A STABBING CASE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 123, 25 May 1908, Page 7

A STABBING CASE.

EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE IN THE CITY. YOUNG MAN ATTACKED BYi UNKNOWN ASSAILANT. An extraordinary outrage, which at present is surrounded in mystery, was perpetrated in the city about 9 o'clock on Saturday night. A young man named John Forbes Orr, a carpenter, residing at No. 1, Hay-street, Oriental Bay, was proceeding quietly along Clyde-quay, near the municipal baths, when he was attacked by a man, apparently about 30 years of age. It was ruining heavily at the time, and Mr. Orr had his head down, struggling against the wind and the rain with some parcels which he was carrying home. His assailant lurched into him and without warning of any kind struck him on the side of the head. Mr. Orr was completely taken by surprise and asked in a surprised tone : "Are you mad?" The answer was another blow on the left side of the neck and a harsh declaration t "I will shoot you !" Mr. Orr .thought he hud simply been struck by his assailant, but on putting his hand inside the collar of his overcoat ho found that it was saturated with blood. The other man noticed this, and withdrew one of his hands from one of his pockets. As he did so Mr. Orr noticed the blade of a pocketknife or some other sharp instrument. Ho was not dazed — ouly dumbfounded by the suddenness of , the attack, and while he was collecting his senses and preparing for a furthtr onslaught, his assailant moved away in the direction of Courtenay-placa just ai if nothing had happened. Mr. Orr made his way as speedily as possible to the residence of Mr. 'Ward, adjoining his ovn house, and a doctor and the police were communicated with. The wound, a deep gash in the neck, but fortunately ijot of a serious character, was dressed by Dr. Elliott. In the meantime the detectives have the matter in hand. In conversation with a, Post reporter, who called at his house to-day, MV. Orr said ho was totally a& a loss to explain any reason for the attack made upon him. So far as he knew, he had no grievances with anybody. His assailant gave no excuse for the assault, and walked away as calmly as a pbrson going to chnrch. He thinks it possible that he may have been mibtaken for some other individual. He showed his clothes to our representative. They were saturated with blood, and it was dear that the .wound, which narrowly miised the jugular vein, was a deep on*. Mr. Orr, who is a married man, is not of very robust physique, and was quite unable to tackle his assailant. He expects to be able to go to work again in t few days.