ASYLUM INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1872, 4 October 1913, Page 6

ASYLUM INQUIRY.

WITNESSES RECALLED. MORE ABOUT TRIBE CASE. (By Telcrrapl.—Prcos Association.) Chrlstohuroh, October 2. The commission of inquiry into tlio treatment of certain patients at the Sunnysido Mental Hospital continued-its sittings to-day. Mr. V. G. Day (commissioner) presiding. Attendant Condon, recalled, said that on the day of Tribe's removal from the institution ho entered tho patient's room at 6.30 a.m. Attondant Duckworth, who, was going off night duty, said that Tribe' had been restless, and, as ho then appeared to bo sleeping, witness did not wake him. About 8.80 a.m. ness noticed that he appeared to be sinking, and called Dr. Ramsbottom.; Tho doctor came at once, and then Drs. Gow and Ramsbottom examined the caso.

To Commissioner: Mrs. Tribo calledi witness's attention to tho condition of' her husband's foot on about June 12. Tho boots were certainly tight, but thore was then no question of a nail in one boot. Mrs. Tnbo had never called his attention to a wad of paper soaked with blood. More About Boots and Garments.' Mrs. Tribo (recalled) said oiat, when: she called the attendant's attention to ; her husband's foot on Juno 7_thero was a little ridge of small nails in the sole of his slipper. To Mr. .Raymond: Her sister took a blood-stained pad of paper out of the slipper. On Juno 12, when 6he saw hor husband again, he had heavy boots on, and they seemed too .short for him. Edith Elizabeth Courtney, sister of the lastj witness, said that on June 6 she visited the institution. Tribo waß then limping, and there was a nail in his shoe. Mrs. Lohrey pulled a piece of paper out of the 6hoe, and found that tho stocking had blood on it. Tribo had asked his wife to get him out of tho institution, and tiad added: "There are some dreadful brutes in here." On tho occasion of one of their visits she (witness) remarked that the patient did not appear to have had a bath since ho entered the institution, and she was 6ure that he had the same shirt on every time they culled. If it was not the same it was one exactly similar. His trousers only had one button at tho top. , Ada Grace Lohrey sad that she visited the institution with Mrs. Tribe and Mrs. Courtnoy. The patient's mental condition improved and his physical condition declined while he was in the Institution. Sho corroborated previous evidence about the clothes and nails in the boots.

To Mr. Raymond: Witness did not visit Sunnysido later than Juno 5 and oho oould not fix the dates on which sho noticed the things mentioned. No complaints wore made to the attendants in witness's presence. Trlbo's Removal and Death. Charles August Myhre (recalled) said that, when ho saw Tribe's leg on Juno 19, it was swollen and discoloured. Witness took particular notice of it and only desisted from further examination because it hurt Tribe to have it ovon touched. John Thornton (recalled) said that he visited the institution on Juno 6 and June 12. When Tribo died ho had on a pyjarna suit) and trousers. Tho Commissioner: Tho > attendant says that Tribe had no pyjama trousers when ho left tho institution.

■Witness, continuing, said. that ho oould not possibly be mistaken in bis previous account of ,tho oonditiou of Tribo's leg at the time of his death. Edward D. Mosolo.y, solicitor, said that ha visited the institution in June in company with Thornton. Tribo appeared rational, and asked after many mutual friends. Witness had a friendlv talk with him for about an hour. There was no doubt, however, .that Tribo had. illusions, but Sunnyside was hardly a place for him. His clothes wore disreputable, if they wero not dirty. The coat was far to big, there ward buttons missing cvorywhere, and his general appearanco was an unkempt one. On the Monday beforo death took placo witness telephoned to tho _ institution and got into communication with Dr. Gow. The doctor informed him that Tribo's condition was very bad and witness suggested that h© should; bo removed. Dr. Gow replied that he; would require authority from another-, medical man beforo he could sanction such a step. Witness then took Dr. Orchard up to Sunnyside, and tho removal was arranged. Witness and Thornton carried Tribe, mattress and all, into tho ambulance van and. witness was present when ho died. He did not see Tribe's leg. Mr. Dougall remarked that there was no suggestion that tho institution authorities sought the removal The commissioner said that it was still a question whether tho.'instihition authorities wero justified in permitting Tribe's removal in such a condition, and while uncured of his mental trouble. Mr. Raymond said that ho agreed that that aspect of tho matter had to be considered. ' Algernon John Symes stated that ho visitod Tribe on Juno 14. Oil that occasion his clothes were perfectly clean and fitted him well. They were apparently his own clothes. Ho was 6unerinr; from delusions and was not quite rational. Ho asked witness to cable to the King. Doctor' Seeks a Correction. Dr. Orchard (recalled at his own request) said that ail error had _ boon made in tho official report of his oyldenco under cross-examinatioli by Mr. Dougall, regarding tho colour- of Tribe s lee which Mr. Dougall contended was green. Witness was reported to have said: "It was a livid blueish colour of course." That was not correct. Witness gave that in reply to a hypothetical questioii concerning the postmortem appearance in General. Mr. 'Raymond said that tho correctness of tho Toport icould hardly bo Questioned. Ho asked what correction Dr; Orchard desired to have mado. AVhat was tho condition of tho lcgP Dr. Orchard replied that it was not at all discoloured and was only slightly SW To°Mr. Dougall: But you made that quite clear in your evidence. , What is it vou wish to correct? _• Dr Orchard: Tho obvious contradiction of a reference to a bluish colour when I had elsewhere said that there was no discolouration. . To the commissioner: It was obvious to the medical officers of the institution what tho cause of Tribe's death % 10 commissioner: But not to you, and yet you gavo a certificate and assumed the responsibility. Mr. Dnvoy voiced a complaint that he* had been coinpollcd to undertako tho duties of counsel on behalf of certain persons making charges. He thought that tho Crown should have assumed the responsibility of tho proper legal representation of these persons. Mr. Dougall expressed a similar opinion. Both tho commissioner and Mr. Raymond congratulated Mr. Davey on tho way in which lie had carried out the duties forced upon him, and the incident closed.