A SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 615, 23 April 1878, Page 2

A SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

A very sad affair occurred on the South Belt on Saturday, which at present id shrouded in mystery. From the particulars which have been gathered, it appears (says the Lyttelton Times) that about half-past 1 o'clock a lad named Wm. H. B. Steel was engaged in cleaning his boots, and just at that time the neighbours were alarmed by hearing his mother cry out that her boy was "cut." ' Some of thein wlio went, to her assistance

found her holding th' 4 hoy, who whs insensible/ and WiW Uuud.aK Uuin a wound in the head. Dr. Nedwill, who was afterwards sent for, found that thero was a hole in the left side of the boy's head, just above the ear, passing through the skull, and that the brain was penetrated. The assistance of Dr. Frankish was also secured, but tho boy died shortly after 6 o'clock. The neighbors noticed, when they went in response to the mother's cry, that a short poker, stained with blood, was lying on the ground, together with the folt hat which tho boy had been tve.'iring, and this, also stained with blood, liad a clean hole through it. Mrs. Steele nade a statement to the effect that she supposed the lad must have thrown up ;he poker and have been struck by it as. t fell. She was, however, arrested by Detective Walker on suspicion of having jeen accessory to her soil's death, and ;he theory of tho prosecution will probably be that in a moment of passion she -.brew the poker, causing tho injury doicribed. She will bo brought up at tho losident Magistrate's Court, and an inpiest on the body will bo held in flue.