THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 245, 18 October 1886, Page 4

THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

(BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER.)

SATURDAY'S SITTING,

Christchubch, Saturday. At one stage of the proceedings to-day it eeomod probable that the caee for the Crown would conclude before the Court roße, but the domesUch (Turnbull and Hasson) wore subjected to loDg cross-examination, and ! thus all hope in that direction was dispelled. At 5.i!5 p.m. the Attorney-General intimated that he had four more witnesses to call, and suggested that an adjournment till Monday should be made. Mr Justice Johneton, however, was disinclined to accede, and said he had hoped that all the witnesses would be disposed of at that eitting, so that Monday night be devoted to the addrosseß of the counsel, and Tuesday to the summing up, which was likely to occupy all that day. Mr Joynt laughed at the idea of the three addresses being got off on one day, and said that if he decided not to call witnesses, it would take him the greater part of the day to do justice to a case of such magnitude. His Honor then recognised that no saving of time was likely to be effected by completing the Crown witnesses right off, and so, after taking theevidonceof one gentleman, whowi«hed toretu n to Timaruasspeedily as possible, an adjournment till Monday was made. In the forenoon of Monday tho remaining witnesses for tho prosecution will be taken. Addresses of counsel may be expected to occupy that afternoon and the whole of Tuesday, in whicb caee His Honor should sum up, and this causecelebre will bu brought to a conclusion on Wednesday, The feeling continues to run high, and when the female prisoner was driven off this evening in charge of the Addington gaoler she was roundly hooted by the larriKin crowd which had collected outside the Court, and its probable termination U discussed at overy street corner, and- the feoling that the proof against Mies Houston is somewhat slender doubtless accounts for tho hostility especially displayed against hor on her arrival and departure from tho Court-house daily. Tho Scientific Evidence Tho following are the concluding portions of Dr. Ogaton's testimony, in which ho dealt with Hall's statement that ho used antimony for asthma, and morphia for eciatica. The witness, in reply to the Attorney-General, said ; "I never tried cigarettes for asthma, and never heard of antimony being ueed in cigarettes. 1 havo practiced my profession for 14 years, and I do not think it possible that antimony used in cigarettes could be of any bonofit in asthma. I havo tried experiments on two or three occasions since the case, tho roßult of which was to confirm tho opinion I had previously held, that it would be of no uro. 1 don't think antimony would be inhaled in the emoko of it ; when it would bointhe solublo metal in very email quantities, it would not be as tartar umetic, oven if tarter emetic wore ÜBed to muko the cigarettes with. I have heard that the prisoner Hall used morphia injections. If since his arrest no morphia had been given him, the want of these injections has caused him to suffer no injurious effects Ido not think he could have been vory much addicted to it, or sufforing from morphia poisor>ing." Mr .Tovnt then cross-examined to the followinn effect, " You hav.e said the symptoms of Mrs Hall's case, on the whole, were not consistent with tho existence of any known dieoase *" "Yea." "Were not those eymptoms as a whole consistent with the existence of gastritis!" "No, in eastritia thera would bo no purging,nor would you get antimony in the vomit " Pardon mo, will you bo good enough to refer to nothing but the symptoms. 