DEATH OF A GIRL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 January 1929, Page 9

DEATH OF A GIRL

THE WALKER CASE. INQUEST CONTINUED. MOVEMENTS OF V. A. BAYLY. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) AUCKLAND., Jan. 11. The inquest concerning the circumstances surrounding the death of Elsie Walker, ' aged 17, was resumed at ten o’clock to-day before a crowded court. Mr. Armitage, bacteriologist, recalled, said it was impossible from microscopic examination to tell the age of the stains found on the girl’s underclothing. Trevor Bayly, aged 19, said that on the evening of the girl’s disappearance he went to a social in Te Puke in a friend’s car.

Asked if anybody else was in the car be said that be did not remember. On his return home to Papamoa at 1.30 a.m. on October 2 he noticed that the family’s car had gone, and had asked his brother Godfrey if anyone had gone for a doctor or had gone out. Godfrey replied in the negative. Trevor did nothing more. Wiifiiam Alfred Bayly aged 22, married, said that when lie went Pack to. the family home at Papamoa on September 3, his wife stayed An Auckland, the family not knowing lie was married. When he brought his w.'fe to Auckland on August 22 to be married on the 29th lie ha.d! about £l4. He 'paid the marriagfe expenses. He had no further money from his father than £lO. which the latter had given him (included in the £l4) When he came back to Auckland from. Papamoa on September 13, he stayed two or three: nights in Epsom and then went to Papakura. and lived there near Baraka, also.at Kohi. He had 1 gone from Kohi to Baraka by horseback, but not by car. He. came, back to the city from Papakura and stayed at a hoardinghouse until October 3rd. You came in to see your wife also. — Yes, and did ai liittle .shopping. He didn’t go to. tlie; races', and eventually 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 boardinghouse, spending the day and evening with friends, returning to sleep at the boardinghouse. On Monday, October 1, he went to see the place at Henderson without his wife. He was there less than half an hour and saw nobody except some children, who directed him. He did not Hook over the property. He could not produce anybody who' saw him round about except the children. Witness, seeing nobody on the Henderson property, went back to Auckland and bad lunch, but couldn’t remember where, though it was by himself, and. he didn’t see anybody he knew. He met his wife at three o’clock (oil October 1). In answer to the Crown Prosecutor witness said that lie did not see anybody lie knew between lunch and three o’clock, whereon Mr. Northcrolt remarked: “He’s a complete stranger to Auckland.”

Mr. Meredith: Why did you have lunch in town instead of at the board-ing-house? You were not too flush of money, you know. Witness: I often had lunch in town, and knew I could get more money if I wanted it later.

He (witness) went with his wife bo buy a hat for her. The colour was pink and the price 19s ild, hut he did not know whether or not he got an invoice for it. They then went down looking at the shops and had light tea, but ho could not remember where. The Prosecutor: You have been asked previously where you spent October 1 ? —Yes, hut not till a week afterwards.. The Prosecutor: Could not you remember better then? —No, I don’t think so. After tea on October 1 he and his wife went to see some friends at Epsom. Witness detailed his movements, and was emphatic that this was the night of Mondwv. October’ 1. They went to. bed at the boardinghouse at 9.30, and! lie got m> for breakfast at the usual time on tb© morning of Tuesday, October 2. He did not change, rooms at the boardinghouse., but .may have changed tables .at break fast. Besides a, man named' Cashell. he did -not know the names of anybody else at breakfast that morning. The prosecutor: o'f course, Bayly, yon know your movements have been questioned in connection with the death of Elsie Walker. , ■ ' Before an yanswer was given, the coroner remarked: I think we will adjourn. The court- room is. very stuffy. The court then ros© until 2.15 p.m.