THE JARVEY CASE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2233, 30 October 1886, Page 2

THE JARVEY CASE.

The incidents of the Timaru caso recall the facts of the trials of Captain Jarvey in Dnnedin many year* ago, on the charge of poisoning his wife. This is especially the case in regard to the scientific evidence. Captain «Tai\ey was a well-known and popular skipper of steamers plying chiefly between Dunedin and the Bluff — the Titauia and William Miskin. He was very much liked, especially by lady passengers. His wife and family resided at Caversham, near Dunedin, where her death occurred. Nothing could exceed the astonishment which was caused by tho news of hi* an est on a charge of pom mm:: her. New Zealand at th.it time had no Universities and few scientists. Mr-> ,1 mey's vi-,c j ra were foi warded to Melbourne for analysis by Professor MaeuJair., the Government Analyst theie. flu found ainplu proofs of the piest'iiee of iiiyrhnu, nnd he came down to Dunedin to gi\e evidence. The defence w,h entrusted to Mr James Smith, who knew something of chemistry, and speedily learned ir.ore. Piofe^tor Macadam w.us an eldeily and rather infirm man. He was quite sure of his facts, but under the teuthly meiciloss scientific and technical ck'ss examination of Mr Smith he got confused, hesitated, contradicted him-elf, and caused in thft mind of tho jury a doubt, suggested lather by his m inner than the matter of his cro>s o\anntion—a doubt as to the peifect reliability of j hi* evidence in chief as an expert, of the presence of the poison in the remains analysed. The result was thatthe jury disagreed. Jarvey was remanded, and tho Professor went back to Melbourne. He was on his way down to Dunedin to attend the second t»lal when ho died on the steimor. He had never recovered from the severity of his c:os-,-B\amm:ition. His doath rendered his evidence on the fii *t tiial ad-ii)H-iblo As pio >f. Usi'l fi.mi the -July's notes tlu' f.u-t-^ \v(>u- so c!eu tli.it, not having witnessed the clfect.s of the cioss. examination and tin* m inner of the « ltne-^, the jury had no hesitation in accepting the accuracy of his analysis. Captain J u voy was duly convicted and executed.— Post.