SENSATION. Prisoners Committed for Trial. Timaru, September 22.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 171, 25 September 1886, Page 1

SENSATION. Prisoners Committed for Trial. Timaru, September 22.

The Hall-Houston case of alleged attempted murder was rosumed yesterday at 2 p.m. Mrs Hall was not called upon to give evidence, and i though no reason was stated for her absence, it ia believed' that she practically declined to give ■her testimony, and that therefore the Crown Proseoutor decided to dispense with, her altogether. Dr. Drew was examined at considerable length. In the course of hia evidence lie said : On July "11th I was culled in consultation in Mrs. Halls case by Dr. Mclntyro. I found that she was very ill, suffering from vomiting and pain in the stomach and near the region of the liver. She was jaundiced, her pulse was abnormally quick and modei'ately weak. On August 12 I was called in consultation with Drs. Lovejjrove and Mclntyro. A few evonings before met the prisoner Hall in town. He referred to Mrs Hall's case, and asked me if I had examined with Dr Mclntyre some wine and vomit. He referred to the wine and vomit of the 14th on the occasion of the first consultation. ' I replied that Dr Mclntyre had brought some to the Hospital, and that we had examined it. Hall asked if we had found anything, and I replied that we had not found any albumen or sugar. Hall said Dr Mclntyre had not discussed the case with him, but had treated him like a child, and would not tell him anything, and that he could never be found when he was wanted. At the consultation with Drs Mclntyre and Lovegrove on August 12 I saw Mrs Hall. She was extremely weak, far weaker than on July 11. She was still jaundiced, with an anxious expression on the face, and the eyes sunken. She complained of intense retching all over the body, great thirst, a feeling of something tight, as if grasping the throat, tingling of the hands and feet, occasional headache ; and she also complained of involuntary spasmodic movements of the shoulders, and alight spasms in the calves of the legs. Her lips were sore as well, also the nostrils ; her voice was very weak indeed, and her pulse extromoly weak and irregular. Her temperature was below normal; the tongue was furred and patched with red in places. There | was a faint blue line on the gums, and extreme tenderness over the stomach and liver, and some tenderness extending over the whole of the abdomen. Mrs Hrll had wasted a good deal since the first consultation (July). Her skin was dry, while the hands and feet were pealing slightly. After the consultation the lot of us (doctors) went to the dining room. Here we were joined by the prisoner Hall, who immediately left the room but shortly afterwards returned. On his return Dr Lovegrove, sen., gave Hall directions as to what was to be done. Pr Lovegrave also asked Hall whether the food was prepared in copper utensils and Hall left the room to inquire. On returning he said that the vessels wore lined with enamel. Dr. Lovegrove told Hall that there was some inflammation of the stomach present, and the pi isoncr asked if the tongue would give any signs of such inflammation. Hall" then spoke as to visitors and said, "I suppose the fewer the better." The following day Hall telephoned to mo at tho Hospital that his wife- had had a very bad night, had Deen delirious, and he thought the slightest shock would send her away. On August li I went with Dr. Mclntyre to Mrs Hall's house. We both saw Mra Hall together at that time. On leaving the house on that day Miss Houston came iip to mo as I wjis going out of the door and said she wished to speak to me. She said, I want you to tell what you really think about Mrs Hall ; Dr. Mclntyre will not tell them anything, and Dr. Lovegrove seemed tqp dumbfounded, non-plussed, or some such expression." I replied that she should have been present when the directions were given to Hall in the dining-room. She indicated that she was not satisfied with the reply, and I told her there'was some inflammation of the stomach. Previous to this, on the Friday morning, we had an examination of some urine and vomit Dr. Mclntyre brought these things to the hospital. On analysis by Rcinsch's test, we found antimony in both. On Sunday, August 15. Hall came between 11 and 12 o'clock in the morning to the hospital to see me. I think I asked Mm how Mrs Hall was, and he replied she was very bad. Hall began talking about Dr. Mclntyre, and he said among other things that when this case was over he (Dr. Mclntyre) "will never enter my doors again." Hall added, " What do you think he has been doing ? Ho has been fossicking about among tho pots and pans," and said ho did not mind Dr. Mclntyre trying to find outif there was