THE TIMARU POISONING CASE. Prisoners Hall and Houston.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 174, 16 October 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

Prisoners Hall and Houston.

The trial of Thos. Hall and Margaret Houston, which commenced to-day at Chrietchurcb, is the most sensational event of the kind that has ever taken place in this colony — popular interest in the case being increased l by the dastardly nature of the alleged crime, and the high social position of the male priaoner. The charge is one of attempted murder, and the allegations are that antimony was systematically administered to Mrs Hall, with the intention of causing her death. Hall married the lady, who was tho daughter of Captain Cain (formerly well known in Auckland), only about IS months ago, and it is alleged that she showed symptoms of antixnonial poisoning within six months after marriage. Theae, however, were thought nothing of at the time ; but she gave birth to a child on the 19th of June last, and after that event ehe developed very aggravated symptoms of poisoning. These were bo apparent that her medical adviser. Dr. Melntyre,hadher vomitsecuredfor analysis, as well as some ice water given her to drink, with the result that distinct traces of antimony were found in both. That no mistake might be made, other medical men were called in, and further analysis took place, with the result that Dr. Mclntyre's suspicions and conclusions were fully sustained. He thereupon gave information to the police, and on 15th August Hall and Houston were both arreeted and lodged in s;aoL It haa been shown in evidence that when apprehended Hall made an endeavour to conceal or destroy a phial with some mixture which was in his pocket, and this phial was proved to contain a solution of antimony. It is also clearly established that ha had openly bought antimony as well as books on poispns, and circumstances were disclosed, which favour the belief that he intended to burn down his dwelling house The suspicious' facts which tell against Miss Houston, as put by the learned judge in his charge, are these : — She lived in Hall's household, and was on terms of great familiarity with him, although there ia no prima facie evidence of adultery. At the arrest, when Hall tried to get the phial out of bis pocket, she struggled to extricate him from the police officer's grasp, and said, " Oh ! nntimony. That ia used for photography." Previous to the arrest, a witness heard a telephonic conversation which Hall carried on with Miss Houston, in which instructions were piven to her to have a certain medicine put out of the way. Then, after the arrest, Houston wrote a very peculiar letter to Hall, beginning " My dear Tommy Dodd"and signed "Megrims" — thesebeingthe names which they used to each other as terms of endearment. Through almost unpardonable stupidity, the gaoler destroyed this letter after reading it, but he was able to remember and place on record the most of its contents. The motive which is suggested in the case of Hall is that of gain — bis wife's life being insured for £6,000, while he was sufiering from financial embarrassment. , Bjw deeply involved he waa may be gathered from the fact that there are now twelve charges ot forgery pending against him. In the case of Houston, the suggested metive is the hope of marrying Hall after the wife Of tho lattsr Bhould have been disposed of. There are horrible rumours afloat as to the death of the late Captain Cain, His body has been exhumed, and it is ' said that the internal organs are literally " saturated with antimony." The sensational trial now proceeding may therefore prove to be but the prelude to a further and more thrilling inquiry into a terrible tragedy. The portraits of the prisoner?, which are faithful likenesses, are reproduced from " New Zealand Illustrated Tit-Bit*."