The New York herald., 1869-02-16
The uukDrs N THE LrSAne ASYLUM.


The name Of the woman murdered 10 the Lunatic
Asylum on Blackwell's Island, AZ reported in yester-
DAYS HERALD, was Margaret Mclaughlin. Coroner
Rollins held an inquest on the body, and below win
he found copy Of the testimony. The murderess
is Catharine Shay, lunatic.
TESTIMONY or ELIZA DuNNiGAs.
Eliza Dunnigan being duly sworn, deposes ana
says:-i am a nurse employed in the 'lodgen OF the
Lunatlc Asylum; have been here nearly month";
deceased was an inmate, and so was Catharine
Shay; ON Thursday night they were put IN
cell together, as usnai nothing unusual was heard
during the nght about half-past ave O'Clock Friday
morning went 10 the cell, aud when | opened the
door Catar1ne came out aud said. 81 have done g."
l asked her what she had done; at the same time
saw deceased lying on tha floor; examined her and
saw blood on her; asked Catnarne II she struck
deceased: she said she did and did IL because de-
ceased would not do what sine wanted her TO do:
Immediately got deceased out of the Cell, washed
the blood on and then sent after the doctor; de-
ceased was insensioIe and only lived four five
hours after being dlscoyered; the only instrument IN
the cell ny which a Decd OF this nature could poss-
bly, be committed was .'kidn which Is OF wood,
and used by the patients during the nIght Catharine
was excited about Tour weeks ago, though since sne
has been very quiet. and never saw her make any
demonstrations against any OF the patients.
TESTIMONY OF WARDEN sMYTH.
James W. Smyth, being duly sworn, raid-f aul
warden OF the ii,natio Asyum knew deceased and
Vatharine shay: deceased has been inmate since
December IA. 1865; Catharine snay has been here
since January " 1899, neither OF the patients has
been considered violently dangerous, tbough they
were consigned 60 the Lodge; heard OF The violence
inflicted on deceased Friday morning, and made
every inquiry as 10 how the violence was committed
and coud not ind out anything different from what
has been stated by the nurse; the instrument used
by Caiharlne shay wasa "Kdr which IL put into the
cells for patients use nc night: the watchman duty
IN the lodge during tue night did not hear the least
unusual noise; the hid n a.woodcp vessel. holding
about galon OF iuid. standing abolf eight inches
high and bound ny two iron hoops: CathaIine shay
was qniet and dVclle had any violent act; been no.
deceased was q domestic and committed by Judge
Dodge; an accident Of this nature hs. never been
known In tins department..
MEDICAL TESTIMONY.
Jobn Reach, VI. d., depos,s 10 making y post NOR
TEN examination on the body vi tus deceased:
found large Drusc each cheek bone; the head
was almost completely scaiped; upon opening into
the skul the BRAN was found 10 be compressed and
Inc skull fractured at its base death. m the opinion
OF the DOCTOR was due to the injuries described.
The case then submitted 10 the jury, who
rendered the following verdlct:--srhat Margaret
Mclaughlin. the dcceased, came 20 her death At the
hands OF Catharine shay, III the lodge OF tho
Luna ic Asylum, Blsckwelps Island the night OF
the 18th OF feprinry, $780,"
Deceased was twenty-six years OF age and ma
tive OF Ireland.