THE POISONING OF CAPTAIN CAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7784, 2 November 1886, Page 5

THE POISONING OF CAPTAIN CAIN.

[BY TELEGBAFH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. There has been quite a hue. and cry got up in some quarters on the ground that it is unlikely that any steps will be taken to prosecute anyone on the charge of having poisoned Captain Cain. I informed you some days since, upon excellent authority, that before any person conld be charged with euoh an offence it would be necessary to have some evidence connecting the person suspected or accused with the act of administering the poison. The Premier (Sir Robert Stout), who i« Attorney-General, arrived here from the South yesterday by the Rotorua. To him I was referred when making inquiries on the former occasion. I am now able to inform yon from official sources that " antimony was found " in the exhumed remains of the late Captain Cain. Why there should have been such reticence on the subject I cannot eay. The information foVwafded to you nearly a month ago was based upon reliable although not official information. The fact, whioh was so studiously concealed, was talked of all over the colony, but it is now offi.ially denied that the Government have come to a decision to relinquish any proceedings which oan be supported by evidence. Had any direct evidence implicating any person been obtained, an information would have been duly laid. None, however, has been reoeived, and the only course remaining was to proceed in the regular course of law as applicable to such a case as this. The first step to be taken is to institute inquiries by the police. These inquiries have been and are being made. It is now openly stated that a coroner's inquest will bo held on Thursday next to ascertain how and by what means Captain Cain oame by his death. Meanwhile the police are actively engaged making inquiry as to whether evidence can be obtained to connect anyone with the administration of the poiaon. If evidenoe be forthcoming the Government will consider whether there is a case for a jury. It is considered a sound maxim that no man shall be put in jeopardy except upon evidence sufficient to convict him of the crime laid to his charge. Christohurch, Monday. An inquest on the body of the late Captain Cain is to be held this week. The police have collected a good deal of evidence, but the case requires a great deal of time and careful handling, and from all I can learn I am satisfied that when the information is laid it will be plain sailing to a conviction. THE CONDUCT OF INSPECTOR BROBAM. Wellington, Monday. The Defence Minister has deoided that it is not the duty of a police officer to institute criminal proceedings upon personal information that a crime has been committed, and that a particular person is suspected. It is held that a police oth'cer cau act only npon formal information duly laid by the person having the suspicion, who will bo responsible on oath as a witness ; but police oitiuers are bound to act upon information which may lead to the discovery of the fact that a crime has been committed, and may as the result of their inquiries bring the person they have reason to euspect to trial upon their own motion. It is stated that in the HallHouston case the police were never aeked to institute proceedings.