ELSIE WALKER INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1929, Page 5

ELSIE WALKER INQUEST

CORONER’S CRITICISM. (By Telegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND, January 17. I In* inquest was continued to-dav concerning the death of .Hiss Elsie AAalkcr. aged 17, whose body was found in tlu* scrub at lamaki on the night of October 7tli. after the girl had disappeared on October Ist Irom the home ni Mr and M,rs Frank Bavly, at Uapanioa. ( unstable J. Bowman, recalled, denied having heard anything about Constable .Jackson suspecting Bill Bayly, or saving that if Bill was not got he‘ore Ins 'lather, nothing would lie heard about the case. Witness said he got a message l from Hamilton at 3.30. -Mr Hunt: J hen you got. it before the constable sent it? -Mr Xorlherolt: When the constable •says he sent it. -Mr Hunt said: Constable Jackson said he sent the message at 3 o’clock, and the present witness said he got it at 2.30 o’clock. 'The history of the message was another thing the police •should have inquired into. Constable Bowman, recalled, denied that Constable Jackson. warned the Hamilton police that if they did not get Bill Bayly before his (father saw him in Auckland, they weren’t likely to find out anything about the case. A telephonic conversation took place at 2.30 in the morning, whereas Constable Jackson said he telegraphed from Tepuko at three o’clock. Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike said lie interviewed the Bayly family and other persons to whom deceased was known, lie was unable to gather any information of anyone having accompanied the girl in a car, or of any person leaving the Bayly home with a girl. .Mr Hunt: But you were 36 days too late, weren’t you ? Witness: I’JI explain that. He added that lie could find no correspondence to the girl, nor could he discover whether she had any close friends. The girl left no note prior to her disappearance, and he could find nothing of any threat having been made to her. inquiries produced no evidence of . a car having been seen. The distance from where the ‘car was left at Papa toetoe to whole Hie body of the girl was found was eight and three-quarters of a mile. Practically a house to house canvass of the district was made. Mr Hunt: But how long after—where are you starting your evidence? Witness: l am starting on November 31 li. These inquiries l are after November 3tb. * Witness said he made his inquiries as a detective. Mr Hunt said he would not think anybody would know what happened a month back. Witness then described an interview with Bayly at which Bayly said he had not been carrying on with deceased, and lie had never interfered with her. 'The detective denied that lie asked Bayly to make a confidni't of him, and witness added that there was no indication of Bill Bayly ever having been in the district at the time in question. Mr Xorthcroft: Was there any appearance of an obstruction or hindrance (from Mr Bayly sour, to your getting any information you wanted? Witness: No. Mr Bayly suggested that I should see other members of tinfamily by themselves. Mr -Mowbray: In your investigations did you discover anything against the character of Elsie Walker? Witness: Her character was good. Detective Sergt. Kelly, recalled, said there was no sign of obstruction to the police on the part ol any member of the Bayly ifainilv. R. B. Lusk described a visit he made with Bayly senr. to Henderson, to see Bayly junr. Mr Xorthcroft: What took place when Baylv saw his son ?—Baylv asked Bill if he lmd heard the horrible news about Elsie Walker. Bill said “ No,” and then his father told him briefly. He seemed very much surprised. He was asked about the key of the car, and lie said he had handed it over to his mother. Father and son then discussed the work Bill was doing on the farm, and then Frank Bayly went into the house to talk to Bill’s wife. Bill and witness talked outside on the verandah. They talked mostly about the •farm and Bill’s work. Bill asked witness if he knew any more limn “dad” about the death of Elsie Walker. Witness told him that he did not know anything more.. Except foi that question, they had talked about farm work. All the police witnesses have now been called, and the inquiry will end .to-morrow. FURTHER EVIDENCE. AUCKLAND, Jan. ISThe "Walker inquest was resumed at 11 o’clock. Pliyllis Dorothy Bayly, wife of Win. Alfred Baylv, said she was married in Auckland on August 29th. After that she was living at Epsom while her husband boarded elsewhere. She remembered on the Sunday before Elsie Walkers disappearance, meeting her husband at midday and they went out in the afternoon to lea at Airs Fowler’s (where Phyllis was staying). Hot husband left to visit a friend. She next saw her husband in Queen Street at 2.15 o’clock on Monday afternoon. They paid a bill, sbo bought n hut and they had tea in the city and lookmi at the shops and returned to F.pso mat 8 p.m. (October Ist). Bill left her then and returned for her to Ep-