1 believe you have been made use of for some years as a witness in cases of toxicology." " Yes, medicologal cotes aa an expert on behalf of the Crown." "Invariably for tho Crown." " Kxcopt in two cases." "Is it not a fact that you always hold yourself in reserve for the Crown J" " Yes." "It is on tho evidonc you heard by Dr. Mclntyre and Dr, Drew that 1 wish to examino you, and not oh tho result of the analyses, but you can separate them. Purging is not present in gastritin ? It is in ga*tro enteritie." In gastro enteritis, I should not expect a patient to havo intermissions of sickness, and I should not expoot a sudden recovery immediately after tho ceßsution of certain prominentsymptoms." "An irritant poison producos gastroenteritis?' "Gastroenteritis may exist whero there is no irritant poison ; the state of ekin is not very material, as it is not a symptom at all." "Havo you tho samo view as Dr. Black with regard to Taylor as a toxicologist ?" "I do not think much of him aa a chemist." "Do you think anything of him in the matter of diagnosing symptoms ?" " I don't think he practis-od as a physician." " Now Taylor, in his book on poisons, pago 4(30, the edition of 1875, refers to Dr. Maryer; is he an authority?" "No; I will not say so. It is as far back us 1846 " His Honor : " Tho science of medical jurisprudence has made L'roat strides?" 'Yes." Mr Joynt: "In it etilln progressive science?" "Yes." " Then I suppose tho next generation will nut think much of "our chemists ?" "I do not think co." "Do you think that coldnoHß of tho hkin and clammy porspiration, referred to by Air Taylor, aro characteristics of chronic poisoning by antimony baforo death ?" " Yes, they are a sign of death coming on, but not necessarily of the early stages of chroDic poisoning." " I suppose the deadly results of any poison in some degree depend on the quantity taken in the system ?" "Yos." "Is it strictly correct to call antimony a poison ?" " Yes." It is correct, though the metal is not poison ?" " Yea, the name of tho metal is applied generally in our scientific books, as it refers to the salts combined. I should Bay. in speaking of it, poisoning by antimony or by arsenic." "By silver and iron?" "Yes." "Then suppose antimony to bo ueed in the arts!" " I know nothing of art chemistry." "Is antimony in its original form poison or not ?" " I really do not know the process.it might undergo in the body it is so complex and varied that 1 cannot say whether it would be a poison or not" "Have you any reason to believe it would undergo any change in the body ?" " The probability is it would not unless it lay a long time; yet it might if it were there a hundred years." " But the probability is that unless it did it would not be a poison ?" " That is ao." "Then in order to make antimony a poisonous salt, it is is necessary to combine with other substances?" "Yes." " The popular name applied to the compound, of which oxide of antimony is an element, is tartar emetic t" "Yes." "If you were to ask any chemist for antimony, he would give you tartar emetic, the fact being that he does not keep the metal antimony in stock?" "Yes. "Is it not a fact that tartar emetic if used in medicine does for asthma and bronchitis?" "'Ses." " Did you find in your analysis by hydrochloric acid any traces of tartar emetic besides the antimonial one?" "In the analysis we do not profess to specify the various cornpoundß of tartar emetic, It was bo taken into the system that wecouldnotfind emetic. " Colchicum is used medicinly ?" " Yes." "Whatfor?" "Gout." "Perhapssciatica?" " No, I do not think it would be of much use." " What is colchicum wine ?"' "Colchicum in light sherry in what misguided people often use who have no appetites." "Did you moke a quantative analysis of the-.brandy?' "Yes." " What did you mean when you said that injection of the brandy would be fatal?" " Tnat the result in the patient's weak state would be fatal, and would, moreover, depend to a great exter.t on the quantity injected." "There would be no particular quantity of brandy for the injection ?" " Each doctor has his own idea of stimulants." "How much of that brandy would have been fatal ?" " About half a wine-glass full would, I think, have created such adepressedeffectastohave been fatal," " Arey ou prepared to say that if the prisoner Hall had used large quantities of morphia before his arrest he would be suffering from the want of it?" "It would be contrary to experience if he did not; he would exhibit great sleeplessness. Cessation from poison such as morphia, suddenly would in aoino cases produce the same effect as if poison had been taken. A person would show Bigns of suffering for a week, or a fortnight, after leaving off the morphia or opium, if he could leave it off at all."

