The Timaru Poisoning Case.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 51, 9 October 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Poisoning Case.

SUPREME COURT TRIAL.

[PEE UNITED PBKBB XBBOCIATIOW.] Chrtsechttbch, October 7". Hall and Miss Houston? returned j from Timaru by the train to-night, |to be brought before the Supreme Court to-morrow, when the Grand; Jury will have the indictments submitted to them. As many as sixtyfour witnesses came here by the same train. There were lawyers, doctors, bank managers, policemen, chemists, < booksellers, storekeepers, laborers, farmers, and two' or: three women r -all of whom will be either called for the prosecution or defence in these now . celebrated cases. October ß. The Hall case was commenced! this morning. The judge, in his charge to the grand jury, said they need only examine such witnesses as were necessary for; : establishing aprima fade case. The j udge pointed out the existence of a .motive on Hall's part -for wishing; his wife's death, as he would receive the ;! benefit of her assurance and his circumstances were much embarrassed. The judge showed that to render a man guilty of attempted poisoning it was .sufficient for him to take any steps by which it would be rendered . certain or probable that the person whom he wished to poison would take it. Hall had every chance of admin- . ister ing poison* to his wife, and had ' purchased antimony, a poison which was found in the wine and vomit from Mrs Hall. The case against. Miss . Houston rested on the fact that sho was on very friendly terms with Hall • that she had ample opportunity of administering poison to Mrs Hall, and on the fact of her endeavoring' to assist Hall to destroy a certain phial when arrested.- There was no; evi- :- dence of a distinct motive ba her part, : nor of any promise of Hall to marry her on his wife's death. There were , twelve charges of forgery against Hall, but there was no necessity tocomment on them. The judge's charge . occupied an hour. He made no refer- . ence to Captain Cain's death or exhumation of the body. It has been definitely decided that Mrs Hall shall not give evidence. . True bills against Hall and Miss Houston for administering poison have been returned. :