Year: 1859

One MANIAC MURDERING ANorHER.-A terrible
tragedy took place yesterday forenooa at the Mon
roe County Insane Asylum, in which one of the in
mates instantly killed another with carving knife.
1t appears by the statements made on oath to Coro-
ner Brown, that boy named Schenburgh was en-
gagged in shed in cleaning fish, and that John
Goodwin and Edwin A. Clark two of the inmates
were near him, either observing what was going on
or walking about for exercise, when the former
suddenly seized the knife with which the boy was
at work, and stepping quickly up to Clark struck
MN seven blows IN quick succession upon the head,
which proved fatal almost Instantly The hlows
were struck with both hands as tbongh striking
with an axe or cleaver, and several of the wounds
are alone sufficient to produce death The ton of
the skull was entirely detached, and was only kept
in place by a few pieces o. skin which were NOT
severed. One of the cuts is eight inches in lenpth
and from this as base there two Others one Of
five and one of six inches in length forming a tri-
angle, and severing the skull cap.


The maniac, who perpetrated this terrible deed
was committed to the Asylum from the town of
Clarkson, on the 18th of February, 1852 and is
about 40 years of age. His disposition has up to
the commission of this homicide, been shown to be
entirely harmless; but he was inclined to be quite
mischievous, so much so that it became necessary
to place mufs on his hands when in the yard ex-
ercising.


The murdered man has been in the Asylum for
several years. Major Wiggin, Superintendent of
the ASYLUM, found him there when he took charge
OF the institution in September, 1857. He was not
then permitted the of the yard but in April
following his good behavior led to a little more in
dugence, and he was permitted the use of the ward
for exercise. From that time he has mingled with
the other inmates, and nothing peculiar in his con-
due. has been observed. Occasionally at night he
would be little noisy, but would readily refrain
when spoken to by the keeper.


At the time the affair occurred several of the
patients were in the yard for exercise but none of
them were in any way restrained except Clark
whose hands were confined by muff to prevent
him from doing any mischief. The helplessness of
his situation may have been the cause why he was
singled out for the assault.


MAJOR Wiggin, who was in the adjoining ward
paclfylng two female patients who were engaged
in quarrel, reached the scene of the murder with
IN two minutes from the time the knife was snatch
ed from the boys hand. He called to Goodwin 10
deslst, but the latter gave Clark two additional
Dlows before doing so, and then retired few PAGES
The Major demanded the knife and Goodwin gave
1t up without saying a word. None of the other
patients seem to have intertered or paid any par
Ccuiar attention TO what was going on, notwth-
standing the outcries made by Clark The latter
was immediately removed into the house and lived
over an hour after the wounds were inflicted He
never spoke, however.


One OF the attendants tried to put Goodwin into
a cell, but the latter resisted him and MIGHT have
done some additional mischief, had not Major Wig
gin arrived oppOrtuney and overawed him into
submission. After being locked up, he was asked
why he committed the deed, and replied that 'fbsu
made him do it, He has never had anv Quarrel
with Clark, and the act to have been the re-
suit ota sudden impulse unprovoked by any out
ward demonstration.


Goodwin is an old inmate of the County House.
having been removed to that institution in ApriI
1881, from the Utica Insane Asylum, where he was
pronounced incurabe. Some years ago he appear
ed to recover his right mind, in measure and was
discharged. he went to Buffalo, and was gone nine
months, when he returned of his own accord as
bad as ever When the County Insane Asylum was
completed, he was made an inmate Of that estab-
lishment; and since he has been under Mai Wig
gins charge he has been rather more tractabe,
always o6eying the Majors slightest command
without hesitation.