DEATH IN A LOCK-UP.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7285, 15 April 1889, Page 6

DEATH IN A LOCK-UP.

Tfae following are additional particulars respecting the unfortunate man who died in the Waiau lock-up :—William Hamilton Ennis Pinching was a man wellknown in all parts of Canterbury and the West Coast. It will be remembered that on March 7th a case was heard in the ResidentMagißtrate'BCourt,Christchurch, wherein Mr J. A. Redpath sued Mr D. Stranaghan for £36 7s 6d for a mare, dogcart and harness, bought by plaintiff at a bailiffs sale for £15. After having them for some time he was served with a notice from the Mercantile Finance Company, claiming the effects under bill of sale from the now deceased (Mr Pinching), the original owner. It was stated in that case that Mr Pinching had first given a bill of sale over the dog-cart and mare and harness to the Company, and they did not register the instrument. He then gave a bill of sale to Mr Stranaghan for money lent over the same property. The case resulted in Mr Redpath's favor, and, as a result thereupon, a warrant having been issued for Mr Pinching's arrest, he was taken in custody by Constable J. Johnston, at the Waiau, on Friday afternoon, on a charge of obtaining £20 by false pretences. The constable, after searching the prisoner, locked him up at about 4 p.m. Ac about a quarter to five o'clock prisoner's wife expressed a wish to see her husband, and in company with the constable went to the lock-up. Here they found Mr Pinching sitting in a corner of the celL To all appearances he was very ill, and a gushing, choking sound was coming from him. A closer examination showed the accused man to be insensible, and on getting him into the outer air he did not appear to rally, but expired at 5.30 without ever displaying signs of consciousness. Arrangements have been made for a post mortem, examination, and an inquest will be held by C. Whitefoord, Esq., Coroner. The deceased was for many years in business in Kaiapoi as a chemist. In I 1872 he was instrumental in saving the life of a man named William Hunt, who, with Captain Balston, was suffocated by the poisonous gas from coal used in a stove to dry the hold of the ketch Blackwall -when she was lyine;- at the wharf. j The Captain was quite dead when discovered, but through Mr Pinching's aid Hunt, who seemed beyond recovery, was brought to consciousness in twenty hours. The deceased was very skilful in the treatment of children's ailmencs, and clever as a chemist. Failing in business, he entered a boarding house, and then the carrier's trade to tfle West Coast. He returned and acted as medical attendant and nurse in all cases of sickness in the Waiau district. From thence he returned to Kaiapoi, where his father, Dr. Pinching, a medical gentleman of acknowledged skill, joined him in business, and after being in his chemist's business again, he disappeared for some weeks in a mysterious way. The whole neighborhood was searched by parties without success, but he subsequently returned, - then left, and started business at Waikari. There the fates did not appear to prosper him, and he came to Christchurch. Finding __ an attempt to regain a chemist's business did not succeed, he acted as a runner for a newspaper. This he gave up, and had followed no very settled occupation up to the time of his death, but had gone back to the Waiau to take up the duties of a medical man, as there was no doctor resident in the districc In the same connection it may be noted that Dr. Pinching referred to above is said to have been burned to death some time ago in a house which caught fire in the city of San Francisco. When in Kaiapoi Mr W. H. E. Pinching took a very active part in municipal matters, especially with regard to drainage and sanitary affairs. He leaves his second wife and three children by a former wife to lament his death.