ANALYSIS OF THE REMAINS OF CAPTAIN CAIN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3749, 7 October 1886, Page 2

ANALYSIS OF THE REMAINS OF CAPTAIN CAIN.

A STARTLING REVELATION. ENORMOUS QUANTITIES OF ANTIMONY DISCOVERED. ♦_ (By Tkleqbath.) (txok our wellington cobkbsfondbnt.) WbXMNGTOW, Oct. 6. A rumour was current last night, and it published m the' New Zealand Times tbuu. morning, that the examination of Captain Cain's remains has disclosed large traces of antimony. I find on enquiry : to-day that this is perfectly true. I hare it on authority that the results of the examination, and the analysis of the remains are positively startling m their character and , m the clearness of the proof afforded that the unfortunate .Captain Cain perished from the effects of ontimonial poisoning.- Antimony was detected m every portion of the body— r '" m the brain, the viscera, and all the organs, " and this not m mere traces but m large quantities (speaking of course comparatively) ; m fact as it has been expressed to me tho remains are " literally saturated with ■ antimony." The tests hare been carefully and thoroughly made, and bare been absolutely conclusive m their results. The poisonous mineral was m such abundance and m amount so much more than sufficient to hare effected the fell purpose of the poisoner ' (whoever the person may be), that a very slight investigation would bare furnished convincing proof of the cause of death. As it -is this is no longer open to the faintest doubt, and any question which remains to be determined is by whom the poison was administered. [Pbbbs Association Tbleobams.] Wbmjnoton, Oct. 6. A Tumour was published by a paper here to-day that traces of antimony had been found m Captain Cain's body. The Department of Justice, however, know nothing at present about it, and up to a late hour the police had received no information. They also deny that they have supplied any. It is stated that detectives hare been making enquiries as to whether Hall or Houston ever purchased poison m. Wellington, and that telegrams have passed en the subject betweon here and Timaru. Possibly this has given rue to the rumour ; at any rate it cannot here be ascertained definitely what has been revealed by the analysis. Chbistohttbch, Oct. 6. A statement was published here this even.iv, _. ing from the Wellington correspondent to the Telegraph newspaper to the effect that a I rumour was current m Wellington last night, and appeared m the New Zealand Times this morning that the examination of Captain Cain's remains had disclosed large traces of antimony. The correspondent aays he has . - it on the best authority that "antimony was detected m every portion of the body, m the brain, the viscera and all the organs, and this not m mere traces but m large quantities (speaking, of course, comparatively) ; m fact as it lias been expressed to me the remains are literally saturated with antimony." Mr Martin, the Crown Prosecutor here, and Inspector Fender, profess themselves m ignor- . once of the matter, and a message from the Star's Wellington correspondent says nothing special is known by Government or has been published m Wellington. Dunbdw, Oct. 6. In connection with the analysis of Captain Cain's remaics, all who took part or witnessed r . the analysis were put on their honour not to divulge anything m connection therewith _ until the proper time came. Any number •£ . rumours have been current since it took place, ,- ' but none of these have any definite authority. , Some persons say the result was divulged to them under a pledge of secrecy, but though there may be good reason to suppose such 1 may be the case, it is evident that the statements made, by them under lucse oircum* j -stances that antimony was discovered are , scarcely sufficiently reliable to be trusted. Protestor Ogston distinctly declines to say 1 "yea" o* "nay' f .on the subject, and the Attorney-Oetraral has instructed all others not to divulge anything until instructed.