THE MOUAT APPEAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17143, 27 December 1929, Page 12

THE MOUAT APPEAL

PETITION TO qbyERNOB "AN UNPADS TRIAL." (P«r Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The Mouat case', which caused a .sensation throughout New Zealand four years ago, is brought into the limelight again by a petition which Frederick 'Peter Mouat, now in t.Mt; Eden gaol, is forwarding to the Gov-ernor-General, asking, that the conviction bo quashed. Included in the papers is a long one from Mrs Mouat, of Devonport (prisoner's sister-in-law), which sots out that she never did believe in liis guilt, and there are several people from Christchurch who say they saw Mrs Mouat after she disappeared. The petition points out that the details of'the alleged crime were of such a sensational and revolting nature that strong public feeling was roused against the petitioner and the atmosphere was prejudicial to his receiving a fair trial. Petitioner had always protested and continued to protest his complete innocence, although he admitted that, on the advice of his counsel, he did not tender any evidence at the trial, the reason being that the evidence forthe' Crown was of such an improbable and flimsy nature that there appeared little like-, lihood of , a conviction, and it was well-known that, by calling evidence, the defence would lose its right of, a final address to the jury. . '..:.;