SECOND TRIAL OF MOUAT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2928, 27 August 1925, Page 3

SECOND TRIAL OF MOUAT.

Christchurch, August 24. The second trial of Frederick Peter Mount, who is alleged to have murdered his wife, Ellen Louise Mount, at St. Martin’s, on or aboutFebrmiry, 20 and burned the body, was commenced to-day before Mr. ■Justice Reed. Mr. A. T. Donnelly appeared for the Crown and counsel for Mount were Messrs. C. S. Thomas and W. .J. Sim. In his opening address, (lie Crown Prosecutor said that the jury must give to the ease impartial consideration. The case for the Crown was adduced to proving two simple facts; the death of Mrs Mount and her killing by Mount. There was no direct evidence on either point, but when the woman entered her home at 10 p.m. on February 19, she was alone with Mount and she had not been seen by anyone but Mount since that time. From noon on February 20, Mount until a fortnight later, persistently and consistently made contradictory and lying statements regarding the disappearance of his wife. In the garden of (lie home were found 31 tell-tale human hones, which it was submitted, were all that remained of the murdered woman. The crime could lie reconstructed, but imperfectly. Mount's method had been carried out with skill and almost complete success, but lie bad been tripped up by an oversight. It was contended that the hones could not be those of anybody else hut Mrs Mount. Mr. Donnelly then detailed the evidence to he led and concluded that if the crime were committed on (lie heat of an argument, without premeditation, the crime was manslaughter. In a case of murder, the jury could, if it considered it proper, acquit accused on that charge and convict him on the charge of manslaughter. Tf the jury in the present, case was satisfied that Mount deliberately killed Mrs. Mount, it should convict him of murder. If it took the more lenient view and inferred that he killed her, but felt that it would be unsafe to convict him of murder, it would be warranted in convicting him of manslaughter. If the jury fell that the Crown had failed and that there was reasonable doubt ns to whether Mrs. Mount were dead, or. if she were dead, as to whether

Mount was criminally connected fit'll her disappearance, it should acquit. r l'he case was continued to-dnv.

Evidence given was a repetition of that adduced at the first trial and the only new point of consequence brought out was with reference to tlie dentures found. It was elided during the course of the examination of Lucy Prosser, a neighbour of the Mounts. Donnelly: Did Mrs. Mount have false teeth.’ —Yes. Mr. Donnelly: Tlow do you identify them? —They had three green inlays. You could see them every time she smiled. There was also green on the gum of the denture. His Honour: That is peculiar. Have any teeth with those markings been discovered? - Mr. Donnelly: No, the teeth we have, have it* blue spot on them. A juryman: They may change colour through the dampness of the mouth. Ilis Honour: Yes, perhaps it would he as well to get a dentist to give evidence. Witness: I am positive it was green. There was an inset of the same colour in the teeth and on the gum. His Honour: Might it not be tin* green of dirty teeth? Witness: Oh, no, it was a light green, something the shade of light greenstone. Mr. Thomas, producing-, the false teeth exhibited in Court, asked if cither was like the set witness had seen Mrs Mount used to wear. Prior to the Court adjourning, Mr. Donnelly said he had only two more witnesses and Mr. Thomas said he would call no evidence. Probably counsel will address the Court to-morrow afternoon. Christchurch, August 2(i. Before proceeding this morning with the trial of Frederick Peter Mount, for the alleged murder of his wife, Mr. Justice Reed said his attention had been drawn to a most improper paragraph in one of the Christchurch evening newspapers yesterday. It was a most serious thing for a newspaper to publish anything like that in the middle of a trial, particularly where a man was being tried for his life. It was Ids duty to try to suppress that sort of thing. In New Zealand they did not want trial by news papers, as 'existed in America. The paragraph referror to appeared in the “Bun.” It is said that, one woman witness, while giving her evidence, “spared many quick smiles for Mount.” . After the Crown ease had closed this morning, the jury visited the scene of the alleged crime before lunch, and the addresses of counsel were taken in the afternoon. Mr. Justice Reed summed up tonight. The jury retired at 9.10, and is still out. MAN SLA I'OUTER VERDICT. Christchurch, This Morning. Frederick Peter Mount was found guilty of manslaughter and remanded for sentence.