THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 241, 13 October 1886, Page 2

THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

[U\- TK).EO'".AI'II-I'ItKSS ASKOCIATION,]

CußisTOiiUltCH, this day. jßMj.ua by the progress yesterday with the trial of the prisoners Hall and Houston, tho

case will be a very protracted one, for, notwithstanding that the sitting occupied .oven hours and a-half, practically only one witness was disposed of. This was tho nurse, Mrs Ellison. At tho outset of tho day's proceedings evidenco was given by Edward Hugh Cameron (another gentleman who had given hia hard-earned savings ol years to Hall and Meason.and besides Delog victimised, had had his name forgo, by Halil Tho next witness was Ml' Gualtor Palairet, an official in tlio Stamp Office, who was called to prove a deed. Mr Kmibley, a . solicitor from 'Timp.ru, who was not cal.ed in toe Court" below, then detailed with groat minuteness the hearing of tbe will of the lato Captain Cain and his wife, and the various trusts growing out of them, ihese witnesses completed tho first branch ol the ca;o which the Crown had undertaken to establish, viz., motive,—the fact that Hall was in an embarrassed financial position, and that by tbe death of his wife he would

derivo pecuniary benefit. . Attention was then directed to the e.cu room-tho seat of the tragedy—and to that end the nureo Ellison was called. _ lhe old lady told her story in a plain, straightforward manner, but tho most was made of her examinationin-.hicf by Mr White, who had to bo repeatedly prompted as to the questions to put to tho Attorney-General. Indeed, it seemed a pity that Sir Robert Stout had not himself taken in hand so important a witness. Her cross-examination lasted over four hours, two hours arid a quarter of this time being occupied by Mr Joynt, and the remainder by Mr Hay, and the witness acquitted horsolf admirably. Mr Joynt was at first excessively polito, but fii)dinghiswitnes3Completelyself-possesßed, and failing toshake her testimony, he mildly attempted to browbeat her, cautioning her, however, that as ho wanted to get facts "sho must not loose her temper." The old lady was, however, equal to the occasion, and instantly replied : " I don't in tend to do so," iv a tooo of slight rebuke which carried with it the conviction that alio meant to be as good as liar word. At length Mr Joynt completed his cross-examination, the only points which ho had succeeded in making being that the prisoner Hall was exceedingly anxious as to the stato of his wife's health, that tho consultations were at his wish, and that a portion of the urino and vomit were banded to tho medical gentleman by bis instructions".

At IS .30, Mr Hay took up the running on behalf of Miss Houston. Tho witness denied that she was piqued at Miss Houston [ attempting to usurp her position in the Hall household, but frankly confesrcd that she nas offended at what Dr. Stuckpole hud told concerning herself, sho assuming Miss Houston's allegations on tho subject to bo true. On b'.ingatked, Why waseheoffended \iith Dr. Stack'pole? she replied: Because she had known him many years, and had nursed him long ago in London. The witness was generally polite to the young •gentleman who had been entrusted with the task of putting her through her facings, but when questions which she deemed trifling or vexatious were put sho answered jauntily and originally, which showed that sho considered the time of tho Court was being wasted. Such was her manner throughout For instance, when Mr Hay asked : " What meals did you give Mrs Hall?" tho witmss saucily replied: "Such meals as a lady would be accustomed to take at such -i time" The Crown were so satisfied with tho conduct of the witness that they did not deom it necessary to re-e.xanino her at any length, and tho judga, on telling htr to stand down from the witness-box, could not resist the opportunity of kindly thanking her for her evidence. Probably nereaftor ho will have something to say in compliment to the old nur.O. As I havo already said, tho witness wus under examination til1 the Court roso.

Very great interest i? being taken here in the caso, and largo numbers of ladies sit in C urt from its opening till tho rising at night. Both tho papers publish very full reporis of the proceedings, no less than fivo editions being struck off nightly, and I am told that tho salo is something en rmous Tho kmule prisoner u,is to-day moro reeolttto in her bearing, while Hall was perfectly cooi, his demcanenr. being calmly attentive.

1 append tho ovidenco given after the luncheon adjournment.

