MINN ON TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1930, Page 5

MINN ON TRIAL

MURDER TRIAL CONTINUES.

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

AUCKLAND EAST, May 26.

The trial of Arthur Thomas Munn, on a charge of murdering his wife by poisoning her with strychnine, to-day entered it’s thirteenth day of hearing. Mr Northcroft, counsel for the defence is addressing the jury this morning.

COUNSEL ADDRESS JURY.

AUCKLAND, May 26

Mr Northcrc'ft’s address for the defence is expected to last most of to-day. He is traversing much of the evidence in detail, seeking to show that Munn although naturally brusque in his manner, was a decent worthy citizen-, and that the action which the Crown had attempted to show were suspicious, were more probably consistent with innocence.

Counsel admitted that accused’s relations with Mrs/Stuclqjvere not above criticism, - pointed out that he had. not-dojie,theJ*asy, and blackguardly thipgy. which "ivas Vo bay f that the nature of jhis:: relations with the woman was what the Crownblleged it was. .Cotinsel stressed that,Munn on his wife’s fijrst .seizure had 'rushed for a doctor and bad sought; a- doctor afterwards., • T ' ' aMF’'.,'.

Mr Northcroft contended that Dr Dtidding hadVabqyred‘Jbis suspicions to be distorted,'und!’. (alleged that if the doctor had.dohe his .dirty the day Mrs Munn had the fatal seizure, the woman would have been alive to-day.

Mr Justice Herdman checked counsel, saying the question for the iury was whether Munn gave poison to his wife.