AMAZING MYSTERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1924, Page 5

AMAZING MYSTERY.

BOYS STRANGE DEATH. ARREST OF HIS BROTHER. CONTRADICTORY STORIES. MELBOURNE TRAGEDY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 24, 7.50 p.m. Melbourne, Sept. 24. The inquest was opened to-day con cerning the death of Archie Mouat, aged 94 yean, whose mutilated body was found in a .stream after his disappearance from his home at Springvale last month. The dead boy’s brother, Ivan Mouat, aged 14, is in custody charged with the murder. Miss Kerr, the boys aunt, told a remarkable story. She said Archie’s body was found in water reaching jast over her boots. She visited Ivan at the detention home and he told her that on the day of the tragedy he and Archie went for a walk. They got into conversation with two men with a motorcar, and Archie then went to bathe. One of the men said to Ivan: “Smell the scent 1 have invented.” The man then placed a handkerchief over the boy’s face. WYien Ivan became conscious again he felt water in his face, and the man told him to go home, which he did. He did not see Archie again. Witness added that Ivan bore a good character and was truthful. She never knew the brothers to quarrel. The boys’ mother gave evidence that when Ivan came home he said he had left ,Arcb ie a-t the creek. He said nothing about a stranger asking him to to smell the scent. He bore no signs of suffering from the effect* of chloroform and appeared quite normal. The Government pathologist gave evidence that Archie’s ears, nose and bronchial tubes were crammed with gritty mud. The lower part of the body was shockingly mutilated, but there was no indication that he had been struck with a stick. In fitness’ opinion death was caused by suffocation by the boy being held down in the water. The mutilations were probably caused after death. The police stated that Ivan made two contradictory statements to them.

In her evidence Mrs. Mouatt said Ivan attended church and Sunday School on the day after the tragedy. Asked regarding his alleged confession to the police, she said she did not believe he did it or had anything to do with it.

CONFLICTING STORIES. WHAT THE BROTHER SAID. AN ALLEGED CONFESSION. A remarkable feature- of this strange case is the contradictory statements made by the brother of the dead boy. The first report of the case stated that Archie Mouat, with his brother, Ivan, set out to gather gum leaves in the Springvale Cemetery. After they had gone some distance, Archie said he felt tired, and would wait bill his brother returned. While the boy was talking a motor-car drew up, and a man alighted, and spoke to the boys. Ivan walked on, and after he had covered a hundred yards he turned round and saw Archie still conversing with the man. He thought nothing of this at the time. When he returned less than ten minutes later, Archie, motor-car, and the stranger had all disappeared. Several hours later, w’hen Archie failed to appear Ivan told his mother of the o*x*urrence, and she reported it to the police. The body was found in the Dandenong Creek, in about a foot of water. There were several bruises on the legs and head, and the body was completely unclothed. The clothes of the dead boy were found in a boilerhouse at the fiandown racecourse, half a mile from the spot where the boy was found.

Next day there was a startling development in the case. Ivan, according to reports cabled from Melbourne, confessed to the police that he murdered his brother Archje. He stated that when he reached the creek where the body was found Archie suggested a swim. Ivan said it was too cold. Archie stripped and entered the water. Ivan stood on the bank, and when Archie swam near he struck him on the head with a stick. He sank, and when he rose Ivan struck him again. This time he did not rise. He then dragged the body from the water and mutilated it with a table knife, which he was carrying to cut gum tips. He threw the body back into the water. Ivan told the police he had no quarrel with his brother, and no provocation. The only excuse he gave was that the night before, while at the pictures, Archie stuck a pin into him, and he suffered such agony from the wound that he was not responsible for his actions. Ivan was then arrested on a charge of murder.