MURDER TRIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1920, Page 4

MURDER TRIAL.

THE PONSONBY TRACEDY,, ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT, STORY OF THE CRIME. By Telcjraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Lnst Night. 1 The trial of Dennis Clunn, 25, on charges <if having murdered Augustus JMward Braithwaite, and robbed tho Ponsonby Post Ollice of £O7 lfls, on March in, was commenced this morning at the Police Court, before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S M. The Hou. j. Tole, for the prosecution, outlined the case. He said the evidence would show that Mr. Braithwaite, after spending the day at Howseen to enter the Post Offlco at 7.15 p.m., presumably to pick up the strong room key, which he was in tho habit of taking home. He was seen to leave the Poßt Offico at thirty* five minutes past seven, and to clo'flo the door after him. It would be shown that when he alighted from a tram at the Three Lamps, the prisoner was only about two yards from him. Therefore, he would see Mr. Braithwaite co into the Post Office.

FINDING THE DECEASED. . Other witnesses would depose to swing the deceased after ho left the 'office on his way home. He was then carrying his handbag and walking stick. Mrs. Braithwaite had left home that day, returning about 9 p.m. Mrs. Braithwaite found her husband on the door face downward fully dressed, except that he had his slippers instead ot his boots on, and no hat. He was warm and apparently unconscious. She called to him. and put her face down to his, but got no reply. Shortly afterwards she telephoned to Dr. Usher. She then apparently thought about his keys, especially the key of the strongroom, which he was in the habit of pitting under his pillow, She searched lus clothing and found the keys gone and the pockets partially turned inside

WHAT A NEIGHBOUR HEARD The doctor saw that the husband wa* in"/!,' ? pointed out two wounds, one in the neck or throat, and one in the al>"l?T"' +i Tj" !d appoar thilt hp w «* *"« ln +ll f "Moincn first, from which, of course, ho would fall forward, and In flHeck? rMeiVed th 6 ° th<,r Shot in

The police inspected tile house and ,^ nt ?" t0 P<»t Office- Thry ound the ofhee had been broken into by forcing (i window of one of the backtooms. ihe Rn j aß)l of a window flr the sound ot a window being forced, was heard that evening about 8 o'clock by one of the neighbours, and also the noise of some one hurrying through and rambling over (he concrete wall A neighbour got a lighted candle' and looked out, but saw 110 one.

DISCOVERY AT THE POST OFFICE.

nid the 1 . stron R«K>m open ald the cashboxes taken out. Two of |! e )■«'! been prized open, and h!'-: I 1"", a <l( ' fipi " lf '. y in-cash of £«7 Ms •)- d• Amongst this money there was a Rank of New Zealand note, and h cancelled postal note. It was ust a lucky incident that a lady clerk < . aken notp the number of the postal note, which was 333.572. Both these were missing. The cashboxes wore examined for fingerprints. Two bullets were extracted from Mr Rraitlnva, es body. It was found that nj 11 J'' w shots had bpe n fired, for mw 1 • WaS 8 ? t - t,le far " ,4 of the mante piece, which led to the theory that the first, shot was fired while Mr. Braitlnvaite was winding the eloeir, and in Coin 7. This bll!k>t »'as recovered

, the prisoner interviewed. Prisoner was seen by the police, for lie hurt been seen in the neighbourhood • the 1 ost Ofijce on the evening of the murder, and it -would be shown --hat he had been there earlier in the day Hi had been previously known to the police ,i v W . movement s on the day or March 13, he said he was ; .t home all the afternoon. Asked if he were quite Miie of that he varied his account of liis moveinen Is

Then a. defective said: "I am more concerned about your movements beTi'p™ f™, 1 an(l , nino w the eVening." The accused made no reply. He was then charged with the two crimes of murder and robbery, and he replied, ion will have a job to prove it." ™ , <la >'* "Awards a close search •as uin ° i vacftnt Rection - which was 100 yards to 150 yards from the prisoner's place at Newton. In a gully amongst dense blackberry growth were other'' tW ° gS ' ° Ue larger than the

CONTENTS OP THE BAGS. In the larger bag were found three m olvers, .>& charges of ammunition, and •-2 ) pennies in cash taken from the Post ( bee There had been n large quani, (i S T, 1 ' a !"' ft of pennies. the smaller bag there was a ;Ko note anu the postal note numbered 338,572 which had been cashed, and deceased's wys. riie revolvers were inspected fot fingerprints and tests were made with the bullets found 111 tlje deceased's bodv as compared witli bullets tired from these revolvers. The evidence would show that the finger prints on two of the eashboxc? were finger prints from the prisoner's liniid. It would be shown also tlint thf prints on the revolver were prisoner', finger prints, and that was the revolve, from which, it would be shown lu thought almost absolutely, that the hillets recovered from the body of Braithwaite had been fired. row'' 1 ' CaSe WUS ,ul j°" l ' ned ti!l to-mor-