SENSATIONAL RUMORS BE THE TIMARU EXHUMATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1497, 9 October 1886, Page 2

SENSATIONAL RUMORS BE THE TIMARU EXHUMATION.

The Wellington correspondentVoUths the Press telegraphed on Wednesday last: “ A rumor was current last nizht, and is published in the New Zealand Titnef this morning, that the examination of Captain Cain’s remains ha* disclosed large traces pf antimony. I find on inquiry’ tp-jday that this is perfectly true. I have it oa authority that the result of the examination and the analysis of tbs remains is positively startling in itscharacter, and io the dearness of the proof afforded that the unfortunate Captain Cain perished from the effects of antimpoial poisoning. An timony "Was detected'in every portion of the body, in the brain, the viscera, and all the .organs, and thia not .in merje traces but in large, quantities, (speaking, of course, comparatively). In fact, as it has been expressed, to me, the remains are " literally saturated with antimony.’ The teats have been vary carefully and thoroughly made, and have been absolutely conclusive in their results, The poisonous mineral was present in such abundance, and in amount so much more than sufficient to have effected the fell purpose of the poisoner (whoever the person may be), that a very slight investigation would have furnished convincing proof of the cause of death. As it is this is no longer open to the faintest doubt, and any question which remains to be determined is by whom the poison was administered.” .

Later on the same correspondent telegraphed as follows ;—“ Finding that the Justice Department had still no information relative to the examination of Oapt. Cain’s remains, I applied to the Defen’ce Department to which the police ;,belong, as I was assured that so far the matter is in the hands of the police. The'Minister for Defence at once informed me, without any hesitation or restraint, that the rumor which I telegraphed to you last night was quite true, and Capt. pain’s ramains were found to .be “ absolutely saturated with, .antimony,”’ which was found in ail the organs, brain,.and viscera, and that there seemed no doubt that death was caused by antimonial poisoning. Various reports are, however, in circulation; one being that although antimony was administered to the deceased the cause of death was dropsy, to which another version adds that the patient being weakened by dropsy death was accelerated by the administration of antimony., 1 am unable to state.at, (his stage what will be the theory sht up by any prosecution that may be undertaken, but th eDefeuce Minister’s statement ,waa perfectly plain and umhistakeable. 1 p

■r Inquiries were prosecuted at Wellington on Thursday regarding the alleged finding of antimony in the Tate Captain^,pain’s body. A representative of ‘the_’Press Association waited on the police and detective force first, and ascertained that their investigation into the' aupppsedaala of poison to Hall or Miss Houston had produced no result. From the .Commissioner himself downwards npna of the force would divulge anything'about the antimony, though the cross-questioning showed that something was koownl ' The invariable answer was that they were mot at liberty to speak even to deny ori coafirm the assertions which had. been printed. Application to the Colonial Secretary elicited much the same remark. The Minister of Justice knew nothing whatever. Sir Q. Whitmore declined to give any information. Upon its becoming known that the Minister of Defence had been assigned as the authority for the original version, that gentleman was

Isited, but ho declined point blank to tate anything one way or the other, and imply referred all questioners to the Attorney-General. Sir Robt. S'out declared that no official report had been made known, or would be till the end of the week, and meanwhile be was officially ignorant of everything. The general result of .these applications to the authori. ties from the Premier down to the police goes to.’show that there must be some truth in the reported discovery of poison. While some of the Ministers and officials are evidently in full possession of the factsj they profess their inability at the present stage to say one word which wbuld place the matter beyond doubt. It bad evidently been intended to keep the matter secret, and even now it has slipped out in spite of the authorities, who refuse to throw any further light upon it.