FATAL STABBING CASE AT CHRISCHURCH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 389, 24 July 1877, Page 2

FATAL STABBING CASE AT CHRISCHURCH.

(by telegraph, from the pkess agency.)

July 23.

The inquest on the body of Henry Powell was held at the Hospital this afternoon. The prisoner Karl Kebde and Elizabeth Lynch were present. Evidence was given as to Lynch and deceased being at two hotels drinking together on Saturday night, also as to deceased being seen by a constable in the street in a fainting condition, and his being conveyed to the Hospital, where he died on Sunday evening. Sarah Fawcett, called, said : Elizabeth Lynch and Carl Kebde lived next door to me. On Sunday, at 11 o'clock, 1 saw Lynch and deceased stop opposite my window. They were talking very loud, and she seemed to be trying to drag him into the house. Both were the worse for liquor, and they went either into the garden or into the house. In a few minutes Kebde came home. I heard the three talking loud, as if quarreling. 1 heard deceased say, " I didn't intend any harm." In a little while the woman was put out at the back, and was screaming and crying to be let in. After a time Kebde let her in, and I fancy deceased was in the house. I could hear him and Kebde talking before the woman was let in. Afterwards I could hear her crying and speaking very loud. In a little while the door was opened in front, and all three rushed out and seemed to be quarelling. She cried out, " Oh, don't Charlie," or something like Charlie. A few minutes after, deceased was coming out with something in his hand, and she was pulling at him. She said, " Give it to me, give it to me," and he said, "Oh, no, I shall give it to the police." It was like a carving knife. I think the tool produced is the one. Deceased then went away. By the police : Deceased did not seem to want to go into the house. Lynch seemed to be tight, and was pulling him, and begged him to go. Deceased looked drunk, and could scai'cely stand. Kebde appeared to be sober. Elizabeth Lynch, sworn, said : I wish to make a statement. I live with Carl Kebde as his wife, but am not married to him. On Saturday night I saw deceased at the Victoria Hotel, and we had a drink together. When we came out, deceased wanted to walk home with me. I said, " No, it won't do for you to be seen with me, as lam married." He walked beside me. When I got to the Bank of New Zealand, I told him he must certainly leave me there ; and he said he would if I would take another glass of wine with him. We went into the Scotch Stores, and had brandy there. When I came out I seemed quite stupid, and had very little recollection of going into Barrett's. I remember meeting Kebde before we came to Mrs. Fawcett's. Deceased was with me at the time, and I said to him, " Here's my husband ;" but he didn't seem inclined to go away. Kebde unlocked the door and pushed me in ; then locked the door and went away. I heard some one in the garden, and opened the bedroom window, which is on the ground floor, and with that deceased put his arm through the window, and came through it. He was in the house when Kebde came back, and put him out. Kebde went to the bottom of the street to see if he could see an officer. When he came back he found deceased just inside the door. Kebde went to push him out, and so far as I can remember, Kebde fell on his knees. Then I saw this (pointing to the weapon) in the deceased's hand, and asked him to give it to me. Kebde had some tools on the table, which he had been cleaning. The tool produced belongs to him. I saw it with deceased, and tried to get it from him. I did not think deceased had been hurt. He refused to give me the tool, and pushed me away from him. He said, "I'll keep that," or somethiug to that effect. He went away, and I did not see him afterwards - By the Police : I swear I did not see the tool until it was in deceased's hand. I think I remember Kebde saying, "I wonder if I've hurt him." At this time deceased had the tool. I saw Kebde run and fall, and then say " I wonder if I've hurt him," and then I wanted the tool which I saw in deceased's hand. It was not by my wish deceased accompanied me. I told him so twice. I was going to open the window to get out when deceased got in. I swear that it was not at my solicitation deceased followed me to the house. After the row yesterday, I I asked Kebde why he had the tools out, and he said he had been cleaning them. Kebde kept saying yesterday he would like to know if lie had hurt the man, because he ■ should be very sorry. It was not intended. Kebde said when he fell he had the tool in his hand. I saw Kebde fall, and deceased was then on the path in front of the house, about two feet away from Kebde. Kebde fell forward, and when he fell deceased said, "Oh!" or something like that, and " That will do, I'll keep that," meaning the tool. By the Jury : I did not see blows struck. There was a sort of scuffle between them. Medical evidence was given respecting the post mortem examination, from which it appeared that the tool, which has a blade about 15 inches long, entered just below the nipple of the left breast, and penetrated so far as to enter the muscles of the back. The inquest was adjourned till Wednesday.