THE ALLEGED POISONING CASE AT TIMARU.

Otago Witness, Issue 1816, 10 September 1886, Page 14

THE ALLEGED POISONING CASE AT TIMARU.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Timaru, September 2. Professor Black, examined by Mr White, said: I am a professor of chemistry in the Otago University and a doctor of science in the chemistry department of the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, and extra moral lecturer of chemistry of the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. On the 18th of August last I received some things for analysis. I received them from Constable Daly. The box was tied with cord and sealed with sealing-wax over the cord. Therewerelsarticlesinthebox. Theywere all numbered from Ito 15. I made an analysis of these articles. No. 1 exhibit is one of the articles. On analysis I found it to be tartar emetic. No. 2 (exhibit B) : I found tartar emetic in these pockets, either in one or in both. Taking the two together, after washing and wringing them, I found tartar emetic. No. 3 (exhibit C) : I found in this pocket tartar emetic. It is a loose powder in white paper. No. 4 exhibit contains a loose white powder. On analysis I found it to be tartar emetic. No. 5 (exhibit D) contains a liquid slightly opalescent, with a little white powder undissolved. It contains antimony in some form. I found antimony in it. No. 6 (exhibit B) contains tartar emetic crystals and a white powder. No. 7 (exhibit G) contains common saltpetre. No antimony. Nitre is another name* for it. No. 8 was weak limewater. It does not contain any antimony. It may or may not have been iced water. All I can swear to is that it is water. No. 9 (exhibit I) : These small packets of white powder contain nitrate of bismuth, but no antimony. - No. 10 (exhibit J) contains alcohol. I did not find antimony in it. I did not test it exhaustively. No. 11 (exhibit X), ice water ; does not contain any antimony. No. 12 (exhibit L), a piece of cork. There was a little white powder attached to it, and the white powder was tartar emetic. No. 13 (exhibit M) contains a strong solution of tartar emetic, at the rate of eight grains of tartar emetic to the ounce. It would depend on the quantity taken, whether a large or small dose. This is large— eight grains to the ounce. No. 14 (exhibit N) : /This is said to be vomit, and was found to contain antimony. No. 15 (exhibit O) : This is said to be urine, and was found to contain antimony. Mr White : This next bottle, who did you receive it from ? — From one of the constables on Saturday night last. I found on analysis antimony. It is vomit, and I found a trace of antimony. I received the other articles from Constable Eganat the same time. These four articles (Q) — a culender, a piece of sacking, a piece of flannel, and a kind of gauze cloth — I tested for antimony and did not find any. Of the sacking, however, I only out out a piece 12 x 8, the wettest part, and found not a trace of antimony. While in Dunedin I did not exactly receive two bottles by rail. A carrier in Dunedin brought me the box and handed it over. I signed a receipt for it hi the carrier's book. The box was closed tight and sealed. I know Dr Macintyre's seal and have compared the impression en "bhe wax with his seal. I received two* bottles in August bearing _ SU-WftPressyon similar to that of his seal. I " have the two bottles, but not with me. They are locked in Dr Macintyre's laboratory — I have possession of the key. A constable then handed up the two bottles, and the professor was about to make some explanation when he was asked to proceed with his evidence and did so. Professor Black: I examined one of the bottles containing vomit. I found, on analysis, antimony. I did nothing with the other bottle I placed them with the other 15 articles in the box and brought them to Timaru on Saturday last. Since my arrival in Timaru I have tested and examined the contents of this other bottle. I found antimony and urine. Dr Ogston was present when I examined exhibit A ; also the pockets, iced water, and exhibits O A. The constable then held up the bag of rags, and Mr White asked how long, supposing they had been saturated with kerosene, wore traces of it likely to remain on the rags. Professor Black : It would depend entirely on the temperature of the place the rags were in, on the strength of the currents of air it was subjected to, and other things how long traces were likely to remain. .1 have no special knowledge of this subject. I have received other articles besides bottles from Dr Macintyre since I came to Timaru, but I have not got them with me. Mr Joynt : Will you tell us, professor, please, about the tests you made use of ? — Some of the tests were different from others. The tests were not the same in every case«Mr Joynt: No. Well take A. — I shook up the contents of A with a little distilled water, a portion of that I acidfied with hydrochloric acid. I then passed sulphuretted hydrogen gas through it, and I got a voluminous orange coloured precipitate. A. portion of this precipitate I dissolved in caustic potash and another portion I found soluble in ammonia sulphide. From this solution I reprecipitated it with hydrochloric acid. Another portion of the orange coloured precipitate I washed in distilled water and dissolved it in strong hydrochloric acid with the aid of heat. While heating it I suspended a piece of white filter paper (blotting paper) moistened with a solution of nitrate of lead in the fumes. The lead paper was blackened, and the gas smelt like rotten eggs, proving the presence Mr Joynt : What stage is this ?— The Professor: Any stage you like. — (Laughter.) Proving, as I was going to add, the presence of sulphuretted hydrogenMr Joynt : And that had the odourof rotten eggs?— The Professor: Yes. I then evaporated down the hydrochloride and solution to near dryness, placed a portion of it on a clean platinum lid, added a little water, and placed a small piece of zinc in it. A black deposit was immediately formed on the platinum. I- washed out the contents of the lid without rubbing, the deposit still remaining. I then dissolved this deposit in hot hydrochloric acid, diluted the solution, passed sulphuretted hydrogen gas through it, and got an orange precipitate. Mr Joynt : You have not said what you diluted the solution with ? The Professor : With water. To another portion of the acid solution referred to I added water-much water-and I then got a white precipitate of oxychloride of antimony. I found this white precipitate easily soluble in a strong flotation of tartanc acid, in which sulphuretted ydrogen gave an orange colour. Another poron of the white oxychlonde referred to above was coloured orange on the addition of sulphurfceted hydrogen, To another portion of the phial

I added sulphide of ammonium, and got an orange precipitate soluble in excess of sulphide. Another portion of the contents was placed in a Hossham capsule. Some hydrochloric acid was added, and a small piece of clear copper foil was then introduced into it. The contents were then boiled a few minutes, and a bluish-black deposit formed on the copper, and this was found to be antimony by the following tests :— The deposit was firmly fixed to the copper so that rubbing gently would not remove it, and the deposit was not removed by heating it gently with a spirit-lamp flame. The copper with the deposit on it was boiled for a few minutes in a test tube, with a dilute solution of psrmangonite of potash, and then rendered slightly alkaline with caustic potash. The colour of the permangonite was soon discharged — that was the effect of the boiling— and a greyish precipitate formed in the test tube. The contents of the test tube were then filtered. The clear filtrate was acidified with hydrochloric acid. Sulphuretted hydrogen gas was then passed through the liquid. This gave an orange precipitate characteristic of antimony. At Dr Ogston's request, I then applied another test. I had finished my test when I saw him, and he suggested this one. To another portion of the contents of the phial — to a few drops of it — I added a drop of diluted hydrochloric acid and a small piece of tin foil. The tin was blackened in a few seconds. These are all the tests I applied to the contents of the small phial.

