WIFE MURDER ALLEGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20562, 13 May 1930, Page 11

WIFE MURDER ALLEGED.

CIIAEGE AGAINST MUNN.

FIRST DAY CF TRIAL

CBOWK'S CASE OUTLINED

NO WITNESSES YET HEATH)

CROWDS TIIIIONGr COURT

Cha-eed with tho murder of his wife, Lillio May Munn, at Northcoto on February 11, Arthur Thomas Munn, aged 45, ftinnfiuT-Tiuikrr, appeared in I lie Supreme Court vest: rday. 11 is expected tho trial will occupy a week.

As war. the c;iso at the preliminary hearing, great' public interest was manifest, women as well as men jostling each other to secure a favourable point of vantago. The queue outside the main courtroom was particularly largo before tho case was roisnmed in I lie afternoon, and some could pot, gain admission. Accommodation for women is provided in a gallery upstairs, and that was completely filled throughout the day. ,

Mr. Justice Herdman presided. Jfr. Meredith, with him Mr. McCarthy, appeared for the Crown, while Munn was defended by Mr. Northcroft and Mr. Monro.

No witnesses, oc whom there are almost 30, have yet been heard. The proceedings yesterday, after a discussion in chambers, .were confined to a comprehensive outline of the Crown's case bv Mr. Meredith, who spoko for three hours. His address is expected to conclude to-day. The Crown's Allegation. Munn, who was dressed in a blue suit, with a brown tie and turn-down collar, pleaded not guilty in answer to the charge. The jury was (hen empanelled. Six challenges were made on behalf of the accused and seven by the Crown. The jury was as follows Leonard John Keys (foreman), Frederick Curzon Taylor, Charles Lucas, Albert Waldemar Temm, James Charles Stewart, Joseph Simms, Claude Caedwgan Ewen, Royston Douglas Knight, David Williams Evans, Ernest Culpan, Frederick Hoy Lincoln and Victor Hanley Bell.

A point regarding the admissibility of certain evidence was raised by the Crown Prosecutor. The jury retired while the matter was discussed in chambers, and it was not until an hour and a-half later that the actual trial commenced.

On the application of Mr. Northcroft witnesses were ordered to remain out of Court until called.

Arthur Thomas Munn is chaz*ged with tho murder of his wife, the allegation being that ho killed her by strychnine poisoning," said Mr. Meredith, in opening the case for the Crown. Mr. Meredith reminded the members of the jury of tho grave responsibility which was their:}, and intimated that, before detailing tho points in tho case, ho felt it his duty as an officer of justice to draw attention to one thing. Prior to the trial a great deal about tho cas® had been published in tho newspapers, and a great deal of public discussion regarding tho caso had taken place. Details of Evidence. ' I earnestly ask you, gentlemen, before you embark on sm examination of tho evidence, to throw from your minds anything you have read or heard, or any preconceived ideas yon may have formed regarding the case," said Mr. Meredith. lour decision should bo based on tho evidence you bear in this Court, and on that alone. ''My duty is simple. I will place before you the facts on-which the prosecution is based, and, as" I may not take another opportunity of addressing you, I propose to comment on some of tho material parts of the evidence as I proceed." The details of tho evidence were intricate, said Mr. Meredith. Although Mrs. Munn s illness occupied only about a week, there were a good many details to give attention to. As in all poisoning cases there would not be—and one could - noti expect that there would be—direct evidence,_ because, if a man intended to poison his wife, it was obvious that he Would not call in anyone to witness tho act. Usually in such cases tho one who took the poison trusted the person who administered it, so that the question whether Munn administered the poison or not would depend on various inferences.

