ELIHU E. JACKSON, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

79

rules of law and proceedings now applicable to
the property of lunatics shall apply to cases of
persons declared to be habitual drunkards under
the provisions of this section, except when
herein otherwise directed ; and any person who
may be alleged to be an habitual drunkard
may dispense with the legal proceedings to es-
tablish the same, and may, with the approbation
of the court when said petition may be filed,

Rules of law
applicable.

appoint his or her own committee, and may
voluntarily enter any institution selected by the
court for a limited time, and the board of trus-
tees or managers of such institution may retain
such person the length of time he or she may
have agreed therein to remain ; and if the per-
son against whom the petition may be filed shall
be found by the jury to be an habitual drunkard,
incapable of taking care of himself or herself, it

Voluntarily
enter any In-
stitution.

shall be the duty of the court to appoint a com-
mittee of such person, and such committee shall,
with the written assent and approbation of the
court, have the power of confining such person
in any suitable institution for such length of
time as the court may, in writing, approve ; but
said committee, with the written assent and ap-
probation of the court, may at any time release
from confinement said habitual drunkard, and
the period of confinement of said habitual
drunkard may, by the said committee, with the
written assent and approbation of the court, be
from time to time extended for such periods as
may be necessary for his or her complete
reformation.

Appoint com-
mittee.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall
take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved March 8, 1888.

Effective.