Mr Joynt : Did you use precisely similar tests to any other of the exhibits? — The Professor : Yes, I did. Discount the fact that some of the exhibits were solid and some liquid — that the solids had to be softened in water — and the tests were identical to those post described to exhibits B, C, D, F, L, and M. These tests do not apply to N and O. Mr Joynt : Have the goodness, professor, to describe the tests with regard to N and O (the vomit and the wine) ? — The Professor : A portion of the contents was filtered, and to a portion of the filtrate sulphide of ammonia was added. This gave a slight yellowish precipitate, the colour of which gradually changed to orange on standing. To another portion of the filtrate a few drops of hydrochloric acid were added, and then sulphuretted hydrogen gas was passed through it. This gave a yellowish coloured precipitate, which gradually changed to orange colour on standing. To a part of the unfiltered vomit and wine separately, some in each case, a small clear slip of clear copper foil was introduced, and a few drop 3of the hydrochloric acid were added. This was then boiled gently for about 10 minutes, and a wellmarked violet coloured deposit was formed on the copper. This deposit was proved to be antimony by the test described above — the permangonite of potash and caustic potash test. To another portion of the unfiltered vomit and wine (in every ca3e these things were separated) were added hydrochloric acid and a bit of clear tin foil. The tin was blackened within 10 minutes. The tin was not heated in any way in this case. It was a cold test.

Mr Joynt : Were the same tests applied to the vomit you received on the 28th inst. ? — I could not say. To answer this I shall have to look at my notes. This was tested in Timaru. Mr Joynt : Oh yes ; you can look at your notes.

Professor Black : I see the tests are nearly, but not quite, equal. The tin test was applied to exhibit P, as described for N and 0, and the copper test also, with the exception that permangonite of potash was not used with this test. The tin was only slightly and slowly blackened, showing only a trace of a metallic deposit. In the test the vomit was filtered, and to a portion of the filtrate sulphide of ammonia was added, producing a faint yellow tinge. Another portion of the filtered vomit was acidified with hydrochloric acid. Sulphuretted hydrogen gas was then passed through it, producing a yellow tinge, deepening to an orange precipitate within 10 hours. To another portion of the unfiltered vomit a clean slip of copper foil and hydrochloric acid were added. It was then boiled gently for about 10 minutes, when the copper foil was found to be coated with a purplish violet deposit characteristic of antimony. These were all the tests.

Mr Joynt: Now what about about E (the liquid slightly opalescent). Did you find antimony there ? The Professor : It's a bottle labelled " Colchicum wine." Into this bottle some was put with the colehicum, and to this solution all the tests relating to A were applied with the same results.

Mr Joynt : Now with regard to bottles Z 10 and Z 11, did you analayse them ? — The Professor : Yes ; I analysed them and found traces of antimony in the vomit and urine.

Mr Joynt : How did you analyse them ? I want to know how you applied the test ? — The Professor: One of them (the vomit Z 10) I analysed by the process already described relating to N and O. I found traces of antimony — traces strong enough for me to be able to swear there was antimony, but not in large quantity. Mr Joynt: Oh! — The Professor : With regard to Z ll, Dr Ogston and I analysed it together. We broke the seals of the bottle in Dr Macintyre's laboratory and applied tests as follows: — To a portion of filtered urine we added hydrochloric acid and sulphuretted hydrogen, and got an orange red precipitate. To another portion of the filtered urine we added a small piece of tin foil and hydrochloric acid. The tin was blackened within 20 minutes. We next put another porbion of the filtered urine into a clear platinum capsule. We acidified it with the hydrochloric acid and in it placed a small piece of zinc. A blackish stain was produced on the platinum within ten minutes. We then boiled a portion of the unfiltered urine with clean copper and hydrochloric acid for ten minutes. This produced a purple deposit on the copper. This we identified as antimony by the permangonite of potash test. We also tested gently in a spirit lamp flame a piece of the copper foil on which the deposit was formed, and we found it did not volatilise. These are all the tests.

Mr Joynt : Are these the analyses of all the articles in which you found antimony ? The Professor : I think so.

Mr Joynt : Very well. Be good enough now to give us the tests you applied to exhibit I, the nitrate of bismuth.

Professor Black: I shook up a small portion of the contents with distilled water, filtered them, and acidified the filtrete with hydrochloric acid and passed sulphuretted hydrogen gas through it. This gave the merest trace of a dark looking colour in precipitate. An expert alone would be able to appreciate it. I looked very carefully for antimony — for an orange colour indicating it — and found none. I digested another portion in nitric acid, filtered it, and to the filtrate added one drop of hydrochloric acid. I then divided it into three portions. The first I evaporated down to a small bulk, added to it a quantity of water, and got a voluminous white precipitate, insoluble in tartaric acid, but blackened by sulphuretted hydrogen. To the second portion I added sulphuretted hydrogen water— that is to say, an

aqueous solution of sulphuretted hydrogen — and got a black precepitate, insoluble in sulphide of ammonium. To the third portion I added sulphide of ammonium in excess, and got a black precipitate soluble in nitric acid, and thence after filtration precipitated by ammonia a white precipitate. Another portion of the white powder I treated with strong sulphuric acid, and got brown fumes characteristic of nitric acid I warmed another portion of the white powder with a few drops of a strong solution of ferro-sulphide and strong sulphuric acid and the solution was blackened, but on being boiled cleared up to a pale yellowish colour, proving the presence of nitric acid. I then digested another portion of the white powder in caustic potash, filtered it, and acidified it with the hydrochloric acid and added sulphuretted hydrogen and did not get an orange precipitate ; that is to say, there was no antimony. Another portion of the white powder His Worship : Do you desire to know any more tests, Mr Joynt ? Mr Joynt : The professor is telling us how he found nitrate of bismuth.

Professor Black: I have already shown you how 1 found nitrate of bismuth. Shall I show you how I found saltpetre. Mr Joynt : No, I think not. The professor's depositions were then read, and at 10 minutes past 1 the luncheon adjournment was taken.

On the court resuming ai 2.15 the room was densely packed, many people having to stand, all the seats being fully occupied.

