CORONER INQUIRES AS TO HOW AND WHY ELSIE WALKER DIED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6808, 11 January 1929, Page 6

CORONER INQUIRES AS TO HOW AND WHY ELSIE WALKER DIED

Last Fatal Journey EXTRAORDINARY DELAY IN INVESTIGATIONS FAMILY UNAWARE OF ABSENCE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 10. At tho inquest of Elsie Walker, aged 17, Dr. Murray, police surgeon, said that he examined the body on October 6, about 72 hours after death and found no exterior marks of violence, except for some skin missing from the jaw, which was evidently the'result of rodents. There was no sign of strangulation. There was a fracture of tho skull, and the brain was very congested. There was no sign of a criminal offence having been committed. It was possible for the concussion to result from a blow, which would produce very little bruising, but it was usual to find traces of haemorrhage. Death, was duo to poison, or exposure, the probable cause being a blow on the head. His conclusion was reached, by the process of elimination, and the blow. on the head had something to do with the cause of the death. The absence of abrasion would indicate that the blow was caused by a blunt instrument. Replying to the Coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, the doctor said the blow might have been given by a fist. _ Further examined, Dr Murray said that he was not called to sec the body before it was moved. The Coroner: Why was that? Mr Meredith (the Crown Prosecutor) replied that he was not responsible. The Coroner: There’s a definite rule and there has been a distinct breach committed. Extraordinary Delay. Mr Northcroft (counsel for the dead girl’s aunt and uncle) agreed with tho coroner, saying: There are many people on whom suspicion would not have fallen had the matter been properly carried out. The Coroner: I propose to make the fullest investigation. F. W. Armitage, bacteriologist, said that ho had examined the girl’s clothing. • He received the first garment 17 days after death and the last on November 21. The Coroner: Dear me; dear me; dear me; dear me. Mr Armitage said that there were traces of blood and other stains on the girl’s underclothes. Ho was definite that the girl had had a male companion. K. M. Griffin, Government analyst, said that he received the contents of the stomach on October 18th; but found no traces of poison. Frank Bayly, of Papamoa, the girl’s uncle, stated that on October Ist his wife and himself and five children, besides his niece Elsio Walker, were home. He kept two dogs tied at tho back of the house. All had dinner that night, but. he did not remember seeing the girl again. His son Trjrvor went to a social tho same evening. At this stage the luncheon adjournment was taken. Son Secretly Married. Continuing his evidence, Frank Bayly said that of his family his son Bill could drive a car, Mrs Bayly could, Geoffroy could aud Trevor could. As far. as he knew deceased never drove it. The key missing with the ear was Mrs Bayly’s. Witness said that when his son Bill came back in September, he was married but witness and Mrs Bayly were not aware of the marriage and witness then described the visit he made to Auckland, during which he went to see his sou Bill at Henderson, where he was working. “I hod a conversation with the boy,” said witness. “I asked if he knew of tho trouble by reading the newspaper but he said ho had not heard anything about it. He had only gqt out there on the Wednesday before. Mr Meredith: “Did you- ask him what he had been doing?—No. I asked him about the koy and he said he had left it at home.

Did you say anything about the Monday?—-Not that I can remember. Or the Monday night—No. Night Fraught With Tragedy.

Well, Mr Bayly, Monday night was a night fraught with some tragedy and surely you discussed that night with him? —-I remember asking Bill where he was on the Monday night. I put it to you, you asked him at Henderson where he was on the Monday?—lt is a long time ago. I cannot remember. I would not swear I had not mentioned it. But you did talk of it with him in the boardinghouse when 'you saw Km later? —Yes, I asked him then where he was on the Monday. Witness said Bill told him he had been with his wife on the day <sf the tragedy. According to Godfrey Bayly, he passed through the washhouse at 7.30 on the night the car disappeared on his way to his room. .Although, he did not remember seeing the girl, he thought she was in the kitchen. He switched the light on in portion of the sleeping porch where she 6lept but she wis not there. Next morning, at 6.30, witness saw from his bedroom that the car was gone. Witnes stold his father. The Coroner: Did he say “Perhaps Bill has taken it?”—No. Girl Could Not Drive Oar. Witness said he had never seen Elsie drive the ear nor had she any opportunity to learn to drive, as far a? he knew. She had never asked him to let her have a try at driving. Mr Meredith: In fact, you would not suggest she could drive?—No. She could not as far as I knew. Tho hearing at this stage was adjourned till to-morrow