TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 130, 16 October 1886, Page 2

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Christchurch, This Day. hall hopeful. It is anticipated that the case for the Crown will close this afternoon. Hall wears a more satisfied air than since the commencement of the trial, and gives one the idea of his having hope. This hope is probably based on the fact that Mr. Joynt attacks the form of the indictment. lam informed that when Palmer was tried in Stafford for the Rageley murder the indictment was for administering tartarised antimony, while the present charge is for administering a deadly poison called antimony. The Crown lawyers, however, do not think anything of the point, and claim the right to amend the indictment if neoessary. to-day's evidence. The proceedings were resumed on this, the sixth day, by calling Dr. Hogg, gaol surgeon at Timaru. Tho new witness first saw the accused Hall, in gaol on 17th August, and attended him on and off for ten days. Witness knew the effects of taking morphia. Hall was not suffering from the effects of it. Witness saw him twice on the day before his arrest. He appeared to be in a good state of health. If a person had been accustomed to much morphia, on the sudden cessation he should expect great restlessness, and within 24 hours loss of appetite, inability to Bleep, and probably a sinking feeling, and, may be, vomiting and purging. Morphia was not prescribed for Hall in gaol. A preparation of opium was prescribed on the 16th, but not morphia as administered hypodermically. This was administered because Hall showed a tendency to diarrhoea. It was ordered by Dr. Lovegrove, witness being absent at Temuka that day. On 20th August witness prescribed a sleeping draught, bnt that was the only other drug. He was mentally distressed. The Attorney-General— Compared with Miss Houston, which was in the best of health? Witness— l should say Hall. Dr. M'lntyre's evidence as to Mrs. Hall's symptoms having been read over, the witness said that taking the symptoms as a whole he did not know of any known disease to which they could be attributable. He should attribute those symptoms to poison by antimony, arsenic, or colchicum. These might produce such

ymptoma. Poisoning ify antimony is a isual phrase to use. He know a book on 'Porenwo Medioineand Toxicology, 1877," ly Woodman and Piddy. It was rpoognised iy the profession as a standard work. He ,-as not surprised to learn that in that work toisoaing by antimony was spoken of when , preparation of antimony was meant. It ras usual to speak of poisoning by arsenic, learing of poison by antimony, should not inderstand poison by the metal .or base, but >y a preparation. To Mr. Joynt— Ho went to see Hall in raol, on acoount of the diarrhoea, on 17th August, whon it was passing' off, so he did lot prescribe. Dr. Lovegrove had proseribod m astringont mixture containing opium, md sixteen doses wero to be given, a doso ivery three hours. The sleeping draught vould extend over a considerable timo. Witness attended Hall for asthma a long ;iino ago. It was reportod boforo his arrest ;hat Hall had been taking morphia. AN IMPORTANT RULING BY THK BENCH. The witness was closely questioned as to ;he salts contained in antimony, &0., his Honour remarking "If tartar emetio is vulgarly known as antimony, I shall hold, Mr. Foynt, that it will be sufficient for tho purposes of the indiotment." Mr. Joynt Wo will see more about that presently. I should prefer that your Honour should 'express no ipinion at present. DR. HOGO CEOSB-EXAMTNED. In answer to Mr. Hay, Dr. Hogg said he ittended Mrs. Hall in November last on mio occasion. Hi 9 impression was that Miss Houston was not living there then. Mrs. Hall was vomiting. Tho vomiting lasted 3ome time. He kept no notes of the case, md could not rocolloot whotherthe symptoms were similar to those described by Dr. M'lntyre as to the patient's reoont illness. ANOTHER MEDICAL WITNESB. Dr. Stackpole, residing at Wairaato, mother new witness, said lie was called in consultation with Dr. M'lntyro to see Mrs. Hall on 28th July. He was a friend of Hall's lamily. He examined Mrs. Hall, bnt found no organic disease, and was unable to account for the symptoms. He slept nt Hall's house that night, but gave no instructions to Miss Houston about tho modicino. Dr. M'lntyro being in charge of the case, it would have been unprofessional on his part to have done so. Cross-examined — Tho patient was very thirsty, and ho prescribed ioed water to act as a tonic. At tho consultation very probably