TAMAKI TRAGEDY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 January 1929, Page 5

TAMAKI TRAGEDY.

DEATH OF ELSIE WALKER. CONTINUATION OF INQUIRY. lßy Telegraph—Preaa Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 11. The mystery surrounding the death of a young girl was subjected to further investigation to-day, when the inquest was resumed into the death of Miss Elsie Walker, aged 17, whose body was found in the i&'crab near the old quarry at Tarnaki on the nigh/t of Octobed 5. William Alfred Bayly,. who had gone into the witness-box ail .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 wliidh ‘ deoeaisled disappeared and the following day. Every detail of Bayly ’s day from th© time he rose in the morning until he went to bed on Monday night, was sought by Mr Meredith and this examination tasted 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 lie returned to the city inghouisie and went to bed, Bayly said that until his father told him he did not know that Ellsie Walker was missing, Th© coronet: Had you not seen 'the paper ?—No. I had not. I did not know until my father told me. Did your father say anything about the key?—My father said the police had my kev of the car, but I toil'd him I knew nothing about it. He wanted to know what the police meant 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 Elsie alone, Answering Mr Nororoft, who represents the Bayly family: witness isaid he was interviewed by Detebtive Ivdily and- later by Detective Bickerdike. Mr North-croft asked: Previous to this you had heard of an attempt by the police to go through your belongings surreptitiously ? —Yes. Without a warrant ?—■ Yes, ais far as I know. Did) Detective Bickerdike interview you alone? —Yes. What did he say?—That he was down to see about a poor dead girl. He said he was there in strict confidence and whatever I said would not go beyond! him. He first_ found 1 he was not overheard by looking in t'hie room! and then he asked if I was friendlv with her. I told him there was 'Ho particular friendship and he said he was there to conduct investigations'. He told me Stoat whatever I said would be 'regarded as in confidence. . Witness said the detective toUd him that whatever wais said would go to tlie grave with him. He said the girl was over 16 yeans of age, and that if witness wo-uld sav be had been intimate with her it” would 1 lift suspicion from everyone down that way, Bayly further -said that the detective had said he could not possibly incrimnate himself. Witness had replied to the detective that lie wais not going to remove suspicion from anyone by saying lie had done anything die had not done. The detective had said that Elsie wais rather a good-loolring girt, and that she would appeal to some people. Bayly had .said he diid not know anyone she had appealed to, and that he had no reason to believe she had; been with any young men. The inquest was adjourned till Monday, 'There -are many witnesses still! to be heard.