MURDER CHARGE

Southland Times, Issue 22139, 6 October 1933, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE

GREY LYNN TRAGEDY EDWARDS STANDS TRIAL EVIDENCE HEARD (Per United Press Association.) • Auckland, October 5. John Hubert Edwards, aged 41, a labourer, appeared at the Police Court charged with the murder of Mrs Christian Cunningham at her home in Grey Lynn on August 16. Joyce Isabel Cunningham, daughter of deceased, said she had known accused about six years. _ On August 15 she returned about midnight from a dance and while she was at the gate accused arrived and asked if her father was at home as he wanted to see him about some work. Witness spoke to her father in bed and then returned and told Edwards he could go in. Next morning she rose about ten o clock. Edwards was in the scullery. She left shortly after, leaving her mother alone, Eduards having gone just previously. She returned about noon and found the back door locked. She entered the front door and found her mother and Edwards lying on the floor in the sitting room. Her mother was unconscious. She said to Edwards: “What have you done?” He said: “I’ve done nothing.” She then rushed over to her mother to try to make her hear or see but got no response. Witness called a neighbour and when she returned found accused lying as before but with blood gurgling from his neck. Shortly after the police arrived and then her father.

AEred Cunningham, motor mechanic, said he had known accused for about six years. He had once occupied part of the same building as witness and his family. When they moved accused formed the habit of calling on them. At midnight on August 15 accused arrived and when asked what was wrong staggered and complained of feeling ill and sat down on the bed. Witness must have fallen asleep for when he awoke at six-thirty accused was lying across the foot of the bed and said he was still feeling very ill. Witness left the bedroom and on returning found accused in bed wearing pyjamas. Later they both left for the city together, but separated shortly after. Returning home after noon witness found his wife lying on the floor with her head and throat injured and Edwards with throat injuries. There was nothing between his wife and Edwards except acquaintanceship. He had never known any undue show of affection by Edwards to his wife. The result of a post-mortem examination on Mrs Cunningham was given by Dr Walter Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital. He said that death was due to a fractured skull, laceration of the brain and a cut on the throat. The wounds to the head must have been done by a blunt instrument, such as the head of a poker. Detective Brady produced a. writing pad found in the house on which were written the following words: “Lovers, we die together. The death ‘pact.’ Jack Edwards, Cissie Cunningham.” Witness went to a bach at the back of an apartment house in Ponsonby road and on a dressing table found a letter card signed “Jack Edwards” containing a request to give his clothes to Cunningham. There was also the following statement: “May the brotherhood of man reign soon when poverty shall be no more.”

Conversations at Hospital. Notes of conversations with accused were produced by Constable Williams who was on duty at the Auckland hospital while accused was a patient there. Witness said he was asked by accused who he was and accused was told. Before accused was operated on in the afternoon of August 16 he said: “I was no coward. I killed the woman I loved. I know I am sinking. I used to live with her in Cobden street.” Accused added that he had a nervous breakdown some months before. “On August 17 I asked accused how he was feeling.” witness continued. “He replied ‘I am feeling ashamed of myself. A nervous breakdown is a terrible thing. It was not intentional. ’One can’t sleep and his nerves are all upset’.” Continuing, witness said accused asked for a newspaper but the request was declined, witness telling accused it was not advisable to give him a newspaper to re-enact the whole affair. Accused then said: “I have not long to go anyway. I know I am sinking fast. When a man can’t sleep his nerves are gone and there must be something wrong with him to make him do a thing like that.” On August 18 accused asked witness what had been in the papers and was told there had not been very much. Accused said: “I’ll plead not guilty. When a man is in a state like that he does not know what he does. Something seemed to snap when I went down to the house that morning. Something led me there. That woman _ was very familiar to me. When I did it something seemed to snap. They say all murderers go to hell. I do not believe that. When a man is insane he does not know what he is doing. No, I’ll plead not guilty to his Worship.” A conversation on August 18 was described by witness, who stated that accused said: “Of course if I got off I would have to get away out of Auckland, but one needs money to get out of here to pay a few doctors. It might mean the scaffold you know. ‘A life for a life,’ that’s what they believe in. They tried to get me last night with their dope. I know they did. It would save expense to get a man out that way and save a Supreme Court case. That case of Munns. Of course that was deliberate. He did it intentionally. That is different from when a man is insane. Anyway, they mean to get me. I have found it hard to breathe all day. At four o’clock tomorrow morning I’ll be gone. That’s when a man’s pulse is lowest. You’ll be at Carlaw Park laughing while I’m going to Waikumete or wherever they put them.” Witness added that accused asked him when deceased was buried.

The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday.