The Timaru Poisoning Case.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 52, 12 October 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Poisoning Case.

[PEB UKITKD PBBBB ABSOCIATIOK.] Chbistchfhch, October 11 ♦ i The hearing before the Supreme Court in the ease, which, whatever may he the result, promises to be on* of the most celebrated that has yet been chronicled, commenced this morn-, ing. More than an hour before the court opened," people began to gather round the coUrt-house, v and a denser crowd had assembled by the time tfae public were admitted. Every inch of .space in the gallery above, and, most of the body of the court that was available for the public, was taken , up, but the position of the dock, in directly under the gallery, prevented, these above from seeing much more than the prisoners' heads, and only those who were fortunate in securing seats in front of the dock could gratify; their curiosity by gazing on the faces of the man and woman who stood, upon their trial under so. grave a charge. The interest that was taken in the case was enhanced by a rumour; that the defence would endeavor to upset the experts' evidence, and had retained Professor Bickerton for that purpose. The spectators had to stay their impatience while three other .= prisoners were sentenced. Justice' Johnson having disposed of these, Hall and Miss Houston were brought ivt > the dock; both, looked pale and anxious. Hall's face was especially careworn. For the Crown appeared, the Attorney-General, with him Mr White, Crown Solicitor at Tin>*ru, ; and Mr Martin of Christchurch ; for the defence, Mr Joynt, with Mr Ferryfor Hall, Mr Kay for Miss Houston. Mr F. H. Barnes was chosen foreman of (the special jury. The registrar read the indictment, which charged' the prisoners that on August 15, at Timaru, they did administer to KateEmily Hall a certain deadly poison, to kill aud murder; the second count charged that they did cause to be administered a large quantity of antimony ; the third count that they did cause antimony to be taken by Kate E. Hall. Both of the accused pleaded 1 " not guilt;," bat their pleadings were scarcely audible. The Attorney-General opened the case by first referring to the form ©I the indictment. The charge the Cxowa undertook to prove was- a very serious and grave one. It was necessary to present a mass of circumstances in such a case. in order that the jury; might determine whether if the poisoiv had been administered it was not given accidentally. Though appearing for the Crown, he did not wishV them to find a verdict against accused, unless they, were clearly satisfied of their guilt. They had no right to assume guilt because Hall was accused of other crimes. He would begin hjproving that the death of Kate Emily Hall: would have been a pecuniary benefit to Hall, and a relief to him of the fear that was hanging over hint of conviction vi many iorgeries he 'had committed. He would first lead evidence as, to the probable motive. Hall had a deficiency of £5,000 or £6,000. He married in May, 1885, .next month committed his first forgery of a bill of £650 ; in July, 1885, his wife left all her property to Hall by will,, and he had insured, her life for £6,000. By her death he would have rewired at least £9,000, though it was right te say he would have, lost an income of £250 a year. The evidence that Mrs Hall had taken antituouy was clear and conclusive. As ,to the female prisoner, the Crown- - would prove that on June 26 Miss Houston gave a plate of oysters to Mrs Hall, who ate them, and was immediately afterwards seised with all the symptoms of poisoning by antimony. Evidence would show that Hall had taken deliberate measures . after insuring the premises to destroy the house and contents, and perhaps Mrs Hall's body, and so do away with all evidence of guilt. The Attorney- " General concluded his speech of great power, in which he almost entirely avoided declamation by exhorting the jury to perform their duty faithfully as good citizens. Arthur Steadman, manager of- the Bank of New South Wales at Timaru, deposed that Messrs Hall and Meason had an account thjare. *' Hall did business at the time ef his arrest. He had overdrawn £8000 in 1885. ;v ; ;* K. 8. Black, manager of the National Bank at Timaru, wa» another witness called to show that Hall was in pecuniary embarrassment. He said that in August last the private account of Hall kept at this bank was overdrawn by £617 W. A. Wilson, a clerk employed by Hall and Meason, produced the books of the firm, and gave evidence of the entries of the amounts of the P.N.s of Cameron, Frazer, and Milton. They made about £1,000 in aIL While this witness was being ti* amiufid the accused, Hall, who seemed very cool and self-possessed, was frequently communicating with his ceunsel. Miss Houston had stood for the most part with downcast eyes, and did not display any interest in the 'pro- + ceedings. She was allowed to sit. Arthur Ormsby, solicitor of Timarn, deposed to making Mrs Hall's will in July, 1885, in favor of Hall, who had received the will from witness. V ' .„• The taking out of the two policies, on Mrs Hall's life for £3,000 each in August, 1885, was proved by William Davidson, agent for the Australian. Mutual Provident Society at Timaru. • Mr Joynt raised a question which; had not yet been decided inNewZea-. land— the right of the Attorney-Gen* oral to reply at the conclusion for tfcft defence. ( In answer to his He.no?, Sir Robert Stout said he would claim {he right of reply. • His Honor held that the Attorney-. General had a right to reply. ™T^ t ■ ' ''' : '' '"■ •""•; r fhis--Dsy.-- . When the court opened this morning there was not quite so large an audleno*, ' The special jurors walked in from theirquartern at Warner'* Hotel, whore thojp had spent the night m oompany, anct !. took tutu: seats ia the box, tafcng Uk»

mea who had settled down to the awkward task of hearing and weighing the evidence in what will probably beaten duys' trial. . . Mr Martin took a turn at examining witnesses for the prosecution, the first of which was Edward Hume Cameron, who had dealings wi\h Hall and Meason. He j said he had never given either ot the -promissory notes and ho proved that the entries iv the firms books as affecting him were false. _. Miles J. Knudley, solicitor, of Timaru, produced certain documents showing Mr ' ± Hail's estate. She (Mrs Hall) had a right to the interest in the property under Cam's will, representing an income of about £2125 a year. The late Mrs Cain s •will left £250 capital to Mrs Hall, under a deed' oi t- rust - Sue was entltled to Rinded property of Cain's, wortli £1.400, also investments worth £1,590. Mall looked after this trust before his arrest, and gave Mr Knudley instructions to ' transfer the mortgages for £1,595 to Mrs Hall's name. „ , Knudley was the last witness called for the purpose of snowing Hall s financial embarrassments and how they might have been relieved by money that would come to him at Mrs Hall's death. Another stage was entered touching accused more nearly— that with regard to the . administration of poison. Hannah Ellison, the nurse who attended Mrs Hall from June 17, deposed that she had aursed for ten years m Timaru, aud had never known a case of sickness after confinement. It was usual the first thing in. the morning for the servant, May Hassen, t£ bring a cup of.teajfcoMrs HaljL A little later Hall would bring breakfatt from the dining room. Mrs Hall was sick from time to time from June 22 till August 10. The first sickness she had was at night. Mrs Hall left the bedroom on June 30, the 11th day after her confinement. Miss Houston cama from the smoking room to Mrs Hall's bedroom about six in the evening, with a plate of four oysters. Sho told Mi-s Hall they were nice oysters. [Left sitting.]