Suggested Explanations. I submit it will bei established beyond doubt that Mrs. Munn diod from strychnine poisoning, and that the strychnine was given in several doses," said Mr. ileredith. "If that; bo so, tliere are only three That Mrs. Munn took the poison herself with the purpose of committing suicide; (2) that Mrs. ■L" nn tiie poison by accident; or (>j) that it was given to her by someone else," Discussing tho first two possible explanations. Mr. Meredith said it was important to consider tho effect of strychnine on tho person taking it to show whether , v ' as reasonably possible for a person 0 " a d once taken strychnine deliberately or by accident, and had suffered, to repeat the dose. Mr. Meredith proceeded to indicate a . w facts about strychnine to show the <r eVa "°- v ce, 'tain points of evidence. .Y O ,, ms strychnine, solublo and ino able, were generally administered, and, ln tho present case, ho suggested tho v,as tjio soluble hydrochloride, j v 'ch was usually quicker in action than «io other form. I: was a white crystal l 'J wo «ld bo difficult to detect, except y the experienced eye, if mixed with a s, and it was of a bitter taste. It '' o j- 10 difficult to administer tho poison in that form to one who did not van to take i;, unless the poison was , ls guised «nd w.is put with something also of a hitter taste. Effect.'; of the Poison, was very rapid in its action. Ci the administration it was ' rapidly •"*, * l 'orn the stomach into the blood „," sc s ani ' «ici.ci] nt] the spinal cord, ... S .' n t> most, violent form of con- , -»■ iC generally took place Ween 15 minutes and an hour after. Jin extract from T.yim-'s Medical JurisGncO''- describing the effects of "Ti nino * Wil ? lj y Mr. Meredith. bonlf 1 '* 1 i ! ' re (, f a textthiV'.i Sau '' y nn •' :ln gather from strv v, l -° * n f''>tful «g«nv tho victim of Jchnuie poisoning g ( ,,s through. All is wT ',' le }l - oil y ihe rack the, mind i m Pei ' - Ctly »nd tho terror of JPendmp death ;u,d suffering is vividly in en fin 'T' " 1 1,10 1 Miirin >r 'i ri|T " lM ' sympathy against mill' JUt 1 lnr ' ntio " :l hi ease it. is sugMiirn a yOU ". as i! ,rlil .y he, that Mrs. had n 'l v ti'Jil: the poison. Having one experience like that, would she a repetition Munn" f 1 ' 0 , lipst da - v of llpr illness Mrs. nessnrl V' an . n ' (iU 'k, fortunately wit,'i -Y cl neighbour, which, absolutely hool- % description I have read from tho altar!* ,' a ci 'J :j week ;he had another the m • 10 v "' ls rt f'irther attack on orning of ciieatli, so that she

had at least three attacks "in the coursi of her illness." A brief history of the accused and hi; wifo ivas narrated by Mr. Meredith. Thej were married at Grevtown on March 12 1920. Mrs. Munn was then a widow, hoi fust husband, a Mr. Westerby, having died on a hospital ship during the war Mrs. Munn had no children by that marnage. Munn was then a divorced mar with three children—Oliver, now aged 26; Dorothy, aged 19; and Mavis, aged 17. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs Munn moved to Auckland, and the three children came too. However, they hac: afterwards left the homo of their fathei and stepmother. The son left about • year ago, and the girls between two and three years ago. By the second marriage there were two daughters, Doreen and I'rcda., aged respectively nine and five years. A house was purchased at Northcote, tho deposit money being supplied by Mrs. Mnnn, in whose name the house was. The Munns had lived at Northcoto since, coming to Auckland. "Iho three older children will give evidence," said Mr. Meredith. "It is not proposed to call the little children. There are obvious objections to that. However, tho children arc in Auckland, and are available to my friends if they wish to call them." Deceased's Disposition. Describing tho houso at Northcoto, counsel said it comprised six rooms and a basement. Tho basement, at the time of Mrs. Munn's illness, was occupied by a Mrs. Gill.' At tho bottom of tho garden there was a workshop, where Munn, a wicker-worker, did his work. Thus, his occupation was such that hp both lived and worked at tho place. In addition to tho-house being in her name, Mrs. Munn had a third interest in an adjoining section of land. Mrs. Munn was 43 years of age, and evidence would show that', prior to her illness, sho was of a bright, cheerful disposition, continued Mr. Meredith. She had had an illness about 15 months prebut had quite recovered from it and her general health was good. It was important to note the relations between Munn and his wifo prior to tho incidents with which tho jury would be particularly concerned, because those relations would indicate the feeling of Munn toward his wife. The first evidence with respect to that would be given by the three children of Munn's first marriage. Oliver Munn would say that the position 'had developed to the stage when Munn was "knocking his wife about a lot," and tho son would say also that ho had definitely seen his father striking tho woman on various occasions.

On another occasion, the son would say, his father picked up tho leavings on a plate at meal-time and threw that at his wife. Tho son would also say that his father had struck Mrs. Munn while in the kitchen, and that ho had pushed her off a chair. In spito of that, Mrs. Munn was always bright and cheerful, and did her best to pleaso her husband. Evidence of Daughters. "Oliver apparently left about 12 months ago," continued Mr. Meredith. "Ho had a dispute with his father over a money matter, with tho result that ho sued his father. It may be suggested, of course, that the son is biassed against his father because of that. That question is entirely ono for you, but one would thinkthat an argument over a question of money would not cause him to make allegations of tho ill-treatment of his stepmother by his especially in a caso like this, if tho allegations were not indeed true."

