THE POISONING of CAPTAIN CAIN

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 182, 11 December 1886, Page 2

THE POISONING of CAPTAIN CAIN

Timaru, December 2. Patrick Mclntyre deposed : •' I attended the late Captain Ciin for many years, and op to the time of his death. I was present on the 27th of September, when there wag an exhumation of the body, which I believe to ha that of the late Captain 1 Cain, because it was exhumed from the grave in which I caw the captain buried. The little toe of each foot was entirely missing from the body. In an illness, about IS months before his death, Capt. Cain lost the little toe ot his right foot — this being caused by mortification. Tho duration of Captain Cain's last illness was about cix months. I visited him on the 9th and 10th July, 31st August, oth September, 3rd and 7th November, and 17th and 31- 1 December inclusive, almost daily. From tho end of September to his doath, he wab suffering from kidney disease and dropsy, also general debility of tho system continuing fiom hie previous illness. It was only on thy 24th December that I prescribed for and became aware that he vomited. Vomiting might arise from tho affection? he was sufiering from. I did not prescribo anything, nor was thei'o in my prescriptions anything that would cause vomiting. They contained something that would be likely to prevent vomiting. I prescribed atiorilants — spirits and wine. At ona time he had champagne, at another claiet, at another Australian wine, and very probably port. I would not expect the stimulants to cause vomiting. In one of my prescriptions contained atrophia, colchicum, or antimony, or any preparation of them. The captain once complained to me that his wuibky made him eick. I cannot remember if it was before Christmas. I saw the captain the day before his death. He was much worse than ho had been for some weeks before. The administration of atrophia, colchicuiu, or antimony to anyone in his condition would accelerate death. On out* occasion Hall asked me how long the captain was likely to live. If any atrophia Or colchicum were taken into the system in December, they would not be disco\ered iv a dead body on analysis in September following, some S months after death. They are vegetable poisons. Antimony would bt> found after tne same lap-e of time. Antimony is a mineral poism. To Mr Perry : Tho captain was suffering from a foiinof kidney disease; very probably it «a< BrightV disease. I aid not examine specially for that. Tro leee, hands, and abdominal region of the Cap "taio'n body were much swolku during las illness. I only reniembor onu poio en the body — a superficial =ore — and a small ulcer on one of his L.«i>j. There was a small oblong hole in onf of his feet, and this was gangrened and sloughy. The legs had not gan^n r.ed I considered hi-» recovery hopeic.-^ tmough out the last ilines?. I told the members of the family that he might cue a any moment, or live for weeks. Po&^jhly I told Hall of this, but I have no distinct recollection of doing so. I don't remember if there wa3 a very offensive emoll from tho body during tne last illness. The medieinss I gave latterly were palliative, and alto, to a certain extent, curative ; for instance, to relieve diarrluca. I gave Other medicines to reduce the dropsy which arose from having the kidney rHfeoase. but they were given not s\ith any hope of curing the disease or the dropsy either. At the commencement of his last illness there was a general debility &teadily increasing to dropsy, particularly of '•ho 1»^-, extending finally into the secrets* of thy lower parts of the body. Dropsy aUo of both hands, most marked in tho lett hand, also chronic bronchitis and vomiting. I first treated him fcr vonim-i^ on the 24th December, and for a'lrrW.i during the last month of hia illno-ti. The immediate cause of death v.*a=! no*, nf my opinion, dropsy of the htnt Tho immediate cause was kidney discp-o and dropsy on a constitution already tr ft bled through impaired heart action. I did not tell Hall that dropsy woulc soon leach Captain Cain's heart, and doath would at once follow. Re examined by Mr White : The dropsy was the result of kidney dieea s e. In an already enfeebled system like that which Captain Cain had, one to t'.vo or t'njo grains of tartar emetic would accelerate death. Atrophia would ha\e a somewhat similar effect, though some of the sj mp oosm s are not common to thote produced by antimony and colchicum. Richard Bowen Hogg deposed : I hold a JFQSt mortem examination in conjunction with Dr. Ogston at the Hospital on Sypt. last on a body brought from tho ceiru-tery. I recognised the body a3 that of Captain Cain. We removed from the body the stomach, portions of the small aud large intestines, the bladder, a porrion of the liver,the spleen, and kidneys Those organs were placed in four now, clean bottler* by Dr. Og?ton and myself. The bottles, after being sealed with Dr. Ogston's private eeal, were taken to Dunedin. There wa* also some liquid taken in a bottle from the chest and bladder, and the peritonital or abdominal cavity. The contents were analysed at Dunedin at the University laboratory by Professor Black and Dr. Ogston and mysolt. We analysed a portion of each for.and found antimony in each portion. I should not expect to find atrophia and colchicum 8 or ~9 months after administration. Atrophia, colchicum, and antimony are deadly poisons. The effect of such poisons on a person with an enfeebled heart will be depressing, increasing the heart's action. On one suffering from heart disease or dropsy it would certainly have the effect of "accelerating death. To Mr Perry : We did not test for colchicum or atrophia. We had in one bottle the bladder, the kidneys, the urinou« fluid, and some fluid from the peritonital cavity ; in another bottle were the stomach and part of the intestines, the other portion of the large bowels, the reotum, and the gal<eum were in another bottle ; and iv another bottle were pleural fluid from tho chest, a portion of the liver aud the Bpleen. I conld not swear to the exact contents of each bottle An analysis was made of part of the contents of each bottle . A quantitative analysis was not made during the time I was there Tho tests showed marked results— marked reaction uf the presence of antimony. Several tests were used, but there was no difficulty in getting the results. Margaret Graham Houston deposed : I am at present residing in Christcburch. I went to reside at Woodlands on the Ist December last. Mrs Newton, Denis Wren, and Bridget Wren, who has since married "Wren, were there, and Mies Gillon came on ft visit that month, about a week before Chrietmas. About a week after I went there, Cain came home one day and said that he felt very ill; that he had Been Dr. Mclntyre, who had told him that he thought he (the captain) had dropsy. I lutd been in the house a fortnight when tho Captain took ill. He did not vomit at that

