WOMAN MURDERED

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1933, Page 2

WOMAN MURDERED

SUPREME COURT TRIAL OPENS. EDWARDS ACCUSED OF CRIME. (ter treat Association — Copyiijht.) AUCKLAND, October 30. Charged with tile murder of Mrs Christian . Cunningham at* her home Ui Grey Lynn on August 10, John Hubert Edwards, aged 41, a labourer, whs. placed on trial to-day before Mr Justice Herdnian. Mr Herdnian, lor the Crown, said that the Cunningham iamily had known Edwards for about 'six years, and at one time had live*! under the same roof. Subsequently f when the family moved Edwards called on them occasionally. On the night of August 16, Dora and Joyce Cunningham went to a dance, and when Joyce‘returned about midnight, Edwards, came, along and sam he wanted to see her father (who was j on relief Hvork), about a permanent job. He was admitted, and went into Cunningham’s bedroom where he told Cunningham he was feeling sick and faint. Cunningham told him to sit on the lied, and later he propped ofl to sleep. On waking in tile morning, he saw Edwards lying across the foot of Ills bed. Cunningham loft the bedroom about 6.30 a.m., and Edwards apparently them got into bed. He had pyjamas on, which Jic must have beep wearing under his clothes when he arrived, Bis daughter, Joyce, heard the mother say to Edwards: Don’t you think you had a nerve to come here like you did and stay all night. 9” Cun 7 nuigham then came into the house and heard Edwards say ; “Won’t you forgive me this time Later in the morning Cunningham and Edwards left the house together, and as they walked along Cunningham said: "Look, Edwards. It’s not convenient to have visitors to the house just now. I am on relief work, and we cannot afford to have visitors.” i Mr Meredith described the return to the house of. the deceased’s daughter, Joyce Cunningham,, who found her mother and the accused. lying on the floor injured. Assistance was obtainecl|, Both were sent to the hospital, where Mrs Cunningham died, and the accused later recovered. Mr Meredith said that there were sighs of a struggle.' When Mrs Cunningham' was attacked, she* must have been first struck pn {he head by some blunt and round in strument. In Edwards’ hand there was a razor tightly' grasped. No doubt d was the razor with which Mrs Cunnings ham’s'throat had. been severed. It was quite clear that the unfortunate woman had been ■ struck several severe blo\p on the head by a round, blunt instrument,, but a search of the room and the, neighbourhood had. failed to discover the instrument.. ■ On a writing pndj found on the gas . meter in -the .hall, said Mr Meredith, there was a message in the handwriting of Edwards. The message read: “Lovers, we, die together, The doani pact.'.”. The note was signed '“Jack Edwards” and “Mrs ’ Cunningham,; but the signatures were both written by Edwards, No ‘doubt, said counsel, tlfe defence would raise the question of insanity, but. the JftF upon this question was that, every person who committed a crime was deemed- tq be, sane Until the contrary had -been proved, - and this was.; for the defence to prove. Edwards was apparently a man 'pt fairly violent temper, and it was quite clear that, on the morning of the tragedy, Mrs Cunningham had given him a good dressing down. “The only suggestion there can be is that he lost his temper—lost control of liimself— and committed murder,” . said Mr Meredith.