George Smelfcon was the first witness called. He was examined by Mr White, and said : I am a shepherd or manager for Mr Maze, farmer at Totara Valley. I know both the accused. I was formerly with W. J. Newton, at Castlerock, Totara Valley. I saw the accused at Castlerock on Sunday, the 24th January last. They arrived there in a buggy by themseves just after dinner, between 12 and 1 o'clock . I took Hall round the estate and left Miss Houston at the house. I then brought Hall back, and when I arrived I saw there were some things packed up. The house was iv such disorder that I could not remark what the things were. Accused were at the farm about three hours from the time they came till they left. I opened the drawing room door, and gave to them the full privilege of the house. There was no one in the house barring Bob Worthiugton. J. Worthington was there on the Sunday I have named. I saw the accused at different times in the house. I did not see them all the time. They went where they liked. I could not say positively what rooms they visited ; I think into Mrs Newton's bedroom and the dining room. lam sure they visited the bedroom. I could not say how long they remained in the bedroom, nor can I say when they went in or came out. It was from some things accused took out of Mrs Newton's bedroom that I know they had been there. I missed some things from the room. I did not see the things taken. I was in Timaru on Saturday, 31st July, at Hall's office. I called twice. The first time he was not in The second time I met him outside in the street, and then I went in at his request. I waited for him to follow me. When he came he went into his room at the back. I then waited 10 or 15 minutes for him, and during the time Miss Houston came. She did not go into Hall's room whilst I was waiting.

To Mr Joynt : I was 12 years at Castlerock up to January 24. Newton is Hall's brother-in-law. I believe Newton before he went away sent a power of attorney to Hall. I think I saw Hall there three or four times since the Ist January. On the Sunday accused were there. Worthington and I were on the estate, and in and out of the house. Hall was with me about an hour about the farm. All the doors of the house were open; anyone cowld go in or out. The front door of the house was also open. Well, I would not swear that Hall went into the bedroom. It was thrown open, and the things were removed. It is not a fact that they started immediately he got back to the house. They had nothing to eat. I wanted to give them some, but Hall told me they could not wait for tea, they wanted to get away. I could not say who packed up the things which were taken. I saw accused go together into the dining and drawing rooms. That was all. Castlerock is 24| miles from Timaru. The days were long about the 24th of January. I knew it was the 24th January on account of the accident to Newton on the 20th January. AH I know of Miss Houston being at Hall's office was that she camo out after being there 15 minutes. I did not know her business. I knew it was about 12 o'clock, as the auctioneers — Mr Moss Jonas for one — had started business. I saw " something" packed up when I returned to Castlerock, but I did not see the things being packed up. I only saw them packed just before accused left.

To Mr Hay : I know Mrs NSwton. I could not tell when she lof fc. It was about a month before the 24fch January. I could not tell all the dresses Mrs Newton wore. The parcel did not contain dresses. China would not contain dresses. — (A smile.) I could not exactly say what was in the parcel. I felt some china. A small picture or two were taken away. " Bob" Worthington is a married man — that is "Old Bob " — and I believe his wife was there too. She came up, I think, with a clean shirt for her boy Anthony. — (Laughter.) I did not see Mrs Worthington with Miss Houston. I did not see Miss Houston go into Mrs Newton's bedroom. I never saw Miss Houston in my life before at OastlerockprevioustoSunday,January24. On the 20th Miss Houston drove to Oastlerock with Denis the man. That was the day of the accident. I did not see her at Castlerock. I saw her driving past Pleasant Point. I did not see her drive back, but I believe she drove back. I was not one hour in Hall's company after I came back to the house. I was going about the house, and if Hall wanted me he could call me. The room Hall went to at his office is the room I saw Miss Houston come out of.

Mr Hay: That is all I have to ask the witness.

To Mr White : Mrs Worthington came to the farm, I think, on Sunday, January 24, before accused came. I could not say how long she remained. lam sure Hall left first. Mrs Worthington left about 3 o'clock.

Professor Black (recalled) said, in answer to Mr White: Last Saturday evening I received two bottles from Dr Macintyre. I have kept them locked up in Dr Macintyre's laboratory. On receiving them I marked them B 1 and 82. I analysed B 1 with Dr Ogston. The bottle is labelled "Vomit of the 15th." We analysed part of the contents for antimony. We found antimony in sufficient quantity to enable us to swear there was antimony there. It was tested on Sunday, and I made a memo, on Sunday evening. In bottle B 2 the substance is urine labelled "Urine of the 15th." I have

analysed with Dr Ogston a portion of the contents. I found antimony.

To Mr Joynt : We did not use quite the same specific test for these as for N and O. With regard to B 1, to a filtered portion of the vomit we added four times its bulk of water, acidified with hydrochloric acid, added sulphuretted hydrogen, and got a very faintly orange precipitate. This completed the test. To another portion of the unfiltered matter we added a small piece of tin foil and hydrochloric acid and got a black deposit on the tin in two and a-half minutes. We boiled another portion of the unfiltered vomit with clean copper and hydro-chloric acid and got a blackish purplish blue deposit on the copper in three minutes. These are all the tests. To now come to B 2 (exhibit Z 13). To a filtered portion of this we added hydrochloric acid and sulphuretted hydrogen and got a yellow tinge at once. To another portion of the filtered urine we added ammonia sulphide and got an orange yellow precipitate. By the " tin test " we got a black deposit, and by the copper test we got a purple deposit in 10 minutes. I identified this purple deposit as antimony by the permangonite of potash test described above. Rainsch's test is a grand one for arsenic and antimony. Francis Ogston (examined by Mr White) : I am an M.D. and CM. of Aberdeen, lecturer on medical jurisprudence and hygiene in the Otago University. I had six months' special course in the analyses of poisons in a laboratory devoted to that purpose in the University of Prague, Bohemia. lam also lecturer on toxicology (poisons; in Aberdeen University, and also student under Professor Tardiell (lecturer on medical jurisprudence), Paris, France, during a summer session. I was in court during the time Dr Macintyre was giving evidence and heard it. I have heard the symptoms Mre Hall was suffering under described by him. Mr White : And your opinion

Mr Joynt: I object. I submit, sir, my learned friend has no business to ask a question affecting a specific complaint. Mr White : lam going to do nothing of the kind. This is my question, Were the symptoms described by Dr Macintyre, in your opinion, due to any natural causes ? — No.

Mr White : To what would you ascribe them. To what kind of poisons ? — Taken altogether, I should ascribe the symptoms to the action of some slow poison. I should ascribe them first to one of the class of poisons which would cause vomiting — to some of the irritant poisons. I assisted Professor Black in some chemical analyses which he has described, the evidence on which he has given to-day.

Mr White : Do you agree with the evidence given by the professor of these analyses ? — Yes. I found antimony in all the exhibits Professor Black and I analysed together as stated in the professor's evidence. Tartar emetic is antimony, and antimony is an irritant poison. It would produce the symptoms which Dr Macintyre stated Mrs Hall showed. I accompanied Dr Macintyre to Mrs Hall's residence to examine the drainage and sanitary condition of the house. I went through the house and grounds and I found them in a sanitary state.

