MOUAT CASE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 April 1925, Page 7

MOUAT CASE.

CONTINUED TO-DAY

FURTHER WITNESSES CALLED. MOVEMENT OF THE MOL 7 ATS. (JJY TELIiGKAPH —I'ItKSS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 17. When the Mount ease was resumed this morning the first witness was Ernest Friedlander, a pawnbroker, who stated that on February 20 a man who gave his name as F. Mount came to the shop and sold a gold wristlet watch and a gold brooch. He also pledged adiamond tiepin. Witness handed the articles to Detective-Sergeant Connolly. Witness had had other dealings with Mouat in November last,, when he pledged a watch and chain. Detective Knudson said that on March 3, in the accused’s house, he packed a quantity of women’s clothing in large trunks. Two boxes were produced which contained all the women’s clothing he could find in the house. On the same day he found the false teeth on the mantelpiece in the front room. George Merrett, father of Mrs Mouat. said that the last time, he saw her was about February 15 at his house. He had not seen, his daughter since, but saw Mouat o.n February 23, the Monday after she was supposed to be missing. Mouat sat down on a chair, and 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 that they had been talking of going down to his mother’s place. Witness asked Mouat if he had money, and the accused replied that he had a. little. James Heeney, a barman, said he had known Mouat and Mrs Mouat for. 15 months, since the. Mouats had lived !in Beekford road. He visited them on • several occasions, and stayed at the ! house several times. Witness last I visited Mount’s house on the night of 1 Thursday, February 19. After tea they went to Prosser’s together. He left Prosser's-at 10 minutes to 10 to go back to town. The Mouats were there when he left. That evening the accused and his wife seemed to be on the best of terms. Mouat was always joking and full of fun. The next week, at the hotel, Mouat told witness that his wife had gone south. Another day he said he was going to Merrett’s to see if Nell was there. The Mounts got on all right as far as witness could see. Mouat was a temperate man, Thomas Cheloung, a drainage contractor, gave evidence, that he paid Mouat £5 on February 13 for wages. He said he. was going to Oamaru. John Way low. a carpenter, said that Mouat bought No. 10, Beekford street, fop £1220 on terms. A cheque which Mrs Mouat tendered for rent was dishonoured. While the house was being built there were no fires on the section, except the ordinary plumber’s fire. Lucy Prosser, a married woman of 31 Beekford Street, said that the Mouats visited her house on a number of occasions, the last being February 19, when the Mouats left at about ouarter to ten. Next day she was at the pince next door to Mouats. While she was there Mouat get over the fence. He said that Mrs Mouat had gone to her brother’s, and he was going to meet her there next day and go to Dunedin on the Friday. She saw a. sheet and a blanket on the line at Mount’s, and she asked him if lie had .been washing. He said that Mrs Mount washed them before she went away. Witness and her husband on February 21 were in their front garden when their attention was attracted by smoke coming from Mouat’s breakfast-room chimney. Witness asked Mouat what he had a fire for, and he said he was heating water for the bath. On the day before she had seen smoke irom a small fire on Mount’s section. On the last, occasion witness saw Mrs Mount she' was wearing a cream dress with a black stripe. Witness identified the dress and shoes Mrs Mount wore on the night of the 19th. On Friday. February, 27, after Mrs Monat’s disappearance. she went through the clothes in the house, anil nc. 'frocks or dresses witness knew of were missing. There was no .top sheet on the bed. Merrett found the sheen in the cupboard in the breakfast-room. T‘her.-> was a brown stain on the sheet, vvbb'h was not quite dry. , The. ease is proceding.