ASYLUM INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1871, 3 October 1913, Page 8

ASYLUM INQUIRY.

MORE WARDERS CALLED. MR. TRIBE AND HIS HABITS: I "THOUGHT HE WAS SANDOW." THE DEFENCE NEARLY FINISHES. (J3y Telegraph—Prf«a Association.) Chrlstohuroh, October 2. The Commission of Inquiry, presided over by Mr. V. G. Day, S.M., continued its inquiry regarding tho conduct of the Sunnyside Mental Hospital to-day. Percy Stafford Brookes, attendant at Sunnyside Asylum for ten months, stat-ed that during the last two months of Mr. Tribe's sojourn. in tho institution ho was frightfully untidy. Ho was also always wanting to fight other patients. He appeared to have a delusion that ho was Sandow on the day that lie got his first black-eye. He woiifd Keep on going near patients under observation, though warned to keep away. Finally one hit him, inflicting tho black-eye. This was reported. It was not long after this that ho was removed into 0 ward, but ho still camo into F ward to dine, as ho w : as not a fit patient to go into the hall to dino. A few days after the first black-eye was inflicted, witness observed a slight disturbance, and, on inquiring what it meant, he was informed that the man who had previously strucK Tribe had struck him again. Witness, not having seen the blow struck, amr being only a new attendant at the time, did not report the blow. Moreover, thero was no sign of injury. To ' tho Commissioner: It was only necessary to report injuries; not every blow struck. Continuing, witness said that when Barrett committed suicide it was a»soiutely impossible to stop him. He was over tho fence in a ilash. To Mr. Dougall: A black-eye was an uncommon thing to see in tho hospital. Andrew John Porter, attendant at Sunnyside for over ten years, said that Tribe's condition was fairly satisfactory at first, but after a while he began to get untidy. He was troublesome to other patients, and abused them. On ono occasion witness saw him take off his slippers, and throw them at another man. Witness went on to say that he had never seen anyone hitting Herlihy over the bead with keys. Ho could not credit it. Herlihy was a general favourite with all. Tho doctors went into the airing courts every day, and Gourlay, if he wished to speak to them then, could easily do so. Shinglo Pit Inoldent. Alex. George Finlayson stated that ho had been two years and nino months attendant at Sunnysido. He was in the institution when Gourlay was there. When working in the shingle pit Gourlav was very restless, and was inciting other patients to leavo off work and run away. Consequently he had to be put inside. To Mr. Davey: Gourlay's movemonts and statements had excited other patients. Witness had v-erbally reported Gourlay's conduct to the head attendant, who had ordered him to ho kept inside. Gourlay had said that ho had no right to work in tho shinglo pit, and as he could not get away ho would havo to run away. The effect of these statements was to make other patients leavo off work. - Witness did not havo any recollection of having knocked a patient down and beaten him. Gourlay's statomont that he thought that an attendant named'Finlayson had done so was incorrect. "Do You Still Deny That?" At Mr. Johnston's suggestion, Gourlay was asked if the witness was the person whom ho referred to. .Gourlay: "I haven't tho slightest doubt that Finlayson is the man I refer to. I had no doubt in this case. It was in Herlihy's case that I had doubt." Mr. Diavey: You have no doubt in' your mind that this is the man? Gourlav: "No." In reply to Mr. Day, Gourlay said that ho did not remember the names of patients who were working in. tho shingle pit when the incident took place. 1 Mr. Johnston (to witness'*; Despite Gourla.v's statement, you still deny that the thing happened? Witness: "Yes." . James Coakley, a certificated attendant at tho asylum for three years, denied Gourlay's statement with referenco to Finlayson and himself. Gourlay he added, was a-bit of au agitator. Ho had told witness on a few occasions that the doctors and tho attendants should do tho work, and not_ him. Shortly, after leaving the institution Gourlay wrote to witness asking him to take witness's brother out to wfrk in the open air. Gourlay, questioned on' the point, said that ho merely ivroto to Crakley as the result of a promise mado by him to write. He considered that 't' would do his brother good to lake him out to work. To Mr. Davey: Gourlay's statement that ho saw Finlayson and witness knocking patients about was a lie. Ho had never knocked patients ahcut. To Mr. Johnston: Tho patients were examined every morning, and if a natient was knocked about a.s described by Gourlay, ho would show marks. Gourlay, in reply to Mr. Davev. snid that ho was absolutely sure of having seen ■ Coakley knocking a patient atcut in the fields. William Thomas Gash, attendant at Sunnyside for over thirteen months, denied having at any time (-truck Herlihy. or dangled keys about his _ ears. Herlihy was a great favourite with all tho attendants, and ho would do more for Herlihy than most of ihe patierts. Tribe, on tho contrary, was always annoying other patients. Ho also possessed very dirty habits. Witness had seen him throw his clothes away on several occasions. To Mr. Dougall: Ho could rot remember whether ho had reported that portion of Tribo's clothing was massing. Carmonts and Boots. Bernard Groski, _ attendant, stated that lie had been nino and a half years , in the service. He had i-ecn three and a quarter years at Hokitika, three years at Mount Cook, and three and a nuarter venrs at Sunnyside. He denied having locked Gourlnv in the lavatory, cT that lie had locked him up anywhere at' any time. Hicre woro no doors to tho lavatories of F waT(l. It. was not tmo that lie "stimulated" patients by means of a broom ■ handle. Ho had no timo for that. Gourlay never "nmplainsd to him regarding tho state of his blankets. Witness slept in a room opposite Tribo's. Tribo was very restless at niclit, and on two occasions ho had t.o°get tho night-watchman to quieten him. Witness dressed Tribo before lie went to see visitors, and put on clean clothes. Later on during the same evening the head attendant and Attendant Condon told witness of complaints about the stato of Tribe's clothes, and he was shown a coat, which was dirtv, but it was not the coat that lie had put on him. Ho know of instances whero patients partly undressed themselves in tho lavatory. Tho stockings which he gave Tribe were, as far as he knew, in good condition. Tho boots that Tribo ' woro were medium in weight, and they were a good, serviceable pair. ? To Mr. Dougall: There were two 9 eln=ws of hoots for male patients. Orm JjTad nailji Kailec^