time. I only saw him vomit once. I onlj attended for a few days, Denis and George Kay attended to the captain, after Kay coming in January. Up to that time Denis and I had attended to tho captain. No one sat up with the captain until a few nights i before Kay came. While Denis and I were nursing Cain, if Dome was absent and the captain wanted him, I used to go and fetch him. Wren used to be in the garden by day, and I w«*s more j with Captain Cain than Denis was. I only saw the captain vomit once. Many visitors used to come aud see the captain, among them being Mrs Hall, and the accused, Hall, used to come in the morning about half-past nine, that being his first visit. Hid visits were frequent. Every day he would remain About five to fifteen minutes. Ho used to bring Mrs Hall with him, and when he went away alter his morning viait, Mra Hall used to stay. Hall used to return about live in the evening. Mrs Hall gonerally stajed all day, till Hall called for hor in the evening. At other times she used to go to see old Mrs Hall, and on these days Mis Hull, jun., was away from home all day. Hall used to call for his wife every evening and stay ju3t long enough to get Mrs Hall into the trap. Sometimes ho used to stay longer. On a few occasions ho stayed as long as an hour. It was about a week before Cain died that he took to his bed, and did not get up again. I did not ccc Hall go into Cain's roon: that week. A few days beforo Christina- t'tiy I remember the captain getting sick at luncheon when Hail was prebeut, but I cannot fix the date. This would ba about three weeks before the captain's death Shortly before, the dining room was turned into a bedroom for the captain. I don't remember if Mrs Ostlor was at lunch the day the captain became sick. Mrs Ostler lunched several times about thi* time at Captain Cain's house. I don't remember the captain being pi-V on any occasion that Mrs Ostlor was there. I took lunch there every day except when 1 went to Couapsf-ill, and Mrs Ortler could not tike lni.ch with ut I was there. This would bo iron December l&t to tho time of the captain's death. I remember Capt. C,in boing sick one day at dinner, but I don't itmomber if Mrs Ostler was dining then. I dined in the house every day Irom December l*t. Jblal.*at up with the captain tl'.rey halt nights. They were consecutive ni^!if=, ani a few days before George Kay cume, Mrs Newton was in the house the night before the death of Captain Cam. I don't remomber anyone else. On thb niwnt before the death, T went into tho captain's room just before I vent up to bs.l,— about half-past ten George Kiy wn^ in tho loom, and I think . Miv Stubo- we",t from the smoking-room to the side loom Mr* Iseu ton and I only came fiom tho loom togother, and wenc up to bed. I don't romeraber Mr Moason or Mrs Hall and Mr Hall being there that evening. I q »ye evidence at the inquest on the 13th of this raonlh, but I doo't lemember what I | said j (Mr Whire thon re^d a poition of the jUviJucy yi~cn by t':._ witnoed at the in i quot.) | Y\ il"c J then iiM • T me?n by spying "I th nk llali and M-a Hall went away at j ten o'clock that night " that thoy were in I the h-*bit of going away at that time. I no w remember nothing to fix the particular night before Captain Cain died. I only remember uno whilst being held ; | \hat wa- shortly after Miss Gillou came on I a \ i-it, the D'ayer'i being Miss Gillon, Mrs l\o«' on. Jlu.ll, and rrs},elf. I le .m from the C^own Solicitor that this ewy.nn;.' ho wi.l ruqucl ..n adjournment lor eighr ru'.js, ns to gho time for Professor Bl*ck, Dr. O^ston, ana Mrs Nowton to atronJ. M»- White opened the proceedings this morning b} pulling Dr. Ho^g into the boX In reply to a qnory he paid that ixciaiffch'n Ltst uy.3 u^ed in the analysis. Time tests. It varied from I uv,ul\o minutes to one hour. P>y these |tt->.s th= dopo&it was distinct, and of purn'o colour. Tho co'our now and then varied. At tuo pott mo)tt r m on tht_ body of Captam CJn, ho did not nut ice any muiked iedii2S:? in the lining on rhe &tjmacu. Cclchicum tho doctor said v,'a3 usod in a remedy ioc rheumatism. In le-oxaminaticn he taid that one gla^s ot atrufM v, ,>uld c~i'-e tha death of an adult on the same state as Captain Gain was throe months before his death. Two grains of antimony or two drachms of colchicum would have he same effect on a man suffering like Captain Cain did. Hedley Vickors Drew, surgeon to the Hos>|jit&), eaid he visited Cain the day before hi 3 death, and found the pulse t^o f-tronger thtui ho expected for a man in his condition. He was very much surpris d to hear of his death next; evening, as tho impression he gained on the previous day was that Captain Cain was much better than hu had previously been, that it< supporing death had occurred from na< nial C'Suse^, To Mt Perry : Tho impression I have now is thai Captain Cain must have been eufnmng from aortic dif;eapo, J. W. Webb, undertaker, next repeated the evidence given at the inquest respecting tho funeral arrangements of Captain Cain, and the oxhumation of the body, Drake and Sexton following with tho •same evidence adduced an the inquest. Timaru, December 3. P. W, Hutton, bookseller, proved that Hall purchased on May 9th, ISBS, " Headhr.d'a Action of Medicines," saying that he wanted some information about antimony. About a month afterwards he bought "T-iylor on Poisons.'' William Guan, chemist, Timaru, deposed: I p "duce my pale of poisons register book Oi. Muy sth, 18S5, I find an entry of 2 d ;,chmB of tartar antimony to T. Hall. Tl • whole of the entry except the signature ' T Hall " is in my hand-writing. On the 2,,)" May, 1885,1 lent the prisoner a mortar uu i p Btle scales and a two ounce measure. Oi Juno 18tli of this year I sold him 2 '■•«■. \ras of antimony ; on the 25th of July 'J../ of colchicum wine ; on the 17th and :r. ' July and ISth January I also sold him '2..' ot oolchicum. On the register the jo n given for the tirat purchase of antimo.»> is "medicinal." The entry was fully va.i \i when Hall signed for it. When he l»'t phased the antimony on the 18th June, IM(>, he paid ho wanted it for making c-<: irettes foraathma. ° \ To Mr Perry : I have no personal recol! lee* ion of tno first sale in 1885. It was found out this way. A man came in to buy some poiaon that I did not wish to sell him I asked him if he knew what it was wanted for, and as he said so, I told him he would have to sign the book, and I opened the book accidentally at the place. Charles Blenheim Eiohbaum deposed : 1 produce my daybook for 1885. On the 20th March, 1885, 1 sold Hall half-ounce of atropia eye-water ; on the 4fch November I also sold Hall half-ounce atropia eye-water ; on the 28th of January, 1885, Hall bought from ray shop halt anounceofwbarisentered as atropia eye drops. Theae entries are in the handwriting of Hitchens, my late aunistant. I rendered accounts 'for these tbingn to Hall, and he made no objections to them. On the 3rd June, 1886, there is an entry, |"|one ounce,of solution of atropia j" on

