THE DOUBLE MURDER AT RUAWARO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 192, 28 May 1934, Page 6

THE DOUBLE MURDER AT RUAWARO

The Crown Prosecutor (Mr V. R. Meredith), with him Mr F. McCarthy, is prosecuting, while Bayly is represented by Messrs E. H. Northcroft and L. P. Leary, instructed' by Mr R. B. Lusk. Mr Justice Herdman is on the bench. A watchmaker, Ernest Harold Todd, of Huntly, identified a watch produced as one of the type he had stocked in 1923. It was one of a line of six obtained at Christchurch. The portion.

of a watch-case produced was the same type and part of the same line. By ' reference to his records, Todd said it was sold in March, 1929. Other portions produced were parts of the same type of watch. .. Detective Thomas William Allsopp, of Auckland, said he went to Ruawaro ,v on October 16, with Detective Sneddon - and several constables, arriving at 4 p.m. They met, ion anriyal, Constable Robertson and later several settlers who had been searching . Mrs Lakey's body was lying on the kitchen floor. Witness described Mas Lakey's appearance, stating that she bore a small cut on the point of the chin. The duckpond was full of dirty greenish •water. A heap of 11 sacks lay close ' by. Similar manure sacks were found in Lakey's implement shed. The only manure sack found at Bayly's bore a different brand. Detective Allsopp then detailed the examination of Lakey's house, which appeared to be quite orderly. Nothing seemed disturbed. On the range were three pots containing cooked meat, boiled potatoes and clean water! An unbroken pudding, and teapot with cold tea were on the rack. The fire was out. A small table under the telephone, which was disconnected, contained considerable correspondence. The calendar showed the date October 15. The beds in both bedrooms were made and not disturbed. Under the pillows of the double bed were pyjamas and a nightdress. ' The two weapons 'produced—a double parrelled gun and a .410 calibre shotgun—stood in the passage. There were small cobwebs about both, as though they had not been used for some time. Later witness made a more . careful search of the house with Detective Sneddon. As a result they found, among Lakey's possessions, an openfaced watch. The Police Meet Baiyly. When the police commenced their search for Lakey, they split into parties going various directions, continued Detective Allsopp. He went down to Lakey's gate, to the cream cans, then across toward Fu'rniss' property. Returning to the house, witness made a further search 'of the correspondence and documents in the evening. On the following morning witness and Detective Sneddon inspected the duckpond. By Taking the pond, Detective Sneddon recovered the hat produced. That day additional constables arrived. ■■ With the assistance of settlers a search round the lakeside was organised The parties eventually came to l Bayiy's property. Witness and Detective Sneddon worked the opposite way to meet them. It rained quite heavily and the searchers sheltered m the standing titree on Bayly's farm. Bayly was there, continued Detective Allsopp He was wearing old dungarees, with newer ones underneath, knee gumboots, an old shirt, and an old slouch hat pulled well down oyer. Ins face. Attached to his belt was a sheath, with a knife without a handle. Bayly had two or three days' growth on. Bayly Does Not Search. "His eyes were very red. I later saw Bayly going to his house with Constable McEachern," said Allsopp, who detailed the search of the swamps by two parties the same day. Accused was with one party. Detective Sneddon, and witness remained at Lakey's. At this time they knew one . shot-gun was missing. The other guns were not missing until October 30. That afternoon witness saw Bajly looking at holes in Lakey's paddock The remainder of the party were ahead of accused, who was alone. Alter looking at the holes Bayly went in the opposite direction and disappeared out of sight. Bayly took no further part in the search. . Witness and Detective Sneddon went to Bayly's tool-shed. Accused met them Detective Sneddon asked him for a statement as to when he had seen ■ Lakev last. Other settlers had given statements by then. Bayly asked the detectives into the house and gave • . Detective Sneddon a statement. Mrs Bayly came to the door of the room. Bayly looked at her and said, We want to talk." She went out of che room and did not return. ' As a result of information from Constable McEachern, witness and detective Sneddon the boundary of Bayly's and Lakey's properties, continued Detective Allsopp, who indicated the spot on photographs - and

