INQUEST RESUMED

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 9, 11 January 1929, Page 8

INQUEST RESUMED

GREAT PUBLIC INTEREST (By Telegraph.—-Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The inquest on the death of Elsie Walker, whose body was found in some scrub at Tamaki, was. resumed at 10 o'cloclcbef ore a crowded court. 11.I 1. W. Armitage, bacteriologist, who was recalled, said that it .was impossible from a microscopic examination to tell the age of the stains found on the girl's underclothing.

Trevor Bayly, aged 19, said tliat on the evening of the girl's disappearance ho went to a social in Te Puke in a friend's car. Asked if anybody else was in the car, he said that he did not remember. On his return home to Papamoa at 1.30 a.m. on 2nd October, he noticed that the family's car had gone, and he asked his brother Godfrey if anyone had gone for the doctor or gone out. Godfrey replied in the negative. Witness did nothing more. William,. Alfred Bayly, aged. 22, marvied-, said that when he went back to the family home at Papamoa on 3rd September his wife stayed itf> Auckland. The family did not know he was married. When he brought his wife to Auckland ou 22nd August to be married on'the 29th, he "lisiil. about £14; He paid the marriage expenses. He had no further money from his'father than £10, included in the £14 above. When he came back to Auckland frouvPapamoa on 13th September he stayed two or three nights in Epsom, thciv wentto Papakura and Jived there, mear Karaka, and also at Kohi. He had gone.,from Kohi to Karaka on borseback,;but not by car. He came baek'to the city from Papakura and stayed at a boarding-house until 3rd October.

"You came in to see your .wife also?"—"Ycs ; and did a little.: sliopping." He did not' go to the' races.' Eventually he got a job' at Henderson at £2 a week with an unfurnished house. On the Sunday before .Elsie's body was found he was at an Auckland boarding-house, spending the day and evening with friends, and returned to sleep at the boarding-house. On Monday, Ist October, he went to see the place at Henderson, wi'thoujb his wife. He was there less than half an hour aivd saw nobody- except some children, who directed him. He did not look over the property. He could not "produce anybody who saw him about there cxdept the children.

Witness, seeing nobody on the Henderson property,' went back to Auckland and had lunch, but could not remember where, though it was by himself,- and he .did not see anybody he knew, lie mot his wife at 3 o 'clock. In answer to the Crown Prosecutor, witness said he did not see anybody he knew between lunch and 3 o'clock, whereon Mr. Northcroft remarked, "He's a complete stranger to Auckland." Mr. Meredith "Why did you have lunch in town instead of at the boarding-house? You were not too flush, you know." Witness: "I often, had lunch in town, and knew I could get more money if I wanted it." Later he went with his wife to buy a hat for her. The colour was pink, and the price 19s lid, but he did not know-whether or not he got an invoice for it. They then went down looking at the shops, and had a light tea, but he could not remember where. . . . Mr. Meredith: "You have b'eeii asked •previously where you spent Ist October?"—" Yes, but not till a week afterwards." Mr. Meredith: "Couldn't you remember better then?"—"No, I don't think so." After tea./he'.and his wife went to see. friends at Epsom. He detailed his movements, and was -emphatic that this was .the night- of Monday, Ist October. They went to bed at the j boardinghouse at 9.30, and he got up for breakfast at the usual .'time next morning. Ho did not change rooiM at the boarding-house, but might havo | changed tables at breakfast. Besides

a man named Cashell, he did not know tho names of anybody at breakfast that- morning. Mr. Meredith: "Of course, Bayly, you know your movements have been questioned in connection with the death of Elsie Walker?" , • Before any answer was given . the Coroner remarked, "I think we will adjourn. The room is very stuffy." The Court then rose until 2.15 p.m.