TRAGEDY IN AN ASYLUM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 23 May 1907, Page 2

TRAGEDY IN AN ASYLUM.

PATIENT KILLED BY CHINAMAN. Per Press Association. Uuncdin, May 22. A tragedy took place at Seaclill'c Asylum to day. Joseph Rhodda, a miner, who lias been a patient since 1004; was in the boficr-house, working there with Ah live, u Cliin.inuui, ami anotlier patient named Roberts. Provost, an attendant, was clo-c at hand outside the boiler house.

Suddenly lie heard a noise and Roberts rushed out, and informed him that All Kee had knocked down Rhoda with an axe while the latter was in ihc»act of striking him (the Chinaman) with a shovel. When the attendant got inside the hnilcrhmi-c, he found Ah Kee with an axe in his hand, and deceased lying on lie iloor.

All Kee was apparently about to strike him again, when Provost took the axe from him.

liqlierts was the only man who witnessed I lie affair, an.l was unable to give any evidence at the impiest, his mind having been a blank since. f)r King operand on Rhoda. and removed a piece of skull which had been forced into his brain. l'"or a time the patient improved, but gradually grew duller and died. Dr King's evidence showed that deceased frequently broke out in fits of temper, and from what had been stated, he was of opinion that the story told by I Roberts was correct.

The jury returned a verdict that death was due to fracture of the skull caused by a blow from an axe.