GREY LYNN TRAGEDY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7280, 6 October 1933, Page 7

GREY LYNN TRAGEDY

Qtarge of Murder Against Labourer

EVIDENCE OF DEATH PACT

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. John Hubert Edwards, aged 41, a labourer, appeared in the Police Court to-day, charged with the murder of Mrs. Christian Cunningham at her home in Grey Lynn on August 16. Joyce Isabel Cunningham, daughter of deceased, said she had known accused for about six years. On August 15 she returned about midnight from a dance and while she was at the gate accused arrived and asked if her father was home, as ho wanted to sec him about some work. Witness spoke to her father, who was in bed, and. then returned and told Edwards that he could go in. Tho next morning she rose about 10 o’clock. Edwards was in the scullery. She left shortly after, leaving her mother alone, Edwards having gone just previously. She returned about noon and. found tho back door locked. She entered by the front door and found her mother and Edwards lying on the floor in the sitting room. Her mother was unconscious. Witness said to Edwards: "What have you done?” He said: "I’ve done nothing.” She then rushed over to her mother to try to make her hear or see, but got no response. Witness called a neighbour and wlieu she returned she accused lying as before, but bleediDg from the neck. Shortly after the police arrived and then her father. Alfred Cunningham, motor mechanic, said he had known accused for about six years. He had once occupied part of the same building as witness and his family. When they moved accused formed the habit of calling on them. At midnight on August 15 accused arrived and when asked what was wrong staggered and complained of feeling ill, and sat down on the bed. Witness must have fallen asleep, for when he awoke at 6.30 accused was lying across the foot of the bed and said: -. am still feeling very ill.” Witness left e bedroom and on returning found accused in bed wearing pyjamas. Later they both left for the city together, but separated shortly after. Returning home in the afternoon, witness found his wife lying on the floor with head and throat injured, and Edwards with throat injuries. There was nothing between his wife and Edwards except mere acquaintanceship. He had_ never known any undue show of affection y Edwards to his wifeThe result of a post-mortem examination on Mrs. Cunningham, was given by Dr. Walter Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, who said that death was due to a. fractured skull, laceration of tho brain and a cat on her throat. The wounds to tho head mus., have been done by a blunt instrument, such, as the head of a poker. . Detective Brady produced a writing pad found in the house, on which were written the following words: "Lovers, we die together. The death pack. Jack Edwards and Cissie Cunningham.. ” , , . Witness went to a bach at the back of an apartment house in Ponsonby road and on a dressing table found a letter-card signed "Jack Edwards,” a request to give his clothes to Cunningham. There was also tho following statement: "May the brotherhood of man Teign soon, when poverty shall bo no more.” Conversations In Hospital. Notes of conversations with accused were produced by Constable Williams, who was on duty at the Auckland Hospital while accused was a patient there. Witness said he was asked by accused who he was, and accused was told. Before accused was operated on in the afternoou of August 16, he said: "I was no coward. I killed the woman I loved. I know lam sinking. I used to live with her iu Cobden street. Accused added that he had had a nervous breakdown some months before. “On August 17 I asked accused how he was feeling,” witness continued. "Ho replied: 'I am feeling ashamed of myself. A nervous breakdown is a, terrible thing; it was not an intentional one. I can’t, sleep and my nerves are all upset.’ ” Continuing', witness s&id accused asiced for a newspaper and tho request was declined, witness telling accused if, was not advisable to give him . a newspaper to re-enact the whole affair. Accused then said: “I have not long to go anyway. 1 know I am sinking fast. When a man can’t sleep, his nerves are gone and there must be something wrong with him to make him do a thing like that on August IS.<” Accused asked witness what had been in the papers and was told there had not been very much. Accused said: "I’ll plead not guilty. When a man is in a, state liko that, ho does not know what he docs. Something seemed to snap when I went down to the house that morning. Something let me there that tho woman was very familiar to me. When I did it something seemed to snap. They say all murderers go to hell, but I do not believe that. When a man is insane he docs not know what he is doing. No, I’ll plead not guilty to his Worship.” A. conversation on August 1 was described by witness, who stated that accused said: "Of course, if I got off I would have to get away out of Auckland, but one needs money to get out of here and to pay a few doctors. It might mean the scaffold. You know, ‘A life for a life.’ That’s what they believe in. They tried to get me last night with their dope. I know they think it would save expense to get a man out that way and save a Supreme Court case. That case of Munns, of course that was. .deliberate; he did it intentionally. That is different from when a man is insane. Anyway they mean to get me. I have found it hard to breath all day. At 4 o’clock tomorrow morning I’ll be gone. That’s when a- man’s pulse is lowest. You’ll be at Carlaw park laughing while I’m going to Waikumete or wherever they put them.” Witness added that accused asked him when, deceased was buried.

' The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday,