THE TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7203, 11 February 1892, Page 3

THE TAURANGA TRAGEDY.

> |>BR PBBS3 ASSOCIATION.] NAPIEE, Feb. 10. Private messages from Taurangareceived here by the relatives of Mm Munro state that she and the third chiid are alive, and are likely to recover. AUCKLAND, Feb.- 10. At the inquest on the bodies of the victims of the Tauranga tragedy, a verdict of wilful murder was returned against Duncan Munro, with the rider that he should never have been let out of the asylum, and had not been properly looked after by his family. Mrs Munro is still alive, but unconscious, and in a critical state. The report that the other child is dead is incorrect, but all hopes of the poor little boy recovering are given up. In his evidence at the inquest on the bodies of George, John and Lilian Munro, the victims of the Tauranga tragedy, Dr Bullen, who was called in when the murder was discovered, deposed that for some time past he had considered Munro dangerous and insane. The man frequently suffered from religious mania. A few days ago Mrs Munro called on him snd 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) and Peter Munro, his brother, and said Munro would do something if he was not properly looked after. He also reported 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 otherß but to himself. Sergeant Keiley Baid that when he asked Mrs Munro if she considered her husband dangerous, she replied that ehe was not afraid, but as she had to nurse a 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 with a fit, and caused a sensation by singing hymns. He had to be taken out of the room. WELLINGTON, Feb. 11. Dr M'Gregor, the Inspector of Asylums, , has been searching the records in regard , to the confinement of Munro. He finds that he was admitted to the Auckland i Asylum on June 10, 1889,.whun suffering i from an attack of epileptic mania, the i 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 his friends to secure his release, i and he was liberated under the 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 Bisters promised to do. The Act provides that if a person released under this clause is not returned to the asylum within fourteen days after the twelve months have expired he must be formally discharged. This was done in Munro's case.