TODAY'S EVIDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 127, 31 May 1934, Page 12

TODAY'S EVIDENCE

DETECTIVE IN WITNESS-BOX

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. .-.'■ The results .of his investigations on the Lakey and Bayly properties at \ Ruawaro .. from October 21 onward V were described by Detective T.^Sneddon when the hearing of the murder charges against William Alfred Bayly were advanced a further stags in the Supreme Court today. A smaller crowd than usual was in attendance, the fall in numbers being accounted for by '"the fact ' that much of Detective '. Sneddon's evidence traverses the same t ground as has already been • covered .by Detective T. W.. Allsopp. After referring to the position of the missing sack in Lakcy's implement >■ shed, Defective Sneddon went on to -describe the finding of the 122 calibre shell in Lakey's garden among the grass

near the gooseberry bushes. The shell, which was tarnished, contained a spider's web, and bore a round mark from the firing pin. It was branded ICI. "On the night of October 21, after we returned from Bayly's, we compared it with the shell which fell from Bayly's denim trousers," continued the detective. "Was it the same?" asked Mr. Meredith. ........ . ... " • "No, it had a different striker mark," replied witness. "I compared it in a test with a shell from the pea-rifle found in Bayly's swamp, and also with a shell fired in Bayly's pea-rifle. I look on it, as an old shell which had been lying in Lakey's garden for some time." THE ACCUSED'S MOVEMENTS. Detective Sneddon said that during an interview with the accused on October 21 he' asked Bayly if at 8 a.ni. on October 16 he rode a horse into a paddock, returning later with a sledge. Bayly said that he did not, and that if anyone said ho did they were —■ liars. Bayly mado a second statement, which was read. In it Bayly said that he did not use a sledge on Sunday, October 15. On Monday he went from the cowshed to his gate with the cream, left the cream at the" gate, and then returned. On the way back he went to the boundary fence to look at a telegraph pole which he thought was damaged. "I did not rido. the horse along into the paddock on Lakey's side of my house and yoke up the sledge that morning," declared the accused in the statement.: • Questioned by Chief-Detective Sweeney as to which pair of denims he was wearing on October 15, Bayly said he did not know, proceeded the witness. "While Detective Findlay was handling ono pair of the accused's trousers a pea-rifle shell fell from a pocket. Bayly: said: "It will be from my rifle; I was shooting at the side of tho swamp on Friday and Saturday." The accused said that he had bought a Spandau pea-rifle at Huntly on October 12, and produced the registration certificate. Bayly added that he had _. purchased 200 rounds •of ammunition, and had used one box, but could not find the remainder. "Witness inspected the rifle, and saw stains on the barrel for which Bayly said he ■■ was unable to account. Detective Eindlay said: "If the stains turn out to be blood,, could you account for them?" The ac'eused said he had shot a hare on the Saturday, and had held it by the hind legs and struck it with'the barrel of the rifle. THE DOG INCIDENT. During a further ; interview w^ith Bayly on, October 23, the accused told witness that he had not used his car between October 14 and October 20. On the-evening of October 25 Bayly called at Lakey 's house. When he was asked in by tho police, the accused said, "I will have to get some of you chaps to come over to my place. When I was coming up from the cowshed I saw a man with a dog at the corner of the carshed. I also saw a man run along the ridge through the gate into the paddock." Bayly added that he had pursued the man, but failed to catch him. Witness said that he and Detective Kndlay went to the accused's and saw a dog which the accused 7 said had accompanied the prowler and had been caught by his own dog. Witness rang Wright's house and found that. the latter was at home. Constable Boss was billeted" with Wright. After October 19 the accused was. asked if he thought the man was Sam Lakey. He replied that he thought not, as the man could run one hundred yards in fast time. Detective Allsopp, who arrived later, asked Bayly whether, if Lakey cailed, he would give him a meal. Bayly replied, "No damn fear!" : USE OF THE DRUM. Detective Sneddon then described incidents of a visit .to. Bayly's .place on October 26, when the deposit of ash was taken from. a shovel in the accused's cowshed, and related what occurred at the. swamp on the day the guns were, found. Witness, then described the police activities at Bayly's, on the day> the scrapings were taken of the. deposit in.tKe oil drum. The bottom of the drum appeared to contain burnt charcoal, and small staples from boots. The police took possession of both sections of th« drum on November. 29. Asked what the drum was used for, Bayly said that he used the bottom as a forge, to heat iron which was used in connection with the well bore. Bayly told the witness and Detective Walsh how. he had used the furnace to heat water for scalding pigs, declaring, that he had kilted only two since on the farm. The accused demonstrated how the portable copper could be used. When Detective Allsopp asked if the police could empty the sheepdip the accused replied: "If you empty it you will have to take, the responsibility if any cattle are poisoned.'' The dip was not--emptied'that' day. Witness previ-oußlyhad-probed the dip with a swamp rake- to "sea if a body was there. Bayly haul also informed Detective Allsop that he- diii not-burn'animal bones. Previously, when interviewed regarding tho dog, the accused had said there were four settlers he had no time for. "He said Wright, Stevens, and Sanson, and then stopped," said the witness. "Detective Allsopp said 'And Lakev?' and Bayly replied 'Yes.'" " Continuing, witness described the accused's arrest on the charge of murdering Mrs. Lakey., Witness accompanied Detective ■ Allsopp to a house in Great South Boad, Auckland, where Bayly was arrested in the presence of his solicitor. When the warrant was read Bayly niade no reply. _ The finding of the test shells in the rifle found in the swamp and in Bayly's rifle by G. G. Kelly was next described by Detective Sneddon, who said that the rifles were then taken to Dr. D. Brown, at Auckland University College' who fired both, retaining the shells. ' IN THE PIG WALLOW. Witness said that after the testing of the rifles at Auckland he returned to Buawaro, where he was present when Bayly's sheep dip was emptied. He described the procedure followed, and said that he took possession- of a tuft of hair that was recovered there. Examination of the pig wallow in the cow paddock yielded what appeared to be burnt charcoal, burnt bone, and the burnt heel of a boot. Witness then traced the handling of a number of exhibits that were given to the pathologist and the Government Analyst. Timber received by witness had been given to Dr. Browiu All the articles were labelled. On the resumption after lunch Detoe tive Snoddon traced tU handling of a number of other exhibits which he gave to various authorities in Auckland. Witness said that he took the pea-rifle from the swamp to Dr. Brown a second time, Dr. Brown firing further shots and retaining the shells. Tho rifle was cleaned and oiled on December 29. ■';■■■,-' .. . : ■..'■•