MURDER AT THE AUCKLANDLUNATIC ASYLUM. A WARDER KILLED BY A PATIENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1992, 14 April 1885, Page 2

MURDER AT THE AUCKLAND LUNATIC ASYLUM. A WARDER KILLED BY A PATIENT.

[IJY TKI KCRUMI. — OWN i'OIIRI- Sl'O\ [II \T.] AI'CM \M>, Monday Night Thk Auxiliary Lunatic Asjlmn was the scone of a ciuel nun dm this morning. One of the waideis named Jame-. Thompson, was attacked by a patient, n uned ( 'li ulos Thmv heel lei, wlio stiuck him with a pitch foik, and killed him instantly. At the tune of the occuuenci*, a nunibei of patients wete nt \v<»k in the potato held tiiulei the charge of three waidcr*, of wliom dc ceased was om\ Tiewhcellei was woiking some distance funn the ntheis, and Thump won requiring the fork, is believed to have gone to a*k him for it. The first intimation the other waiders had of the tiagedy was by one of them hearing a blow struck. Looking round, they saw Thompson on the gmnnd and Tieuheellur standing ovci him with the pitchfork raised. Two other blows we? c struck before they could reach the spot and becure the patient, who at first made as if he were determined to defend himself. He was piomptly secured, and appealed highly .satisfied with his exploit, sajing that it was the best he could do. The other patients did not make the slightest nun ement, but woiked on as unconcernedly as if the murder had not happened. The body w a.s taken to the building, and l)r Young was telephoned for. The auxiliaiy asylum is about a quarter nf a mile distant fioin the main asylum. Dr Young, who had gone into town to attend at the Supieme Couit, was advised by telephone of the occunence. Mr Hardy, the head attendant, went over to the farm and found the body of deceased in the potato field. It was quite dead, and the neck appeared to he dislocated. Mi Hardy applied lcmedn •>, l>ut without effect, and the bndv w is nMiimcd to tho dead house. It vt^ nut (on-ideied necessity to send foi a nieiiual in. in