Murder at Rainhill Asylum

In 1866 an inmate at the Rainhill Asylum killed another whilst they were both working in the kitchens. 

On 22nd June that year John Armstrong was rescued after jumping into the River Mersey. The following morning he appeared at the police court, having been charged with attempting to commit suicide and he was remanded so that he could be seen by a doctor. The Liverpool Albion reported that he was "evidently out of his mind."

Armstrong stated that he was convinced that others were designing to kill him and he was sent to the County Asylum at Rainhill (photo St Helens Heritage) Doctors there believed that he was suicidal due to the delusions caused by excessive alcohol but did not see him as a danger to others. By the beginning of August he was close to being fit for discharge and only being kept there as a precaution. He was sent to work in the engine house, which suited him as he had worked as a fireman on a steamboat.

At 11.30am on 15th August, the asylum received a report that an inmate had been seen jumping over the wall. A check of the boiler house established that both Armstrong and Miles Fazakerley were both missing. It was initially assumed that both had escaped but only Armstrong was located, hiding in a cornfield near Warrington, repeatedly saying "Poor Miles." When asked why he was saying this, he replied that he and Miles had  a dispute over who should go to the ash house, leading to Armstrong hitting him six times with a shovel. He said he had tried to cut his own throat with a slice of tin and hang himself from a tree. 

Miles was found barely conscious in the ash house with severe head injuries and a bloodstained shovel lying nearby. He was taken to the infirmary where he died five days later. 

An inquest before the Coroner, Mr Driffield, heard that both men were seen together acting normally shortly before it was noticed they were missing. Miles had been admitted seven years earlier and he was said to be more imbecilic than suffering from any form of mania. Armstrong appeared unconcerned throughout the proceedings and a verdict of wilful murder was returned. When told he would remain under the charge of asylum officers he simply replied "All right."

At the Assizes the following December, Armstrong was deemed unfit to plead, and was removed to the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum in Berkshire. He died there in 1902, having fractured his thigh bone following an accidental fall and suffering blood poisoning.