THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 244, 16 October 1886, Page 2

THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

(I!V TELEGRAPH. —OWN' COr.RESI'OXDENT.)

CllßlSTCliuncH, Friday night,

The featuro of to-day's evidence was ot course tho examination of tho export wit noises, who were called to speak as to the results of tho analytical tests made by them, and describe tho stops they took in arriving at tho results. Tho gentiemon were Professor Black and Dr. Ugston, the former recounting tho narrative of his refusal to take delivery ot :x box sunt to him, and which, to his great chagrin, bu soon afterwards learned contained two bottles from Dr. Mclnryre in connection with the case. The carrier demanded carriage on the case. This gives a ve-y good idea of the troubles of a public analyst, tho constant worry to which ho is subjected by being postered with applications_ to analyse all sorts and conditions of things without authority and without payment. When tho Attorney General asked the witness if ho had been careful about the nature of his analytical matters tho professorial dignity asserted itself, and the Court was informed that tho question was absurd ; purity of tho chemicals was the olementary part of tho analysis. An important answer was elicited by Mr Joynt, viz., that antimony was not necessurily poison, and the leador for tho Crown eaid ho might have to ask for an amendment of tho information by the substitution of , tho words "tartaric of " before "antimony." Professor Black does not seem to entertain a high opinion of Taylor, the authoiity on poisons, of whom so much has boon said during the last few days, and whose opinion was quotod to all tho medical witnesses, and he informed Mr Joynt that it was only out of respect to his colleague (Dr. Ogston) that ho had consented to follow Tuylor's method. Witness roundly stigmatised Taylor as antiquated. Dr. Ogston gavo strong confirmatory evidence as" to tho rosults of the tests,and said thateo far as Taylor was concerned he had no regard fur liimasu tuxicologtst,though he had for him as a chemist. Both the scientific gentlemen effectively disposed of tho male prisot.e.'a assertion that he used antimony for cigarettes, aud that ho took morphia for so atica.

Tho scientific witnesses disposed of, tho Crown turned its attention 'to another branch of tho caso -incident oi tho cup of ten, and tho sudden vomiting which Mrs Hamcisloy wan shortly aftorwards subjected to. This 1 tdy told us how sho was cautioned either by Hall or .Miss Houston that tho cup wus intended for Mrs Hall, as it had neither milk nor sugar, that sho heeded not their rcmaiks, she swallowed its contents, and within hulf-a-hour retched dreadfully. Oi course the inference was that this sudden vomiting was induced by drinking doctored tea, intended for (ho patient ; but in cross examination Mis llamorsley admitted that sho did not associate her sickness with the tea till after tho arrest, and to that incident was got rid of. Tho witness further stated that at tho time sho discovered kerosene in the garret she had gone into Hall's room to search for the naitk from which Houston had given Mrs Hall some brandy on the day sho was out driving, bi cause all tho bottles at Iho timo of the search (immediately after tho arroot) were supposed to contain

poison. lv ten minutoe Mr Joynt had done more for hia caso with this witness than he had boen able to do with tho whole of tho other witnesses together. The chemists who sold antimony or tartar emetic to Hall, Win, Gunn, Chas. B Eich bttum, and Wm. Saiik, were then shortly examined; but the only new fact elicited was that Hall was subject to asthma, for which ho hud purchased morphia, alleging that ho injected it. Then came tho bookseller from whom works on medicines hud boen obtained by tho prisoner. The first of these was I. W. Uutton, from whom "Headland's Action of Medicine" was purchased. The prisoner on March 3rd, ISSo, iVcht into the witness's shop and asked for a book which would givo some inh tjaat-ion on antimony. Subsequently i.o borrowed "Taylor on Poisons," and eventually a month after purchased

the book. Before leaving tho shop ho m m)o entries on first and last pages. The^o now proved to bo "T. Hall, X 662,' and T. Hall, Dunedin, ISS'2 " During the cross-examination of this witness tho Court wae convulsed with laughter. Hutton said that shortly after selling Taylor's work he had a slight argument with prisoner in reference to an account owing by Mrs Newton. Hall u;od language which he (witness) should be sorry to repeat in Court. Mr Joynt persisted in knowing what the actual words were. The witness appealed for protection, saying it would be contempt of Court to repeat them. His Honor said it would bo contempt if ho did not repeat them, and the witnoss, after looking away towards tho seats reserved for the ladies, as if he regretted having to uso what ho conceived to be revolting language in their presence, mildly said, " Damn the ladies." I am sorry I have been compelled to repeat the words. When Hall said "Damn the ladies," I made a sharp retort and said that I would not allow tho uso of any language of (hat sort, and aided, " If you say ' Damn the ladios,' I say • tho gents.' " Tbat was all, and we qaarrelled. - Mr Joynt : Are you a marrind man ? Witness ; I am. His Honor : And that "la tho language you thought would bo contempt of Court ? Witness • Yes. Hii Honor: Your acquaintance with the Comt must bo somewhat little. You are a poifect st.c iroi of gallantry, I can assure you. (Laughter ) Mr Joynt : What did Hall thon say ? Witness : He said, " Mr Hutton, sondup your account, audi will pay it." 1 said, "Yes, I will."

Mr Joynt : Now, why did you want Mr Hall to pay Mrs Newton's account ?

Hutton : Because ho was her brother-in-law, and, I believe, her trustee. He siid ho would not adviso her to pay it, as ho did not think she was liable for a debt contracted by her husband for oducational books while she had not tho control of the children. I said tho best part of it was for what Mrs Newton had purchased herself, Mr Joynt: Thonyou did not say, " Damn such ladies as Mrs Newton ?" Witness : No Mr Joynt : I suppoeo you never use such language as that ? Witness : I hope not.

