THE MUNN TRIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 978, 22 May 1930, Page 12

THE MUNN TRIAL

(Continued from Page 1.) When you got hack you asked her to forgive you?—No. How long had you been away?— Twelve months. And did you not send her any toioney?—No. He denied he had sold up the furniture before leaving for San Francisco. The children were brought up and educated by him, but one by one i hey left him You say it is base ingratitude on their part?—No. One girl says you ill-treated and heat, her.- —That is untrue. And your son swore he saw you ill-irea-t Mrs. Miinn; hit her and throw a plate at her?—That is untrue. You swear that all your son’s statements are untrue?—Yes. And the other girl says she saw you knock your wife down with your list. Is she swearing what is untrue? -—Yes. Site is a liar?—l am not saying that. I say the girl is influenced by her mother. And you say she Is Influenced by her mother to perjure herself against you ?—Yes. What do you say about striking your wife with a jamstick? Is that untrue?—lt is false. And the younger girl says she saw j our wife barricade herself in the bedroom.—That is correct in action, but the girl has misrepresented it. And you beat on the door?—My At ife had been making certain things she did not want me to see. Were you displaying temper?— None at. all. So Mavis is mistaken? —Yes. -So the first three children are untruthful After the children left were the relations of you and your wife good?— Absolutely. Were you treating her well?—Yes. And you say you never lifted your hand to your wife? —That is true. You were not tired of her?—No. And still devoted to her? —Yes. And von say your devotion continued until her death?—Yes. She was devoted and passionately lond of the children? —Yes. You can't suggest otherwise?—No. You don’t suggest this is not your advertisement?—The words “view matrimony” were not in the advertisement when I put it in. So you did not have matrimony in mind?—No, nor at any time. Was “gent. 40. lonely,” a correct description of you?—Not according to What should it have been?—“Gent, What was the idea of dropping five years?—l was putting it in round fig“MENTAL LONELINESS’' If you were happy in your home and had a good wife and children, why did you advertise?—lt was a mental loneliness. There was no avenue for your mental activity?—No. And you found religion not what it was represented?—No. What religion was that?—Seventh Day Adventists. They kicked you out. didn’t they?— 1 was excommunicated because I would not believe in the principle. Were you not connected with anv other religion?—Yes; Methodist, at Northcote. You left that church?—Yes. You were asked to leave?-—No. He denied being asked to leave over his method of running the Bible class. And so after two incursions into religious activities you were left without an avenue?—Yes.

And politics absorbed your attention?—Yes. And when defeated at the election you had nothing to occupy your mind? —No. You could find uo congenial, society not associated with beer?—No. So all the Northcote intellectuals are associated with beer?—Not at all. Could you find no other men who were not cursed with drinking?— Nearly all men have made their associations. Were there no men this side of the harbour?—Not of my acquaintance. “COMPANIONABLE WOMAN” So you advertised for a companionable woman instead of companionable man?—Yes. There was less chance of a woman being associated with beer? Munn said he knew his association with Mrs. Stuck was wrong, and he had made a mistake, and he did not wish to defend his action. Mr. Meredith: You got 53 replies to your •advertisement?—Yes. Did you pick out the half-dozen?— Yes. How did you pick them out? —From the letters. You threw a large bundle in the hai hour?—Yes. Those indicated loose houses?— Yes. Did you sink them?—No. You didn't think of the danger of the addresses floating up?—No. Was it revulsion that made you throw them away or fear to take them home?—l didn't wish any sort of companions like that. He said ho did not interview the six women, though he wrote to them. He first met Mrs. Stuck and took her to Mangere, but did not reach any decision that. day. Mr. Meredith: Then you met the second woman?—Yes. Where did you take her?—l met her in Dominion Road and drove her a chain up the road.

And then she suggested a “spot" and asked for a cigarette?—Yes. And you terminated the discussion? —Within half an hour of meeting her. He made appointments with the four other women, but they failed to turn up. he said He finally selected Mrs. Stuck. Mrs. Stuck had answered the advertisement “view matrimony," he said. Mr. Meredith: When did you explain there was no matrimony in it?—The second trip. That was the occasion you took he<to Mangere?—Yes. And spent several hours with her’ Yes. You told her then you were married" —Yes. She objected to you being married" ■—Yes. And she says you told her your wife had lost interest in you?—Yes- I told her my wife did not give me'mental companionship. And you thought Mrs. Stuck could supply the mental companionship" Yes. And you thought you would trv it? Was it a success?—She was a veryable woman so far as politics were concerned. She had been closely associated with politics. So you asked her to meet you on Labour Day"—Yes; I took the wife and Mrs. Lydiard out. Did you introduce your wife to Mrs. Stuck?— No. MET AGAIN said, that he talked with Mrs..

