STILL UNSOLVED

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 19, 17 January 1929, Page 5

STILL UNSOLVED

THE WALKER MYSTERY. INQUIRY PROCEEDS. AUCKLAND, Last Night. When the. inquest on tJio late Elsie Walker was resumed this afternoon, C'otustajble Jaoksjon, oi 1 Te Puke/ described Ins investigations in the district. Inquiries by witness showed there wa s not 0110 missing from the. Bayly family on Saturday morning. About 3.40 *a telegram was received that the body of the girl had been found at Panmnre. He went by car to see Bayly without delay. He went again at 11 o'clock, but Bayly had gone. Mr Bayly gave a statement, and on this occasion it was found that one of the members of the family, the son was in Auckland.' FOUND OUT A LOT. "I found out quit© a. lot from her in the. absence of Bayly," continued witness. Witness next communicated with the Hamilton police and advised them about the key and Bill's absence in Auckland. Hes als,o said he suspected him. Witness said the father had left foir Auckland and would arrive at 11 o'clock that night. He. suggested they get Bill Bayly at once before the fcther arrived; otherwise they would never find out anything about the case. He said to the police at Hamilton, "He. is a shrewd man is Mr. Bayly." SOMETHING WRONG. On the Wednesday when witness saw Mr Bayly he gathered there was something wrong. He was sitting in his chair between his wife and witness while, the statement was being obtained. Bayly, stated witness, s.aid "to hi s wife: "Don't tell me toomuch, mother. Leave it to me. I've got nioro brains than you have."'

Witness had assured Bayly its was quite all i right and that Mrs Bayly was giving the. desired statement. When the car was found Mrs Bayly asked whether she could withdraw the information. Witness formed the impression then that something was wrong. He did not know even then that the son was missing. A little boy said Elsie could drive the car all right, but Mr and Mrs Bayly "pooh-poohed" the idea, ."Leave it to me, mother; I'll fix it," gaid Bayly, referring to the withdrawal of the* information,. He said he, had some influential friends. Mr iNortneroiv: 1 take it you are the author 01. uie jjiu jusayiy tueory? ivir j.j.uiib x vunix, ttiua witness jb tne. Dii&iiteob ui me i>ox ** u lar* jjlr, Northciolt: That is as. 1 expec ceU ; tuat has be/411 'your atutuo> aii tnrougu. Uitness said that when the car was lound tnere seemeu, to be no desire on tne part or Mr and ivirs £sayly to proceed further. "1 tnuik We can look upon you as the originator of the.' xJiU -tfayiy theory,'l' suggested, Mr. jNor.ihcrolt.. inis the witness but ho, admitted he, was the. first. t 0; get information, REPORTS SUBMITTED, Mr Northcroft: This extravagantmatter you have given wa s reported by you to your headquarters ?— l submitted reports. Mr Northcroft: The conversations between witness and his superiors have been related without the police reports being produced. To slander people from the witness-box in Ihis manner and to stop short of letting us see the official documents that contain these fantastic matters is gross injustice. Again Mr Northcroft asked if the reports would be produced. The coroner: I have no power to produce documents. You can call v „ur clients and get their version it "you like, and then the public can judge This poor girl is found dead I want to satisfy her father that this country is poing to do all it can to find out how the body got where it was found. o Mr Northcroft: An attempt has been made in the course of the mauirv to see whether by any chance J charge of murder could bo made individual. Now them-

quiry has got about, as far from, the tieatJi of *4Bie Walter as it is possible, to get, but the coroner, has committed the gravest injustice to my clients.. '"What this witnesg has been permitted and invited to say," said counsel, "has been the vehicle of the gravest slander." INSULT TO POLICE. Mr Meredith: This witness, has been called by the police as inquiries have been made from the railway, post office and other officials in the district, which indicate after most careful combing that) there is no evidence of young Bayly being in the district at the time. In the fact of that the insult to the police was most improper and ungracious and should be withdrawn. Mr Northcroft; William Bayly s movements on the Wednesday were questioned with the greatest particularity, and whether or not the head, ouartexs of the police knew thajt Bayly had formed the intention on Sunday night to go to Henderson on Monday, that fact was. not know*, until it was got from the constable, even by Bayly. The inquiry was adjourned at this stage "till to-morrow.