PONSONBY TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 206, 26 May 1920, Page 6

PONSONBY TRAGEDY

"THE TRIAL OF DENNIS GUNN. Br ToleffraiDh—Preis Association." Auckland, May "4. The trial of Dennis Gunn on the charge of murdering A. E. Braithwaito, postmaster at Ponsonby, on March 13 last, was continued in the Supreme Court to-day, when further evidenco for the Crown was heard. The greater portion of the evidence was a repetition of that given in the Lower Court and dealt with the discovery of the robbery at the Post Office and accused's movements on the day of the murder. Detective-Sergeant Cummings said that he had obtained a signed statement from Thomas Gunn, a brother of accused,, to the effect that ho had not seen accused between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the day of the murder. Mr. Reed, who appears for accused, 6aid that ho was instructed by Thomas Gunn that'he told Cummings he left his brother at 7 p.m. The statement in question was written in a notebook produced by Cummings. Mr. Reed asked to sea the figure. He Baid that he did not wish to make any suggestion, but his instructions were that the hour given was 7 p.m. The notebook was handed over and Mr. Reed invited the Crown to put the book in, saying that for formal reasons he did not care to put it in himself. He wished to have the figure'examined by 'an expert. He stated, however, that ho had always found Detective Cummings's evidence straightforward and sincere. Eventually the book was handed to tho Registrar, pending examination at a later stage. His Honour ruled that questions bearing on police investigations whicL were not given in evidence wero not'admissible.

Hearing of the case was. adjourned till to-morrow.