CLOSING STAGES OF THE WALKER INQUEST

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6815, 19 January 1929, Page 8

CLOSING STAGES OF THE WALKER INQUEST

Purchase of a Hat EVIDENCE OP WIPE OP WILLIAM BAYLY NOT INTERESTED IN HOME. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. The inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of the girl Elsie Walker was resumed at II o’clock this morning. Phyllis Dorothy Bayly, wife of William Alfred Bayly, said that she was married in Auckland on August 29, after that living at Epsom, while her husband boarded elsowhere. She remembered on tho Sunday before Elsie Walker’s disappearance. She met her husband at midday and they went out in the afternoon to tea at Mrs. Fowler’s, where witness was staying. Later her husband left to visit friends. She next saw her husband in Queen street at 2.45 on Monday afternoon. They paid a bill, she bought a hat and they had tea in the city. They looked at tho shops and returned to Epsom at 9 p.m., this being October 1. Her husband left her then and returned for her to Epsom at 11 o’clock next morning. They had lunch in tho city, went to the pictures and had afternoon toa with a friend, mooting nobody else that afternoon, but they had tea together at Epsom, her husband leaving at eight o’clock. She went out to Hondcrson on the Wednesdaly. The coroner (Mr. Hunt): Where did your husband go on the Monday morning ? Witness: Out to Honderson. Why didn’t you go ? —I had no wish to. Didn’t you want to see the placo whore you were to live ? —I knew my husband would see it was alright. The coroner: How curious. . Milliner’B Testimony.

Adelaide Selkirk, a milliner, of Mount Eden, employed in Karangahape road, said on giving evidence on the previous day, that she remembered William Bayly calling at the shop in Novembor last. Three women were employed in tho shop. Sho knew neither Bayly nor Fawcett,’ who had; accompanied him. When Bayly was asked which was the girl he pointed to witness and said: “That’s tho one.’’ Witness, when asked by Bayly if she remembered his wife being in for a hat, said she did not know whether sho would Temember again. Fawcett asked if the hat priced at 19s lid was bought on October 1. In the day book the third of tho last sale was valued at IDs lid. Witness hersolf made tho sale, Tho indications from the position of the sale in tho book was that tho hat was sold about the middle of the afternoon. Dockets wero not given to customers when sales were made. No inquiries had been mado about tho sale by any police officer.

Mr. Meredith: Was the middle of tho afternoon suggested as tho time of tho sale f Witness: No. Mr. Northcroft said that ho had arranged for the wife of Bill Bayly to bring the hat to the Court tho next morning. He asked that witness should also be in attendance, Mr, Hunt said that tho more producing of tho hat did not soam to prove anything. Mr. Northcroft: That is a somewhat amazing statement to make. Mr. Hunt: No, it isn’.t I know something about tho sifting of evidence and I don’t regard that as evidence, Tho wife could say “It was a little dark hat and I bought it at so and so,” but it did not prove anything. I don’t think much of that evidence, Mr. Northcroft: I will still have the hat. Mr. Hunt: You can have the hat and you can have the girl. Counsel to Address Court. “That is all the evidence that is likely to throw any light, directly or indirectly, on the mystery,” said Mr. Meredith, after the milliner’s assistant had been called. Exhaustive inquiries had been mado and everywhere had olicited the fact that Elsie Walker was an exceedingly nice and well-be-haved girl. Mr. Hunt: Is there any further inquiry you would like me to call ? Mr. B. Mowbray (for the girl’s father: No. All I'm concerned about is tho character of tho girl and the evidence has plainly shown it is good. Mr. Northcroft stated, however, that ho wanted the evidence of tho conversation between the Hamilton and Te Puke polico and Constable Bowman (Auckland), particularly the Hamilton version.

Mr. Hunt: That is more or less an inside police matter. Mr. Northcroft: People in Auckland have gone a long way to discount the Te Puke constable’s statement and I think this evidence is important to my clients.

Mr. Hunt; I don’t want to waste tho public’s time. I don't think the papers are relative to the girl’s death. Mr. Northcroft: I insist that the evidonce be produced. Mr. Hunt then said that although it is not customary for counsel to address the Court at coronial inquiries, he was prepared to give Mr, Northcroft the opportunity. Ho asked Mr. Meredith if he had any point to raise. Mr. Meredith: It is not for mo to comment. * Mr. Northcroft said he would bo unable to have his comments ready beforo lunch and ho would be glad of the opportunity when tho inquest re-open-cd at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.