COURT OF APPEAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4859, 8 March 1887, Page 3

COURT OF APPEAL.

» ■ (Before Chief Justice Prendorgast, and Justices Johnston, Richmond, Williams, and Ward).

[PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Ciiristchurch, This day

Tho above Court sat to-day to argue the point reserved at. Dunedin on the trial of Thos. Hall, charged with the murder of Captain Cain. Mr Haggitt, with Mr J. W. White, appeared for "the Crown, and Messrs F. R. Chapman, H. D. Bell, and J. E. Dcnniston for Hall.

Mr Chapman, after reading the case as reserved by Justice Williams, made a very lengthy address, in the course of which he submitted that tho evidence under the circumstances had been inadmissible. He would not dispute the very obvious contention that evidence for a scientific purpose could be admitted, though brought from any part of the world. He further submitted that if admissible such evidence would be only admissablc whon the act itself, being admilted or proved, it was necessary to show the guilty knowledge with which it was done, the intention, as deducted from the knowledge of the act. Thirdly, he would submit that beyond this the direction of the learned Judge, went too far, the way he put it to the jury virtually amounting in direction that they might mako the fullest useof the evidence, and alone prove the administration of poison by the prisoner.

(For continuation of news see fourth page.)