Ashburn Hall Asylum Enquiry

Southland Times, Issue 13419, 2 April 1896, Page 2

Ashburn Hall Asylum Enquiry

[By Teleoraph.]

Dunkdi.v, April 1. The inquiry was continued to-day at the asylum.

William Campbell, head attendant, in the courae of his evidence said the flannel bandage which had been round Macalister's neck was not long enough to go twice round. On the morning alter his alleged attempt to choke himself Macalister merely told witness he had had a bad night. He emphatically deried any cruelty. Going to town in the gig one day Mr Macalister wanted to turn down a certain road and jumped up to catch hold of the reins. Witness told Searle, who was aUo in the to watch him or he would fall out on his head. He used no threat. Witness attended to Mr Macalister for a short tim«, after which Gillespie took control. Mr Macalister seemed to get on very well with Gillespie who took better care of him than >Searle had. Examined as to the milk incident witaesa said Macalister asked for something to drink and Dr MacDonald gave him a teaspoonful of milk ; the quantity was not three spoons full. After the milk had been given Mr Macalister took a spa3m which lasted two minutes, but he lived for threequarters of an hour aftsr that. Jackson told a deliberate lie if he slid he was in the room when death took place ; he went away when the spas n came on. Af er the spasm had passed away Mr M»calister asked where his father was, and he also asked that his lips should be moistened. Dr MoDonald, left the room ten minutes before death occurred.

James (iillespiei W 4 ho had been ia charge of Macalister, alao gave evidence. Btfore going to the asylum he had been a chemist's aaautant and they had therefore something in common to talk about. Every day Macalister wa3 in the gardens with witness and there he got fruit. A pipe and tobacco were supplied to him at his own request : all he wanted was got for him. He told witness that the attendants were all very kind to him. In speaking of things he had a tendec cy to exaggerate. It was witness's eustom to leave Mr Macalister every morning for a couple of minutes to wash. Ic never occurred to him that Mr Macalister would search his clothes, which were in the passage. Janet Ferguaon (matron), John Doogue and John Craig (attendants) alsa gave evidence. Each stated that Macalister was given only a teaspoonful of milk ; that the spasm lasted about a minute and a half ; that the patient spoke afterwards and that he did not die for half an hour after the milk was given.

Mr Solomon said that although it was put aa a statement of faot that the medical treatment hastened the death of the deceased he had never said that anybody was to blame for this. He did not say that Dr John McDonald was to blame.

Dr E. W. Alexinder, one of the proprietors of the asylum and medical visitor, then gave evidence as to the general management of Ashburn Hall, including the keeping of the books, etc.

Judge Ward remarked, before the question of the way the books had been kept was entered on, that according to his view of the Act the case was ended.

The inquiry will be continued and probably concluded to-morrow.