GAOLED AS WIFE-SLAYER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 365, 28 May 1928, Page 11

GAOLED AS WIFE-SLAYER

IS MOUAT AN INNOCENT MAN? MYSTERY OF WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED NEARLY three years have passed since Frederick P. Mouatl. of St. Martins, Christchurch, was sentenced to imprisonment for 17 years for the murder of his wife, a manslaughter verdict in peculiar circumstances saving him from the gallows. Mouat’‘"s relatives still believe in his declarations of innocence, reiterated from Mt. Eden Gaol, where he is now serving his term of penal servitude, and thorough investigations are being made on his behalf.

Ever since the trial and retrial of Mouatl in 1925—after a disagreement of the jury on the major charge—one of his relatives, a woman now living in Auckland, has worked incessantly to establish facts in support of the contention that Nellie Mouat*. was not murdered by her husband, cut to pieces and burned with methodical thoroughness in various fires which were known to have been lighted about the place; but that she disappeared of her own free will, and is still living. This belief is based upon circumstances admittedly slender, and supported by a collection of data the gathering of which has occupied great time and involved heavy expense. In most cases affidavits have been * secured to substantiate what at first appeared to be fantastic theories, but in some respects the case is not complete. When it is, the intention of the relative concerned is to approach the highest authority in the land and soilicit a review. The relatives’ contention is outlined by The Sun as it is advanced by the relatives themselves, and is committed to the judgment of readers without qualification as to the merits either of the defence, or of the case for the Crown. The theory that Mrs. Mouatt is still alive is based upon a series of circumstances which have been gathered and collated, recalling the major details of the incident and its consequences. Evidence was in the hands of the defence, although not used at the trial, that an insurance agent in Christchurch, who knew Mrs. Mouatpersonally, spoke to her as she sat in the train some days after she was supposed to have disappeared. Two signed statements bearing upon this aspect are held. Another circumstance is the statement of an AuckInd man that he saw Mrs. Mouatt in Albert Park, Auckland, in July of 1925 —after the first trial, but before the final trial, of her husband. Mrs Mouat* Held Money It is apparent—and it musUbe revealed if the case is to be reviewed—that there was much trouble in the Mouat household because of the friendship of Mrs. Mouatt with other men—both in England and in New Zealand—and the suggestion is made on the evidence of acquaintances that Mrs. Mouat. was known to have accumulated a large sum of money in notes. Mouat frequently complained of his wife’s extravagance with the money derived from the hotel which the couple conducted at Glenavy. Investigations have been made by brokers and auditors into the accounts of the hotel business in this connection. A story was circulated that Mouat boasted to his brother-in-law, J. B. Merritt, that he could emulate the native of Africa and burn a body in four hours, leaving no trace. Mouat denied this at the time; and now a statement is produced from the Governor of the Ashanti province, where Mouat. worked, to the effect that the natives in no circumstances burn the

bodies of the dead, but bury them with j solemnity and state. The Clue of the Teeth A big point is made of Mrs. Mouat ’s ‘ teeth. It is established by affidavit , from England that two sets of teeth were made by a certain dentist there, and one set made for her in New Zealand. The existence of two sets only was proved at the trial. The relatives say the third set is still being worn by Mrs. Mouat 1 . herself. Details ! of the class of teeth and the incidents j surrounding their identification are produced, also. Several aricles of clothing, as well as a small box and some papers, are stated to be missing. A green velour coat that Mrs. Mouat 1 was known to possess, a hat, which friends identify as of different construction from the remains found under the copper, a brown costume, brown silk stockings, and brown shoes, are named as being definitely missing. The polished wooden box, which Mouat. brought from Africa, contained Mouatt’s papers and a pistol. Neither the box nor the pistol can be found. Other Bones in Neighbourhood One of the most convincing pieces of evidence against Mouat. was the presence of human bones among the remains of fires in the yard and in the house. The investigators for Mouat' now place reliance on the reported discovery of parts of human skeletons on the sections adjoining, which were, so it is suggested, used as a dump for rubbish and for specimens used by medical students. Of the 172 bones found, 10 were classed as positively human, five as probably human, and eight as doubtful whether human or animal. Of the 32 bones found under the copper fire none was classed as human. In one of the suspicious fires in the backyard 22 bones were found one only of which was human. Full Story Not Told Evidence is brought to show that there was nothing suspicious about the fires, and that Mouat was candid and open in his movements concerning the disappearance of his wife, who threatened on occasions to leave him. Witnesses who gave evidence for the Crown are now prepared, so it is claimed, to come forward and say that they did not tell at the trial everything they knew about the occurrence, but merely answered questions. . Statements are produced also respecting the stained sheets found in the house and the part which Merritt, Mrs. Mouat *’s brother, played in the discovery of them. Proof is said to be in existence that the sheets concerned were never on the bed of Mrs. Mouat , but on that of a barman-lodger who committed suicide on the second anniversary of the disappearance of Mrs. Mouat . This necessarily is a cursory review of the relatives’ attempt to establish the innocence of Mouat'; but it gives an outline of the theories, every one of which is supported by documents secured from various parts of the world. These statements have occupied over two years in the collection. The Governor-General probably will be approached, when the remaining links in the chain of defence are forged. The Howard Penal Reform League ■ would not take the case up till half the sentence had been served.