ELSIE WALKER'S DEATH.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17528, 17 January 1929, Page 5

ELSIE WALKER'S DEATH.

INQUIRY CONTINUED. A CONSTABLE’S EVIDENCE. OBJECTED TO BY COUNSEL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 17. .Dr D. N. W. Murray, police sur- ; geon, was recalled at the opening of •the afternoon sitting.Mr Meredith: Evidence has been .•given that Elsie Walker bumped her head. Could you give an opinion as to whether the bruise could have been • caused on the Saturday morning?—! .don’t think it would have been caused 'two or three days before, because the colour of the bruise indicated that the bruise I saw was quite recent. You know the wooden bows on the hood of a touring car? Could the bruise be caused by a blow on the .head from one of those?—There is a possibility. A fairly severe blow can be made with the bumping of the car? —Quite. Is it possible to receive a blow with : the impact which would have brought about the bruise you saw on Elsie Walker?—Yes, it is possible. Witness gave some technical evidence as to the result of a blow on the head. Actions of the brain and scalp following concussion were mentioned. Witness said that his justification for hi§ conclusion was the bruising of the scalp as he described it, and the exclusion of all other possibilities. Mr Northcroft: That is a negative result to arrive at.

You would not suggest that other - pathologists and surgeons would come - to the same conclusion? —Yes. Dr Gilmour, pathologist at the Auck- ’ land hospital, was also recalled. He . said the papeax-ance of the bruise on * Elsie Walker’s head was a recent one, He did not think that the bruis e had been caused on Saturday, as suggested. At the latest, the bruise would have been produced within 24 hours •- of death. Assuming that the girl died from concussion following a' blow on the head, witness thought it was impossible for her to have walked any -distance after receiving the blow. Considerable technical cross-exam-ination was cari-ied out by Mr Northcroft, who dealt with the fii-st report of Dr Murray and Dr Gilmour as compared with the statements of the paiChologist. After one question had been asked by counsel, Mr Meredith objected to ' it, saying that medical men were not ■brought to court to be asked veiled • questions.

Another few minutes of technical -evidence followed, when Mr Hunt said: “Where is all this leading? Can you tell me what you are leading up to? All that I am concerned about is the death of the girl and not this -scientific talk.” ' Mr Northcroft: If your worship is -not capable of being enlightened by "the cross-examination, I will desist. Mr Hunt: Well then, desist. A Constable’s Description. Alfred John Jackson, constable, - stationed at Te Puke, said he did not " hear of the loss of money at the same time as the loss of the car and the •disappearance of Elsie Walker. He - was present with Sergt. Kelly and Mrs 'Bayly when the effects of the dead • 'girl were checked up. Witness did not know the names of numerous articles—(laughter)— and Mrs Bayly assisted Sergt. Kelly to - make .an inventory. A wristlet watch was amongst the property. A cardful examination was made ~ by witness and another police officer of the articles of clothing. One of these was found torn and showed stain marks. In the evening, following the time he received notification of the disappearance of the girl and the car, ' he telephoned the district in the Bay •of Plenty thoroughly. The next moxm- - Ing he was told that the car had been ■ recovered at Papatoetoe. No Bayly Missing. Inquiries by witness showed there no one missing from the Bayly --family. On the Saturday morning about 3-40 a telegram was received that the body of ’the girl had been • -found at Panmure. He went by car to see Mr Bayly without delay. He went again at 11 o’clock but Mr Bay- ' ly had gone. Mrs Bayly gave a state- ■ ment, and on this occasion it was found that one of the members of the family, the son William, was in Auckland.

“I found out quite a lot from her In the absence of Mr Bayly,” continued witness. He said he got possession of the keys of the car and • one was missing. It was her key and was taken from the little red box in ' her bedroom. The key she produced was Bill’s. Asked how she came to "be in possession of Bill’s key she said he went away to Auckland and she went with him to the railway station. ’ He left his key in the car when he : got OUt. A Shrewd Man. Witness next communicated with the Hamilton police and advised them about the key, Bill’s absence in Auck- ‘ land, and also said he suspected him. Witness said the father had left for Auckland and would arrive at 11 o’clock that night. He suggested that they get Bill Bayly at once, before - the father arrived, otherwise they would never find out anything about the case. He said to .the police at Hamilton: “He is a shewd man, is Mr ' Bayly.” Witness added that he received a crime report from Detective Kelly and the next day the detective arrived. He received concerning the missing money. One sum had been taken from a room used by Mr Bayly, - -senr.

