LUNATIC OR INSANE PAUPERS. 77

Lunatic or Insane Paupers.

1000, ch. 603.

1. When any person is alleged to be a lunatic or insane, and
without sufficient means to pay for his or her maintenance at an
asylum, and who has no relative or relatives, or others legally
chargeable with his or her support, the county commissioners of
the county in which such person may reside, or the supervisors
of city charities of the department of charities and corrections
of the city of Baltimore (if such person resides in the city
of Baltimore), shall, upon the written certificates of two quali-
fied physicians, made in accordance with the provisions of
section 31, cause such person to be sent to the almshouse of the
county or city to which he or she belongs, or to an hospital or
some other place better suited to his or her condition, there to
be confined at the expense of the county or city until he or she
shall have recovered and be discharged in due course of law; but
if demanded by the alleged lunatic or insane person, or any of his
or her relatives or friends, or if requested by the board of county
commissioners of the county in which the alleged lunatic or
insane person resides, or by the supervisors of the city charities
of the department of charities and corrections of the city of
Baltimore, if said person resides therein, the circuit court for
the county in which such person may reside, or the Criminal
Court of Baltimore (if such person resides in the city of Balti-
more) shall cause a jury of twelve good and lawful men to be
empaneled forthwith, and shall charge the said jury to inquire
whether such person is insane or lunatic, and if found so, it shall
be the duty of the county commissioners or the supervisors of city
chanties of the department of charities and corrections of Balti-
more city to cause such person to be sent to the almshouse of the
county or city to which he or she belongs, or to an hospital, or to
some other place better suited to his or her condition, there to be
confined at the expense of the county or city, until he or she shall
have recovered and be discharged in due course of law. It shall
be the duty of any board of county commissioners or the super-
visors of the city charities of the department of charities and
corrections of the city of Baltimore, before whom any such
alleged lunatic or insane person is brought for commitment
under this section, if not satisfied that such person is lunatic or