CHRISTCHURCH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 369, 29 June 1877, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

THE STABBING CASE. June 29. An inquest was held at the Lunatic Asylum yesterday evening on the body of the warder, Frederick White, who was stabbed by Mark Price, a patient, on Wednesday. From the evidence, it ap-

peared that Price had been an inmate in the Asylum since 1858. When admitted he had been drinking very hard. Prior to admission he had been in gaol, where, it was said, he once attempted to stab a warder. During the past twelve years he had been remarkably quiet, and was allowed almost perfect liberty, frequently visiting Christchurch alone. Mr. E. W. Seager, keeper of the Asylum, said : "I considered Price so safe that I have allowed him to sit in my own residence, and mix with my family, sitting down to meals with me and with friends of the institution, freely using a knife and fork. He has been daily in the habit of visiting the attendants' cottages, playing with their children, and chatting to their wives. On the morning of the sad event he visited Attendant Waxworthy's cottage, and lifted his youngest child on to its mother's shoulder." According to this and other witnesses, Price and White never had any quarrel, and White was thoroughly l>'ked by everyone about the Asylum. Price laboured under the hallucination that the Asylum was his own property. This it was that caused him to ask White for his keys. When White said he had given the keys to someone else, Price picked up a carving-knife, and a warder who was

near, thinking Price was only going tu cut some tobacco as he had often done before, c K d not take the knife from him. Price suddenly turned ronnd and stabbed White before the warder, who was only two feet distant, could stop him. After this act Price seemed quite unconcerned and was not the least excited or affected by what lie had done, though in reply to a question said he knew he had killed White. Price, on being brought before the jury for a moment, said, in reply to a question, that he wanted the keys "to get to my wife for liberty ; what do you call it V The inquest was adjourned at a late hour, for the Coroner to obtain legal advice as to whether Price ought or ought not to be taken into custody.