WORK OF DETECTIVE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 51, 5 March 1929, Page 11

WORK OF DETECTIVE

EXHAUSTING POSSIBILITIES

(Special to "The Evening Post")

AUCKLAND, This Day. The inquiry into tho police methods in investigating the death of Elsie Walker was continued yesterday afternoen. Detective-Sergeant Kelly, who handled tho inquiries in the first place, continued his evidence. He said he made a close- examination in the To Puke district, particularly^ with ■ view to finding whether anyone had accompanied tho .girl when she left home. The girl hacl littlo opportunity of meeting men. In answer .4o questions, DetectiveSergeant Kelly said he did not think the removal of the body to the morgue made any difference to tho inquiries made subsequently. He thought Constable Maloney had made a sufficient examination of the car when it was discovered, as then; 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 -hauded to witness he made a thorough examination of tho car for finger prints. Mr. Curric: "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 vicinity for indications that persons had bceu sitting down?"—"I looked for everything, Mr. Currie, within a radius of five chains," "Did you oxaminc 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 if in front of the car."

"Did you examine it with a magnifying glass!''—"No. A bone button is not suitable for finger prints."

MANY INTERVIEWS. Continuing, Detective-Sergeant Kelly said that in interviewing persons, it was always done when possible at the Detective Office. Tor a detective to interview a person at his place of employment might create suspicion not warranted, and might be damaging to tho person interviewed. Continuing his evidence, DetectiveSergeant Kelly said during the time he was away in the Bay of Plenty he did not report to Auckland, although ho was away from 17th to 2Cth October.

Mr. Currie: "Do you not think it would have been well for you to havo 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 ho had interviewed the nurses together ill tho presence of the matron. Mr. Curric: "But if one of the staff had been out after hours with a boy and had seen something, sho would be moro 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 somo'way connected with tho affair. He' took statements when ho returned to Auckland, and these statemeutg were in the interest of this person, against- •whom there was nothing. ''. - •' -■"-■"- " Mr, ]?inlay:' "Do iyou know tho hospital rules concerning nurses?"— "Yes, they are stringent."

"Do you think all the nurses at the Knox Home were in on the night you were inquiring about?" —"I havo no reason to think otherwise. They told what they knew very frankly."

The Commissioner: "About how many people havo you personally interviewed in connection with this case since Octobor?"

Witness: "Bet-ween 800 and 1000." "How do you -irrive at that estimate?"

Witness detailed inquiries and suggestions , which cama from various sources. Ho 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,