THE PONSONBY MURDER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3464, 19 April 1920, Page 5

THE PONSONBY MURDER.

GUNN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

AUCKLAND, April 19.

The trial of Denis Gunn for the murder of Augustus Edward Braithwaite was concluded on Saturday. After the case for the prosecution was finished prisoner was informed that the Court proposed to commit him for trial, and that he could plead if he Wished on the Charge of breaking and entering the Post Office. He pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial on this charge also. " THE CORONERFS VERDICT.

The Magistrate then informed Mr Prendergast tlla.t in regard to the inquest the accused could go into the witness-box and give evidence if he wished.

Mr Pl-endergast: I elect that the pl'iSonel' should'not give evidence. Delivering his coronial finding, Mr Wilson said there was no doubt that the deceased came to his death by bullet wounds, and that he was murdered in order that the murderer might obtain possession of his keys. The two crimes were interdependent, and the circumstances indicated that there was a combination of careful preparation in their commission. The evidence of the absence of a struggle between the deceased and his assailant indicated that the murder was premeditated and carried out in an utterly callous manner. As there was a person already committed to stand for his trial he did not propose now to. carry his verdict as a coroner beyond finding that the actualcause of death was that the deceased was murdered ~

“I find,’ -’ continued the coroner, “that Edward Augutus Briathwaite died on the 13th of March, 1920-, the cause of death being that he was murdered at his home, 29, Shelly Beach Road, Ponsonby, by being shot in his abdomen and neck with bullets firedifrom a revolver, one of which‘ went through his liver.,.-«causing a profuse hemorrhage, resulting in death, and that the keys of the Pan; sonby I?ost' Office were taken from his‘ clothing? ’ _. _ _ .