GREY LYNN MURDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 October 1933, Page 7

GREY LYNN MURDER

ACCUSED’S TRIAL OPENED

UNINVITED VISITOR

[FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.]

AUCKLAND, October 30. Charged with the murder of Mrs Christian Cunningham, at her home in Grey Lynn, on August 16, John/Hubert Edwards, 41, labourer, was placed on trial to-day, before Mr Justice Herdman. Mr Meredith, for the Crown, /said that the Cunningham family had known Edwards for about six years, and at one time had lived under'the same roof. Subsequently, when • the family moved, Edwards called’ on them occasionally. On the night of August 15, Dora and Joyce Cunningham went to a dance, and when Joyce returned, about midnight, Edwards came along and said that he ivanted to see her father (who was on relief work) about a permanent job. He was admitted, and went into Cunningham’s bedroom, where he told Cunningham that he was feeling sick and faint. Cunningham told him to sit on the bed, and later dropped off to sleep. On waking in the morning, he., saw . Edwards lying across the foot of the bed. Cunningham left the bedroom about . 6.30 o’clock. Edwards apparently then got into bed. He had pyjamas on, which he must have been wearing, under his clothes, when he arrived. The daughter, Joyce, heard her mother say to Edp’ards, “Don’t you think you had a nerve to come here like you did, and stay all night?” Cunningham then came into the hopse, and heard’" Edwards say “Won’t you forgive me this time?” Later in the morning, Cunningham and Edwards left the house together, and as’they walked along, Cunningham said, “Look, Edwards, it’s not convenient to have visitors to the house just now. I am on relief work, and we cannot afford to have visitors.” (Proceeding.) ASSAULT ON WIFE.

OLD MAN CHARGED.

AUCKLAND, October 30.

The defence of insanity was set. up at the trial, to-day, of John Shaw Gordon, aged 68, retired bricklayer, on a charge that with intent to do grievous bodily harm, he did actual bodily harm to his wife Nellie. The Crown alleged that in the early morning of August 31, Gordon attacked his wife with a hammer, and then attempted suicide. The Crown Prosecutor said that in a case of this kind, the wife might give evidence against the husband, but in New Zealand she could not be compelled to do so. In this case, the wife would not be a witness. Evidence was given on the lines of the Lower Court hearing. Counsel for the defence, questioned medical witnesses to show that accused’s mentality might have been affected by a discharging wound which was found, when he w’as examined. Accused’s son, aged 20, said his father was of a peculiar disposition, and seemed over-sensitive to noise. Dr T. G. Short said he was satisfied that accused was insane. He had a sense of grievance against his family and delusions of persecution. His condition was the result p-of chronic ajlcoholism, probably accentuated by chronic suppuration .of a sore on the hip. Accused might have known what he was doing when he attacked his wife, but witness did not think he fully understood the significance of it. Dr H. M. Buchanan, Superintendent of the Mental Hospital, said he did not F ’nd any symptoms of insanity in the accused. There was nothing unusual about his mental condition for a man of 68. His peculiar behaviour consist, ed of foibles. Dr G. M. Tothill corroborated Dr Buchanan’s evidence. Counsel’s addresses are being heard. '

journalist more than Panter, w’ho is expected to be expelled from Bavaria.

THE POPE’S ANXIETY.

(Recd. October 30, 9 a.m.) VATICAN CITY, October 29. The Pope, addressing a German pilgrimage, said: “I am gravely anxious regarding youth and religion in Germany. Nevertheless, I am temperamentally optimistic. You must remain calm, but watch and pray.” PLEBISCITE CANDIDATES. LONDON, October 29. The “News-Chronicle’s” Berlin correspondent says: Only thirty of the listed election candidates are nonNazis. They are described as guests of the Nazi Party. REICHSTAG FIRE INQUIRY. BERLIN, October 27. The accused Dimitroff put searching questions at the Reichstag fire inquiry, to Kroyer, an Austrian Nazi, -which repeatedly embarrassed, the Court. Kroyer gave evidence in support of Karwahne, and he identified Van der Lubbe as the accused Torgler’s companion in the Communist room on the day of the fire. Dimitroff persistently questioned Kroyer. The President, intervening, said to Kroyer: “Please do not excite yourself. I shall reject Dimitroff’s questions anyhow.” U.S.A. LAWYER’S OPINION.

(Rech. October 30, 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN, October 29.

Garfield Hays, an American lawyer, has issued a statement that Torgler, Dimitroff, Popoff and Taneffi are innocent of implication in the Reichstag fire.

“I heard the evidence in London which the refugees dare not give here, and also heard at Leipzig and Berlin practically all the important evidence regarding identification, which was so contradictory and preposterous, that it convinced me no impartial person would think them guilty,” he said.

AUSTRIAN CAMP.

VIENNA, October 28.

Austria’s first surveillance centre for political prisoners, opened at Woellersdorf, is housing twenty Nazis and Communists. It resembles the German camps, but the use of the term “concentration camp” is forbidden to the newspapers. The prisoners are obliged to pay for their own food and accommodation, and also their guards’ wages and the upkeep of the Centre, whither they are conveyed at their own expense.