TRIAL OF BAYLY

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 7

TRIAL OF BAYLY

EVIDENCE OF DETECTIVES TWELFTH DAY OF HEARING ‘RIFLE TO SHOOT PUKEKOS’ 0 DISCOVERIES IN GARDEN CHIEF DETECTIVE SPEAKS By Telegraph—Press Association. • Auckland, June 2. The Bayly trial has now reached the twelfth day, and not more than half the number of witnesses expected to be called by the Crown have yet been heard. There was a fair attendance of the public this morning when Defective J. B. Findlay continued Kis evidence. He told of visits to Bayly’s property and inquiries at Lakey’s, much of the evidence being a corroboration of that of Detectives Allsopp and Sneddon, with whom he was closely associated. . _ Detective Findlay detailed the origin of the exhibits labelled “scrapings from the floor of Bayly’s cowshed,” marking on a photograph the position from which the scrapings were taken. He then dealt with the handling of other exhibits which were given to Dr. Gilmour. When the shell fell from Bayly’s pocket witness examined it and noticed that it had a rectangular striker mark extending from the rim inward. On his return to Lakey s the shell was compared with the one found at Lakey’s, and it was found that the striker marks differed. Cross-examined by Mr. Leary, Detective Findlay said that when he went to Bayly’s house the night Bayly called at the police camp he could not tell whether anyone had been at Bayly s or not. Detective Findlay indicated where Bayly’s small furnace stood. One scraping taken from the cowshed had net been produced, as it gave a CONVERSATION WITH BAYLY. When conversing with Bayly near the lake Detective Findlay had told him that a number of unemployed might be put on the search. Bayly replied: “My God, they should find something, if there is anything.” Detective Findlay said that he had not mentioned the striker marks on the shell in the lower Court. “Have you had any conference on this point with your colleagues or Mr. Meredith in the past 24 hours?” asked Mr. Leary. Detective Findlay: No. Thi<? concluded the cross-examination. Chief-Detective James Sweeney, Auckland, related a conversation with Bayly on October 19, when accused said that no one had been on his property with a sledge. Sweeney detailed the examination of Bayly’s sledge when three boards were removed. The police did not have a search warrant that day. Bayly declared that he had had no visitors in the week-end, and had seen no strangers about his property. Bayly asked if the detectives would like to inspect the carshed. Detective Sweeney said “Yes.” Bayly then said. “If you had said you were going to I would have told you to go to hell and get a warrant.” A search of the car-shed was then made. Chief-Detective Sweeney, described seeing Bayly’s kniie in his belt, adding that he had inspected Eayly’s hands. There was a small abrasion on the right hand. Questioned about sledge marks near the fence, Bayly declared that he had driven up to inspect a private telephone line. BAYLY’S HOUSE SEARCHED. I The chief-detective next described an interview with Bayl. • on October 23. He gave details of the rooms of Bayly’s house, showing by a photograph which way the bedrooms faced. After a search he asked Bayly which pair of denims he was wearing on Sunday. Bayly said he did not know, but it wc one of the pairs. There were stains on the legs of one pair. While Detective Findlay was handling them a pea-rifle shell fell from a pocket. This was cn October 21. ► Detective Sweeney took possession- of Bayly’s belt and sheath. The knife was not in the sheath and he ask?d for it. Bayly went <o the kitchen and produced it from the back of a cupboard containing cups and saucers, but no other knives. At the cowshed Bayly produced a pearifle. There appeared to be a new smear like blood on the barrel, also a smudge near the muzzle. Bayly told Detective Findlay that he did not know what the smear was. He had shot a here on the Saturday and hit it on the head with the barrel. Asked if he had any ammunition Bayly said he had got. 200 rounds and had shot fifty away. He went to a box. nailed to the separator-room wall. Then he said: “That’s funny. There should be three boxes there.” When asked: “Well, Bill, what did you get the rifle for?” Bayly ; id, “To tell you the truth, to shoot pukekos, which are becoming '■ nuisance.” Chief-Detective Sweeney detailed further conversations of detectives with accused on the occasion when Bayly made the report that he had seen a prowler. On December 4 witness was t Bayly’s with Constables Julian and Watts, digging in. the garden near the house. His Honour: “This was the first time that digging was commenced?” “At this spot,” replied Detective Sweeney, who said that what appeared to be burnt bone, burnt cloth, three buttons, buckles, brace fasteners and charcoax were discovered spread over an area of six square feet. The material was a spade-depth deep under dead grass which had been turned in. After witness had detailed the handling of certain exhibits the court adjourned till Tuesday morning.