ELSIE WALKER CASE

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 August 1929, Page 5

ELSIE WALKER CASE

LETTERS TO MRS. BAVLV.

INTERVIEWED IN WANGANUI. DETECTIVES IN NEXT ROOM There have been new and sensational developments in connection with the well-known Elsie Walker case, and in consequence of correspondence which j lias been made available during the; past few weeks, the police have again turned their attention to the mystery, but at the moment have little to say, says the “Auckland Star.” Since the police inquiry was held in connection with the 'handling of the case further inquiries have proceeded in the hope oi elucidating a very baffling matter, a detective going to Wanganui, where J he listened to a conversation which! occurred between Mrs Bayiy and Mrs Thomasen in a room at Foster’s Hotel.

Mrs Thomasen was formerly a neighbour of the Baylyg at Papanwa, but some time ago she went to reside in the Paparangi district, some 25 miles! up the Wanganui River from the town of that name'. Prior to this meeting between the two women, correspondence was exchanged by them'. LETTERS HANDED TO POLICE'. Last week a “Star”, representative interviewed Mr R. B. Lusk, solicitor for the Bayiy family, when Mr Lusk made available copies of three letters, which Mr Lusk vouched for as genuine. He added that the originals were in the possession of the police. This correspondence was released fori publication, following a conference between this office andi Mr El. H. Northcroft, Mr Lusk and Iris partner, Mr Fawcett, who are acting oil* behalf of the Bayiy family. “After receiving several of these letters from Mrs Thomasen we placed the matter in the hands of the police,” said Mr Northcroft. “Prior to this, ’ he added, “Bill Bayiy wrote to Mr Lusk, "Saying this correspondence was worrying his mother, and 1 asking him to refer the matter to the police. Neither he nor the others had anything to hide. The correspondence commenced early in February last and continued until the interview between Mrs Bayiy and Mrs Thomasen at Foster’s Hotel, Wanganui, about June 21.

Both Mr Northcroft and Mr Lusk made it quife clear that Mrs Bayiy placed herself in the hands of the police and that she acted upon their advice and under their instructions. When she received from Mrs Thomasen a telegram asking her to see her urgently, as “Truth” wais seeing her “next week,” Mrs Bayiy handed the telegram to Mr Lusk, who/reported the matter immediately to Superintendent W. G. Wdhhnann. As a result a reply was sent: “Be down hi a few days.” Atj the instigation of the police Mrs Bayiy maide an appointment with Mrs Thomasen at the hotel. It was. arranged that a detective wguld accompany her, the detective to listen to tlie conversation in the adjoining room. Mr Northcroft added that he 'believed the police hacl gone to no end 1 of trouble to investigate and check up on what had' been said.

MRS THOM A SEN’S LETTERS. In her replies to Mrs Thomasen, Mrs Bayiy said it was surprising that she did not give this information to the police when they first made inquiries. The following letters were received by Mrs' Bayiy from Mrs. Thomasen:

“Foster’s Hotel, Wanganui. “Deair Mrs Bayly, ‘‘This is just a note in haste. I’m so glad yon are coining. I’m at my wits’ end, and I thought it was the best thing to wire for yon and we can talk things out properly. We are 25 miles from town up the liver. ‘‘Most of the taxis will know where it is. We are five males past Connor’s estate at Raorika. Ask any of the business people and! they will tell you where that place is and also Connor's estate. We are the next place on. It’s metal all the way to Connor’s, but beyond you will probably have to use chains. Now I must hurry as we .are late and/ I like to get home /before dark. 4>o, hoping to see you soon. . “Yours, in haste, “M. Thoniasen.’’

“G.P.0., Wanganui, February 28, 1929. “Dear Mrs Bayly, “I am in receipt of yours dated the 11th inst., stating you were going to see Bill in regard to my other letter, and I wonder did he explain. My dear, if he told you the truth there would be no need of a letter from me. I told you, both Mrs Langdon and I were on that particular train, and if Bill won’t tell you the truth, then I will,, as I think you ought to know. He. was. on that train. “Certainly I should have told you before I left Papamoa, hut I didn’t know that things would turn out as they have done. Mr and Mrs Bayly—we mourn for both of you in the Cross you have to bear, hut can you imagine how I fed, knowing what I know and not doing my .duty as I ought to do. I feel to a. certain degree 1 am oommittting a crime myself hy keeping this knowledge.—Yours sincerely, M. Thomason. “G.P.0., Wanganui, March 21, 1929. “Dear Mrs Bay]y r , “I’ve just had your letter and seemingly I need never ha/ve troubled writing you at all. You’ve always asked me to tell you of anything I know or hear, and yet .as soon as I do., you just treat ,it with contempt. Mind you, 1 expected it. But Ido think you could halve appreciated the spirit it was written you in. My dear, it only needs that .information to have gone to the coroner and protbab-ly there, would have been a different aspect in the ease. “However, if you are quite satisfied with Bill’s version of where he was, then there’s no more to be said'. 1 thought I’d tell yOu just iu case you are unprepared when the information goes to other quarters.—Yours sincerely', M. Thomason.”

MRS BAYLY’S STATEMENT. At Wanganui Mrs Bayly interviewed Mrs Thomason in the hearing of two detectives who were secreted for the purpose. At this interview Mrs Bayly asked Mrs Thomasen about the telegrams and to explain them and letters. Mrs Thomasen said she saw Bill on the train on October 1. There was a jam in the lavatory. The guard and a Maori woman were in the corridor, and she and Mrs Langdon (her sister) were in the carriage sitting down. Mrs Langdon drew her attention to Bill, who was in the lavatory, and Bill raised his hat. She said he spoke, and when pressed she said he did not speak. She said she looked lor him at Papamoa and went round the other side of the train to see if she ooulcl find him, but he did not get out, nor did she see him —beyond that glimpse in the lavatory'. She said there was a new guard on the train that night and that Mrs Pres--

ton and Mrs Teague were on the train. When asked where Bill was on £he train, she said she did not know where he was. She only saw him in the lavatory. She became uneasy when asked what she wanted Mrs. Bayly to do, and said 1 the suggestion must come from her. Mrs Bayly' said' she could not think of anything, and if her mind was uneasy about the position why not go to the authorities; that was the proper thing to do. She said, “I've not got anything to do with the police, and 1 want to tell you this, and you make the suggestion.” She harped on “Truth.” She said, “I can’t stay in here any longer, what is that door?” She was told it was to the bathroom. She said, “I must go for a walk. I am not going to say any more here.' That was the last "the detectives heard. The ladies went into the hall over to a’ chesterfield, where Mrs Thomasen .said, “I am not going to/ say any more here; there’s someone in that bedroom. You must come into the street. Arthur will drive us out into the country' and we can talk out there. ’ ’

The two ladies walked out into' the street and were talking oil the footpath when Detective Snedden passed them, but the remainder of the conversation cannot be disclosed at this stage. It appears because of the proximity of Mm house to that of the Bayly’s at Papamoa, she was closely questioned’ by the police when their original inquires, were made. At that time she said she had not seen Bill Bayly in the district for at least ten days prior to the disappearance of Elsie Walker. Further, the ladies to whom Mm Thomasen referred as having seen Bill Bayly on the train have been interviewed, and it is said that they do not support her statement.