ELSIE WALKER CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20332, 13 August 1929, Page 10

ELSIE WALKER CASE.

THE MYSTERY REVIVED.

LETTERS TO MRS. BAYLY.

INTERVIEW WITH WRITER

POLICE WITHIN EARSHOT

The following np of what purports to lie a new line of evidence concerning the mysterious death of Miss Elsie Walker, aged 17, whose body was found at Panmure on October 5, four days after her disappearance in a motor-car from her aunt's homo at Papatnoa, has resulted in some extraordinary proceedings. By arrangement with detectives, who were posted within earshot, Mrs. Frank Bayly, aunt of the dead girl and mother of Mr. William Bayly, one of the principal witnesses at the inquest, had an interview in Foster's Hotel, Wanganui, with Mrs. M. Thomason. It is alleged that Mrs. Thomason made statements reiterating the contents of letters forwarded to Mrs. Bayly, in which reference was made to the movements of Mr. William Bayly on October 1. The statements directly contradicted the exhaustive evidence adduced at the inquest last January. When Elsie Walker disappeared, Mrs. Thomason, whose husband is a builder, was living near tho approach to the Bayly homestead at Papamoa. She was one of the first persons interviewed bv tho police, and at that time she stated that she had last seen William Bayly at least 10 days before the girl vanished. The evidence at the inquest was to the effect that Mr. Bayly had left Papamoa for Auckland on September 13, and had not returned.

" He Was on That Train." After tho tragedy Mrs, Bayly went to reside iri Hamilton, Mr. William Bayly took over a farm in the Waikato, and Mrs. Thompson and her husband took up their residence about 25 miles from Wanganui. In February Mrs. Thomason opened correspondence with Mrs. Bayly, stating that while travelling with her sister, Mrs. Langdon, oa the Papamoa train on OctoLer 1 she saw William Bayly. The following letter was received from Wanganui, dated February 28:— "Dear Mrs. Bayly,—l am in receipt of yours dated the 11th inst., stating you were going to seo Bill in regard to my other letter, and I wonder did ho explain. My dear, if he told you the truth there would be no need of a letter from me. I told you both Mrs. Langdon and 1 were on that particular train, and if Bill won t tell you the truth then I will, as I think you ought to know. Ho was on that train. Certainly I should have told you before 1 left Papamoa, but I didn't know things would turn out as they hjve dor.e. Mr. and Mrs. Bayly, we mourn for both of you in The cross you have to bear, but can you imagine bow I feel, knowing what 1 know, and not doing my duty as I ought to do? I feel to a certain degree I am committing a crime myself by keeping knowledge."

Letters Handed to Police. Mrs. Bayly replied expressing surprise that Mrs. Thomason had not placed her statements before tho police, and on March 21 Mrs. Thomason wrote as follows :

" I've just had your letter and seemingly I need never have troubled writing you at all. You've always asked me to tell you of anything I know or hear, and yet as soon as /1 do, you just treat it with eoiitpir.pt. Mind you, I expected it. Bui luo think you could have appreciated tho spirit it was written you in. My dear, it only needs that information to have gone to tho cororn.T, and probably there would have been a different aspect in the case. However, if you are quite satisfied with Bill's version of where ho was then there's no more to lie said. I thought I'd tell you just in case you are unprepared when tho information goes to other quarters."

Mrs. Bayly referred the correspondence to the counsel for the family, Mr. E. H. Northcroft, Mr. It. B. Eusk and Mr. Fawcett, the son, William Bayly, suggesting that tho communications should be handed over to tlie police.

» Detectives Hear Conservation. Under advice Mrs. Bayly arranged to sec Mrs. Thomason at Wanganui, and a suitable room was engaged at the hotel to permit Detective Sneddon, of Auckland, and another detective to listen to the conversation.

On Juno 22 Mrs. Thomason called at (he hotel. Her statements overheard by the police were on tho lines indicated in her letters, and she is alleged to have said that her sister had first noticed William Bayly on the train. Two other women were named as having been on the same trnin. Mrs. Bayly again remarked that the matter could bo referred to tho police. Mrs. Thomason, it is alleged, drew attention to a door leading to an adjoining room, and snid that she would not continue tho discussion inside the hotel. The two ladies went info tho street, followed by Detective Sneddon. It is stated that Mrs. Langdon and tho other two ladies mentioned by Mrs. Thomason denied having seen William Bayly 011 the train.