INQUEST ON CAPTAIN CAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1399, 5 November 1886, Page 2

INQUEST ON CAPTAIN CAIN

The following additional evidence was given at Tlmatu on Thursday before the coroner:— John William Webb, undertaker, deposed to carrying out the general arrangements of the late Captain Oatii’s funeral. Was present at the exhumation. Recognised the body on the first occasion, bat not on the second. Edward Deake, Sexton, proved to exhuming a r -d re-bury : ng the body Magarut Grahams Houston—l am at present residing in Christchurch. I went 0 reside at Woodlands, o*p‘aln Cain’s residence, on the Ist December, 1885. Mrs Newton was then residing in the house besides Captain Cain, also Danis and Bridget Wren. I did not know Mrs Wren’s maiden name. I only know that Bridget afterwards married Dennis Wren. Miss Gillen came to the house about a week before Christmas D»y 1 wont as companion to Mrs Newton, not to nnrse Capirln Cain. Mrs Newton had been ilk I also had to teach the little boy. Captain Gain was not ill when I first went there. He took ill a It tie before Christmas Day, and 1 was asked to nurse him. I did so for a few days, but he iron got too ill and bad to hare somebody with him always. Dennis Wren noised him during day and a man named Kaye at night. Captain Cain’s body was much swollen. He used to talk to me, but did not describe his symptoms to me, I never saw him vomit, hut he once went out from dinner saying that he felt sick I think he was upset from being out for a long drive. Fom the time I went to Captain Cain’s death Hall was in the habit of coming to the house with Mrs Hal'. I only remember him coming with Mra Hall- He did so frequently up to the time of the Captain's death. I do not remember his coming alone. I do not remember seeing him at the honse when Mrs Ha'l was not with him, I remember Hall slt'lng np with Cain three half-nights They were consecutive nights before George Kaye came. I cannot say if Mrs Hall ome with him on iho u e occasions 1 bad seen Hall at the house on different occasions on his way to the offi'e in his dog-cart. This happened frequently, nearly every day. 1 never saw Hall at the honse daring the luncheon hour. Hall generally brought Mrs Hall, and would then leave her at the house and call for her in the evening. I believe Hall used to go and see the captain when be called, bat I never saw him go In myself. Ido not think Mr Mason was in the house the night before Captain Cain died. I think Mr and Mrs Hall went away about ten o’clock that night. I remember Dr Drew coming the afternoon b fore the captain died. Hall called at the home the morning of the but I cannot say when 1 last saw him prior to the death. I did not consider C»pt»in Omx worse than usual the day befi re he died. I cannot say distinctly when I last saw Mrs Hail prior to Captain Ca n’a death. I think it was some t ; me, but cannot remember , bow I ngb.fore the Captain’s death that the whist party tot k p ace. I only remember the one party taking place Mrs Hall. Miss Oilier, Mrs Newton and myself formed the paituers. Hall was also pres' nt. The Coroner (to Mr Perry)—l have thought over your position at the inquest, and have come to the conclusion not to allow any’hing in the shape of crossexamination. If yen desire to put any questions you must put them to me, aud 1 will put them, Mr P. rry—Of course I bow to your Wort hip’s decision, but it Is the_ usual thing to allow counsel to cross-examine. The Coroner—No it is not where there Is no charge made. You have no right to ask questions except by permission ot the ' onr!. I will put any question you m y suega t Mr P=:rry—Tt is almost impossible to put questions through the Court One can not follow ido»s quickly enough. The Coroner—Perhaps not, but I shall not allow you to cross-examine except th ough me Dr Bogg deposed that he assisted Professor Ogsttn in his analysis on the intestines. The tests showed complete proof of the presence of antimony. P W. Hatton gave similar evidence as to Thomas Hall enquiring about and subsvquent y purchasing (in 1885) the “Taylor on Poisons,” Witness added :—I saw him write in the book aa It appears now, “ T. Hall, 1882," on the front page, and at the close “Dunedin, T. Hall, 1882 " I identify this book as the one sold. After bearing the evidence of Inspector Broham, W, Davidson, M. J Knubley and A Ormsby, similar to that given in the Supreme i o rt, the Inquest was adj timed to November IBih on the application of the Crown Prosecutor. The Press c jrreapondent wired ;—The prisoner Thomas Hall occupied a seat in Court while the inquest was proceeding He was closely guarded by Gaoler O’Brien and a warder, who took op a posl- • ion beside him He watched the proceedings very keenly, and frequently conversed with his counsel, and took nom>r us notes cn which his counsel crossexamined the different witnesses. The public wore present in large numbers, and took a tjoep interest in all that transpired.