MURDER BY A LUNATIC.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1513, 14 April 1885, Page 2

MURDER BY A LUNATIC.

—; e ; Auckland, ' Last Night, The - Auxiliary Lunatic Asylum was the scene of a foul murder this morning.' One of the warders, named James Thomson, was attacked by a lunatic named James Trowhellar, who struck him with a pitchfork, and killed him instantly. At the time of this shocking occurrence, a number of patients were at work in a potato field under three warders, of whom deceased was one. Trowhellar was working some distance from the others, and Thomson requiring him, is believed to have gone to ask him, for the first intimation the other warders had of the tragedy was Wartjer Hughes hearing a' blow struck." Looking round, he saw Thomson on the ground J»nd **rewhellar standing over him with a pitchfork raised. Tsro other blows were struck before Warden Hughes and MKogae could resei the spot, and secure the patietr-, who at first made as if ho were dele '- mined to defend himself. Hi pWihiptly 1 secured, and appeared to* be highly satisfied with his ‘exploit, aajd Eg that it wa* the best he could db. The other patients did not make the flighted

Movement, bat worked on as if the mu der had hot happened. The body wj taken to the building, and Dr Young tel phoned for. The auxiliary asylum, may be mentioned, is about a quarter < a mile distant from the main asylum. T Young had gone into town to attend th Supreme Court, Hardy, head attendant went over to the farm and found the bod, of deceased in the potato field. _ He wa quite dead, and his neck was dislocated It Was quite evident, from the manner ii which the head moved when raised, tha the neck was broken by the blow, ant ■ death was instantaneous. The weapoi with which the deed was committed is ai old four-pronged pitchfork, and severa hairs are still adhered to the side of on< of the prongs, showing that it was wit! that portion of the weapon that the blon was struck. Joseph Thomson, deceased, was i powerful-looking young man, about 2c years of age. He was single, and is said to have a sister living in the South. She came to Auckland to visit him recently, and is possibly still here. Thomson ha« only been at the Asylum since last September, having come from the South. He was originally employed as cook, and subsequentljtfes warder. He is from the £Torth of Ireland, and is believed to have been only a short time in the colony, . Thomson was a quiet young fellow, and is said to have been a great favorite amongst the patients. Charles Trewbeilar is 28 years of age, and was formerly a laborer at Hunua, near Papakura. He was admitted to the Asylum on December 24, 1883, suffering from delusive mania. For a short time after his admission he absolutely refused to eat food, but otherwise bis conduct has been good. He has for some time been au inmate of the Auxiliary Aslyum, where all the patients who are net considered to be violent or dangerous are kept. The attendants say they never had special cause to watch him. One night he escaped and went to town, but that was not considered anything exceptional, astthe patients would all do it if they could The Coroner has arranged for an inquest on the body to-morrow.