THE NORTHCOTE SENSATION

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17984, 1 April 1930, Page 7

THE NORTHCOTE SENSATION

CHARGE OF MURDER AGAINST MUNN. STORY OF MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENT. ALLEGATIONS OF CRUELTY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)' AUCKLAND, Monday. The hearing of the charge against Arthur Thomas Munn, 45, furniture worker, of Northcote, of the murder of his wife, Lillie May Munn, at Northcote, in February, was continued before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., to-day.

“This Can’t go on.” Georgina Alberta Emily Stuck, widow, of Parnell, gave evidence to answering an advertisement and receiving a letter signed Arthur Thomas, making an appointment. She met a man who was holding a paper in his hand (the prearranged signal). Later, on pressing him for his right name, i she identified Munn as a man she met at Christchurch Exhibition 20 years ago. She met him twice weekly after answering the advertisement, Munn calling for her in his car and taking her for drives. On learning that he was married she said, “This can’t go on,” but promised to be a friend. Mrs Stuck continued that Munn told her that he had received numerous replies to his matrimonial advertiscmnt from all parts, as far south as Te Kuiti. In addition to Munn driv- j ing Mrs Stuck out on Monday mornings and Saturday afternoons, lie i wrote to her on Wednesdays, signed j “Yours truly, Arthur.” One day when j she met Munn at Milford, so6n after j striking up their friendship, she took her brother across and Munn brought his wife. The day after lxis wife died Munn asked Mrs Stuck to come and keep house for him, as he did not want to break up the home. She agreed and asked, “Did your wife die suddenly?” Munn said, “The doctor wouldn't give a certificate.” Munn said she took her own life. “I Want to Return; Lonely.” Mrs Stuck said she vacated the flat on January 30, and left for Christchurch on the following day. Munn l'arewelled her when she left for Christchurch. Her absence was to be indefinite. Munn said: “You will return some time, I suppose,” to which she had replied: “I hope to.” Mrs Stuck said at that time she did not anticipate coming back. She thought she wrote two letters to Munn while she was in Christchurch. Mr Meredith produced a telegram, alleged to have been sent to Mrs Stuck by Munn on February 4. The telegram staled: “Wife had stroke this morning: writing. Arthur.” Mr Meredith then produced the reply allegedly sent by Mrs Stuck. "Very sorry missed mail; all being altered here. Can you please wire me to-dav or Thursday care post office, live pounds? Two letters Thursday for you; received wire, sympathy.. I want to return; lonely; love. Georgie.” Mrs Stuck said the money was telegraphed to her and she used it to pay her fare back to Auckland. She. met Munn before lunch on that day, which was a Saturday. She had asked Munn what was wrong with his wife, 'to which he replied that he did not know. Munn said his wife was preparing a meal, when she felt giddy. He thought she had fainted. Munn said his wife would have fallen had he not caught her. She met Munn every dav. Munn had said cither on the Sunday or Monday that his wife was very depressed, and had asked him not to send her to a hospital. Invited to Housekeep. ,The witness said she again saw’ Munn on Tuesday. Witness spoke to him and he did not reply. “I looked at his face and asked what was wrong,” said Mrs Stuck. “He broke down and said his wife was gone. I said: ‘Don’t tell me that.’” Munn told her while at the college that his wife’s people wanted to take the children, but he wanted to keep them. He asked her to keep house for him, and she said she would. The evening she visited Munn’s home was the night after the funeral. She did not know’ until the following Saturday that an inquest had .been opened. Munn told her about the inquest. She asked Munn why the had been adjourned, and he said; "She must have taken her life.” Witness said she stayed exactly three weeks at Munn’s house. During that time Munn asked whether, for the sake of the children, she would think of marrying him. She declined, saying that her first marriage was unsuccessful, and she wished him to see other women before he decided on her.. Munn then said: “We will leave it until the inquest is over.” IVlrs Munn's Illness. Mrs Lydia Gill, of Northcote, said she had a flat under the house occupied by Munn and his late wife- She had rented the flat from Munn. Mrs Gill remembered seeing Mrs Munn on the morning of February 3. It was washing-day. Mrs Munn seemed cheerful and bright. The witness also saw’ Mrs Munn on the following morning, and asked her whether she was tired or had a headache. Mrs Munn said she had a slight headache, and then went on to prepare breakfast. A little girl came down later and asked witness to go up to Mrs Munn, who was ill. Mrs Munn was reclining in the chair with her head resting back, and was gripping the sides of the chair. Mrs Munn was twitching and drawing . her legs up. Her mouth was parched and twitching, and her eyes were half closed. Mrs Munn asked witness if she knew’ what was the matter — whether witness had seen anyone like that before. Witness replied she had not, and Mrs Munn was very worried, saying she had never been like that before. Witness: I offered to get a drink of water for her, but she said: “Don’t leave me; I’m frightened." Mr Meredith: Did you leave her? — Mr Meredith: Did you go near her? Yes; I touched her, because I wanted to lift her up to sit on the chair. “ You’re Hurting Me.” Mr Meredith: What happened then? When I touched her she shouted: “No, Mrs Gill, you're hurting me.” It sounded as ii siie was in pain. I Hied different ways to lilt her up on the chair. Mrs Munn said she had no power in her legs; and that I was hurling her. I said I was not hurling her She said: “1 don’t know whether vou are hurling me 'or whether 1 am sore. I feel queer.” I was not aide "to lift her. and she seemed powerless. Mr Meredith: Was she like I hat when Munn came back?—Yes; she was still In the same position, 1 asktd Mr Munn ii he knew .what .was the

