THE AUCKLAND MYSTERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3894, 12 January 1929, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND MYSTERY.

DEATH OF ELSIE WALKER. INQUEST RESUMED. GREAT PUBLIC INTEREST. Auckland, January 10. The inquest on the death of Elsie Walker, whose body was found in some scrub at Tamaki, was resumed at 10 o’clock before a crowded court. Trevor Bayly, aged 19, said that on the evening of the girl’s disappearance he went to a social in Te ' Puke in a friend’s car. Asked if anybody else was in the car, he said that he did not remember. On his return home to Papamoa at 1.30 a.m. on 2nd October, he noticed that the family’s car had gone, and he asked his brother Godfrey if anyone had gone for the doctor or gone out. Godfrey replied in the negative. Witness did nothing more. William Alfred Bayly, aged 22, married, said that when he went back to the family home at Papamoa on 3rd September his wife stayed in Auckland. The family did not know lie was married. When he brought his wife to Auckland on 22nd August to be married on the 29 th, he had about £l4. He paid the marriage expenses. He had no further money from his father than £lO, included in the £l4 above. When he came back to Auckland from Papamoa on 13th September s he stayed two or three nights in Epsom, then went to Papakura and lived there, near Karaka, and also at Kohi. He had gone from Kohi to Karaka on horseback, but not by ear. He came back to the city from Papakura and stayed at a boarding-house until 3rd October. “You came in to see your wife a l so ». —“Yes, and did a little shopping.” He did not go to the races. Eventually lie got a job at Henderson at £2 a week with an unfurnished house. On the Sunday before Elsie’s body was found he was at an Auckland boarding-house, spending the day and evening with friends, and returned to sleep at the boarding-house. On Monday, Ist October, he went to see the place at Henderson, ’ without his wife. He was there less than half, an hour and saw nobody except some children, who directed him. He did not look over the property. He could not produce anybody who saw 'him about there , except the children. Witness, seeing nobody on the Henderson property, went hack to Auckland and had lunch, but could not reiUemlber where, though it was by himself, and hq did not see anybody he knew. He met his wife at 3 o’clock. In answer to the Crown! Prosecutor, Avitness said he did not see anybody he knew between lunch and 3 o’clock, Avhereon Mi 1 . Northcroft remarked, “He’s a complete. Stranger to Auckland.” Mr. Meredith, “Why did you have lunch in town instead of .at tlie boarding-house? . You Avere not too flush, you know.” Witness: “I often had more money if I Avanted it.” Later he Avent Avitli his wife to buy a hat for her. The colour was pink, and the price 19s lid, but be did not knoAV Avhether or not he got an invoice for it. They then Avent doAvn looking at the 7 shops, and had a light tea, hut be could not remember where. Mr. Meredith: “You have been asked previously where you spent Ist October?”— I “Yes, but not till a Aveek afterAvards.” Mr. Meredith: “Couldn’t you remember better then?” —“No, I don’t •think so.” After tea he and bis AAufe Avent to see friends at Eps'om. He detailed his movements, and was emphatic that this was the night of Monday, Ist October. They went to bed at the boarding-house at 9.30, and he got up for breakfast at the usual time next morning. He did not change rooms at the board-ing-house, but might have changed tables at breakfast.. Besides a man named Cashell, he did not know the names of anybody at breakfast that

morning. Mr. Meredith: “Of course, Bayly, you know your movements have been questioned in connection with the death of Elsie Walker?” “I know my movements have been subject to question,” said Bayly. 'The (Crown Prosecutor then questioned witness as to his movements on the Monday night. He said he went to bed that night at ten o’clock.

Mr. Northcroft (counsel for the Bayly; (fatally): On the first occasion you gave the police all possible details that you could recollect at that time?- —Yes. And you made no notes No. ■So to-day you are speaking of events three months old 1 ?- —Yes. Did you know, that there might be any possible suspicion or suggestion attached to you?: —No. Are you well-known in the Bay of Plenty?—Fairly, I think. Is it likely that you could make a visit to your home at Papamoa and not be seen?—-Impossible, I should think. Did anyone else interview you?— Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike, on the farm a't Huntly. What did he say?—That he was down to see about the poor dead girl. He said he was there in strict confidence, and whatever I said would not go beyond him. Then he asked if I was friendly with her. I told him there was no particular friendship, and he said he was there to conduct an investigation. He said the girl was over 16 years, and he said that if witness would say he- had been jjoitmate with her, it would lift suspicion from everyone down that way. Witness had relied to the detective that he was

not going to remove suspicion from anyone by saying he had done anything he had not done. He had no reason to believe she had been Avith any young man. Mr. Northcroft: All this talk bad relation to intimacy that someone was supposed to have had, and not io the girl’s disappearance? —“Yes. He said he did not suspect me of haA’ing anything to do Avith the girl’s death, and that if he did, he •would be man enough to' tell me. He said lie Avas Avorking to clear the girl’s name, land to show she had not been out Avith every Tom, Dick, and, Harry.” “While I Avas in toAvn for a few days,” said Bayly, “detectives went out to Henderson. The man Avho was working there told me they wanted to see my stuff. He gave me to understand they said they Avere friends of mine.” Mr. Northcroft: Did they look through .them? —“No.”

Mr. Northcroft: You!told Bickerdike about this? —“I said it Avas after an attempt had been made by them to see my stuff.”

Did he endeavour to entice or cajole you into making an admission that you had been intimate Avith the girl? —“Yes.” Further along evidence of the inteiwieAV Avith Detective Bickerdie Avas given by Avitness. Then Mr. Northcroft asked Bayly questions Avhich arose out of the CroAvn Prosecutor’s examination. The matter of the money Bayly had when 1m came to Auckland Avas referred to, and Bayly said that besides his oAvn £l4, he liad £26 Avhich belonged to his AA'ife. Mr. Hunt: Are you likely to finish to-night, Mr. Northcroft? “I’nn doubtful, sir,” said Mr. Northcroft. Minnie Jordon, a neighbour of the Bayly’s, avliosc evidence Avas interposed, said that Elsie Walker’s •character was good. The inquiry Avas adjourned until Monday. (Earlier proceedings appear on page 4).