PUKEKAWA MURDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14259, 16 November 1920, Page 5

PUKEKAWA MURDER.

THORN ON TRIAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Monday. The trial of Samuel John Thorn, farm hand, 34 years of age, who was arrested on September .11th on a charge of having murdered Sydney Seymour Eyre, farmer, at Pukekawn, on the uigt of Itugust 24th, was begun at the Supreme Court to-day before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) and a jury of twelve. THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER, In the course of his opening address, Air J. C. Alartin said that on the night of the murder Airs Eyre retired to bed at about 9 o’clock, aud was later awakened by dogs barking under the house, and she called out to them to lie down. She then wont to sleep, and some time after midnight was awakened by hearing the report of a gun. Getting no response 'when she called out to her husband she lit a candle and found that he had been murdered, practically the whole of his head being blown off. The first thing to consider was what was the motive for the crime. Clearly itwas not robbery, as nothing was disturbed and. nothing was taken away. Putting the children on one side, counsel said the first person to turn to was Airs Eyre. Speaking of the will left by Eyre, Mr Alartin said it was fair and just, and told the jury that; under its provisions Mrs Epre would benefit to the extent of £l5O to £154 a year. Was, he asked, her desire to gain that sum an adequate .desire for murdering her husband? She already had a home, and -was it likely that a woman would commit such a dastardly deed for the benefit of £154 a year at most, THE ONLY OTHER PERSON.

Before her husband returned from the war counsel proceeded, Mrs Eyre had been engaged in illicit intercourse with Thorn, and that had continued after Eyre returned. Airs Eyre’s story was that she allowed accused to continue carrying on with her because he threatened to expose her to her husband. Accused said counsel, had a strong desire to- possess the woman, and his. motive for the crime would be one of jealousy and the probability that his monetary position would be considerably improved. The actions of Airs Eyre and the circumstances surrounding her movements were not those which would suggest that she was a murderess. Indeed, he thought it had been proved conclusively that she was innocent. The only other person who would have any motive in committing the crime, suggested counsel, was the prisoner. Thorne was a left-handed man,who shot from liis left shoulder. He was aigood shot, and had brought down 17 pigeons with as many shots. He possessed a 12-bore shot gun, and used u peculiar kind of shot similar to that fired at Eyre. It was true that accused was a short man, and the window, at which the murdered man was sleeping was so high that a six-foot man standing on the ground looking through the window could not see Eyre’s head. But, by standing on a board outside and holding on to the sill by his right hand accused’s head would be at least a foot above the sill, and he would have ample power to shoot. THE CONNECTING LINKS.

‘‘What are the links which will connect up the prisoner with the crime?’’ asked Mr Martin. He pointed out that accused’s dog, which was kept at Eyre’s house, barked oiice on the night of the murder. It was an animal that barked at everyone who approached the house, including the Eyres, until he recognised the person. Why did the dog not bark, again before the gun was fired? Was it because someone approached near enough in the first instance for it to recognise him ! On the evening of the day following the murder, Detective Cummings had interviewed Thorn and told him of the murder. Accused’s behaviour was somewhat peculiar, commented Mr Martin, for his reply when he heard the news was merely “Yes,” and not another word. MRS EYRE’S EVIDENCE. Among the witnesses called to-day was Mrs Eyre, who related the story of the murder as told in the lower Court. She was subjected to a lengthy crossexamination by Mr Singer, and taus still in the box when the court adjourned for the day. CASE CONTINUED. AUCKLAND, This Day. The case was continued in the Supreme Court this morning. Mrs Eyre, in answer to Mr Singer (counsel for accused Thornsaid that within a few 'hours of Jfluf shot being fired she believed it was Thom. She thought Thorn was the only one who could have committed the murder. At first she thought Thorn was a decent fellow, but after certain relationship began between them she had nothing but contempt for him. That was due lately to his familiarity towards her, and partly by his threats. She denied that she had ever asked Thorn if he could get a divorce, or whether, if he could get rid of his wife, he would marry her in the eVent of anything happening to her husabnd.