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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3017, 25 February 1881, Page 2

FtrRTBEE disclosures of a most disgraceful character have been made before the Commission of Enquiry into the management of the Wellington Lunatic Asylum. Mr Slaclcrnore deposed that he saw two female warders ill-treating a female patient in a most brutal manner. He reported the matter to the Resident Magistrate. As showing how unpleasant truths can he hushed up, we give the following extracts from Mr Slackmore's evidence : —I wrote an official report of what I saw at tho time, and kept a copy, which I have. Three weeks later Dr Skac called, and asked me to attend at the asylum at an enquiry which was to be held "into the affair. Dr Skae asked me several questions about the matter. I said if there had not been an enquiry I should have ventilated the matter in the papers. Ho begged me on no account to do that, as it would cause a scandal. When I attended at the asylum for the enquiry I was received by tho man Whitelaw in a most insolent" and threatening manner. After treating me in a most overbearing way, he told me to go into a room where Dr Skae was. Dr Skae presided over the enquiry, Whitelaw appearing to conduct it. The enquiry was a complete farce—it was an old womanish proceeding, the matter being completely extinguished. I suggested that the evidence of the policeman should be procured, but was told that was unnecessary. Seeing my presence was not desired I then left, Dr Skae concluded the

proceedings by saying he thought the word of the two attendants (who denied the charge), was as good as mine, and that nothing more 'could be done. Mary Mahoney's evidence is also a most disgraceful disclosure : —: I was an attendant at the asylum nearly two years. I left on December 15th last. I have seen Whitelaw enter the private cells of the female patients, sometimes with the doctor, sometimes alone. There was a female patient named Foley, who one morning was nude, and appeared as if she liad torn off her clothing.. I reported the matter to Miss Brigdeh. Miss Brigden said, "Never mmcl; let her stop till Whitelaw cGMes down." I said, but she will have no clothes on." She replied, " Never mind ; that is what he has been used to." Whitelaw and Miss Bridgen went to the woman's cell. This was in the morning. I saw Whitelaw near the cell during the day. I have seen Whitelaw take female patients to their cells—sometimes lie was alone when he put them in. I saw him put in Mrs Clark. He took her by the arms, and thrust her her behind with his knees. She screamed out. William Dear deposed to having seen a warder beating a patient with a pickhandle, or a piece of wood like it. He must have struck him thirty times the patient all the time wheeling a barrow, and getting away as fasb as he could. Thomas Poynter, fireman, deposed : I was in the asylum eight weeks, and left five weeks ago, I have seen patients fighting. On one occasion they were set to fight by attendants. When I went there I was told to lake very little notice of things, or I should get into trouble and be put into the " back." Once when two patients were set to fight they beat each other fearfully, and one was struck a terrible blow, and, said " Oh, my God ! you have knocked my eye out." It was most disgusting, and I walked away.