WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2185, 25 February 1881, Page 3

WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

The following further sensational evidence in the above enquiry has been telegraphed to the " Otago Daily Times " : A gardener named Blackmore said—Last February, while taking a walk near the Asylum, I saw a female attendant ill-treat a female patient. She knocked the patient on the knees and head with an umbrella. Subsequently I saw another attendant come to the other's assistance. They tore her hair, twisted her arms, and dragged her along the road. I reported the matter to the policeman standing in front of the new town polioe station. The constable observed what I had stated, and reported to Mr Mansford, 8.M., the following day. An enquiry was held on tho 4th of Maroh. I went up to the Asylum to see Dr. Skae about Whitelaw, and was treated in a most insolent manner. Dr. Skae acted as president at the inquiry, whioh, however, appeared to be oonducted by Mr Whitelaw. The whole inquiry was a complete farce. The matter was quietly extinguished as f f,r as I could judge. Dr. Skae commenced the proceedings by remarking that he considered the attendant's word as good as mine. The Newton constable (Phaer) reported the matter to the Inspector of Police, and his report corroborated my evidence. Wm. Mcintosh recalled, deposed—l said I had been confined in a dark cell for fourteen days and nights. I was not only confined in a dark cell, once before this I was kept in an adjacent oell for thirteen days, and while there was treated with inhumanity and cruelty. My food was passed through a small aperture in the wall, as if intended for a wild beast. In tho asylum a patient named Coleman was once brutally used by Brown, an attendant. On reprimanding Brown for his cruelty he told me to go to h , adding that he would do the same to me if I did not hold [my tongue. Mary Mahony, an ex-attendant, said—l left the Asylum in December last. I was there about a year and nine months, and I have seen Whitelaw enter the private cells of female patients. On one occasion my attention was drawn to a cell ocoupied by a female named Foley. She was not clothed. I concluded she had torn off her olothes. Whitelaw and she were all alone. I reported the circumstances to Miss Sugden. She remarked, " Naver mind, we will see what can be done when Whitelaw comes down." I said, "But the woman has got no clothes on." Misß Sugden replied, " Never mind, it is what he has been used to." Presently Whitelaw came down, and then he and Miss Sugden went together to the cell. On other ocoasions I have seen Whitelaw take female patients into cells to put them in—l moan sometimes he did so unassisted. He put Mrs Clarke in her cell by himself, she screaming out, and he used his hands and knees to her. It was a common occurrence for patients to be without bread. Frequently attendants had gone without bread themselves in order to let the patients have theirs. Sometimes a few patients had to go without it altogether. Circumstances like this I have reported to the matrons.

William Dean, bricklayer, said—Beeently I was working on the hillside overlooking the Asylum grounds, when my attention was directed to the building by a series of screams. On looking round I saw an attendant at the back of the building raise his hand and knock down a male patient. After he was down the attendant struck him three or four times on the head as hard as he could. A day or so later I saw a warder beat a lunatic with a pick. I should say the attendant beat the lunatic at least thirty times with the pick. The lunatic made no resistance.

Alfred De Norville said—Four years ago I was night watchman at the Asylum. I remember the witness M'lntosh being there. I also remember his cold shower-bath, which, to the best of my recollection lasted twenty minutes. He was screaming the whole of the time.

John William Bickman, expressman, said— My mother has been an inmate of the Asylum for the last twenty-six years. It is now four years since I saw her. During these four years I have made four different attempts to sea her. They were unsuccessful. Three times I was told she was not fit to be seen. The other time I was refused admission because it was a Sunday, not a visiting day, although I had been in the habit of going on Sundays many years previously. To go on a visiting day would have necessitated the loss of a day's work.

The cross- examination was unimportant. Thomas Poynter, fireman, said—l left the Asylum five weeks ago. I have seen patients fight. Once they were set to fight. An attendant nodded to a patient, and said to another, " Qo on, George, he is good enough for you." They then set to, and one gave the other a black eye. I felt thoroughly disgusted. When I went there, I was told to keep myself quiet, and take little notice of what took place ; that they had a padded room, and I might find myself there if I. did not look out. If I had stopped there very long I should have been an out-and-out lunatic Another time I saw an attendant brash a darkie and throw a boot at him.

The bath performances were hurried through lan quickly as possible. The patients were eluioed with buckets of water, and run through with the greatest expedition. I was treated fairly myself. I was a quiet man; but if I had interfered at all it would have been reported that a turn for the worse had set in, and I should have been put at the back. Convicts are better fed and treated than lunatics. The food was not only deficient, but sometimes was so repulsive that it oould not be eaten.