The Death in the Auck-LAND ASYLUM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 260, 6 October 1883, Page 2

The Death m the AuckLAND ASYLUM.

(BY TBLISOKAPH) (ijlriTED PRESS ASPOCIATIOI*.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 4. The inquest on the body of J. J. Mills, a patient m the Lunatic Asylum, who was killed ; by Gr. Schnell, another patient, will take place-to-morrow. The staff of asylum officials are reticent as to^tlie the circumstances and surroundings of the strange occurrence ;! but so far as the facts have been suffered to transpire it appears G. : Schnell < who r is suffering from homicidal mania, was left without surveillance while the I warder got, his breakfast . It was then j he was m the yard with other patients;, but be seems to have got into a room m the main building .itb Mills, and suddenly pounced upon the latter, smashing m his scull with a box-broom ,pr deck scubber,'' as, it is called, He then went out and informed the warder he, had killed a fellow. Steps were at once taken to secure him, anc? he was placed m a cell. On being asked why he Had killed the man, he said he: was obliged to do.so, as he had been directed to 'do it some time ago. It will be remembered Schnell, actuated by frenzy, killed his fellow-laborer on the roadside m a. rural district m Taranaki, and had been sent up to the Auckland, Lunatic Asylum. It does not appear that he was of" a-quarrelsome disposition,' or that he had any quarrel with Mills. Mills was an old Auckland re- -, sident, and had been here many years, and was formerly a furniture dealer m Victoria-street. He. came : out from home with several ihbusarids'of pounds, biit through losses m business lost nearly all his means. This preyed so. so much on his mind that his reason became dethroned, and his friends were obliged to place him m the asylum. He leaves a wife and nine of a family.