THE TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4039, 16 February 1892, Page 2

THE TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

Latest. Death, of MrsMunrs. A [By Telegraph,-Press Association.]

Auckland, February 15, , A | On Saturday aftjrnoon Messrs T, •; 0. Cooper (Deputy Inapeotor) and P. | G. Ewingion (Official.Visitor) ofßcially visited the Avondale iaylum, aHd made the usual inspection and enquiries required. As special interest attaohes to the case of the patient Munro, who last week murdered his children, the following is that portion of their report to Government whioh relates to Munro's discharge:— "We wish to refer to the oase of Duncan Munro, formerly a patient in lie Asylum, but released on twelve nonth's probation in November, '89.?his week he attacked his wife and our children; killing three children, i 1 ind so injuring his wile and another liild that death will no doubt ensue. iVe find that he was admitted to the Uylum on the 10th June, 1889; and in the 20th July, 1889, Dr King, in ,nswer to a letter from Mrs Munro, eoommended that - her husband hould remain in the Asylum for some ime longer, and did not oonsider that , complete recovery was probable. A imilar communication wasforwardrak o her on August 24, 1889. On Noember, 1889, Dr King'wrote to Mrs danro, intimating that her husband is sufficiently recovered to be Bent ut on trial,' and on the 23rd Novemler, 1889, Mrs Munro forwarded the lecessary application desiring her fusband to be released on probation. Ms application is signed by her, and he undertook, on or before the exliry of a period of twelve months, to eplace him in the Asylum if this was lecessary, Dr King gave the neces* ary medioal certificate that the patient ?as 'a proper person to be libsated on trial for a period of twelve uontlis,' and upon that certificate Mr Cheo. Cooper, deputy inspector, igned the necessary authority under ieotion 161 of the lunatics Act, 1882. Che patient was then placed in charge if his friends. Mrs Bodell, his nother, and his relatives and friends ixpressed their desire in writing for lis discharge, and their intention to >xeroise proper supervision over him. a t is right to add that Mrs vas not, in July, 1889, willing thathe* hould be discharged on trial unless he dootor was quite satisfied he could iroperly be liberated, and for the purlose of satisfying himself on this loint the dootor detained liira in the Asylum until the. end: of November, .889. From the time of his disoharge intil the outbreak of insanity on L'uesday last no intimation was conreyed to the Asylum authorities as to ilunro's state of mind. Under the junatics Act, 1882, at the expiration >f 14 days from 25tli November, 1890, he patient became discharged by iperation of law, and could only have ieen legally received back into tin isylum by a fresh committal, ■ It ippeurs to us that no responsibility 'or the distressing occurrence rests lpon the Asylum authorities. If Uunro during the period from 25th November, 1889, manifested any riolent symptoms, it was clearly the luty of his relatives to take the lecessary proceedings to return liira o the Asylum. This they did not do J Munro oame up to Auckland by thwj lb. Clansman, in charge of Constable iVhelan, and is now in Mount Eden 3aol. He remains in the same state if mind as formerly." Taubakga, February 16. Mm Munro, the fourth vititim of he tragedy last week, died last night, nd was buried to-day, Another in* -jueat is being held.

The last survivor, the little'boy, bids fair to recover from hia terrible injuries. -

Auckland, Tuesday, . Further particulars of the death of Mrs Munro state that she never re* covered consciousness on - Saturday, She had an attack ot convulsions, and tore all the bandages off her head, exhibiting a wonderful strength for her state. . The doctor bad her two wrists tied togethor with a lined bandage to prevent such a thing ocourring, but the nurse had loosened the bandage, and in lier convulsivo efforts she broke the fastening, and instinctively put her hand to her head,atf tearing the bandages off. Sheeventu^

ally passed away, comparatively peacefully. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon and was a most affecting one, The inquest was concluded yesterday. The jury, after a quarter of an hour's deliberation, returned a verdict of wilful murder against Munro. The following rider was added The jury are of opinion that the Government should cause a searching enquiry to be made as to how Munro camo to be released from the Auckland Asylum, there being no evidence to show he was discharged through any petition or application of his friends,