he instanced a case of brain vomiting, but did not think ho said Mrs. Hall's symptoms akin thereto. Hall wired him at Waimate, inviting him to Woodbinds. He seemed very anxious abont the case and distressed, and did everything that an anxious husband should do. To Mr. Hay — Ho spoke about powders and urged that they should be givon every three or four hours, but could not remember to whom ho gave the instructions, or whothor ho gave them to Miss Houston She was introduced as a lady help. He would havo been most oareful not to interfero with the nurse. He knew the nurse's temper too well. (Laughter.) Miss Houston might have construed it that ho meant she was to administer tho powders. He asked Miss Houston to write letting him know how Mrs. Hall was. TOMMY DODD. Thomas Howley, Clerk of the Resident Magistrate's Court at Timaru (also a new witness), said the prisoner Hall was aooustomed to hunt with tho South Canterbury Harriers' Club. On the evening of Saturday, 14th August, witness saw prisoner in the club billiard-room playing at the game called pool. Ho hod something, and seemed to be in vory good spirits. Shortly aftor the arrest Cotter, gaoler at Timaru, showed witness a letter addressed to Hall. It oommonced "Dear Tommy Dodd," and concluded " Ever yours, Megrims." Mr. Joynt— Was it the noblo gamo of devil's pool you were playing with tho prisoner that afternoon P Witness— No. It was general pool. To Mr. Hay— He knew that " Tommy Dodd " was a oomio song, and was awaro that Hall sang it, but hod not heard him sing that song in character. THB TELEPHONE. Edmund George Kerr, tho proprietor of the South Canterbury Timoa, was in Hall's office on Saturday, sth August. Whilo talking business, Hall said, "Excuse me one minute; I want to talk with my house." He rang up his house and said, " Is that you, Mary? Is Miss Houston in? Toll her I want to speaktoher." Afterwaiting aboutaminuto he said, "Is that you Megrims? By tho way there is a decanter of wine in the room which I want put away. It is not right." Then after a pause he said, "But it dees matter, put it away." Before ringing off he asked, rr ' How is Kitty?" Then addressing witness, said he had a servant at home who drank whenever an opportunity occurred, and he had dootored some wine for her. lii a few minutes he again rang up and said — ''Is that you, Miss Houston? Have you put that away all right." To Mr. Joynt— Hall knew vory well I was a Justice of tha Peaoo. There was nothing remarkable in his manner ; it was a little fidgety. BUYING KEROSENE. Benjamin Hibberd, grocer, Timaru, doposed that in June, July, and August Hall had purchased kerosene from him. In reply to Mr. Joynt, witness said he believed Hall injected morphia for sciatica. A good quantity of kerosene was used at Hall s house. Evidenco as to the sale of a tin of keroßono for Hall's office in August was given by Edward Peters, assistant to the last witness. The prisoner said ho would take the tin from the office to his house. Previously all kerosene had been sent to the house direct. In answer to Mr. Perry, he said he thought it strango when the order was given that Hall should want the tin wrapped up in paper and sent to his office. Andrew Avison, a, boy, merely gave evidence as to tho delivery at Hall's office of the tin spoken of by the last witness, and Chas. Aloysius Wilson proved its reoeipt from him. This witness had been olerk to Hall and Meason for six years, but never saw kerosene brought to tho offioo before. He identified the writing at the beginning and end of Taylor on Poisons as that of prisoner. Witness produced tho books of the Imperial Insurance Co., of which Hall was agent. In order book under date 11th June wero entries of policies over Hall's furniture and effeots for £600, house known as Woodlands, .£SOO, and outhouses and dairy for £75. Hall gave instructions for insurances to Mr. Perry. Tho insurances on house and furniture wero in the name of H. Cain's executors. Witness believed Hall suffered from asthma. He was sometimes absent from the office through illness — for weeks on ono occasion, owing to an attack of sciatica. Ro-examinod— Tho sciatica attack was in 1883. Jameß Forbes, foreman plumber, had effected some repairs at Hall's house in April last. He had occasion to go into the garret, and had to use a candle, owing to the darkness. There wore a few rags and newspapers scattered about. He observed no smell, and saw no straw, kerosene, or timber. The cross-examination of the witness lasted up to the lunch adjournment. Thoro are yet ten Crown witnesses to be examined.