MURDER CHARGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4434, 1 April 1930, Page 2

MURDER CHARGE.

DEATH.OF MRS. AHJNN.

THE TRIAL BEGUN,

A tick la ml, Y ester day

The hearing of the charge against Arthur Thomas Munn, aged 45, a furniture worker of Northeote, of murdering his wife, Lillie May Munn, at Northeote, on 11th February, commenced before the Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, to-day. Mrs. Sarah Qampbell, of Wellington, mother of the deceased, stated in evidence that the deceased first married W. Westorby in November, 1917. Westorby went to the war and died of pneumonia in England. There were no children of that marriage. On 12th March, 11)20, the deceased married the accused at Orcytown. A little time later they removed to Northeote. There were two children of the marriage, girls, aged (live and nine. The deceased corresponded with witness regulartv every week. The last letter was dated !)th February. The deceased wrote: “I can only write a note to you lying in lied. 1 came over very queer on Tuesday morning. Arthur got the doctor and he was here a long time. He stuck a needle in my arm and took away some blood to test, f think it is blood pressure and nervous trouble. Arthur is just goodness itself, mum, and is looking after me well. Don’t worry, I’m getting well.” Witness said that the writing in side the letter card was that of the deceased. It was written in pencil. The outside was addressed in ink. Witness thought that this was the accused’s writing. Witness said that her daughter had £IOO when she married Munn. Witness understood that the deceased afterwards put it into a house at Northeote. Witness said that the deceased had a lovely disposition. She was 'cheerful and bright and not at. all despondent. EVIDENCE BY DAUGHTERS. Dorothy Ida Munn, aged nineteen, said that she was at present residing with her mother, who had been divorced from the accused. Witness had until three years ago lived with her father at Northeote. Answering a question by counsel witness replied that the accused was very cruel to Airs. Ahum in many ways. She had seen the accused strike his wife on two occasions. Once his blow was hard and severe with his clenched hand, and it made her fall. On another occasion the accused went- to, the fireplace, where the deceased was stirring some jam. He took the jam stick from her and struck her t u the shoulder with it. ‘‘What was her attitude towards the accused ?" asked Mr. Meredith, the Crown Prosecutor.

Witness: “She was always doing II she possibly could for him.”

Witness said that she left home

! . cause the accused was so cruel ;< her. The accused told her she would have lo come home every week-end she had off, or he would 1 >nt the police on to her. She afterwards refused to go home. She advertised for her own mother, and went to live with her.

Air. Meredith: “Who got your wages.” Witness: "1 kept them myself, but be wanted to take them."

Mavis Leonie Munn, another <lnughler of the accused, who was living with her mother, said that .-.lie left her father’s home about two months after her sister Dorothy left. “Up to the time I left," she added, “my father never mulled the deceased with any respect, and always spoke to her roughly. 1 have never seen him strike her, hut i have seen him chasing her into the bedroom. She then barricaded the door, and he kept pushing on it.” The accused’s behaviour to her stepmother had not altered up to the time when witness left home.

Oliver Arthur Herbert Munn, aged 21, said that he had seen his lather strike and push his step mother many times. She was only meek and mild, trying to keep peace for the children’s sake. The accused ran the house. Witness lived at home until a year ago. Robert Rowan Bell, a solicitor, said that lie had received a letter from .Mrs. Munn on 2-llh December last, instructing him to make her will leaving everything to Munn. The will was signed on 15th .January, with Munn as the sole legatee. .V MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENT.

An advertising clerk of the

"Auckland Star” gave evidence Dial in October, 11)29, a matrimonial advertisement was handed to her over (he counter by a man. The words “View to matrimony” were iint in it, hut the man at her request wrote in those words. The advertisement was published as follows: "(lent, 40, lonely, wishes to meet i ompauionahle woman, without means preferable, view to matrimony. Write EL, (5218, Star.’ She had asked the man to sign his name on the hack of the advertisement. The name signed on the back was ".Munn, Northeote.” The original advertisement was produced. Three copies of the Auckland Star for October 10, 11 and 12 containing the advertisement, were also produced. FRIENDSHIP WITH WIDOW. Georgina Stack, a widow, said she answered the advertisement and as a result, she received a letter signed . “Arthur Thomas,” making an appointment for her to meet him. Witness kept the appointment and Arthur Thomas Munn, the accused, met her. Accused drove witness out to Onehunga in his car, where they stopped and talked. He told her he wanted a friend. Afterwards, accused wrote to witness, asking her to meet hiui on the next

\\ ediiesday. She did so and Alunn drove her out to Onehuuga again. Witness asked accused if he was married. She told him she had a feeling lie was married and also that his name was not Arthur Thomas. Accused then said his mum- was Arthur Thomas Munn.

Witness, in referring to accused’s position as a married man, said: "This cannot go on.” Accused said that his wife had lost interest in the home. He said he only wanted a friend.

Witness said: “I will lie a friend." Later, witness told accussed she did not wish their friendship to continue, but accused asked her if she would continue being a friend and she said she would. Alunn afterwards came to see her in Auckland each Monday morning and Saturday afternoon.

Subsequently, witness went to Christchurch and returned on February 7, meeting accused at the Y.M.U.A. She later obtained a position at the Maori College at Northeote and accused visited her there. He arrived at seven o’clock one night. He put his hand on her shoulder and breaking down said: "My wife has gone.” Witness said: “Don’t tell me that.” lie said: "It’s true.”

Witness asked: “Wjhat are you going to do?” and Munn said: T think I will keep the house on. Will you consider coming and keeping bouse for me, as I don’t want to pari with it?”

She agreed to go and keep house, adding, "Did your wife die suddenly Munn replied, “Yes.” Accused came to the college in his car on the evening of .February 13 and took her to his .house at Northeote.

In conversation, accused said

"There’s been an inquest. The doctor will not give a certificate. She took her own life. The night before she died, she asked me to promise not to send her to hospital. She seemed depressed.” PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE.

Witness remained at accused’s house until ho was arrested. When Mu- had been there a few days, ae-i-uscd said: “Do you think enough of me to marry me?”

Witness replied: “1 would like you to wait, as you might meet somebody else that you may like better than me.”

Munn then said: “Will you marry me after the inquest for the sake of i he children?”

Witness replied that she would like to wait as her previous marriage had not been successful. Accused asked witness for her wedding ring and she gave it to him. He said he would keep it until he bought her one himself. Witness said she was only a friend to Munn.

Mrs. Lydia Gill, of Northeote, said she had a fiat under the fiat occupied hv the Munns. On February 4, a little girl asked her to go up to Mrs. Munn. Accused was away, havig gone for a doctor. Deceased was reclining in a chair and gripping the sides of the chair. She was twitching and drawing her legs iij> and her eyes were half closed. Deceased asked witness if she knew what was the matter and whether witness had seen anyone like that before. "Witness said she had not.

Deceased asked witness not to leave her. Wihen Munn returned, witness asked him if he knew what was the matter. He said he did not but that he had summoned a doctor.

Witness and accused carried deceased to bed. Witness said deceased was of a bright disposition but highly strung. She idolised her children and her husband too.

The case was adjourned until tomorrow.