Hannah Ellison (cross-examined by Mr Jnynt) said : Mrs Hall, as far as I could know, always appeared to bo very healthy. This was her first child. She had not been very well for a little while befire her confinement. Sho had had a sovero ccld and cough. Epecacuanha was given to her after her confinement. I gave her no medicine before her confinement, and do not know of any having been given to her. The consultation of July 14th was the first one between Drs. Molntyro and Drew. It wo 3 brought about becauso Mrs Hall expressed a wish for it. To tho host ol my knowledge I do not know who named tho doctor. I know Mrs Hall wished to have Dr. Drew with Dr. McInlyro. I was present at the whole of tho consultalion. X don't think Mr Hall was ; to tbo boat of my bolief ho wae not in the mom at tho time. The doctors went into (lie dining-room, where Mr Hall was. They did not express to me any opinion as to tho result of tho consultation. I saved somo urine and vomit, acd gave them to Dr. Mclutyro. Both the doctor and Mr Hall wished that. I don't remember either of them.saying what was to be dono with the vomit and urine. I wa? instructed to give Mrs Hall smaller quantities of food and drink, and oftener, and I carried out those instructions. She improved s.t times for a littlo while, but then sho iVould go back to the same condition. The consultation between Dr. 5-tickpjlo and Dr. Mclntyro was becauso Mr Hall was to anxious about the state of bis wife. He said so both to Mrs Hall and to mo. Old Mr and Mrs Hall n ere nlso very nnxiousto havoDr. Stackp 1?. At the time tho doctors wont into tho dining-room it seemed to mo that neither of the doctors knew whit was the cause of her sickness. Dr. Stnckpole said he thought it was tho brain that was "affected." Dr. Stackpole said it would bo better to try ice, and keep her on limo Mater, with a little scalded milk. She was to have no solid food. For a littlo while sho improved. My rule when nurso is to allow a lady to go out when able on the tenth or eleventh day aftor confinement. Mrs Hall went into the smoking room on tho eleventh day. On the Sunday following, fourteen days after her confinement, she wont info the diningroom. From that time she genorally used tho same food as tho others unless .-ho touk a fancy to something else. Tho male prisoner always wished me to hav3 everything cleaned before I used it, and to wash every, vessel as soon as I had i;ivon her medicine I always washed them myself in a batin I had in tho room, just wilh plain wuter. Hall suggested that Mrs Hall's evacuations should be analysed. It was before the first consultation. 1 dor't kpow what became of the bottles on that occasion. I did not hear from the doctors. I mado up bottles eoveral times by Mr Hall's wish, I do not know who took them from tho house. Tho doctor got somo of them Ho ' did not get the first ones. 1 did not hear that he got any of thorn. I heard Mr Hall say that ho did not analyse any of the first lot. On tho Saturday before the arrest he asked mo to make up two bottles for Mr Lovegrove, and two for Dr. Mclntyro-one of urine and one of vomit Thoso would b;i tho vomit and utitio of Friday, August 13th. I don't know that tho doctor received either of them. I havo hoard it spokon of, but don't knovr. 1 h'we reason to believe thoy got them. I havo attended ladies of a bilious naturo I have seen them havo bilious attacks. I havo had nothing to do with men wilh bilious attacks. People who aro bilious aro yellow in tho skin. I don't romombor feeing people who were sicit, and who v/ere blue about tho lips. Mr Hall was vory attentive to his wifo. Always, so far as I havo seen, ho showed a disiro to make her comfort-blo and happy, and would get anything she wished. He was sometimes with her in the evening. He had business in tho evening, and used to writo in the dining-room. I have never f een any appearance of bad feeling between them, I have never seen anything like a dislike oraversiononbisparttowardsher, On the Sunday morning of the day of the arres*-, Mrs Hill scorned better up to about nino o'clock. Sho had been very sick about fo-ir in tho mon i;ig, but ice had been given to hor. Shortly before that sho bad taken tho ice out of tho jug Tho ico remained in pieces on tbe muslin in the jug. and eho took scma and wetted her lips with the water. From 4to 9 o'clock she was brighter than sho had been for several mornings. She was always very bright when woll! After I had beon in tho room a littlo while,

