The Timaru Sensation.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2429, 19 October 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Sensation.

United Press* Association,

. Chkistchukoh, Saturday, , DrSfcaokpoole, of Waitnato, said he was' called in consultation with Dr Mclntyre, on Mrs Hall, on July 28th, Ho was a friend of the Hall family. Ho examined Mw Hall, and was told her symptoms by herself, Found no organic disease present but she had an abcess in the breast at the time. Witness thought thore was considerable want of blood, that the brain was exhausted, and that vomiting arose from lobß of nervous powor. Witness stayed at flail's house all night. Saw Miss Houston, but gave her no directions about tho medicine. It would not have been professional for him to have given directions, as Dr Mclutyrc was in chargo of the patient. It was false that ho had told Miss Houston to give tho medicines, To Mr Joyut: Hall behaved aa a husband might bo expected to do under the circumstances. Witness had been telegraphed for by Dr Mclntyre, and also by Hall.

To Mr Hay: He did not say anything specifically to Miss Houston that she was to administer the powders, but she might have construed it so when ho was speaking to several persons in the dining room. He 1 new Mrs Ellison was the nurse, and ho would havo been most careful not to have interfered with tho nurse," for ho know nurses' tempers in general. Whou tho inflammation of Mrs Hall's breast was acute, it might increase the vomiting, Had known a good vomit to relievo inflammation. Had given small doses (about a grain) to produce vomiting. Thomas Howley, Clerk of tho Court at Tnnaru, said he knew Hall, who was a member of' tho South Canterbury Harriers, with which ho was out tho day before his arrest. Saw Hall at the Club billiard room playing at pool that day. He seemed in good spirits, and left about half-past G. He remembered Mr Cotter, tho gaoler at Timaru, showing him a letter shortly after the arrest; it began—- " My dear Tommy Dodd," and concluded —"Ever yours, Megrims." Witness deposed to tho caro taken of the exhibits that were left in his charge and kept in a strong room at tho Timaru Courthouse till they were sent to Christchurch, To Mr Hay; Had noc heard Hall sing " Tommy Dod" in character,' Did not know that it was his stock or' 'star" song. Edward George Kerr, proprietor of tho South Canterbury Times, deposed that on August 5, he was in Hall's office. Hall telephoned to his house and asked "Megrims" to put aivay a decanter of wino left in her room, Hall explained that he had doctored it with somo stuff from the chemist's over the way to catch a servant.

To Mr Joynt: Hall was fidgeting about all the time, but he usually had a fidgetty manner. It did not seem to witness that thero was anything specially guilty about the circumstance,

Benjamin Edward Hibbard, storekeeper, Timat'u, and Thomas Peters and Androw Avisou, two of his employes, deposed to the salt) of a tin of kerosene to Hall on August 2. The tin was sent to his office wrapped up in brown paper, instead of being sent to his house as was usually done. Mr Hibbard, crossexamined by Mr Joynt, said that Hall used to lodge at his father's house at one time. Believed ho used morphia for injections for sciatica. Usually there was a caso of kerosene a month sent to Hall's in winter. Witness sent Hall a patent air-lamp, which would consume a little more kerosene than an ordinary lamp. Oharlds Aloysins Wilson romembered Avison leaving a parcel like a tin of kerosene, done up in paper, at Hall's office. Kerosene was not commonly used in the office. Hall insured his furniture and effects at Woodlands in tho Imperial Company for £OOO, and insured tho house for £575 in favor of Captain's Cain's executors, Hall was not one of the executors, James Forbes, plumber, and Dennis Wren had been in the garret at Woodlands, but had never seen moro than a bucketful of rubbish thero; Jeanie Turnbull, domestic servant, Dunedin, was employed by Hall from November, 1885, till May last, at Ooinpstall, Hall's former residonce, and Woodland. Hall and Miss Houston appeared to be very friendly. Heard him call her Megrims openly before his wifo, and she called him Tom, but not always. Had seen Hall go to Miss Houston's bedroom at Woodlands, in the evening, after dinner, whilo Mrs Fall was ill. For all that she saw, he might have left immediately. Hall went to Miss Houston's room at Compstall in the morning when Mrs flail was not up. He knocked at the door and then opened the door and went in. Mrs Hall could have heard him had she been awake, This occurred twice or thrice. To Mr Joynt: Mrs Hall used to call Houston Meg and Miss Houston. Hall used to call her Megrims and Miss Houston. Never quarrelled with Miss Houston, Was good frionds with- her. Once Miss Houston locked tho dairy up. His Honor; Any cats about ? _ Witness; It wob to keep us from getting the cream. Miss Houston took charge of tho dairy at Woodlands, and kept the key. Witness only got skim milk till she spoke to Mr Hall whon she got new milk, Mr Joynt':- Who milked tho cow ? Witness: The boy Wilson. Mr Joynt: Could you not manage to got a mug from him on tho quiet. Lauphtor followed, and witness' reply was not audible. The cross-examination was continued, and, in reply to further questions, wit-

ness said that Hall arid Mrs Hall never quarrelled, and seemed to live happily together. Mrs flail' could have heard Hall and Miss Houston talking together in the lattev's room. Mrs Hall was in her room sufferingirom a cold, Hall was speaking to'Mis3-Houston in a loud voice for about a minute.

