The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-15
TRAGEDY ON WARDS ISLAND
THE KILLING or An ATTENDANT BY
ONE or THE PATIENTS.
A Frightnii Spectacle In the Asylum for Pau
per Iunntics Mi dmen wild with Terror
The PeriIs to " hich the Nurses nre Exposed.

The patients In the Asylum for Lunatics
on Wards Island arc reused at o'clock A. NJ.
daily. and during the succeeding half hour arc
dressed and made ready for breakfast While
their preparations are making. the attendants.
aided by certain Of the patients clear up the
bedrooms. make the beds. and put the wards in
order for the day This work was in progress
on Sunday morning last in Ward J.. and one OF
the attendants. Richard j. Harrison. was in ono
Of the four large bedrooms opening upon tho
ward getting the patients dressed aud out.
when he encountered some obstnacy on the
part Of William Scott lunatir who was aversc
to putting on his clothes. twenty-five lunatics
ordinarily s'cp in that apartment. and. few
moments before Scott became refractory. were
in there. but nj that precise time. only two or
three. busted in making the beds. remained In
TIE room working under the attendants dircc-
tons SCOTT trampcd cNcitedly about the room.
fourshng his panaoons in his hands and
ruitoriu0 incohcrcnt,y to himself Harrison
mcliHicly or b" would b" late for breakfast. "a
all tho other. were roudy Having said SO
| much. he turned his back To- tho insane man
! nud went ON with his work.
In an instant more scott seized n picce Of
crock"ry rom the foor. and with IT dealt the at-
! t'uluuf such terrific blow upon the head rs
! instantly frllrl him scnsolrss. Then the mad
! drurd munluc continued beating the hcHd Of
| the PROSTATE man. uttering hoarsr inarticulate
| cries. Xix" those ~ AN enrHCcd wild hrHst
| TIL" pati MS remaining IN the room ran out
! into the ward. wild with terror. and screaming.
! Their alarm communicated itself instHntnnc-
/ uusly 20 81" many cNcitablo patients in the ward
! and the air WIS illed with chorus Of
! shrcks. walls and maniac laughter. Attendant
| Nangan rushed out 81 the bathroom adjoining
! the ward: Attendant Iatwce sprang to the rescue
! from his room. which opens OF the ward. and
! whl'h p" was lust leaving ~ the moment going
! To- est the bread for breakfast Attendant Cor
| man ran from another bedroom. where he was
| busted with similar work 10 that in the midst Of
! which Harrison had been struck down. All
| hastcnrd into the apartment whcro the deadly
| assault had been made
Two minutes could not have elapsed from the
! NONE ny when the attack wis begun. yet the
! naniar's paroNysm of rage was already ended
! H. stood in the middle II the room. still swing
| ny III one hald his pnnialoons. and in the
| other the weapon that lac had used. little
/ his skull hcut"n in. Scott very quietly gave up
his weapon. and permitted himself to be- led
| away 90 solitary confinement.
| Harrison died at about O'Clock on the after
! noon ~ the same duy.
! DR.. VI Donald tHys that SCOTS mania wns the
/ urut ON the island more than three years age :
| remained about year. and was then dis
| CHARGED. Alter nearly year he was returned.
! as crazy rs before. Ilut wis sixteen months
/ ago. H. has never bern Violent. but has been
/ subject q its az "Xritablliiy, lasting several
/ days at each recurrence" md at such times was
/ sent from tie kitchen. whore he was ordinarily
/ employed. a. "a Wurl IT, wps for years "A stow.
| nrl in the navy. tuti u very useful man in tho
! hith"u.whcn t"N'itol The Wuricrous attack
VIE uaie So suddenly that the attendant did
/ to W.. 81" ti.if hung upon his breast. Strange
/ T. -nNin" light piece. ot crorN"ry With which
D. Gag was smashed was not even cracked hv
Au.uaaf.t Harrison wa- iunn 20 about 80
/ years ui u-n. g. til as his murderer. and
/ stnut"r igt uoi so wiry 20 frapr II" had boon
/ employed Ia the Gs} .Un only about two months,
/ hut WAS an ,Xp' rieu'"d nurse. having served
i,.iil In tle N,w York Iiosr.igl. Ii" avs n
/ wnc ,4ni several children al E9si l3pth street.
/ Dr. y Donald SAYS of him tiit hc WAS gentle
] Nii Ma 10 itNffIli tli Ni INfl tfli- ana