CHARGE OF MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1933, Page 5

CHARGE OF MURDER

EDWARD’S TRIAL

RECENT GREY LYNN TRAGEDY (Per Press Association—Copyright).

AUCKLAND, October 10,

The hearing of the case against the labourer, John Rupert Edwards, aged 41, charged with murdering a married woman, Christian Cunningham, on August 16, was concluded before Mr Wyvein .Siuith, ,S.M., in the Police Court to-day. Mr McCarthy appeared for the (Crown, the accused being represented by Mb’ Hail Skelton. . Continuing bis evidence from Thursday, when the case was adjourned, Constable Williams gave further details of statements allegedly made by the accused while he was in the Auckland Hospital. Cross-examined, the witness said he. was in plain clothes at the hospital. He had been a cohstable for 18 months in New Zealand, and he had previously been in Samoa. The witness handed a notebook to which he had been .referring to give his evidence, to counsel, who proceeded to cross-examine him on the accused’s statements on various occasions.

At the conclusion of the cross-ex-amination counsel formally ... objected to the whole of the evidence jfeiven by Constable Williams,; The objection was noted.

Constable Howe, who was on duty at the hospital from August 17th to September, said the accused informed him on August 19th that he would plead not guilty, as he had a clear con-sicence. He s.'id he hail been suffering from a nervous breakdown for the past ten weeks. “Something seemed to go snap in my brain,” witness said the accused stated. “These things come unexpectedly. It takes all kinds to make a world.” Asked on August 21st bow he felt, the accused said : “It is only this nervous breakdown that is worrying! me. Never mind,, we all go the samp; (way home. They talk ■about- brimstone and .fire;; Don’t you believe it! We are all the same. Once we are in the ground. that is the finish.”

Answering Mr , McCarthy, witness said that he would sometimes be conversing with the accused about genert al matters, when the accused would drift on to the subject. .

An objection by counsel to the witness’ evidence was noted. Evidence ' was given by Constable Farrow that on August.2oth, when witness commented to Fdwai ds that he' was Hooking cused said;.. “I am sinking. I will he ■better dead,” On another occasion, the accused, referring to a patient, grid: “He would not walk about it he had done a job like me. I am the unfehtunate one. I should not be bore. I should be in a box. Some of you who are treating me like this will -get your turn. A All the. doctors and nurses are trying to Ax me.- Looks do not count. I won’t last long.” On August 24th, the accused said; “It is funny how anyone mental is affected—everyone in a- different way. I fee) ■it is affecting my heart. I can’t- stand being in bed and keeping still.. I am suffering too much mental anguish.” On August 30th,” said witness, “Edwards said to me: T have not any callous traits. I have a lovable nature. I would not- kill a fly. but something went in my head. I believe th"-t our lives ate planned out .f Or ns, ■and we are destined to do certain '•things. We cannot help ourselves. I have done nothing to warrant my b m ing a breakdown. I could do nothing to" stop it, and wh«t followed.”’ Mr McCarthy: '“Who Avould revert to the subject in each case?”

“Edwards,’’ replied witness. Detective Me Whirl er save evidence on the condition of the house at Gftey Lynn. Following the tragedy, an intensive search of the house and vicinity was made without success by the police for an irrirument whi-h from the appearance, had caused the head inmries suffered by Mrs Cunningham. The accused - was committed to the ■Supreme Court for 'trial.