THE CAIN POISONING CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1521, 4 December 1886, Page 2

THE CAIN POISONING CASE.

THE CHARGE OF WILFUL MURDER AGAINST THOMAS HALL. Timaru—-Thursday, Dae. 2nd, [Before J. S. Beswick, Esq., R.M., and T. Dightoo, Esq., R, M.J The hearing of this case was resumed vu Tbursday. Dr Hogg in reply to Mr Perry said Reinsch’s test was used in respect of all the bottles. At thepoat mortem he noticed that the lining of the stomach was pale ; there was no distinctly marked redness, Colchicum is a remedy for rheumatism, and certain forms of atropia are used as an eye wash, depending on what the eye affection is. Re-examined by Mr White: Very serious results might follow if a healthy person took internally a grain of atropia ; a grain and a half or two grains would be likely to produce death. A grain would cause the death of a person In the state Gain was some 2 or S months before his death, but as I was not his medical attendant and cannot say decidedly what state he was in, I would not like this to be taken as a positive answer. His Worship having read his notes of Dr Maclntyre’s evidence re Captain Cain’s state, the witness said, in reply to Mr White : A grain of atrophia would cause death, and as to antimony two to five grains might cause the death of a healthy child or adult. To a person in Captain Cain’s condition perhaps two, grains of antimony would cause death if administered three months before his death. In a healthy person 2 drachms to of wine of colchicum would be likely to cause death. Hedley Vicars Drew: I saw the late Captain Cain on the afternoon before bis death. I felt his pulse and found it stronger than I expected in a man of his condition. I stayed with him about a quarter-of-an-hour. I found him sitting up in bed, and he spoke calmly the whole time, coughing now and again. 1 beard of his death the next evening, and was surprised, because the impression 1 got the previous day was that he was better than he had been previously-—supposing his death had occurred from natural causes. ’ To Mr Perry: I went to see the captain at the suggestion of Mr F. LeCren, who asked me to call as a friend. 1 went to the house between 3 and 4 in the after* noon. The impression 1 have formed since the poit mortem closed is that I would expect such a pulse in a person suffering from aortic disease. J. W. Webb, undertaker, and Edward Drake, sexton, gave evidence as to the exhumation. P. W. Huttoo, bookseller, repeated his evidence as to the borrowing and subsequent purchase by Hall of the books " Headland’s Actions of Medicines,” and “ Taylor on Poisons.” Wm. Gunn, Chemist, Timaru, gave evidence as to the sale to Hall of two drachma of tartrate of antimony on May 5,1885. On the 22nd May he leat prisoner a mortar and pestle, a set of scales, and a 2oz measure. The weights ran from 2 drachms down to one grain. Prisoner never returned these articles. On June 18th of this year witness sold him 2 drachms of antimony. After argument between Messrs Perry «nd White, the witness continued that be also sold Hall 2 ozs of colchicum wine on 25th July ; on the 17th and 31st Of July and the Ilth of August he also sold him two ounces of colchicum wine. To Mr Perry the witness said be did not recollect the first sale in 1885. He believed that he lent the scales to Hall for the purpose of weighing out chemicals for photographic solutions. [Mr Dighton here left the Bench], Charles Blenbiem Eichbaum, chemist, deposed to the sale of atropia eye water to Hall on 20th March, 4th November, 28th January, and 3rd June, antimonial wine on 12th June, win* of colchicum on 6th July, and tartar emetic on 4th August. To Mr Ferry the witness said the strength of the atropia solution was 4 grains to the ounce. Roderick Fraser Stewart, a chemist in the employment of Mrs Watkins, deposed to the sale of 2a worth of colchicum wine and a bottle of Ghollah’s rheumatic remedy to Hall on 13th November last. T hotnas Brobam: I am Inspector of Police for Seuth Canterbury district. I produce the certificate of death of the late Henry Cam. (Marked C.) On the 15th August last I arrested prisoner on a charge of attempting to murder his wife by the administration of antimony. He replied on my charging him, “ Oh, I’ve used antimony for a long time. 1 have bought tartar emetic at Gunn’s and Eichbaum’s, which I’ve 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. Saw him take a small packet from Hall’s trouser's pocket marked “Tartar emetic.” We also found a small phial on him and another package of tartar emetic in his bedroom. We also found the book “ Taylor on Poisons.” I haVe heard the contents of the phial were taftsr emetic. Witness to Mr White : We also found colchicum wine in the room. When we saw the book, Hell took it up and said, “ I suppose this will also tell against me.” Mr Perry objected. °nd His Worship held that such evidence was not admissible. After the Inspector had signed his deposition, Mr White said this was all the evidence he proposed to lead now. He asked for the adjournment to give time for one witness to arrive in the colony, and at the adjournment most likely the professors’ evidence would be got in. Mr Perry hoped the Crown would call the professors, as it was most material that the defence should know the whole nature of the charge. After some further arguments in which Mr Perry urged that the professors should be called in justice to his client, William H. Willway, clerk to Mrs Watkins, de* posed to the settlement by Hall of Mrs Watkins’ account on the sth January, which included the item of colchicum wine sold to Halt on 13th November. The case was then adjourned to Friday, Dee-tuber 10th, Mr White undertaking to clone on that clay.