Mr Joynt : I suppose your evidence as to the tests which you and Professor Black made will be confirmatory altogether of the results as stated some time ago by Professor Black? — Yes. It would be.

Mr Joynt : I will not cross-examine this witness your worship. Jane Turnbull, examined by Mr Martin, said : I am a domestic servant in Dunedin, and know Hall (the prisoner) and his wife, Mrs Hall. I was formerly in their employ. I went there in November 1885, and left there this year. They were living at a house at Kingsdown, and then moved to Woodlands, North street. I know Miss Houston, and she was living with Hall about three months whilst I was there at Woodlands. Accused and she were good friends. He called her "Megrims," and she called him "Tom," sometimes. I know where Miss Houston's bedroom was. It was next to Mr and Mrs Hall's bedroom. Hall at that time slept in the same room as his wife. I have seen Hall come into Mis 3 Houston's bedroom more than once ; sometimes in the morning between 7 and 8. Sometimes Miss Houston was up and out, sometimes she was not. He sometimes stayed in the room 10 minutes. I could not say if this was the longest or shortest time Miss Houston was there. At this time they were sometimes together. They seemed very friendly, nothing more.

To Mr Joynt: I occupied the position of general servant in the house — the only servant. I usually rose at 6.30, sometimes 7. My duties from the time I rose to 9 o'clock were to clean the dining room, light the fire in the kitchen and get the breakfast, and sweep the hall. Both Mrs Hall's and Miss Houston's bedrooms were downstairs going to the dining room from the kitchen. I did not pass the bedroom doors at Woodlands. The bedrooms were not near the dining room or kitchen ; they were in a different passage The bedrooms are next to each other. It was at Kingsdown I saw Hall enter Miss Houston's bedroom, and when I saw him go in I was engaged sweeping the hall. Miss Houston's room was next to the dining room, and Mr and Mrs Hall's bedroom door was opposite the dining room door. The hall was between them ; both bedroom doors were in the same passage, the female prisoner's room being opposite the kitchen.

His Worship : Have you many more questions to put to this witness, Mr Joynt. Mr Joynt : Yes, sir ; I have several more questions to ask. Mr Hayes is also going to examine this witness, your Worship. His Worship : In that case, as it is 4.30 1 will adjourn the court till 10.30 to-morrow. The court then rose.

Timaru, September 3. The charge of attempted murder against Thomas Hall and Margaret Graham Houston was continued to-day before Mr J. S. Beswick, R.M., and Messrs Edward Blworthy and R. J. Le Cren, J.P's.

Mr J. W. White, Crown prosecutor at Timaru, appeared to prosecute ; with him Mr Martin and Inspector Broham. Mr Perry appeared for the male prisoner (Hall), and Mr Hay for the female prisoner (Houston). Mr Hamersley watched the case on behalf of Dr P. Macintyre. The proceedings were commenced by the calling of

Janet Turnbull (to Mr Joynt) : I have heard Miss Houston call Hall "Tom" more than once— several times. I have never heard her call him " Tommy Dodd." Mrs Hall used to pall Miss Houston "Meg" and Miss Houston used to call Mrs Hall " Kitty." I never heard Miss Houston call Hall ' Tom" in the presence of Mrs Hall. She usually addressed him as "Mr Hall." I cannot swear she always did, but I can swear I never heard Miss Houston call Hall by any other name than "Mr Hall " in Mrs Hall's presence. Both accused seemed to be very friendly with each other in Mrs Hall's presence. I have heard Hall sing of an evening, but I never him sing a song called " Tommy Dodd." I never heard an angry word pass between Mr and Mrs Hall, and Mrs Hall

and Miss Houston seemed to be very fond of each other. The house the Halls lived at in Kingsdown was not, I think, called " Compstall." This house was above theirs. It was a small wooden cottage. The Halls lived in small rooms and narrow. You could hear sounds from one room to another, but you could not hear what was said. At the time I was sweeping the passage and saw Hall go into Miss Houston's bedroom, I could not say whether Mrs Hall's bedroom doors were open or shut. The passage led into four rooms — Mr Hall and Miss Houston's bedrooms, the sitting room, and the kitchen, bufe I could not say how long the passage was. The passage was longer than the courthouse table. (After much hesitation :) I cannot judge of the length. The passage was wider than the court table. Hall could not help seeing me as he went to Miss Houston's bedroom, as I was sweeping the passage. He usually knocked at Miss Houston's door before going in, and on going in sometimes closed the door too, but did not latch it. There was more than half the length of the passage between Miss Houston's bedroom door and the door leading to Mrs Hall's bedroom To Mr Hay: The breakfast hour was 9 o'clock, sometimes 8.30. Miss Houston had some duties to perform in the morning before breakfast. She had to dust the dining-room. When Hall knocked at Miss Houston's door I never heard him say anything. I heard him say, " Are you not up yet " on knocking at the door. Hall knocked loudly at the door, so loudly that Mrs Hall could have heard it at her room. I have seen Hall come out of Miss Houston's room. He did not then go back to Mrs Hall's room. On seeing Hall go into Miss Houston's bedroom I continued sweeping. It takes me a few minutes to sweep the passage. I cannot say if it takes more than five minutes. After sweeping, I usually left the passage, but I have been in and out of the passage. .Hall usually, on coming out of Houston's room, went to the dining-room or outside. I could not say eactly at what hour Mrs Hall came out. I have no reason to believe that Hall went to Mi6B Houston's room otherwise than to wake Miss Houston up. I don't think Miss Houston arid I ever quarrelled whilst I was at Hall's. I had no great dislike to Miss Houston none whatever. Examined by Mr Martin : I know the upstairs part of the house. I never saw a garret there. Mary Hassen was servant after I left. She came to Hall's on the morning of the day I left.

William Davidson (recalled), examined by Mr White, said : I produce the two insurance proposals. One proposal relates to a life policy and the other to a seven years. The larger portion of the writing on them is Hall's. The proposals were signed by Mrs Hall and handed to me by Hall the same as they are now, with the exception that the following words were put in at Wellington in one of them:--(Z 14) "Timaru, No. 52, the life of Thomas Hall, land and insurance agent." I added the words "married," "with profits." In the other (Z 15) the words "wife of Thos. Hall, land and insurance agent," and in my own writing the word "married" and the words "at death without profits." They are both dated 19th August 1885.

