SHOCKING AFFAIR AT THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6827, 4 October 1883, Page 5

SHOCKING AFFAIR AT THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

ONE PATIENT KILLS ANOTHER. Between eight and nine o'clock yesterday morniag, the Medical Superintendent of the Asylum, Dr. Young, telephoned to Mr. Superintendent Thomson, that one of the lnnatics, a foreigner named Gsuhnell, had committed an assault on another patient named J. J. Mills, fracturing his skull, and desiring that Dr. Hooper might he asked to come out to the Asylum as soon aa possible. Constable Macdonnell was a.t oace despatshed to the doctor's residence wifch the message, and in a few minutes Dr. Hooper set ont to the Asylum. He found, on arrival, thai Mills was in a state of unconsciousness, and suffering from a severe fracture oi; the skull, the injuries on the back of the head being oi an exteusive character. Dr. Hooper at once pronounced the injuries fatal. Dr. Young despatched a messago to the son-in-law of Mills, Mr. C. Little, furniture dealer, Hobsou-streut, and he went cut to the Asylum, takiog Father Downey with him. On arrival at the institution he telegraphed for Mr. Mills, junior, cabinet maker, who on his way to the Asjlum received the melancholy tidings that hie father was no more, having died o£ his injuries at 1.30 p.m., Father Downey remaining with the unfortunate man until death released him from suffering. The staff of the Asylum are somewhat reticent as to the circumstances surrounding the tragic eccurrence, but so far as the facts have been suffered to transpire, it appears that Gschnell, who is Buffering from homicidal mania, was left without surveillance whilo the warder got his breakfast. It was thought that he was in the yard with the other patients, but he Beerus to have got into a room iu th« main building with Mills, and suddenly pounced upon the latter, smashing in the back of his skull with a box broom, or "d-jck scrubber," as it is called. He thet went out and informed the warder that he haa killed a fellow. Steps were at once taken to secure him, and he was placed in a cell. On being aslien why he had killed the man he said he was obliged to do so, as he had been directed to du it. Some time ago, it will be remembered, Gachnell, actuated by a frenzy, j killed his fellow-labourer on the roadside in a rural district iu Taraoaki, and had been sent up to the Auckland Aaylnm. It does not appear that he was of a quarrelsome disposition in the institutiou in his relations with other patients, or that he had any quarrel with Mills. Mr. Mills was an old Auckland resident, and had been here many years, and was formerly a furniture dealer in Victoria-street. He camo out from home with several thousand pounds, but through losses in business and miniug speculations at the Thames he lost nearly all his means. I This preyod so much upon his mind, that reason became dethroned, and his friends were obliged to place him in the Asylum. Hfc leaves a. wife and nine of a family.

The sad affair is one which demands strict investigatiou, as there appears to have been negligeuce on tiie part of some members of the staff in permitting a lunatic of so dangerous a character as Gschnell, and with auch a record, unguarded even for a b. ief interval in company with other patients. The particular warder concerned, we understand, has been suspended, pending the inqueat. The inquest will take place to-day, but the hour is not yet definitely fixed, as Dr. Goldsbro', the Coroner for the Asylum, has been requested by Dr. Philson, the Coroner for Auckland City, to make a post mortem examination of the body of R. Wills, who died suddenly ia a house off Wyndham-street yesterday morning.