♦—> crown case against bayly continued. Detective details long investigations. .';-' WHAT THE SEARCH OF LAKEY'S FARM REVEALED. HUMAN BLOOD ALLEGEDLY' FOUND ON CART WHEELS. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, This Day. ; , In anticipation of hearing the evidence of the detectives who conducted searches on Bayly's property, a large crowd attended at the Supreme Court this morning, when the Bayly trial was resumed. For the first time, nearly as many women as men were present. William Alfred Bayly, a farmer aged 28, is accused of having murdered Samuel Pender Lakey and Christobel Lakey, at Ruawaro on October 15, 1933. The evidence of the three detectives—Detectives Allsopp, Sneddon and Einglay—who were the first to arrive at Ruawaro, apart from the loeal constables, is expected to be lengthy and may extend a week if the cross-examination is as long as is generally thought likely.

plans. They got through the fence at Bayly's near a telephone pole and saw distinct sledge marks in the grass.

' "We examined and measured the marks," proceeded the detective. "The width was 2ft 4in. The marks appeared to have led from Bayly's road to the fence,, goiiig in a semi-circle and returning to the road again. They were about nine feet from the fence. We pegged the marks round a semicircle.

Detective Allsopp said that on returning to Lakey's he saw a pair of buggy wheels and frame under a wattle tree. He did not examine them then. The frame was then entire on the wheels.

At his Honor's direction the detective arranged portions of the frame on the wheels on the position in which he had first seen them.

On the following morning, with Detective Sneddon and Wright, witness examined the frame. "I saw that ok the cross-bar the wood had been whittled away," continued Detective Allsopp." "Where the wood had been cut I saw what appeared to be bloodstains. As I lifted the crossber I saw what appeared to be fresh human blood and on the left side of the frame I saw a large patch resembling blood." Witness showed the jury portions of the frame indicating the parts referred to.

Witness said, there were further marks like blood on the axle. All the stains were on the left side. The vehicle's marks were covered. On the wheels and other parts were fresh poultry droppings. Lakey's fowls roosted on the yard fence. The wheels were brought to Auckland on October 19 and given to Dr. Gilmour (pathologist). On the following day Detective Sneddon and witness searched- the paddock where the wheels were found. A distinct track was seen through six cow droppings. The marks were measured and found to coincide with the width of the tyres, also the width of the wheels, while the direction was from near. Lakey's house to Bayly's boundary. Blood on the Sledge. There were no cows in the paddock and there did not appear to have been any there for a few days, proceeded Detective Allsopp, detailing the distances the droppings were apart "Bayly saw us in the paddock," said witness. . "At 3.30 p.m. that day he placed three cows in the bull paddock, where we'found sledge marks. Next day witness emptied the duck-pond, [n the silt he found a top and bottom set of false teeth, lying together at the left from the shallow end. The top plate was chipped but the bottom was intact and in good -order, but later was accidentally broken by witness. Sext day Bayly was asked if anyone had been on his property with a Bledge. He-said "No." Accuseds eledge was standing near the separator room. I turned the sledge on its side Hind measured the runners. I discovered that the width was 2ft 4in, corresponding to the marks in his paddock While we were taking these measurements we noticed a mark on the boards. Bayly said he did not know what it was. He was asked if be had any objection to us taking the boards. He said he did not. He then helped us to remove three boards. When we started to take.the front board Bayly said, 'lf you take that I will have nothing left/ so we left it.

State of a Telephone Pole. The boards removed were brought to Auckland and handed to Dr. Gilmour. Detective Sneddon told Bayly of the marks found in his paddock. Bayly eaid- "When 1 was returning from taking cream out on Monday morning t noticed that a telephone pole had a lean over. I drove the sledge up the paddock to see if) the pole were broken." Accused said that.no stiangers had been on his property, remarking that his wife had been at home all day on Sunday. Later witness examined the telephone polo and found it in order, the fastenings being secure Witness identified the knife, sheath and belt produced as Bayly's At accused's cow-shed Bayly showed witness A knife which had a very sharp edge and had three four small turns near the heel. Witness did not take possession of it that day.