Extraordinary Case in Dunedin.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 284, 9 April 1889, Page 4

Extraordinary Case in Dunedin.

Duubdin, SaturdayThere were some highly sensational incident* in the course of the Wind-mill-Gallic trial on Thursday. Mrs Ludford. in her evidence, said that witness’ sister Annie was the best of the lot of them. Annie got on very badly with her mother, and her life at home was not a happy one. Mrs Gallio often quarrelled with Annie, who heartly disliked Walker. When Millywas a baby witness was bathing Mr Walker’s head with vinegar and water in the parlour when Annie came in and ordered her to go out of the room. Witness said she would not, and Annie went away, and witness heard her complaining to her mother. After this, Annie and her mother came into the room. Her mother asked Walker a question in an undertone. Walker got angry, and denied something,, and called her sister Annie a liar. Mrs Gallie joined him in abusing Annie, and used other words witness did not care to repeat. Annie was crying nearly all the time. Annie accused Walker of taking liberties with her, and told her mother she was afraid for the rest of her sisters. Walker called Annie a liar and Mrs Gallie refused to believe her. Annie and witness left the room and went upstairs. Annie was crying bitterly, and witness was trying to comfort her. Annie and witness then went down to the parlour. Walker had left the room, and Annie went straight to the cheffonier, reached a bottle of laudunum, emptied it into a wineglass and drank it. Then she put the bottle down. Witness noticed the word “ poison ” on the bottle, and went and told her mother that Annie had taken poison, and begged her to come to Annie’s assistance. Her mother Mid* " Let her die; I have not done |t>" Witness was absolutely sure of the words, Rhe wm not likely to forget them. Witness told Walker, who turned very white and went with witness into the parlor, where Annie Was crouching down in the fireplace. Walker asked Mrs Gallie to come. She refused to do so, but at last did pome, and between them Walker and Mrs Gallie dragged Annie upstairs to witness’ room, where they walked her up and down, and gave her salt and water, and mustard pnd water. It seemed to witness that thia treatment was continued for hours. Next day Annie was ill in bed. Witness had never seen Annie, or anyone, give Walker any encouragement. After this Annie's life in the house was not a happy one. Witness’ impression and belief was her mother was jealous of her sister. There was nothing in the girl's conduct to justify this. The girl here referred to is the plaintiff’s sister, who died quite recently. In cross-examina-tion the following occurred: —Witness had never told anyone that Mrs Gallie was not her mother. The first time she mentioned her mother’s misconduct with Walker, was, some months afterwards, to her sister Annie. The first manifestation of her mother’s cruelty and inhumanity was when she refused to come to Annie’s assistance. Mr Chapman—Then you still believe that your mother is a perfect demon ? Witness—l do not. Mr Chapman— Though she would let your sister be poisoned P Witness—l do not believe she would have let her die. Mr Chapman—She has some redeeming qualities ? Witness— She is my mother. Mr Chapman—But she has some redeeming qualities; you have left her very few ? Up to the time of my mother’s acquaintance with Walker she was all that a mother could be. Mr Chapman—But Walker was not a demon ? Witness—He was the greatest wretch that ever trod God’s earth. Mr Chapman—But he was the person who helped to save your sister’s life ? Wit. ness—And well he might; he would do that for his own neck's sake. Crossexamination continued. Witness— Would admit that she used to sometimesgive saucy answers to her mother; they used to get angry and throw texts of Scripture at one another.