ALLEGED STABBING.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 63, 14 March 1919, Page 8

ALLEGED STABBING.

A LECTURER'S DELUSION. SUBJECT TO FITS. (By Telegrap-.—Frese Association.) DUNEDIN, Thursday. Alter exhaustive inquiries detectives liave cleared up the mystery surrounding the case in which John McCartney, prohibition lecturer, visiting Otago Central, alleged he was set upon at Roxburgh on Saturday night and stabbed. McCartney now admits he must have had a fit, and was under a delusion that he .had been attacked. (in reaching Roxburgh the detective saw McCartney, and examined one of the wounds, which appeared to be a genuine stab. Full inquiries were then made in ihc district, which was in a state of indignation and alarm, and next morning the police decided to have another look at the wounds. They then came to the conclusion that there was no foundation ior the man's story to them. They did not appear to be punctured wounds but self-inflicted injuries, and wounds which were only skin deep. They were examined by Dr. Evans yesterday, and the doctor -was of the same opinion as the detectives, who at once informed McCartney of the result of the medical examination. He then made a statement to the effect that he had been suffering from mental strain, that he had been subject to fitfor some years, that a recent stabbing affray at Ko.\burgh preyed on his mini, that having to make addresses when not accustomed to public speaking upset him, and that he had a heavy day studying and preparing matter for -his address. He was on the way to Mr Michelle's residence when he niii-t have been seized witli a lit. for he found himself lying on the road in an exhausted condition. Lip to that time he did not know there were any wounds on him. He had no recollection of inflicting them on himself. He had a pair of se.issere and nail-clippers in his possession.