boots were issued to patients . who worked on the farm, though, sometimes, patients who (lid not work on tho farm preferred boots with nails. Tribo had a pair of institution slippers. The complaint on Jnno 12 regarding Tribe's clothes was the only occasion upon which he had heard of anything being amiss. Ho told tho head attendant and Attendant Condon that ho had not turned Tribe out in the clothes complained of. Tribo might have changed his clothes in tho corridor. He was not awaro that complaints regarding Tribe's clothes wcro frequent. The Night Attendant. Arthur Duckworth, night attendant at the asylunij said that he had had over five years experience. Ho looked after the Infirmary Ward. Howie was very excitable and restless when he cam© in. He was too restless to put in tlie dormatory with other patients at night time. Ho was restless on the night that ho received a black eye. Witness visited him several times during that night, but observed no bruises. As soon as witness would put Howie to bed of a night he would often get out again. Witness remembered giving him hot milk of a night. It would have been possible to put Tribe in a dormator.v. Witness had noticed a bandage on his leg 0110 morning, but there was nothing in the appearance of the lec to attract attention. There was no dislocation or swelling. The Commissioner said that he,would like to hear evidence later on as to whether anyone saw Tribe between 6.30 and 8.30 on tho morning that he died. Mr. Raymond said that\ this was all the evidence which ho proposed to call, with the exception of Dr. Gow. It was decided to take Dr. Gow s evidenco at th<i conclusion of fresh evidence which is to be called by Mr. Dougall and Mr. Davey. Tho inquiry then adjourned -till 10.30 this morning.