Stuck five minutes and met here agate ' that aight. What was the idea of parking on the roadside ?-•—I could not drive and talk at the same time. What was discussed?—Politics and things in general. What in. general?—The matter in the newspapers. There was no love-making?—None whatever. When did you start visiting Mrs. Stuck?—Two Mondays before she left Ayr Street. And you called on Mondays, wrote to her on Wednesdays, and took her out oil Saturdays?—That is a general statement. And you had many hours with Mrs. Stuck?—l caught boats to Northcote between nine and eleven o’clock. Did the duscussfon proceed from politics to more tender subjects?—No. Mrs. Stuck left on January 31, so you would have the long summer nights together. Was there nothing affectionate ?—No. Did she ever express her feelings toward you?—No. Not even at Northcote? —No. Munn said his discussions w-ith Mrs.! Stuck over marriage were on business lines, as was his previous association with her. Munn said that his wife had said that she would rather have him g;o to town in the afternoon than stay at Northcote and come home smelling of drink. Mr. Meredith: Mrs. Stuck went away on Friday and on Saturday, she being away, you lock the family out? —Yes. “TOLD WIFE” Accused said that he told his wife on the Friday that he was going to town to see a lady friend on the train and that he would take his wife out on the Saturday. Did you tell your wife this lady i’riend’s name? —No, I just said it wau some person who had given us tjje plants and cat. Munn said that he had made arrangements with Mrs. Stuck to write to him, and her correspondence was to go to the Takapuna Post Office, addressed under a false name. Mr. Meredith: Was there anything between you and Mrs. Stuck at this time?—No. Was she to write to you twice a week? —No, I was to call at the post office on Thursdays and Saturdaj-s. I told her I would be out on Saturday afternoons and I could then call in. If there was nothing between you and Mrs. Stuck. why did you go on corresponding after she had left Auckland?—Just to continue our companionship. She could inform me of the Labour movements in Christchurch and other general subjects. There was nothing of a personal nature in our letters.

Mr. Meredith: But you could read all about politics and subjects in general in the newspapers. I suppose you both wanted the personal touch. But do you swear that that is correct?—l do. Munn said that on Tuesday morning he saw the commencement of Mrs. Munn’s attack. It was in the kitchen and she said that she had a headache and it w-as getting worse. Mr. Meredith: How long after did you see anything wrong with her?— About an hour. And what happened then?—Slue said her head was getting worse and she thought she was losing the power of her legs. I got hold of her and she immediately “flopped” in the chair. She seemed all right then for a while. Then she started to tremble, her hands and arms in particular. I did not notice any movement of the legs until the convulsive movements of her shoulders, and these convulsive movements continued from one to two minutes at the outside. “QUITE ALL RIGHT” Munn said that he then suggested a doctor, but she said: "It’s quite all right. Dad. I'll be all right directly.” Munn then said that he was going for a doctor and told one of the girls, Doreen, to go down and ask Mrs. Gill to come up and look after his wife. Mr. Meredith: This was an alarming position for a husband to be in?— Yes. Anything might have happened?— Yes, there was a possibility. Mr. Meredith: You left for the doctor before Mrs. Gill came. Why did you not wait for her?—Becausg it was urgent that a doctor should see my wife as soon as possible and I knew Mrs. Gill was there, because I had heard her. Munn said that lie was positive that he sent the girl for Mrs. Gill and it the child had said to Mrs. Gill that her mother was ill and her mother wanted her, it was wrong. It was about 7.30 when lie went for the doctor and he could not help it if the doctor had said it was 9 o'clock when he arrived. He considered that the doctor arrived in about 10 to 20 minutes and it was before 8 o'clock.

