A LUNATIC MURDERS ANOTHER.

Evening Star, Issue 3840, 15 June 1875, Page 3

A LUNATIC MURDERS ANOTHER.

A correspondent supplies the ‘ Southern Cross’ with some information respecting the evidence at a late inquest on the dead body of a lunatic, who was found dead in his bed in the Lunatic Asylum, at Whau. The mac’s name was Henry Williams. The asylum presents an utter inadequacy of accommodation for its inmatcs._ A considerable number of patients sleep in one room. In the day room this patient slept. Among his companions was one who was deemed to possess rather dangerous proclivities. The evidence given by the warder, who found the body of Williams lying dead, was to this effect' That when he entered the room he saw the dead body lying partly on the mattrass, and with the head hanging over the side on the floor. The face showed marks of injury, the dead man having a seriously contused eye as if from a blow! Under the head was .found a quantity of blood, amounting, according to the evidence of another warder, to about half a teacupful. On observing the body, the first warder said to this dangerous lunatic, “ This man lias been murdered, and,” —pointing to the patient addressed—“ you have done it.” “ Yes,” was the teply, which included an opprobrious epithet applied to the dead man “ yes, and I’d do it again.”