BAYLY TRIAL RESUMED

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1934, Page 5

BAYLY TRIAL RESUMED

CHIEF DETECTIVE & COUNSEL KEEN CROSS-EXAMINATION [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, June 5. The third week of the hearing of the double murder charges against. William Alfred Bayly commenced at the Supreme Court, this morning. Again there was a full public attendance, a number of both men and women being unable to gain admission. Chief Detective J. Sweeney was still in the box, and was crossexamined by Mr Leary on the resumption. He will be followed by several other detectives, and a considerable number of constables before medical and other expert witnesses are heard.

In reply to Mr Leary, Sweeney said a large area, had been searched in October for Lakey, including the Waikato River to the heads, the limestone caves at. Naike, and the mining country south of Ruawaro. “I think this would coincide with the discovery of a shovel,” observed counsel. Witness agreed, stating that at the time increasing attention had been paid to the river on which the police worked for three weeks to a month. A flight had been made over the district at the same time by SquadronLeader J. D. Hewett, while a number of small lakes near Waikato were examined.

' Sweeney said a. report had been received that a settler at Onewhero 20 miles north of Ruawaro, on the same side of the Waikato, had heard a cai* proceeding slow’y along the road about five hours before Mrs. Lakey was discovered. The settler thought the driver was a stranger to the district as residents drove faster. The car was travelling south. As the result of the report, the Waikato was dragged at Tuakau. Dragging was done at all bridges from Taupiri to the mouth. On November 7, a further party of 30 detectives, sergeants and constables arrived at Ruawaro. Inspectors Cummings and Ward also arrived the same day. Parties were sent in different directions covering the whole district again. Many rumours were rife in the district at that time. About November 17, the removal of a slack heap at Rotowaro was completed. Inspectors Hollis and Rawle arrived at Ruawaro on November 16 replacing Cummings and Ward. Visits were also paid by the Commissioner and Superintendent Till. “In the course of inquiries, were search warrants executed at properties other than Bayly’s?” asked Counsel. *

Witness: No. “How many warrants were issued?” asked His Honor. Sweeney said three, but one was not used. The others were executed on October 21 and November 2.9. No other settler’s knife had been examined. No other cowsheds or gardens had been inspected. Mr. Leary then questioned witness in regard to the man Thomas, who was reported to have heard the car at 8 p.m. on October 15. The car was said to have no lights. “I don’t recollect that car,” replied Sweeney, who said he knew of a car which left Furniss’ house at 10 p.m. that night. The police had received a number of reports about cars. All had been investigated.

CARTRIDGE SHELLS The Chief Detective said that the cartridge which fell from Bayly’s trousers was regarded as of great importance. Witness could not say if the shell actually fell from the pocket or the folds of the trousers, which were near a cradle. Witness admitted that Bayly’s eldest boy, 5J might want to play with the cartridges Bayly had bought for the pearifle on October 12, so if the child wanted a shell before, then the accused would have to get one somewhere else. There was another shell found neai- accused’s backdoor.

“It is quite possible that both cartridges may have been dropped by children and not by Bayly?” asked Counsel. “ft is just possible?” replied Sweeney. Did you make any inquiries after Bayly said his cartridges were missing? —We made a thorough search of his property. But no special inquiries to see if they were stolen? —No. As requested by Counsel, witness detailed the discoveries made by the police at Bayly’s when warrants were executed, then up to the time of Bayly’s arrest. “The amount of bonedust found was mocroscopic?” asked Counsel. “It was very small,” replied Sweeney. And there were animal bones about which might feasibly be the origin?— Yes.

Counsel then detailed other factors, including wheels, knife and bloodstained fence known to the police before Bayly’s arrest. “So that all the bone subsequently alleged to be human bone was found on the day that Bayly was arrested or later,” continued Counsel. Witness: Yes. The evidence as far as Mrs. Lakey was concerned was not very strong? —No. Yet Bayly was arrested on a charge regarding Mrs. Lakey?—Yes. Mr. Leary then questioned Sweeney regarding the cut portions of the watch. “I was not with the party when the watch was found,” replied Sweeney, who said that four watches of the same type had been sold in the district. The watches were similar to the type sold freely in the country. No effort had been made to see what similar watches had been sold in Auckland, Hamilton, Huntly, or Taupiri. “So it is quite feasible that Bayly may have purchased that watch? — Quite. Witness admitted that the cigarette lighter looked as though it. had been dismantled. “That does not look like a hurried job?” remarked Mr. Leary. Witness: No. Sweeney admitted that Lakey had been friendly enough with Bayly to assist to repair accused’s cowshed. “So there is no reason why Mrs Lakey should not have given Bayly a piece of wool for a lighter-wick like she gave Stevens?” asked counsel. Witness: No. Cross-examined by Mr Meredith, the Chief Detective said that when the

