MOUAT CASE

Grey River Argus, 21 April 1925, Page 3

MOUAT CASE

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL “Nothing to Say”. CHRISTCHURCH, April 20 The hearing of the Mount murder case was. concluded |tlie Magistrate’s Court on Saturday. Detective Bick-erdikc said that he found signs of a recent fire. When he stirred the ashes, white dust rose. TTo handed in the following statement made by Mount on the day of his arrest: “On the evening of February 19, my wife, Heeney and myself were at the Prossers. Heeney left early. My wife and I remained till 11 p.m. On arrival at our house, I told her in the bedroom that tho cheque that she gave Mrs Warlow for the rent was not passed, as Mr Sumpicr. of Oamaru, who was collecting my outstanding accounts, had not paid any money, or sent cheque. She said; ‘Where is all the money? You have squandered) too much. N(>w, we arc down. Why did you not tell me before? •’ I said: *I didn’t care to do so at the time.’ Wc were both in bod. She asked where I squandered all tho money. I told her it had gone travelling about also that she had spent a good deal when she was away. After this I said: ‘Well we will have to make I a fresh start. You and I can sec Mr Warlow and arrange with him.’ We then said good night, and went to sleep. I arose at 6.30 on tho following day, made tea and took her a cup. I went out, dug a tin of potatoes and started to burn grass and -clear away tho grass with a spade along the fence. After breakfast I wont back again cutting the grass. It didn’t seem long before she was ready to go to Mrs Hardy’s. She would be ready at 8.45 a.m., or 9 a.m. I kissed her goodbye, and she said: “If I don’t return, bring my hag to the station and my old clothes for Purakanni. ’ ’ On going down the path. I heard her say: “T have a mind to do away with myself.” Her going down tho path is the last time I saw her. On Satur day morning, Mrs Low’s ilttle girl camo in. I had just emptied the grate and put some disinfectant about the pan, as T started the fire with dried grass and a few sticks, and it had caused a stench in the house.” After the evidence had been concluded. Mouat rose while tho charge was read. ”1 have nothing to say. Your Worship.” ho replied. He was coni mi ft cd for trial {to the Supreme 'Court on Mav 12.

MOUAT’S THIRD STATEMENT. During the hearing on Saturday, a further statement made by the accused concerning the circuiestanees of his 'wife’s disappearance was produced during tho evidence of the last witness, Chief-Detective Thomas Oibson. Chief-Detective Gibson stated that on 'March 3, the accused was brought to his office by Detective-Sergeant D. Connolly and Mr Morrett, about. 2.45 p.m. Witness questioned Mouat as to the disappearance of his wife, Detective Thompson taking down his answers on a typewriter.

The first portion of the statement was worded similarly to ttat made by Mouat, at Glenavy on tho previous day. It proceeded:— “My wife left home about 9.15 a.m. I have no seen her since. “When, she left home she was dressed in a blue costume, an ordinary plain costume, brown shoes, brown stockings, and a close-fitting hat. of blueblack colour made of feathers. She was carrying a blue knitted jumper. “1 went to the second express on Saturday, February 21st, 1925. I could not see my wife there. I did not wait till the express went out. I waited two or three minutes before the train went out, and then left the station. I did not, buy any tickets. I stood near the station entrance. L did not buy the tickets in ease she did not turn up. I had tho money to buy the tickets. I then wont back home. I waited up till the last moment. I did not leave until I saw it was too late to get the tickets and get the train. I thought that she might have gone to Little River or Selwyn; T did not mean that she might have gone to Little River or the Selwyn; I meant she might be at her brother’s place at I‘apan u i, Mr Morrett.

At about 4 p.m. the same day, I wont to Mrs Prosser’s in Beckford Road. T told Mrs Prosser that I had been to the railway station, and my wife had not turned up. I left Mrs Prosser’s about 5 p.m., and went to the Potherfield Hotel. I met Jim Heeney, the barman, there, and arranged with him to go back to Beckford Road to my house. He was going to stay wiith me. He wa«? busy at the time. “When my wife left home she was wearing four plain gold bangles, two rings, a wedding ring and a ring with red stones, also an ordinary pin brooch. I sold her gold nugget brooch, also her gold wristlet watch. T sold nothing else. My wife disappeared on a Friday; I sold these things the following Monday. I sold them to get money to go down south. I also pawned a tie-pin at the same time; these are the articles shown me. 1 got £2 10s for tho lot. I told my wife the day before she disappeared that I hatf no mono? in the bank; I told her in the after-

noon. It was after rny wife, had given the cheque to the landlady that 1 told her I had no money at the bank ; that was after l I returned from Prossers’ on the Thursday night. \\ hen I told her there was no money in the bank, my wife asked me what I had done with it all. 1 did not know what to say to her. : ‘‘l have not been to work since the Saturday before my wife disappeared. The only reason I can give that I have not been to work since is that I have kept putting off going to Dunedin to see my mother. When I went to my mother’s place 1. took two suit-cases with me; that is the one I now have, and the one I left there, containing a change of clothing for my wife, the bag containing a black amd white dress brown shoes, brown raincoat, comb and beads. I did not take a nightdress ; I never thought of it. On the Fridaj- I came back to Oamaru, and came on to Waima»te on Saturday, and then went on to Glenavy and -staved therie. The police interviewed me there. I got a motor-car ride to T : - niaru las tniglit to catch this niornutg’s train for .Christchurch. Christchurch.

“I did not sleep in my house after my wife disappeared What I said b<-'-fore is not correct. I stayed for four nights at the Rotherfield Hotel. The reason I stayed at the Rotherfield Hotel B -as that 1 thought if my wife returned she would ring Jini Heeney and he would let me know where she was. I was anxious about my wife right from the Friday night she disappeared. I would say that m y wife took the key of the house with her. She took her puns, with her. She has a key beside me. I went back to my house early on the Saturday morning. No one had been home. My wile could have got in. A key of the house is left near the back door.

“When my wife left hon. • . :i the Friday die had a. cheque, for £lo with her. I wrote out the cheque, but ] knew there were no funds in the bank to meet it. My wife was to pay the cheque to J. B. Merrett; we. owed him .£lO. I did not have a row with my wife before she left on the Friday and I have no idea where she is to be found. “I have read this statement, and it is true in every particular. (Signed) F. P. Mouat, 2,3, 25.”