The Timaru Poisoning Case.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2389, 2 September 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Poisoning Case.

The Hall-Houston attempted wifo murder case waa resumed. , W. Gunn, cliomist, Timaru, gave evi' deuce as to Hall having purchasedanti. mony from him also colchicum wino.

C. \V. Eiohbaum, a ohemist, also deposed to Hall having purchased from him antimony, atropia drops, and colchicumwine.

William Davidson deposed to Hall having taken out an assurance on the life of Mrs Hall in two policies of £3OOO each.

Doctor Molntyre, who laid the information against tho prisoners, flas then called. His evidence was of ojreat importance. .It was as follows:—I am a duly qualified medical practitioner. • 1 know the accused, and also ■ Mrs Hall. She waß a patient of mine. Oh tho 14th 6f July her symptoms became ao grave that I suggested to the husband tho advisability of having another medical man in consultation, Dr Drew saw her on that day, and we prescribed a certain course of treatment.,' On Friday, the 13th Auqwt, 1 seouisd two bottleß, one of wine and one of vomit 1 took them to the Hospital, and Dr Drew and I tested the contents. Wo oame to the conclusion that they contained antimony. I then put a portion of each into bottles, which I sealed and 'forwarded to Professor Black, Dunedin. Jn Sunday, 14th, when 1 visited the house at 1.30, being in Mrs Hall's bedroom, the nurse drew my attention to tho fact that Mrs Hall's husband had given he» somo ice-water, of which Mrs Hall complained as having a very nasty taste. She also described it as a somewhat bitter taste, and as unlike the icewater sho had been In the habit of having from the nurso. At ihe samo time the nurse signalled to me that she hd a quantity of the icewator, which she hold in her hand. She theu handed It to me. On (hat afternoon I made an analysis of a portion of the water in company with Dr Drew. We found very decided Indications of antimony being present. On completing the analysis I sealed theb»ttleand subsequently handed it over to Broham. Oa August 16 Mrs Hall felt very muoh improved. She had had ,one attack of vomiting on the previous but there has boen no return of that symptom. On the same day she took a considerable amount of liquid nourishment given m small quantities by the stomach. On the following night she retched once or twice, and since then the retching has not returned.. On the 17th she took considerable more nourishing 'food than on the previous day. !Evor since then Bhe has made steady and rapid improvement, and sho ituiow quite out of d»n?or though weak. Since August 14th, I have examined vomit, urine, and motions, and have found indications of antimony working its way out of the system. The indications too strongly marked ,up to the 17th, and have beou diminishing since. The Count adjourned to next day.