'VERY MATTER-OF-FACT’

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 196, 16 May 1930, Page 11

'VERY MATTER-OF-FACT’

DEATH OF MRS. MUNN ATTITUDE OF HUSBAND DR. DUDDING’S EVIDENCE By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, May 15. The most important feature of the trial of Arthur Thomas Munn, on a charge of wife murder, which was continued in the Supreme Court to-day, was the evidence of Dr. Dudding, who attended the dead woman. At the conclusion of his evidence, Dr. Dndding was subjected to a lengthy cross-examination by Mr. Northcroft, who is appearing for Munn. Mr. Justice Herdman was on ths bench, and the prisoner was represented by Mr. E. H. Northcroft and Air. Afunro. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr V. R. Aferedith, had with him Air. F. AlcCarthy. At the request of counsel for the defence, Mrs. Lydia Gill, who fainted yesterday, was recalled. She said Airs. Alunn did not tell her she had drank anything bitter, or that Alunn had given her anything bitter. Medical Witness. ( The medical men who are to be called as witnesses closely followed the evidence of Dr. Dudding, who attended Airs. Alunn. Dr. Dudding said that he was first informed on February 4 that a woman had had a seizure. On arrival at the house, Alunn said his wife had started trembling. Witness thought she might be going to have a stroke, owing to high blood pressure. After prescribing for her, he left. He next visited her on February 6. The patient seemed comfortable and happy, and he did not think her seriously ill. He visited her again on February 8 and 10, and on Tuesday, February 11, he received a message that the patient had a very bad turn. He found her played out, and presently she had a convulsive attack which lasted four minutes. He had never seen or heard of any such condition before. He said nothing to Alunn of his suspicions. Later he was called, and was surprised -to find the woman dead. From the condition of the body, he concluded she had had another convulsion and died in it. Dr. Dudding said he was then almost sure the woman had died of strychnine. On a table at the bedside was a cup containing a liquid and a fluffy brown deposit, such as was often seen in salts when they were allowed to stand. Mr. Northcroft protested that this was new evidence. The witness said he had mentioned it to the police. The rest of his evidence concerning the steps he took to test the fluid found in the cup followed the lines of his testimony in the lower court. Long Cross-examination. The cross-examination of Dr. Dudding occupied the whole afternoon. Dr. Dudding said he gave Alunn some blood drawn off Airs. Alunn’s arm to dispose of. Air. Northcroft: So Munn had no need to entertain a suspicion that you had drawn the blood to take it away for a test? —“That is so.” Would it not be inappropriate to say that if she did not lie quiet she might be sent to hospital?—“That would often be said in such cases. I did not say that in this case.” Answering further questions, Dr. Dudding said he thought Alunn was worried about his wife’s condition. Airs. Munn had not complained to him of loss of power in her legs, though she said she had cramp in these limbs. The day before hey death Mrs. Alunn did not make any complaints. She was bright and cheerful. Mr. Northcroft: What time did you recognise it was a strychnine convulsion?—“lt took some moments for my mind to work'.” How long did that take?—“The whole business was so dramatic that I cannot give times.” This is a good deal more important to my client than you.—“l recognised

it was a strychnine convulsion later.” When did you recognise it?—“l was highly suspicious when I saw an arching of the back.” If your suspicions of a strychnine convulsion were justified, was not the woman in Imminent danger of death?— “She had been in danger during the previous seven days.” The doctor said he was certain the convulsion was caused by poisoning after he returned to his rooms and consulted his books. Treatment for Suspected Poisoning. Counsel submitted a standard work of poisons, which prescribed the application of-chloroform and the use of a stomach pump where poisoning was suspected. Witness agreed that this method of t eatment was the orthodox one, and he said he had not carried this out. He admitted that patients suffering from strychnine 'poisoning died either from asphyxia or exhaustion, and the danger of suffocation during convulsion was ever present. Dr. Dudding said Mrs. Munn would have been well enough to be taken out of bed between the Thursday and the Monday. She was physically able t get out of bed and return to bed. Mr. Meredith, referring to the suggestion that it might have been possible for Mrs. Munn to get out of bed, asked whether in the light of bis subsequent knowledge witness still held that opinion. Witness said he never really put the matter to the test. Regarding Munn’s manner over hiswife’s death, witness said he was struck by Munn’s manner, and Munn had seemed very matter-of-fact and he did not seem at all worried. He was also struck by Munn’s manner during the illness. At this stage the hearing was adjourned till to-morrow. The Crown has a further 15 witnesses to call, many of whom are medical men, and the trial will extend well into next week.