MUNN'S DEFENCE

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1930, Page 5

MUNN'S DEFENCE

WIFE ACCUSED HI Ireatmenl Denied (Per Press Association). ACCKLAXD, May 21. Hiis inoriiing yi r Xorthcroft rc-ii'ii-<‘*i his address. lie said there was a possibility that Mrs Munn had taken strychnine because id’ fear of pregnancy. Women in such circumstances had been known to do extraordinary things. Evidence would be called to show that Mrs Munn had on occasion taken drug-, for a similar purpose Munn would give evidence of a conversation he had will his wife and. of his advising her strongly not to meddle with things of which she knew nothing. Counsel went on to argue lhai the woman’s behaviour in her illness was consistent with her having taken poison for the purpose indi cated. 'Flic accu cd, Munn giving evident o said that his first marriage was unhappy, and eventually his wife left him with the children, who ranged from five years to six weeks old. From that time until his children left him. about three years ago, the first, ■wife had not interested herself in them. Subsequently, he divorced her, on ih.- ground <»« desertion ami mail tied again. Willies detailed I lie arrangements between himself and his wife regarding property, showing that he had to bear the burden. ALunn said: “I deny absolutely that 1 ever knocked my wife about. After the children left me, I know they went to my first wife. They never (••iinio back or showed any affection fl er wards. Referring to the evidence of one daughter regarding his wife having to I oarricale the door against him wit- 1 ness said it was harmless joking between them. Munn explaining why he got in touch with Mrs Stuck, said 1"' was • lacking in some mental activity. lie had no intention of sleeking matrimony. or any alliance of the sort. It was only because the clerk at the newspaper counter insisted that the words “view matrimony’' were inserted in the advertisement. He got 53 replies and reduced them to two, of whom Mrs Stuck was one. He met the oilier who wanted “spotting ami smoking,” o he dropped her as soon ns he could. He then saw Mis Stuck. ! There was never any love-making. His wife was quite well when Airs Stuck went , to Christchurch. Munn’s Account OF WIFE’S ILLNESS. . I (Per Press Association). H't’KI.AXD, May 21. At 11’.* murder trial, in describing his wife’s illness, Munn said that it was a fairly general condition that h's wTo would I. . f-iirly well during the day and. would become restless and nervous toward evening. Munn S-n-’d' his wif ( > had a good night tl'.e night before rhe d ; . *l. His wife asked him, that light that he should premise her that he would not let her go to the hospital. Alunn said his wile woke b. m about 7 n.m or, th ■ morning of Tuesday. Feb. 1 She said the children were alreridy up. and that Doreen had been crying. When lie return-d from feed'iig the fowls, ho asked her about salts. She asked if she would have to have them ’hai morning, and he said it ?/•' d.ing to the doctor’s or—d.rs. .He gave her half a teacupfnl. ■ Tujte. d of a wholp nnc K He was nol able to say if sh ( > took the salts. When In- rook the salts to her. she asked if lie had any Grange juice, and he gave her some in a wap. Shortly after that. <ho called to him in the kitchen. and asked him to stay with her. H asked her why, and told her she seemed all right. She said: “Yes. but T am t/T:;id I’m going to Eave a. turn.” Tie stayed with her, and shortly afterwards she started io tremble and had a convulsion. That passed quickly. She seemed quite on y. AV hen ho said lie was going for the doctor, she said: “3 don’t wi/Zlbp dndor.” He sent e nu-ssago 1 to the doctor 1o come ac once. When the doctor came, Mrs Munn started to tremble. The doctor asked, him if that was how Ills wife had gone on th' 1 previous lue,sd::\. Witness replied: “Vest.” The doefo”. drew his attention to the arching of her back. Wtness said he lull not seen that. before-. After the doctor bad gone, Mrs Munn wont to sleep. Later he went to the doctor, tolling Jjim his wife’s pnls e seamed to be z'onkoning. and lie did not like the look of her. Witness wont home ahead \if th a doctor, and when th,, doctor arrived he told witness his wifi was Munn’s Examination was not completed when the court- rose