ELEVEN HOURS IN BOX

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 979, 23 May 1930, Page 1

ELEVEN HOURS IN BOX

Murin's Examination Over ELEVENTH DAY OF HEARING Wife-Murder Trial Nears End AFTER more than 11 hours in the witness-box, the examination of Arthur Thomas Munn, who is on trial on a charge of wife-murder, was concluded at the eleventh day of the hearing in the Supreme Court this morning. The crossexamination by the Crown Prosecutor, commenced yesterday morning, and was concluded after about an hour and a-half this morning.

The proceedings again attracted intense public interest, particularly as the evidence for defence is now nearing the close. Mr. Justice Herdman was on the Bench. Mr. V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor and Mr. McCarthy, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. E. H. Northcroft, and Mr. Munro represented the accused. The cross-examination of Munn was continued by the Crown Prosecutor this morning. Mr. Meredith: When Dr. Dudding called on the first morning, he took some blood from her arm?—Yes Munn said that he held the bowl, and threw all the blood out, on the doctor's instructions. Mr. Meredith: Did you ask Dr. Dudding about the blood?—I told him the wife was curious. About what?— The result of the test. Had you not told the wife that you emptied ail the blood out?—No. That would have allayed her curiosity?—Yes, I was Interested In keeping her quiet. ) But if you had told her you emptied it all out, it would have allayed her curiosity?—Yes, but the wife did not know how much blood was taken. Were you sure he had not taken any blood away?—Yes. You were not questioning Dr. Dudding to find out if he had taken any blood away?—No. Dudding did not answer?—No. What did you tell your wife?— Nothing. She had asked me several times what the blood was for. “NOT SATISFIED” Munn said he told Mrs. Stuck on Sunday ihat he was not satisfied with Ms wife’s condition, because of the stiffness in her legs. Mr. Meredith: And talked of getting another doctor?—Yes. What would be the object?—To try to get more Information. Of what nature? —Concerning the stiffness of the legs. Did you feel that Dr. Dudding had got all the information he should have?—Yes. Munn was satisfied that Dr. Dudding was doing his best, but thought there was a possibility of getting more information by getting another man. He said he had not informed the doctor that a certain condition was overdue, because he did not think it had anything to do with the illness. He said his wife told him she thought the running to the boat would bring on this condition. Mr. Meredith: Why didn't you tell the doctor of your wife’s view? —I did not think It had anything to do with the illness. On the Monday, didn’t you think you had the key to your wife’s illness, seeing that she had said the doctor only knew as much as she had told him?—No. Didn’t you connect this conversation with Dr. Dudding’s inability to effect a cure? —No. Mr. Meredith: You didn’t think it was worth while telling the doctor? — No.

When the detectives arrived on February 12. Mrs. Muon's body had been iaken to the morgue, Munn said. He then knew that some inquiries were being made into his wife’s death. Mr. Meredith: When the detectives say you suggested looking for the poison in the bedroom, is that incorrect?—lt is a mistake. If the detectives say you didn’t make a search among the medicine bottles, they are incorrect? —Yes. Did Detective Doyle ask you how you were going to look after the children?—l said I would have to have a housekeeper in the house because the children were girls, hut that I had considerable experience with damned housekeepers. What did you mean? —I had had considerable experience with housekeepers and they were not successful. Detective Doyle says you said “No damned housekeepers for me.” —Not in that way. Did you say “what is the evidence like?—l said “what is the evidence.” So the detectives are wrong?—-Yes. Did’you say “I told you I bought the Poison?”—Yes.

