THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7773, 20 October 1886, Page 5

THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

VERDICT AND SENTENCE. Christohuboh, Tuesday. On the resumption of the trial this morning, the learned counsel for Hall continued his address to the jury. He asked the judge to direct the jury that, unless poison was taken into the stomach, there had been no administration. Hie Honor deolined to do so. Mr. Joynt commented on the Crown leading evidence to show immorality by the accused after the Attorney-General had expressly repudiated this in his opening address. It was revolting to touch on this aspect of the case after the evidence for the defence which the jury had heard. The learned counsel went on to speak of the animus of the two servant girls against Miss Houston, Coming to Hall's confession, he pointed out that at the time of his arrest appearances oertainly looked against Hall. Seeing the evidence of poison around him it was probable the worcia he used were :—" You, Miss Houston, are all right. 1 oannot possibly get out of these suspicious evidences against me." Suoh statements were made hastily, under feelings of strong excitement, and were not to be taken as deliberate evidence of guilt. Could the jury believe all the prisoner's acts of solicitude towards hie wife went to show not only that he intended to kill her, but that he was a gross hypocrite as well? Early in July, before there was any suspicion of foul play, Hall asked Nurse Ellison to save some of her excretion for purposes of analysis. This was the first suggestion as to the advisability of an analysis. Was such conduct consistent with guilt ? Dr. Mclntyre, anxious to have alt the kudos, said that he alone had first suggested the various consultations held. Nurse Ellison, who was an impartial witness, had, on the other hand, said that Hall eugsested the first consultation. Instead of wanting to destroy hie wife he was anxious for continual consultations, and blamed his family physioian for only paying perfunctory visits. In conclusion, the learned Counsel said he could only repeat his reflections on the attitude of the Crown in not calling Mrs. Hall. She alone could have spoken to her feeliugs and symptoms, and the Crown, in the interests of publio justice, were absolutely bound for the purpose of the proseour tion, to bring forward every piece of available information on which they could lay their hands. The Crown had been wanting in their duty in not having called Mrs. Hall. They had not to consider any feelings or compassion on her part for those charged with her attempted murder, but they did not put her into the box, and no evplanation for her absence was offered, except the scoff of the Attorney General, that; she might have been called by the defence. The case was impregnated with myiitery, and no doubt there were circumstances which on the surface showed guilt on Hall's part; bat there were also circumetances beneath the surface whioh showed innocence, and these circumetances certainly predominated. Considering Hall's general conduct and the mainsprings of his action, the jury could come to no other conclusion than that Hall was entitled to acquittal. Hβ invited the jury to say that the case was surrounded with so much doubt and uncertainty that they could not possibly arrive at a verdict of poisoning against the prisoners, or against either of them. He asked at their hands a verdict of acquittal against Hall. Mr. Hay then addressed the jury in defence of Miss Houston, contending that the charge against her had completely broken down, and that there was not a tittle of evidence to prove that she knew any attempt was being made to poison Mrs. Hall; nor was there the slightest foundation for the imputations which had been made as to her relations with the male prisoner. The Judge then summed up strongly in favour of Miss Houston, and the jury then retired. After a short absence from; Court they returned with a verdict of guilty against Hall, and of not guilty in the oase of Houston. Hall was then sentenced to penal servitude for life.