Husband Cautions Wife. On the Wednesday, when witness saw Mr Bayly, he gathered there was something wrong. He was sitting in a chair between his wife and witness, while a statement was being obtained. Mr Bayly, stated the witness, said to his wife: “Don’t tell him too much, mother. Leave it to me. I’ve got more brains than you have.” Witness assured Mr Bayly it was quite all right and that Mrs Bayly was giving the desii*ed statement. When the car was found Mrs Bayly asked whether she could withdraw the infoiYnation. Witness formed the impression then that something was wrong. He did not know, even then, the son was missing. A little boy said Elsie could drive the car all l’ight, but Mr and Mrs Baylv pooh-poohed the idea. Influential Friends. “Leave it to me, mother; I’ll fix it,” said Mr Bayly, referring to the withdrawal of the information. He said he had some influential friends. “I have a complaint to lodge against Constable Jackson,” said Mr Bayly to Detective Kelly, when he and witness arrived togethei’. Mr Bayly said witness had stolen a key of the car and thrown suspicion on a member of the family. Witness said it was a “cheek” on Mr Bayly"s part to make the suggestion, as he was trying to discover the lost car. “Look here, Mr Bayly, don’t you talk to me like you did to your wife. You talked to her like a pig,” said witness in reply. Mr Bayly then apologised for what he had said. A Bright Witness. •Mr. Northcroft: 1 take it that you are the author of the Bill Bayly theory? Mr. Hunt: 1 think this witness is the brightest spot in the box so far. Mr. Northcroft: That is as I expected. That lias been your attitude all through. Witness said that when the car was found there seemed to he no desire on the part of Mr. and Mrs. Bayly to proceed further.

“I think we can look upon you as the originator of the Bill Bayly theory.” suggested Mr. Northcroft. This witness denied, but he admitted lie wag the first to get the information. Mr. Northcroft: This extravagant matter you have given was reported by you to vour headquarters?—l submitted reports. Confidential Reports. Mr. Meredith said, when the reports were asked for by Mr. Northcroft, that they were confidential documents. Mr. Northcroft: The conversations between the witness and his superiors have been related without the police reports being produced. “To slander people from the witness box in this manner and to stop short of letting us see the official documents that contain these fantastic matters is gross injustice.” Again Mr. Noi-thcroft asked if the reports would he produced. The Coroner: I have no power to produce the documents. Mr. Northroft: I ask the superintendent to produce the document. Mr. Meredith interrupted, and '•said the evidence was not his evidence. The questions had been put by the Coroner, who was conducting the coronial inquiry. Counsel said he was not going to take responsibility of interrupting the witness, as it would be improper and discourteous to do so. Mr. Northcroft: If Mr. Meredith and the superintendent stand upon police protection against producing the documents, I can proceed no further. I will leave the publio to judge. Public As Judge. Mr. Hunt: You can call your clients and get their version if you like, and then the public can judge. This poor girl is found dead and I want to satisfy lier father that this country is going to do all it can to find out liow the body got where it was found. Mr. Northcroft: Ail attempt had been made in the course' of the inquiry to see whether by any chance a charge of murder could be made against any individual. Now the inquiry has got about as far from the deatli of Elsie Walker ay, it is possible to get. But the coroner has committed the gravest injustice to my clients.

“What this witness 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 railway, post office and other officials in the district which indicates, after the most careful combing, that there is no evidence *of young Baylv being in the district at the time. In the face 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 partieularity, and, whether or not the headquarters of the police knew that Bayly had formed the intention on the Sunday night to go to Henderson on the Monday, that fact was not known until it was hot from the constable, even by Mr. Bayly. ' The next questions addressed by Mi . Northcroft to witness brought forth the veplv that he had I>een in the force for 20 years, and in his own district for 18 years. In 1915 he had ah* injury and wag off duty for three The injury was adjourned till 10 a.m. to-day. , On resuming at 10 o clock this morn-* ing the inquest was adjourned till 11 o’clock, and then further adjourned until 2.15 n.m.