MEMBERSHIP GROWING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 12

MEMBERSHIP GROWING

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION From Our Oivn Correspondent OPOTIKT, Thursday. At the third annual meeting of the Opotiki branch of the League of Nations Union, held last night, a credit balance of nearly £l4 was reported. There was a substantial increase in membership which now' totals 59. The election of officers resulted: Patron, Mr. K. S. Williams, M. P.; president, the Hon. J. B. Gow; vicepresidents, the Rev. J. E. Draper. Messrs. Briggs, and G. S. Moody: committee. Mesdames Fleming. G. Murray, and Downey; secretary, the Rev. David JTird: treasurer, Mr. G. B. Murray; auditor, Mr. T. H. Pearson. Items were contributed by Mrs. J. G. Murray, Mr. H. Jackson. Mesdames Hiltord and Auld. Mr. Rowland, Miss White, Mrs. Fleming, and Mr. Semple.

MANY HOURS IN BOX BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS A statement that he concluded when the police found the poison bottle in a drawer of his wife’s bedroom on February 12, that she must have placed it there and used it, was made by Arthur Thomas Munn, on trial on a charge of wife-murder, during his cross-examination in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon. Munn was under cross-examination for about five hours and the Crown Prosecutor had not concluded when the Court rose. Mr. Justice Herdman was on the Bench. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith, with him Mr. McCarthy conducted the prosecution, and Mr. E. H. Northcroft and Mr. Munro represented the accused. Mr. Meredith: On the Friday afternoon of February 7, Mrs. Munn was not at all well?—When I left at 3 o’clock she was quite well. You heard Mrs. Gill say she saw a remarkable change in Mrs. Munn and she thought your wife was dying? —I didn’t see her then. When you did see her what did you think?—l had just calmed her down after the upset with Mrs. Brown. You had known of the disturbance between Mrs. Brown and your wife since it occurred? —Y'es. ORDERED HER OUT Why was it Mrs. Brown was not asked anything about the affair when in the witness-box?—l don’t know. Mr. Meredith announced he intended to apply for permission to recall Mrs. Brown.

Mr. Meredith: Mrs. Brown will say that what you say is absolutely untrue. Do you stC' say that your statement is true? —I am repeating what my wife told me. Mrs. Munn said that she had practically told Mrs. Brown to get out of the house and keep out because she was only worrying by interfering with her children. When Mrs. Brown came into the house my wife was calling for the children, whom she could hear from the bathroom. She did not want Mrs. Brown to interfere with them. When Mrs. Brown asked why she was calling the children, pty wife said she wanted a certain article. Mrs. Brown had gone out and scolded the children and brought in a child’s dress, saying the dye was on a quilt and pillow-sham. Mr. Meredith: What was your wife’s nervousness showing after Mrs. Brown had gone?—lt was the trembling of the arms and it took me over half an hour to quieten her down. She was quite distressed.

You did not go for Dr. Dudding?— No, I did not think it necessary. You did not tell Dr. Dudding about it?—No. When did you see him.—Friday night. It happened the same day. Why didn’t you tell the doctor?— I told him that Mrs. Murm had recovered from: the nervousness. Did you tell the doctor that the arms were moving?—l said she was trembling. Will you swear that?—Yes. Did you tell Dr. Dudding on Friday that your wife had been trembling in the arms? —I told him she had been trembling. Do you sugest he has forgotten it? —No. On Saturday were you worried or alarmed about your wife?—No. Where did you go first? —To Takapuna. What for?—A letter. From whom?—Mrs. Stuck. Why did you want to go?—I had undertaken to go and I like to keep my word. HIS DUTY TO HIS WIFE Was the duty to go for the letter more important than your duty to your wife?—My duty to my.wife was not neglected. And you were satisfied to leave your wife in charge of two children after what you had seen on Friday? —Yes. He however got a wire from Mrs. Stuck notifying her arrival. Mr. Meredith: Why did you go to town? —For fruit tor the wife and to see Mrs. Stuck. What did you wayt to see Mrs. Stuck for? —She was a friend and I naturally wanted to see her.

Why?—l knew she had evidently been in trouble in Christchurch. He took steps to find out Mrs. Stuck’s whereabouts by telephoning her daughter. Mr. Meredith: Was Mrs. Stuck there?—Yes. Her daughter had rung her?—Y'es. Do you always take the car over?— Yes if I’m in a hurry because I had missed the vehicular ferry. You drove Mrs. Stuck to the Catholic hostel and waited for her. When did your hurry cease? —I was with her from an hour or half an hour. Your hurry was not sufficient ■ not to spend this time with Mrs. Stuck? — No. At this stage Mr. Meredith produced a letter, on which he proposed questioning the witness, but after Mr. Northcote read it he contended it was inadmissible. This view was shared by his Honour, and discussion on the point was deferred. Munn said that the letter he received on the Monday was an indication of the friendship between Mrs. Stuck and himself. It was written as though there was a relationship between two men friends

On the Sunday he rang her up on the phone and asked her if she had got the position a‘t St. Peter’s College and she said she thought she would be going to it on the Monday. He told her that if she came ‘over he would take her to St. Peter’s College. This took place. His wife was at home with the two children when he met Mrs. Stuck and her daughter. There was an opportunitj’ to spend some more time with Mrs. Stuck in the evening and he did so. Mrs. Stuck’s daughter would have been there that evening also had it not been for the letter-card which he gave to her to post. Mr. Meredith: That is the lettercard in which Mrs. Munn said “Arthur is just goodness itself and looking after me wonderfully”?—Yes, Where - were you on Monday?—ln town on business. Did 3'ou do anything but business? —I had told Mrs. Stuck and her daughter on Sunday that I would be in town and I would look after her luggage. Was there any necessity for you to do so? —I suppose she could have got someone else. Munn agreed that although his wife had referred to an overdue natural event several times, he had never asked how long the delay was. Mr. Meredith: So she mentioned this ’matter five times in a week? — Yes. You were asked by the police the first time they saw you about your wif6's condition? —No: I volunteered the" information. Why didn’t you tell them? —T told the police the morning my wife was ill that she had complained of the dc-

lay* of a certain condition coming on, hut the police dismissed it. Did you say you thought she was pregnant?—No. On the Thursday, Munn said he had told Mrs. Stuck that he thought his wife had taken her own life and when the police saw him on the Saturday he understood she had died of strychnine poisoning. Mr. Meredith: On Thursday when you knew she died -of strychnine didn’t you cast your mind over how she got it?—She got it apparently from the pantry. Didn’t you cast your mind over for a reason? —I thought she had taken it fearing to go to hospital. Did not the suggestion occur to you that Mrs. Munn said she was going to bring on a certain result and that she didn’t want any more children?—No. “DREAD OF HOSPITALS” In the statement you made on Wednesday before you heard of strychnine poisoning you mentioned her dread of hospital?—Y'es. And the other matters you now mention did not occur to your mind?— No. These conversations with your wife must have been trying?—To some extent. When Mrs. Munn told you the doctor only knew as much as she told him, knowing she was deceiving the doctor, didn’t you ask her what she was doing ■to herself?—No. The conversations were so common. Mr. Meredith: Your wife told you Dr. Dudding only knew what she had told him?—Yes. Knowing that she had been ill, you did not think it worth while to tell the doctor about the causes, and why didn’t you?—Because I did not believe it at the time. Munn said that his wife went to sleep and she wakened about 7 o’clock, calling him. He had heard nothing unusual until that hour. Mr. Meredith: You had not been out of he'd before 7 o’clock? —No. CALLED BY WIFE

After getting up he fed the fowls, then returned to the house and mixed the salts, setting them on a chest of drawers. Mrs. Munn refused to have breakfast then, saying she would probably have some later on. He was. preparing the children's breakfast when his wife called him, and on entering the bedroom he found her all right. Munn said that between 7.30 and S o’clock, Mrs. Munn uttered gasping sounds during the convulsion. Mr. Meredith: How many convulsions did she have before you went for the doctor?—Two distinct ones.

How long between them?—Fifteen to 20 jninutes. How many convulsions did you see on February 4? —I only saw the convulsions of the arms for half a minute.

Why did you rush off for the doctor. You didn’t see anything that would alarm you?—l thought he was the proper person to deal with it. On February 11, Dr. Dudding said he asked you whether Mrs. Munn had gone the same previously and you replied “Yes”? —Yes. ARCHING OF BODY

So if what you now say is correct you did uot see all the symptoms?— I said I saw all the symptoms except the arching of the body. Munn said that he saw two convulsions before he sent for Dr. Dudding on February 11. Mrs. Munn had made no cries of any description except the gasps which he had mentioned. He could not account for the sounds Mrs. Gill said that she had heard about six o’clock. His wife made no sounds until after seven o’clock. Mrs. Gill was mistaken, he said.

Mr. Meredith: Mrs. Gill referred to these cries when you came down for her?—No; Mrs. Gill said nothing of the sort. Mrs. Gill did not mention crying to me and she could not have heard anything. Mr. Meredith: Then Mrs. Gill is saying something she cannot prove? —Yes, that is so. Mr. Meredith: There was a discussion between you and the doctor over the arching of the back. What was that? —Dr. Dudding drew my attention to the arching of the body and ■I said I never noticed it before. Munn said that if Dr. Dudding was recalled and denied this statement there would be a conflict of evidence between him (Munn) and the doctor. On February 11 Mrs. Munn had a convulsion when Dr. Dudding was present, and she uttered sounds which Munn described as gasping. Mr. Meredith.: Were the sounds the same as she made in the two previous convulsions you saw?—Yes. That morning Mrs. Lydiard asked him Mrs. Munn’s condition, he said. “TERRIBLE NIGHT”

Mr. Meredith: Mrs. Lydiard says you told her you had “had a terrible night with Mrs. Munn, and that she had been clinging to you all night.” Is she mistaken? —Either Mrs. Lydiard has confused the question or the answer.

