TAMAKI MYSTERY

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3895, 15 January 1929, Page 2

TAMAKI MYSTERY

INQUEST RESUMED. LONG EXAMINATION. Auckland, This Day. When the Elsie Walker inquest was resumed to-day William Alfred Bayly, a married man aged 22, who was in the box practically all Friday, was examined by ,Mi\ F. 11. Nortbcroft (counsel for the Bayly family). Witness said that there was no truth in the suggestion of the detective that he had threatened his brother Trevor with a hiding if he said anything about his visit to the home at the time of the deceased’s disappearance. He had never been on particularly friendly terms with the girl. He had never heard from her when he was awav from home, and had not seen her since her disappearance from Papamoa on Ist October, nor had he any knowledge concerning her leaving there.

This .concluded his evidence after five and a half hours in the box. (Mrs. 'Constance Ivy Bayly, an aunt of the deceased, said that the girl’s position in the house, was that of a companion at 12/6 per week. Airs. Bayly’s evidence was finished just as the luncheon adjournment. was taken. The principal feature of her testimony was a statement by her four-year-old son Tom to her, that he had seen his cousin (Elsie Walker) drive a car. Mrs. Bayly stated that on the Saturday before Elsie disappeared the girl had bumped her head .on the bil-liard-room window. “I looked at her head, but there was neither cut nor mark. She went about her work as usual.” Elsie Walker’s principal companions, said the witness, were Maoris. Witness had been asked by her father to take the girl and give her a better environment. Under cross-examination, the witness said Elsie was younger than her years, almost as young ps her son Tom Bayly. Although 17, she was far too young for love affairs. She had an interview with Detective Bickerdike when he came to discuss Elsie’s clothes. He brought some underclothing, but they were not the ones produced in Court. Further examined on this matter, ishe said Elsie might have Obtained other garments after leaving Papamoa. The Coroner (to Mrs. Bayly) : “There is nobody you can suggest who would be likely to cause more light to be thrown on the matter?” Witness: “No.” (Mr. Hunt: “Well, if there is, you let me know, for it is very unfortunate for you and your family. I’ll cause any inquiry to be made.” Witness: “Thank you, Mr. Hunt.” Audrey Bayly, a niece of the Bayly’s, who was staying with them at the time of deceased’s disappearance, said she saw deceased in the kitchen just before eight o’ - clock >on that night. Next morning she was told Elsie had gone and was told to see if any* money was missing from her bag. 'She found that seven pound notes and lfd had gone.

Air. Alowbray: Did you notice anything peculiar about Elsie Walker?'—No, nothing except that she had a slight giggling habit, which I thought was natural to her. Thomas Clifford Bayly, aged 11 years, another cousin of Elsie Walker,, said she was not talking at all when they washed the dishes on the night the girl disappeared. Elsie seemed to be angry that night and was quieter than usual. > Alfs. Dorothy Teague, of Papamoa, said the Baylys were neighbours and she had known them for about 18 months. She had known Elsie Walker since she had lived at the Bayly. Witness had seen her at a neighbour’s about three weeks before she disappeared. Air. Aleredith. Was there any conversation about motor cars that afternoon? —Yes. Elsie Walker asked me how I got there and I said I got a lift. Elsie grabbed me by the arm and said: “I can drive a ear.”

Dicl anybody else hear that remark? —1 donft think so, because she passed the remark very quietly ann the others were a little distance away. The father of the dead girl, Charles De Renzy Walker, said in August, 1927, he made arrangements with Mrs. Bayly for Elsie bo stay with her. He thought it would do the girl good if she went to his sister, for it was very quiet at his place. He had letters from Elsie and the tone of them was “quite all right.” The last letter witness received from his daughter was on September 5. It was a general letter and in it she said that she would be home for ,Christmas. In the letter she said that Bill was going to be married. As far as he knew, there- was no boy connected with Elsie’s life. There was no trace or suggestion of Elsie corresponding with any boy fiiend as long as she had been with witness. She could not drive a car. There was no appearance of rancour about Bill Bayly’s marriage in the letter which Elsie wrote to witness.

'The inquiry at this stage was adjourned till to-morrow.