DEFENCE OPENED

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 32, 1 November 1933, Page 11

DEFENCE OPENED

Evidence in Auckland Murder Trial question of insanity By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Auckland, October 31. The trial of John Hubert Edwards, who is charged with murdering Mrs. Christina Cunningham, was continued was given by Constable Williams, who was on duty at the oeu side while the accused was in hospital, concerning statements made by him at various times. Edwards had S: “I was no coward. 1 killed the woman I loved. I had a nervous breakdown about seven months ago. it is a terrible thing when a man is in a state like that and he does not know what he does. When I went down to the house that morning somethin" led me there. When I did it something seemed to snap. When a man is insane he does not know what he is doing. No, I’ll plead not guilty to his Worship.” Cross-examined after recounting these and other remarks, witness said he did not think anybody else heard any of the statements which were made prior to Edwards undergoing an operation. ■ Constable Howe gave evidence concerning other statements. He said that Edwards spoke several times of a nervous breakdown and said he naci. no sleep for ten weeks. His conscience was dear, as he remembertl nothing about it. ; ■ “Would Be Better Dead.” Another constable said that the ac- ' cused told him he would be better 'dead. On August 20 he said: “I am as sane now as I have ever been in ■my life.” He also said that his curse would be on all who were jeering at him, At:another time he said: ‘I fori give everyone. When, a man has a ‘breakdown he does things he would not ■otherwise do.” Something went in his head, he said. , ' A detective said that no trace had been, found of the instrument used to 'inflict the injuries on Mr. Cunningham’s head/' » . •• . Opening the case for the defence, Mr. Hall Skelton said he did not doubt that the Crown had proved Edwards Responsible for the killing. The question for the jury was whether at the time the accused was insane. The vital facts’ to be considered were that there was an absence of motive, no concealment of the crime, and no attempt to escape. Numerous witnesses would be called to show the type of man the accused was before the offence. There would be evidence-that he once had a fantastic idea that he was a new Messiah and that because of his queerness many people thought him a shell-shock case. ■ The first witness for the defence was .Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips, who had known Edwards for 12 years. Frequently he would'sit on the back steps and bury his head in. his hands and begin singing loudly: She remembered the occasion about ten years ago when he was at the foot of Summer Street shouting out someone had tried to murder him. Frequent Singing. John Henry Kush said he had known Edwards for several years. Edwards used to sell tea to witness. Frequently iwtien he called' lie would burst into song. One of his favourite songs was “If I Could Plant a Tiny Bit of Love in the Corner of Your Heart.” Edwards, was very shaky at times, and witness thought him a shell-shock case. Witness related an occasion about five years-ago, when Edwards was in Ponsonby Road. Edwards knocked his head against a post, tipped his bat off. and began to shout. Witness went oyer to him. and Edwards, holding his hands to his head, complained about blood flowing from it, when actually there was no blood. James Robert Robertson, auctioneer, said he first knew Edwards in 1927, when Edwards purchased a farm of ten acres at Mt. Roskill from witness. It was not long before witness discovered Edwards was a strange and excitable individual. At one time Edwards spoke of a new religion, and said be intended to go to Australia to spread the movement. At times Edwards would discuss farm matters quite rationally, and at other times he would ramble In his conversation, and it was diflicult : to pin him down to any one topic. Eventually Edwards walked ■off the farm without saying a word to anyone and went to Australia. He left the stock to look after itself. The court adjourned until to-morrow.