Murder by a Religio-Maniac.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5205, 11 February 1892, Page 3

Murder by a Religio-Maniac.

(by telegraph. ) Auckland, February 10. At the inquest on the bodies of the victims of the Tauranga tragedy, a verdict was returned of wilful murder against Duncan Munro, with the rider that he should never have been let out of the asylum, and that he had not been properly looked after by his family. Mrs Munro is still alive, but unconscious, and in a critical state. The report that t.lie other child was dead is incorrect, but all hopes of the poor little boy recovering are also given up. In his evidence Dr Bullen, who was called in when the murder was discovered, deposed that for some time past he had considered Munro dangerous and insane, and he frequently suffered from religious mania. A few days ago, Mrs Munro called on him and showed him a bruise caused by her husband, and stated that she was in fear of her life and the lives of her children. He reported this to Mrs Bodell (Munro's mother) aud Peter Munro (his brother), and said Munro would do something if not properly looked after. He also reported it to the police. Peter Munro, brother of the accused, admitted that Dr Bullen had told him six months ago that his brother should be watched, but witness understood the doctor to believe that he would do injury not to others but to himself. Sergeant Keily said that when he asked Mrs Munro if she considered her husband dangerous she replied that she was not afraid, but as she had to nurse the baby she would require assistance. He had heard nothing about Munro beating his wife, as stated in Dr Bullen's evidence. During the inquest the prisoner Munro was seized by a fit, and caused a sensation by singing hymns. He had to be taken out of the room. Napier, February 10. Private advices from Tauranga, received here by the relatives of Mrs Munro, state that she and the child are alive, and are likely to recover. Wellington, February 11. Dr Macgregor, Inspector of Asylums, has been searohing the records in regard to the confinement of Munro. He finds that he was admitted to the Auckland Asylum on the 10th of June, 1889, when he was suffering from an attack of epileptic mania—the second he had had within about six years. He was discharged in December of the same year on a Magistrate's order, given on the medical officer's certificate. Great pressure was brought to bear by friends to secure his release, and he was liberated under a clause of the Act providing that a person can be released for 12 months 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 be released under" this clause and is not returned to the asylum within 14 days after 12 months have expired, he must be formally discharged, which was done in Munro's case.