Tragedy at Grey Lynn

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7301, 31 October 1933, Page 7

Tragedy at Grey Lynn

Charge of Murder Against Labourer

SUPREME COURT TRIAL OPENS

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Charged with the murder of Mrs Christian Cunningham at her home in Grey Lynn on August 16, John Hubert Edwards, aged 41 years, a labourer, was placed on trial to-day before Mr Justice Hcrdnian. Mr Meredith, l'or 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 tho night of August 15 Dora and Joyce Cunningham went to a dance, and when Joyce returned about midnight Edwards came along and said lie wanted 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 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 tho bed. Cunningham left the bedroom about 6.30 a.m. Edwards apparently then got into bed. He had pyjamas on, which lie must have been wearing under his clothes when ho arrived. Tho daughter Joyce heard her mother say to Edwards: “Don’t you think you had a nerve to come here like you did and stay all night?” Cunningham then came into tho house and hoard Edwards say: “Won’t you forgive mo this time?” Later in the morning, said Mr Meredith, 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 Tclicf work and we cannot afford to havo visitors.” Mr Meredith described tile return to the house of the daughter Joyce, who found her mother and accused lying on the floor injured. Assistance was obtained and both were sent to hospital, where Mrs Cunningham died and accused later recovered. Mr Meredith said there wore no signs of a struggle. When Mrs Cunningham was attacked she must have been first struck on the head by some blunt and round instrument. In Edwards’ hand was a tightly-grasped razor, no doubt the razor with which Mrs Cunningham’s throat was severed. It was quite clear that tho unfortunate woman had been struck several severe blows on her head by a round, blunt instrument, but a search of the room and of the neighbourhood had failed to discover the instrument. On a writing pad found on a gasmeter in the hall, said Mr Meredith, was a message in itlio handwriting of Edwards. The message read: “Lovers, we die together. The death pact.’’ The note was signed “Jack Edwards” and “Mrs Cunningham,” but the signatures wero both written by Edwards. No doubt the defence would raise the question of insanity, but the law upon the question was that every person who committed a crime was deemed to bo sane until the contrary had been proved, and this was for tho defence to prove. Edwards was apparently a man of fairly violent temper, and it was quite clear that, ou the morning of the tragedy, Mrs Cunningham had given him a good dressing down. The only suggestion there could be was that ho lost his temper, lost control of himself, and committed murder, said Mr Meredith. Evidence on it.hc lines of counsel's opening address was given, and the hearing was adjourned.