AN AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 14413, 8 July 1910, Page 6

AN AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

AT AVONDALE MENTAL HOSPITAL,

A AM SITOP. AND A PATIENT DBAS.

AN" exte aged ixaey aerate

[]t.r Uni rec Press AssociatiosJ

AUCKLAND, July a The Mental Hospital at Avondale was the scene of a chocking double tragedy yesterday afternoon, which resulted in tfca death of a male visiter and - a female inmate.

Shortly after two o'clock a man giving the name of Herbert Jones called to see an inmate named Mrs Ellen M. Webster. He apparently was in a quiet, normal condition, and was allowed to see Mrs Webster in a corridor, and the-two were left coaversing. About 3.30 the acting motion (Violet Campbell) heard a noise as if someone had fallen, and she rushed into the corridor to And Mrs Webster stretched on the floor and Jones kneeling across her body. Dr A. N. M'Kelvey, assistant resident medical officer, who was in a room off the corridor, was called in, and, taking in the situation at a glance, lie at onoe administered a stomach pump, first on tho woman and afterwards on the man, but both expired within three or four minutes. Close beside when© the two bodies were lying there was a black brief bag, on top of which were found a small bottle containing some crude prussic acid, a 4ua bottle of which was empty, but bad apparently contained a solution, and a small win© glass with a broken stein, which had doubtless been used to administer the poison. On Jones being searched he was found to have in his possession a small revolver, fully loaded in six chambers, and a box of cartridges, also a razor, and a few pence in money.

, Jones is described as an ex-imperial Army officer, who held a commission as captain during the South African AAhi-r. He was a married man about fifty years of age, of rather Aristocratic appearance, and well dressed. It is understood that he was a resident of Little Omaha, about thirtyfive miles north of Auckland, where his wife resides, and has been taking charge of three of Mrs AVebster’s young children.

There were no marks of violence on either’ of the deceased, and no motive hat been assigned for the tragedy, but letters were found on Jones which indicated thai he contemplated suicide. Both bodies were removed to the hospital morgue, and a post mortem examination was ordered. Ait inquest will bo held to-morrow morning,

DR BEATTY INTERVIEWED. AUCKLAND, July 8. Speakirg of the tragedy at the Mental Hospital, Dr Beatty states: “I met Jones frequently m the course of his visits to the Mental Hospital. He had taken a very great interest in Mrs Webster, ■ and had pestered me for a long while about her release. She was quite a well-behaved patient, of a bright and happy disposition, but was insane and not fit for release. I declined to release her. Jones came to beg permission to take her out for a day, so that she could see her baby. This I declined, for various reasons. By my permission he twice brought her other children to the Mental Hospital to see their mother. Jones seemed very much attached to the children. When speaking of Mrs Webster it was always in a kind and affectionate manner. Mrs Webster also seemed greatly attached to her children. On no occasion did Jones appear to show any symptoms of mental weakness in conversation with me, or do anything which would lead me to anticipate a tragedy. When I saw him yesterday he seemed cheerful, and showed no indication of being intoxicated or of having had any liquor. When I passed them in the corridor about 3.15 Mrs Webster was sitting beside him, talking and laughing in her usually buoyant spirits. She Was a very bright, lively woman, And I was very much astonished when I heard of the tragedy. When previously at the Mental Hospital Jones asked my private opinion of Mrs Webster’s mental condition. I told him I thought there were some hereditary features in the case. Although. I was not prepared to say that she would not recover ultimately, I felt in my own mind that'her prospects of recovering were very remote. He remarked; “Then I conclude she will never get better,” and went away-

MRS WEBSTER’S ANTECEDENTS.

With the story of the tragedy is interwoven a tale of a somewhat romantic career. Mrs Webster was descended from an influential French family, dispossessed at the time of the Revolution. Subsequently she went to England, and bad been living in Kent. Seme time during the Boer War Mrs Webster went to South Africa. It was there that she met Captain Jones, an officer of the Imperial Army, who at Hie conclusion of hostilities in South Africa came to New Zealand in company with his wife, to whom he was married many years ago. Nothing more is known of Mis'Webster’s movements until she also cam© to New Zealand. Neither is anything known concerning her married life, except that Captain Jones had stated, in partial explanation of the interest ho had displayed in her ease, thai Webster had deserted her in New Zealand, and was dead. Then comes the rather sensational statement that Mrs Webster's mind was so upset by reading a book that she became insane. On October 30, 1909, she was admitted from Auckland to the Avondale Mental Hospital. Rightly or wrongly, it is said the book purported to be a record of Mrs Webster’s own life. FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Captain Jones was a Welshman, bearing evidences of hard campaigning, and about sixty years of age. A military bearing was always apparent. At Omaha he conducted the Tied Vaale Nursery, and made wine. Mrs Webster was approaching her fortieth year. At the Mental Hospital she was engaged in mending. Her room, which she always kept herself, was veiy tidy. Khe entered into all enjoyments with thorough rest- She had, however, a number of innocent delusions, and was somewhat erratic in her conversation, though withal kindly disposed and veiy affectionate. A former acquaintance describes her as a fine-looking woman, whoso superior bearing and refinement shoved that she was a born lady. Her face was refined, and she displayed evidences of intellectual attainments. ! ’, That the act was premeditated for any length of time is not considered likely by Dr Beattv. Jones told the doctor abort r. week ago that he proposed leaving the country with his wife, and asked if Mrs Webster would be permitted to go with them. . One of the letters written by Jones prior to bis death was addressed to hia wife and is understood to have indicated that’he contemplated suicide. The other was addressed to Hr Beatty, and m a brief, business-like form extended thanks for tl»e kindness shown to Mrs Webster.