ELSIE WALKER INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1929, Page 5

ELSIE WALKER INQUIRY

INQUIRY ADJOURNED

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. Mr Page adjourned the police inquiry until 3.30 p.m. to visit both Papatoetoe and Tarnaki, and see the spot where Elsie Walker’s body was found.

Mr Currie said certain matters needed an explanation, not necessarily charges against anyone. The first was the delay in starting inquiries after the police were informed. Then when the motor car was found at Papatoetoe there seemed to be the absence of such an inspection as would tend to identify persons occupying it or controlling it. There was also a delay between the liiuling of the car and making inquiries as to when it was first abandoned. It might have had a material bearing on what the police were trying to find out to interrogate Mrs Anderson, who saw the car at Papatoetoe. A uniformed officer was sent, whereas it might, with more proprietry, have been placed in the hands of a detective. As to the fiikling of the body, lie would have to invite officers responsible to explain why it was removed at night, time, when a thorough examination of the locality was impossible. Then it was a question whether detectives at the Central Office were justified in taking the opinion of the constable, who found the body, as to the cause of death. The next explanation necessary would be a delay in submitting the girts clothing for expert examination.

LATER. Mr Currie lengthily outlined the history of the Elsie W alker case, and detailed matters in connection with the handling of the case, which, he said, needed explanation. The Commissioner adjourned the inquiry while he visited the scene where the girl’s body as found. When the inquiry was resumed Supt. Wohlmann gave evidence. He said that at a conference of Inspectors, when the case was considered, the opinion expressed was that the inconclusive medical finding should be gone into further, and so Dr Murray was invited to corne to witness’s office. Mr Currie: W T hat was the date of that decision?

Witness said it was probably in the last week in October. The Commissioner: I want the original document put in by the doctor and presumably signed by him. Is it available ?

Mr Currie: Mr Hammond says that what you have is the original. Supt 'Wohlmann sad Dr Murray conferred with the Inspectors, with a view to arriving at a conclusion as to whether or not a crime was committed. No record of that conference was kept. There was no medical evidence or knowledge that a crime had been committed.

Supt Wohlmann added: The supplementary reports given by the doctors altered the whole aspect of the affair, and it showed that we could not rely on the medical reports.

The inquiry was adjourned until tomorrow.