MURDER CHARGE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 659, 11 October 1933, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE

(Press Assn.-

EDWARDS COMMITTED PREJ.IMINARY HEARING IN LOWER COURT CONCLUDED AQCUSED PLEADS NOT GUILTY

-r-By Telegraph— Copyright).

Auckland, Tuesday. The hearing of the lower court proceedings against a labourer, John Rupert Edwards, aged 41, charged with the murder of Christina Cunningham, a married woman, was concluded before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court to-d'ay. Mr. McCarthy appeared for the Crown and accused was represented by Mr. Hall Skelton. Gontinuing his evidence from Thursday when proceedings were adjourned, Constable Williams gave further details of statements allegedly made by the accused while he was in the Auckland Hospital after Mrs. Cunningham's death. Cross-examined, witness said that he was in plain clothes while on duty at the hospital. He had been a constable in New Zealand for 18 nionths and prior to that had been in Samoa. Witness handed^in a notebook to which he referred when giving his evidence. At the conclusion of the cross-examination, counsel for the accused intimated that he objected to the whole of the evidence given by Constable Williams. The objection was noted. Constable Howe who was also on duty at the hospital, said that the accused informed him on August 19 that he would plead not guilty to the murder charge as he had a clear conscience. Edwards said that he had been suffering from a nervous breakdown during tbe past 10 weeks and added: "Something seemed to have snapped inside my head." Continuing, witness said that accused also remarked:. "These things come unexpectedly. It takes all kinds to make a woi*ld." Asked on August 21 how he felt, accused said: "It is only this nervous breakdown that is worrying me. Never mind, we all go the same way home. They talk about brimstone and fire. Don't you believe it. We are all the same once we are under the ground — it is finish." In reply to Mr. McCarthy, witness said that he would sometimes he conversing with the accused about general matters wlien he would drift on to the subjeet of the crime. At this stage an objection by Mr. Hall Skelton to this evidence was noted. Evidence was given by Constable Farrow tbat on August 20, when witness commented to Edwards that he ; was looking better, the accused said: i "I am sinlcing. I would be better dead." On another occasion, said wit- , ness, Edwards, referring to another j patient said: "He would not walk j about if be had done a job like me. j I am the unfortunate one. I should ! not be here — I should he in a box. j Some of you who are treating me j like this will get your turn. All the j doctors and nurses are trying to fix j me but looks do not count. I won't ' last long." On August 24, the accus- 1 ed remarked: "It is funny how any- ; one mental is affected by everyone ; in a difrerent way. I feel that it is j affecting my head. I cannot stand i being in bed and having to keep still. ! I am suffering too much mental an- ' guish." . On August 30, said witness, Edwards said to.him: "I have not any callous trait — I 'have a loveable nature. I would not hurt a fly but something went in my head." Detective McWhirter gave evidence concerning the condition of the house in Grey Lynn following the tragedy. An unsuccessful search had been made for the instrument with which ! the head injuries had been inflicted ' upon Mrs. Cunningham. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the next sittings of the : Supreme Court for trial.