Mary Hassen, examined by Mr Martin, said : I am a domestic servant with Mrs Hall. I entered her service on the 26th of May last. I know Miss Houston. Mrs Hall was ill when I went there and Miss Houston had charge of her. There was no other nurse there then. Afterwards Mrs Ellison came. I had some work to do in the sick room ; I had to light the fire. Miss Houston took Mrs Hall's breakfast in of a morning. Mrs Hall was generally able to come out for lunch. After Mrs Ellison came she attended to her for the first fortnight, and after that Hall generally gave Mrs Hall her breakfast. I used to take the breakfast things to the diningroom and he used to take it from the diningroom. I took them by Hall's orders. Hall called Miss Houston " Megrims." Hall's bedroom was the same as Mrs Hall's when I first went there. He afterwards occupied a bedroom on the verandah. I saw Miss Houston take a cup of tea into Hall's room of a morning. She had a dressing gown on and did not remain many minutes. I could not say if he was up then. It would be between 8 and 9 o'clock of a Sunday morning. He subsequently occupied a different bedroom upstairs. I have seen Miss Houston go to that room between 7 and 8 o'clock with a dressing gown on. I could not say if Hall was then up. I had seen Miss Houston coming downstairs from his room one morning. This was a little after 8 o'clock, but I cannob say exactly. She was still. dressed in her dressing gown. We had breakfast at 9 o'clock. I had often seen accused together in the dairy. Miss Houston went in first, and Hall never asked me anything before he went in. X saw Hall with his arm round Miss Houston's neck, "pulling her about" in the dairy — pnlling her about by the arm. Kerosene was used for lighting the house. Miss Houston looked after the house. One tin of kerosene was kept in the scullery and the rest in the washhouse. I know the rooms upstairs and the garret, but I have not been inside the latter. Hall used to sleep in the bedroom next to the room the garret opened out from. To get to this garret you had to go through Hall's room, then into the other from which the garret opened out. There is no other access to it. I never put anything in the garret. I took a tin of kerosene out on the Friday night after Hall was arrested. I gave the kerosene to Mrs Hamersley. I carried the tin downstairs and left it there. Afterwards Mr Broham came and took it away. The inspector took it away on Saturday (the day after). I did not notice if the tin left any mark on the floor. I remember Mr Broham and Detective Kirby coming up some days after, and in consequence of a conversation with them I searched over some rags. I looked over some rags that were brought to the house in a bag by Mr Broham and Detective Kirby. I also went upstairs to a box, and on looking there could find no rags in it. I looked nowhere else. I had previously seen some rags in the box I mentioned, but they were not part of the rags Mr Broham brought. I have seen Hall engaged in writing. Miss Houston was there with him ; she was standing close beside Hall with her arm on his shoulder. On the day the inspector brought the rags I looked into the kitchen cupboard. I hadseen some rags there some time before, but on looking in then I found they were gone. I could not say if they were the rags that the police brought. They were black and something like them. I went to Hall's in May. From the time I went to Hall's to about the time the police came to the house five tins of kerosene were brought to it— generally in a case at a time. On the Monday after Hall's airest one tin was brought to the house.

To Mr Joynt : I heard Hall call Miss Houston " Megrims." I never heard her call Hall anything. She called him "Mr Hall" to me. I never heard anybody call Hall " Tommy Dodd," only since he has been arrested. — (A smile.) I got up on Sunday mornings between 7 and 8 o'clock and on week day mornings at 6.30 or 7. I was the only servant there. My first work was to clean.

the dining-room and sweep the passage, light the kitchen fire, and get some tea for Mrs Hall, then get the breakfast. Miss Houston was generally up after 8 o'clock. All the week days she had to dust the dining-room and skim the milk for breakfast. I know of nothing else she had to do. Sometimes she dusted the diningroom with her dressing-gown on. That was during the winter months. .1 never saw if she was dressed in her ordinary clothes under the gown. I once took Hall tea while he was in bed — only once that I remember. Hall's bedroom at Woodlands is about over Mrs Hall's bedroom. I was in the kitchen when I saw Miss Houston go to Hall's bedroom on the Sunday morning. I knew she was going to him with a cup of tea. I did not actually see her go into the bedroom. I only saw her setting the breakfast. I was standing at the kitchen door when I met Miss Houston coming back with the cup and saucer. I did not actually see her go into or come out of the bedroom. In the meantime I was laying the table in the dining room for breakfast. I did nothing else but that. It takes me half-an-hour to get the table laid for breakfast. The dairy is small and lies opposite the kitchen window. I think there is one window in the back part of it. I was out of the kitchen window when prisoners went into the dairy It was between 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning. I could see into the dairy, as the door was standing open. Hall had his arms round and about her and was pulling her. She was laughing. I did not hear the laughter, but could see that she was laughing from the expression on her face. I did not laugh.— (Audible smiles in court.) This "business" did not last long. It was after lunch that I saw Hall writing with Miss Houston leaning her arm on his. It would be about 2 o'clock. There are some canaries at the house, which are kept on the verandah. I never fed the birds nor saw anybody else feed them; I never gave them a bone to pick. — (Laughter.) To Mr Hay: When Miss Houston went to HaU'B room on the verandah it was necessary to go out of the house. She would have to pass the part of the verandah where the canaries were kept. I have heard Hall coughing sometimes of a morning. I have only known two cups of tea to be taken to Hall — the one I took and the one Miss Houston took. I can't say I thought it an unusual circumstance to see Miss Houston wearing her dressing gown about the house. She frequently wore it while attending to the dining-room. Before the witness signed her depositions Mr Martin requested to be allowed to ask her a few more questions. To these witness replied as follows : — The man from Hibbard's brought all the tins of kerosene to the house. One tin was brought the day after Hall was arrested, and before the tin of kerosene was found upstairs in the garret. The last tin brought to the house is still there. Hannah Ellison, examined by Mr Martin, said : lam a nurse and know Mrs Hall, the wife of the prisoner, and Hall also. I have been nursing Mrs Hall 11 weeks altogether up to yesterday. I wentto Mrs Hall's house on a Thursday, and she was confined on the Saturday following. I occupied the bedroom with Mrs Hall from the time I went till now. There was nothing special or unusual about her confinement. There was nothing peculiar till the third or fourth day. I never attended anyone before who was sick) after confinement. I have been a nurse for the last 10 years in Timaru. Mary Hassen used to bring Mrs Hall a cup of tea in the morning. She used to bring it into the room and give Mrs Hall and me a cup of it. Sometimes Hall would bring Mrs Hall's breakfast, sometimes Miss Houston, and sometimes I would. When I was engaged with the baby Miss Houston had to bring it. For the first few days I generally brought in the other meals. After this Mrs Hall used to get up and have her meals at the table, the things being brought into the dining room sometimes by the girl, sometimes by Miss Houston, and sometimes by myself. Mrs Hall got out into the smoking-room on the eleventh day after her confinement, and went into the dining-room on the Sunday following. The sickness she had would Jcease for a short while, but would come on again. She was pretty well on the Sunday morning she went to the dining-room. Both I accused and Mrs Hall, dined together that day. I could not say how long Mrs Hall stayed out, but as near as I can tell it was 3 o'clock when she returned to her bedroom. That evening she was very sick. The same rule with regard to bringing in the breakfast was carried out all through. Hall mostly brought the breakfast to Mrs Hall's room. He desired to be allowed to do so, as he always wished to see his wife before leaving. When he brought in the breakfast I sometimes remained in the room, but not always. There was a recurrence of the sickness off and on. Sometimes she was very sick, sometimes she got better ; these periods varied. Sometimes she was better for a day, sometimes for two days. The sickness sometimes occurred after meals, and again Mrs Hall was sick when she had not taken anything at all. After the stomach got relieved of its contents by vomiting the sickness ceased. The vomit besides food consisted of a green fluid, and sometimes a yellowish fluid, with a good deal of froth on. it. Her face before the sickness came on looked very yellow ,with a bluish tinge under the lips and her eyes. She got better and was able to go for a drive with old Mr Hall and Miss Houston. The latter took a little brandy with her in case Mrs Hall should feel faint by the way. Mrs Hall seemed pretty well except looking rather tired when she came back from the drive. She was sick that evening and through the night. They got back from the drive before 3' o'clock. It might be a little after 3. There was much retching in her sickness at all times. Hall always said how sorry he was when she began retching, and when he heard it he came into the room. I generally gave her the meals which she took in the latter part of the day. I did not prepare the meals. Sometimes Miss Houston prepared them and sometimes Mary Hassen. I know both Dr Macintyre and Dr Drew. I recollect them coming to Hall's house and holding a consultation. On the first consultation these two only were present. No other doctor was there at that time. Ido not recollect the date. After that there was another consultation between Dr Stacpoole and Dr Macintyre. After Dr Macintyre and Dr Drew had their first consultation I gave Dr Macintyre some urine and some vomit. I recollect a consultation between Dr Macintyre, Dr Drew and Dr Loyegrove. After that Mrs Hall drank nothing but iced water and ice by the mouth. I recollect Hall being arrested on the Sunday evening. On the day previous (Saturday) I went into the bathroom for some ice. Hall came whilst I was getting theice and assisted me to cut part of a new bar which had come in that afternoon. A piece of the new ice bar I placed in a piece of clean flannel in a cullender. The other ice previous to that was put in a jug, which was washed quite clean before the ice was put in it. Then the jug was taken to the bedroom. I broke t^e ice up which was in the house before