Dorothy Munn would give evidence to tho same effect. She would say her father was cruel to his wife, that lio spoke roughly to her, and that on two occasions he had struck her. once with his clenched fist, and once with a hot jam-stick. Mavis Munn would also testify to the conduct of Munn toward his wife. She would describe an incident when Munn chased his wife, who ran into a bedroom, where she had to barricade herself from the accused, who tried to break into tho room.

Evidence would also be given by a Mrs. Brown, who lived near, and who was « friend of Mrs. Munn. She would tell of an incident which was small in but which was indicative of Munn s attitude to his wife. Mrs. Brown hnd heard Mrs. Munn ask Munn to get some new linoleum for the kitchen. Munn had replied: "You can damned well scrub tho boards when that is worn out." Advertisement in Newspaper.

Mr. Meredith said it would be proved that Munn had inserted a remarkable advertisement in the Auckland Star on October 10. It read: "Gent, 40, lonely, wishes meet companionable woman, without means preferred, view matrimony." Tho words "view matrimony" were not in tho advertisement as handed in by Munn, but were written in by tho girl who received tho advertisement. She suggested their inclusion and Munn agreed. Tho signature of tho person who banded in the advertisement was "Munn, Northcote," and the handwriting would be identified as that of tho accused.

Here was a man, living under the conditions which had been described, who now sought an opportunity of getting into contact with some fit her woman. A Mrs. Stuck, a widow, was among those who replied to the advertisement. An appointment for a meeting to take place on the following Wednesday in Parnell Road was made in a letter signed "Arthur Thomas." It was significant that these were the first two of Munn's names.

Relating what look place at that interview, when Munn drove Mrs. Stuck in his car to Mange.re, the Crown Prosecutor said Munn told Mrs. Stuck ho had received many replies, somo coming from a3 far as Te Kuiti. Apparently Mrs. Stuck was the one who had attracted him and to whom he had replied; at least it would be assumed that she was the only one. Munn told her that he wanted a friend, but did not r.ay why. Munn wrote again, making another appointment later in the week. On this occasion, in reply to questions from Mrs. Stuck, he admitted that he was married and that his real name was Munn. Mrs. Stuck said she did not wish to come between husband and wife, but on Munn replying that his wife had lost interest in him and that he needed a friend she agreed to be his friend. Mrs. Munn Make 3 Will. After a third interview, also arranged by letter from Munn, there were regular meetings until Mrs. Stuck left for Christchurch on January 31. Each Monday Munn would have morning tea where Mrs. Stuck was living, first at the homo of her brother-in-law at I'arnell and afterwards at a flat where she lived with her daughter. Each Wednesday she would receive a letter from Munn, and each Saturday lie would go over in his car and return to Northcote by the last vehicular ferry. Thus for a period of practically five months there were continuous clandestine meetings between Munn and Mrs. Stuck. The Crown Prosecutor then described what he said was a significant sequence of events. On November 25 Munn purchased strychnine from a chemist at Northcote. I hat was a little over a month after he had first met Mrs. Stuck. On December 24 Mrs. Munn gave instructions for the preparation ' a will, leaving everything to Munn nd appointing him solo executor. This \ s signed on January 15. It was not si .{Rested that the property Mrs. Munn had to leave was of creat value, but the homo and somo other small interests in property were in Iter name. The will eliminated .any chance of the children having any stake in the property and secured to Munn absolute contiol oi the home where ho lived and his workshop. R might bo that no paiticular importance should bo attached to the will, but it was striking as it appeared in the sequence of events. Mr. Meredith said two other significant dates were January 31, when Mrs. Stuck left for Christchurch, and February 4, when Mrs. Munn had the first apparent dose of strychnine. Munn's purchase from the chemist was one dram of strychnine in the solublo form, and he said that hq wanted it for poisoning rat*.

