MOUAT CASE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 15 May 1925, Page 4

MOUAT CASE.

Supreme Court Proceedings CROWN CASH CONCLUDED. By Tnleeraph—Pres* Aisonlstion. CHRISTCHURCH, May 14. The trial of Frederick Peter Mouat on a charge of having murdered his wife, Ellen Louise Mouat, at St. Martins on or about February 20 last, was continued this morning. Mr A. F. Donnelly, Crown Prosecutor, appeared for the Crown, and Mr C. S. Thomas (with him Mr W. J. Sim) for Mouat. The evidence given in the morning was largely as to accused's movements and statements after February 20th, the date of his wife’s disappearance. Two lengthy statements made by accused to the pojloe were handed ip. Evidence was given of the quency of fires in Mouat’s house and In his garden scon after the date of Mrs Mouat’s disappearance. Ada Beere, who resided next door to the Mouat’s, said Mouat .asked witness and her husband if they smelt anything, as ho was burning old potatoes. There was a. smell of rubbish burning. She .saw very thick smoke coming from the dlningr room, and thought it was on fire. Chief -Detective Gibson, in his evidence, detailed the arrest of Mouat on March 9 th, in St. Martin’s brick kiln. On the way hack to the station witness said: ‘‘You look in a bad way, Mr Mouat.” His clothes were dirty, and he had tomatoes and apples in his pockets. Mouat said “Yes; I have been wandering about the hills for a week looking behind every bush and rock for her.” Witness asked: “What, do you thipk she is dead?” Mouat said, “Well, when she was leaving me that morning I heard her say she had a good mind to do away with herself.” The Chief Detective also gave particulars of the digging operations in Mouat’s garden. - Alexander Augustus Bickerton, Government Analyst, said he got two positive reactions for blood in tests of pieces of blanket. The coloured matter he found in the middle of a stain on the edge of the bath gave a reaction for blood. A sample examined under a microscope with a low power had the appearance of a piece of flesh, and with a higher power skin scales were seen. Mr Sim > (for’the defence): You don’t say it was human blood?—Oh, no, .1 didn’t test for human blood. You know Dr. Pearson did?—lt was his business to test for blood. Can you say how old the stains were?—On the blanket before it was washed it was fairly fresh blood, or it would not have run as it did. You don’t pretend to say what quantity of blood there was? —I should say it came from a capillary, or a 'slight bleeding of the nose or cut on the hand. It did not come from a fatal wound. There , must have been a teaspoonful. It is not sufficient to show that it was murder. At the close of Professor Pickerton’s cross-exam>:ation three other Witnesses gave evidence, and the case for the Crown was closed. The case for the defence will be opened at 10 a.m. to-morrow. The jurymen, at the request of Mr C. S, Thoma§ f leading counsel for 'Mouat’s bunga-., low-in BeAkfgrd Road; and saw for thomselvest'the ash? heap in which' human bones were found, and also the diningroom fireplace which has taken an important place in the case.