Mr Joynt : Well, irenoro'ly spooking, when a man says ho hopes not, I imagine that lie docs. Did you use this language ?

Witness (most emphatically): Excuso mo, I did not.

Tho two following witnesses wore called in tho Court below to give their evidonco fully.

Tho?,. Farley, bookseller, stated that in July last ho sold to tbe malo prisoner a dictionary of domostic medicines, by Ward, Locke and Co.; aleo another dictionary of medicine, published by Griffin, Farron and Co, Ho came to witness's placo on July 23rd, and asked if they had any medical works. Witness said he had two, and mentioned their names. Aftor being shown them he said he did not think they were suitable, but if witness had no objection ho would take them on approval, it being his intention to show them to some doctor friend of his. Ho took themaway with him, and a few days after returned to tho shop, when ho said that ho had forgotten to bring back the baok, onoof which would suit. He novor returned either book. This witness was not cross-examined.

Martha Cotter, wife of Edwin Cotter, late gaoler at Timaru, said that she remembered tho features of two prisoners being brought to the gaol on August the 16th. On tho following day Miss Houston wroto a letter, which she gave witness to send to Mrs Hall. On tho back of an envelope she wroto anothor letter, which she asked witness if she would mind giving to Mr Hall. The envelope was qui'e open, and witness took it into her husband's private office and laid it on the table. She lookod over it, The letter began : " Dear Tommy Dod." Witness did not remember the precise words. It was signed, •'Ever yours, Megrims, to Mr Hay." I did not look at tho letter to Mrs Hall; I cannot remember that the letter to Hall said anything about the receipt of a note from his wife. I merely glanced at ihe lotter. It had some reference to the weather,*and the writer said, "I should like very much to see you." The letter was directed to Mr Hall ; the corner of the envelope was turned back, and the reference to the weather written therein, in tho nature of a postscript. It was alto stated that Monday- the day appointed for the hearing- would soon be here. The names " Kitty " and " Mrs Hall " wore mentioned in tho letter, but I cannot remember any reference to the receipt of a letter from "Kitty." 1 was matron of the gaol, and am Dot aware that Miss Houston had received a lotter.

Edwin Cotter, late gaoler a t Timaru, was the last witness called to day. This was the officor who received a letter written by the female prisoner while in the lock-up to Hall,

and which ho destroyed for =omo reason , which ho lias since boon unable to account - for, At tho preliminary investigation, his conduct with respect to that .oGer wa3 j severely animadverted on, and as a result; ho resigned his position. Co1 lei' now gave i

tho following evidence : At the time or tho arro->t of tho prisoners ho was gaoler. A day or two aftorwards ho saw on the deak of his p ivateoffice a letter address.-d to MrsThos. i Hall, Woodlands, andanother on the back of | a telegraph envelope, addressed to "Mr T. I Hall." He read the letter and kept it for ■ some time, showing it to Air iiowioy, clerk to tho R.M. Cour , Timaru ; after mat wit- j noB destroyed it. Ho thought ho reme-m- ! bored the whole contents of it. It began : \ "Dear Tommy Uod, I should like very; much to see >ou. 1 have not asl.ed yet, and it i- cotirrxry to the roses, '.hear up. .\KnJuy will -u-.m bu i.ero. . Is not tbm dieadiut woathei 2 It it doe- not clear upsoon we shall h.ve to ma c JSoah build anuth .( ark." it wounei up. , "Ever yours, Megiims, 'and by v.a> of pestscript—l have been writing to Kitty this j afternoon.' At this time it had been raining for a whole week. The witness | was then put through his inciogs by Mr j Hay : " Can you say how long you ] had the letter bofore you destroyed it." i "It mijht bo a week." " Did you carry it about in j our pocket?" "I kept it on my person till 1 destroyed it." His Honor : " Was it destroyed before the first hearing bofore the Magistrates ?" " I cannot say." "Where did Mr Howley sco tho letter?" In Judge Ward's offi:e. I destroyed it after showing it to Mr ttowley." " You are an old police officer, Mr Cotter?" "Yes." "Do you usually destroy communications like this?" "No." "What mode you do it?" "Idon'C know." " Was it because you thought the letter was an innocent one?" " I did not think it was so important until afterwards." "Are you sure of the words of the letter ?" " Yes ; Itookanoie a day or two after I destroyed it. I gave Mr White a copy of it." "The expression 'dear Tommy Dod' was in it }" "Yes." The writing of a few words, "I have written to Kitty. I received a letter Horn her this afternoon." No, in the postscript, it said, 'I have been writing to Kitty as a matter of fact." "Miss Houston had received a letter from Mrs Hall?' "She may have, but I dou't know." "Do you remember, now, when 1 put this lotter into your hand, that Miss Houston d'd receive ono?" "No, it is ia Mrs Hall's handwriting." " Did the letter to Hall not say, ' I have told her (moaning Mrs Hall) that I will write you a few lines. No, I do not remember those words." " You destroyed tho lotter because there was nothing in it ?" " Well, no, not distinctly ; I cannot say why I did so." Before adjourning, tho Attorney General, in answor to tho Court, said he had 17 or IS witnosses moro to examine. Jlis Honor : 17 more 1 Mr White : But they are very short ones. Tho Attorney-General, having stated he hoped to complete his case tomorrow evcuing, the Court rose. j