THE DOUBLE MURDER AT RUAWARO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 193, 29 May 1934, Page 6

THE DOUBLE MURDER AT RUAWARO

MORE ABOUT THE POLICE INVESTIGATIONS.

FINDS BY DIGGING IN ACCUSED'S VEGETABLE GARDEN.

OTHER ARTICLES RECOVERED FROM THE SHEEP "QJP.

(Per Press Association)

AUCKLAND, This Day

Continuing his evidence yesterday afternoon, Detective Allsopp demonstrated with the knife winch he had previously identified as Bayly's where the turns on the edge existed when he had first inspected it; The knife was go exceedingly sharp that the turns - showed plainly. "I said to Bayly: ' I could have done with this to have a shave this morning/" declared the detective, relating further details of the first inspection of the knife on October 19. Bayly then had two abrasions on one hand, neither recent, and both small. In addition to the knife there was a steel in Bayly's pouch. At Lakey's house, on the same day, witness helped to load the wheels and frame on to a lorry. Constable Flynn, who was assisting, handed him a • broken batten from Lakey's implement shed. This had stains which appeared to be blood. Witness identified the batten produced, and handed it to the jury, who individually lnspect--1 ed it. The batten was brought to Auckland and handed to Dr. Gilmour. "This was the first sign of blood about the house?" asked Mr Mere-

dith. I Witness: Yes. With Detective Snedden, witness made a search of Lakey's implement shed Detective Allsopp detailed the position of a benzine case, standing against the wall of the implement shed. When ""the ease was removed the detectives saw the crossbar and battens forming the wall what appeared to be bloodstains. Witness, also noticed a mark where the wood appeared to have been newly whittled. There were small chips on the ground just below. Above this, one sack was missing from the upper portion of the wall. Seven battens were cut out and brought, to Auckland intact, with the crossbars. Witness identified, the timber produced as a portion of the wall, and pointed out the stains to the jury. The sack appeared to have been removed a short time previously, as the overlapped portion of the next sack was not weathered. . On October 21, Detective Findlay and witness met Chief - Detective Sweeney and Detective Snedden in Bayly's car-shed. Sweeney had a search warrant. Witness assisted to search accused's car. They then interviewed Mrs Bayly. When witness saw Bayly's knife the same night, alter the police had taken possession of it, it was not in the same condition. It had more turns on the edge and had lost its sharpness. ' During the. search of accused s pioperty on October 23, Bayly met the police in a paddock. Detective Sneddon asked accused if he had thoroughly searched his property. Bayly said "Yes," adding: "You have also had a thorough search. Do you think I have got anything?" Detective Snedden ?aid- "We want to find Lakey. Accused said he had not had his ear out between October 14 and 20, when he had gone to Auckland. Bayly arrived at the police camp xit . 9 pm. on October 25, stating that he had seen a man with a' dog on his property, running, along the.ridge Accused' said his dog had caught the dog but the man got away. Bayly added that he had a good idea whose dog it was Detectives Snedden and * malay went with Bayly, witness following, later. Witness did not see a dog. Shovel in Cowshed. Next day Detectives Snedden and Findlay and witness went to Bayly's at 9.30 a.m. and sawl accused. "Bayly said there were four settlers he had no time for—Stevens, Wright, Sanson ,—. He hesitated. I said 'Lakey.' Bayly said 'Yes,' continued Detective Allsopp, who said he saw a shovel in accused's cowshed with ash on the blade neaa- the top. Bayly said he did not use the shovel in the house or garden:, and he did not know how the ash got,on the blade. Accused objected to Detective Snedden taking possession of the shovel, declaring that .he used it in the cowshed. There was another shovel, nearby. Witness and Snedden then scraped the ash ironi the first shovel. . Detective Allsopp then described the police search of the swamp with gunii spears, and worked down. Bayly saw the search in progress. After probing, the barrels of a double-barrelled gun were found. The barrels were full of mud, but still bright. Shortly afterward the lock was discovered, four feet away. The stock of a pea-rifle was then discovered.at a distance of seven feet from the breech. The police did not then known that a pea-rifle was missing. Wehn Bayly came along in a car, witness 'said: "I want you to look at something, we found in the swamp." Accused made no reply. When he got in view of the swamp accused looked very surprised.. On being shown the parts, Bayly said they were not • his. Bayly waited a short time, watching the search, and then left. He returned later, galloping a horse. On

TO-DAY'S EVIDENCE.

