Man chained for 21 years sent for treatment
By Xiao Ma (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-05 06:11

He was brought back to the county hospital for treatment, but in early 1983, Ding's husband, Wang Er, died from cancer. Without any more money to spend on the medical bills, Wang Baozhu was taken back to his home in a mountainous village.

He developed schizophrenia, and often attacked family members and villagers. In the spring of 1984, he even wrecked his home.

Freezing temperatures

When his elder brother and villagers tried to build a new house for Ding, Wang would dismantle it. His mother, in despair, bought a pair of handcuffs and a pair of shackles.

Villagers suggested she buy some sleeping pills, and put them into a bottle of beer for the son to drink. After Wang Baozhu fell into a sleep, the villagers helped Ding put the handcuffs and the shackles on the son.

After he woke up, the son struggled but later accepted his confinement without a word, Ding said.

Despite being responsible for confining him, she said she found it heartbreaking to see her son shivering in temperatures of as low as -20 C in the winter.

Ding said she tried to give him more clothes, but every time he put them on, he would burn them with the fire from the straw.

Village head Fan Yonglin said the tragedy was caused by poverty.

Ding's income last year was only several hundred yuan, or less than US$100, Fan said.

"How could she afford to send her son to a hospital for treatment?" he said.

(China Daily 01/05/2006 page3)