MUNN MURDER TRIAL

Evening Star, Issue 20483, 14 May 1930, Page 8

MUNN MURDER TRIAL

GROWN CASE PROCEEDING HOUSEKEEPER'S EVIDENCE [Pan United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 14. The trial of Arthur Thomas Munn on a charge of murdering his wife, Lillie May Munn, at Northcote, on February 11, entered its third day this morning. Munn, who is a furniture maker, aged forty-five, is represented by Messrs Northcroft and Munro, and the Crown Prosecutor (Mr Meredith) has with him Mr P. M'Carthy. Mr Justice Herdman is on the bench. Mrs Georgina Stuck, who became accused’s housekeeper after his wife’s death, was cross-examined by Mr Northcroft. She said that her daughter was present during most of her association with Munn. There was no attempt at love-making on her part. They talked of politics and things in general. The basis of their relationship was friendship. Munn kissed her “ good-night ’’ once after h© had asked her to marry him. When she was in Christchurch and asked Munn for the loan of £5 she offered him security. Without the loan she could not have returned to Auckland. Munn did not know then that she wouH return. When he asked her to become his housekeeper he told hei about the attitude his wife’s relatives were taking up. Mrs Gill, who lived in a flat under the Munns, said the day before Mrs Munn died she saw her doing the washing. She appeared bright and cheerful. About 7 the next morning Mrs Munn told witness that she had been to the pictures the night before. She said she had a headache,, and went inside about ten minutes later. _ Munn’s little girl came, and asked witness to go upstairs. She found Mrs Munn sitting in a chair in the kitchen,_ with head thrown hack. She was gripping the chair with her hands, and her legs were stretched out. She seemed, to be stiff, and at times. her legs twitched. She could speak, hut indistinctly, and asked witness what was the matter with her. When witness tried to give her water she cried: “Don’t touch me.” Later Munn came in, saying he had been for the doctor. Munn said he did not know what was wrong, x The witness Gill added that at about 3 or 4 o’clock the same afternoon she again saw Mrs Munn, who was collected and cool, and seemed comfortable. Two days later witness saw her still in bed. She was all nerves. On the Friday evening witness visited her, and was surprised to see a change for the worse. Mrs Munn said: “Don’t worry me. I’m ill.” Witness did not see her on the Saturday or the Sunday, but at 2 o’clock on the Sunday mining she heard her crying and moaning. The cries were similar to those on the day she took ill. They continued till Munn came down two hours later to ask witness to go for a doctor. Munn said that his wife had got out of bed, and he could not get her back, and that she could not get her breath very well. The witness, after being crossexamined by Mr Northcroft, questioned by the judge, and re-examined by Mr Meredith, fainted and was carried from the courtroom by a doctor and the court officials. As she did not recover quickly another witness was called. Mrs Mary Jane Brown, a neighbour, said that on February 5 Munn told her, when she expressed the intention of seeing his wife, that he did not want any damn woman down there, as the doctor had said his wife must he kept quiet. He (Munn) was going to look after his wife himself.