To Mr flay': There was no key to the' door of Miss Houston's room.. Mrs Hall as well as Miss Houston wore a dressing gown in the morning. Never knew Miss; Houston do any cooking. Hall did .not call her Meerims when she first came. Had not heard Hall sing " Tommy Dod," though she would know the song if she heard it..

Mary Hasscn,"a domestic servant, at present employed by Mrs Hall, had been at Woodlands since May last. Was the onty domestic servant at the time of tho arrest. Xovor put anything into the garret, or saw anyone else put anything in. Nurse Ellison used to look after Mrs Hall at night. In the morning Miss Houston brought her a cup of tea. Hall gonorally took breakfast to her, soraotimes Miss Houston. Nevor heard. Miss Houston call Hall Tom. Heard him call her Megrims. The food for Mrs Hall was cooked in a wluto onamolled saucepan. About a weok after tho child was born some oysters wero brought on two days-Juno 25 and 20'. Tho oysters wero opened by the fishmonger, Witness and tho boy,-, John Wilson, ato some, and felt no ill effects. On tho second night Hall took Miss Houston to the Volunteer ball. Remembered Miss Houston dressing for tho ball. She came into the dining-room and asked Hall to tighten her stayß. Had seen Hall go into Miss Houston's room. Saw hor go into his room m a dressinggown between V and 8 a.m. She had no tea with hor. Remembered answering tho telephone about a week before tho arrest and hearing Hall's voicosho bolived saying, "Is that you, Megrims ?" Witness replied no, and'went and fetched Miss Houston. Nevpr remombered drinking wine or, spirits in Hall's house, excoptono glass given "by Mrs Ellison, and another by Mrs Hall when the baby was christened.

To Mr Joy lit i Smelt no korosene in the narcet on tho night of tho arrest when witness whb in tho adjoining room, Mrs Hall reminded witness of tho 'oysters since the case in the Resident Magistrate's" Court. Did not know the day of the month to-day, yet roinombored it was Juno 25th and 26th whon tho oystors came. Miss Houston was a girl of a vory bold manner, and witness nevor thought much of hov. Hoard that Miss Houston had said that witness drank. That did not help witness to think better of her.

Henry John EoCron doposed that ho had formerly employod Mary Hasßen, and was going to giyo evidence as to her good character, when Mr Joynt objected that evidence as to tho character of a witness was not admissible.

The Attorney-General ■ only tendered tho evidence. Ho did not press it, and His Honor ruled it admissible Thomas Wolls, billiard-marker at tho South Canterbury Billiard Club, of which Hall was a member, said that Hall was a pretty constant attendant. Ho was there on the Wednesday before his arrest from (i.lO to G. 30, and \va3 playing again the same night from 10.30 till the roum closed at 11 o'clock. On tho Thursday before tho arrest ho'was playing pool. Witness saw hinr put a 2oz phial into the fire; He did not put it m an ordinary way, but Bhoved it well in. The cork flow, and someono asked what he had there. Hall said "it was one of Mr Wakefield's sleeping draughts." The Court adjourned at 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. on Monday. Every ovoning, as tho accused leavo the courthouse, a largo crowd watches their departure, but as they are driven away jn covered cabs tho majority of tho sightseors aro disappointed. A few groans are usually ?ivon as the prisoners como out of tho Court, and this ovoning the police had to oxert themselves to keep back some membors of the crowd more anxious than tho rest, who crushed against tho cab which Miss Houston was untering.;

October 18. Whon tho Hall-Houston caso was resumed this morning. The AttornoyGeneral called two photograph'ois, who stated antimony was not used in photography,

Mr Hay elicited this was export knowledge, therefore Miss Houston would not be expected to know. Dr Symes was called to prove that if a person died from taking tartar emetic, that would be poisoning by antimony. This witness was evidently called for the puipose of supporting the words in the indictment.

The case for the Crown has closed. Mr Joynt submitted that the indictment discloßod administration of certain deadly poisons called antimony, while oxport evidenco, especially Professor Black's was that metal antimony was not poisonous. In poisoning cases, particular poisons should be scientifically described. His Honor held that the common language was sufficient. Mr Joynt then said the common meaning of antimony was metal, whioh experts said was non-poisonous, In tho indictment the substance is not a poison, but ia called a poison.

Christchuroh, This day', ■ Mr Joynt for the defence continued addressing the jury this morning. Ho asked the judge to direct the jury that unless poison were taken into the stomach thero had been no administration. His honor declined to do so,