The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1886. THE CAIN CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1412, 20 November 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1886. THE CAIN CASE.

The Coroner’s enquiry at Timaru in what is known as “ the Cain case,” and is indeed a “ Cain” case in more senses than one, has ended, as all who have perused the evidence adduced must have anticipated would be the case, in a verdict to the effect that the immediate cause of death was poison administered with murderous intent and purpose, but that the jury are unable to say by whose hand. The jury have, therefore, returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown. It was shown conclusively that one person who would indirectly be advantaged by Captain Cain’s death, and who visittd him frequently shortly prior to his death, had purchased poisons and books on the action of poisons, that, although Captain Cain had been ailing for some time, the suddenness of his death look his medical attendant by surprise, and that poison was found in large quantity in the body of the dead man, but there was no evidence of the administration of that poison by any particular person, nor was the poison found in the remains of the same kind as that shown to have been purchased by the one person whose presence at the inquest was proof that suspicion had been attached to’him. In fact, the poisons which Hall was shown to have purchased were vegetable poisons of which no trace would have remained after so long a lapse of time, while the poison found in the remains was a mineral poison, to wit antimony. In view of these facts then there was no other verdict possible than that which was returned, viz., that murder was committed, but that the jury are unable to indicate the murderer. We do not wish in any way to prejudge the case, or to assume for a moment that the suspicious circumstances adduced in evidence justify the conclusion that the unhappy man who was recently convicted of attempting a similar crime was the author of Captain Cain’s death, or that he had anything whatsoever to do with it, but we are strongly of opinion that the matter ought not to be allowed to rest where it is, but that it is the bounden duty of the authorities to remove the investigation into the Magistrate’s Court, and to leave no stone unturned to sheet home the charge to the offender or offenders, whoever may be the guilty person or persons. Of all crimes that of the poisoner is the one which it is most dangerous to society should have even the semblance of possible impunity, and the public mind will not rest satisfied until every effort has been exhausted to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators of this dreadful outrage within reach of the vengeance of the law.