1 The chemist advised him as to its use and tho destruction of any that might be i | left over—eminently sensible advice in a house where there were young children. On no occasion after that did Munn discuss the strychnine with the chemist, but ho bought a small quantity of prussic acid which, ho said, ho wanted for poisoning a cat. Before leaving by the express on Friday evening, January 31, Mrs. Stuck gave to Munn some chairs, pot plants and ' a valuable Persian cat, which she had | had at her flat, and he took them to his j home. Mrs. Stuck had stated that when she left Auckland it was for an indefinite period. Munn saw her off at the station and arrangements were made for correspondence to be carried on, letters for Mrs. Stuck to lie addressed to her at tlie Ohristchurch Post Office, and letters for Munn to be addressed "Arthur Thomas, Takapuna." It did not appear as if communication was to cease between them. Thcso arrangements were used immediately and frequently. Attitude to Wife. A remarkable change in Mtinn's attitude toward his wife followed Mrs. Stuck's departure, Mr. Meredith said. The car had been used every Saturday to take Mrs. Stuck out, but on the Saturday after she left Munn drove Mrs. Munn and tho children to Murray's Beach. After reading a letter which Mrs. Munn wrote to her mot Iter on the following day, Mr. Meredith said it was impossible to suggest that the woman who wrote such a letter to her mother, describing tho previous day's outing and various lit tle incidents connected with the home, could have had any idea of her end being near, and certainly not of taking her own life. Munn's attentions did not cease with tho car ride and breakfast in bed, which she had said in the letter to her mother was unusual. Ho took her to the pic tures on tho Monday night, Airs, Brown being asked to mind the children. On the following morning, Tuesday, February 4, the first convulsion was suffered by Mrs. Munn. Mrs. Gill, who occupied tho basement, saw her in tho back yard and she then appeared to be all right, but said she had a slight headache. Shortly afterwards Mrs. Gill was called upstairs by one of the children. Sho found that Munn had gono for a doctor and Mi£. Munn was in a chair in the kitchen. Symptoms of Illness. The Crown Prosecutor described her symptoms, and said they conformed in every way with those of strychnine poisoning. Mrs. Munn, in her anguish, keptasking Mrs. Gill: "Have you ever seen anything like this before? What is tho matter with me ?" Whenever Mrs. Gill attempted to touch her sho protested, saying that it hurt. If Mrs. Munn's own action had been the cause of that awful suffering, would she have caused herself to go through it again ? the Crown Prosecutor asked. And why should sho ask Mrs. Gill what was tho matter if sho herself had been responsible for getting into that condition ? By the time the doctor arrived Munn and Mrs, Gill had carried Mrs. Munn to her bed and sho was composed but exhausted. Dr. Dudding saw no signs of convulsion. He had received a message that Mrs. Munn had "had a sick turn and that it might bo a stroke." Apparently Munn did most of tho talking and doscribed what had occurred, but did not do so very graphically. On making an examination and finding that the blood pressure appeared to bo abnormally high the doctor, believing (hat Mrs. Munn might be on tho verge of a stroke, drew half a pint of blood, and gave instruc-

tions that the patient should remain quietly in bed and have a light diet. He did not consider her condition serious. Neither at that stage nor later did the doctor contemplate that Mrs. Munn was in any danger, that she needed the services of a nurse, or that she should bo sent to hospital. He ordered regular doses of Epsom salts. The doctor left the house at about 10 o'clock. Telegram Despatched. Mrs. Munn had been through a very trying experience, which Munn had witnessed. One would rather have thought that after it Munn, whose workshop was on the premises, would have stayed with his wife, but immediately after the doctor loft he asked a neighbour, Mrs. Lidiard, to come in, as ho had to go to'town. It was not known what other business he had there, but it was known that at 12.20 p.m. a telegram was despatched from the Auckland Post Office to Mrs. Stuck, reading: "Wife had stroke this morning. Writing. Arthur." The endorsement on this telegram was "A Thomas, City." The writing had been identified as Munn s. No telegram was known of in which he had advised Mrs. Munn's mother.

