ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 64, 2 March 1929, Page 7

ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY

inquiry into police METHODS THE FINDING OF THE BODY. Auckland, March 1. At the inquiry into police methods arising out of the Elsie Walker case, Constable Collins gave evidence regarding the finding of the body at Tamaki and its removal to the morgue. He said that when he saw the body he thought death was due to natural causes, or suicide. People had begun to collect when the discovery was known. Mr Loary; Do you think you could possibly have dime more than you did to elucidate this mystery.? Witness: lam sure I could not. J inquired everywhere I thought I could, get information. Speaking of the finding of the body, Constable Collins, questioned by Mr Currie said that he did not suspect foul play, although there was blood under her head. He though deceas ed had bled at the nose. Mr Currie: What was there to dispel the natural suspicion that you, as a policeman, would have? Witness; The position the body was in. The girl had no nat and was wearing an apron. There appeared to be no signs of a wound, and general appearances led him to bellin'* that death was due either to suicide or natural qauses. The position of the bushes also helped him to form that, opinion. Mr Leary ; What was the position of the bushes? Witness: The girl looked as if she had crawled in under the bushes. If it were a case of concealment, it certainly was “a bundled job.” The Commissioner; Approximately how* many people did you interview in the course of your inquiries? I do not want you to be accurate to a dozen or so. Witness : I should say I interviewed between 300 and 400 people during my inquiry. At this stage the Commission adjourned until to-morrow, <