POLICE INQUIRY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 63, 1 March 1929, Page 5

POLICE INQUIRY

ELSIE WALKER CASE TO-DAY'S HEARING. PATHOLOGIST’S EVIDENCE. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, March 1. At the resumption of the inquiry regarding police methods, arising out of the Elsie Walker case, Dr. Gilmour, director of pathology at Auckland Hospital, stated that he visijed the morgue at Dr Murray’s invitation. Stains on the jaw suggested, the possibility of poisoning. He also attached importance to the bruise on the scalp and the congestion of the brain. There was no sign of bleeding on the body. He had not then seen the girls clothing. He did not think that he saw Chief Detective Hammond at the morgue when tho first post-mortem examination was made. Had he seen the clothing at the time of the post-mortem it would have made a great difference to his examination. He subsequently learned the result of the microscopical examination of the clothing. Dr. Murray and himself had not formed any intention of making an additional report, but were making up their minds more definitely. As a result ot tho post-mortem and other examinations they decided that their evidence at the inquest would correspond with the additions they had made to their report. They came to that conclusion on knowing that examination of the clothing and analysis of the stomach had not furnished additional evidence. They had not altered their original decision. ADDITION TO REPORT. After a visit by Detective Bickerdike on December 6th they made an addition to their report. He was interviewed by a reporter, who suggested that there had been foul play; he neither agreed nor disagreed. Tho reporter referred to the blow on the head and produced a stick which he had found. Superficial examination of the stock showed no blood.

Witness was asked did anything in his theory of foul play coincide with his opinion?

He replied: Yes; in reference to the blow on the head.