THIS MORNING’S HEARING.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19270, 31 May 1934, Page 6

THIS MORNING’S HEARING.

INQUIRIES BY DETECTIVE. CARTRIDGE SHELL ELIMINATED. EXAMINATION OF RIFLES. (Times Special Reporter.) AUCKLAND, Thursday. Continuing his evidence this morning, Detective Sneddon said that from a row of sacks along Hie top of Hie rail fence at Lakey’s engine shed there was one sack missing. Next to the place where the one was missing, there was a sack with a small margin disclosing that it had not come in contact with the sun. Witness took possession of the sack which was produced in Court. On the same day, October 19, Constable Richardson drew his attention to Lakey’s vegetable garden, where Constable Elms handed him a .22 calibre cartridge shell which had been lying on the ground among some grass, close to some gooseberry bushes.

The shell was tarnished, and it had a spider’s web inside it. It was placed in an envelope, labelled and sent to Auckland. It had a round firingpoint mark on the butt. On October 21, he returned from Bayiy’s property after executing a search warrant. The shell found in Lakey’s garden was compared with the one which fell from Bayiy’s blue denim trousers. It was not the same but had a different striking mark, and was presumably an old shell. Cartridge Shell from Pocket. While the police searchers were in Bayiy’s washhouse on October 21 witness saw the chief-detective examining two pairs of denim trousers. Bayly said he was wearing one pair on October 15, but he could not say which. When they were in the porch a .22 calibre cartridge shell fell from one of the pockets, while detective Findlay was handling the two pairs of trousers. The trousers from which the shell dropped were marked. Detective Findlay asked Bayly where he got the shell and he said: “That will be from my rifle. I was shooting down in the swamp on Friday and Saturday.’’ ‘ Among the articles taken from tho house that day were the belt and sheath. Later at the separator room Bayly handed his .22 calibre Spandau rifle to the chief detective saying he had bought it in Iluntly on October 12. He had bought 200 rounds of ammunition and used one box of long cartridges. The other cartridges could, not be found. Shooting of Hare. Ilis Honour: Have those cartridges been found since? —No sir. “We noticed blood on the Spandau,” said Detective Sneddon. “ Bayly j explained that he had shot a hare on Saturday and that he had held it up by the hind legs and struck it on the head with the rifle." Tho Dog Incident. Detective Sneddon next told of the dog incident, saying that Bayly went j to the Lakey homestead on the evening of October 25 and told them he had chased a man along the ridge and that his dog had caught a strange dog. He later said he thought the strange dog belonged to Wright, but he would not telephone Wright. When witness j rang up Wright’s he found Wright was in bed. Constable Ross was billeted at Wright’s at that lime. Next day witness went over to Bayiy’s and look a statement from accused relating to the dog incident. Experiments with Rifles. Corroboration of Detective Allsopp’s story about the finding of the guns in the swamp near Bayiy’s house, and the production of Ihe slalemonl made by Bayly at that lime, was next given by Detective Sneddon. Witness said that with Inspector Hollis lie went to Hie showroom of G. G. Kelly in Victoria Arcade, Auckland, and handed him Bayiy’s rifle and also the rifle found in Ihe swamp. Mr Kelly fired shots from ho I h rifles and witness took possession of Hie shells (produced). He then look Ihe rifle lo Dr. D. Brown, at Hie Auckland University College, Dr. Brown fired sliois from both rifles j and retained Ihe shells. His Honour: Bolii lliesc rifles you j speak about were .22 calibre?—Yes. I The detective, the following day, handed the shell found in Bayiy’s trouser pocket to Hr. Brown who photographed it in witness’s presence, witness taking possession of Ihe cartridge case again. He returned lo Ruawaro on December 8 and I hat evening Constable Mills handed him Ihrcc shotgun cartridges which were unlired and had Ihe lops cut off. Discoveries ill' biirnl bone, charcoal and Ihe lul’l of hair in Ihe sheep dip nl Bayiy’s , property, also Ihe pig wallow where! burnt rag, charcoal and Ihe half-heel of a bool, were found were next described by wilness. 1 At this singe the luncheon adjourn- i menf was taken.