OPENING OF EVIDENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 23 May 1934, Page 8

OPENING OF EVIDENCE.

SURVEYOR PRODUCES PLANS. PHOTOGRAPHS DISPLAYED. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Alay 23. Formal evidence was called when the trial of William Alfred Bayly on the Ruawaro murder charges was resumed. in the Supreme Court tins moming. There was p fair crowd in the body of the Court, but few women were in the gallery. As on the preceding days accused’s wife was present, sitting behind counsel for the defence. The first witness, John Joseph Carroll, a surveyor, produced five plans lie had prepared showing the Ruawaro district with Bayly’s and the Lakeys properties. Copies of the plans weie distributed to the jury. The plans showed the roads, boundaries, properties, swamp, houses, outbuildings, and levels. In reply to Air Northcroft, witness said he had shown an old track following the ridge which continued to the Lakeys’ eastern boundary. The records of the Land and Survey Department showed another road, which was not formed. The Lakeys’ fences in this locality were not shown on the plan. The top of the ridge in the wattle tree paddock would be visible from Air Wright’s. , , Witness said lie understood that Bayly’s access ran from the southern corner of the property up to the ridge. Once it started to rise the route was in view of the properties to the northeast and east. Air Calvert’s property overlooked portion of the Alain Road to Bayly’s gate, also all the approaches to the Lakeys’, except from the east. The area of Bayly’s entrance paddock was approximately 12 acres. A series of photographs taken on the Lakey property on October 18 and 19 were produced by Constable C. AI. Francis, police photographer, of Auckland. These included the wheels and the frame standing under the wattle tree, and the duckpond, which had been drained. In reply to Air Leary, the constable said the wheels were in the same position as when first discovered. Frank Stewart, a commercial photographer, said that on January 8 he went to Ruawaro in an aeroplane piloted by Squadron-Leader Hewett and took a senes of aerial photographs showing the Lakey homestead, the garden, and the cowshed, and Bayly’s house, cowshed and carshed. Cross-examined, he said that if an aerial photograph were taken vertically it approximated to a plan. An oblique photograph did not give accurate distances. His photographs were oblique. At this stage the witnesses were ordered out of Court. Further photographs were produced by Senior-Sergeant E. W. Dmnie, of Wellington. - STATEAIENTS BY BOY. 1 Raymond George Binder, aged 11, living with his stepfather, Air Wright* at Ruawaro, said that on October 15 lie was at the Lakeys’. When he arrived at 11.30 a.m. both the Lakeys were home. AVitness had lunch there, leaving at 2.30. Lakey was dressed in a singlet, a dirty blue pullover, and working trousers. He was lying down reading when witness left. Lakey’s shotgun and Airs Lakey’s shotgun and peanfle stood in the passage. Brader said that when lie left Airs Lakey came to the gate and kissed him. The Lakeys seemed all right then.

In reply to Mr Leary, the boy said he did not remember saying ho would not know the guns again. He did not know when the milk was brought up to the house or when the calves were fed. Witness had been to the Lakeys’ since October, but had not seen a boat in the shed since then. Bertram Vernon Stevens, settler, of Ruawaro, said the Lakeys got on very well together. Throughout October 15 he could see part of the Lakeys’ property. That day at 6.30 p.m. he saw a man with the cows at the Lakeys’ cowshed. The following morning he noticed the Lakeys’ cows still -in the paddock. Witness then saw Wright, who went with him to the Lakeys’. At the Lakeys’ gate stood two cream cans covered with a sack. Witness shook one can, which seemed to have some contents. Wright and witness then visited the Lakeys’ house. Knocking and receiving no reply, they went down to the cowshed. There waS no one there. On their return they entered the house. DISCOVERY OF WOMAN’S BODY. Witness detailed the state of the kitchen. The police were notified and after their arrival a settler named Slater discovered Mrs Lakey under sacks at the duckpond. She -was face down with her head overhanging and submerged in the water, her arms being crossed in front of her face. She had a small mark on the chin and clotted blood ran from the nose. The body was clothed in working clothes, which were pulled waist high in front. Witness identified the guns produced as Lakey’s and Mrs Lakey’s. On the same day the search for Lakey commenced, six or seven participating. Witness saw the wheels and frame which were usually in Lakey’s yard standing under a wattle tree. Lakey had a false upper dentsre and smoked .a cherrywood pipe which he lit with a lighter or matches. Mrs Lakey gave witness a piece of wick similar to Lakey's. The case is proceeding.