CROWN CASE AGAINST BAYLY CONTINUED.

The result of his investigations on November 30 onward were described by Detective T. W. Allsopp, when he resumed giving evidence at the hearing, at the Supreme Court 'to-day of the charges against William Alfred Bayly of having murdered .Samuel Pender Lakey and Christobel Lakey,. at Buawaro on October 15 last.

Public interest was maintained again, women rushing the Court when the doors were opened. Men were more numerous, but filed in in orderly fashion.

Mr Northcro'ft. raised certain points from Detective Allsopp's evidence on the previous day..

his return accused wished to make a further statement, remarking: "Who told you the guns were here? This is ■ the only swamp you have .searched today.'" Parts of Guns Found. , Witness .pointed out the places where the search had been made that day. After describing another visit to Bayly's cowshed, where other, incidents occurred, Detective Allsopp said he was shown the barrel of a pearifle on his return to the swamp, where it had just been discovered. The barrel was quite clean. The stock of a.'shotgun was also discovered at the same time. When Bayly was informed that the police had found the complete parts of- a gun, he asked where the others were discovered. When told he said: "You had- the swamp watched last night." ; On November 4 witness and Detective Findlay went to Bayly's cowshed to take possession, of a piece of pipe previously seen, which on the first occasion bore a stain. On this occasion the found the' pipe covered in cow manure. Witness saw a portion of an oil drum upside down at the well bore on his next visit to Bayly's. Samples from the bottom were taken, the deposit resembling light-coloured ash, while samples were also taken from the cowshed floor. After identifying the exhibits, Detective Allsopp said he went to Bayly's on November 29 with Detectives Snedden, Walsh, and White. Detective Walsh told Bayly they had arrived to search the house, cowshed, and outbuildings. Bayly offered no objection. As Detectives Walsh and White were entering the house Bayly asked for a warrant. Walsh said he had one. Bayly said: "I'll take you/ word for it. Carry on." - 7 ■ Witness and Detective Snedden went to the cowshed and searched it. They took possession of a shovel, a furnace, and other articles. Bayly came to the cowshed. Witness asked if he could empty the sheep-dip. Accused replied: "If you empty it you will take full responsibility if any cattle are poisoned." It*was not emptied until. December 8. The dip wa's in a filthy condition, with maggots on the surface. Bayly was asked what had' been burning in the drum. He said he burned wood, and that he had used it to heat iron, producing an old cart axle which was lying in.the grass. This had a mark on it, as if it had been heated at some time. ~ The Court then adjourned.

LETTER READ IN COURT. LARGE NUMBER. OF EXHIBITS. AUCKLAND, This Day. Continuing his evidence to-day, Detective Allsopp explained the nature of the ground covered by the search party one day, and the manner in which the* frame was constructed on the buggy wheels. Mr iNorthcroft then informed the Court that the first postmortem on Mrs Lakey was made by Dr. McFarlane, who was ill and not able to attend at the Police Court. He would be called. The defence asked that the report of his post-mortem be available to them.

Mr Meredith made no objection. His Honor said that the report would be made available. Detective Allsopp then continued his evidence. When questioned regarding the drum, Bayly said he had burned wood in it to heat an iron. Accused said he had not heated the upper portion, which was then standing in the orchard. When asked why he had cut the drum, he said because it was no good. Detective Sneddon took possession of a small quantity of ash on the ground under the dram. The police secured both portions of the drum which was not then as rusted as it now was.

