ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 92, 12 January 1929, Page 11

ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY

INQUEST CONTINUED AT AUCKLAND SEARCHING EXAMINATION OF WITNESS INTERVIEW WITH DETECTIVES Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 11. A question put by the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. V. R. Meredith) to William Alfred Bayly, provided a dramatic moment at the inquiry into the death of Elsie Walker before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., the Coroner at the Magistrate's Court this morning. “Of course, Bayly,” said Mr. Meredith, “you know that your movements have been questioned in connection with the death of Elsie Walker?” Before the question could be answered, Mr. Hunt, deciding that the court-room had become too stuffy, adjourned the inquest till this afternoon when the question was repeated. Bayly said he knew his movements had been subject to question.

Before the sixth witness went in the box this morning, Mr. F. W. Armitage, Government Bacteriologist at Auckland, who gave evidence yesjerday, was recalled on the application of Mr. Northcroft. In his evidence yesterday, Mr. Armitage referred to certain stains on the girl’s clothing when sent to him for examination, Questioned to-day, Mr, Armitage said it was impassible to judge the age of the stains, they may have been antecedent or subsequent to her departure from Papamoa. Another cousin of Elsie Walker, Frank Trevor Bayly, said he remembered the night Elsie disappeared. We went to a social at Te Puke in a friend’s car. When he returned he noticed the gates were open, and found the ear gone. He thought someone may have gone ■ for a doctor. Witness said he did not think there was anything sensational about a missing car, a'iid thought it would bo quite all right to find out who was ill in the morning. He was tired and went to bed. Witness said he understood that Elsie Walker could not drive a car, and nobody in the family, as far as he knew, had taugjit or tried to teach her, Away a Fortnight. Mr. Meredith: How long had Bill been away‘(---“About a fortnight.” Were you and Bill good friends? — “We had our differences, like most brothers.” Did you have any communication with Bill, either by letter, wire or 'phone, while he was away?—“No.” Mr. Northcroft: Did the displeasure of the family concerning Bill have any relation to Elsie Walker?—“No, sir.” It was an entirely different matter? — 'Wes.”

William Alfred Rayly, married, aged 22, said that when he went hack home on September .3 his wife stayed-in Auckland. The family did not know that he was married. When he left he told the family that he was going to live in Auckland. When he left Papamoa on August 22 for Auckland he took his wife with him. They were married on August 29. He tokl his father ho was married at an Auckland boarding-house. Mr. Meredith: You were getting about 30s. a week from your father when you worked for him? —“When I wanted money I generally asked him; there was no real understanding.” Witness said he finally got a job at Henderson. That was in the last week of September. A Searching Questioning.

Mr. Meredith: You accepted the job at £2 a week with an unfurnished house? __‘<Y es .” Were you going to take your wife out Where were you on the Sunday before Elsie Walker’s body was found?—“At an Auckland boarding-housel stayed there until the Monday morning. Mr. Meredith then subjected witness to a searching questioning as to his movements on the Monday. At the beginning ot the afternoon, sitting William Bayly, who had been in the box for over an hour, was further examined by Mr. Meredith,*

“Of course, Bayly, you know that your movements are questioned in connection with the death of Elsie Walker, repeated Mr. Meredith. “I know my movements have been subject to question,” said Bayly. ’ The Crown Prosecutor then questioned witness as to his movements on the Monday night. He said he went to bed that night at.ten o’clock. t> ! Mr. Northcroft (counsel for the Bayly family) : On the first occasion you gave the police all possible details that you could recollect at that time?—Yes. And you made no notes ?-=-NbSo to-day you are speaking of events three months old?—Yes. . Did you know that there might be any possible suspicion or suggestion attached to you?—No. . -r, i Are you well-known in the Bay of Plenty?—-Fairly, I think, Is it likely that, you could make a visit to your home at Papamoa and not. Fe seen ?—lmpossible, I should think, Three Months, to Check Up.

And the police have had three months to check up on that?—Yes. About three weeks or a month after the first interview, you were again interviewed by Detective Kelly? —Yes. So he had had that time to look into your first stpry?—Yes. Did he question you again?—He asked one or two, questions which I had answered previously. x Did he again question you in detail?— No- _

Difl anyone else interview you ? —Detec

tive-Sergeant Bickerdike, on the farm at Huntly.

Previous to this you had heard of an attempt by the police to go through your belongings surreptitiously 'i — Yes.

Without a searcfi-wavrant? —Yes, as far as I know.

Did Detective Bickerdike interview you alone? —Yes’, What did he say?—That he was down to see about the poor dead girl. He said he was there in strict confidence, and whatever I said would not go beyond him, He first found he was not overheard by looking in the room, Then he asked if I was friendly with her. I told him there was no particular friendship, ami he said he was there to conduct an investigation. He told me that whatever I said would be regarded as in confidence. Witness continued, saying that the detective told him that whatever was said would go to the grave with him. He sajfi the girl was over 16 years, and he said that if witness would say he had been intimate with her, it would lift suspicion from everyone down that way. Bayly further said that the detective had said he could not possibly incriminate himself. Witness had replied to the detective that he was not going to remove suspicion from anyone by saying he had done anything he had not done. The detective had said that Elsie was rather a good-looking girl, and that she would appeal to some people. Bayly had . said he did not know anyone she had appealed to, and that he had no reason to believe she had been with any young man. “Working to Clear Girl’s Name.” Mr. Northcroft; AU this talk had relation to intimacy that someoiie was supposed to have had, and not to the girl’s disappearance ? —"Yes. He said he did not suspect me of having anything to do with the girl’s death, and that if he did, he would be man enough to tell me. He said he was working to clear the girl’s name, and to show she had not been out with every Tom, Dick, and Harry." “While I was in town for a few days,” said Bayly, “detectives wept out to Henderson. The man who was working there told me' they wanted to see my Stuff. He gave me to understand they said they were friends of mine,” Mr. Nprthcroft: Did they look through them?—“No?’ Mr, Noftheroft: You told Bickerdike about this?-—“J said it was after an attempt hail been made by them to see my stuff.” Did he endeavour to entice or cajole you into making an admission _ that you "ad been intimate with the girl ?—“Yes.” Further long evidence of the interview with Detective Bickerdie was given by witness. Then Mr. Northcroft asked Bayly questions vyhich arose out of the Crown Prosecutor’s examination. The matter of the money Bayly had when he came to Auckland was referred to, and Bayly said that besides his own £l4, he bad £26 which belonged to his wife. Mr. Hunt: Are you likely to finish tonight, Mr. Northcroft? “I’m doubtful, sir,” said Mr. North-, croft. Minnie Jordon, a neighbour of the Bayly’s, whose evidence was interposed, said that Elsie Walker’s character was The inquiry was adjourned until Monday.