THE OAMARU AFFAIR.

Evening Star, Issue 4225, 11 September 1876, Page 2

THE OAMARU AFFAIR.

[Bt Telegraph.] (From our own OorresponienL ) Oamaru, September 9. I am a indebted to the * Mail’ for the fol-. lowing particulars regarding the Morrison case:—“ The object of the outrage was the removal of the patient Isabella Campbell alias Johnson, who has been an inmate of the hospital suffering from brutal treatment inflicted by the man Morrison, who, it will be remembered, poured kerosene over the unfortunate woman and then ignited the liquid. At a late hour on Friday night or early on Saturday morning, Morrison, who was oat on bail, proceeded to the hospital in an express, and, alighting at the foot of Eden street, made his way up to the institution. He went round to the window of the ward in which his paramour lay, and, breaking a pane of glass, undid the fastening, and obtained an entrance to her room. With the assistance of some men, he removed the woman, wrapped up merely in a blanket, and conveyed her to an express which wats in waiting, and drove off. When it was discovered that the abduction had taken place, the police were informed of the fact, and inspector M'Cluskey took immediate steps for the capture of the woman and also of Morrison. Telegrams were sent to various Sorts in the Province, and constables were espatched in all directions. The pair were captured at 11 o’clock. Morrison made a desperate resistance. After he was handcuffed he succeeded in making a cut in his neck with a razor. Morrison was lodged in gaol and Campbell in the hospital.” Eventually I interviewed Campbell at the hospital, three hours after she was re-admitted, and learnt that Morrison knocked at the window of her ward about one o’clock in the morning, and then breaking the top pane of glass forced back the fastenings. He lifted the sash, and entered the room. After locking the door he gave her some brandy, and stated that he intended to take her away to her home. At first Campbell refused to leave the hospital, but eventually yielded. He wrapped the woman up in a blanket, and boduy carried her through the window and then across the hospital grounds, over a fence, and then along the main read to her home. Campbell declares that she was carried by Mormon all the way home, but this lam inclined to doubt. The most extraordinary part abont the whole affair is the affection the woman evinces for Morrison, notwithstanding that not long ago he poked her eye out with a redhot poker. At three o clock on Saturday Dr Wait ordered Campbell’s discharge, first, because she had broken the rules of the hospital, and secondly, because she was quite well. A fuss has been made abont this, but it is only the work of a few who are ever ready to grumble. A newcomer here named Dale, a medical man, has given a certificate that the woman was unfit to leave the hospital, but the object of this is evidently to fain popularity on the cheap. The affair as caused a profound sensation. The ‘Mail’ had to go to press again on Saturday night, and printed 200 extra copies of its issue.

September 11. Morrison will be brought before the Court to-morrow. He assured me at an interview I had with him to-day that he had nothing to do with the abducting of Campbell. He says she came down to his house at one in the morning wrapped up in a blanket. He was astonished to see her. Both papers contain indignant protests at the woman being turned out of the hospital, but there are two sides to the question. By rightthinking persons Dr. Wait’s action is upheld.