MOUAT CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1929, Page 5

MOUAT CASE

PRISONER’S APPEAL. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 2G. The Mount case, which caused a sensation throughout New Zealand four years ago, is brought into the limelight again bv a petition which Frederick Peter Mouat, now in Mt. Eden Gaol, is forwarding to the Governor General, asking that his conviction he quashed. f

Included in the papers is a long one from Mrs Mount of Devonport (the prisoner’s sister-in-law,) which sets out that she never did believe in his 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 oft such a sensation and revolting nature that strong public feeling was roused against the petitioner, and the atmosphere was prejudicial to his receiving a fair trial. The petitioner had always protested, and continued to protest, his complete innocence, although he admitted that, on the advice of Ins counsel, he did not tender any evidence at the trial, the reason being that the evidence for the Crown was of such an improbable and flimsy nature that there appeared little likelihood of its being convincing, and it was well known that, by calling evidence, the defence would lose its right of final address to the jury.