THE MOUATT MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18996, 18 April 1925, Page 11

THE MOUATT MYSTERY.

CASE FOR PROSECUTION, j STAINS UPON BEDDING. STATEMENT BY ACCUSED. "GOT ON WELL TOGETHER." [BY TEUSGRAFH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHKISiTCHURCH. Friday. The trial of Frederick Peter Mouatt. aged 45 years, charged with having murdered his wile, Ellen Louise Mouatt, at 9t. Martin's, on or about February 20, was continued to day. The first witness was Ernest Friedlaiidcr, a pawnbroker, who stated that on February 20 a man who Rave his natne as F. Mouatt came to witness' shop and sold a gold wristlet watch and a gold brooch. He also pledged a diamond tio-pin. Witness handed the articles to DetectivoSergeant Connolly. Witness had other dealings with Mouatt in November, when he pledged a watch and chain. Detective Knudson said that on March 4, in accused's house, he packed a quantity of lady's clothing in largo trunks. Two boxes produced contained all the lady's clothing he could find in the house. On the same day he found false teeth on the mantelpiece in the front room. George Merrett, father of Mrs. Mouatt, paid tho last time ho saw her was about February 15 at his house. He had not seen his daughter since, but saw Mouatt on February 23 (Monday) after she was supposed to be missing. Mouatt sat down on a chair. Witness said: " What's up with Nellie ?" Mouatt replied : "She went away on Friday morning." Witness said it was a funny thing for her to go away like that. Mouatt said they had been talking of going down to his mother's place. Witness asked Mouatt if he had money and accused replied that ho had a little. Always Full ol Fun. James Hoeny, a barman, said ho had known Mouatt and Mrs. Mouatt for 15 months, siniJo tho Mouatts lived in Beckford Road. He visited them on several occasions and had stayed in tho house several times. Witness last visited Mouatt's houso on tho night of Thursday, February 19. After tea they went to see the Prossers together. He left Prospers at ten minutes to ten to go batik to town. Tho Mouatts were there when ho left. That evening accused and his w.fo seemed to be on the best of terms. Mouatt was always joking and full of fun. Next week at tho hotel Mouatt told witness that his wifo had gone South. Another day he said he was going to Merretts "to see if Nell was there." The Mouatts got on all right as far as witness could sec. Mouatt was a temperate man. Thomas Pheloung, drainage contractor, stated in evidence that he paid Mouatt £5 on February 13 for wages, Mouatt then said he wsts going to Oamaru. Smoke From the Chimney. Lucy Prosser, a married woman, aged 31, residing in Bockford Street, said sho knew tho Mouatts. They visited her house on a«,number of occasions, tho last being February 19. Tho Mouatts left at about 9.45 o'clock. Neat day she was at a place next door to tho Mouatts. While she was there Mouatt got over tho fence. He said Mrs. Mouatt had gone to her brother, and he was going to meet her there the next day and go to Dunedin. On the Friday she saw a sheet and blanket on the line at the Mouatt home, and she asked him if he had been washing. He said that Mrs. Mouatt washed them before sho went away. On ; March 21 witness and her husband were in their front garden, when their attention was attracted by smoke coming from Mouatt's breakfast room chimney. Witness asked Mouatt what ho had a fire for. He said he was heating water for a bath. On the day before she had seen smoke from a small fire on Mouatt's section. On the last occasion witness saw Mrs. Mouatt the latter was wearing a cream dress with black stripes. Witness identified a dress and shoes that Mrs. Mouatt wore on tho night of February 19. No Dresses Missing. Continuing, Mrs. Prosser stated that on • Friday, February 27, after Mrs. Mouatt's disappearance, she went throagh the clothes in Mouatt's house. No frocks or dresses that witness knew of were missing. There was no top sheet on the bed. Mr. Meirett found a sheet in a"' cupboard in tho breakfast room. There was a brown stain on the sheet, which was quito dry. David Prosser stated in evidence that ho saw blue-grey smoke coming from Mouatt's chimney on February 21. Later Mouatt said he "had not seen Nell yet." Mrs. Beers, who resides next door, said she saw Mouatt near his fence on February 20. There was a fire on tho section, and Mouatt asked if she smelt anything, as he was burning old potatoes. There was a smell of rubbish smouldering. Albert Beere stated that he saw a fire on Mouatt's section on February 21. Mouatt had been burning rubbish for some time. Norma Low, six years of age, said she was sent by Mrs. Prosser to the Mouatt's house. She saw Mouatt inside poking the fire and putting Jayes fluid round it. Indications of Blood. Dr. Robert Douglas Milligan, of the Christchurch Hospital, said he made an examination of a pillow handed to him by Dr. Pearson. He examined a little slip from tho brown-stained area, and came to the conclusion that blood was present. He made several tests before arriving at that conclusion. Witness detailed the nature of his investigation. Half of the stained portion which was removed was taken by Mr. Bickerton. .Witness also examined two blankets. One had a large piece cut out, but a good deal of the remainder of tho blanket was stained. Ho concluded that the stains were blood There were a number of other small stains on that blanket. On the second blanket there wero several stained areas. Where the stain was present and tests were applied ho obtained results indicating the presence of blood. He examined the sheet, which contained a number of stains. He examined several stains, and concluded that blood was present. A. A. Bickerton, Government analyst at Christchurch, said he examined the waste pipo for blood, and found the stains to contain the colouring matter of blood. On March 18 he received from Dr. Pearson two pieces of blanket, which he examined for blood. He found red colouring matter, that gave the required test, and in his opinion it was blood. The Accused's Statement. Senior-Sergeant Shannahan, of Oamaru, put in a statement, which he obtained from Mouatt on March 1. In it accused said: — "On the night of Thursday, February 19, my wife and I were at a party at tho Prosser's houso in our street. The party broke up at about 10.30 p.m. My wife and I went home together. Mrs. Prosser came to our gato. My wifo and I went inside and went to bed. Wo wero on good terms, and went to bed at about 10.45 o'clock. I got up at about 6.15 a.m. on Friday (February 20), made a cup of tea, using the gas. I took a cup of tea into mv wife, and had one myself. I then went 'into the garden, dug some potatoes, and started .to clean the brass round tho house. I worked on that until breakfast time. My wife called me in

