TIMARU POISONING CASE.

Temuka Leader, Volume 1509, Issue 1509, 6 November 1886, Page 3

TIMARU POISONING CASE.

INQUEST ON THE LATE CAPTAIN

CAIN.

The enquiry into the cause of the death of the late Captain Cain, commenced at 11 o’clock last Thursday in Timaru before J. S. Beswick, Esq., Coroner, and the following "jury, viz., Messrs T. C. Plante (foreman), J. Anderson, J. Shepherd, C. Bowker, A. J. Quelch, and W. Priest. Mr J. W. White conducted the enquiry on behalf of the police, and Mr Perry appeared on behalf of Thomas Hall. After the Jury bad gone to the cemetery and ,viewed the body, the following evidence was taken Patrick Maclntyre stated during bis last illness Captain Cain suffered from, kidney disease and dropsy; enfeebled circulation also existed from the previous illness. Prescribed frequently for him up to the time of his death. None of the prescriptions contained antimony or any preparation of antimony. Prescribed stimulants, spirits, and wines, among them being champagne. Mr White : Having regard to the disease Captain Cain was suffering from, would the stimulants, such as described, if administered in medicinal doses have the effect of producing sickness 1 Witness : No, they would not. Captain Cain’s last illmess was of six mouths’ duration. He died on the 29th of January of this year. Captain Cain once complained to mo that his whisky made him sick. I had known Captain Cain about 14 or 15 years. He was a man that always enjoyed his glass of whisky. T never beard him complain of the whisky with the one exception 1 have mentioned. To Mr Perry: I certified that death, resulted from kidney disease and dropsy. To the coroner ; The administration'of poison like antimony would accelerate the death of persons suffering from dropsy, Bridget Wren gave evidence to the effect that she had been a domestic servant in the employment of the late Captain Cain. Ho was ill in December last. Mrs Newton, Miss Qillon, Miss Houston, Denis Wren and herself were in the house then. Hall used to popje in the mornings, ned sometimes in the evenings, H° used to sit up sometimes with Captain Cain until a man named Kay came. Captain Cain used to take spirits, never saw Hall give him any spirits. Saw Captain Cain retching several times. Hall did not, so far as she could recollect, sit up with him after Christmas.

Denis Wren who was gardener in the employment of Captain Cain, corroborated the evidence of last witness. Hall came six or eight times a week to see Captain Cain and sat up with him sometimes. Hall ongo directed witness to leave the room- Saw Captain Qaip vomit several times. He used fo say Jus grog paade him sick. Hall told witness it was im ; possible the Captain could get better. Sat op with him 20 nights altogether. Dr Drew visited Captain Cain the day before he died. After spine conversation he felt bis pulse, and found it sponge? than he expected in a man who was suffering from dropsy. His coughing tended t° increase the strength of the pulse. Heard of his death next day, and was rather surprised at it, as be did not expect it. As a medical man, from the state of the pulse, he could not say if the patient would have lived a month or two months. Could not say it he was on the point of death, Had felt the same pulse in the case of aortic disease, J. W. Webb, undertaker, and Edward Drake, sexton of the Titnaru cemetery, q Ve evidence which (ended to show that th* body exhumed was that of the late QaPtaiu Cain.

Margaret Graham Houston ; I went to reside at Captain Gain’s residence, on the let December, 1885. Mrs Newton was then residing in the house besides Captain Cain ; also Denis and Bridget Wren. Miss.Qillon came to the house about a week before Christmas Day. I went as a companion to Mrs Newton, not to nurse Captain Cain. also had to teach her little boy. Captain Cain was not ill when I went there. He took ill a little before Christmas Day, and then I was asked to nurse,him. I did so for a few days, but he soon got too ill and had to have somebody with him always. Then Denis Wren nursed him during the day, and a man named Kay at night. Captain Gain’s body was much swollen. He used to talk to me, but I never saw him vomit, but be once went out from dinner, saying that Ke felt very sick. 1 think he was upset from being out for a long drive. From the time ■ I went, till Captain Cain’s death, Hall was In the habit of coming to the house with Mrs Hall. I only remember him coming with Mrs Hall. He did so frequently up to the time of the Captain’s death. 1 do not remember him coming alone. I do not remember seeing him in the house when Mrs Hall was not with him. I remember Hall sitting up with Cain three half nights. They were consecutive nights before George Kay came. I could not say if Mrs Hall came with him on those occasions. I had seen Hall at the house on different occasions on his way to his pfiloe in hie dog cart. This happened frequently—nearly every day. I never saw Hall at the house during the luncheon hour. Hall generally brought Mrs Hall in, would then leave her at the house and call for her in evening. I believe Hall used to go and see the Captain when he called, but I never saw him go in myself. Ido not think Mr Mason was in the house the night before' Captain Cain died. ,Hall called at the house, the morning of the death,.tut I cannot say when I last saw Mrs Hall prior to the death. I did not consider Captain Cain worse than usual the day before he died. I cannot, say distinctly, when Hast saw Mrs Hall prior to Captain Cain’s death, but I think it was some time, but cannot remember how long before the Captain’s death that the whist party took place. Mr Hall, Miss Mras Newton,; and myself formed the party; Mrs Hall was also present.

