WALKER INQUEST

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 January 1929, Page 7

WALKER INQUEST

WITNESS AND DETECTIVE CONFIDENTIAL INTERVIEW (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 11. At the beginning of the afternoon sitting of the enquiry into the death of Elsie Walker, William Alfred Bayly was further examined by Mr Meredith (Crown Prosecutor). Bayly, who had gone into the witness box an hour before luncheon, was in the box throughout the afternoon. He was subjected to searching questioning by Mr Meredith, regarding his movements on the Monday on which deceased disappeared, and the following day. Every detail of Bayly’s day, from the time he rose in the morning until he went to bed on Monday night was sought by Mr Meredith, and this examination lasted a considerable time.

The effect of Bayly’s statement was that he spent the day in Auckland, partly with his wife, and spent the evening with friends at Epsom, after which he returned to a city boardinghouse and went to bed.

Bayly said until his father told him he did not know that Elsie Walker was missing. The Coroner: Had you not seen a paper—No, I had not. I did not know until my father told me.

Did your father say anything about a key.—My father said the police had my key of the car, but I told him I knew nothing about it. I wanted to know what the police mefant when they said they had any key. And Elsie Walker’s fate was not discussed. —No, we talked about land and cattle.

Witness said he had never been out with deceased alone.

Answering Mr Northcroft, who represents the Bayly family, witness said he was interviewed by Detective Kelly and later by Detective Bickerdike.

Mr Nprthcroft asked: Previous to this you had heard of an attempt by the police to go through your belongings surreptitiously?—Yes. Without a search warrant? —Yes, as far as I know.

Did Detective Bickerdike interview you alone? —Yes. What did he say?—That he was down to see about the poor dead girl. He said he was there in strict confidence, and whatever I said would not go beyond him. He first found he was not overheard by looking in a room, and then he asked if I was friendly with her. I told him there was no particular friendship, and he said he was there to conduct invest! gations. He told me that whatever I said would be regarded as in confidence.

Witness continued, saying that the detective told him that whatever was said would go to the grave wi£h him. He said the girl was over sixteen years and he said that if witness would say he had been intimate with her, it would lift suspicion from everyone down that way.

Bayly further said that the detective had said he (Bayly) could not possibly inci'iminate himself. Witness had replied to the detective that he was not going to remove suspicion from anyone by saying he had done anything he had not done. The detective had said Elsie was rather a good looking girl and that she would appeal to some people. Bayly had said he did not know anyone she had appealed to, and that he had no reason to believe she had been with any young man.

The inquest was adjourned until Monday. Many witnesses are still to be heard.