Mrs. Stuck replied the same day from Christchurch, addressing her telegram to Arthur Thomas, care post office, Takapuna. The telegram stated: —"Very sorry missed mail. All been altered here. Can you please wire me to-day or ihuisday, care post office, five pounds? J.\\o letters Thursday for you. Received wire. Sympathy. I want to return. Lonely. Love. Georgie." Mrs. Munn was seen on the afternoon of that day by Mrs. Gill, who passed by the v. indow of Mrs. Munn's room on her way to and from the basement. Mrs. Munn was fairly comfortable, but was a little twitchy. In the evening Munn went to see Dr. Dudding. Munn said his wife had had a comfortable day, but toward evening

had become restless, excitable and a little hysterical. The doctor, who was not asked to call again, gave Munn some veronal tablets, which were to be crushed and given to Mrs. Munn with hot milk. Thus ended the first day of Mrs. Mutin's illness. On the next day, Wednesday, Mrs. Munn was seen by Mrs. Gill, and by another neighbour, Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Munn told Mrs. Gill that the doctor thought it was kidney trouble She was to be kept quiet and was to have no visitors. Mrs. Gill just touched the bed, whereupon Mrs. Munn said: "Don t touch me, Mrs. Gill. It hurts." Mrs. Gill explained that she had not touched Mrs. Munn, but the latter replied: "I cant bear it. I'm all nerves." Meeting a Neighbour.

Mrs. Blown met Munn in town that day. Munn had gone to Auckland to send a telegram to Mrs. Stuck. He telegraphed the \IS requested, and added: "Wondering what has happened." Munn I old Mrs. Brown that his wife had been very sick in bed, and Mrs. Brown told Munn 110 was to blame for keeping his wife up reading when she ought to have been in bed. When Airs. Brown said she would call and see Mrs. Munn, Munn replied: "I do not want any damned women down there." He added that the doctor had ordered his wife to bo kept quiet and he would look after her himself. However, Mrs. Brown was not deterred and later visited Mrs. Munn, the accused also being in the house. Munn told Mrs. Brown "not to go putling things into Mrs. Munn's head, as she thinks slio has kidney trouble, but it is blood pressure." Mrs. Munn told Mrs. Brown she had lost the power of her arms and legs, and that she had had a stroke on the morning of the previous day. In the evening Mrs. Brown learned that Munn was going to a meeting, so she kept Mrs. Munn company. MrsMunn was very ill and twitchy during the evening. On Thursday Mrs. Stuck left Christchurch for Auckland. On the same day Dr. Dudding saw Mrs. Munn at Munn's request. Mrs. Munn was comfortable and apparently in no great trouble. Mr. Meredith pointed out that after the administration of strychnine a patient either became worse until death or rapidly became better after tho first convulsion. The suggestion was that any strychnine given on Tuesdav was out of the system by Thursday. The doctor found the. blood pressure was still high, but her condition was just as the doctor had expected if his original diagnosis wero correct. " Exceedingly Bad Day." On the, occasion of that visit Munn had said to the doctor that Mrs. Munn was curious to know why the blood had been drawn off —whether it. was for a blood test. Munn asked the question when he and the doctor Were alono outside the room. Mr. Meredith said it might well be that Mrs. Munn had asked the question, but it might bo suggested that Munn was curious to know whether the doctor had any of the blood, and whether he was testing if. " On the next day, Friday, something must have happened, because Mrs. Munn had an exceedingly bad day," continued Mr. Meredith. Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Gill both saw Mrs. Munn in tho afternoon. While walking along the road Mrs. Brown heard Mrs. Munn calling out. On going in, Mrs. Brown found'the patient exceedingly ill. She could not bear Mrs. Brown to walk about, saying that the least, bit of noise mado her head bad. " That is a typical symptom of strychnine poisoning." commented Mr. Meredith.

Airs. Gill saw Airs. Alunn a little Inter in the afternoon. She said: "I didn't know there, had been a change like this." Airs. Alunn replied: "Don't worry me, Airs. Gill. I'm ill." Airs. Gill then left.

Munn had sent to him that evening a telegram from Marton, announcing that Mrs. Stuck would arrive in Auckland at 6.30 a.m. on the following day. As the telegram was sent to Takapuna, Munn could not receive it until 9 o'clock on the next morning, so that he did not meet Mrs. Stuck on arrival. However, Mr. Meredith said Munn did not seem to havo lost much time in ascertaining that there was a telegram for him at Takapuna. Mrs. v Stuck went to the Y.W.0.A., and Munn was in Auckland with his motor-car during tho morning making inquiries from Mrs. Stuck's daughter as to her mother's whereabouts. Ho met Mrs. Stuck and took her to the Roman Catholic Hostel in Svmonds Street, whero sho went to inquire about a position at a Roman Catholic orphanage between Xorthcote and Takapuna. Incidents on the Sunday.

