The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-31
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM MURDER.

THE MURDERER POSSESSED WITH MANIA FOR
KILLIEa-DETALs or THE SAD AFFAIR-
SKETCH OF THE DECEASED.
The murder or Mr.. Noble 8. Bennett. q patient
at the Kings County Lunatio Asylum. on Thurs
day afternoon. by another patient, named Stiles
s. Middleton. a full account OF which appeared In
the HERALD OF yesterday. has. In addition TO the
natural horror melted by the deed throughout
the community generally caused q deep feeling
OF commiseration and OF inquiry among the nu-
merous friends OF the deceased and his sorrow
stricken family. This feeling has been greatly In
tensi1ed by the fact which has been developed.
that Middleton was originally placed In the asy-
lum owing to nantes ations OF mania for killing
people, and That prior thereto Ratchet and
knife. evidently secreted by him with murderous
intent, were discovered by his lrtends- As as
the sad affair was made known certain OF the ac-
quainsances and friends OF the Middleton family
waited upon the only son oil the murdered man.
Rev. George 3. Bennett. assistant pastor or st.
Peters Episcopal churcn. Brooklyn. with express
sions OF sympathy and made these facts known to
him. That this tendency was known to the
physicians In charge at the time Middleton was
placed there Is certain but as, owing to the po-
utical revolution in Kings county, an entire
change in the ol1cials OF the asylum had been
made, 1t Is not Impossible those now In charge
may truthfuly plead ignorance OF 1T, as the luna
tic murderer has mon tbs been regarded as per.
ectly harmless and mas been permitted to roam at
viii through the corridors ana other portions or
the building. The testimony taken on the inquest
showed that Middleton applied to one Of the
nurses for q Ratchet to use in driving tack or
nail IN his room, which was at first refused him.
and he went away. soon after ne returned and
renewed his request when he was permitted to
take 1t. He then passed out into the hall and
walked twO-thrds OF Its length to the room OF Mr.
Bennett who was seated therein, with open door,
reading from the Prayer Book Rev. Mr.. Bennett,
in conversation with HERALD reporter yester.
day, expressed the opinion that death must have
been almost instantaneous as the back portion OF
the head OF the victim was cloven In twain, ana
there were several large gashes in other portions
probably suifcIent to cause death me
deceased e came to MS death at the hands stiles
). Middleton, and, as stated by Rev. Mr.. Bennett,
to whom the text was shown by the Coroner, ex-
pressed no opinion as to the responsibility Of the
physicians and others IN charge. The friends of
the deceased Will demand q more complete eXami-
nation into the affair, with view OF fixing the re-
spOnsibiity II any, where IL properly belongs.
TIE DECEASED.
Mr.. Noah S. Bennett was native OF Connecticut
known merchant in New Milford, In tnat State.
Owing TO too close attention to business SOFTEN
ing OF the brain developed ITSELF and in 1863
he was compelled to retire. In 1868, under
the advice OF his physicians, he was taken
to the asylum at BrattleDOrO, VT. where he
remained until 1877 During that year, his condi.
and TOOK up his residence on Staten Island. He
subsequently resided with his son IN Brooklyn,
ITSELF he was placed in the Kings County Asylum
The day before mis- death he was visited by his
wife, his son and other members OF his family,
when he appeared in the best OF spirits and SO
much improved that his removal to his home at
an early date was contemplated.
After the inquest the body was placed In the
taken to New Milford, accompanied by his sorrow
stricken relatives. The funeral services VIII take
that place, and the remains Will lie deposited in
the family burying ground there