WOMAN IN TEARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 972, 15 May 1930, Page 13

WOMAN IN TEARS

DRAMATIC MOMENT IN MUNN TRIAL THIRD DAY OF HEARING Overcome with emotion, a woman witness, Mrs. B. K. Lydiard, broke down in tears in the witness-box in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon during the trial of Arthur Thomas Munn, on a charge of wife-murder. Her breakdown occurred at a pathetic moment, when telling how she sympathised with Munn on his wife’s death and her request to take the children. Tears checked her for a few moments and after sitting down she added dramatically: “Munn broke down.’* The trial is being heard before Mr. Justice Herdman. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith, with him Mr. McCarthy, conducted the prosecution and Mr. E. H. Northcroft, with him Mr. Munro, represented the accused. “IN GOOD HEALTH” Beatrice K. Lydiard, who lives opposite the Munn home, said that two days before Mrs. Munn’s illness, she seemed in good health. On Tuesday morning Munn came over about 10 o’clock, saying his wife had had a stroke and asking that she keep an eye on his wife while he went to town. Mrs. Lydiard said that Mrs. Munn seemed brighter and asserted that she had had terrible pains in her legs and arms. The sick woman, however, complained of pains in her legs and eyes and witness thought Mrs. Munn looked quite all right. Mrs. Munn said she had been trying to do a little fancy work apron for one of the children, but her eyes were too sore. The sick woman said she could not get out of bed, though she was quite rational mentally. Munn returned about 1.30 p.m. Each morning Mrs. Lydiard inquired concerning the sick woman’s condition, but Munn always met her at the back doorstep. The day before Mrs. Munn died, Munn told witness that when one of the children dropped a broom on the verandah, his wife had nearly jumped off the bed, and that he could hear her heart beating. Munn at no time invited witness to go In to see Mrs. Munn and she did not ask for permission to enter as Munn had told witness, his wife had to be kept perfectly quiet. “TERRIBLE NIGHT” About nine o’clock on the day of Mrs. SJunn’s death, Mrs. Lydiard went over and Munn told her his wife was' sleeping and that the doctor had injected morphia. He said he had had a terrible night with her and that she had been clinging to him all night. An hour later, witness again went to inquire about Mrs. Munn. and saw

Munn driving out in his car. He said he was going for the doctor, and that he did not like the look of his wife. Munn asked witness to 6tand in the doorway until he returned. “I walked from the front door to just inside the bedroom door," said witness. “Mrs. Munn seemed to be dead. Her eyes were closed and her mouth wide open and there was no sign of movement.” Mrs. Lvdiard immediately returned to the verandah, where she waited for Munn, who returned and the doctor was following. FREQUENT VISITORS Cross-examinea by Mr. Northcroft, witness said that Mrs. Munn told her that she had turned giddy when making breakfast, but she did not say whether her husband had given her anything to drink or anything bitter. Witness said she had been a fairly frequent visitor to the Munn home during the last two years. Munn was usually there and witness saw nothing to suggest unhappiness or quarrelling. Munn and his wife appeared to be fond of each other In the wavone would expect. It had been a regular practice for Munn to drive his wife out in the car on Sunday during the last twelve months. To Mr. Northcroft: Mrs. Munn told me that she did not Wish to have any more children. Munn was an abrupt man, but I never heard him swear. Witness said Mrs. Munn did not wish to go to the hospital. “I went across after Mr. Munn had discovered his wife’s death,” Mrs. Lydiara said. “I sympathised with him and asked if I could take the children.” Answering further questions by Mr. Meredith, witness said Mrs. Munn was very fond of her children. When Munn had told her she might have to go to hospital if she did not keep quiet, she had promised to do so as she was unwilling to go to hospital. Martin Kiely, supervisor of the telegraph operating room at Auckland, produced a telegram dated February 4, 1930, from “Arthur” to Mrs. G. Stuck at Christchurch. Witness said the telegram had been handed in at 12.22 p.m. as was shown on the copy. Mr. Northcroft asked where abouts on the copy the time was stated. “Is it on the right-hand side or the left?” he asked. Witness: Neither. It’s in the middle. Mr. Northcroft, being still unable to find the reference, witness explained that the letters “M.D.S.” were code for 12.22 and the first few laughs of the trial were heard in the court. Witness produced copies of further telegrams that had been referred to earlier in the hearing. Further evidence in regard to the telegrams was given by Sidney John Archibald and Robin John Gillibrand, telegraphists, of Auckland. Constable F. M. Fuller, who had been on duty in the watch-house when Munn was arrested, on March 8, produced property sheets signed at the Central Police Station by accused.

A hand-writing expert. Joseph | James Murray, who described himself | as a retired civil servant, said he had been more than 30 years in the money-order department of the Post Office Savings Bank. During that time it had been his duty to compere hand-writing and signatures. Witness was of the opinion that the signatures on the property sheets and on the telegrams sent to Mrs. Stuck were in the hand-writing of the same person. A handwriting expert. Clarence Cecil Spedding. expressed the opinion that the signatures on the police property sheets, the two statements to the police, the money order telegram requisition and the matrimonial advertisement, were written by the same person. The principal of St. Peter's Rural Training College. Northcote. the Rev. Father Joseph Zanna. said that on February 8, he engaged Mrs. Stuck as cook-general for the college hostel, following her application for the position. Mrs. Stuck commenced her duties on Monday, being brought to the college iu the car by Munn. Next Friday morning Mrs. Stuck announced her desire to leave and following wit- j ness’s offer to allow her to go immedi- i ately, she departed on Saturday evening in a car. No indication of the location of the j position was given in the advertise- j meut inviting applications for cook- i general, Father Zanna told Mr. North- j croft. The hearing was then adjourned.