lii tlie afternoon Munn reported to Dr. Dudding that the first bottle of mixture was finished. Asked how his wife was, Munn said she was much tho same. Mr. Meredith pointed out that when the doctor had last, seen Mrs. Munn she was comparatively well, and the Friday symptoms were apparently not. reported to the doctor by Munn. The doctor said the medicine should he repeated, and the understanding was that the doctor would call again in a day or so. There, was no evidence of anyone having seen Mrs. Munn on the following day, Sunday. The only evidence relating to her condition on that day was a letter sent by Mrs. Munn to her mother. Tho way Munn spent his Sunday was to telephone Mrs. Stuck, and arrange to take her and her daughter to the Catholic orphanage in the afternoon. After that was done, Munn drove to Birkenhead and talked until tea-time. Mrs. Stuck and her daughter had tea in Northcote and Munn- went home. He later met the

mother and daughter, and gave the latter a letter from Mrs. Munn to bo posted in the city. Munn and Alr§. Stuck-had apparently arranged to spend tho evening together after the daughter had gone to the city. Mr. Meredith then produced the letter written by Mrs. Munn to her mother. His Honor: Does the letter describe her symptoms ? Mr. Meredith: Yes. Mr. Northcroft: It goes a good deal further than that. lho question arose whether the accused had read tho letter, whereupon Mr. Meredith quoted from a statement made by tho accused to the effect that lie had read tho letter, sealed it and written over the address in ink. The letter, dated February 9, was then read, as follows : "My Dear Mother,— f can only wrHe a note to you, ns I urn lying in lied. 1 cunie over very queer Inst Tuesday morning, and Arthur went unci not the dot-tor. lie was here a very long time and stuck a needle in my arm nnd drew off blood. This he took away, to test, I think. II is blood pressure and nerve trouble. I think, mum. although neither doctor nor Arthur told me. I have to lie very still and keep absolutely quiet. No visitors. Arthur is just goodness itself, muni, and is looking after 1110 wondei fully well. I don't want you to worry, mum dear, because I hope to be feeling better again soon. I am only able to have fruit and vegetable diet. IVOI eggs, meat or fish. I)o not go nnd tell Auntie and Co., because they are not allowed to come in and excite me. and they would bo suro to want to come over if ihey heard " Conversation in House. On the next day, Monday, Munn was again in Auckland with his car, removing Mrs. Stuck and her effects to the orphanage, said Mr. Meredith. The doctor was at the house when Munn returned home about 12.30 p.m. Mrs. Munn was comparatively comfortable and was talking in a joking way about being able to be about again shortly. While they were talking the suggestion was mado that Mrs. Munn had a horror of hospitals. Munn seemed to stress the point, although the doctor had never suggested that Airs. Munn should go to hospital. "Tho inference may be drawn that Munn wanted to anticipate any suggestion of the kind," said Mr. Meredith. "If slip wero sent to hospital it was obvious she would he. under trained observation there, and her condition, if strychnine was the cause of it, would be detected, and, in any case, there would then be no opportunity to administer more. It is important to note that Mrs. Munn was cheerful 011 that day, because eho died the next day." " Another Bad Turn." On tho next morning, Tuesday, some time before six o'clock, Airs. Giil heard crying and moaning, similar to the cries associated with the first convulsion. Tho cries apparently continued for about two hours, during which time Mrs. Gill heard footsteps, apparently those of Munn, above her. About 8.30 Munn camp down and asked Mrs. Gill to go to the doctor. Mrs. Gill left a message for the doctor. She, told Munn slio had heard the cries of Mrs. Munn, and the accused said his wife had had another bad turn 110 said she could not get her breath very well, and she had got out of bed and ho could not get her back. The doctor camo after nine o'clock, and found Mrs. Munn lying on the side of the bed opposite that where ho had usually found her. Her clothing was disarranged and wet. Apparently Munn had been applying cold water to her heart. Mrs. Munn was hysterical and kept calling out that she did not want to be touched. Itwas tho first time tho doctor had seen Mrs. Munn in that condition. Her clothes were changed, and when she was being shifted to another part of the bed ! she started to shake. The doctor endeavoured to calm her. Mr. Meredith then described Airs. Munn's condition, stating that the appearance of her face changed, a symptom typical of strych nine poisoning. Tho doctor administered a morphia hypodermic, and tho convulsions quietened.

