MUNN ON TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1930, Page 5

MUNN ON TRIAL

MUNN’S ACCOUNT OF WIFE’S

ILLNESS

(By Telegraph— Press Association).

AUCKLAND, May 21. At the murder trial, in describing bis wile’s illness, Mmm said that it uas a. iniily general condition that his wile would be fairly well during the day and would become restless and neivous towards evening. Mu 1111 said ins wife had a good night the night before she died • His wife asked lnm that night that he should promise her that ho would not let her go to the nospital.

Ahum said his wife woke him about 1 a - m - 011 the morning of Tuesday, February lltli. She said the children neie already up and that Doreen.'had hecn crying. When he returned from feeding the fowls, lie asked her about salts. She asked if she would have to have them that morning, and lie said it was accoiding to the doctor’s orders. Pie gave her half a teacupful, instead of a whole one. He was not able to say if she took die salts. When he took the salts to her she asked if lie had any orange juice, and he gave lifer some in a cup. Shortly after that she called him to stay with her. He asked her why, and told her she seemed ail right. She said: “Yes, but I am afraid I’m going to have a turn.” He stayed with her, and shortly afterwards she started t-o tremble and had a- convulsion. That passed quickly. She seemed quite easy. When he said he was going for the doctor, she said: “I don’t want the doctor.” He sent a message to the doctor to come at once. When the doctor yame, Mrs Munii started to tremble. The doctor asked him if that, was how his wife had gone on the previous Tuesday. Witness replied, “Yes.” The doctor drew his attention to the arching of her back. Witness said he had not seen that before. Alter the doctor had gone Airs Ahum went to sleep. Later he went to the doctor, telling him his wife s pulse seemed to he weakening, and he did not like the look of her. Witness went home ahead of the doctor, and when the doctor arrived he told witness his wife was dead. ■ Muim’s examination was not completed when the court rose.

TO-DAY’S EVIDENCE.

AUCKLAND, May 22.

The Alunn murder trial entered on the tenth day, Alunn continuing his evidence.

He said that poison found in the drawer in the bedroom was not found by him ibut by Detective Doyle. Witness at the time was .standing on a chair looking over the top of a wardrobe where he knew his wife occasionally concealed things. The chest of drawers was close up to the bed. Replying to the Judge" accused said he was positive the bottle of pills was in the jewel drawer when the police searched, and had been for years. His wife was out of bed occasionally during her illness, including three times on Monday, the day before she died. Replying to the judge, he said he. first came to the conclusion that his wife had suicided when he heard a detective tell the Magistrate in the Lower Court that his wife died of strychnine, and that witness had admitted purchasing strychnine. He did not know then that he was suspected. Munn denied cruelty to his wife or children. He said prior to his wife’s death he never contemplated matrimony but afterwards he had to think of the children. The advertisemhnt oy which he met Mrs Stuck stated his age as 40, not 45. Mr Meredith: Why did you give your age as 40 instead of 45 ? Accused: Just to put it in round figures. Questioned closely about the reason for advertising, he said he knew no companionable men, so lie advertised for a woman. He knew now that he did wrong. Munn admitted that on the day he took the family for a drive he saw Mrs Stuck for live minutes but did not introduce her to his wife.

Accused was questioned by Mr Meredith about the arrangements he and Mrs Stuck had made to correspond when she was in Christchurch.

Mr Meredith: If there was nothing between you why was this arrangement made. She could not then provide you with mental activities. Accused : I think she could.