ELSIE WALKER CASE

Northern Advocate, 5 March 1929, Page 6

ELSIE WALKER CASE

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

NEARING THE END. (Special to “Northern. Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. Further evidence, concerning the large number of inquiries made in .the Elsie Walker case by detectives and the uniformed branches of the Auckland Police Force, was given at the Commission of Inquiry yesterday. Over four hours was occupied by Detective-Sergeant Kelly in concluding his evidence. Testimony was also given by Constable Jackson, of Te Puke, and Defective White, of Hamilton, when .Commissioner E. Page, .S.M., adjourned the hearing until today. He asked Mr A. E. Currie, of the Crown Law Office, who framed the evidence, how many more witnesses he proposed to call? Counsel replied that there now only remained Inspector Eccles, of .Hamilton, and DetectiveSergeant Biekerdike, uf Auckland, and the inquiry should end, he said, about tomorrow.

EVIDENCE CONCLUDED,

TWO POINTS RULED OUT. COUNSEL TO CONFER. AUCKLAND, This Day. When the police inquiry opened this, morning, the Grown Solicitor, Ml’ V. iR. Meredith, asked whether the Coni- ; niissioiier would permit him to give evidence in reply to a letter forwarded by Mr R. B. Lusk, solicitor for the Bayly family, to the Minister of Justice in ■which, Mr Meredith suggested, a veiled threat was contained

as to the manner in which, he had conducted the Ooronial Inquiry. Air E, Page said he had given some thought to the matter and had come to the conclusion that the conduct of the Coronial Inquiry was not a matter within the scope of the Commission. Responsibility in that connection rested with Mr Meredith and he thought he could not have any evidence on the subject.

Inspector Wohlman, recalled, said only one witness who was briefed was not called at the inquest and the ground ho might have covered was given, in evidence, by a witness in Auckland.

Replying to the Commissioner, Mr A. E. Currie said he wanted this evidence owing to the publicity of Wohiman’s statement. It would be in the interests of the police to have the exact position before the Commission. Mr Page said this was touching on ground on which he had just given a lulling. ; i Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike, in evidence, said the statement he had made that certain people interviewed had not been associated with Elsie Walker conveyed his own opinion, based on his investigations. Questioned concerning Miss Annie Walker, witness said it would have meant bringing her 70 miles oh horseback to interview her. Had he thought she had anything in her possession which would have thrown light on the mystery, the girl would have been interviewed. This concluded the evidence.

Mr Page said that counsel had, between them, elicited the facts with great ehre and thoroughness, but if any counsel .desired to be heard he would,, of course, hear him. Counsel agreed to confer on the subject and the commission adjourned till 2.15 p.m.