THE MOUAT CASE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 89, 17 April 1925, Page 6

THE MOUAT CASE

CHARGE OF MURDER FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD MOUAT WAS ALWAYS JOKING. (EI TELEGRAPH.— PRCSS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. When the Mouat case resumed, the first witness was Ernest Friedlander, pawnbroker, who stated that on 20th February a man who gave his name as F. Mouat came to his shop and sold a gold wristlet watch and gold brooch. He pledged a diamond tie-pin. Witness banded the articles to Detective-Ser-geant Connolly. Witness had other dealings with Mouat in November, when he pledged a watch and chain ' Detective Knudson said that on 4th -March, in accused's house, he packed a quantity of ladies' clothing in large trunks. Tne two boxes produced contained all the ladies' clothing he could j md in tne house. On the same day he found false teeth on the mantelpiece in the front room. MRS. MOUAT'S FATHER

George Merrett, father of Mrs. Mouat, said the last time he saw her was about. 15th February at his house. He had not seen his daughter since, but saw Mouat on 23rd February, the Monday after she was supposed to be missing. Mouat sat down on a chair. Witness said: "What's up with Nellie?" Mouat replied, "She went away on Friday morning. ' Witness said it was a funny thing for her to go away like that.' Mouat said they had been talking, of going awn to his mother's place Witness asked Mouat if he had money. Accused replied that he had a little James Heeny, a barman, said he had known Mouat and Mrs. Mouat for fifteen months. Since the Mouats had lived in Beckford road, he had visited them on several occasions, and stayed in the.l house several times. Witness last visited io?J! a 4 . °USe on the ni Sht of Thursday, 19th February. After tea they went to Prosser s together. He left Prosser's at ten minutes to 10, to go back to T- t?! M°U- atS Were the °c "h«i he left, inafc evening accused and his wife seemed to be on the best of terms. Mouat was always joking and full of un fhe next week, at the hotel. Mouat told w.tness that his wife had gone South Another day he said he was f,°'" g Me"-etts to «c if Nell was tiieie. The Mouats got on all right as ar as witness could see. Mouat was a temperate man. BUYING OF A HOUSE Thomas Pheloung, drainage contrac- £' saTli. ev Pulce that he paid Mouat £5^ 13th February as wages. Mouat said he was going to OamarS. John Warlow a carpenter, said that ¥ ma* fought No. 10, Beckford street, for £1220 on terms. The cheque which Mis. Mouat tendered as rent was dishonoured. While the house was being bu.lt there were no fires on the section except an ordinary plumber's fire.

A FFUEND'S INQUIRY Mrs Lucy Prosser said she knew the Mounts, who Visited her house on a number of occasions, the last being 011 Jo, 1, /^"y- . They left a Sbo°t a quarter to 10. .Next day stfe was at a place next door to Mount's, and while there Meat got^ver the fence. H e said Mi«■ Monat had gone to her brother's, and that, he was going to meet her there next day and go to Dunedin on the Friclay. &he saw a sheet ami a blanket on he line at Mouat's, and she asked him Mr M f e" W, aßhill«- He said thafc' Mrs Mouat washed them before she and her husband were in the front garden, and then- attention was attracted bysmoke coming from Mouat's breakfast oom chimney. Witness asked Mouat what he had a firo for, and he said he laSI aS t 0? 1"18 watel" for a bath. On the day before she had seen smoke from a small fire on Mouat's section. ■ On the ast occasion witness saw Mrs. Monaf she was wearing a cream dress wit], a black stripe. Witness identified he dress and shoes Mrs. Mouat had worn on the night of the 19th On-Friday 27th February, after Mrs. Mouat s disappearance, Mrs. Prosper house Venf th, r°Ugh the Clothes »' house No frocks or dresses that witness knew of were missing. There w-is faun"/ 1°" t!' c bed ' "nd Mr- Mer L w \ Sheet ln a cupboard in the breakfast room. There was a brown j st^in on the sheet, which was not quke (Proceeding.)