.1 .mi,.,, jj. ~., 11 mmm.m,, _ -.. | , ebb vomited, but not much s_ ! very ill all day, and retched a gteat J 6' t from time to time during the d ay 7jJ" took nothing after I came into the n£& During tho day she took only the ice y ' would not take the ictd water. Sk t injections of Liebeg's extract of beef pancteativo and brandy. Still she w__ *°,a off and on all day. She did not thr n „lCk much, but was retching during the V I gave tho jug to inspector Brohatn tT' not notice how rmieii water was i n j' t . t ,""» would he no more than bad trickled ir' ico. Dr. Mclntyro spoke oi her beiD2bTthe onco or twice; hu thought her live wrong. Bilious people would .._';£__ likely to vomit than others. Mra.lkii - sho never was bilious. On tfa_¥w_j nosday after the arrest W e to Mr Hall's room to search lA*%' brandy flask, _.nd Mrs Hamorslev mlji smelt kerosene. We then went info a 6 garret and saw a tin of korossnoen thefl lierotene was used in tho house but if ' kept in a shed. There had been a dZl^ of wine in tho bedroom, which Hsll tSS mo wap not fit for his wife to drink .aid there waa something in j.'-jj B fjijp not recollect him eayipg it^ had'been _r to.cd for Mary Hasson, the serv_hr'

I never saw nor. take any Jz * nor havo I any knowledge of ?' takin-g drink. I recollect one mart' ing Mrs Hall asking mo to co ta the cupboard where somo wine was left t see if Hasson was there. I went butdH not see anyone. Dr. Mclntyre and St. Hall's houeea were connected at "Ktio. by telephone. Hall would £_3f* that the doctor was not at his hnn oftea enough. I_ have not a jS

memory. 1 naa an nineßS which weakenW my memory. I have not talked this ._» over with Mr White, but have told hta what I knew. At the final coDsultatior, Dr, Lovegrove wae present, at HaN. wish, and Dr. Drew at Mrs Hall's. ThriL, after I administered injection. rut always appeared to be i n ' |gSSS when his wife was sick. The icb wis i_ the bathroom, where there were aeveril bottles containing chemicals and a 'bat. that photographs were washed in. I nev^ saw Hull practising photography, or & photos of his about the place. ■ By Mr Hay:-Witness also nuKed^ Hall in October last year. Mies Ho.sto. was not ther_ then. Witness did net Wr* what Miss Houston's duties were, '•& Houston had, od one occasion, bronglij. jar for vomit to be put in and senttotli doctor. She also used to telephone *te Mr Hall to send tor the doctor. "St, was always anxious to , know" '»_!* sott of a night Mrs Hall Had hit I what her food had been, &c. .Witness.mi ' offended when Houston said that Dr. StaSS polo had told her to interfere with hst (witness's) work. She knew Drf-Stj^Bole very well, and had often nureed»__ij; V\ irness had never seen any lettersHWnltei by Dr. Stackpole to '-.Miiji.'^Hopifjin Mlrs Hall was still unwell] and.v'piiid'".ol like witness to leave her. Until; Mxa.'Hal] called her attention to the nights_j_£ti the oysters, it never occurred td'^ttata that theso bad anythipg to do; wiHtsUs case., Tho witness had beeh~afr-_n.it Mrs Hail's sickness had been.caueeef'by her taking too many oysters. She-asked-tjis doctor if she bad done wrong in allcnvi_jr._ira Hall to take tho four. He said,'?'.^ri,» As far as witness could see, Mi-e'jßflutij, and Mrs Hail were very closefrieridl^jk, ' addressing her, Mre Hall would^ihostlikelj call her " Mies Houston," aud samefinie! "Megrims." She always calledM_j_j_l "Kitty." On the night of the arrests' etaj instructed by Inspector BrohanT ffifflttb Miss Houstob. Tho latter wasMuupji had any pockets, and Baid that sheh-dJuot Witnesß searched her, but di.coVen*tbo bottles. Sho was surprised at t&sT^ett, and eaid tc Mies Houston, "They aje' col going to take you away, c_tii_./-te_Da i Houston said, "It can't be, true, Mn Elli-On. There must bo some misfflsh Mr Hay : Did you say, " I knbw,'c_ili), yon aro a? innocent as tho baby." :>«i

Mrs Ellison : I did not say tbatKiSWlui I I said was, "If you are innocent, c__j, you'll goon got out." Mies Houston seemed quits agreeable to have her bo-.s-seMeW, and offered every assistance. I conhjted giving vomit and urine to Dr. ,:M_r_jiii until after prisoners were committed dot trial. .- V'J £ Ke-cxamined by Mr White,;.lt ' TOSTpry shortly aftor Mrs Hall's confinomenttttit i Dr. Mclntyre said the sickness waip_i result of the liver. Norther Hall% : Houston had said in witness's prß_eiiM.tkl Mary Hassen took drink. She never .aid * Hall complain to llr. Mclntyre about hit f inattention in attending Mrs Ha 11,... Tho Court rose at 5 p.m. ff§§ I