MURDER TRIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1920, Page 5

MURDER TRIAL.

EYRE CASE CONTINUED. MYSTERY OF SOME LETTERS. ADVERTISEMENT TOR DECEASED, By Telegraph.—Press Association, Auckland, Last Night. The trial of Samuel Jolm Thorn, charged with murdering Sydney Seymour Eyre, at Pukekawa, on August 24, was continued to-day. Mrs. Eyre, wife of the deceased, was put to a searching cross-examination by counsel for the accused, lasting in all six hours. "Within a few hours of the shot being fired," said Mrs. Eyre, in answer to Mr. Singer, "I thought it was Thorn; I believed it was Thorn." She added that she heard footsteps outside the house similar to accused's. Counsel: Did you say in the Magistrate's Court that the steps were short, quick, and heavy, and was not that one of the reasons you thought they were Thorn's? Witness: Yes. She admitted that, In effect, she said to herself that the report of the gun was like that of accused's gun, By the time the police came she thought Thorn was the only one who could have committed the murder. Mrs. Eyre said her husband always treated her kindly; he never drove her to tears and he never swore at her, although he was addicted to swearing if he was upset. Reverting to her relationship with Thorn, witness said that at first she thought the accused was a decent fellow, but shortly after the relationship began she had nothing but contempt for him. That was caused partly by his familiarity towards her, and partly by his threats. By the time her husband returned she disliked Thorn".

- Counsel: Why did you not tell your husband, and let him shoot Thorn? Witness: I did not want my husband to be branded as 7 a murderer."

Mrs. Eyre denied that she had ever asked Thorn if he could get a divorce, or whether, if he could get rid of his wife, he would marry her in the event of anything, happening to her husband After Eyre's return he received letters from abroad. l

His Honor: What i 3 the relevancy of that?

Mr. Singer: It may hare been someone from abroad, perhaps Canada, who committed this murder.

Witness said her husband immediately destroyed these letters, and never re'ferred to the persons who sent them. She never worried about whether the writers were men or women. She saw an advertisement in a paper, and she showed it to her husband.

Counsel: It was someone advertising for your husband?

His Honor: You cannot put that without putting in the advertisement, Counsel: Some time after that your husband received a letter in cypher'? Witness: I do not know. She added that she did not think the advertisement was mysterious. She did not know who inserted it.

Touching another point, witness said she saw accused at the Tuakau police station on September 4. After greeting between the two, Thorn's first remark, so far as she recollected, was that he had always found her a truthful woman, the boys were truthful, and that he had nothing against the familv. He also stated that he did not suggest that witness or any of the children killed Mr. Eyre. When the police went out Thorn .asked what made her think he had killed her husband. She replied: "The circumstances; the person who did it must have known the position of the bed and the run of the place." Thorn said: "As true as I am here I never did it." Witness replied: "If you are innocent, I feel sorry for you." In further answer to Mr, Singer, Mrs. Eyre admitted that she said to the accused: "Taking the whole circumstances I cannot say anyone else. The person who did it must have known the whole run of the place. At first I did not flay anything about you, but when I thought it over thoroughly and tried you in my own mind, I could not think of anyone but you that would do it."

Evidence was given by Philip Sidney Eyre, aged 16 years, a son of the deceased. He said his father and accused did not get on well together. From expressions used he knew his father was the object of dislike By Thorn. Witness detailed happenings on the night of the murder. Be was briefly cross-examined by Mr. Singer. Dora Millicent Eyre, a sister of the last witness, and others gave evidence before the Court adjourned for the day.