FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 112, 15 April 1885, Page 2

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

The Auxiliary Lunatic Asylum was the scene of a cruel murder this morning. One of the warders, James Tomson, was attacked by a lunatic named Charles Treewheeler, who struck him with a pitchfork and killed him instantly. At the timeof ihe shocking occurrence a number of patients were at work m a potato field, under three warders, of whom the deceased was one. Treewheeler was working some distance from the others, and Thomson requiring a fork, is believed to have gone and asked him for his. The first intimation the other warders had of the tragedy was by one of them, a warder named Hushes, hearing a blow struck. Upon looking round he saw Thomson on the ground, and Treewheeler standing over him with the pitchfork raised. Two other blows were struck before Warder Hughes and Mickegue could reach the spot and secure the patient, who at first made as if he were determined to defend himself. He was promptly secured, and appeared to be highly satisfied with his exploit, saying that it was best — he could do now as the other patients. He did not make the slightest movement, but worked on as if the murder had not happened. Deceased's body was taken to the building, and Dr Young telephoned for. The Auxili-' ary 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 at the Supreme Court, but he was advised by telephone of the occurrence. Hardy, the head attendant, went over to the farm, and found the body of deceased m the potato field. He was quite dead, and the neck was dislocated. It was quite evident from the manner m which the head moved when raised that the neck was broken by the blow, and death must have been instantaneous. The weapon with which the deed was committed is an old four-pronged pitchfork, and rather light. Several hairs still adhered to the side of one of the prongs, showing that it was with that portion of the weapon that the blow had been struck. Joseph Thomson, the deceased, was a powerfullooking young man about 25 years of age. He was single, and is said to have a sister living m the South. She came to Auckland to visit him recently, and is possibly still here, Thomson has only been al the Asylum since last Seotember, haying come from the South. He was originally employed as cook, and subsequently as warder. He was a native of the North of Ireland, and is believed to have been only a short time m the Colony. He was a quiet young fel--1 low, and is said to have been a great favorite amongst the patients. Charles i Treewheeler, who committed the deed, is 28 years of age, and was formerly a laborer at Hunua, near Papakura. He was admitted to the asylum December 24, 1883, suffering from delusive mania. For a short time after his admission he absolutely refused to eat food, but otherwise his conduct has been good. He has for some time been an inmate of the Auxiliary Asylum, where all the patients who are not considered to be violent or dangerous are kept. The attendant says he never had any special cause to watch him. One night he escaped and went to town, but that was not considered anything exceptional, as patients would all do it if they could. The Coroner has arranged for holding an inquest an the body of the deceased to-morrow.