the I2bh June, " two ounces of antimonial wine ;" on the 6th June, " one ounce of tiucture of colchicum." That was returned by Hall, and on the same day 1 sold him two ounces of wine of colchicum. On the 4th August I sold him half an ounce of tartar emetic. To Mr Perry : The strength of the atropia solution is four grains of atropia to the ounce. To His Worship ; I sold atropia to Hall in June myself. I sold everything myself to Hall alter June Ist of this year, my assistant having left in May. Roderick Fraser Stewart deposed : I am a chemißt, and was in the employ of Mr S. Watkina on the 30fch November last year. On that day I find an entry in the daybook in my handwriting of the sale to prisoner of 2ozB of wive of colchicum, also a bottle of Shollat's rheumatic remedy. Ido not remember selling the articles to Hall. Thomas Broham deposed : I am Inspector of Police for Timtivu. I produce the certificate of the death of the late Henry Cain, On the 15th August last I arrested the prisoner on the charge of attempting to murder his wife by the adminiettation of antimony. He replied, on my charging him, "I've used antimony for a long time. I have bought tartar emetic at Gunns and Eichbaum's, which I have made into cigarettes with other things for asthma. You know I suffer from asthma." At the time of the arrest Hall was searched in my presence by Detective Kirby. I saw him take a email packet from Hall's trousers' pocket marked "tartar emetic." He also found a small phial on him, and another packet of tartar emetic in his bedroom. We a'so found the book, " Taylor on Poison? " I have hoard that the contents of the phial were tartar emetic. We also found colchicum wine in the room. When we saw the book, Hall took it, and said, "I suppose this will tell against me." V\ m. Willway depoaod : I am accoun tant toMrWatkins. On November 13th, ISSS, I find an entry in the ledger in my writing, posted from an entry in the daybook in the writing of Mr Stewart. The account was rendered on the let January, ISS3, and paid on the sth January. Ib was paid by Hall's cheque of £5 7s. Mr White said that was all tho evidence be proposed to deal with now. lie aeked for an adjournment to givo time for ono .Titness to arrive in the colony, and at the adjournment most likely tho Profetsors' evidence would be got in. His Worship then adjourned the ca c e till eleven a m. on Friday, Docembor 10th, Mr White undertaking to cloae hi 3 case on that day.