CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 1 November 1933, Page 4

CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

GREY LYNN TRAGEDY THE ACCUSED’S CONDUCT EVIDENCE OC QUEERNESS (Tor Press Association.) A IV K LA X!), lust night. Thu trial of John Hilbert Ed wants on ;i murder ehnige was cunt in ued today. The lii'si witness for the defence was Mrs Elizabeth Phillips. Witness said she had known Edwards for I'd years. Fieqii'-nth' he would sit on the back steps and bury his head in his hands, and begin singing loudly. She remembered one occasion about - 10 years ago, when he was at the foot of Summer street shouting out that someone had tried to murder him. John Henry Rush said he had known Edwards for several years. Edwards used to sell tea to witness. Frequently when he called he would burst into song. One of his favorite songs was, “If I Could Plant a Tiny Bit of Love in the Corner of Your Heart.’’ Edwards was very shaky at. times, and witness thought him a shell-shock case. Witness related one occasion about five years ago, when Edwards was in Bonsonby road. Edwards knocked his head against a post, tipped his hat off, and began to shout. Witness went over to him, and Edwards, holding his hands to his head, complained about blood flowing from it when actually there was no blood. James Robert Robertson, auctioneer, said he first knew Edwards in 1927, when Edwards purcha’seil a farm of 10 acres at Alt. Roskill from witness. It was not long before witness discovered that Edwards was a strange and excitable individual. At one time Edwards spoke of a new religion, and said lie intended to go to Australia to spread the movement. At times Edwards would discuss farm matters quite rationally, and at other times he would ramble in his conversation, and it was difficult, to pin him down to any one topic. Eventually Edwards 'walked oli the farm without saying a word to anyone, and went to Australia. He left the stock to look after itself. The court adjourned until to-mur-