at about 8 a.m. for breakfast, which sho had got ready, bacon and eggs. " After breakfast I went out into the garden grubbing grass. My wife came out of the house at about 9 a.m. Sho was dressed in a blue sorgo costume, a smallfitting straw hat, dark in colour, with red and blue feathers and brown leather shoes. She had a leather purso bag in her hand and .was wearing brown stockings. Sho said ' Well now 1 will go as I don't want to disappoint Mrs. Hardy, and if I don't come back to-night tako my bag to the station.' We had arranged to go to Purakanni to my .mother's place on Saturday. Sho would catch about tho third tram to tho city. I havo not seen or heard of her sinco from Purakanui. I advised Mrs. Hardy (by letter), Mrs. Edwards (by letter), Mrs. Prosser (by letter), and Mrs. Verrott (by telegram), that I could not got any traco of ray wife. Washing ol Blankets. " I have been married sinco 1910 and my wifo and 1 havo always got on well together. Wo have never had any quarrels, except in 1914 in Christchurch she went off with another man. I was in Mclbourno at the time returning from West Africa. "On February 16, 17, 18 and 19 I remained about our homo as I had asked for time off to collect accounts at Oamaru. I wanted my wifo to go and sho wanted mo to go. Eventually we decided after leaving Mrs. Prosser's on that night that wo would go on Saturday. My wife soaked a blanket and a counterpano (white) on Thursday, February 19, between 3 and 5 p.m. She left them in water until before breakfast on Friday morning, February 20. I put them on the line for her. It took them in on Saturday morning. They were off the bed where Jim Heeney sleeps when he is at the house. Tho bedding on one bed consisted of three blankets, a white counterpane. and one sheet. My wife and I generally slept together. Sometimes if I was going to bed early I would take the paper and go into the spare room and sleep there. We slept together tho night before she left. "I do not know if my wife was friendly with any other man or likely to havo gone off with anj' man. I did not report tho matter to the police as I thought sho may havo como home." Did Not Keep Appointment. Annie Marion Hardy said Mrs. Mouatt did not keep the appointment with her on Friday, February 20, and she had not seen her since. On February 25, about eight o'clock in tho morning, she saw Mouatt at her houso. He said: "Did you seo Noll ?" Witness said "No," and stated that sho was not up at her home. Witness asked "Where is sho then ?" Mouatt said he did not know. Hw said that sho wont on tho Friday morning and he had not seen her'since. Witness said "Do you mean that?" Mouatt said "Yes." Witness said "Yon must know where sho is; every man knows where his wife is when she leaves tho house." Witness told Mouatt to go to Jack's place (Merrett's) to see if she was there. Mouatt said she would be away down to his mother's place. Witness knew what dresses and frocks Mrs. Mouatt had, as sho had shown them to her. Witness went with the chief detective to tho houso at St. Martin's and could not find any dresses or frocks of Mrs. Mouatt's missing. The p«ir of corsets produced was tho only pair Mrs. Mouatt had as far as witness knew. Tho handbag produced was one which Mrs. Mouatt always had when sho went up to town. Sho had seen Mrs. Mouatt wearing tho wristlet watch and tho nugget brooch (produced). Witness identified the top set of falso teeth now in possession of the polico as the set which Mrs. Mouatt wore when at witness' house. The' Court adjourned nntil 10 a.m. tomorrow.