MURDER TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 21089, 22 May 1930, Page 4

MURDER TRIAL

THE MUNN CASE MR NORTHCROFT'RESUMES ADDRESS ACCUSED GIVES EVIDENCE (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, May 21. At the murder trial this morning Mr Northcroft resumed his address and said there was th& possibility that Mrs Munn had taken strychnine because of a fear of pregnancy. Women in such circumstances had been known to do extraordinary’ things. Evidence would be called to show that Mrs Munn had on occasion 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 Iter having taken poison for the purpose indicated. Accused's Evidence. The accused, Munn, .giving evidence, said that 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 about three years ago his first wife had not interested herself in them. Subsequently he divorced her on the grounds of desertion and married again. Witness detailed the arrangements between himself and his wife regarding the property showing that he had to bear the burden. "I deny absolutely’ that I ever knocked my wife about after the children left me. I 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 haying to barricade the door against him, witness said it was a harmless piece of joking between them. Munn, explaining why he got. in touch with Mrs Stuck, said that hq, was lacking in some mental activity. He had no intention of seeking matrimony’ or any’ alliance of the sort. It was only .because the clerk at the newspaper counter insisted that the words “View to matrimony,” were I 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 he dropped her as soon as he could. He then saw Mrs Stuck. There was never any lovemaking. His wife was quite well when Mrs Stuck went to Christchurch. » Afternoon Session. Continuing his evidence this afternoon, Munn said he 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 a detective he would have no damn women about the place. 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 didn’t think she would ever get marI rid again. He asked her to excuse him for discussing such matters while the inquest was not yet finished. They should not pursue such discussion until at least Christinas. Accused added that the subject of marriage was never mentioned between them. Regarding the purchase of poison, Munn •said it was for rats and he described how his place was infested with rats. Continuing, accused 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. 1 first learned 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, he 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,” 1 am positive that was said though 1 don’t credit Dr Dudding with saying it seriously. In all probability 1 made the first mention of the hospital. Munn said that the doctor had said that Mrs Munn had a 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 that 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 the hospital. Munn said his wife woke him about 7 a.m. i,.t 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 her about the salts. She asked if she would have to have them that morning, 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 he took the salts to her she asked if he had any orange juice, and he gave her 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 all right. She said, “Yes, but I’m afraid I’m going to have a turn.” He Stayed with her and shortly afterwards she started to tremble and had a convulsion that passed quickly. She then seemed quite easy. When he said he was 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 Mrs Munn started to tremble and the doctor asked him if that 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, Mrs Munn went to sleep. Later he went to the doctor’s, telling him his wife’s pulse seemed to be weakening, and he did not like the look of her. Witness went home ahead of the doctor and when the doctor arrived he told witness his wife was dead. The examination was not completed, when the court rose.