ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 96, 17 January 1929, Page 10

ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY

INQUIRY CONTINUED

EVIDENCE OF TE PUKE CONSTABLE

“BRIGHTEST SPOT IN THE BOX SO FAR’’ Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 16. Further evidence was heard to-day at the-inquest into the death of Elsie Walker, the 17-year-old girl from Papamoa, who was found dead iu some scrub near the old Tamaki Quarry, on the evening of October 5. Detective-Sergeant Kelly, continuing his evidence, said investigations were carried out on different routes by several members of the detective staff, and by the police of Papatoetoe, Otahuhu, and Panmure. A man was seen coming out of the paddock where the dead girl was found. The inquiry was pursued, but the author could not be found. The man had his coat off. The question of a black Spaniel dog was then inquired into. Mr. Hunt: I’m not hear for a police inquiry; we are here to delve into the mystery of the death; if we go into what clues you followed we would be here for a month. ' “I found that the girl had a reputation of a nice, quiet, clean girl.” said Detec-tive-Sergeant Kelly to Mr. Northcroft. "I interviewed William Alfred Bayly and got from him a detailed statement of his movements. It was given freely. I saw him on a second occasion two or three weeks later, nnd in the meantime I made certain inquiries. I did not find much to support his statement. I did not ask Bayly to come with me to a shop in Knrangahape Road, where his wife bought the hat, because be did not know where it was. He told me he went to the pictures in the afternoon and he told me the name of the picture, which was correct. He said he had had tea in town at Cooke's.” Well Known in the District. Mr. Northcroft: When you examined him again you asked him again about some of his movements on the Monday?— “Yes, and they were consistent with his former statements.” “Bill Bayly was well known in the Papamoa and Te Puke districts. I was unable to find any individual who had seen him or heard of seeing him in the district,” said the detective. “It was not reasonably possible for him to travel into the district without being seen by someone.” Witness said that while he was down in Te Puke and Papamoa he had verified the statements of the other -members of the family.

The Coroner: Can you explain why the clothes were not handed over to the bacteriologist earlier? —“I was at Papamoa ; no, I did not actually hand them over; I went away on the 17th.

Mr. Hunt: That’s all right, I’ll find out before the inquiry is finished. Reginald Charles McMasters, acting manager of a motor company, gave evidence.

There was an adjournment for ten minutes, while the Coroner, police, officials, and counsel examined an identical model of the car which belongs to Bayly’s. Mr. Northcroft: Is it possible for anybody to strike their head on the bar which crosses the hood? —“Under certain circumstances, yes.” The Fann at Henderson.

William Alfred Dobbs, manager of the dairy farm'' at Henderson, said he had been at the farm about a week before Mr. and Mrs. Bayly went out. He was not quite sure Mr. Nortlicroft: Another man who can't remember things. Witness said, .that it was possible for anyone to come to the house or farm without anyone working on the place seeing them. That-had happened before. While Bayly was staying at the farm he had not mentioned that he had been out of the house on the Monday. Witness remembered that on the Sunday visitors were with Bayly. That was shortly after lunch. He went out shortly after lunch. He understood (hat Mr. Bayly’s solicitor was also there. They were leaving just before he started milking, which was just before 5 o’clock. “Bayly said he had got into serious trouble with this gentleman, and he had to go to Tauranga. He wanted to know if I had any objections to him going away,” said witness. “Bayly left the farm about' 6 o’clock on the Sunday night. I think Mrs. Bayly went with him. He came back a few days later and stayed over a week. With the exception of an occasional night, when he came back and stayed there, he left the place.” Mr* Northcroft: “You actually saw- the people on the Sunday?—“Yes.” ' You have a pretty good memory — “Normally, yes; I have a fairly good recollection of what occurred.” Visit to Cowshed. You say they arrived shortly, after 1.15 and left about 5, which would be' a stay of about four hours' duration?—"Yes.” Do you remember what time Mrs. Edwards arrived?—“About 3.30.” How long was she there?—“Till the visitors left.” They may have left soon after three?— “I remember somebody going in the cowshed with Mr. Bill Bayly." You’re quite certain that somebody went into the cowshed with Mr. Bayly?—• “Yes; I can’t remember who was with him.” Your memory is not too clear on the subject?—-“No; I didn't take particular notice of the folks because I was not interested.” Mr. Northcroft: All right, I won’t bother any furl her. Dr. D. N. W. Murray, police surgeon, was recalled at the opening of the afternoon sitting. Mr. Meredith: Evidence has been given that Elsie Walker bumped her bead; could you give an opinion as to whether the bruise could have been caused on the Saturday morning?—“l don’t think it would have been caused two or three days before because the colour of the bruise indicated that. The bruise I saw was quite recent.” You know the wooden bows on the hood of a tonring car? Could the bruise be caused by a blow on the head from one of those? —-“There is a possibility.” A fairly severe blow can be made with the bumping of the car? —“Quite.” Is it possible Io receive a blow with the imnnct which would have brought about the bruise yon saw on Elsie Wali.;er? —l“Yes. it is possible.” Possession of Keys. Alfred John Jackson, the constable stationed at Te Puke, said that: on Saturday moaning, about 3.40, a telegram was received that the body of the girl had been found at Panmure. He went by car to see Mrs. Bayly without delay. He wont again at 11 o'clock but Mr. Bayly had gone. Mrs. Bayly gave a .statement ami on this occasion it was found that one of the members of the family, the son, William, was in Auckland. “I found out quite a lot from her in the absence of Mr. Bayly,” continued witness. He said he got possession of the keys of the ear. and one was missing. It was her key. and was taken from a little red box in her bedroom. The key she produced was Bill's. Asked how she came to he in possession of Bill's key, she said he went away to Auckland, and she went with him to the railway station. He left his key in the car when he got out. Witness next communicated with the Hamilton police, and advised them about the key. Bill's absence in Auckland, and also said ho suspected him. Witness said ‘■he father had left for Auckland. and would arrive at 11 o'clock I be I ii'ihl 'te suggested that they get Bill Bavlv at