Detective Allsopp said he saw animal bones near accused's garden fence. Bayly said that he broke them up and put them in the garden, but did not burn them. On December 1 witness again went to Bayly's house. Accused was not there, but his wife was in the house and invited witness in. She handed him a letter (produced). The letter was dated November 30, and read:

"My Darling Philly,—Yesterday, in Auckland, I received definite information that the police were going to try to put the blame of Mrs Laity's death and Lakey's disappearance on ma They have to vindicate themselves somehow after the blunders they have been making in the search for Lakey. They think I will be the easiest one to catch.

As you know, I was with you that night, but I do not intend to let them put their dirty tricks on me. I have picked out a nico spot to rest in; so love to you and the kids, clear. • The "farm will bring you

in a bit,—Bill." "0.11 the table in the sitting-room was a writing-pad. On £he top sheet 1 could distinctly see the impression of the writing in that letter," declared Detective Allsopp. Bayly was not at the house, which was searched. He did not return again. Later he was located in Auckland. On December 4 the police gave Mrs Bayly a sledge and took possession of Bayly's sledge runners, from which the boards had been removed previously. With Constable Watts witness examined the soil of Bayly's garden. The ground was lying in spadefulls, which had been turned over and were just beginning to crumble. The digging extended about two yards. Witness marked a photograph of Bayly's garden to show the position of the soil. Detective Sneddon and witness noticed the digging on October 17. Since then nothing had been planted. "There we turned the back soil and carefully noticed the back soil, and small pieces of wood charcoal," proceeded Detective Allsopp. "We got down on our knees and examined the soil carefully with our hands. We then found, lying on the subsoil, small pieces of what appeared to be burnt bone." Among the bone and charcoal were what appeared to be burnt cloth, a brace runner and a brace stud. These were brought to Auckland the same evening and given to the pathologist. Detective Allsopp identified the exhibit produced as the articles recovered from the soil. That evening witness and Detective Sneddon went to a house on the Great South road. Detective Sneddon had a warrant charging Bayly with the murder of Mrs ■ Lakey. The warrant was read to Bayly in the presence of his solicitor. Accused made no reply to the charge. Detective Allsopp said he returned to Ruawaro on December 6. The police sieved tlioj soil in the same locality in Bayly's 1 garden. From the sieve were recovered artificial teeth, which appeared to have been through a fire, many'small pieces of Burnt bone, and a large quau-. tity of charcoal, burnt cloth, rag, sacking, small pieces resembling a burnt pipe stem, a small piece of what appeared to be fat, and small nails. The exhibits were all. labelled with the locality and date and brought'to Auckland, where they were handed to the pathologist.

Fragments of Burnt BoneDetective Allsopp detailed further investigations on Bayly's property on December 7. He took possession of two pieces of concrete bearing burn marks, f.rom accused's cowyard. On the following day, with Detective Bayliss and Constables Watts and Mills, witness examined the soil outside Bayly's separator room. The soil yielded further small pieces of apparently burnt bone. Search of the grass nearby resulted in the recovery of further small fragments resembling burnt bone. On the same day, continued witness, Constables Mills and MeEachern commenced to empty the sheep-dip. After disinfectant had been poured in, the liquid was removed by means of tins on long poles. Witness saw the* cigarette lighter (produced) recovered from the filth which was poured on the ground to dry and later examined. The lighter itself was lying in the clip on the concrete bottom. Certain screws were missing. Witness also saw portion of an unfired shot-gun f cartridge recovered from the dip. Constables Bayliss, Mills and MeEachern gave him further exhibits to bring to Auckland, including fairly large pieces of burnt bone. All the finds were handed to Dr. Gilmour (the pathologist). On December 12 witness assisted to examine the silt from the sheep-dip. A small piece of lead was recovered, among other exhibits. Detective Allsopp gave particulars of further searches, during which another portion of concrete flooring bearing burn marks was, obtained. Other exhibits were recovered from the soil near the edge of the cowshed floor All these were forwarded to Auckland. In ithe swamp at Bayly's a search resulted in the discovery of ashes resembling those from the house fire. . By the luncheon adjournment Detective Allsopp had identified and handed to the jury, for inspection, a considerable number of exhibits.