Mental Patient Slain in State Hospital Here

-year-old patient at Cleveland State Hospital, 4455 Turney Road S.E., was found beaten to death yesterday in ataundry room in his ward.

Gary E. Betzler of the State Highway Patrol said or Felice, a patient at the mental hospital since 1955, was found shortly after 2 a.m. during a routine bed check by attendants.

Another patient, 49, who officials said admitted the Killing, was transferred to a security ward.

THE SUSPECT TOLD officials Felice approached him about 2 a.m. and proposed a homosexual act. The suspect picked up a mop and beat Felice over the head with the steel handle, Betzler said.

said.

Neither patient had a history of homosexuality. Betzler

The suspect, who officials said has been treated in various mental institutions since 1938, was found in his bed with blood on his clothing. Betzler said the man, described as "passive" in hospital records," acted as though nothing happened" when the killing was discovered.

Dr. Edward Ellis, acting superintendent of the hospital, said the ward in which the two men slept was checked routinely at midnight and at 1 a.m. Nothing was reported wrong, he said.

The body was discovered at the 2 a.m. check.

Felice is survived by two sisters, a brother, and a stepbrother, all of Cleveland.