ASYLUM SENSATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9491, 3 January 1919, Page 5

ASYLUM SENSATION.

Evidence .'respecting the, death of. Francis Ardanach in -Claremout Asylum whs given at Perth a. tew days ago. 'before Mr Justice Bui-nsidoj "\ the Royal, Commissioner appointod by Parlijunent to inquire into ' tlur case; A.rda,nach wa-s first sont to tho mental detention ward, at Perth Hospital,- a-ud^ when tranfiferred to the asylum hatT numerous cuts'and bruises on-the face and body. He died .a few days later, and a post-mortem examiriation' showed /that three ribs had beeu .broken, and that one had penetrated the lung. and caused pneumonia. • Ethelbert Edwards, farmer, of GoomaJTing, stated that he was.in Perth Hospital when Ardana-ch was brought-in. He> saw Warder Eacott go to tiie pfklded cell -.with a-strait jacket,. throw Ardanaoh.oh his back ajid fall on t«p of him. Eacott -.punched' Ardanach, and jumped on him with'both knees for a quarter of'an hour, and then got tho strait j;i<jkot on. Ai'danach was covered 'with blood, and Eacott was ''punching.him, all the time." Witness was sickened at the sight v and turned away; Eacott left Ardanach go to'the. cell door., and then knocked., him down, ■•'.inflicting:' a. great gash over^ one;eye. Witness had not previously 'told anyone .of .thfe,: because he did ,not; wa.nt to spend the rest of his days;'in •tho asylum,:and: be•was afraid of-' -Eacot't. - Now, having proved in open .court that ho was a sane man, who, the-magistrate had declared, should never have been, sont to t-he'imental ward of the-, hospital, he bad comb along "way at his op ex : pense to see justice'done. . ; '„''.'•