Dr. Hogg, of Timaru, was the first witness called today, and the feature of his evidence had reference to the point raised yesterday oe to whether the indictment was correct in defining the charge against the prisoners as "Attempting to murder by administering a certain deadly poison called antimony." Professor Black having stated that the metal antimony would not poison, Dr Hogg aaid that if one medical man spoke to another of " poisoning by antimony," it would be understood that one of the compounds of antimony would be meant. He illustrated hie meaning by saying that when

we speak of lead poisoning some preparation of lead ia meant. In consequence of this evidence Hia Honor intimated that if he were asked by-and-bye to decide, he thought he would hold that if tartar emetic is vulgarly known as antimony, that will be sufficient for the indictment The other evidence taken up to the luncheon adjournment was not very important. Dr. Stackpole denied having authorised Miss Houston to administer medicine to Mrs Hall. He said he knew the nurses too well, and he had too much respect for them to interfere with them in any needless way. , The afternoon sitting was almost exclusively occupied with the evidence of the two domestics. Jeanie Turnbull (who had been in the employ of the Halls|from Novomber, 1885, till the latter end of May last) stated that she had repeatedly seen Hall enter Mies Houston's bedroom in the morning, but the ul neea denied any intention of reflecting on the female prisoner's character in connection with those visits. In answer to Mr Joynt, the witness stated that she had seen Hall knock at the door and ask, "Are you up, Mies Houston? before going into the bedroom. Miss Houston and herself were good friends. On one occasion, witness disapproved of Miss Houston locking th 6 dairy up. , His Honor : Was that because cats were about ? Witness : It was because I got the cream. Mr Joynt: You had a pardonable weakness for croam ? Witness : I did not like skim milk. Mr Joynt: It was a shame to give you skim milk. Who milked the cow ? Witness : The boy John Wilson. Mr Joynt: Could you not got a mug from him? Witness : No. Sho could not say whether tho wine was kept in the dairy at Woodlandß. Mr and Mrs Hall always seemed very fond of each other, and very attentive to each other. Witness never heard any jar or disagreement between them, Mr Hay shortly cross-examined the witness, in tho course of which ho elicited the opinion from tho witness that all Mr Hall went into Mips Houston's room for was to waUe her up in the morning. Tho new evidence elicited from Mary Hanson was to tho following effect : Some oysters came to the house on the 2Gth and 28th Juno. Tho fisherman brought the oysters on the 25th, opened thorn, and put them on a diah in tho scullery. The oysters wore font into the dining room in the evoning. Next day another lot (about two dozen) came by tho same fisherman, and were oponed by him. Thet-e also were taken into tho dining-room. Miss Houston and Mr Hall dined in the room at night. After the oyßtors came out of tho dining-room, witness and the boy Wilson ate some of them, and they were not ill. On the night Mr Hall took Misß Houston to the Volunttor ball, she came into tho diningroom, and aekod him to tighten her stays, and he did bo. Witness never drank either wine or spirits in tho house up to the time of the arrest. Sho had only taken wine twioo since — once from Mis Ellison, and onco given by Mrs Hall on the occasion of the christening of her baby. Witness was two yeara with the Messrß Le Cren, and for four years before Ibat with Mr Dawson, tho Rector of the High School of Timaru. In cross-examination by Mr Joynt, witne« paid she remembered the oysters were given on tbe 25th and 26th June, because it was brought to her recollection by Mrs Hall. The question was not put to witness in Timaru about the stays Miss Houston was a girl of very bold manners, a very im-pudent-faced girl. Witnoss was atanding at Iho table in the dining-room when Miss Houston.osked Mr Hall to tighten her stays Witness waa not surprised. She did not think much or little of Miss Houston. Witness had heard that Miss Houston and Mr Hall had said that she drank, and this did not help hor to think much of Miss Houston Whon Mr Hall spoke through the telephone he said, "Is that; you, Megrims?" Witness never heard till she came here for thin trial that either Mr or Mra Hall suspected her of drinking, nor did she know or suspect ehe was watched. His Honor : Are you certain that it waa her stays she asked Mr Hall to laco up ? Witness: Yes. Hi* Honor : It was not the dress then ? Witness : No ; she had not her dress on rtt the time. To Mr Hay : When eho saw Hall fasten the stays Houston had not her glovos on. Witness never mentioned this incidont to any porfon. She mentioned it to no one before coming to Chrietchurch except Mrs Hall. This was after Mrs Hull had mentioned the oysters to her. When witness told hor about tho stays it was when they were discussing Mias Houston's conduct Not until coming to Christchurch did she hear of any suggestion against her of taking the wine. She read at Timaru that Mr Kerr had stated in evidence that Hall told him one of his servants drank everything she could lay her hands on, but sho did not believe it. Mr Joynt: That is to say, you did not be - lieve Mr Kerr.

WitDtsa : I did believe Mr Kerr, but 1 did not believe tho party who told him I w.ih general servant in the hniiso. Mi 'a Houston made all tho bods in tho hou>e, dustod tho dining - roum, and looked aftor the meals. Shu was alwuys meddling about tho cookinc. I recognieed the kitcl.cn as my part of the liouso, but did not git it to mysolf. When well, Mra Hall had her moalw the same as tho otherp. Mii-s Houston bjh • times made the beef-tea. We both prepared Mrs Hall's meals When she had a cold, before Mrs Ellison came, Mies Houston attended her.

Henry John L« Cren, in whose employ the last witness had been come months ago, was called to give evidence as to the girl's conduct and character, but Mr Joynt urged that the evidence was not admissible. The witness's character, he contended, had not been impugned. The Attorney-General said that prisoner had made an insinuation that the girl was addicted to drink, and he made that an excuse for poisoning tho wine. The Crown wished to show that the girl had borre a high character for sobriety.

Hia Honor ruled that the evidence was clearly inadmissible. The Attorney-General said he had merely tendered his evidence, and should comment on its refusal. Mr Le Cren would have proved that four or five months before going to Hall's house the girl had charge of a place where wines were kept, and never touched anything. From this fact, coupled with her own denial, he (Sir Robert) would ask the jury to conclude that the prisoner's statement to Mr Kerr was incorrect.

Hiu Honor said the point was whether the statement by Hall was true, and that on that he ruled they could not admit the evidence.

The Attorney-General said that what be submitted was that Hall had stated the reason he had poisoned wine about his house was that he had a eervant who drank up everything that was left. It waa for the C -own ta show that the excuse was a falee one. If they could show that Mary Hassen bad bad charge of spirits and wine, and had not taken any, it would be revelent.

Thos. Wells, the billiard-marker at the South Canterbury Club (» new witness), deposed to the prisoner having been in the billiard-room on the Wednesday prior to his arrest. It would be after 6p m. Hall left about 6.30 p.m. and returned again. He commenced to play at 10.30 p.m., and concluded at 11 p.m. On the Thursday he was at the Club, and on tho Saturday evening he was there. On the Saturday evening the prisoner put a Un bottle into tbe fire. He did not put the bottle iato the fire in the ordinary way, but pushed it right in. The cork flew out, and somebody said "What was that?" He said it was one of Mr Wakefield c sleeping draughts.

At this period the Court adjourned till 10 a.m. on Monday.