ARHIE MOUAT'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 228, 25 September 1924, Page 5

ARHIE MOUAT'S DEATH.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. MELBOURNE, September 24. At the inquest concerning the death of the little boy Archie Mouat. in connection with* which the dead boy's brother, Ivan, was arrested on a charge of murder, Miss Kcrr, the boy's aunt, told a remarkable story. She said that Archie's body was found in water reaching just over lier boots. Witness added that, she visited Ivan at the detention home. He then told her that on the day of the tragedy he and Archie went for a walk. They got into conversation with two men in a motor car. Archie then went for a bathe. One of the men said to Ivan: "Smell this scent I have invented. He placed a handkerchief over his face and he became unconscious. When he regained his senses lie felt water on his face. The man told him to go home, which he did. Ivan said he did not sec Archie again. • Witness said that Tvan bore a good character. He was truthful. She had never known the brothers to quarrel. The boys' mother stated in evidence that when Ivan came home he said he had left Archie at the creek. He said nothing about the stranger asking him to smell the scent. He bore no signs of suffering from the effects of chloroform, but appeared to be quite normal. The mother added that Ivan attended church and Sunday School on the day after the tragedy." Asked regarding his statement to the police, witness said she did not believe Ivan killed his brother or had anything to do with his murder. The Government pathologist deposed that the dead boy's nose and bronchial tubes were crammed with gritty mud. The lower part of the body was shockingly mutilated. There was no indication that he had been struck with a stick. In witness' opinion death was caueed by suffocation, by the boy being held down in the water. The mutilations were probably caused after death. The police stated that Ivan had made two contradictory statements to them.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) During the inquest Miss. Kerr. the lioy's aunt, told a remarkable story. She said that Archie's body waa found in water reaching just over her boots. Witness added that she visited Ivan at the detention home. He then told her that on the day of the tragedy he and Arfliie went for a walk. They got into conversation with two men in a motorcar. Archie then went for a bathe. One of the men said to Ivan: '".Smell this scent I have invented." He placed handkerchief over his iacc and he became unconscious. When he regained his senses he felt water on his face. The man told him to go home, which he did. Ivan did not see Archie again. Witness said that Ivan l>orc a good character. He was truthful. She had never known the brothers to quarrel. The boys' mother stated in evidence that when Ivan came home he said he had left Archie at the creek. He said nothing about the stranger asking him to smell the scent. He bore no signs of suffering from the effects of chloroform, but appeared to be quite normal. The mother added that Ivan attended church and Sunday school on the day after tlic tragedy. " Asked regarding his statement to the police, witness said she did not believe Ivan killed his brother or had anything to do with his murder. The Government pathologist deposed that the dead boy's nose and bronchial tubes were crammed with gritty mud. The lower part of the body was shorkingly mutilated. There was tio indication thnt he had been struck with a stick. In witness' opinion death was caused by suffocation, by the boy being held down in the water. The mutilations were probably caused after death. The police stated that Ivan had mad* two contradictory statements to tliom.