TAMAKI TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 11, 14 January 1929, Page 10

TAMAKI TRAGEDY.

; MYSTERY .DEEPENED. COULD WApER DRIVE? hr *r .i "V*" !■ AUNT THINKS SHE MIGHT. ; CLOTHTXO FOUND OX GIRL. "NOT HERS," SAYS MRS. BAYLY. Could Elsie Walker, drive a ear? the question cropped up ■when the inquest into the death of the 17-year-old girl from Papamoa, TTho was found dead on October 5 in some scrub near Ta.niaki, was continued this morning^;'. .Mrs. Bayly, aunt of'TfTe'(TenT'girl,'was iij the witness box most of the morning akid in her evidence she said that her four year-old son, Tom, had stated that Klsie hait driven the car. Mrs. Baylv also stated that the underclothing of the dead girl produced in Court was not the sumo ;is that shown her by Detective during- arc •iiitrervknv u .' -She suggested that Elsie, Walker had procured other underwear after' leaving the farm at Pnpamoa.'J».)*> /. ■', . ',

I Mr. 1 ,, . K. Hunt, S.M., is the coroner, Mr. V. R. Meredith, the Crown Prosecutor, is conducting , the case on behalf <*f the police, Mr. E. H. Northcroft 13 ntppeariiifr for the Bayly family, and Mr. Douglas Mowbray for the dead girl's father.

; William Alfred'Bayly; Elsie-Walker's c'ousin, after 5i hours' searching examinflrtion, concluded his evidence at 10.30 triis morning. ', Mr. Xorthcroft continued his crossejxamination of William Alfred Bayly \fhen the inquest reopened at 9.50. ; Had Not Threatened Brother. ' Witness said there was no truth in tjio suggestion of the detective that he had threatened Trevor with- a "hiding' , it he said anything -aKout his visit home alt the time,..** Elsie Waljker's disappeared,. J "\ ' • Mr. Northcroft:-Had you ever been on alny intimate 6r particularly friendly terms wltft $lstfe Walker?—No, sir. ' Did you) JttroSv before she left home that she ;c(>ntempl*te3 doing it ? —No, sir. I have never heard -from her verbally or in writing-when I have been away from home. i Did yo» see-her after she left home pn Oetoberj 1 ? —No. Had yofi ) aliyy knowledge concerning Her leaving, home?-r-&b, sir. j Bayly'"was in the witness box altogether almost 5J hours. , ■, -. Aunt Gives Evidence. Frank

'V jh*. T"-* — * of Elsie Walker, tliat shew.as in the house on the ingnt of tfie disappearance of the dead Sirl. Elsie Walker was her niece and er position in the house was that of a Companion |md as , niece. She Tpas gives> s,n ;jftllowance of 12/6 a week. i In May of last year Elsie Walker paid • visit to her father at Haukokora. She Sad also been on a visit to Mr. Jordon jjjn August. On that occaeion witness went to Auckland. Elsie ifeturned from Tauranga by an earlier train on the same day as witness. ; Mr. Meredith: Did she leave Papamoa •n the same day as you left for Auckland?— Yes; we left by the eame train. Was shg away between August and Ijhe nigfitshe disappeared?— Not to stay. i On October 1 Miss Audrey Bayly Arrived, by the service car from- Eotofua? —Yes, about 4.30. ■i What tiine did you have dinner?— About si* o'clock. • ;' Elsio w»a,helping to get the dinner?— ob,yes. J Would she dish the dinner?— Not |lway«. She probably helped. . Elsio w-as present at the meal?— Yes. , How was she dressed?— She was wearsig the little dress that was found on her. .' Was ahe wearing -an apron?—Oh, no. " H She put that,on,for washing up?— Yes. 1! AfterJ,he meal Elsie and the little bpy gashed up?— Yes. i Where did you spend the night?—ln fhe billiard.room, 1 Who was in the billiard room?— Mr. Bayly, Audrey and Godfrey. Trevor talked for a time and went out. « What time did he go out?—l could Hot be certain. Quite early. ■ Did Elsie go in the billiard room that light « , ■■. ' . 2 Whajf, ti|nes JIM, you, jgp , %6 > - " ■ * ■ -► » What time did the others go?— Mr. JJayly and I retired about the eame time. \ Did you make any inquiry as to Inhere Elsie was during the evening?— |To. ■» Horn <iwl»''t"go-40. see whether ahe wae ie-Uul? —No. ,jJP"t Hhe spend' her evenings with the jMniily ?—Yes. jjSWould it be unusual.for her to make Cft (ippcarance -alljthe evening?— Yes. , *'jN<!.\t*\m i or,nsng*you were told by one <£|rthe.-bey*«"the car whs stolen?— Yes. i'frjfWhiofr s»oy t —My first recollection is |TO!!ffjr y&J.it the door. He said, "SomeJsfe ha? , pinched the car." 'A '•' ! Elsie was Missing. eaid she thought at first it Sight not bo an actual fact. She next Id the boys to call Elsie. They lUturned* anil, eaid she wae not there. Jtyie police were ..immediately advised of $o theft of the car and Elsie's diseiyppurauce. M»\Vhen Bill left for Auckland, did you Sjvo to the station? —I went with Bill, t ho drove. Yes, I brought the key lich Bill used back with me. mWhat distinguished the keys of the «|i"?-fT hud a pearl button tied on the «foe I used.' ' iD'hl you change the button?— Yes, on eii' omwion I think I did.

iiiAfter'Bill wenjt away who drove the mostly?—l did. Godfrey was the Wly otker one who drove. JtJWhafr «was done with the two car I.gpi home I put Bill's »y in. the cheat of ijlawers. • ...

Where did you keep your key?—ln a Miall red box on the chest of drawers. gr?—y>s™ in - e habit of lock ''n£ the The memhora of the house would know where you kept the key?— Ye s. The Little Red Box. j.: Th 4«jW nin « after JSlsie'a 4»»appear*»\V^' y * |ihms da y- the day that Elsie »t? —Yes. jJjWho did the wishing?—l did £lDid you see Elsie in the afternoon?— ■•Jfc», we crashed up together. I lay down ww- a rest, and Eleie and Charles were kit to amuse themselves. ::»S-;. ■•..■ ' •-

You found that certain money was missing next morning?— Yes, £3 15/ from Mr. Bayly's pocket and about £8 from Audrey's purse, I think. Also the watch.

Was there any food missing?—l looked, but I could*not notice any. Was Elsie on a diet?— Not that I know of. I'm sure she wasn't. Were any clothes taken from her room?— There was no indication.

She had a nine lot?— Yes, very nice. And none were taken. She had a wristlet watch? —Yes, but it was not going. Yes, ehe had two or three purses. Wore any taken? —I could not say. There was a small amount of silver in one of the purses. "Sometimes Breathless." None of Elsie's things were gone?— No, sir. Could any food be taken ■without you missing , it?—Oh, yes. I would have no knowledge if cake and biscuits or bread was taken. What was Elsie's general health?— Quite good. Sometimes she would get a little breathless. Wd|». there anything unusual about her prior to leaving?—No, she was quite all right. I noticed her habits were not quite the same. Nothing had happened to upset' her, I don't think. Before midday I noticed she had not made her bed. What time did she usually make it?— Just after breakfast. Did you speak to her?— Yes. I told her to go and make it, and she trotted a way to do it. Did you see the bed next morning?— It was not made. The clean sheet I had put on the bed that day had not been opened out. Was there anything else besides that which attracted your attention?—No, except that I saw Elsie standing at the china cupboard on a chair. I asked her what she was doing, and she said she thought she would tidy the cupboard. But I don't think anything was done to it.

You were annoyed, because you wanted the washing brought in?— Yes. I said, "You're a funny little girl, Elsie, go and bring the washing in." This was not the day for cleaning the cupboards. "Elsie 'Thought she Could Drive." , Did Elsie ever go with you in the car? —Practically every time I went out in it she was wtih me. Did you think she could drive the car? —I had no conjecture. She was very interested. I asked her once if she could drive the car, and she replied that she thought she could. Did you ever teach her to drive?— No. While I was driving and changing gears, I would repeat my actions aloud. I had only once driven a geared car before. I used to drive with a diagram by me. A diagram like the letter H showing the gears. Did you ever have a puncture or any trouble when Elsie was with you?— Once. Who changed the wheel?—Wβ all had a try, but eventually Elsie went to get Godfrey. Could you have done it?— Yes. But it was too dirty and dusty, and I was going out.

Little Boy's Story. Did you ever hear from any member of your family that Elsie could drive a car ? —Only from my little son aged four. When Constable Jackson asked me if Elsie could drive, and I replied: "No, not to my knowledge," the little boy, who was sitting on my knee, said: "Her can drive a car. When you were down at the station." I asked him where she had driven it, and the boy said: "Her backed it out of the shed to the water tap." The tap would be further away from the shed than the length of this court. What did she drive it there for?—My impression was that she had driven it out, washed it and put it back. When was the last benzine put in that car?—On the previous Thursday. I had been into Te Puke. How much was in the car then?— She was about half full. Did you put benzine in the car at Te Puke?— Yes, three gallons, as usual. Did you pay cash?—l don't remember. Probably cash. Did you drive straight home after getting the benzine? —Yes, that was my last call. Did you take the car out after Thursday?— Yee, on Sunday to church in Te Puke. Elsie Walker's Allowance. Did you have the car out on Monday? —No.

Did any of the others have the car between Thursday night and Monday?— No. Unless they did it surreptitiously. They don't have the car without my permission. ,EJsie didn't draw her allowance reguilarljvtfcd ejle?—Nq. She had an amount due to her?— Yes, about £10. She had not much use for it?— No. She had made no request for money prior to October 1? —No, no request. Was she happy at your place I—l1 —I think she was happy, but I don't think she was contented, if you understand. She had everything to make her happy, but she always seemed to be waiting for great things to eventuate. Had she ever been to Auckland ?—No, not that I know of. She had not been further than Tauranga on one side and Kotorua on the other ? —No. Had Elsie expressed any desire to go to Auckland ?—Yes, when she first visited me at Easter. She had a sister there?— Not at that time. You would not let her go? —No, she could not go alone. Did she want to go with you when you left Tauranga?—Yes, I think so. Next morning the garbage tin was found in the garage?— Yes. Where was it usually kept? —In the washhouse. When would that be done?—ln the morning, but any time during the day if it was necessary. The boys would always empty it for me in the morning. Elsie did not usually empty it. What was the condition of the tin when you saw it?—lt was quite clean except for a bit of paper. "Like a Mother."

You were looking after Elsie practically in the capacity of a mother?— Yes. You would keep a certain check on her movements ? —Absolutely. You would know who her male friends were ?—Yes. Did you know any man she was spooning with?— She was a child, Mr. Meredith, and wasn't old enough. She wouldn't have any male friends except the ones in your own house ? — Only those and people who visited us. You know of nobody she was carrying on with?— No. 1 Som'e of T Bee her corre *P° ndence ? — 1 de^ e ;^£t.? en about tbat ■«"•¥"■-

Did she receive any correspondence from others than her own family? —1 don't think so. yhe wrote to a young fellow in Te Puke, but there was nothing secretive about it. That was the only one? —Yee. Had she ever received any injuries to her head just before she left? —On the Saturday before she went she said she had bumped her head on the billiard room window. I looked at her head, and there was no cut and no mark. She went about her work as usual. How high from the ground would this window be? —I could not say. I bumped myself on one occasion. Where was the bump on Elsie's head? —I should say on the top of head. She did not indicate with her finger. She continued on through Saturday and Sunday without being distressed. Mr. Northcroft then started his crossexamination.

Mrs. Bayly said that where Elsie slept was a sleeping porch, through which she passed from her own bedroom. Guests had often slept in the porch. Elsie's principal available companions in her own district were the Maoris. Witness had been asked by Elsie's father to take the girl and give her a better environment. "Elsie was essentially a member of the family," said Mrs. Bayly. "Whenever I went out Elsie came with me, and it was in that way that she would have many opportunities of observing the mechanism of the car." Mr. Hunt: How old was Elsie?— Seventeen, as far as I know. She left a letter saying she was 17. The letter was xinaddressed, but was to her sister. Did the letter indicate any grievance? —Xo. It was quite a happy one. Youthful Visions.

Further questioned, witness said that Elsie Walker was far younger than her yeare. She was almost as young as the little boy, Tom. Although she was 17 she was far too young for love affairs. Mr. Northcroft: You referred to her youthful visions and romantic ideas. Was there anything to interest Elsie particularly?— Audrey Bayly was very entertaining at dinner on a Monday night with a story of how she had seen Kingston! Smith in Auckland. Elsie just gazed at her. She was entranced. She was able to control her feelings? —Yes. All the time she was with me I did not see her shed a tear. When you bumped your head on the window, did it cut the skin?— No. Can you eay whether any of her purses or bags were missing?— No. You said you did not know of any love affair outside the house. Did you know of any inside the house—any of the boye?—No. It's ridiculous. "Underclothing not Elsie's." You had an interview from Detective Bickerdike when he came to discuss Elsie's clothing ?—Yes. He brought a garment, but it was not the one produced in Court. The garments I saw had no blood on them. I don't recognise either of the garments, and I don't remember ever having seen them. Now I want to know about the garment brought to your house by Bickerdike.—lt was neither of those (produced).

Mr. Meredith: You don't recognise either of these garments? Do you suggest that they are not of the material or make that Elsie wore, or do you suggest that they were not Elsie's?— Yes. Do you know they were taken off the body?—l don't think they were hers. They might have been. Everything she had at your house was taken away by the police?— Yes. Mr. Hunt: You handled every garment that the police have got?— Yes. Then you say that the garments with certain stains shown you by Detective Bickerdike were not Elsie's—Yes. Mr. Meredith: Then you suggest that she procured another garment after whe left from somewhere? —Yes. Mr. Hunt: There is no one you can suggest who would be likely to enable more light to be thrown on the mystery? —-No, no one. "Well, if there is," said the coroner, "you let me know, for it is very unfortunate for you and your family. I'll call any inquiry to be made. Mrs. Bayly: Thank you, Mr. Hunt. The Court was adjourned until 2.15. Court Room Packed. The crowd which fairly filled the Court in the morning had swelled considerably in the afternoon and the room was packed. Mr. Xorthcroft said at the start of the sitting that Mrs. Bayly wanted more time ho that she could make a more careful examination of the clothing Mr. Hunt gave permission and toM Mrs. Bayly to make a careful examination.

Audrey Bayly, of Upton Road, Remuera, said she arrived at the home or the Bayly's, her aunt and uncle, at Papamoa on the afternoon of October 1. She arrived by service car from Rotorua where she had been staying for about eight days. She had seen no member of the Bayly family that day until she arrived at Papamoa. She did not know Elsie Walker before she met her at the Bayly'*. Mr. Meredith: Did you have a handbag with you? —Yes. I put it on the sewing machine in the room I occupied. How much was in it—£7 0/1 J. Did you have any conversation with Elsie Walker?— Only when I was introduced to her once during dinner. I saw her just before 8 o'clock, when T went out to the kitchen to get a drink of water.

Did you speak to her when she came \ n i —Yea, I told her I wanted a drink of water, and she handed me a glass. She eaid she had been emptying the buckets, but had no bucket with her then. Did Elsie say anything else? —Yes, she asked me if I had met Ann, and I told her that I had seen her in Auckland. After Elsie had dried the glass I went back to the billiard room.

Witness said ehe did not see Elsei apain after that. Witness had gone to bed about 9.30, and the others had gone about the same time.