METHODS OF POLICE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 136, 5 March 1929, Page 13

METHODS OF POLICE

WORK IN WALKER CASE STATEMENTS IN THE PRESS Dominion Special Service. Auckland, March 4. The inquiry into the police methods in investigating the death of Elsie Walker was continued to-day. Detective-Sergeant Kelly, who handled the inquiries in the first place, continued his evidence. He said he made a close examination in the Te Puke district, particularly with a view to finding whether anyone had accompanied the girl when she left home. The girl had little opportunity of meeting men. To Mr. Wood: I had little to do with the case after I came back from Papamoa. I was satisfied that all possible was being done. Witness said that on one occasion he had seen Dr. Gilmour at the hospital at the instruction, of the superintendent. That was to inquire whether any statement had been given by him to the newspapers. There was certain information creeping into the papers that the police could not understand. Dr. Gilmour had stated that he had not given any information in connection with the bacteriologist’s report to a reporter from a weekly newspaper. To Mr. Johnstone: The inquiries made by Constable Jackson had been of considerable assistance to the witness. Constable Jackson’s work had been thorough and satisfactory. Witness was directly under the chief detective, and constantly informed of what was being done. When tjie chief detective was at the Court witness reported to the inspector. Mr. Cooney (representing Constable Jackson) : You have known Constable Jackson many years?—“Yes; and have always found him to be a capable and reliable’ officer.” Message From Auckland.

Counsel then quoted a telephone message sent from Auckland to Constable Jackson at Te Puke on the morning of October 6, stating that the. body of the gid had been discovered in some scrub, and that she had been dead three or four days. A description of her clothing was given, and the message concluded: “She is believed to have been murdered.”

Witness said that it was only natural that Constable Jackson should be under the impression that the girl had been murdered, but this impression would be removed on October 8 after the post-mor-tem examination of the body. In answer to questions, Detective-Ser-geant Kelly said he did not think the removal of the body to the morgue made any difference to the inquiries made subsequently. He thought Constable Maloney had made a sufficient examination of the car when it was discovered, as’there was nothing to cause him to think at the time that it was other than the case of a car being abandoned. Cars were found, and the examination was mostly confined to seeing what the car contained. Immediately the inquiry was handed to witness he made a thorough examination of the car for finger prints. Mr. Currie: When did you get your instructions to go and make an examination of the ground where the body was found? When leaving the morgue, did you examine the yicinity for indications that persons had been sitting down?—I looked for everything, .Mr. Currie, within a radius of five chains. Did you examine the car for traces of who had been occupying it?—Yes.

And the contents? —Yes. Including a pearl button?—lt was not a pearl button. It was a bone button, and I found it in front of the car. Did you examine it with a magnifying glass?—No. A bone button is not suitable for finger prints. Continuing, Detective-Sergeant Kelly said that in interviewing persons, it was alwavs done when possible at the Detective Office. For a detective to interview a person at his place • of employment might create suspicion not warranted, and might be damaging to the person interviewed. Continuing his evidence, Detective-Ser-geant Kelly said during the time he was away in the Bay of Plenty he did not report to Auckland, although he was away from October 17 to 26. Mr. Currie: Do you not think it would have been well for you to have reported? Witness: There was nothing to report. Mr. Currie: Then you had drawn a blank? , , .. With regard to the manner of his interview with members of the staff of the Knox Home, near where the body was found, witness said he had interviewed the nurses together in the presence of the matron. Mr. Currie: But if one of the staff had been out after hours with a boy and had seen something she would be more likely to say so, I should think, if the matron. and the rest of the staff were not there. . . ~ , . , To Mr. Finlay witness said he. had found in the Bay of Plenty district a deep-seated rumour that a certain person was in some way connected with the affair. He took statements when he returned to Auckland, and these statements were in the interest of this person, against whom there was nothing. Mr. Finlay: Do you know the hospital rules concerning nurses? — Yes, they are stringent.” ’ Do vou think all the nurses at the Knox Home were in on the night you were inquiring about?—“l have no reason to think otherwise. They told what they knew very frankly.” The Commissioner: About how many people have you Personally interviewed in connection xtith this case since October Witness: Between SOO and 1000. How do vou arrive at that estimate. Witness detailed inquiries and suggestions which came from various sources. He was still making inquiries. . I should think I would be safe in saying 800.” he said. Statements of the amount of work he had accomplished in connection with the case were then given by Constable Jackson. of Te Puke. The Commission adjourned.