SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST A LUNATIC SUPERINTENDENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2468, 15 February 1881, Page 2

SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST A LUNATIC SUPERINTENDENT.

SECOND EDITION

The following are the specific charges against Mr Whitelaw, Superintendent of the Mount View Lunatic Asylum, Wellington, as contained in Air Shaw’s letter “ 1. That the present Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum at Wellington is a person ol! a violent and tyrannical character, unfitting him fur the position which he occupies. “2. That this violent character takes practical shape in his conduct to patients and others. “3. That Mr Whitelaw’s bad example and inliuence are followed by the subordinates, who sometimes behave with great brutality and cruelty to the patients. “L Tha t for at least some months of last year Mr Whitelaw was in the habit of doing some duties and going into some places in the female department, which appears highly improper for anyone but a matron only. “ d. That in one instance at least, Mr Whitelaw obtruded himself upon a private interview between a patient and Ids brother, apparently with the object of hearing what was said by the patient, and overawing him by his presence. “ 0. That my brother, who is a paying

inmate, and whom Mr Whitolaw represents us .unwilling to do any work, has been seen employed in the most menial drudgery, scrubbing windows, forms, <&Ci” :

".-“I may add that there is a widespread distrust and suspicion prevailing as to the management of the Asylum, bat there is also something like a rehm of terror. The relatives outside are afraid to speak lest vengeance be taken on the relative who is ;m inmate, and former inmates are tcrrilUd lost, if they go in again, vengeance will be wreaked on them.” , „

I have to-day seen an ex-patient, named Schultze, who declares that while an inmate of the Asylum lie was generally ill-treated, and twice brutally kicked and afterwards thrown into a cell. On one occasion he was so severely kicked as to cause severe bleeding from the internal organs, from which he still suffers. Schultze will give evidence at the enquiry. Strangely enough, since Mr Shaw made his complaint, Mr Vv hit claw has laid informations against three of the attendants for ill-treating a patient. The charges are to be heard at the Police Court tomorrow. It is also stated that Mr Whitelaw wished to tender his resignation,but received intimation that it would not be accepted, pending (lie result of the enquiry into the charges made by Air Shaw. The whole affair is creating nmcli public interest. Government mean to throw upon the Commission the responsibility of admitting or excluding the Press from the enquiry.—“Lyttelton Times” Correspondent. THIS DAY. [~Bv Telkgiufu.] The charges against the female attendants at the Asylum, for ill-treating a patient, have been adjourned until after an enquiry has been made into the conduct of the whole staff, by the commission recently appointed by the Government.