NUNN ON TRIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18865, 1 May 1931, Page 10

NUNN ON TRIAL.

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. By Telegraph—Press AssocTei^r HASTINGS, April 30. Evidence that the accused, though married, wished to get a divorce and marry her, and that she declined similar repeated offers, was given by Mavis Steele Smith, when Frederick Nunn appeared at the Hastings Court to-day before Mr A. M. Mowlem. S.M. on a charge of alleged attempted murder. Inspector Cummings appeared for the police and Mr E. J. Hallett for the accused. Miss Smith appeared in Court with a heavily bandaged head, showing signs of much emotion. Mavis Smith, who gave her evidence seated, said she was single and had known accused for two years. Nunn used to call at the house sometimes. They met accidentally, at other times designedly. She was not sure whether Nunn said his wife had gone, or that he lost her. He told her he had one daughter at college. He asked witness to marry him, but she gave no definite reply. He said he'd get a divorce. They decided later to remain friends, but ultimately she told accused that they shouldn't see each other. She did not see accused for a long time. At the next meeting he referred to witness keeping company with another man, and said: “Nobody else will get you.” He repeated the remark several times. He added that he would do away with himself. Witness remembered an occasion when Nunn asked her to marry him. She got in his car and noticed he had a gun. Witness refused the offer of marriage made on that occasion. He said he would do away with himself that night, but later quietened. She seldom saw accused after that. After a wedding on Easter Monday, she returned home, and later left for a party. She saw Nunn’s car in a neighbouring road. Later it passed the car she was in. About 1 o’clock the next morning witness returned home with a car load of friends. The car drove away and witness heard Nunn’s voice as she approached the house. It was moonlight. She noticed Nunn had a gun concealed behind him. Accused asked witness to marry him. She said “No.” Nunn said “I’ll shoot you then.” She was unable to remember the reply. Nunn asked her to come into the car. She replied that it was no good talking it over. Witness moved away, and dodged behind a tree. Accused chased her round it with the gun in his hand, and raised it. Witness called her father, and ran towards the house. She heard a loud click, and a report, and did not remember what happened till she found herself lying on the lawn.

To Mr Hallett, witness said she knew the accused was exceedingly fond of her. He was always kind and considerate. She never suspected he would wilfully harm her.

Reginald Eves gave evidence that he and others called for Miss Smith to go to a party on the night of the alleged offence. He saw Nunn’s car on a neighbouring road. Alfred Thomas Smith, father of the girl, gave evidence that he was not at first aware of the acquaintance of his daughter and Nunn, but later Nunn asked witness’s leave to pay attention to his daughter. He said he intended getting a divorce, but witness and his wife objected. Nunn appeared terribly upset. Witness knew Nunn later brought his daughter home several times. Witness had warned him several times, and forbidden him to speak to her. Once Nunn said: “I can’t live without her.” On the night of the alleged offence, he heard his daughter screaming “Dad, Dad!” He ran out, followed by his son-in-law, and heard a shot fired from the front of the house. He found the girl lying bleeding on the grass, but saw nobody in the grounds. Montague Harry Tisdall, gun expert, Auckland, described the weapon produced as a twelve bore hammer gun, which he examined on April 9th. The rirht barrel had recently been discharged. and the inside left barrel was coated with dust. From experiments made lie asserted that the shot was fired directly at Miss Smith from a range of thirteen yards, and at 27 yards the spread of the shot was al-np-t, identical with that on the house. Two witnesses gave evidence as to having seen accused walking up and down in the vicinity of Smith’s house on Easter Monday evening, while his car was close at hand. Dr H. M. Wilson described Miss Smith’s wounds on the neck and back. The victim was now progressing satisfactorMy, but was complaining of double vision, which was being investigated. Witness saw accused soon after his arrest, and he appeared somewhat dazed. He stood up to walk, but could not or would not use his I limbs. Accused spoke rationally. ! Bessie Edith Campbell, accused’s | housekeeper, said she and her child ! went with accused to Otane on Easter i Sunday. They got out of the car and walked to the river, accused taking a gun. Witness and the child walked back to the car, and Nunn went away shooting. She heard one shot fired. Accused son returned, but did not get anything as result of the shot. Muriel Constance T. Bowen, Havelock North, said accused called at her house on Easter Monday night at about 10.15 and left at about midnight. Metha Young, a neighbour of accused, said she heard Nunn’s car come in at about half-past one in the morning of the Tuesday after Easter. Frederick Round deposed to seeing Nunn's car unattended in Pakowhai road at a quarter past twelve and halfpast twelve on Easter Monday night. William B. J. Kissock. a telegraph messenger, identified by his initials on it, a cartridge case he had picked up near Nunn's house, and handed to the police. The hearing was adjourned to Saturday morning, bail being refused.