And that you called in the doctor? I told them that, but not in that order. After I asked. “What is the evidence?” Doyle said, "We cannot discuss that with you.” I said, “I ,J et this is the work of my son and kcandal-mongeriug women. Anyway. - have a clear conscience. I have done all that I could for the wife. I Sot the doctor when she did not want h'm, carried out the doctor’s orders to t‘ie best of mv ability. Damn it, "hat more could I have done for the woman?’’ I then asked if I could dee Mrs Stuck, and he replied, “No.” 1 asked if I could get bail, and Doyle ■said, “You are not bailable by right. You can ask the magistrate.” I said: I must make some arrangements for the children.” He said “You cannot *>ee her or the children.” Mr. Meredith: So that two detective officers have left out quite a lot cf what you said?—Yes. .Aid you agaiu say you did not say, i have done everything I could for jhe damn woman?”—Not in that order, i "Damn it. what more could V? ve done for the woman?” Mr. Meredith: In your first state?bbnt on February 12 you called at-

tention to your wife’s resentment of having to go to hospital?”—Yes. “BEARING ON DEATH” Did you think it might have had some bearing on the death? —Yes; that was the only thing I could think of. When?—The detectives asked me if I could think of anything. It was not until after the poison was found that he saw the possibility cf his wife having committed suicide, Munn said. The reference made to liis wife’s dread of hospitals was made in giving a history of the illness. Mr. Meredith: You said you assisted your wife out of bed. Why did you not say that you had seen her out of bed other times? —T w r as asked if I had seen her out of bed. The children told me she had been out on other occasions. So you confined your answer to what you had seen yourself?—Yes. In your second statement, you said that you had never seen her out of bed. You stated that your wife had had no worries. She had been worried during the week about a certain event?—l wouldn't say worried. She woke up and told you of the dream about twins and three times during the week she spoke of a certain matter? —She was not worried, but concerned. “NOT A THREAT” Munn said he did not take his wife’s statement that she would sooner die than go to hospital as a threat, and he agreed her previous statements relating to her condition did not occur to him. Mr. Meredith: Between Thursday and Saturday you turned o ver the cause of your wife’s death?—Yes. In fact every possibility?—lt is evi dent now I did not consider every possibility. Had you not turned over in your mind the events of the past week? — There was not the slightest doubt I did.

Did you not think of her veiled threats and her being overdue?—l cannot remember everything I thought of. Did you think of her talk of her condition? —No. His Honour: When did it first occur to you that her death might have been connected with her condition? — Not till the day of my arrest. ■ Until that day you had concluded that she had taken strychnine because she feared going to hospital? —That is the only opinion I formed. Mr. Meredith: Dr. Dudding says he never suggested that Mrs. Munn would have to go to hospital.—l don’t think that the doctor had any serious intention of sending my wife to the hospital. On February 4, Munn stated, Dr. Dudding had said that if Mrs. Munn did not rest in bed it might mean six weeks in hospital; but witness did not think the doctor meant the statement seriously. He took it that Mrs. Munn accepted the statement seriously. Mr. Meredith: Will you swear that on any occasion that Dr. Dudding mentioned hospitals to Mrs. iMunn? — There was a discussion about hospitals in the bedroom. And the only reason you thought she had to take strychnine was her fear of going to hospital?—Yes. But she had a convulsion on February 4? —Yes.

She could not have had fear of hospital then?—The fear was always with her. , Do you think it reasonable that Mrs. Munn, doing her washing on the Monday and in good health, should take poison to prevent her going to hospital ? —No. The night of his wife’s death he went to the college and saw Mrs. Stuck, and told her of his wife's death, Munn said. Mr. Meredith: Was any suggestion made concerning her coming to keep house?—No. You next saw Mrs. Stuck on Thursday. Did you then ask her to keep house for you?—l told her the position of the children. Did she agree to do so? —I did not take it so. YVhen did you know definitely she was coming to keep house? —On SaturMrs. Stuck had been to the house on Thursday night? —Yes, I brought her back. , ~„ „ When was the funeral held?—On Thursday afternoon. And Mrs. Stuck stayed on in the house from Saturday?—Yes. “DISCUSSION OF MARRIAGE” There was a discussion of marriage between them, Munn said. He took her wedding ring, jokingly saying he would keep it until he bought her one himself. Mr. Meredith: Mrs. Stuck said you kissed one another good-night. Y\ hen did that operation start? —After the talk of the marriage business. After you took the ring?—Yes. Was the kissing good-night jokingly . To some extent it serious. That was the first kissing? Yes. Would Mrs. Stuck be correct ■when she said she suggested that further discussion of marriage should be left over until after the inquest?—l made the observation. {Continued on Pafle 12.)