WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM INQUIRY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2184, 24 February 1881, Page 3

WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM INQUIRY.

STARTLING DISCLOSURES. The Wellington correspondent of the « Otago Daily Times,” telegraphing on February 22ad, says : The Lunatic Asylum inquiry has assumed a most startling phase, and the latest evidence is creating a profound sensation. The following extraordinary disclosures were mado at today's sitting— ~ _ . , Henry Schultz, inn., said—l have been several times in the Asylum. The last time I received pretty good treatment as compared with what I met with on previous occasions. One morning during my last stay I came down to breakfast,when Cook, one of the attendants, said, “ Here’s your porridge.” I replied «Thank you,” and was about to toko the porridge, when it was withdrawn, and I was set upon by three attendants —Cook, Little, and Harvey. They kicked me on the head and body, one after the other, while I lay on the ground. Traces of the bruises still remain. On another occasion occasion a patient came up to mo and said, “Schultz, don’t be throwing your cook sparrows at me.” I took no no* tioe of him at first, but as he began to fight mo, I defended myself, whereupon Carroll or Farrell, an attendant, interfered, held mo down, and afterwards dragged me along the floor. I complained of the occurrence to Whitelaw, Dr. France, and Dr. Stae. While I was in the Asylum the second time I went up one day to Duggan, an assistant, to assist him in putting bis braces on. He knocked me down, and together with two other attendants, kicked me about. After that I wag dragged to a dirk cell, stripped of all my clothes except my shirt, and left there in agony till next morning. I had the greatest difficulty in moving. The pain I endured was so great that I did not know what to do with myself. I passed blood. Once I saw a patient named Davis abused. The attendants struck him with their fists, and one of them, Riley, threw him into a bath with such force as to break his nose. Cross-examined—Have never been in trouble for assaulting people outside the Asylum. I am not subject to delusions. You are trying to excite me. I was one of the quietest in the Asylum, and never was the first to assault or offend anyone. Do not remember returning to the Asylum of my own accord on one occasion, saying I had come back because I had been made comfortable there. They brought on my “trouble” in the bead by ill-treating me at the Asylum. William MTntosh (a voluntary witness), • shoemaker, said—l was a patient at the Asylum about three years ago. It was in Whitelaw’s time. Ever since I have been liberated I have felt perfectly well as regards my intellectual faculties, though, thanks to Wbitolaw, not as regards my physical abilities. I first entered the Asylum about May, 1878. Just before that 1 had been working at a mill at Fioton. A short distance from the mill was a publichouae, to which I paid more frequent visits than were good for me. Shortly after entering the Asylum 1 ran away, and was brought back. The officers stripped me nude, and put me in a back ward where all noisy and turbulent patients are kept. The food wo had was very indifferent. It consisted of something supposed to be tea and what was termed “ bread and scrape.” I was kept in a cell by myself, but was privileged to walk up and down the damp brick courtyard for a short time each day. Then I escaped again. I was caught again. A warder named Roberts, a cruel and vindictive man, stripped mo of my clothes and put me into a straight jacket. I was put to bed about seven o’clock, and foil asleep from fatigue. About haUpst ten I was disturbed. Wbitolaw, accompanied by Oook and Carroll (the latter is now in the police force), came in with lanterns. The former said—“ Where is the b ?” Oook and Carroll then stripped me as naked as on the day I was born, and thrust me into a shower bath—a little box scarcely sufficient to turn round In. Whitelaw, smelling strongly of brandy, then turned the tap on, remarking, “D - you, you b , I’ll teach you to run away from the Asylum.” Ten minutes after the tap was turned off, and Whitelaw laughed at me from outside. He afterwards turned the water on again. The ordeal was very painful. He gloried in it, and one would not believe the cruelty he is capable of. He is Satan in the form of flesh. After a lapse of twenty minutes or so, I was taken out of the bath and led naked across a yard into a cell, where I was given a dilapidated mattress, a couple of so-called blankets, and what had once been a counterpane. It was many hours before I got heat in my body. I was kept in the cell fourteen days and nights, with only the straight-jacket, a pair of old socks, and a pair of trousers on. It was in winter time. The bod was taken out of the coll every morning, and there was nothing to sit down on but the floor. After I got out of this cell 1 saw Warder Roberts in the dining-room, and I expressed my surprise that he aided Whitelaw in hit inhuman and unohristianlike conduct. Roberts thereupon took hold of me and threw me on the table, stunning me for a minute or two, and inflicting a wound near the eye, the trace of which exists at the present moment. I asked Dr France for a iandaga for it, but he did not give me one. I was next placed in the back, and assaulted by the warders. In complaining to Whitelaw ho said it would have served mo d d well right if they had knocked my head in. A third time I managed to effect an escape, and this time I got as far as the East Coast, There I obtained employment on Sutherland’s station as oook for the shearers. I remained there five weeks, and the money I earned I brought to Wellington, and gave to my wife hero. I interviewed the Rev. J. Paterson, minister of the church I belonged to, respecting my release, and he advised me to get a certificate of sanity from , a physician. Shortly afterwards, while passing the police station at Greytown, I was arrested and immediately sent back to the Asylum. There I was locked up in a cell by myself, and not allowed to go out except for a few minutes’ exercise each day across the damp courtyard for six weeks, when through my wife’s intercession with Governor Normanby, I was released from the institution altogether. Daring my final sojourn there I was kept without flesh meat for three days. Two of my little children died. I asked to bo allowed to see them before they died. My application was refused. Had it not been for my wife’s interview with Governor Normanby I should most likely be in the Asylum present. On being liberated, I went to Dr. Skae to complain of Whitelaw’s behaviour in keeping two suits of clothes which belonged to me. He gave me a cheque for five guineas. While in the Asylum I was only allowed to see my wife three times ; even when my children died they refused her admission. Cross-examined—l would not have run away had Whitelaw been a humane person. He had two screws made especially for me. They were fixed to the straight-jacket, and were intended to prevent my moving my arms. The Commissioners here expressed a desire to interrogate Mrs Mclntosh, who was present in the Court. Hannah Mclatosh, wife of the previous witness, said—l remember my husband being committed to the Asylum. I only saw him three times while he was there. I went to see him oftener, but they told me I could not see him. I was refused at least twice. 1 saw him once when ho had the screw# on hi# straight-jacket; he wa# perfectly quiet, and talked quite rationally, I wa# never left alone with him. There was always a warder or Whitelaw present at our interviews, Since his discharge he has conducted himself as an ordinary person would. He has hod rheumatic# in the head occasionally since bis release. Once I went up with my little boy to see him—the little boy that v. as dying. They would not allow an interview. (The witness hero broke down, but presently recovered, and continued her evidence.) I was told he would bo kept in for punishment if he again tried to escape. Once I tried to see him, but after knocking at the Asylum door for some time I had to go away again, because no one would open it. Another time I have sat on the doorsteps all night. I had to be assisted by the Benevolent institution. (The remainder of the witness’ evidence corroborated that given by her husband.)