THE ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 14

THE ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY.

Sir, —It is passing strange that successive Governments, knowing that a glaring defect in our colonial law has existed, and still exists up to the present day, have made i/o effort to amend the law. I, of course, refer to the inability of tho proper official to reopen a coroner's inquest after a verdict has once been pronounced, notwithstanding that important evidence proves to bo forthcoming which was not available to the authorities at tho time the inquest was held. The. defect was brought to public notice in a case which occurred in the South some twenty years ago and yet nothing has been done to remedy it! It is always recognised in civil criminal cases as a ground for granting a new trial, the discovery of fresh evidence. The public are not at all satisfied with tho above case being left as it now stands and demand that every avenue of enlightenment shall be explored in order to solve the mystery of the unfortunate girl's untimely death. Governments can and do, if they like, pass a short measure, especially of the machinery variety, through both houses in a day. Why is it not being done ? Sine Nomine.

Sir,—l was pleased to read in Tuesday's Herald a letter signed "Justice." He voices the opinion of thousands of peopla in New Zealand. One of the most brutal crimes ever committed in this district is being allowed to pass into oblivion. Wo want to find out why, A magistral© was sent up from Wellington to investigate the conduct of the detectives and police, which was the greatest farce ever held in Auckland. There are a great many people besides myself who are determined to see this mystery cleared up, in spite of what Mr. Wilford may say. A J.P.