TRAGEDY IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2087, 23 May 1907, Page 2

TRAGEDY IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL.

PATIENT DONE TO DEATH.

Press Association. DUNEDIN, last night. A tragedy took place in Seachffo Asylum. Joseph Khodda, a miner, who has boon a patient was in the boiler-house working the e with Ah lvee, a Chinaman and another patient named Roberts. lr vest, an attendant, .was close at hand outside the boiler-house, bu - denly he heard a noise, and Roberts rushed out and informed him that Ah Kce had knocked down Khodda with an axe while the latter was in the act of striking him (the Chinaman) with a shovel.' When the attendant got inside the boiler-house ho found Ah Kce with an. axe bn his band and deceased lying on the floor. Ah Kee was apparently about to strike him again, when Provost took the axe from him. Roberts was the only man who witnessed the affair, and he was unable to give any evidence at the inquest, his mind having been a blank since., Dr. King operated on Rliodda and removed a piece of skull which had bepn forced into the brain. For a time the patient improved, but gradually grew duller, and died. Dr. King, in evidence, showed that deceased frequently broke out in fits of tamper, and from what had been stated he was of opinion that the story told‘by Roberts was correct. The jury returned a verdict tliat death was due from ■ fracture of the skull, caused by a • blow from an axe.