once before the father arrived, otherwise they would never find out anything about the case. He said to the police at Hamilton : “He is a shrewd man is Mr. Bayly.” On the Wednesday, when witness saw Mr. , Bayly, he gathered there was something wrong. He was sitting in a chair between his wife and witness. “More Brains Than You Have.” While a statement was being obtained, Mr. Bayly,, stated the witness, said to his wife: “Don’t tell him too much mother; leave it to me, I’ve got more brains than you have.” Witness assured Mr. Bayly it was quite all -right, and that Mrs. Bayly was giving the desired statement. When the car was found Mrs. Bayly asked whether she could withdraw her information. 'Witness formed the impression then that something was wrong. He did not know even then the son was missing. A little boy said that Elsie could drive the car all right, but Mr. and Mrs. Bayly pooh-poohed the idea, “Leave it to me mother, I’ll fix it,” said Mr. Bayly, referring to the withdrawal of the information. He said he had some influential friends. “I have a complaint to lodge against Constable Jackson,” said Mr. Bayly to Detective Kelly, .when he nnd witness arrived together. Mr. Bayly, said witness, had stolen the key of the car and thrown suspicion on a member of the family. Witness said it was a cheek on Mr. Bayly’s part to make the suggestion, as he was trying to discover the lost car. “Look here, Mr. Bayly, don’t talk to me like you did to your wife: you talked to her like a pig,” said witness in reply. Mr. Bayly - then apologised for what he had said. Mr. Northcroft: I take it that you are the author of the Bill Bayly theory. Report to Headquarters. Mr. Hunt: I think this witness is the brightest spot in the box so far. Mr. Northcroft: That is as I expected. That has been your attitude all through. Witness said that when the car was found there seemed to be no desire on the part of. Mr. and Mrs. Bayly to ijjoeeed further.

"1 think we can look upon you as the originator of the Bill Bayly theory,” suggested Mr. Northcroft. This witness denied, but he admitted he was the first to get the information. Mr. Northcroft: This extravagant matter you have given was reported by you to your headquarters.—“l submitted reports.”

Mr.' Meredith said when the reports were asked for by Mr. Northcroft that they were confidential documents. Mr. Northcroft: The conversations between the witness and his superiors have been related without the police reports being produced. "To slander people from the witness box in this manner,” said counsel, “and to stop short of letting us see the official documents that contain these fautastie matters,' is a gross injustice.” Again Mr. Northcroft asked if the reports would be produced. The Coroner: I have no power to produce the documents. Mr. Northcroft: I ask the superintendent to produce the documents. Mr. Meredith interrupted and said the evidence was not his evidence. Questions had been put by the Coroner, who was conducting the Coronial inquiry. Counsel said he was not going to take the responsibility of interrupting the witness, as it would be improper and discourteous to do so. Leave the Public to Judge. Mr. Northcroft: If Mr. Meredith and the superintendent stand upon police protection against producing the documents I can proceed no further. I will leave the public to judge. Mr. Hunt: You can call your clients and get their version if you like, and then the public can judge. This' poor girl is found dead, nnd I want to satisfy her father that this country is going to do all it can to find out how the body got where it was found. Mr. Northcroft: Au attempt had been made in the course of the inquirj’ to see whether by any chance a charge of murder could be made against any individual. Now the inquirj- has got about as fur from the death of Elsie Walker ns it is possible to get. but the Coroner has committed the gravest injustice to my clients. . "What'this witness has been permitted and invited to say.” said counsel, “has been a vehicle of the gravest slander. Mr. Meredith: This witness has been called by the police, as inquiries have been made from the railway, post office nnd other officials in the district, which indicates after a most careful combing that there is no evidence of young Bayly being in the district at the time. In the face of that, the insult to the police is most improner and ungracious. nnd should be withdrawn. Mr. Northcroft: William Bayly’s movements on Wednesday were pucstioned with the greatest particularity. and whether or not the headquarters of the noliee knew that Bayly had formed the oifontien on the Sundoy night to go to He>id°rson on th" Monday, that fact was not known until it was got from the constable, even by i'll'. Bayly. The inquest was adjourned.