THE ARREST OF MOUAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18963, 10 March 1925, Page 8

THE ARREST OF MOUAT.

CHRISTCHURCH MYSTERY. CHARGE OF WIFE MURDER. LOCATED NEAR THE CITY. WORKMEN' ADVISE POLICE. ACCUSED SAYS NOTHING. (BY TKI.EGRA I'H. —TMIBSR ASSOCIATION.] CHKISTHUH.CH. Monday. A sensation was caused in the city when it was announced that Frederick Peter Mouat had been arrested on the Cashmere Hills this afternoon on a charge of murdering his wife. The police are very reticent, and no statement, has been made by them.

Mouat was discovered at a brick kiln at the Cashmere Hills. At an early hour this morning a driver from J. Brightling';-; brick kiln saw Mouat asleep in a quarry. He. communicated with some of the. other workmen, who in turn communicated with the police.

The men at the kiln stated that Mouat arrived there at two o'clock in the afternoon. He walked round and inspected the kiln, and was talking with them when Chief Detective Gibson and Dele;: fives Fade and Bickerdike arrived. Detective Hade approaebe 1 Mouat and said, "Good afternoon, Mr. Mouat, come outside."

Mouat surrendered himself without any resistance, and made no statement. Detective Eade told him to cheer up and not look so downhearted. In conversation with men at the kiln before the arrival of the detectives Mouat said he had been on a fortnight's holiday at Oamaru.

MORBID CURIOSITY. CROWDS VIEW DWELLING. A SUNDAY PILGRIMAGE. [FIICM OCR OWN COR RESPONDENT.] CHRiSTCHUKCH. Monday. The morbid and the. curious decided that, the best way of spending yesterday morning was to pay a visit to 10. Beckford Street, St. Martins, which until a few weeks ago was the home of the Mouats. It was as unassuming as a thousand other modern bungalows "n Christchurcli. Now it has attained widespread notoriety. Hundreds of people went on foot, in motor-cars, on horseback, on bicycles, and by tram yesterday t.<> look at the dwelling.

HISTORY OF MYSTERY. MRS MOUAT VANISHES. SEARCH BY THE POLICE. The disappearance of Mrs. Ellen Louise Mount. and later of her husband, has been shrouded in mystery. Mrs. Mouat was last seen on the night of February 20. and it was not until some, time later that the police were advised. Mouat himself was located at denary, South Canterbury, on Sunday, March 1, and on the Monday he went to Christchurch, where he was interviewed hv members of the detective force. Mount's explanation of his wife's disappearance was that she had left the house on the evening on February 20 to go into the city with the intention of calling on her brother. 'He could not account to detectives for her failure to return. After the interview Mouat went to a city hotel where he booked a room for the night. During the night he disappeared, leaving some of his personal belongings, including his overcoat, behind him. The polio instituted an exhaustive, search for trace - ; of the missing woman, but so far they have made no statement as to results of this search. A few days ago a warrant was issued for Mouat's arrest, but the charge which was responsible for the. issuing of the warrant was not stated at the time.