SANITY QUESTIONED

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 106, 1 November 1933, Page 3

SANITY QUESTIONED

EDWARDS MURDER TRIAL

EVIDENCE FOR DEFENCE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 31. The trial of John Hubert Edwards, who is charged with murdering Mrs. Christina Cunningham, was continued this afternoon. The first' witness for the defence, which raised the question of the accused's sanity, was Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips, who said she had known Edwards for twelve years. Frequently he would sit on the back steps and bury his head in his hands and, begin singing loudly. She remembered an occasion about ten years ago when he was at the foot of Summer Street shouting, out that someone had tried to murder him. John Henry Eush said he had known Edwards for several years." Edwards use'to sell tea to witness. 'Frequently when he called he 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 Ponaonby Road. Edwards knocked his head against a ppst, tipped his hat off, and began to shout. Witness went over to him, and Edwards, holding his hands to his head, complained about blood flowing from it, when - actually there was no blood. James Robert Eobertson, auctioneer, said ho first knew Edwards in 1927, when Edwards purchased a farm of ten acres at Mt. Roslftll 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 he 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 a-nd it would be difficult to pin him down to any one topic. Eventually Edwards walked off th« farm without saying_ a word to anyone and went to AustraliaHe left the stock to look after itself. The Court adjourned until tomorrow.