ELSIE WALKER CASE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 February 1929, Page 5

ELSIE WALKER CASE

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY.

A POLICE CONFERENCE.

REPORTS FROM THE DOCTORS. \By Telegraph—Presa ’Association.V AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. The next explanation that would be necessary would be as to what happened at the morgue, continued Mr. Currie, at the opening of the inquiry into the conduct of the police in* the Elsie Walker case. There appeared to have been delay in submitting the girl’s clothing to expert examination, and there was a piecemeal examination when it was submitted. When the surgeon’s report was submitted it was a question whether it gave the detectives sufficient information to aid the detectives in their work, and the question might arise whether the surgeons should not have been asked to elaborate their report. Stating that he had decided to inspect the locality where the body was found, and expressing a desire for. an illustration of how the body was found on the night of October 5, the Commissioner at this stage adjourned the inquiry for three hours. A comprehensive demonstration of the position of the body was given by Constable Collins and others. When the inquiry was resumed, Superintendent Wohimann gave evidence. He detailed the system of control of the district and the holding of daily conferences with Inspector Hollis, who was in charge of the detectives, and Inspector Mcllveney. Replying to the Commissioner, witness said. he had no recollection when the Elsie Walker case was first discussed at these conferences, but he thought it would have been on the day following the discovery of the body. Mr. Currie: Can you recall any discussion in the conference regarding this matter? , 1 ; Witness: Yes. We were of the opinion that the report of the medical men did not go far enough, and we decided to ask Dr. Murray to discuss it with us at our conference. The doctor’s verbal report made to me by Inspector Hollis was that the girl had not died from any unlawful violence. Mr. Currie: There wasra supplementary report from the surgeons, dated December 6 ? Witness: Yes. ... The Commissioner: .1 want, to know the date of the first written .' report from the doctors to the police. Mr. Currie: The documents _do .not disclose a date. ‘ - ~,~ Chief-detective Hammond: It was about October 12. Addressing Superintendent. Wohimann, Mr .Currie asked what happened when the doctor appeared.

Witness: We discussed the matter with the object of seeing if a crime had been committed or not. Dp to that stage the doctor said he could not tell us the cause of death.. The doctor was asked whether ■he would give evidence at a trial to substantiate a, charge of murder, but the doctor said he could not. The doctor said there would be no hope of a conviction on medical evidence.

Mr. Currie: You did not know then that a crime had been committed Y

Witness: No, but in spite of that [ the officers decided it was advisable there should be no relaxation of the efforts being made to gut information calculated to throw light on the mysterious disappearance of the girl. “To the best of my knowledge every 'tittle of information was followed up,” I witness said. “Later Inspector Hollis informed me that Dr. Gilmour and Dr. Murray had made a vital addition to their original report.” Witness read the report, which was dated December 6, and in which the doctors said they were of opinion that death was not due to natural causes, [ but to concussion following a blow on I the head.

“We were left in the air,” said the superintendent when questioned about the supplementary medical report. “We thought we could not rely on the medical evidence, and we did not know whether we were going to get another supplementary report.” (Laughter.) Before adjourning the commission until to-morrow, Mr. Page intimated that it was likely he would visit Papamoa during the week-end.