Death of Mrs. Munn

"The doctor's suspicions were aroused," said Mr. Meredith. Asked if a similar occurrence had taken place, Munn said it had. The woman was conscious during the convulsions, and other symptoms showed that the trouble was not 'duo to blood pressure. The doctor did not mention his suspicions ■to Munn, but stayed until tho woman was comparatively quiet. Not long after Munn called on the doctor. He said his wife's breathing had stopped, that he could not feel her pulse, and that he did not like the look of her. Munn had told Mrs. Lidiard earlier in the morning that his wife was a little better, but that she had had a terrible night. Mrs. Lidiard called again just as Munn was going to the doctor. Munn asked her to stand at the door while he went for tho doctor. Mrs. -Lidiard looked in Mrs. Munn's room, and was shocked to find Mrs. Munn apparently dead. She then left.

Wlien tho doctor arrived he found Mrs. Munn was dead. Apparently she ha'd died in the course of another convulsive attack. Tho doctor was then very suspicious of strychnine poisoning. A cup and a jug, both containing clear fluids, were on a tablei besido tho bed. Tho doctor knew the jug contained water, which Mrs. Munn had asked for during his previous visit. The doctor put the tip of his finger in the fluid in tho cup, and it tasted bitter, so he put a sample in his hypodermic case. The doctor took the sample to a chemist named Johnson, whose poison register recorded the purchase of strychnine by Munn. The doctor and the chemist attempted a rough test with the' sample. _ The sample, being small, was not. sufficient for an accurate test. Tho colour test was

applied, and, although a definite test for strychnine did not result, the doctor got a violet colour 011 somo bichromate crystals, which was consistent with the presence of strychnine. Taking four bottles from the chemist, Dr. Dudding returned to Munn's house. He had seen Munn leave the house a little earlier. However, the doctor had not been long at the house before Munn returned. Ho explained that he was going to Auckland, but was so upset that he had not put on a collar, so he had come back for one "There is a chest of drawers in the bedroom, and in one drawer are kept pyjamas and collars," said Mr. Meredith. " When Munn came back it is, therefore, to I>£ assumed that he went to that drawer to get a collar. That, I think, will be of some importance, as ultimately that is where the bottle of strychnine bought from Johnson was found." Medical Investigation. Munn left and (he doctor then took four samples. One, was from the fluid in the cup and another from the iluid in the jug. These were sent to Mr. I'arkcr, a public analyst., who reported that he could get no reaction for strychnine from the first two samples. However, there was a complete reaction for strychnine in one sample, and a distinct positive reaction for strychnine in another, the latter two samples being taken from the body. "Munn wont to the orphanage that, evening and reported the death of liis wife to Mrs. Stuck," said Mr. Meredith. "She said he broke down when telling her that his wife was gone. He stayed about seven or eight minutes." "There is nothing to call attention to on the following day, Wednesday," continned Mr. Meredith. "On the Thursday, as the doctor had withheld a medical certificate, an inquest was formally opened and a post-mortem ordered. I will outline the details of the post-mortem later. Samples were taken by Dr Murray and sent to Mr. Griffin, a Government analyst, who recovered a substantial quantity of pure strychnine. The funeral was held that day, after the post-mortem, and on the after the funeral Munn went to Mrs. Stuck to ask her if she would keep house for him, and she agreed.

"tie then took her to the house to see the children. There was somo difficulty about Mrs. Stuck giving notice at the orphanage, but the principal, Father Zanna, very kindly agreed to her going as soon as possible, saying he understood Mr. Munn had two children, and their needs should have prior claim. Mrs. Stuck was accordingly installed as housekeeper on the Saturday.

Mention of Inquest.

"Mrs. Stuck said she did not know until she arrived at Munn's place on the Saturday that there was to be an inquest. She said she asked Munn the reason, and he replied: 'She must have taken her own life.' Mrs. Stuck then stayed there for some weeks until Munn was arrested.

"Shortly after she arrived there Munn proposed she should marry him. She said they should leave over the question of marriage until after the inquest. Mrs.. Stuck was not wearing her wedding ring. When Munn asked about it, she said she had it, and Munn said he would keep it until lie gave her one of his own. That was the position immediately after the death of Mrs. Munn, a condition that continued until Munn was arrested."

Police inquiries had meanwhile been instituted, said Air. Meredith. It was clear that Airs. Alunn had not died from natural causes, but no suspicion at that time rested on Alunn. Detective-Sergeant Doyle and Detective Power saw Alunn on February 12, the day after Airs. Alunn's death.

