TIMARU POISONING CASE

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1947, 31 August 1886, Page 2

TIMARU POISONING CASE

THE PRISONE°R3 IN COURT HOW THEY WERE ARRESTED. WHAT THE POLICE FOUND. (JPKR UNITED I’KUSS ASSOCIATION) Timauu, Aug 30. Thomas Hull ami .Murga'ot Graham llousto/j were eh ;rgcd on remand at tbo R.M. Court to-day with attempted murder, J. S. ftoswick, Esq., R.M, E. Edworth, G. G, Fitzgerald and H. J. LeCren, Esqs , were on the Bench, ami. the same counsel that were engaged before appeared in the ease, with .the exception that Mr Martin appeared 'with Mr White, for the prosecution. After Mr White had shortly stated the facts of the case and the evidence he iutended to lead he called his evidence, the principal of which is as follows : Thomas Broham, Inspector of Police, at Timaru, said he arrested the accused at .8.30 on the night of August 15, at Mr Hall’s residence. He was accompanied by Detective Kirby, and Constables Egan and Strickland. As witness was going in the front door Hall was at the dining room door, and seeing them, he turned back into the room. Witness and his companions got into the dining room. He (witness) saw Miss Houston come out of the smoking room on the opposite side of the passage. Hall beckoned her to come into tho dining room, which she did and witness then told them both that he arrested them on a warrant on a charge of attempting to murder Mrs Hall by administering antimony to her. Miss Houston said “ Oh, antimony; that’s what yon got for your photography.” Hall sa d to her “Be quiet, you’ve nothing to do with this,” and said to witness, “ What shall I say ? 1 suppose a man should be very careful v/ilh sueh a charge as this made against him.” Witness replied, “You cau say what you please or nothing at all if you think fit.” He answered, “ I have used antimony for a long time 3 I got it to make up into cigarettes, with other things, for asthma. I have bought total' emetic at Gunns and Eichbaumsabout that time.’’ Hall said “ whatever I ; did in eouueciion with this matter I did by myself; there was no one else concerned in tho matter.” He said that twic-, He was standing with his back to the table and his face to the fire. About the time he made these remarks ho put bis hands partly into h's trousers pockets. Witness said to him, *• toko your bauds out, don’t do that please.” Hall beg.n to get very weak and asked for a” nip:” Witness sent Cons tool/’ Egan out to get it. -Witness and Jurby were about to seaveh. Hall whoa ho seemed as if he were going to faint, and again asked for something' to drink. Kirby went to fetch it by witness’ instructions. . By this time Hall bad changed'his postion and was standing with, bis back to the tiro. Kirby left the room and, directly he did so, Ilali’put his hands into his trousers pockets. Witness told him to take them out, but he did not do so. Witness sensed Hall’s wrists at once aod tried to force them out of the pockets. Miss Houston then gave a cry, ran between them and a struggle ensued, tho female prisoner doing all she could to separate them. Witness called out to. Detective Kirby two or three times as it wan evident Hull wanted io throw something into tho lire. On Kirby entering the room Miss Houston ceased her eflbrts at separati jii. Witness told Kirby that Hall was trying to throw something into the fire, and aided, “ He has thrown something ou tbs floor.” Witness succeeded in getting Hall some distant'9 from the fire aa he was kicking ■x cork towarkc the feuder ; witness then held prisoner’s hinds while Kirby searched him. Saw the latter take a small phia l , uncorked, out of Mali's ri„lit baud trousers pocket. The bottle contained a few drops of liquid and soma crystals, i’nt the phia! up iu a parcel and sent it to Professor Black with fourteen other parcels. Witness also saw Kirby take from Kali's pocket a small paper -marked “Tartar true tic.” The joiki ulrtady men; intis J, fitted the phtai. Winners also saw Kirby pick up a- few particles of powder which wore lying about. Kirby Luiued the right hand trousers pocket inside out, and a portion of the bottom of the pocket waa wet. Having searched Hall witness oaid that they would now go to the bedroom and search that. Prisoner said “ You will find antimony there.’’ Went up to the bedroom and, as they weio approaching a tabto on which a book *’ Taylor on Poisons ’’ [produced] was lying. Hall took it up and said *■ 1 suppose this also will take against me.” Farther search disclosed a packet of tartar emetic, a packet containing white powder and sumo ordinary cigarettes sipoked by asthmatic persona. All these things were given to Kirby. Ia ihe pasaigo was found a bottle of lime water. Before going upstairs brandy was brought into; tlm dining room by Constable Egan. Witness noticed that there was some cloudy substance in the liquid, and remarked to Hall that there was something i-he matter with it, and he replied—“ I\o ; there’s not.” Witness said, “ There is.” Hall was about to drink some that was poured out, either by himself or witness,when the latter stopped him. Mrs Eili-oii, life uurse, gave witness some ice water’ io a jug. which, with other things, was so it to Professor Black. Went again to the house of the accused oo Saturday, the 21st inst,, and Mrs Eilisoq showed witness upstairs to the loft or at. tic, to reach which it was necessary to go through!!ill’s bedroom, Asirullropu leads off the latter to the right, Tvhtee there is an opening in the wall; about 2i feet 18 inches, to which"there is a smalt door. Witness smelt kerosene very strongly in this room. The cupboard door was closed, and cm opening it the smell was felt to be much greater. Went iuside and there found a large quantity of old rags, corncwhat similar lu tbs sweepings ot n JrewaaU’M chop, all of which wore more or 'ess imp. c g with kerosene, On coming uo\vilJ»atfß Mrs Eiiiaori qbowfcd witness a new tin of kerosene of tho ” Crystal ” brand. After finding the things ’ enumerated, wituws came,down and got an express and assistance to take them away. IV ent bock to the house ia company, wi ts .constable Carey, and brought the various articles produced in Court to the police station, The kerosene tin b'4<l been opened and was about three-fourths full, Messrs Joynt and Hay, conn?’-! for li e pr.wneia,' in .v.e v vei to tbs Beuec e?. > they would out --r'•“ t; • o -c. -t. -i;. -J U;0 ratio rated, that it ii»« tevp utor, yud, at tlj<: Court-ndr.muiod uivU.t 10.3 J a.m, fiekt dnyv: KiAiy’s c<•- - being only half ilni-died.