and then placed it in a clean handkerchief over the jug to strain the ice through. I got the handkerchief from Mrs Hall's private drawer myself. On taking the jug into the bedroom I placed it on the chair. There was a cup in the room with some muslin on it, and some ice wason the muslin. Miss Houston put the ice there, and also put the muslin on the cup. Mrs Hall used some of the ice from the jug during the night. She took ice more than once, *s she was very dry during that night. She passed a very bad night on the Saturday night, but she was a little better in the morning. She was sick during the night. I did not sit up with her all night, but I got up to her every time she was sick. She always felt the sickness coming on and woke me. She was a little brighter or better the first thing in the morning. The cup was used during the night. I used to pour the iced water out of the cup into a wineglass, and just wet her lips. Mrs Hall had no breakfast on the Sunday morning following. Hall came in early that morning. I did not stay in the room while he was there, and no one was in the room except me and Mrs Hall. When I got back Hall had gone out. Nobody was there with Mrs Hall. Mrs Hall made a complaint to me, and in consequence of what she said I tasted the iced water in the cup. It; tasted bitter. I could not say if there was less or more water in the cup when I came back than before I went out. Hall came into the room afterwards. She asked him to taste the iced water, because it was "so nasty." She told him she did not know what was the matter with the water, or what was in it, but that it tasted nasty. He said, " Some mistake must have been made in pouring the water out of the jug." During the conversation Miss Houston came into the room, and she said if the water was nasty Mrs Hall should not drink it. She then took the cup out and fetched it back with a clean piece of muslin on it and some fresh ice. Before the cup was taken out of the room I took it from the dressing table as far as the washing-stand, and poured part of the contents into a clean cup. I was going to take the lot, but Mrs Hall called me back so that Hall might taste it. That part of the contents I poured into the clean small cup I took it into the kitchen and I put into a bottle, which was quite clean. I corked it and put it into my pocket, and afterwards gave it to Dr Macintyre. There was nothing in this small bottle but the iced water I took from the cup, which had been standing all night. When I was called back by Mrs Hall Miss Houston was not present. The iced water I tasted in the bedroom was bitter, and made me sick. After this, on the Sunday, Mrs Hall was very sick. That was after she took the iced water and had complained that it was very bitter. After I came back she was very sick. From the time Mrs Hall took her drive to the Sunday I have named — the day prisoners were arrested — Mrs Hall never made any permanent improvement in her health and was always very weak. The sickness I have mentioned occurred about 10 minutes after I had returned and found Hall had gone. I gave Dr Macintyre the bottle of iced water the same Saturday. This bottle (exhibit M) is the same bottle I gave the doctor, but the cork is not the same. I gave the doctor things at different times. This bottle (exhibit N) is very similar to a bottle I gave to the doctor. I gave him two of the same size and similar to the one produced. They contained vomit and urine. There is nothing on the bottles (N and O) by which I can identify them. The bottles contained vomit and uriue of Friday night. I gave the jug which had contsined the ice water to Inspector Broham on the Sunday. This is the jug from which Hall said he had poured the iced water he had put into the cup. When I gave the jug to Inspector Broham there was some water in it. The water had come from the ice which had been placed in it. The water in the jug is some of the same which was in the jug on Sunday morning. There was ice put into the hankerchief first on Saturday night and again on Sunday morning. That was the day prisoners were arrested. I know Constable Egan. I gave him a bottle on the Sunday of the arrest. About the time of the arrest there was no brandy in the bottle, which brandy was used for injections, and was given to me by Hall on the same Sunday evening — between 6 and 7 o'clock. I gave this bottle (Z l2 , to someone, but Ido not remember who it was to. I used it in the bedroom, and there was ipecacuanha wine in it. This bottle (Z 11) I recognise by my writing. I gave the bottle to Dr Macintyre. I gave it to him on the 15th. Now I come to think, lam not sure whether I gave this bottle to Dr Macintyre or not ; I gave him a lot of them. I gave the Dr two bottles on the Saturday before the prisoners were arrested. I wish to say that they were sent to the Dr. I gave the Dr some bottles on the Monday morning. They contained vomit and wine — the vomit and wine of the Sunday night. This was the time Hall was arrested.