Dr Hogg was present with Dr Ogston at & post morfem examination on the 27th September last. Ho recognised the body as that of the late Captain Cain. Found the right little toe was missing completely, and the,left little toe waij hanging by a piece of skin. The contents of the abdomen, the stomach, the large and small intestines, the bladder, a portion of the liver, the kidneys, and the spleen were put into two bottles by Dr Ogston and witness and taken next day to Dun* edin. He accompanied Dr Ogston to Dunedin for the purpose of assisting at an analysis -of the portions of the body. The analysis was commenced that night bp Professor Black, Dr Ogston, and witness. The tests showed complete proofs of the presence of antimony. He also identified the body by the condition of the aortic valves.

: P. W. Huiton gave evidence of having sold a book entitled “Taylor on Poison* ” to Thomas Hall; Inspector Broham deposed to having found the book in Hall’s possession at the time of the arrest, and W. Davidson to Hall having taken oat two insurance policies oh his wife’s life, and to H«H saying it would depend on how long Captain Gaia lived which of the two policies he kept on. Miles Jefferson Knubley acted as Captain Cain’s solicitor . for some time prior to , his death. Hall had some differences about' money matters with Captain [OairiJ '■ Heard' '"Captain Cain complain pf /Hall’s:treatment of him in connection with the Cain trust account in 7 ; referenceftoVMrs Hall’s account. A short time’tefoie .Captain* Cain’s death, the differences were healed, and Hall arid he became on more friendly terms. Hall only benefited so far as his wife whs concerned in Captain Gain’s death. Hall would benefit by it to the extent of the money left under Captain Cain’s will, to the extent of only about £250, that is as regards the furniture and a piece of land. The furniture has been sold for £l7O, but the land has not been sold. Value the land at about £l4O. Mrs Hall and Mrs Newton have equd shares, .In December, 1885, a deed was executed by Mrs Hall and. Mrs Newton andthethen' trustees, which provided amongst other things for an annuity to Henry Cain of £3OO a year, dating from the Ist Tannery; 1886. He was alsoto have the free use of house and grounds, worth then about £75 per annum. Mrs Hall and Mrs Newton would benefit £375 in the event of Cain’s death ; also to the extent of thajvalne of the-furniture and four acres of land. Cannot ,say if Hall said that he expected his wife wp.uid get ppro than she did uriderthe will, , v To Mr Perry (by the Oororier) ; I could not say what the contents of the will, were. I certainly did not tell anyone ,of its contents.

To the Coroner: Captain Cain made about half-a-dozen wills during the last three months of bis life. The wording of theip depended on what sort of a temper he was in, I cannot say whether they were in favor of Hall or not.

The Coroner to the jury : Do you require any further evidence on this point. The Foreman • I think not, Your Worship. Arthur Ortnsby; I am a solicitor practicing in Titnaru. I know Mrs Kate Emily Hall, the wife of Thomas Hall. I drew’ her will and executed it on the 29tb July, 1885, leaving everything to Thomas Hall.

The Coroner: Do you propose to call any more witnesses this evening, Mr White 9

Mr White: No, Your Worship. I think if the inquest is adjourned for a fortnight, chon 1 will be ia a position to close it.

The Coroner i In that casp the court will adjourn till Thursday, the JBth November.

Inquest at $.25 adjourned accordingly, the jury being bound over to appear on the day named.