NORTHCOTE SENSATION

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18030, 27 May 1930, Page 6

NORTHCOTE SENSATION

CASE AGAINST MUNN. FOURTEENTH DAY OF TRIAL. MR NORTHCROFT CLOSES ADDRESS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. In the Munn trial the Court was prepared to carry on last evening to the conclusion of Mr, Northcroft’s address, but on an assurance that he would finish in two hours to-day the Court adjourned till the usual time this morning. Mr. Northcroft concluded at 11.50 a.m. Crown Prosecutor’s Address. Mr. Meredith, in his address to the jury, said it was quite clear that Mrs. Munn died of strychnine poisoning. There were three possibilities—she may have taken poison by accident, or with intent, or it may have been administered to her. The first possibility could he eliminated. Could it be suggested that she took strychnine for the purpose of suicide? Her letters showed that she was happy. The suggestion that she was taking strychnine because of pregnancy was grotesque. If suicide was eliminated the only conclusion was that somebody gave the strychnine to her. Munn had the opportunity. He gave her food and medicine. There were friendly neighbours ready to assist, but they were not allowed.

Munn was also the only person who had a motive, said Mr. Meredith. It is quite clear that he had tired of his wife, also he had Illtreated her and had become In- , fatuated with another woman. The Crown’s suggestion was he then became possessed of the idea of getting rid of his wife. It had been stressed that Munn had gone to a doctor, but it was the only thing he could have done, because if she had died without a doctor there must have been a post-mortem. Munn had asked the doctor to call on Thursday, one of his wife’s good days, because she had no strychnine that day. Although on the following day his wife was in awful pain Munn didn’t call the doctor. The next day he told the doctor that she was getting on well.