On arriving back Munn said that Mrs. Gill was sitting with his wife. His wife was not crying when he arrived and as soon as he appeared she put her hands on his shoulders and asked if the doctor was coming. Mr. Meredith: You heard the kind of cry demonstrated by Mrs. Gill? — Yes. It was a kind of cry that would not be easy to forget. And was she not crying like that when you arrived back?—No. She spoke quite orderly to me when I came in. Did you ask Mrs. Gill if there were any symptoms of any kind while you were away?—No. I was only away five minutes and when I arrived back I told my wife that she would have to go to bed. He did not see his wife’s head gc back and would swear that at no time did he see her grip the sides of the chair with her hands. Mr. Meredith: You saw Mrs. Gill give a demonstration of that. Munn: Yes, but that may have happened while I was away. Further questioned, Munn said that the day of the first attack his wife did not want to be handled and remarked: “Leave me alone; it hurts.” He said that he had given Dr. Dudding the full Information of what had occurred.

Mr. Meredith: Did you discuss your wife’s illness with Mrs. Gill? —No. His Honour: Did you tell the doctor of a certain condition? —No. Mr. Meredith: Were you worried about your wife?—Certainly. He admitted he had declined Mrs. Gill’s offer to assist in the house, because she was not required. He visited the doctor that night, as Mrs. Munn was nervous and as he was afraid she would not sleep he obtained a sleeping draught. The following morning he went to Takapuna to collect a letter. Mr. Meredith: What letter?—From Mrs. Stuck. The letter about politics?—Yes. What did you want the letter for?— to read it. And so you left your wife, who had a convulsion, and who had to have a sedative at night, in charge of a five-year-old child?—Yes: with instruction to go to neighbours if her mother required help. Do you still say the UUm- was only

Interesting views on polities?— Tee. And your interest in politics was such that you were prepared to go and get it? Yes. When he reached the Post Office, Munn said he received the wire, from ; Mrs. Stuck asking for £5. ! Mr. Meredith: What did she mean by “lonely”?—Because of trouble she had ill Christchurch. Had you ever had “Love, George” j on any letter?—No I was surprised to see it there. She never enclosed such words In an envelope, yet she put them in oil i open telegram?—Yes. Continuing, Munn said that after his wife’s convulsion in the morning : he was so nervous concerning her con- ■ dition that he could not go to town i to pay a State Advances instalment, ; which was overdue. Mr, Meredith: Would another day S have made a difference? —Yes; I : promised to pay in January and I like i to keep my promises, i A neighbour would have paid it for j you?—l was not trusting £l6 lo neighbours. j And you sent advice of your wife’s j illness to Mrs. Stuck? —Yes. Did you advise your wife's i relatives?—No; because my wife told i me not to. VISIT TO TOWN 1 After receiving the telegram from i Mrs. Stuck, he returned home and in i the afternoon came to town to buy i grapes and bananas , his wife’s fav- ! ourite fruit and to send the money to ! Mrs. Stuck, he said. Mr. Meredith: Which was more ! preferable? sending the money or : getting wour wife’s favourite fruit? — . If I hadn't had to get the fruit I would | have left sending the money until the following day. He stated that he met Mrs. Brown ! on Tuesday and informed her of Mrs. Munn’s illness, and that he didn’t want any women there to annoy his wife. Mr. Meredith: Did you say you ■ didn’t want any damn womeu down 1 there?—l might have used the word ' damn. Munn asserted that Mrs. Brown was not regarded by Mrs. ; Munn as a friend. ! Mr. Meredith: Who went to get the children after the funeral? Mr. Mays. Who was asked to get Mr. Mays. I put it to you that Mrs. Brown was asked and went and got the children? —That is absolutely false. The cross-examination of Munn was continue dthis afternoon following the luncheon adjournment. Mr. Meredith: At the funeral, were Mrs. Blayney, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Campbell?—Yes. And didn’t Mrs. Brown accompany you?—l am not disputing that Mrs. Brown was not kindly disposed, but there were things my wife did not like about Mrs. Brown.

He disputed the fact that on the morning of the Tuesday when Dr. Dudding called he had said to Mrs. Munn that if she did not go to bed she would be in the hospital for six weeks. Mr. Meredith: You heard Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Gill say there were twitching on Wednesday?—l wouldn’t say twitchings but nervousness. If yo uhad seen them you would have reported them to the doctor? — I did not see any conculsive movements. You didn’t tell the doctor of the convulsive movements?- —No; I didn't see any. You were in the room up till three o’clock and you saw no convulsive movements?—No. What did you see?—Nervousness. She would get a little restless and have a momentary trembling of the hands. What did you observe when you arrived back about 4.30? —Se was about the same. If she got a shock from a noise the trembling in the hands would last half a minute. Were you not alarmed at it?—No. Did you tell Dr. Dudding?—No. (Proceeding.)