SHOCKING TRAGEDY. MURDER OF AN ASYLUM WARDER. A Madman Kills Him With a Pitchfork.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 98, 18 April 1885, Page 6

SHOCKING TRAGEDY. MURDER OF AN ASYLUM WARDER. A Madman Kills Him With a Pitchfork.

(From the Auckland "Star," April 13.) The Auxiliary Lunatic Asylum was the scene of a cruel murder this morning. One of tho warders named James Thompson was attacked by a lunatic named Charles Treewheeler, Mho struck him with a pitchfork and killed him instantly. At the time of the shocking occurrence a number of the patients were at work in the potato-field under the charge of three warders, of whom the deceased was one. Trewheller wa^ working some distance from the others, and Thompson requiring a fork is believed to have gone to ask him for his. The first intimation the other warders had of the tragedy was by one of them hearing a blow struck. Looking round, he saw Thompson on the ground and Trewheller standing over him with the pitchfork raised. Two other blows were struck before they could reach the spot and secure the patient who, atfir3t, made as if ho were determined to defend himself. He was promptly secured, and appparcd to be highly satisfied with his exploit, saying that it was tho bc3t he could do. The other patients did not mako the slightest movement, but workod on unconcernedly, as if the murder had not happened. The body was taken to the building, and Dr. Young telepbonedfor. The auxilary asylum, it may be mentioned, is about a quatrer of a mile distant from main asylum. Dr. Young had gone into town to attend the Supieme Court, but he was advised by telephone of tho occurrence. Mr Hardy, the head attendant, wont over to the farm, and found the body of deceased in the potato field. It was quite dead, and the neck appeared to bo dislocated, Mr Hardy applied ammonia, but without effect and tho body was taken to the deadhouse. It was not considered necessary to send for a medical man. The news had meanwhile reached town, whore it created considerable sensation. A Star reporter immediately left for the scene of the | murder, and interviewed the attendants who had witnessed tho assault. The following statements of tho facts connected with the murder were made to him.

Hughes's Statement. John Hughes stated ; I was the senior warder of the three who wero out with tho pationts this forenoon. The others were the deceased and Minogue. At nine o'clock, we took 36 patients to tho potato field, which is situated only a short distanco from tho asylum. The best working men were placed together, while those who were not able, or did not intend to work took seats round the fences ' so that vre could havo our eyes upon them. Tho man Trowheoler is occasionally out with us, and came with us this forenoon. When we reached the potato- field, he removed his coat, and taking a potato-fork in his hand, commenced to shake up some woeds. Tho spat to which he went was about two or three chains distant from where tho remainder of the men were working. I looked round, and seeing that the working patients had all settled down to their duties. I went in the direction where Trewhelor was working. I looked at him in passing, but did not stop. When I was was about four chains distant, with my back still turned towards him, I heard tho sound of a blow— something like a dull thud. I instantly looked round, and saw the attendant Thomson lying on the ground, while Trewheeler was standing over him with the pitchfork with which ho had been working lai-ed in a threatening attitude. Before I could call out, he struck Thomson on the neck witn the side of the pitchfork. I called out at the top of my voice to the attendant Minognc, who was with the othtr patients a short distance from the two men. He had not seen the occurrence, but my call t'rew his attention to it. He ran towards the group, and so also did I. Meanwhile Tie wheeler raised the pitchfork again and repeated the blow on tho same place. Minogue reached the spot where Trewheeler was first.

The Madman Raised the Fork as if to Strike afc Minogue, and invited him to come on. I called out to Minogue to keep off until I reiched him and he did so. I then ordered Treewheeler to throw down the fork and he obeyed. Wo then both closed with the patient and secured him. This done, I sent Minogue to look at the attendant j who was lying motionless on the ground, and he found that the poor follow was dead. Assistod by another of the patients, I removed Trowhcclcr back to tho Auxiliary Asylum, and placed him in a single room, whore he remained until ho was taken to tho main building. While I was taking him to the main building, I askeb him "Why did you doit," anc 1 he said "It Is the best thing I could do." I did nofc put any other questions to him. I have known Trewheeler since he came, but I never knewj him to strike a war- ■ der before. He was a rather peculiar man, and was frequently lost in reverie. When spoken to, he was accustomed to j laugh idiotically, ond^it was his custom to ■ call people by the first namo that occurred to him, whether it was the proper name or not. Thompson must have been struck unawares, and my belief is that he was asking Trewheeler for tho fork when the patient struck him. Hughes described the deceased as a quiet young fellow, who was looked upon as a favourite amongst the patients. Ho and his assailant had not had'any quarrel or dispute, and there was no ill will between them, so far as is known. In fact, Trewhoeler was so quiet and in offensive, that he was not looked upon as capable of revengeful feelings.