A constable then held up the cullender, etc. Witness: I know these things. I used the cullender on Saturday before the arrest wherein to place the piece of ice Hall and I broke off the new bar. This flannel I placed around the ice and then I put the lot in the cullender. On the night of the 16th Mrs Hall was very sick, and, as I have said, I gave some of the vomit to Dr Macintyre. Mrs Hall has not been sick since the arrest. She retched a little, but was not sick, on the Sunday night after that. There has been no more retching. I was with Mrs Hamersley one night since the arrest upstairs. We went into Hall's room up there for a brandy flask, but I did not smell anything in that or the next room, I looked into the garret and saw a kerosene tin. I did not touch it. I never put anything in the garret. I did not know there was one there. I did not touch it up to the time Mr Broham took it away. The two prisoners appeared to be an good terms so far as I could see. He used to call her " Megrims," she called him «Mr Hall." I heard her cdl him " Tom " once. The servants used to go to bed about 10, so far as I knew. Sometimes Miss Houston went to bed before us, sometimes she did not. Hall also sometimes went to bed before us. The nightswhen I went to bed before Hall and Miss Houston I left them together in the dining room. The various bedrooms utensils were always kept clean. The whole of the bottles I gave Dr Macintyre were clean before I put the stuff in them. I gave the Dr Doctor no urine passed or vomit thrown up by any other person except Mrs Hall.

Mr Hay rose to cross-examine the witness, but his Worship said that as it was 4.30 he would now adjourn the court.

Mr White remarked that perhaps the prosecuting counsel would have a few more questions to put to witness in the morning. The court then adjourned.

September 4. Their Worships took their seats punctually at the appointed hour. The old nurse Hannah Ellison was again placed in the witness-box, and was examined by

Mr Martin. She said : I obtained some of Mrs Hall's vomit of the Sunday morning after Hall gave her the iced water. I put the vomit in a bottle, but I did not give it to anybody on that day. I gave it to Dr Macintyre on the Monday morning. So far as I can remember I gave him three bottles on that day. One contained urine and the other vomit, and the two bottles I referred to on Friday were the ones I gave to Dr Macintyre at the time of the arrest. I know the girl named Kaye. I gave her some bottles after the arrest on Monday, containing what Mrs Hall passed on Monday, also some phlegm. The stuff was in separate bottles. I don't remember at what time the urine and stool were passed : some time on the Monday. I only gave her one lot of stool. I gave other things to the doctor besides those I have mentioned — other vomit, urine, &c, from Mrs Hall. I got them within 24 hours of their being passed.

To Mr Hay : I recollect the consultation between the doctors on Thursday night. It was not a result of that consultation that Mrs Hall was given iced water. It was before that. She did not require so much drink before that time. It was on the Saturday that Miss Houston put the ice on the muslin on a cup, as near as I can remember. It might have been on the Friday morning at 11 o'clock after the doctor's consultation on the Thursday that Miss Houston put the ice and muslin on the cup. The iced water which percolated through the muslin was only used to wet Mrs Hall's lips. The jug was not in use then — that is, when the ice was brought in on the muslin in the cup. I could not swear that the ice water was used on the Friday or the day before the jug was brought in. The cup was pretty full of ice. His Worship then read over his note of this sentence.

Mr Joynt was not satisfied with the way his Worship had taken it down.

His Worship was understoad to say that he had not taken down the witness' exact words. He had taken down their purport. Mr Joynt : I submit, sir, that you must take the exact words of it. The court has no right to paraphrase any of the answers given. I have a right to ask that all the words be taken down. His Worship : Very well. I will write down the exact words. Mr Joynt: I am glad to hear you say so, your Worship. I respectfully object to the court taking down any words it likes. It will be fairer to everybody if the words which the witnesses make use of are taken down. The court, I may add, is bound to take down what a witness says, and if I can possibly have it I will see that the clerk does so. The court has no right to take down what it pleases. His Worship : You have no right to say that, Mr Joynt. Mr Joynt: I submit sir, most respectfully, that I am as much interested in the case as Mr Hay is, and I am not going to let the court threaten me about it. His Worship : Oh, very well then ; take down every single word which is said — the question and the answer. Mr Joynt : To do so will be to unduly load the depositions. I wonder what the learned judge will say when he sees that such a thing has been done. You are reducing my suggestion to an absurdity. I only desire that the answers should be taken down in the words the witness uses. She is speaking very good English, and this could easily be done. His Worship : Very well then, we will do so. The witness then said in answer to Mr Hay : The cup was about half a pint in size, but I have no idea how much ice it would hold. The ice percolated through the muslin. Whilst thecup was in Mrs Hall's room fresh ice was added as required, I can give you no idea how much fresh ice was added. The ice was added once or twice during the day. I was supposed to put the ice in, but sometimes when I was out of the room Miss Houston put it in. I saw Miss Houston put in some ice subsequent to the first time, and when I found there was none in the cup I used to put more in. I was very constantly in the room with Mrs Hall, and she never made a complaint to me before the one I mentioned on Friday afternoon. I recollect Miss Houston coming into theroom on the Sunday morning Mrs Hall was so ill. Ido not remember her telling Houston the water had a nasty taste. I don't remember Miss Houston tasting the iced water and saying " Yes, it's very nasty." After the arrest I was asked by Inspector Broham to search Miss Houston. Previous to this Miss Houston said, "They are going to take Mr Hall and me to prison." I said, " What for ? " with rather a surprised look. Then I searched Miss Houston in her own room. I said, " You can't have anything on you, child," at the same time I tried to feel her pockets. She said the had no I pockets. Miss Houston said : "It can't be true, Mrs Ellison ; there must be some mistake." I did not reply " I know, child, you are as innocent as the baby." I could not bring myself to think that either of them had done a wrong of that kind. I was so upset. Mr Hay : That is all I wish to ask. 1 Mr Joynt said he did not intend to crossexamine the witness.

Re-examined by Mr Martin : The iced water Mrs Hall complained of was put in the cup on Sunday morning. I don't know this of my own knowledge. Mrs Hall said Hall put the ice in the cup, and he said he did not know why it jflhould taste nasty unless it was the water he poured out of the jug.

Dr Macintyre was recalled, and, examined by Mr White, said : I know these bottles (Zl2 and Zl3). I received these bottles from Mrs Ellison on the 16th. I handed them to Professor Black on the evening of the 28th, and they were analysed by the professor. They remained in my possession from the time I received them till the time I handed them to the professor. This bottle (exhibit P) I received also from Mrs Ellison. I have no doubt of it. I don't know exactly who gave it to me. On the 18th I gave a bottle to Mr Broham containing vomit of the 13th. I believe this is the bottle. I am still attending Mrs Hall. She is not sufficiently recovered to be able to give evidence. She will be strong enough in 10 days or a fortnight's time.

Mr White : This completes the evidence I have at this sitting, your Worship. I think it very necessary that Mrs Hall should be called, so that her evidence may appear on the depositions and may be used at the Supreme Court trial.

His Worship : Is Mrs Hall the only witness you now have to call ?