Mr. Meredith detailed at length the conversation and incidents which occurred during that visit, and read two statements, which Detective-Sergeant Doyle had obtained from Munn, the . second having been made on the occasion of a. further visit on February 15. Asked if lie bad any poison in tho house, Munn said lie had some strychnine, which he kept for rats. Ho led the way to the pantry, on the back verandah, and indicating a honey carton, which was upside down on the top shelf, said, " It's under this." On lifting the carton ho added, " It's gone," and then said, "We will look in the bedroom. " Search by Detectives. On searching there the detectives found in a drawer, with articles of man's clothing, a small bottle, marked "Poison," which confained a few small white crystals. Munn said, " That's it," and added that he had thought it was in the pantry and that the last tithe he saw it was about a. fortnight before.

Analysis of a fluid taken by Dr. Dudding from a cup and a jug standing beside the bed and of a partly used packet of Epsom salts, which Munn had given to the police, did not reveal any trace of strychnine. The fluid was apparently ordinary tap water. A solution of salts or of strychnine, or a mixture of the two, would be bitter. The doctor had said that he dipped a finger in the cup and found that the contents tasted bitter. He took a small sample and a test of it gave a result which, though not conclusive evidence of strychnine, would not have been given by tap water. " Unfortunately, on going back to the house to get a full sample, the doctor did not again taste the contents of the vessels," said Mr. Meredith. " What may have happened between the time when he took' the small sample and when ho called back is not known. Apparently that was the cup used to give the salts, according to Munn's statement, but tho contents were found on the doctor's return to he only tap water." Mr. Mere-

ditli remarked that it seemed 'surprising, m view of this, that when the doctor tasted the contents he noticed a bitterness.

Dealing next with the results of the post-mortem examination conducted by Dr. D. N. W. Murray and Dr. W. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, Mr. Meredith said the organs did not show any signs of disease or anything that would suggest that death , was duo to natural causes. The doctors would also say that there were no signs of any condition of the organs which would cause high blood pressure, although strychnine would cause ■high blood pressure. One-fifth of a grain of pure strychnine had been recovered from an analysis of half the- stomach, which was carried out by Mr. K. M. Griflin, the Government analyst in Auckland. A considerable time later the balance of the stomach and other parts were sent to the Dominion analyst in Wellington, and ho recovered another 3-40ths of a grain. Both would say that they had not expected tc recover by the methods used all the strychnine present, but they had recovered 11-40ths of a grain, Mr. Meredith said the analysis was no great test of the amount, of strychnine actually administered, becauso strychnine quickly went from the stomach to the blood vessels and was eventually eliminated lrom the body. Evidence of Experts.

JI, was suggesetd by tho Crown that, a short time before death a lethal dose of strychnine had been administered; that death wa.* due to strychnine, and that theio was no other cause open to be suggested, owing to tho absence of any injury or organic disease. From the finding of strychnine in the. stomach and other organs, from the position of the body immediately after death and the various symptoms displayed by Mrs, Munn during her illness, two of which convulsions were actually seen, one by Mrs. Gill and the other by the doctor, it was clear that not only did Mrs. Munn die from it, but that the whole of her illness was due to the administration of strychnine.

Experts would ho called to give evidence that, in their opinion, it was clear that several doses had been administered, and that there could be no relation whatever between the dose administered on February 4 and the death on February 11. Strychnine was not cumulative in its effect. When a dose was given it either caused death or the patient completely recovered when the strychnine passed from the system. The first dose would probably have been eliminated within 48 hours and, if no more had been administered, Mrs. Munn would have completely recovered. Her serious illness on the following Friday was indicative that a further dose had been administered. If no more had been administered again she would not have been ill on the following Tuesday, the day on which she died.

Address Not Concluded

The dose responsible for the death must have been administered very early in the morning, according to the evidence of Mrs Gill, who had heard cries before six o'clock. Clearly, a lethal dose must have been administered on the Tuesday morning. Nothing' given on the previous Friday could have assisted in inducing further convulsions on the Tuesday. The paroxysms on the Tuesday continued at intei vals. When Dr. Dudding touched Mrs. Munn another one started, which enabled him for the first time to see what was the matter with her. Usually from two to four hours passed before death occurred after a lethal dose of strychnine had been administered. It could be presumed that the dose which caused thu death of Mrs. Munn had been administered at most about four hours before her death occurred at 10 a.m. on February 11. At this stage the Court ad]onrnea until 10 a.m. to-day, the Crown Prosecutor indicating that he had considerable further ground to cover in his opening of the case.