ELSIE WALKER CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1929, Page 3

ELSIE WALKER CASE

INQUEST CANNOT BE RE-OPENED

Telegraph—Per Press Association.,

WELLINGTON, Aug. 27

“Is it proposed to reopen tne E’lsicWalker inquest?” was an urgent question by iUr Fletcher (Grey fo, mi; to the Minister of Justice in the House to-day. The Minister’s reply contained several reasons showing the legal impossibility of taking this course. “There is no power to reopen an inquest in i\ew Zealand,” stated the Hon T. M. Wilford. “It is true that the Supreme Court has the power to quash an inquisition and reopen an inquest, but the right of the Supreme Court to take such proceedings is limited t the question whether the inquest lias been carried on legally, or if there has been some illegality in the conduct of the inquest, and the Supreme Court is limited to that right.” In England, added' the Minister of Justice, the position was not similar, for a statute of the early eighties and legislation in 1926 provided that, the High Court of Justice, on the application of the Attorney-General, had the right, to order the re-opening of an inquest where it was considered in the interests of justice that this should be done. “But,” added the Minister, “we have no such law in this country. I can find only one instance of an inquest being re-opened in New Zealand. On that occasion they carried on. the second hearing, hut when the vouchers came in for payment of witnesses’ and other expenses it was ruled they should not be paid, on the ground that the inquest was illegally re-opened, and they were not paid.” MRS THOMASON WANTS INQUIRY RE-OPENED. HAMILTON, Aug. 28. In reference to the Elsie Walker mystery, Mrs Langdon informed the AVaikato Times to-day that she saw Bill Bayly on the Tauranga-Papamoa train on the evening of October Ist. She called the attention of her sister. Mrs Thomason to Bayly, who raised his hat.

Mrs Thomason, who had already given a similar statement, said she was anxious to see the inquiry re-opened. She claimed it was her due to an opportunity to clear her name of the suggestion of atfoempted blackmail.