SENSATION EXPLODED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2314, 11 August 1921, Page 3

SENSATION EXPLODED.

A YOUNG MANAS FICTION

SAID HE WAS STABBED AT MIDNIGHT.

A sensational story concerning an alleged stabbing affray on Riecarton Road, Christchurch, on Saturday night was exploded by the police on Sunday, says the Lyttelton Times.

The story, which was current, was that a. young man was walking along Riecarton 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 view of Matthews, the Timaru murderer, being at large, the popular theory was that the escapee was the assailant.

Police investigation 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 lie confessed that the incident took place only in his imagination.. in dieting that the Matthews affair had given rise to it.