MYSTERY OF MURDER OF ELSIE WALKER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6809, 12 January 1929, Page 9

MYSTERY OF MURDER OF ELSIE WALKER

Cousin’s Lengthy Examination MARRIED SECRETLY FEW DAYS BEFORE TRAGEDY Per‘Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. A crowded Court was present when the inquest into the death of the girl Elsie Walker, at Tamaki, was resumed at the Auckland Police Court yesterday. The chief witness was the dead girl’s cousin, William Alfred Bayly, aged 22. Bayly, who began to testify an hour before luncheon, was in the nox throughout the afternoon. He was subjected to searching questioning by Mr. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, regarding his movements on the Monday on which deceased disappeared and the following day. Every detail of Bayly’s day, Horn the time he rose in the morning until he went to bed on Monday night, was sought by Mr. Meredith and this examination lasted a considerable time. The effect of Bayly’s statement was that he had spent the day in Auckland, partly with his wife and had spent the evening with friends at Epsom, after which he returned to the city hoarding-house and went to bed.

F. W. Armitage, bacteriologist, recoiled, said that it was impossible from a microscopic examination to tell the age of the stains found on the girl’s underclothing. Trevor Bayly, aged 19, said that on the evening of the girl’s disappearance he went to a social in Te Puke in a friend’s car.

Movements Questioned,

At the beginning of tho afternoon session, William Alfred Bayly was fur ther examined by Mr Meredith. “Of course, Bayly, you know that your movements are questioned in connection with tho death of Elsia Walker?” repeated Mr Meredith. “I know my movements Rave bee2 subject to question,” said Bayly. He left the boardinghouse at ten o’clock on Tuesday morning and went out to see Ms wife, with whom he bought some suitcases in tho after noon and took a friend to tho pictures. He had been in the city with his wife from 3 to 9 o’clock on the Monday afternoon. Ho had not said his -wife was unable to go to Henderson to inspect the house there. She was not fit for a journey.

Asked if anybody else was in the car, he said that he did not remember. On the return homo to Papamoa at 1.30 a.m. on October 2 he noticed that the family’s car had gone, and he asked his brother Godfrey if anyone had gone for a" doctor or gone out. Godfrey replied in the negative and witness did nothing more.

Married on £l4.

William Alfred Bayly, aged 22, to married man, said that when he went back to his family’s home at Papamoa on September 3, his wife stayed in Auckland, the family not knowing he was married. When ho brought his wife to Auckland on 22nd August to be married on the 29th., he had about £l4. He paid the marriage expenses and had no further money from Ms father than £lO tho latter had given him (included in the £l4 above). When lie came back to Auckland from Papamoa on September 13th he stayed two or three nights in Epsom and then went to Papakura and lived there, near Karalta, and also at Kohi. He had gone from Kohi to Karaka by horseback, but not by car. Ho came back to tho city from Papakura and stayed ac a boardinghouse until October 3. You came in to sec your wife also?— Yes, and did a little shopping. He did not go to the races, and eventually got a job at Henderson at £2 per week with an unfurnished house. On the Sunday before Elsie’s body was found he was at an Auckland boardinghouse spending the day and evening with friends, returning to sleep at the boardinghouse. On Monday, October 1, he went to see a place at Henderson without his wife. He was there less than half an hour and saw nobody except some children who directed Mm. Ho did not look over the property. Ho could not produce anybody who saw him round about except the children.

The Coroner: She was able to travel around Queen street on Monday and Tuesday.

He knew his movements in connection with tho girl’s death were being questioned. Ho said he went to tlic police office at request, after talking tho matter over with his father. He did not then know his wife had been asked what he was doing on Monday, October 1.

Mr Meredith: Did you know it was important to explain your movements on the Monday?—No.

The police asked you about your movements that day?—Yes.

They questioned you in detail regarding Monday night and Tuesday.—Yes. Bayly admitted nobody saw him go back to the boardinghouse on Monday night. He did not know which waitress served him at breakfast. He had told the police all he know. Unaware of Girl’s Doath.

Until his father told him, witness declared he did not know that Elsie Walker was missing. The Coroner: Had you not seen tho paper —No, I had not. I did not know until my father told me.

Did your father say anything about a key.—My father said the police had my key of the cat, but I told thorn I knew nothing about it. He wanted to know what tho police meant when they said they had any key.

And Elsio Walker's fate was not discussed?—No, wo talked about land and cattle.

Witness said that, seeing nobody on the Henderson property, he went back to Auckland and had lunch, but he could not remember where, though it was by himself, and he did not see anybody he know, and met his wife at threo o'clock (on October Ist). October the First. In answer to the Crown Prosecutor, ho said that he did not see anybody he knew between lunch and three o’clock whereon Mr Northcroft remarked: He’s a complete stranger to Auckland.

Witness said ho had never been out with the deceased girl alone. In answering Mr Northcroft, who is representing the Bayly family, witness said ho was interviewed by Detective Kelly and later by Detective Bickerdike.

Mr Northcroft asked previous to this: You had heard of an attempt by the police to go through your belongings surreptitously?—Yes. Without a search warrant?—Yes, as far I know. Did Detective Bickerdiko interview you alone?—Yes. What did he say?—That he was down to see me about the poor dead girl. Ho said ho was there in strict confidence and whatever I said would not go beyond him. Ho first found he was not overheard by looking in the room and then ho asked if I was friendly with her. I told him thero was no particular friendship nnd he said, he was thero to conduct an investigation. “He told me that whatever I said would be regarded as in confidence,’’ witness continued, saying that the Detective told him that whatever was said would go to the grave with him He said the girl was over Hi years of age, and that if witness would say ha had been intimate with her, it would lift suspicion from everyone down that, way. Bayly further said that the Detective had said he could not possibly incriminate himself.

The Crown Prosecutor (Mr Meredith) : Why did you have lunch in town instead of at tho boardinghouse? You were not too flush, you know’? —Witness: I often had lunch in town and knew I could get more money if I wanted it.

Later he went w'ith his wife to buy a hat for her. The colour was pink anti tho price was 19s lid, but he did not know whether or not he got an invoice for it. They then went down looking at. tho shops and had a light tea, but he could not remember where. The Crown Prosecutor: You have been asked previously where you s»pent October Ist?—Yes, but uot till a week afterwards.

Tho Crown Prosecutor: Couldn’t you remember better then? —No, I don’t think so.

After tea on October Ist he and his wife went to sec some friends at Epsom. Witness detailed his movements and was emphatic that this wns the night of Monday, October Ist. They w'ent to bed at a boardinghouse at 9.30 and he got up for breakfast at the usual time on the morning of Tuesday. On October Ist he did not change his rooms at the boardinghouse, but he might have changed tables at breakfast. Besides a man named Cashed, ho didn't know the names of anybody also at breakfast that morning.

Witness had replied to the Detective that he was not going to remove suspicion from anyone by saying he had dono anything he had not done.

The Detective had said Elsie was rather a good-looking girl and that she would appeal to some people.

Bayly hail said he did not know anyone she had appealed to and that he had no reason to believe she had been with any young men. The inquest was adjourned until Monday. Many witnesses are still to be heard.

The Crown Prosecutor: Of course Bayly, you know 7 that your movements have been questioned in connection with the death of Elsie Walker?

Before and answer was given the Coroner remarked: 1 think wc will adjourn. The room is very stuffy. The Court then rose until 2.15 p.m.