CHARGE OF MURDER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 7 March 1925, Page 5

CHARGE OF MURDER

WARRANT FOR MOUAT’S ARREST CHRISTCHURCH, This Day A warrant has been issued for the arrest of F. P. Mouat on a charge of murdering Nellie Mouat, his wife, on or about February 20th. Mouat, it is said, came to New Zealand from South Africa. He is described as a mining engineer by occupation.

Where is Sirs Ellen Louise Mouat, who lias been missing from licr homo, 10, Beckford Road, St. Martin's, since February 20? That question is engaging tlie Christchurch detectives, and the mystery lias been deepend by the disappearance of the woman’s husband, Mr F. P. Mouat, said a correspondent, the other day. Mrs Mouat was last seen on the evening of her disappearance about 10 p.m. when she visited a neighbour's bouse. She was then in her usual good spirits. Mr Mouat was seen in the city on Monday. Since then he lias not been beard of.

A party of police officers has been engaged in digging the land at the rear of the Mouat home every night since the evening following the woman’s disappearance. Under Superintendent McKinnon, the police and detectives have also been dragging the Heatlicote river

during the day, but without success. The day following Mrs Mouat’s disappearance her husband called at the bouse of a neighbour. He is said to have betrayed no_uneasiness, but to have been quite jolly, explaining his wife's absence by saying slie had gone away for a few days. He made arrangements to live with the neighbour until Mrs Mouat’s return, but he left the house on Monday morning and lias not been seen there since. Mr Mouat’s. brother is said to have called at the neighbour’s home tlie following day and in company with a woman from that house to have made a search of tlie Mouat house. Neighbours testify that tlie Mouats lived very happily together. They are said to have been always cheerful, and never more so than when they were i:i each other’s company. THE ENVY OF NEIGHBOURS “My husband used to look out of the front window aiul watch those two at their gate,” one woman said, “and lie. would turn to me and say ‘Mv word. I do envy those two.’ ”

Mr Mount is credited with being an exceptionally good-natured fellow, and hail-fellow-well-met with everybody. 0:i the afternoon prior to his wife’s disappearance lie called at a city pawnbroker's establishment and there pledged a woman’s jewellery besides some' of his own. He told the pawnbroker he had no use for the things, and was to all appearances quite calm and collected.

“I am quite satislied in my own mind that Mrs Mount is still alive, and that she is in some part of Christchurch at the present time,” said a neighbour who has had a good deal to do with the Mouats since they took up their residence in St. Martin’s. The neighbour stated that the Mouats took up their residence in the house in Beckford road about' November 27 last, and were buying it bn the instalment system. They had previously had an hotel in South Canterbury or North Otago for some time. Mr Mount had told him they had been married about fifteen years. The neighbour said they were a particularly bright couple and appeared to be very happy together, and added, “on several occasions the Mounts have told me of financial worries, and I think that Mrs Mouat only went away until such time as her husband could” straighten matters out. A few days after her disappearance Mr Mount went down to Dunedin where his mother was lying seriously ill and he returned on Monday night.”

STEADY MAN AND HARD WORKER

Mr Mouat was for a time employed as ! mining engineer in charge of the sluice boxes and the timber at JJohannesburg, South Africa. He is stated to be a steady man and a hard worker.

The neighbour who expressed the opinion that Mrs Mouat is still alive and unharmed, explained further that a day or two prior to her disappearance his wife had seen her in a certain part of Christchurch, but when the matter was mentioned to her Mrs Mouat had denied that she had been in that particular locality. A telegram from Waimate states that Mr Mouat arrived in that town by train from the South on Saturday. He stated then that lie did not know whether he would be staying over Sunday or not, and his subsequent movements ■were, unknown. He appeared in good spirits. He was at one time licensee of Gloriavv Hotel and then resided in Timaru for « while. Mrs Mouat is sister of Mr J. B. Merrit, the well-know poultry expert of Christchurch.