PUKEKAWA MURDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14260, 17 November 1920, Page 5

PUKEKAWA MURDER.

THE WIFE’S EVIDENCE. SEARCHING CROSS-EXAMINATION. LASTING SIX HOURS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. The trial of Samuel John Thorn, charged with murdering Sydney Seymour Eyre at Pukekawa on August -4, was continued to-day, when Mrs Eyre, wife of the deceased, was put to a searching cross-examination by the counsel for the accused, lasting m all six hours. “Within a few hours of the shot boin" fired,” said Mrs Eyre, in answer to Mr Singer, “I thought it. was Thorn, and I believed it was Thorn.” The witness added that she heard footsteps outside the house similar to his. Mr Singer: Did you not say m the Magistrate's Court that the steps were short, quick and heavy, and was not. that one of the reasons you thought they were Thorn ’s? —Yes. _ The witness admitted that, in effect, she said to herself that the report ot the gun was like that of accused's gun. Bv the time the police came she thought Thorn was the only one who could have committed the murder. Mrs Eyre said her husband always treated her kindly. He never drove her to tears, and he never- swore at her, although lie was ad it-ted to swearing if he was upset.

CONTEMPT FOR ACCUSED. Reverting to her relationship with Thorn, the witness said that at h s she thought the accused was a docent .fellow, but shortly after the rchitionship began she had nothing but eon 'tempt for him. This was caused liar lv bv his familiarity towards her, and imtiv bv. his threats. By the time her husband. "returned she disliked Thorn. Mr Sinner: Why did you not tell your huSm-CLa let him shoot Thomt-I did not want my husband to be brant -I,] ils ;l murderer. Airs Evre denied tliftt she had. ever asked Thorn if he could get a divorce, ‘of whether, if lie could get rul of Ins wife, he would marry her m the tnent of anything happening to her husband.

LETTERS FROM ABROAD. After Eyre’s return he received letters from abroad. His Honour: What is tlio relevant} ° f Mi?Singer: It may have been someone from abroad, perhaps Canada, vlio com mitted the murder. . Witness said her husband immediately destroyed these letters, and never referred to the persons who sent them. She never worried about whether <- writers were men or women. She saw an advertisement in a paper, and show ed it to her husband. Counsel: It was someone advertising for your husband? • llis Honour: You cannot put that without putting in the advertisement Counsel: Some time otter that did your husband receive a letter m evI do not know. She added that she did not think . the advcrtisemenf was mysterious, uor did she know who inserted it. ’ Touching another point, the w' said she saw the accused at the Tnakau police station on September 4th, and, after meeting each other, Thorn’s hrst remark, so far as she recollected was that he had always found her a truthful woman. Her boys, lie added, weic also truthful, and he had nothing ng ainst the family. He also stated that he did not suggest that the witness oi sinv of the children killed Mi L} ie. When the police went out, Thorn asked what made her think he -nad killed hci husband. She replied, “ T J.® stances, and the person who did it must have known the position of tho -bed and the run of the place. 11,01 " said “As true as I aiff here, I hcm i did it.” Witness replied, “It you arc innocent I feel sorry loi you. • “TRIED YOU IN MY MIND.’ In answer to further questions from Mr Singer, Mrs Eyre admitted that she said to the accused, “Taking the whole circumstances, I cannot say anyone else. The person who did it must ha\e known the whole run of the place, first 1 did not say anything about you, but when I thought it over thoroughly and tried you in my own nnnd, I eou < not think of anyone but you that would do it.” DISLIKED BY THORN. Evidence was given by Sidney Eyre, a .rcd sixteen years, son of the deceased, . w q,o said his father and the accused did not get on well together. From expressions that were used he knew his father was .an object of dislike by Thorn. The witness detailed the Happenings on the night of the murder, and was. briefly cross-examined by Mr bin-

" Dora Millicent Eyre, sister of the last witness, and others, gave evidence before the court adjourned for the clay.