The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-18

A NIGHT HORROR IN A LUNATIC ASY-
, 'IrN-SHocKIYG MURDER ON BLACKWELL 8
ISLAND. -" The Lodge" by which appella-
ton the small three-story building set
apart for the worst or most rabid lunatlcs
on the west end Of this island is known,
: was the scene of most shocking affair
some time during Friday night last, by
which the life of a poor demented creature
was taken by another in moment OF
frenzy; and the deed was mainly owing to
) apparent mismanagement Of the authori-
ties in not properly guarding against the
danger to which the inmates Of the 1nstltu-
ton are at present 80 much exposed. The
facts in the case are as follows
II ia There are 1900 inmates in the four
structures set apart for lunatics on the
island in question, all OF which are occu-
pied, "The Lodge" being filled to reple-
ton. The accommodations here are 80
meaere that it has been found necessary for
several months past, in order to meet the
demands of the increase in the number Of
!, unfortunates, to cause their sleeping two IN
a cell, instead Of one, as heretofore, when
the patients are dangerous and liable to do
bodily harm to one another. Each Of these
apartments arefurnished with an iron bed
stead and wooden tub, or "kid," Of
heavy oak, such utensils being essential.
, The patients are locked up in their rooms
at 6 o'clock each evening, and are not re-
leased again until o'clock the next morning.
On Friday night one Of the female lunatics
confined in this department arose from her
couch, and in a paroxysm of madness
seized the heavy tub at the side OF the cot,
and raising it above her head, brought it
down with terrific force upon the skull Of
her sleeping comrade, crushing it in and
killing her instantly. The shrieks and
s howlings in the lunatic asylum are SO fami-
liar to the ears of their keepers as to attract
little or no attention at any time during
the night; hence if any noise was made by
the victim'in her struggles 1t was not no
ticed. at 5 O'Clock, when the female
keeper Of the ward in which the horrible
affair transpired threw open the door Of the
cell, great was her horror i'll beholding the
maniac murderess and her murdered COM
panion lying side by side in their CORY cot,
q CHASTITY spectacle indeed. The bed-eloth-
ing was saturated with blood, which drip
ped slowly from the pendant covering and
streamed over the floor Of the room, while
the brains of the dead woman, which mad
been literally soooped with the fingers Of
the murderess, lay scattered about and be-
aspattered the wells. The demented woman
was removed Immediately from the cell,
and this circumstances attending the affair
were kept SO strictly private as to elude the
observation even Of nearly every one about
: the place. The remains Of the deceased,
whose name has not TRANSFERRED, were cof-
fined quietly and expeditiously, and we're
inferred without delay. She was about
twenty six years of age, and had neither
friend nor relative residing in this vicini-
ty. The murderess is Of course irresponsi
bic for the act. 80.
The facts narrated above have been OBJ
tanned from an employee Of the asylum, but
the names of the parties concerned in the
tragedy were not disclosed.--Ne,0 York
World. ".'. .rs O..