TRIAL OF MUNN ON WIFE MURDER CHARGE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 10377, 15 May 1930, Page 3

TRIAL OF MUNN ON WIFE MURDER CHARGE

Evidence Given by Neighbours. CONVULSIVE ATTACKS. Auckland, May 14 The trial of Arthur Thomas Munn on a charge of murdering his wife, Lily May Munn. at Northcota, on February 11, was continued to-day. Mrs Mary Jane Brown, of Northcote, continuing her evidence, stated she called at the house and saw Mrs Munn, who was in bed. Her arms were twitching, and Mrs Munn said she had lost the use of her legs. Munn was about the house. Mrs Munn said she did not know what was the matter with her, but Dr Dudding was treating her for blood pressure. She said she thought she had a stroke on the previous morning when preparing breakfast. Witness remained at the hduse that night till Munn returned from attending a meeting. That would be about half-past ten. Mrs Munn was twitching and crying, and was very ill.

“I next saw Mrs Munn on Friday, February 7,” said Mrs Drown, continuing her evidence after the luncheon adjournment to-day. “She looked worse than when I saw her before. She said she could not get up as she had no use of her legs. Her eyes were half closed, and she seemed to be jumping and twitching as she had neen nefore. She w'as very nervous, and was annoyed when I walked about the room. She said she could not stand any noise.’’ Beatrice K. Lydiard, who resided near the Munns’ House in Richmond Road, said that Munn came across to her on the morning that his wife took sick and asked her to keep an eye on his wife while he went to town. Witness' went over and saw Mrs Munn in bed. She was fairly bright, but said she had had terrible pains in the arms and legs. Munn returned about 1.30 p.m. and witness left. She did not again see Mrs Munn, although she called each morning. The day before Mrs Munn died Munn met her at the back door and told her that one of the children had dropped a nroom on the back verandah and his wife had nearly jumped out of bed. He also said he could almost hear her heart beating as he stood beside the bed. He did not ask witness in because, he said, Dr Dudding had ordered perfect quiet. On the day of Mrs Muun’s death witness called and Munn told her his wife was sleeping and the doctor had injected morphia. He also said he had had a terrible night with his wife and she j had been clinging to him all night. ] Witness then left, but called again j about an hour later. Munn was then taking the car out of the garage and said he was going for the doctor. He did not like the look of Mrs Munn, and asked witness to stand in the doorway till he came back.

Cross-examined witness said the doctor arrived about a-quarter of an hour after Munn returned. Mrs Munn did not say her husband had given her anything or that she had tasted anything bitter. , Witness, broke down at this stage, and was given a seat in the witness box. . ..

Re-examined by Mr Meredith Mrs Lydiard said that Mrs Munn did not like the idea of going to hospital, and said she would keep quiet. Evidence relative to telegrams which passed between Mrs Stuck, of Christchurch, and Arthur Munn, of Takapuna, was given by Martin Kiely, supervisor of the telegraph operating room, Auckland. The telegrams were those which had been referred to in evidence given by Mrs Stuck. A telegraphist, Sydney John Archi bald, gave evidence regarding the lodging of a money order telegram handed in at 4.10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, andl /similar evidence about another telegram mentioned by Mrs Stuck in her evidence was given by Robin John Gillibrand, telegraphist. A retired accountant of the Post Office and Money Order and Savings Bank Department of over yo tears’ experience, Joseph James Murray. said he had made comparisons of handwriting in the case. Ihe signatures on the accused’s property sheets, or police statements, on the matrimonial advertisement and on a money order telegram were all in the same handwriting and written by the same person. This testimony was corroborated by Clarence Cecil Spedding, retired bank manager.

Joseph Zanna, Roman Catholic clergyman in charge, of St. Peter’s Rural" Training College, Northcote. said that on February 8 he advertised for a cook-general. That afternoon at 2 o’clock he met Mrs Stuck, who applied for the position, and he engaged her. to commence on Monday morning. She arrived at n a.m. in a. motor-car wth the accused, who introduced himself as Mr Munn, Mrs Stuck commenced her duties, and stayed until the following Saturday. On the Friday morning Mrs Stuck said she would like to leave, and witness agreed to her going straight away if she' liked. She left on Saturday evening. about- 8 o’clock. Someone came for her in a car, but he did not sec who.

Auckland, May 15. The trial of Munn was continued to-day. - ; At the request of counsel for the ' defence, Mrs Lydia Gill, who fainted vesterday, was recalled. She said Mrs Munn did not tell her she had drunk anything bitter or that' Munn haW given her anything Hitter. The medical men who arc to be : called as witnesses closely followed the evidence of Dr Duckling, who attended Mrs Munn. He said that Tic was first informed on February 4. that the woman had had a seizure. On arrival at the house, Munn said his wife had started trembling. Witness ( thought the woman , might be going to have a stroke 1 , owing to her high ■blood pressure. After prescribing for her ho left. His next visit was made on February 6. The patient seemed comfortable and hapjiy and he did not think her seriously ill. He visited 1 her again on February, S and 10 (Monday). On Tuesday be received a message that thd patient bad had a very bad turn. He found her played out and presently she had a convulsive attack, lasting four minutes. He had never seen or heard of ‘any , such condition before. He said nothing to Munn of his suspicions, j Later he was called and was sururis- j ed to find the woman dead. Front \ the condition of the body he conclud- j cd she had had another convulsion j and died in it. Dr DuddirgT said he was then al- 1 most sure the woman had died of strvchninc. On a table at the bedside was a cup containing liquid and a fluffy brown deposit, such as was often seen in salts, when allowed to stand. Mr Xorthcroft protested that this nns new evidence. Witness said he bad mentioned it 'o the police. The r'st of Dr Duckling's evidence concerning the steps he took to test the fluid found -in the cup . followed the lines of the lower Court testimony. 1