PUKEKAWA MURDER CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2204, 18 November 1920, Page 3

PUKEKAWA MURDER CASE.

MRS. EYRE IN THE WITNESS BOX.

Auckland, Nov. 17

The hot ring of evidence in the Pukckawa murder case was continued in the Supreme Court this morning. Mrs Eyre, in answer to Mr Singer (counsel for accused Thorn), Said: “Within a few hours of the shot being fired I thought it was Thorn. I believed it was 'Wiorn by Hie'time the police came.” She thought Thorn was Ihe only one. who could have committed the murder. At first she thought Thorn was a decent: fellow, but after it certain relationship began between them she had nothing but contempt for him. That was due lately to his familiarity towards her and partly by his threats. She denied that she ever asked Thom if he could gel a divorce, or whether, if he could get rid of his wife, lie would marry her. in the event of anything happening to her husband. Airs Eyre, continuing her evidence, said that after Eyre’s return from Canada he received letters from abroiid. His Honour: “What is (be relevancy of that?”

Mr Singer: “It may have been someone from abroad, perhaps Canada, who committed the murder.” Witness said that her husband immediately destroyed these letters, and never referred to the persons who sent them. She never worried about: whether the writers were men or women. Site saw an advertisement in a paper, and. .-he showed it to her husband.

Counsel: “It was someone advertising for your husband ?” His Honour; “Ypu cannot put that question without,putting in the advertisement.” Counsel: “Some time after that did your husband receive a letter in cypher?” Witness: “1 do not kno.w”’ She added that she did not think the sidvcrtiscincul was mysterious, and she did not know who inserted it. ■•Touching another point, witness said that she saw accused at the Tnakau police station on till September. After a greeting between (he two, Thorn’s first remark, so far as she recollected," was that he had always found her a truthful woman, that the boy.- were truthful, and (bat lie bad nothing against the fa mil v. tie also slated that he did not sugge-1 that witness or any of I,lie children killed Air Eyre. When Hie police went out, Thorn asked, what made her think he had killed her husband. She replied: “The circumstances. The person who did it must have known Hm posgion of Hie bed and the run of the -place." Thorn said: “As true a- I am here. ! never di<l it." Witness replied; “If you arc innocent, 1 feet sorry? lor

In further answer in Mr S:ngcl‘, Mrs Eyre admitted that she .-aid to ilio accused: “Taking: l!ie whole circumstances, J cannid say anyone else-. The person who did it must have known the whole ran ol! the place. At first I did not say anyiiiinu about you, hut when 1 thought it over thoroughly, and tried you in rev own nnnd. I could not think of. anyone hut you that would do it." 1 Evidence was given hy Sidney Evre, l(i years, a son ol the deceased, He said that Ids father and accused did not gel on well together. From expressions which were used, he knew his father was an object <d' dislike hy Thorn. Witness detailed the happenings on the night of flic murder. He was hrielly erossexamined hy' Mr Singer.

Dora Millicenl Eyre, sister id the last witness, and others gave evidence before the Court adjourned for the day.'

Auckland, Yesierdax

When the trial was resumed this morning, William Hazard, gun merchant, gave evidence that he had examined Chit. Eyre's gun on 25ih August. His opinion,, was that il had not been tired for a month. When he looked at the accused’s gun on ;jO(h August, lie found Unit both barrels had been tired some lime previously, the left barrel the more recently. f><<l!i barrels had been (denned. The right barrel had apparently been (denned a second lime. The left barrel had a black substance in it, not having been thoroughly cleaned. He believed it hud been lived within a week or ten days. Cartridges in the gun case contained No. (i and No. 7 shot. His linn had supplied that kind of cartridges to Mrs Eyre for the accused at one lime. The shot found in the deceased's head agreed with No. / shot in weight.