Did J'ou say you had “had a terrible night and she had been clinging to jou all night?”—l used the words, but they applied to the convulsion. But the convulsion did not occur you saj r , until 7.30 a.m. How could you say j’ou had had a terrible night? —I told her I had had a terrible time. What Mrs. Lydiard says you told her and Mrs. Gill’s statement that she heard cries about 6 o’clock seems to fit in. It is mere coincidence that both Mrs. Gill and Mrs. Lj’diard should have made mistakes? —Yes. Munn stated further that his wife did not have another convulsion so far as he knew, and when the doctor left Mrs. Munn had relaxed, the arching of the back having disappeared. He went for the doctor half an hour later, however, because his wife’s heart seemed to be failing in the beat. On the way he met Mrs. Lydiard and asked her to stay in the house, following her into the bedroom. Mr Meredith: Did j T on see your wife when Mrs. Lydiard went into the bedroom? —Y'es. Mrs. Lydiard says Mrs. Munn was dead then?—She wasn’t dead two minutes before. In my opinion she was j cot dead. Mrs. Lydiard also states that when she looked into the bedroom you were not there?—l was. His Honour: Mrs. Lj'diard says that; -when she went into the bedroom j-ou had gone for the doctor? —I followed her into the bedroom. Five minutes after the doctor had told him Mrs. Munn was dead, Munn said he took the children away from the house. He put on their coats first. Munn said he reached the wharf before he remembered he had not put on a collar. Mr. Meredith: In a closed car was it necessary to have a collar? —I was going to town. But j'ou would not be seeing anyone but j’our wife’s cousin?—No. * . But you thought it of sufficient importance to go back and put a collar on?—Y'es.

Do .you seriously suggest you asked Dr. Dudding to fix up the bodj- and that the doctor said he would? —Y'es. Munn said he entered the bedroom

and handed the doctor the cottonwool for which he was asked, and which he obtained from the pantrj-. Munn said he had bought the strychnine to lay for rats which had troubled him ever since he had lived there. He agreed the chemist had warned him to use all the poison or to destroy the remainder, and that he had not taken this advice. Mr. Meredith: What did you want to keep the rest of the strychnine for? —To use again. He intended using the balance of the poison by boiling the grain with sj'rup and water, he said. Mr. Meredith: When did j'ou use the first lot of strychnine?—Shortly after I bought it. Why was the poison not used with sj'rup on February 4?—l got ahead of the rats the second or third week in December. So setter that you had no further need for strj-chnine?—Not a present need. Although the rat nuisance was temporarily settled he decided to keep the remainder of the poison in case it was wanted, he said. “DEADLY NATURE” He asserted he had directed his wife’s attention to the strychnine, which she knew he had been using for killing rats, and would, therefore, know its deadly nature. He agreed he had no knowledge that anj’ rats had been killed by the poison. He added he had not seen the poison bottle for about ten days before Mrs. Munn’s death, the bottle then being more than a third full.

Mr. Meredith: Y'ou suggest it must have been Mrs. Munn who touched the bottle? —She was the onlj' other person who knew of it. Whoever used it used practically half a bottle?—Yes. • AVhen the poison bottle was found in the chest of drawers by the police he surmised his wife had taken it and used the contents, he said. His Honour: Was that jour opinion when the police were there? —Yes. Was that the conclusion j’ou came to at the time?—Yes. Mr. Meredith: Did not that call your attention to your wife’s vague threats? —Yes; but I had no idea she had taken it for that purpose. Shortly afterward the police asked, j’ou about j r our wife’s natural event? —No; it related to her change of life. When it ■Was brought to your notice that Mrs. Munn must have taken strychnine did not her statements that a certain event was overdue and her veiled threat to bring it on not come to your mind?—No. Munn agreed that his first statement to the police had not been completed at the time the strychnine was found and he read over and signed the statement upon completing it. He also said he made no suggestion next day after hearing a conversation as to the cause of his wife’s death. Mr. Meredith: You used the drawer in the chest in your wife’s bedroom during her illness?—Only once. What for?—To get a collar. And you suggest you didn’t see the bottle?—l did not.

Munn said that so far as he knew there was no alteration in the positions of the bed and the duchess from the day of his wife’s death until the visit of the detectives. Mr. Meredith: What was the gap between the duchess and the bed?— No more than two or three inches. So there jvas no possibility of the duchess being two feet away?—No. Detective Power measured the distance. Will you still say the duchess was not two feet from the bed?—Yes. Nor anything like it?—Yes. Are you prepared to contradict Detective Power on oath?—Yes. You are also prepared to say the bottle of pills was in the jewel drawer? —Yes. How long have you had the bottle? —I don’t know. You have a copy of the prescription?—l ban a copj-. Y'ou don’t know what it contained? —No. You know now it was a tonic?— Yes. Have you at no lime since your wife died ascertained what the prescription contained?—No. You did not know it contained a certain amount of strychnine?—No. AVhere did you get it?—From a man in Wellington. What did you think it was for?—l was a married man and passed it on to my wife. But it was j-our wife who was interested in these matters. You, however, took the opportunity when it offered for an abortive medicine I ' Yes. The hearing then adjourned.