anything wrong, but what he complained of was that he had allowed her to get into a bad state. I can't remember anything else he said, or anything more about Dr Mclntyre. Hall thon asked about the testing. Ho asked if wo found any stuff in the vomit. I answored that we had not found any albumen or sugar. He asked me if I would allow him to come up and see us test, but I can't remember what answer I gave to that. Prior to this we had a conversation about Mrs Hall ; the prisoner said she had borne her suffering very well. I answered I thought so too. Hall also asked me if I would go down to dinner on that day, and I said I was engaged to dine with Mr. Matthias. Hall said that if I had no objection he woxild walk down part of the way with me, and he did so up to tho house. On reaching North Street, Hall said ho thought he would go to Mx\ Matthias' and taste some of tho whisky from the wrrck of the Lyttelton he had. Wo met Mr. Matthias in his garden, and Hall said he would come and taste the whisky, but Mr. Matthias said he had no Lyttleton whisky, "but he would givo some other. The witness was not cross-examined. Edward G. Tvevr deposed : lam proprietor of the " South Canterbury Times." On sth Axigust I went to tho olHce of tho prisoner. Hall. 1 sat down to examine some papers w ith him in the office. He said, " Excuse me, I wish to speak to my housd." Ho then rang up the telephone, and said, *' Ia that you,- Mary? Is Miss Houston in ? Toll her I want her. After a lapse of about a minute he said, " Is that you, Megrims By tho way, there is a decanter of wine in the room ; put it away, it is not right. It was very foolish of me not t;o ,put i% away before I left homo this morning"' He then said, "'But it does v not matter; put' it away, evidently in reply >to »■ "question from the other end. He then, said,.'? How is "Kitty 1" and then, 'yes, yes, all, right,' as if, answering a question. He then 'walked across the room to the end of the table, at which' l was sitting, and said, by way of explanation of his conversation at the telephone, "I have, a servant ,at home whoflrinks everything she can get hold of, and I have doctored some win© 1 for her." I said laughingly, A little jalap I suppose; ' He 1 said, ,"No; some stuff I got; from the little chemist over the road." i Eielibaum's chemist shop is almost immediately opposite Hall and Meason's office. We stood talking for two or three minutes, and then Hall wont to the telephone and again rang up his house, and asked for' Miss ' Houston. Ho said, "Is. that you Miss Houston? » Have you put that away?" and after a slight pause, " All right,'" as if in repjy to" an 'answer given. ,Hall returned, and we resumed our co'n.vprsation as to tho ac r counts.' 1 In about three or four initiates he was i rung up. He went to the telephone and answered' the ring. He said, "Is that you^ Miss H. ?" and after a pause said " Give her something." and added, as if in answer to a question, , " Look in the cupboard,* and I'll Wait.'* 'He stood for a moment, and then said " Oh,' I > have the . keys uT.my ,pQQket," putting, his han;U in his pockot, at the same time .adding' "£ay, npthing at all;" and theh, ati If/hi" aii^ver to another question, hermothing," <• That > was' r alM' , heard., i > i', „'< ,!t nvi * ' ' " i Cioss-exammed by Mr Joynt: ( l am a Justice. 'of the Peac6, and Hall knew it? ' „ . . .Mr White': a Mve v t6 'apply, '^our Worship^ ' to ha^e the tinf ormatidn ' amended. <. Tho prisoners are chargod with, An..attenipt ,tq murder/ "• " Catherine Hall.* . Ihave to ask that %o word. 1 *' Catherine '"be toracktmt, and tnfa^Vbrds"Kato JEmily " inserted in its place. s.o that theinfor-' jUnatjon-vviU.ijeadrtKateEiiJjly.HaJJi."* ! . The (information, was.apftonded.as, prayefl. , , >, , ' v Mr White" theiTsKid ttiat this cld&oV the case >for the'proftfebnlibnV > ! tun r,nt.v \ i/r i. ' Mr, Joynt said :<|Mr Hall rescrvea bis defence! • A Mr .Hji^then. jaajd a, submit, Worahip, that? there is no, prim a facie case against my client,' -Miss 1 v H6Ustfth;F- ThBrV"is no evidence!) against' her, and lubes? Cleave) to* add¥l*s the Court,, -unless ;;yQur-,-WowiUPft;b&ye"<tnade up your minds.

His Worship : lam quite satisfied that there is a prima facie against her. ' Mr Hay : In that case, your Worship, I shall not waste the time of the Court by .addressing you. Miss Houston will reserve her defence. Mr Joynt applied to have accused committed' for trial at Ckristchurch on the ground that it would be unfair to have them tried in Timaru because the feeling in Timaru was so strong that tho public would hang the accused, even without trial, whether they were guilty or not guilty. Alter some conversation the prisoners were committed to the Christchurch Supreme Court, bail being refused.