THE TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9650, 16 February 1892, Page 5

THE TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

DEATH OF MBS MUNEO. [Feb Press Association.! TAURANGA, Feb, X 6. Mrs Monro, the fourth victim of the tragedy last week, died last night and wa| buried to-day. Another inquest is proj ceeding. The last survivor, the little hoyk bids fair to recover from his terrible injuries. AUCKLAND, Fhb. 18. Further particulars aa to the death of Mrs Munro, of Tauranga, state that shift never recovered consciousness. On Saturday she had convulsions, bat afterward! seemed to rally a little. Subsequently, however, she had another similar attack, which left her extremely weak and low. Her wounds were being treated with, carbolic dressings, but they began to aesnm# a very dangerous appearance. During one of her paroxysms on Saturday, ehft tore all the bandages off her head, and exhibited wonderful strength for her state, but the reaction was very great. The doctor had her wrists tied together with a linen bandage to prevent such a thing occurring, but the nurse had loosened the bandage, and in her convulsive efforts Mt! Munro broke the fastening and instinq* ' tively put her hand to her head, tearing the bandages off, although completely onconscious. It began to be evident on Saturday that the end could not be long delayed, and on Sunday morning the state of the poor woman was dreadful. Her extremities began to grow cold, and she rapidly sank, till at the hour named shf passed away comparatively peacefully. The dreadful surroundings of Mrs Munro’s lingering death stirred the public sympathy to its profoundest depths. The funeral took place this afternoon, and tel! a most affecting one. The inquest took place to-day, before the Coroner and the same jury that sat on the last occasion. All the witnesses in tee former case were examined, also George Cumings, whose evidence being all hearsay, was immaterial, and Mrs Bodell, the mother of Duncan Munro. Much more public interest was taken in this inquiry than in the last, as it was expected that some important revelations woold take place, bat such was not the case. Alter a quarter of an hour’s deliberation a verdict of wilful murder woe returned against Munro. The following rider wee added: - “ The jury is of opinion that the Government should cause ft searching inquiry to be made as to how and by what means the said Duncan Munro came to be released from til* Auckland Lunatic Asylum, there being no evidence to show that he was discharged through any petition or application of friends.” The rider to the verdict appease to have been added because of the very meagre information obtainable as to the measures taken to obtain Duncan Munro*! release. The child Alexander, aged three years, is recovering.

On Saturday afternoon Messrs T. 0. Cooper, Deputy Inspector, and F, G. Ewington, official visitor, officially visited the asylum, and made the usual inspection and inquiries. As special interest attaches to the case of ex-patient Mnnro, who last week murdered his children, the following is that portion of their report to the Government which relates to Munro’s discharge "We wish to refer to the case of Duncan Munro, formerly a patient in the asylum, but released on twelve months’ probation in November, 1889. This week he attacked his wife and four childrsn* killing three children and so injuring his wife and the other child that death will no doubt ensue. We find that he was admitted to tbe asylum on June 10,1889. :0a July 20,1889, Dr King, in answer to a letter from Mrs Munro, recommended that her husband should remain in the asylum for some time longer, and did not consider that % complete recovery was probable. A similar communication was forwarded to her on August 24,1889. In November, 1889, Dr King wrote to Mrs Munro, intimating that her husband was sufficiently recovered to be sent out on trial, and on Nov. 23,1889, Mrs Munro forwarded the necessary application desiring her husband to be released on probation. This application was signed by her, and she undertook on or before the expiry of the period of twelve months, to replace him in the asylum if this was necessary. Dr King gave the necessary medical certificate that the patient was a proper patient to be liberated on trial for a period of twelve months, and upon that certificate Mr Theo. Cooper, Deputy Inspector, signed the necessary authority under Section 168 of 'The Lunatics Act, 1882/ The patient was then placed in charge of his Mends. Mrs Bodell, his mother, and his relatives and friends expressed their desire in writing for his discharge, and their intention to exercise proper supervision over him. It is right to add that Mrs MunfO was not, in July, 1889, willing that he should be discharged on trial unless the doctor was quite satisfied that he conid properly be liberated, and for the purpose of satisfying himself upon this point the doctor detained him in the asylum until the end of November, 1889. From the time of his discharge until the outbreak of insanity on Tuesday last, no intimation was conveyed to the asylum authorities as to Munro** state of mind. Under ‘ The Lunatics Act, 1882,’ at the expiration of fourteen days from Nov. 25, 1890, the patient became discharged by the operation of the law, and could only have been legally received back into the asylum by a fresh committal. It appears to us that no responsibility for the distressing occurrence rests upon the asylum authorities. If Munro, during the period from Nov. 25, 1889, manifested any violent symptoms, it was clearly the duty of his relatives to take the necessary proceedings to return him to the asylum. This they did not do.” Munro came up to Auckland by the s.s. Clansman in charge of Constable Whelan, andis now in Mount Eden GaoL Heremaini in the same state of mind as formerly.