MRS. LANGDON TELLS HER STORY

NZ Truth, Issue 1239, 29 August 1929, Page 7

MRS. LANGDON TELLS HER STORY

Man Oh Train?

Public Comment

Important Witness In Elsie Walker Case Talks Freely of Train Episode EXCLUSIVE INTER VTEMWnH i m2..rRIJTH i,

' ( INVITED to give the story of Avhat she remembered m regard to the c\ r ehts of the first, Aveek m October of last year,. Mrs. Langdon related the folloAving to '"Truth's" -representative. ■.'■•■■

. : "I Avas on a visit to my mother, Mrs. Brady, at Papamoa, last September and on Monday; October 1, my sister, Mrs. Thomasen, and myself had been to Tauranga for the double purpose of doing some shopping and to see our sister, Mrs. Richardson.

"We came back by the evening train from Tauranga and before Aye had arrived at Papamoa siding I, who was sitting facing the compartment which divides the- passenger car into two sections, saAV Bill Bayly standing m the little passageAvay Avhich is between the tAA r o doors.

"I drew my sister's attention to him as she was sitting with her back to me. I said: 'There's Bill,' and. she turned and looked to see him.

"Mr. Preston was m the compartment with us, but I can't say if he heard me or not.

"Mrs. league A\ r as also there. Bill had on a felt hat turned up all the Ayay

round. I cannot say A\'h at colored suit he Avas wearing, but he had on a raincoat.

"I- cannot say whether he saw mo. It Avas late' twilight Avhen Aye left tne train at Papamoa, but it Avas a very clear, fine night and Aye could see things quite Avell 'when Aye left the train.

"Mr. Teague was at the station Avaiting with his trap for Mrs. Teague and he Avas on the eastern side of tne siding. When my sister and myself had left the train and it had pulled out again I looked around to see Avhere Bill was, but he AA-as noAvhere m. sight.

"The fact that Bill was not m sight was\ commented upon between my sister and myself. My sister said something to the effect that Twohder where Bill went,' or 'What has happened to Bill?' but as we could not see him we came to the conclusion- that he had either not left the train or that he had'gone on with it and would drop off nearer his home when it neared the cutting into the fern as sometimes the train was going slow enough for this to be done with reasonable safety.

. "It didn't strike us as remarkable to see Bill, but .we. may have Avondered a bit because Aye kneAV that there had been some trouble between himself and his parents. That night there Avere visitors "at my mother's house and it Avas late Avhen Aye Avent to bed; m fact, about midnight.

"The room my sister and her husband slept m was at the back of the house

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Investigator.)

As each, week passes new developments m the latest phases of the Elsie Walker tragedy arise to swell the volume of the growing public demand that another inquest be held. ;

Still vigorously pursuing its own line of investigation, "N.Z. Truth" this week interviewed Mrs. Kate Langdon, Mrs. Thomasen 's sister, who declared that she saw Bill Bayly on the Te Puke train on October 1 last.

facing towards the Bayly home and the light m her room Avould shine out that Avay.

"When I retired for the night I did not go off to sleep straight aAvay, but read for a Avhile. My light Avas still '■ ~ \ .-

burning at twenty past twelve, but it shone out to the south and the track from the Baylys to the road was to the north so that my light would not be visible from either the Baylys or the track. •'■■■"":

"It was just 12.20 when J heard a carpassing and felt; the vibration of a car going by. Tne reason I thought the car came along the track, to or' from*' the Baylys, . Avas because Avhen a car came that Avay it Avas possible to feel the A r ibration and this may be because my mother's house' is much nearer the track from the Baylys than it is to the road. The road is below us and the track is just on the same level. "I knoAV my sister, Mrs. Thomasen, told the detectives when they came along weeks later that I had thought 1 heard a car pass after midnight and she had heard nothing because she Avent to sleep right away, but no, detective ever came to see me to ask me about what time I heard, a car pass. "They could have discovered my address from my sister had they wished to do so. I have never seen Elsie Walker as far as I know and I certainly saw nothing of her either on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday. ' "Quite likely Mr. Preston did not hear mc make the remark: 'There's Bill,' as I belieA'e he is a bit deaf.'' "At that tinie there Avas nothing significant about the fact that I saAV Bill on the train.

"I could not say lie Avas concealing! himself, but I never saw him m the carriage, or. at all, until 1 caught sight of him m the little passageway betAveen the tAvo compartments." Thus Mrs. Dangdon confirms her sister's statement as to seeing Bill Bayly on the train on October I.' Though there was . some mention pf strange footprints m or around the car shed after the car Avas found to be missing it Avould seem that no effort was made to preserve them by the simple expedient of placing a 'box over one or more of the footprints until the police had examined them. There is considerable feeling m the Bay of Plenty over the groAving belief that there does not seem- to be any desire m the mind of the CroAvn to deal Avith the later developments m an open and straightforAvard manner, and have such evidence as can now be .given, to throAV a fresh light on the mystery, heard before a properly constituted authority, preferably a coroner and jury. '.''■''". . The feeling prevails throughout the district that justice is taking . second place to expediency or a concerted attempt to save the faces of those . whose inefficiency . or bungling has led to this impasse. In Auckland there is a strong impression that the Crown Daw Office or the Justice Department is sheltering behind the fact that there is no statutory proA'ision m the. Dominion laAvs to reopen the inquest and that this lack of provision is -being made the most of either to save expense or from other motives. . ' ,