THE ALLEGED CASE OF WIFE POISONING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1553, 7 September 1886, Page 2

THE ALLEGED CASE OF WIFE POISONING.

FIFTH DAY-Friday. [Before J. S. Beswiek, Esq., R.M., Edward El worthy, and H. J. Esqs., J.P.’s.] Charge against Thomas Hal) and Margaret Graham Houston of attempting to poison Catherine Hall, wife of the male prisoner. The following is the evidence of Mrs Ellison, nurse of Mrs Hall, taken after our reporter left on Friday The servants used to go to bed about 10 as far as I know. I used to go about 11, sometimes before. Sometimes Houston went to bed before us; sometimes she did not. Hall also sometimes went to bed before us. Tie nights when I went to bod before Hall and Miss Houston 1 left them together in the dining-room. The various bedroom utensils were always kept clean. The whole of the bottles I gave Dr Maclntyre wero clean before 1 put the stuff in them. 1 gave the doctor no urine passed, or vomit thrown op, by any other person except Mrs Hall. The Court then adjourned till che following morning. SIXTH DAY— Saiurday. The heari’.'g of the charge of attempted murder against Thomas Hall and Margaret Graham Houston was resumed at 10.30 on Saturday morning, the same Justices being on the Bench. Hannah Ellison, Mrs Hall’s nurse, cross-examined by Mr Martin : 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. 1 gave it to Dr Maclntyre on the Monday morning. So far as I can remember I gave him 2 bottles on that day. One contained urine and the other vomit, and the two bottles 1 referred to on Friday were the ones I gave to Dr Maclntyre at the time of the arrest. I know a, girl named Eane, and I gave her some bottles after the arrest on Monday, containing what Mrs Hull passed on Monday; also some phlegm. The stuff was in separate bottles. I gave other things to the Doctor besides those I have mentioned; o:h«r vomit, urine, and stool from Mrs Hall. I got them within 24 hours of their being passed. , To Mr Hay : I recollect the consultation between the three doctors on a Thursday night. It was not a result of that consultation that Mrs Hall was getting iced water ; it was before that. She did not require so much drink before that time. It was on a Saturday that Mias Houston put the ice on the muslin in a cup, as near as 1 can remember. It might have been on the Frjid'iy morning at 11 o’clock after the doctor’s consultation on the Thursday that Houston pu’ 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 cup was used on a Friday ; or the day before the jug was brought in. The cup was pretty full of ice, [An argument then ensued between Mr Joynt and His Worship At to the way the wit-

ness’ evidence was being taken down by the Court. Mr Joynt held that the exact*" words of the witness should be taken, and this was agreed <o. Witness then continued ] 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 while it was in Mrs Hall’s room. Fresh ice was added as it was required. [ can give you no idea hoar much fresh ice was added. I can give no idea how much ; 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 cop I used to put more io. I was very constantly in the room with Mrs Hall, and she never complained to me before , the time I mentioned on Friday noon ; that is when I tasted the iced j water. 1 recollect Miss Houston coming into the room 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 Houston tasting the iced water and saying “Yes, it is very nasty.” After the arrest I was asked by Inspector Broham to search Miss Houston. Previous to this Houston said “ They’re going to take Mr Hall and I to prison." I said “ What for?” with rather a surprised look. Then I searcl.e 1 Miaa Houston in her own room. I said “You can’t have anything on you child,” at the same time frying to feel her pocket. She said she had no pocke f s. Miss Houston said, “ It can’t be true, Mrs Ellison, there must be some mistake.", I did not reply “ I know you’re as innocent as the baby.” 1 could not bring myself to think that either of them had done a wrong of that kind, 1 was so upset. Re-examined by Mr Martin j The iced water Mrs Hall complained of was pnt in the cup on Sunday morning. I don’t know this of . ray own knowledge. Mrs Hall said Hall put the ice in the cup, and he said he did not know why it should taste nasty unless it was the water he poured out of the jug. Dr Maclntyre, redalled, identified certain bott ! oa which he received from Mrs Ellison on 'he IGrh. He was still attending Mm Hoi. Sh<* waa not sufficiently recover-;! « ■ h-.. able to give evidence. She wou.'.ti bo s Tong enough in ten days or a fortnight. Mr White stated ton* Mrs Hall and Dr Drew were probably the only other witnesses he should call, and as Dr Maclntyre had stated that Mrs Hall , was not well enough to appear now he should apply for a remand for ten days. Mr Joyntsaid he should like, if possible, that the taking of Mrs Hall’s evidence in this Court should be dispensed with. He might say on behalf of Mr Hay and himself that no advantage would be taken by them in the Supreme Court, of the fact that Mrs Hall’s evidence wa« not adduced at the preliminary examination. He submitted that it would be very painful for her ; it would in fact bo an extremely painful thing, for all the parties if she were now called, and if it were at all possible to dispense with her evidence now he should waive all objections that he might possibly otherwise have to it. Ho would respectfully suggest that the Court should deal with the case now, and that soma of the Counsel, say one of (he two gentlemen engaged for the Crown, with Mr Hay and Mr Perry should go to Mrs Hall’s bouse and take her evidence bw word of mouth. If the Court consented# to do this it would be quite sufficient for. all the purposes of the Supreme Court. Another thing he would suggest : That the Court should commit the prisoners to the Supreme Court, Christchurch. It the Court did not see fit .to do so it would be m oessary to apply for a change of mme. His Worship said he did not think he had power to commit the prisoners to Christchurch. Mr White said he could not agree to Mr Joynt’s suggestion. He wanted Mrs Hall’s evidence to appear on the depositions, so that it would be admissable in the Supremo Court if she were to die or leave the colony. Her evidence would be the most valuable of any. After some further argument Mr Joynt suggested that Mrs Hall’s evidence dence should be taken at her house, and to tliis Mr White said he would not object. His Worship said he quite recognised 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 would first of all grant a formal adjournment to Saturday next, the case on that day to be further adjourned to the following Monday, the I3th inst, Mr Hay then applied that Miss Houston should be admitted to baiL Mr While J had stated that the bulk of the evidence had been taken, and there was not a suggestion (hat the evidence of Mrs Hall would affect Miss Houston in any way. His Worship said the Court were satisfied that there was a prima facie case against Miss Houston and refused the application. The Court then rose.