THE STABBING CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10237, 4 January 1894, Page 6

THE STABBING CASE.

THE INQUEST. fPBB Pbess Association.] DUNEDIN, Jan. 3. The inquest touching the death of William Mudge, who was fatally injured in a stabbing affray at South Dunedin on Christmas Eve, was resumed to-day. Bichard Dobson and ‘Eberhardt Kufner were present in custody, and were represented by Mr Hanlon, who .did not crossexamine at any length the witnesses called by the . Crown Prosecutor. Nine witnesses were called, but the evidence is not of a vary connected character. Edwin Alexander, who’ was sent for after Mudge • had been stabbed/and who got the express to take him to the Hospital, said on the way Mudge remarked: “ I’m dying; my hand is cold.” Mudge was one of the quietest men he had ever come across, good-tempered, good-natured and not quarrelsome. Dr Hogg, who received Mudge at the Hospital, said the wound was an incised oMsa little over four inches long, extending from a point about six inches below the centre of the groin downwards, and inwards £or_ four inches in the direction of the inside of the knee of the left leg. Dr Barnett, who made the post-mortem examination, said: I attribute the man’s death to loss of blood, consequent upon injury to the femoral vein. That was quite sufficient to account for his death, although the artery was not injured. The knife produced would be a likely weapon to cause the wound in the thigh. It would take pretty nearly the whole length of the blade, and the blow would have hadto be mado with considerable violence. As much blood would come from the vein as if the artery were wounded, but it would not come fast. The putting on of a bandage, which was done, was all that could have been done; if half-a-dozen medical men had been present they omld have done no more than the constable did.

Charles Ashton, nephew of the deceased, who was accommodated with a chair, being still weak, gave evidence that, seeing two men attacking a man named Donaldson, he interfered, and ha and one of the men hod a set-to; The two men afterwards walked away, appearing quite friendly. After some time he was on his way home with hia uncle, Mudge. When he reached his own gate, ha saw two men standing a little further on, and he told his uncle they had better go on, as he was frightened to go into bis own place leafc the man might damage it. They walked on and when opposite Mrs Greaves’ gate tho two men sprang on him, one saying, “This is him.” He received a blow on the head with a stick, and a stab in the leg. Dobson held the stick; he could hot say who stabbed him. He was also stabbed in the wrist. The blow on the head had affected him, and ha was too weak to do anything. Ha told his uncle ha was stabbed, and did nob recollect anything else. He did not sea his uncle stabbed. Ho had never had a quarrel with Dobson or Kufner until he interfered on behalf of hia friend Donaldson.

James Donaldson said ho stayed at Hutton’s Hotel all the evening. .Ho saw Eut'ner and Dobson there. Eufner had a pocket knife which ho could not swear to, and was saying that at fifteen paces he could pick oat anybody with a knife; he had sean a woman killed in the country he came from, by throwing a knife in a par-ticular-way, which ha illustrated. Afterwards, when out with Counter, Dobson and Eufner came towards them, and Dobaoa seised him by the throat aad right arm, Eufner losing behind with n stick. After soma blows had been exchanged, the two men went away. Witness then described hearing what appeared to - be a row, and with others going up and finding Ashton and Mudge stabbed. David Caddie, who lives opposite wbeio the affray occurred, ia hia evidence said some, quarrelling was going on opposite his house about 10.15. On going to the door he sow two men and a woman, the quarrel being apparently over. The woman, who was Mrs Greaves, was crying, and tellings neighbour that two men had been molesting her. The two men were talking of what they would do to the men with whom they* had been fighting if they could get hold iof them. Shortly afterwards Ashton came along drunk, and appeared to turn, into his own house, when the two.' men challenged him, to fight. Ashton came out but refused to fight, and Airs Greaves went up and implored them- nob to quarrel, saying Ashton was nob the man. The, three men - went away ,in company, but two soon returned.’ The foreigner was,telling -Ballet, a neighbour, thateho had been'hit, and had his pipe and Walking-stick taken away. Shortly > afterwards the men were coming up ■ the street, and witness beard the Englishman who was with the foreigner say, “ here are the ——— now,”, and they went to meet them. .The next thing witness beard was, “you have stabbed my nephew,” or, “would you etab my nephew?” A ecufiia or maul followed, and he then heard some men come running to the place. He heard someone call out to watch the knives. He afterwards saw Mudga leaning against the fence, and when asked what was the matter ho eaid “ I’m done for, the German —— baa stabbed ms. Mrs Greaves was in tho street and mast' have seen the stabbing. The inquiry will be resumed to-morrow.