Mr White: I would not like to say she is the only witness, but so far as I am now aware Dr Drew and she will be the only witnesses that I shall have to call, and as you have heard from Dr Macintyre that Mrs Hall is still too unwell to attend the court I have to ask for a remand for 10 days.

Mr Joynt : I should like, if possible, that the taking of Mrs Hall's evidence in this Court should be dispensed with. I may say, on behalf of Mr Hay and myself, that no advantage will be taken by us in the Suprome Court of the fact that Mrs Hall's evidence was not adduced at the preliminary examination. I

submit, if I may here be allowed to do so, that it would be very painful for her ; it would in fact be an extremely painful thing for all the parties if she were now called, and if it is at all possible to dispense with her evidence now I shall waive all objections that I might possibly otherwise have to it, and I would respectfully suggest that the court should deal with the case now, and that some of the counsel engaged — say one of the two gentlemen engaged for the Crown with Mr Hay and Mr Perry — should go with the court to Mrs Hall's house and take her evidence by word of mouth. If the court consent to do this it will be quite sufficient for all the purposes of the Supreme Court. lam willing to concede or waive anything to spare Mrs Hall from undergoing a very painful ordeal, from being placed in an extremely trying and painful position. Another thing I would suggest is that the court should commit the prisoners to the Supreme Court, Christchurch. If you do not see fit to do so, sir, it will be necessary for us to apply for a change of venue. His Worship : I do not know if I can do so. I got a circular the other day on this subject, but I think it only refers to the Court at Oamaru.

Mr Joynt : Ido not think, your Worship, that this circular affects your jurisdiction. It is now quite impracticable to think of taking the case at the Oamaru sitting. The remand asked for by my learned friend will take the case over the Oamaru sitting. I think also the fact that the session at Christchurch takes place on the 4th October is another reason why no delay should take place over to-day. The case is of great importance and considerable magnitude, and the time for preparing our case will be considerably curtailed, and it will really press hard on us if an adjournment is made. The time is too short now to properly prepare the kind of case such as is before us. As my friend asks an adjournment of the case for a fortnight, it will only give us three weeks wherein to prepare our case. His Worship (to Mr White) : Will you be prepared to take the rest of the evidence on Monday week ? Mr White : Yes, your Worship. Mr Joynt: Will not my learned friend accept my suggestion? Mr White : No. In a case of this kind I cannot possibly have it. If the evidence weve taken as you suggest, we cannot put it in in the Supreme Court. I want Mrs Hall's evidence to appear on the depositions, so that if she dies or leaves the colony her evidence on the depositions will bo admissible in the Supreme Court. Her evidence will be among the most valuable of the lot. Mr Joynt : What ! Mrs Hall's ? Never. Mr White : Yes, it will. We will then have on the depositions everything she said in the presence of her husband. The prosecution do not feel justified in closing their case without her evidence. We regret the delay as much as you do, but we cannot consent to omit such valuable evidence. It is in fact the most important of the lot, the evidence of the lady. The prisoners are charged with attempting to murder. We would willingly spare her, but we recognise that we should not be doing our duty were we not to call her. Mr Joynt: Considering the state of Mrs Hall's health, the court will not, I hope, consider it presumption on my part if I suggest that her evidence be taken at her own house. According to the Justices of the Peace Act it is not necessary that all the evidence should be taken in 6uch courts as the one we are now in. This court is only necessary in cases of summary jurisdiction. If this court sees fit to do as I have suggested I see no possible objection to it. Mr White : I have no object in keeping Mrs Hall away, and will have her here as soon as her medical adviser says she is fit to leave her house. So far as the other side is concerned, they can commence framing their defence now ; all the vital evidence is really in. I may add that I have never yet had an opportunity of seeing Mrs Hall. Mr Joynt : I wish to point out, your Worship, that under section 13 of the Justices of the Peace Act provision is made that a witness may be examined at his or her house in cases similar in kind to the one before you. His Worship: But you object to this, Mr White? Mr White: Pardon me, your Worship, I do not — at least I intended to mean when speaking first that I did not. lam quite willing to meet the other side and have the inquiry in a private room. His Worship : I quite recognise the fact that it would be very painful indeed for Mrs Hall to be brought into this court, but under the circumstances, and considering the importance of the case, the court will first of all grant a formal adjournment to Saturday next, the case on that day to be further adjourned till the following Monday, the 13th instant. Bail is again refused. ; Mr Hay : I once more respectfully ask your Worship that Miss Houston be admitted to bail. The case is in a very different position to that it occupied when I previously applied for bail. The bulk of the evidence, so I infer from what Mr White has said, is taken ; and there is not even a suggestion that the evidence Mrs Hall is able to give will affect Miss Houston hi any I way. The case against Miss Houston is therefore at an end ; and I submit — at least I intend to do so at the conclusion of the hearing — that the case against her has utterly broken down; I that there is not a yrimu facie case against ! her.

His Worship : The court is quite satisfied there is nprima facie case against her, and must therefore again refuse to admit her to bail. The court then (12.40 p.m.) adjourned till 11 a.m. on Monday, the 13th insfc.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES OF FOKG-EEY. (From Our Own Gokrespondent.)

Timaiitj, September 6,

The courthouse presented a busy scene this morning, the clerk's room especially being crowded with professional gentlemen, members of the police force, and persons who had come to lay further informations for forgery against Thomas Hall, the male prisoner who figured so prominently in the court proceedings during the last week, when the sensational attempted wife murder case was being heard. During last week it was freely rumoured that a "round dozen" of the forgery cases would occupy the attention of the court on Wednesday. It was not till to-day that the authorities were communicated with, and seven fresh and additional informations were laid — making the grand total of informations to date exactly one dozen. The informations laid were :— (1) By Hugh Campbell, formerly of Pleasant Valley, near Geraldine, for that Hall did, on the 4th day of August 1886, at Timaru, feloniously, with intent to defraud,

forge a promissory note for the payment of £50 ; (2) by William Moore, hotelkeeper, of Timaru, for that Hall did, on the sth June, at; Timaru, forge a promissory note for £63 4s ; (3) by the same person for that Hall did on the sth June 1886, at Timaru, forge a promissory note for £60 ; (4) by Ellis Mills workman, of Timaru, for that Hall did on the 24th May 1886, at Timaru, forge a promissory note for £40 ; (5) by John Fraser, farmer, of Gray's Hills, Mackenzie country, for that Hall did on the 19th July 1886, at Timaru, forge a promissory note for £150 ; (6) by the same person, for that Hall did, at Timaru, on 13th October 1885 forge a certain transfer mortgage purporting to be a transfer from Fraser to Thomas Hall and Gilbert Laing Meason, and to have been signed by John Fraser; (7) by Defceciive Austin Kirby for that Hall did on the 2nd August 1886 forge promissory note for £100,