The Tauranga Tragedy.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 3, Issue 13, 16 February 1892, Page 3

The Tauranga Tragedy.

Auckland, February 10. Munro, who has been in the police ceils all day, has lie>n howling and screaming and singing hymns, and although he is conscious or what he has done, he seems to hare no idea of the enormity of the crime, fcince morning he has neither eaten nor drank anything. This afternoon composing draughts were administered to him. Fla has been liable to homicidal mania for some years past. Since he was a boy he has been subject to epil ptic fits, and some two or three years ago developed religious mania, which culminated' in such dangerous symptoms that he was sent to the Auckland Lunatic Asylum. After being there some few inontha his wife yielded against her better judgment to the earnest solicitations of bis relatives, and he was released from the Asylum. Of Lite months be has again developed very dangerous symptoms and has threatened the life ot the family several times. The day before the fatal deed was done he said ho had a sacrifice to make. Dr Duller repeatedly warned Munro’s relations of the danger of his being --t large, especially to his family, but unfortunately no notice was taken of the warnings. In his lucid intervals Munro was ah affectionate husband, fond of his children, and a most template man. At the inquest on the bodies'of the victims a verdict was returned of wilful murder with'’the rider that he should never have been let out of the Asylum, and had not been properly looked after. Mrs M unro is still alive, but unconscious, and in a critical state. The report that the other ch : ld was dead is incorrect, but al hopes of the poor little boy’s recovery are also given up. February Hr Dr McGregor, Inspector of Asylums, has been searching the records with regard to the confinement of Munro. He finds he was admitted to the Auckland Asylum on the 10th Jnce, 1889, when suff ring from an attack of epileptic mania, (he second ho had had within about six rears. Ho 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 his friends to secure his lease, and he was lib-rated, under the clause of the Ac% providing that a person be released for twelve months on probation, on condition that bis friends undertake to look nfier him, and this Munro's mother and sisters prunised to do. The Act provides that if the person r> leased, und< r the clause is not returned to the asylum within fourteen days after the twelve mouths ha\c • xpired he must be formally discharged, which was done in Muuro’e case.