METHODS OF POLICE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 March 1929, Page 5

METHODS OF POLICE

WORK IN WALKER CASE.

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY.

WITNESSES CROSS-EXAMINED.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 27. Further evidence was heard to-day at. the inquiry into the methods of tlie police when investigating the death oi Elsie Walker.

The cross-examination of Inspector J. W. Hollis by Mr. Johnstone was continued, discussing statements taken in connection with the Walker mystery, witness stated that eleven statements were taken from one oi the principal ngures in the inquiry. Mr. Johnstone: Was there anything to indicate that the witness did not tell the truth ?•—-No. Was any suspicion placed on him by yourselr ? —No.

Mr. Page: Did you not include him as a suggested witness?—No, sir. Mr. Johnstone: I suppose you included all witnesses you thought would throw light on the mystery?—Yes; when the statements were forwarded to the Crown Prosecutor the inquest passed out of my hands. Cross-examined by Mr, Allan Moody, Inspector Hollis said he bad no complaints about .the Chief-Detective’s work, and He Kept him fully informed as to the steps that were taken in connection with the Walker case. There was nothing in tile conduce or methods of investigation of any of the officers to call for any comment by witness. Discussing his reason, lor the belief in the first instance that the death was clue to natural causes, Inspector Hollis said it was due to the absence j of motive, the condition of the locality, and reports submitted. Referring to the analyst’s report, Mr. Currie asked: “In view of what has been said, do you wish to modify your statement that no - information was likely to be lost through the removal of the clothing from the girl Walker?—No. The Commissioner then said lie had , some questions to ask witness. Had you a definite theory of the case of the girl Walker prior to the inquest?—Yes. Will you tell us what it was ? Witness said lie had thought that tlie girl 'went away because she was dissatisfied, and took umbrage at the arrival of her cousin. He thought, too, that she was responsible for tlie disappearance of certain articles from Bayly’s home, and had taken fright and possibly died of exhaustion. Mr. Page asked why DetectiveSergeant Kelly was replaced. Witness said that in view of the publicity given the case it was desirable to have a fresh mind working on the case.

To Mr. Johnstone witness said that a girl had been seen by a driver of a steam roller, and if she was the girl Walker she had an opportunity to make a complaint. Had a stranger been at Bayly’s farm when the girl disappeared the dogs would have barked.

Referring to the chief detective, Mr. Johnstone asked: There must be a number of matters in which he must take a lone hand?—Yes.

Inspector Hollis concluded his evidence at this stage, after nearly two days in the box. Detective-Sergeant fssell gave evidence of finger-print work, on which he had been engaged for 17 years. By arrangement with the Crown, the evidence of Chief-Detective Hammond was led by Mr. Moody, counsel for Hammond. The chief-detective said he had been in the police force for 33 years and had been in the detective branch for 21 years. On the night of October 5, when the body was discovered in an old scoria paddock at Tamaki, he received the information by telephone at his house. He was informed that a woman’s body had been found and that it was then at the morgue. Detective-Sergeant Kelly was on duty that night. Witness told Sergeant Cliss, who had telephoned him, to leave things alone until the morning, when he should attend to them. Next morning, at 7.45, lie communicated with Dr. • Murray and met him at the morgue at 8.15. He also sent a message to Detective-Sergeant Kelly and telephoned to Mr. Hunt, the Coroner, who told him to get Dr. Murray to make a post-mortem examination. In the morgue they found the body stripped of clothing. He made no comment in regard to this, but he vyas surprised. Witness requested Dr. Murray to look for certain things, and suggested certain' causes which might have led to the girl’s death. He also told the doctor to preserve the contents of the stomach for the analyst. “I suggested it might have been a case of murder, but it did not look like one,” witness said. At that time he did not know who the girl was. A thorough external examination of the body was made' by him and Detective-Sergeant Kelly. There was no marie on the body to show the girl had been struck or had met with any violence, and his experience in such examinations was large. Dr. Gilmour arrived at 9 o’clock. An external examination of the body was made by both doctors, who informed him there was no external injuries to cause death.

Witness said that lvhen at the detective office he read the report of Acting-DetectKe Waterson, avlio had seen the body at night, and avlio had reported he suspected violence, he commented that the acting-detective had been Among in assuming violence. It Avas then that he kneAv the identity of deceased. The clothing found on the body was given to him by Waterson. It Avas damp and Avas liung out to dry. Witness sent DetectHe-Sergeant Kelly, Detective Mills, and Acting-Detecti\*e Waterson to the scene at Tamaki to search for any weapon, and to make an examination of the ground apart. Witness said Mr. Baylv was strongly of opinion that the girl had .driven the car and had endeavoured to get home to Opotiki, but that when she got to Rotorua she had missed the roads. Speaking of the extensive nature of the inquiry in the case. Chief-Detective Hammond said: “In all my 34 years of \Aork in the Police Department I can say this case has receHed much more attention than any other case I liaA'e known in New Zealand.” The case had not merited the large inquiry it had received, because it Avas not a murder, nor did it have the elements of a murder. Tlie publicity given to it had caused a great deal of investigation to be made, investigation Avhich Avas not warranted. Enterprising reporters from neAvspapers had rushed about the country getting scares here and there. Asked by Mr. Currie if it A\-ould not have been better if the body had not been stripped, witness said that honestly speaking he thought it would ha\ T e been better if it had been left alone. The commission was adjourned.