Sensation Exploded.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1921, Page 4

Sensation Exploded.

A YOI Mi MAX'S FKTIOX. CLIKISTCHI’RC’H, Aug. ». A sensational story concerning ail alleged stabbing affray on Ricca.rton Road on Saturday night was exploded by the police yesterday. The story which was, current yesterday was that ;l young man wa a walking along Riccarton Road on Saturday near midnight when a man sprang out from the shadows on the roadside and slashed him with a knife or dagger. It was said that the young man, using his boxing skill, turned the tables effectively and left his assailant in a very battered condition. In views of Matthews, the lima.ru murderer, being at at large, the popular theory was that the escapee was the assailant. Police investigations knocked the bottom out of the story. The young man, it is said, exhibited gashes in his clothing on the upper part and to one side of his chest He alleged that the instrument had penetrated his clothing and scratched his skin. This all appeared sensational, hut. it was found that the gash in the coat was actually smaller than the gash in the underclothing. This, and other circumstances, gave rise to questions which proved embarrassing to the alleged victim of the assault, and he confessed that the incident took place only in his imagination, indicating that the Matthews affair had given rise to it.