ALLEGED STABBING AT ROXBURGH

Evening Star, Issue 16991, 13 March 1919, Page 4

ALLEGED STABBING AT ROXBURGH

M'CARTNEY’S ADMISSIONS TO THE DETECTIVES. NO FURTHER INQUIRIES NECESSARY. Detective-sergeant Kemp and Detective Hammerly, after exhaustive inquiries and interviews, have satisfactorily cleared up the mystery surrounding the supposed’ case .in which John M'Cartney, a Prohibition lecturer visiting Otago Central, alleged that he was set upon at Roxburgh on Saturday and stabbed. M'Cartney now admits that he must have had a'fit, and was under the delusion that he had been attacked by a man. The detectives, it will be remembered, left here post haste on Monday for the scene of the supposed affray. On arrival there they saw M'Cartney, and examined one of the wounds, which at the time appeared to be a genuine stab. < Full and complete inquiries were made in the district, which was in a state of indignation and alarm, and the next morning the police officers decided to have another look at the wounds. They then came to the conclusion that there was no foundation for the man’s story. To them they did not appear to ho punctured wounds, but self-inflicted injuries. They did not convey their suspicions to anyone, but came to town, and had the wounds (which were only slnn-deep) examined by Dr Evans yesterday. The doctor was of the same opinion as the detectives, who at once informed M'Cartney 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 fits for some years; that a recent stabbing affray at Roxburgh had preyed on bis mind; that, having to make addresses when not accustomed to public speaking, upset him | and that he had had a heavy day on the date in question studying and preparing the matter for Ins address. He was on his way to Mr Michelles residence when, to use his own words, he must have been seized with one of the fits, for he found himself lying on the road in an exhausted condition. Pulling nimaeL together, ho appeared to have some delusion that he had been attacked by a man. At that time he did not know that there were any wounds on him. Ho had no recollection of inflicting them on himself. He had a pair of scissors and a nail clipper in his possession. There the matter ends, further police inquiries unnecessary.