TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8799, 12 February 1892, Page 5

TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

* FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS. | THE CONDITION OP MRS. MUNRO AND CHILD. [by telegraph.— correspondent.] if rang a, Thursday. 1 The funeral of the three little infants, the victims of the late brutal tragedy, took place this afternoon. The three infanta were put in a coffin together and buried in one grave. The coffin was covered with wreaths, sympathisers from all parts having contributed. The impressive service of the Church of England was performed by the Rev. C. Jordan, who made an affecting allusion to the lace calamity, and many present were visibly affected, as the whole of tho parties to the lato tragedy were personally known to everyone present. Thero is little fresh to tolograph you. No alteration has yet taken place in the condition or demeanor of tho unfortunate father. He shows no actual violence, but continues excitable, and lias intervals of screaming and howling out, and then subsides into singing hymns. It is very pitiful to hear him. To-day ho has taken nourishment freely, and seems more inclined to lapse into tho idiotic state of lunacy, than to devolope maniacal frenzy. Dr. Bullen reports that the mother and surviving child still remain in a lingering condition. Between six and seven o'clock this morning they both had fits of spasmodic convulsions, and sinco then they have takon nourishment and appear easier. This afternoon the doctor had Mrs. Munro shifted from tho kitchen, where she was found, to a stretcher in the bedroom. After her removal she appeared much easier. Tho doctor expresses astonishment at the amount of vitality shown by both mother and child. Nourishment in the shape of chicken broth and beef-tea is being administered to both, and cold applications to tho wounds, but they both remain utterly unconscious. [uv TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. Dr. Macgregor, Inspector of Asylums has been searching tho records in regard to the confinement; of Munro. He finds ho was admitted to the Auckland Asylum on tho 10th of June, 1889, when suffering from an attack of epileptic mania, tho second ho had had within about six years. He was discharged in December the same year on a magistrate's order given on a medical officer's certificate. Great pressure was brought to bear by his friends to secure his release, and he was liberated under a clause of the Act providing that a person can be released for twelve months on probation, on condition that his friends undertake to look after him, and this Munro's mother and sisters promised to do. The Act provides that if a person is released under this clause and is not returned to an asylum within fourteen days after tho twelve months has expired, he must be formally discharged, which was done in Munro's case. Telegraphing on this subject, our Wellington correspondent says : — "It is affirmed that the practice of releasing inmates upon the recommendation of friends or influential persons is somewhat lax, and further legislation is desirable to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies as that which has taken place at Tauranga."