SHOCKING MURDER IN A LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1207, 17 April 1885, Page 3

SHOCKING MURDER IN A LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Auckland, April 13th. The auxiliary Lunatic Asylum was the acme of a foul murder this morning. One •of the warders named Joseph Thomson, •was attacked by a lunatic named James Trewhellar, who struck him with a pitchfink aud killed him instantly. At the time <•{ ihe shocking occurrence a number of the pa ients were at wo> k in a potato field nnior three warders, of whom deceased wa, one. Trewhellar was working some distance from the others, and Thomson reoniring him. is believed to have gone to s-ieak to :him. The first intimation the other warders had of the tragedy was by one of t^em—Warder Hughes—hearing a blow struck. Looking-round hj ■ saw Thom -e-iD on the ground, and T ewhelljr standing over him with the pitchfork raised. Two other blows were struck before Warders Hughes and Mickogue could reach the spot a id secure the patient, who at first made if he were determined to defend hints If. He was promptly seemed, and appeared to be highly satisfied with his exp oit. saying tnat it wad the best he could do. The other patients did not make the slightest movement, but worked on as if the murder had not happened. The body was taken to the budding, and Ur Young telephoned for. The auxiliary Asylum, it may be mentioned, is about a quarter of a mile distant from the main asylum. Dr Young had gone into town to attend the Supreme Gouit, but he was advised by telephone of the occurrence. Mr Hardy, the head attendant, went over to the farm, and found foe body of the deceased in the potato field. The neck was dislocated, and it was I quite evident that it was broken by the | blow, and that death was instantaneous. The weapon with which the deed was committed is an old four pronged pitchfork, and rather light. Several hairs still adbaled to the side of one of the prongs, showing that it was with that portion of the weapon that the blow was struck. Joseph Thomson, the deceased, was a powerful looking man, about 25 years of a»e. He was single, and is said to have a a'siat r living in the South. She came to Auckland to visit him recently, and is posS biy still here. Thomson had only been at the asylum since last September, having come from the South. Ho was originally employed as cook, and sui'sequently as a warder. He is from the North of Ireland, aud is believed to have been only a short time in the Colony Thomson was a quiet y ung fellow, and is said to have been a great favourite amongst the patients. Trewhellar is 28 years of age, and was f-nmerly a labourer at rianua, near Papakura. He was a Imitted to the asylum on December 24, 18-3, suffering from delusive mania For a short time after his admiseion he absolutely refused to eat food, but otherwise his conduct has been good, flu has for some time been an inmate of tbe auxiliary asylum, where all the patients who are not considered; dangerous or violent t-re kept. The a tehdants say they never had special cause to watch him. One night he escaped and went to town, but that was not considered anything exceptional, as the patients would all do it if they could. April 14. At the inqukst at the Lunatic Asylum on the body of Josdbh Thomsen, warder, killed by the patient, Gearies Trewheller, yester day, the jury returned a verdict that deceased was killed by Trewhellar, who was not responsible for hia actions ; also that no blame was attachable to the attendants of the asylum. Tbe deceased has a sister resident in Christchurch