matter. He said he did not know, but he had been for the doctor. The witness said she saw Mrs Munn again in the afternoon. She went into the bedroom to see Mrs Munn, who seemed very comfortable, but was still “a bit twitchy.” Witness put her hand on the bed near Mrs Munn’s feet, when Mrs Munn said: “Don’t. That hurts. Witness said: “But I am not touching you, Mrs Munn-” Mrs Munn replied: “I can’t hear anything to touch me. I am all nerves.” Witness saw Mrs Munn on Friday, and tlie latter looked very ill. I said: “What is the matter? I didn’t know there was a change like this,” continued witness. Mrs Munn replied: “Don't worry me, Mrs Gill; I’m ill.” The witness said she had not seen Mrs Munn from that Fridsy until Mrs Munn’s death on the following luesday. On the morning of the day Mrs Munn died witness heard cries, which started shortly before six o’clock. These cries continued until Mrs Munn seemed to be worn out with crying. It was not ordinary crying, but Ihc cries of one in pain. Mrs Munn was of a bright disposition, although “highly strung,” added the witness. She idolised her children and her husband, too. TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. MUNN UNKIND TO WIFE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. At the further hearing of the wife murder charge against Arthur Thomas Munn at the Police Court to-day Mrs Alary Brown, giving evidence said she used to visit Mrs Munn. Site often sa\v accused and his wife together. Alunn was not kind to her. Witness had lunch with deceased on Ihc day before the latter was taken ill. Mrs Alunn was then In good lieallh and spirits, fl'he first- that witness heard of her illness was on February 5, when Alunn told her his wife was very ill in bed. Airs Brown added: “I told accused it was through him being unkind to her and keeping her up when she should be in bed.” Witness said she would go and see Airs Alunn, whereupon accused said: “I don’t want any damn women down there.” Alunn said he would look after his wife himself. When witness called at the house Alunn said his wife thought she had kidney trouble, but she really had blood pressure. Airs Alunn was in bed and was very nervous- She was twitching all over and drawing her legs up. She said she had lost Hie use of her legs. Alunn remarked: “I think she had a stroke yesterday morning when I was preparing breakfast." Airs Brown continuing said she stayed with Airs Alunn that evening while Alunn attended a meeting. Deceased was very ill and still twitching. Witness did not see her again until February 7 when she seemed much worse. Her eyes were half closed as if she did not notice things properly. Deceased told witness she bad been given some Epsom salts by her husband that morning. She said they were the nastiest, bitterest salts she had ever tasted. Deceased was of a very kind disposition, but always seemed despondent and afraid of something. Nine months ago, said witness, she saw three red weals on Airs Alunn’s neck. She once heard the deceased ask her husband for some new linoleum for the floor, whereupon Alunn replied:- “ You can damn well scrub the boards when that’s worn out.” Asked to Stand In Doorway. Airs Lydiard the next witness said she first knew of Airs Alunn’s illness when Alunn asked her to stay with his wife while he went to town, saying she had had a stroke. On the morning Mrs Munn died witness, when going to his house, met Alunn going in his car to get the doctor. He said [he doctor had called before and injected morphia into deceased, and added: “ She is sleeping but I don’t like the look of her.” Munn asked witness to stand in the doorway while be went for the doctor, but she went right into Hie bedroom. Airs Alunn was apparently dead. Evidence on Handwriting. After detailed evidence on handwriting riven by Joseph James Alurray, Post and Telegraph Depart- | mental accountant, who said that in his opinion Hie matrimonial advertisement a.nd documents signed by Arthur Thomas and Arthur Alunn were all signed by the same person, the Court adjourned for lunch.' (Proceeding.)