ALLEGED MURDER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12090, 1 November 1933, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER

THE DEATH OP MRS. "CUNNINGHAM. LABORER ON TRIAL. DEFENCE PLEADS INSANITY AT TIME. (Press Association) AUOKLAD, Oct. 31. The trial of John Hubert Edwards on a murder charge wlas continued to-day. Evidence was given by Constable C. Williams, who was on duty at the bedside while the accused was m hospital concerning statements made by him at various times. Edwards had said :“I was no coward. 1 killed tlie woman I loved. I ha c | a nervous breakdown about seven months ago. It as a terrible thing when a man is in a state like that. He does not know what he does. When T went to the house that morning something led; me there. When I did it something seemed to snap. When a man is insane lie does'not know what he is doing. No, I’ll plead not guilty to His Worship.” Cross-examined after recounting these and other remarks the witness said he did not think anybody else heard any of Hie statements, which were made prior to Edwards undergoing an operation. Constable Howe gave evidence concerning other statements. Edwards ,spoke several times of a nervous breakdown, and said he had had n° sleep for 10 weeks. His conscience was clear, as lie remembered nothing about it.

Another constable said flic accused told him lie would be better deadOn August 26 lie* said: “I am as sane now as I have ever been in my life.” Ho also said his curse would be on all who were jeering at him. Another time he said: “I forgive everyone. When a man has a breakdown he does things lie would not otherwise do. Something went in my head.”

A detective said no trace had been 'found of the instrument used to inflict injuries on Cunningham’s head-

ill opening the case for the defence, Mr. Hail Skelton said he did not doubt that the Crown had proved that Edwards was responsible for the killing. Tlie question for tlie jury was whether at tli e time the accused was insane. The vital facts to be Considered wore the absence of motive, no concealment of tlie 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 lie evidence that he once had a fantastic idea that he was a new Messiah, and that because of hi.s queerness many people thought him a shell-shock cu.se. The first witness for the defence was Mrs. Elizabeth Phillips. Witness 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 one 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 Rush said he had known Edwards for several years. Edwards used to sell tea to witness. Frequently when lie called Jie would burst into song. One of his favorite songs was “If I Could Plant a Tiny Bii' of Love in tlie Corner of Your Heart.” Edwards was very shaky at times, and witness thought him a shell-shock case. Witness related one occasion about live years ago, when Edwards was in Ponsonby road. Edwards knocked his head against a post, tipped .his hat off. and began to shout. Witness went over to him, and Edwards, holding his hands to hi.s 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 that Edwards was a strange and excitable individual. At one time Edwards spoke of a new religion, and said lie 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 difficult 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 arjourned until to-mor-row.