THE MOUAT CASE.

Wairarapa Age, 19 March 1925, Page 5

THE MOUAT CASE.

MR MERRETT’S EVIDENCE.

CHRISTCHURCH, Mar. 18.—The Magistrate’s Court was crowded when Frederick Peter Mouat appeared on remand charged with he murder of his wife, Nellie Mouat, on or about February 20. John B. Merrett, brother-in-law of accused, who is leaving New Zealand! shortly, gave evidence as to tho married life of the Monats. Mr Donnelly, Crown Prosecutor, intimated after Mouat had been remanded for another week, that the ease would not be gone on with then, as there were scientific investigations to be made.—(P.A.)

John B. Merrett said that Mrs Mouat, his sister, was born near Wanganui in 1886. She married Mouat in 1910 in England. They came to New Zealand, then went to South Africa, and returned in 1920 or 1921. Mouat was licensee of the Glenavy Hotel for about a year. Witness visited the Mounts at Glenavy, and they appeared to bo happy and doing well Witness last saw his sister on Sunday evening, February 15, when she was at his house, quite happy. At Templeton in February he questioned Mouat about his wife’s disappearance. Accused said he had no idea where sho had gone, though he had been told by her that she would like to go to Purakanui, and she asked him to bring some clothes down. Mouat said he had not been able to find his wife at Purakanui or Oamaru, so he left the clothes with his mother. Witness asked Mouat why a sheet and blankets had been washed at Beckford street on tho morning of the disappearance, Mouat replied that his wife washed them. Mouat admitted that he was in financial trouble. Mouat denied that there had been any quarrel, or that he had struck his wife accidentally.