Bejamin Hawkins - County Lunatic Asylum (General)

by Mike Pinchin , Bedford, England, Saturday, May 24, 2014, 19:21 (3837 days ago) @ andrewp91

I would be very happy to edit my post above to include the full article (only available on subscription) but it would not provide anything to confirm his identity. The additional details just concern the nature of the offence (“stanking” or blocking the brook ( presumably to trap fish)) and the statements of some witnesses as to the identity of the defendants. I do not think that persistent criminal activity of itself would be grounds to commit someone to an asylum. However, very common grounds at the time were the threat or attempt at suicide. There is no evidence of this but it needs to be borne in mind.