Minoguos Statement. John Minogue made a statement to somewhat the same effect as that of Elughes. He gaya that at nine oclock, he and two other wardens went out to the potatoe fie'd in charge of 36 patients. Most of the gang were working close together digging potatoes, but C. Treewheeler was digging about two chains distant irom them with a light four-pronged fork. Operations had been going on thus for nearly 20 minutes, when deceased asked him where there were any forks. He replied that they were all lying in the furrows, where the patient had j been working on Saturday. Thompson then wont away, but he did not notice in which direction till Attendant Hughes shouted to him, "Look at that man." When he looked he saw Trewheeler striking the deceased, who was lying on his side on one of the furrows. The blow was struck on the back of the neck with the side of the potato fork. He rushed up to Trewheeler and told him to stop. Trewheeler ran at him with the fork, but did not close with him. He stood with the fork ready to strike. T«ewheeler then put the fork down, and he rushed at him and secured him. Hughes then came up and took him back to the auxiliary asylum. Minegue then went to where deceased was lying, and found him apparently quite dead. Be was black in the face, and there was a red mark or bruise acroea the back of the neck, Mr

Boyd then came down, and with the assistance of Attendant O'Sullivan, took the body to auxiliary, whence it was subsequently removed into the dead-house at the rear of the main asylum.

The murderer's Explanation. Mr Boyd, manager of the farm, say 8 he was taking the buggy up to the Asylum for Dr. Young when the murder was committed. Coming back through the farm, he met Hughes, who told him what had happened. He immediately proceeded to the potato paddock, and sent Minogue and all the other {patients in, Mr O'Sullivan ! came while he Avas there, and assisted him to remove the body into the building. They spoke to the patient, who, they ssy, is one of those men irom whom you cannot expect a reasonable answer. He told them it was a very good job, and asked them if they would not give him a little tobacco. He also said "It was a little skit of mine," and then laughed quietly to himself. He was told by Mr O'Sullivan that Thomson was dead, and he replied "That is all right John." Mr O'Sullivan informed our reporter that Trewheeler had always been working inside the house until the last four or five days. The head attendant, Mr White, suggested that it would be better to take him out for a few days, and see if he would do a little work out of doors. He was disinclined to do anything inside. Accordingly, Mr C'Sullivan took him out with the others. He was accustomed to work quietly by himself, some distance from the other men, the reason that he was thus placed being that he was a reserved man. He was not asked to do any work! this morning, but took off his coat and went at it of his own accord.

Cause of Death. Our reporter found the body of deceased laid out in the deadhouse at the rear of the asylum. The face was swollen and discoloured. There was a bruise on the left side of the neck, and the left ear^ was covered with blood. It was quite evident from the manner in which the head moved when raised that the neck was broken by the blow, and that death was instantaneous. We were also shown the weapon with which the deed was committed. _ It is an old four-pronged pitchfork, and is rather light. Se\eral hairs still adhered to the side of ono of the prongs, showing that it was uitd, that portion of the weapon that the blow was struck.

The Deceased. Joseph Thompson, the deceased, was a powerful-looking young man about twentyfive years of age. He is single, and is said to have a sister living in the South. She came to Auckland to visit him recently, and is possibly still here. Thompson has only been at tho asylum .since last September, having come from the South. He was originally employed as cook, and subsequently as warder. He i» from the North of Ireland, and is believed to have been only a short time in the colony. Thompson was a quiet young fellow, and is said to have been a great favourite among* t the yiotionts.

The Murderer. Chailos Trewheoler is about 28 years of age, and was formerly a labourer at Hunua, near Papakura. lie was admitted to the asylum on December 21th, ISB3, suffering from delusive mania. For a short time ciffcer his admission lie absolutely refused food, but otheruice his conduct has been good. He ha.-> for some time been au inmate of the auxiliary asylum, where all the patient? who are not considered to be violent or dangerous arc kept. Mr. O'Sullivan .say.s he never had .special ouusc to watch him. One night he escaped and went to toA\n, but that was not considered anything exceptional, as the patients would all do it if they could.

The Inquest. Mounted Constable Kelly \\t\b despatched to the asylum for particulars* of the occurrence as soon as it was reported. His report was submitted to the Coroner, who has arranged that the inquest on the body of deceased shall take place 'o-morrow. At the inquest yesterday on the body of Joseph Thompson, a warder at the Lunatic Asylum, who was murdered on Monday last by a patient named Trewhelar, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was killed by Trewhelar, but that he was not responsible for his actions. A rider exonerating from blame the other attendants at the Asylum was added.

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