THE TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2318, 13 February 1892, Page 3

THE TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

Auckland Eeb, 10. At the inquest on the bodies of the victims of the Tauranga tragedy a verdict was returned of “ Wilful murder ” against Duncan Munro, with a rider that he should never have been let out of •'*" the asylum, and had not been properly looked after by his family. Mrs Munro is still alive but unconscious, and in a critical state. The report that the other child is dead is incorrect, but all hopes of ihe poor little boy recovering are given up. In his evidence at the inquest Dr Bullen, who was called in when the murder was discovered, deposed that for some time past he had considered Munro dangerous and insane. He frequently suffered from religious mania, and a few days ago Mrs Munro called on him, and showed him a bruise caused by her husband, and stated that she was in fear of her life and the lives of her children. He reported this to Mrs Bodett (Munro’s l ~ s mother), and Peter Munro, his brother, had said that Munro would do something if not properly looked after. He also reported the matter to tho police. Peter Munro, brother of tho accused, admitted that Dr Bullen had told him six months ago that his brother should be watched, but witness understood the doctor to believe that he would do injury not to others but to himself. Sergeant Kelly said that when he asked Mrs Munro if she considered her husband dangerous, she replied that she was not afraid, but as she had to nurse a baby she would require assistance. He had heard nothing about Munro beating his wife, as stated in Dr Bullen’s evidence. During the inquest the prisoner Munro was seized by a fit and caused a sensation by singing hymns. He had to be taken out of the room. Napier, Feb. 10. \ Private messages from Tauranga received here by relatives of Mrs Munro state that she and a third child are alive and likely to recover. Wellington, Feb. 11. Dr MacGregor, Inspector of Asylums, has been searching the records in regard to the confinement of Munro. He finds that he was admitted to the Auckland Asylum on 10th, June 1889, when suffering from an attack of epileptic mania, the second he had had within about six years. He was discharged in December of the same year on the magistrates’ order given on the medical officer’s certificate. Great pressure was brought to bear by his friends to secure his release, and he was liberated under the clause of ihe Act providing that a person can be released for twelve months on probation*on condition that his friends andertake to look after him, and this Mmnro’s mother and sisters promised to do. The Act provides that if a person released under this clause is not returned to the asylum within fourteen days after the twelve months’ has expired he must be formally discharged, which was done in M’uuro’s case.