cartridge fell, witness lifted the trousers from the cot and handed them to Findlay. I “We were well away from the cot. I when I handed the denims to FimlI lay,” continued Sweeney. “I noticed bloodstains on the trousers in the washhouse where we folded them up. We moved away into the passage where the cartridge fell. Detective J. Walsh, of Wanganui, who was at Ruawaro on November 9, and December 4 said that, he executed a search warrant at Bayly’s on November 29, with Detectives Allsopp, Sneddon and White witness. White sea died the house, while the others inspected the cowshed.

LAKEYS’ QUARREL. During the search of the house, Bayly asked if the detectives knew if the Lakey’s were liked in the district. Accused went on to say that in August, 1932, the Lakey’s quarrelled) Mrs Lakey stayed away for six months. Bayly also described Mrs Lakey as a vindictive old bitch. Accused next referred to 14 hoggets he placed at. Lakey’s under arrangement with Lakey to graze them. The sheep were to be killed and the meat divided. Accused said later that he had been told Lakey had been killing some, giving the meat away without accused’s knowledge' Accused had removed the sheep from Lakey's and had had words with Lakey, who had gone to Huntly, but

had not informed t<he police. Bayly said that he had been on bad terms with the Lakeys. Accused also referred to the removal of the cream stand at Lakey’s gate, also to the access road. Bayly further said that Mrs Lakey had been on bad terms with the neighbours. She had had a difference with Sanson, and had sworn at Stevens. Accused stated that he knew the Lakeys’ house well. He also spoke of pea-rifle and ammunition he purchased at Huntly, on October 12, declaring that 150 rounds were missing after October* 14. Bayly also described Lakey as treacherous. Accused had then described the method of heating water and scalding pigs, declaring that he used wood as fuel.

“Did Bayly say anything further about the Lakeys? asked Mr Meredith. Walsh said the accused had said he had heard Mrs Lakey saying nasty things about neighbours. He had forbidden Mrs Lakey to come to his house on account of her vile language. Bayly admitted that he knew of a letter his father* had written to Mrs Lakey in which he said she had not been game to post a letter she had written regarding trouble over a bull. He asked Bayly if he could suggest where Lakey was. Bayly replied it was problematical after six weeks. Bayly also said he thought that Lakey was dead. Walsh then described his investigations in the garden and orchard.

Walsh then detailed conversations between detectives and Bayly at the sheepdip and wellbore, where the lower portion of the drum was standing. “Bayly was quite collected that day. He showed

NO SIGNS OF NERVOUSNESS or embarrassment,” concluded witness. Cross-examined by Mr. Leary, Walsh said he did not recollect telling Bayly when the search warrant was executed. He hoped that Bayly would not be troubled again. Accused afforded the detectives all facilities. The police had taken certain articles that day, under the warrant. It was obvious that Bayly had been operating on the pigs in a corner of the cowshed that day. When witness saw the top of the drum it was surrounded by a potato plant.

“I suppose the conversation was made up of question and answer?” asked counsel. “It was a. one-sided conversation,” replied Walsh, who said the accused was quite frank on that occasion. “I suggest Bayly at one time was friendly with the Lakeys,” counsel observed. “I remember he said he was never friendly with the Lakeys. Bayly had said he was familiar inside the Lakey’s house,” witness replied. He had not remarked on this to Bayly. Counsel asked if the police had obtained an opinion as to how the letter witness showed Mrs. Bayly could be admitted as evidence. Witness said that he did not know. Detective A. J. White of Hamilton, said that he accompanied Walsh inside Bayly’s house when the search warrant was executed. He described the washhouse, bathroom and bedroom. Bayly said it was the children’s room which looked toward the cowshed. The front bedroom was facing the swamp where the guns were found. When White was detailing the conversations with Bayly along the lines of Walsh’s evidence, the Court rose for lunch.