THE TIMARU POISONING CASE. [BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, Monday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2225, 12 October 1886, Page 2

THE TIMARU POISONING CASE. [BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, Monday.

CiiKisrcHL'KCH, Monday. What will undoubtedly prove the most important criminal trial which has yet boon hc;ud in this colony was commenced this morning before Mr Justice Johnson and a .special jury. The prisonns, Thomas Hull find Margaret Uraham Houston, weie indicted for the attempted murder by poisoning of Kate Emily Hall, wife of the male prisoner. The case for tho Crown was conducted by the Attorney-! ioneral (Sir Robert Stout), assisted by Mi Mat tin (Crown prosecutor, Christchr.rch), and Mr white (Crown prosecutor, Timaru). Messrs Joynt and I'eriy appeared for the prisouei Hall, and Mr Hay for tho female pnsoner. Veiy great interest was evinced in the proceedings, and as soon as tho doors were thrown open the small court-house was speedily Hlled, a large portion of the audience consisting of ladies. Hall, wearing hia beard well trimmed, looked anxious. Mies Houston was very plainly dressed, and was looking thin, careworn, and pale. She seemed terribly depressed, but as the mechanical business of balloting for the jury progressed she regained her composure, remaining however slightly depressed, while a sigh escaped her lips occasionally. Hall, I am told, looked better than he did at Timaru, and seemingly had his courage screwed up to go through the ordeal of the trial. There were seven challenges by counsel for the prisoners and none by the Crown before the jury, (of whom Mr F. H. Barnes was chosen foreman), were sworn. On Mr Joynt's application all witnesses, except Dr. Mclntyre and Professors Black and Ogston, were ordered out of court. Mr Joynt applied that tho prisoners be allowed to take seats, but the judge only permitted tho female piisoner to sit. Sir R. Stout, in opening the case, said that new evidence would be given that Miss Houston administered oysters on June 10th to Mrs Hall, who thereafter exhibited symptoms of antimony poisoning. A photographer would also be called to prove that antimony was not used in photographing, as the female prisoner said when Hall was arrested. Evidence would also be taken to show that Hall intended to burn down his house and contents and barn his invalid wife, so that all traces of antimuny poisoning might be removed. Mr Joynt admitted that this evidence would be relevant, and waived his objection as to its admissability made in tho lowei couit. Sir R. Stout continued. Considering tho number of chemist's shops and the facilities for purctiasing poison, it would not have been surprising and not much in pi honor* favour if the Ciown failed to ptove the purchase, but it was clear and conclusive that the mile prisoner puichased antimony in quantities, and also colchicum from several chemists. For what purpose did he buy these poisons? He (Sir Robert) would deal witli Hall's e<cuse by-aud-bye, but they had the tact tli.it Mrs H ill had been suffering from the effects of this very poison, and as Hall's purchase of poison and the recunencn of Mis Hall's sickness were coincident, did not this throw light on the purpose? It was for the jury to say. And theie was also tho fact that about the same time Hall purchased two books on poison. Though colchicum was not mentioned in the indictment, the jury had a right to consider it in order to ascertain thepris tner's intention. Whether colchicum was administered or not, the ice-water given to Mrs Hall during the last state of her illness, ju>t befoie the arrest, contained antimony. The brandy to be used for injections when Mrs Hall could take nothing but ice-water by mouth would be proved to contain colchicum, so that if one means failed another might succeed. He asked the jury and judge impartially to view Hull's conduct at the time of his arrest, his endeavour to conceal the antimony he h.id in his possession, and his cinduct when his wife was ill, playing billurds at his club lata at night when she was trembling between life and death. As to the female piisoner, the Crown would prove thit on .June 20th Houston gave a pluto of oysteis to Mrs Hall, who ate them, and im. Mediately aftei wards was seized vv'tn all the symptoms of poisoning by antimony. Mi Joynt: That is fresh evidence. Sir |{. St.'lit: Then what became of the bit of muslm used with the poisoned icew itf'r? Wny end she goto Hall's assistance whew he tried to conceal the evidence of his guilt at h)^ ariest? Then she told the nurse th it Dr. Stickpole had said she was to give medicine to Mrs Hall and not nurse Mr Hall. Mr Joynt: We have not had notice of this. Sir R. Stout: As to relations between the prisoners, he would frankly bay that there was no evidence of what was termed criminal intercourse, but no doubt they were on familiar terms-. Thoy seemed to c Mi^ult each other and drove out together. Strmgo to say, he takes her to a ball when his wife was thought to be nearly dying. She seemed conscious of what he was doing and he of what she was doing. There was greater intimacy than was to be expected 'between master and lady-help. Then there was another motive. The evidence would show that Hall h.ul taken deliberate measures after insuring the premises to destroy the houso, the contents, and perhips the body of Mrs Hall, and fo do away with rill evidence of his guilt. He had done his duty in opening the case and he now asked the jury to do theirs, to give their verdict in accordauce with the evidence, setting aside all feeling our way or the other. The Attorney-General concluded a speech of great power, in which he almost entiiely avoided declamation by exhorting the juiy to perform their duty faithfully as good citi/.ens. The takin? of the evidence commenced after a brief adjournment. Aft^r taking a 1 irge amount of evidence the court adjourned at 4.35 p.m.