ASSAULT ON A MENTAL PATIENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 7, 3 October 1918, Page 7

ASSAULT ON A MENTAL PATIENT

AN ATTENDANT.SMT TO GAOL.. ; Hugh Anderson, an attendant at the Porirua Mental Hospital, appeared before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer a charge of assault on a.patient named Herbert James Simpson. Chief Detective Boddam prosecuted and Mr. il. F. O'Leary appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Joseph Stanley Gilbert Gnindy, attendant at Poririia, said that on Wednesday, September 2-5, lie was on duty in the- sick ward. Anderson came to the ward, and lie was then under the influence of liquor. Anderson pulled a patient's arm, took another patient out of bed, and then went to Simpson and struck him with his open haud on the head, twice. An attendant named Brown took the accused way. Oross-oxamined, witness said he did not know that Anderson had been dismissed then, but he knew now. Anderson did not say that he had come into the ward to help witness. 'Hie accused struck Simpson with his open hand, but witness did not think it a serious affair and did not report the mutter. William Brown, attendant at the hospital, said lie was on duty in the sipfc ward. Ho heard a pationt tell Anderson to leave the patient Simpson alone. Witness did not see the assault on Simpson. Witness took Anderson out. of the ward. Andnrson was at the time under the influence of liquor. Dr. Bray Hassell, medical stinerintendaiit, Porirua Mental Hospital, said he know accused. Witness was not in the sick ward when the assault took place. On gotting certain information witness examined the patient Simpson and was satisfied that the assault had notliimr to do with the death of Simpson, who died on Tuesday night. The accused, in his evidence, said that on the day in question he wont to the sick ward with tltu best of intentions. He went to give the- new -attendant information as to some of Hid natieuts. Simpson had boon out of bed fivo times the previous evening. The alleged assault on Simpson consisted of stopping him jfettiiig out of hod. Thp (irai.wri was convicted and sentenced to a month's imprisonment.