ALLEGED WIFE MURDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21032, 22 May 1930, Page 10

ALLEGED WIFE MURDER.

TRIAL OF ARTHUR THOMAS MUNN. CASE FOR THE DEFENCE. ACCUSED GIVES EVIDENCE. {Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 21. ■ The trial of Arthur Thomas Munn on a charge of murdering his wife, Lillie May Munn, at Northcote, on February 11, was continued to-day. Mr Northcroft resumed his address. He said there was a possibility' that Mrs Munn had taken strychnine because of fear of pregnancy. Women in such circumstances had been known to do extraordinary things. ' Evidence would he called to show that Mrs Munn •had on occasions taken drugs for a similar purpose. Munn would give evidence of a conversation he had had with his wife, and of his advising her strongly not to meddle with things of which she knew nothing. Counsel went on to argue that the woman’s behaviour in her illness was consistent with her having taken poison for the purpose indicated. The .accused Munn, giving evidence, said his first marriage was unhappy, and eventually his wife left him, with the children, who ranged from five years to six weeks. From that time until his children left him pbout three years ago his first wife had not interested herself in them. Subsequently he divorced her on the ground of desertion and married again. Witness detailed the arrangements between himself and his wife regarding their property, showing that he had to bear the burden. “I deny absolutely that I ever knocked my wife about. After the children left me 1 know they went to my first wife. They never came back or showed any affection afterwards.” Referring to the evidence of one daughter regarding his wife having to barricade her door ftgainst him, witness said it was harmless joking between them. explaining why he got in touch with Mrs Stuck, said he was lacking in some mental activity. He had no intention of seeking matrimony, or anyalliance of the, sort. It was only because the clerk at the newspapers counter insisted that the words “view to matrimony” were inserted in the advertisement. He got 53 replies, and reduced them to two, of whom Mrs Stuck was one. He met the other, who wanted “spotting and smoking,” so that he dropped her as soon as he could. He then saw Mrs Stuck. There was never any loyemaking. His wife was quite well when Mrs Stuck went to Christchurch. • Continuing his evidence this afternoon, Mumv said he had asked Mrs Stuck to look after the children. She would not agree, but on the Saturday following his wife’s death she came. He denied that he told the detectives he would have no damn women about the place. The accused said it was necessary for him to -have a woman in the house to be fair to the children. Mrs Stuck had said she did not think she would ever get married again. He asked her to excuse him for discussing such matters while the inquest had not yet been finished. They should not pursue such discussions until at least Christmas. The accused added: “ The subject of marriage was never mentioned between us.” Regarding the purchase of poison, Munn said it was for rats, and he described how his place was infested with rats. Continuing, he said: “My wife knew all about the poison. She saw me mix it. I told her exactly what it was, and she saw me put it away in the pantry. I saw it there a week or 10 days before her illness. It was where I had left it. I first learned that the bottle had gone on the day on which it was found by the detectives in the bedroom. Mr Northcroft: Were you surprised to find it gone?—Certainly, Munn then described in detail the last illness of Mrs Munn. On the first morning Mrs Munn became ill—Tuesday. February 4—lie said he was alarmed. The doctor said she must stay in bed and said: “If.you don’t stay in bed it may mean six weeks in hospital.” “I am positive that was said,” said accused, ‘ though I don’t credit Dr Dudding with saying it seriously. In all probability I made first mention of the hospital. Munn said the doctor said that Mrs Munn had blood pressure. Munn then described the course of his wife’s illness as outlined by Mr Northcroft. In describing his wife’s illness Munn said it was a fairly general condition that his wife would be fairly well during the day and would become restless and nervous toward evening. Munn said his wife had a good night the night before she died. His wife asked him that night that he should promise her that he would not let her go to hospital. Munn said his wife woke him about 7 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, February 11. She said the children were already up and Doreen had been crying. When he returned from feeding the fowls he asked his wife about the salts. She asked if she would have to take them that mornmg and he said it was according to the doctor’s orders. He gave her half a teaspoonful instead of a whole one. He was not able to say if she took the salts. When lie took the salts to her she asked if he had. any orange juice, and he gave ner some in a cup. Shortly after that she called to him in the kitchen and asked him to stay with her. He asked her why and told her she seemed al! right. She said; “Yes, but I’m afraid I m going to have a turn,” He stayed with her and shortly afterwards ,6116 started to tremble and had a convulsion. That passed quickly. She seemed quite easy when he said lie was going for the doctor. She said: “ I don’t want a doctor.” He sent a message to the doctor to come at once. When the doctor came Airs Alunn started to tremble and the doctor asked him if was how his wife had gone the previous Tuesday, Witness replied. Yes. The doctor drew his attention to the arching of the back and witness said he had not seen that before. After the doctor had gone Airs Alunn went to s!eep. Later he went to the doctor and told him his wife’s pulse seemed to be weakening and he did not like the look of her. Witness went home ahead of the and when the doctor arrived he told witness his wife was dead. The examination was not completed when the court rose.