THE GAIN CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1467, 27 January 1887, Page 3

THE GAIN CASE.

Dunedin, January 26

Tbe following was the character cf the farther evidence taken af tor that of Mrs Ostler :— -William Gunn, C. B. Eichbaum and R. F. Stewart gave evidence of the sale of poisons at various times io the prisoner. W. H;|Tailford, Henry Gardiner and John Wilson gave evidence es to tbe sickness of horses and dogs at Hall's, and an to eye wash being used for them. P. W. Huron's evidence related to the prisoner borrowing the book " Headlsm's Aotlon cf Poisons," and baying '* Taylor on Poisons " Dr Maoin tyre dealt with the whole illness of Calo, his symptoms, and the medicines prescribed. He also gave a history of Mrs Hall's illness, and tl c steps which fed to the prisoner's arrest for wife poisoning, stating that, after finding traces of antimony poisoning, he was led to doalt the correctness of the certificate ho hid given as to disease of tho kidneys and dropsy being the cause of Cain's death. He detailed, so far ss be knew the steps taken to exhume Cain's remains, the resalt of the analysis, and his evldenee concluded by giving a description of the action of antimony, oolchicum and atropia

Dunedin, January 27

Dr Mclntyre, m his cross-exam nation, said he never ordered Gain the qnantities of champagne he got. He wo aid have thought a pint to two quarts enough m 24 hours, with a little Btronger stimulant occasionally. At first the cough mixture was limited by the directions on the bottles, but the limitation was removed because he thonght more was required on account of the troublesomenocs of the oongh. If these medicines were taken m large quantities thoy might cause the patient to take a dislike to them, and especially if taken with more stimulants than intended, would prodoce a great deal of thirst. If taken m excess, they would prodnce vomiting, and would cause constipation. Tho irritation would extend to tha bowels, He would not say they would not produce purging, \hoogh he was dirposed to think there would be an opposite effect on account of the presence of opium. Witness had not had much t) do with Bright's disease. Both diarrhoea and sickness might bo characteristics of the diseases from which Gain euffired. Thirst was quite consistent with hie diseases. Witness never really hoped for his recovery.' It was characteristic of his diseases that Cain should be fonnd near his end m the drowsy state discovered on January 28. Twitching of the fees WBS quite consisted with the final stages cf Cain's illness.

.The principal point of Dr Drew's evidence was that if antimony were administered to a person suffering from dropsy, kidney disease and affection of the heart it would tend to a fatal result. Though he cou'd not speak wi'h certainty he had a very decided opinion on that {loiot. In caes of marked weakness, ike Cain's, the syßtim could only to'erate a very email quantity of antimony. It is now improbable that the case will be conoluded this week.

An exchange says that the defence will try to prove the utter absence of motive ; it will be alleged that so, far from benefitting, Hall was an actual leser by Capt. Cain's death. The general id»a In Dunedin is that there will bo an acquittal, the case amounting to one of strong eu-pir.on only.