ELSIE WALKER’S DEATH

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3899, 26 January 1929, Page 2

ELSIE WALKER’S DEATH

CORONER’S FINDING. CRITICISM OF POLICE INEFFICIENCY. Auckland, January 25. The Coroner (Mr. F. K. Hunt) this morning gave his reserved decision in the inquiry regarding tbe death of Elsie iWlalker. ■He found that “Elsie Walker died about the first day of October, 1928, somewhere between Papamoa and Auckland, and that the cause of her death was concussion following a blow on the head, but whe flier that blow was accidental or homicidal there is no evidence for .me to determine.” The Coroner said: “The evidence I have heard satisfied me that the deceased was an honest, good girl. She had money owing to* her by the Baylvs, and had a few shillings in a purse which she left at home. She could have had any money she wanted from (her' father, I do not believe she stole a watch or money. I have seen a ground plan of the home. It would be a simple matter, while the family was in the dining-room at one end of the house, for a person to take money from a room at the other end. The girl did not intend to leave the house for long, or she would have been differently dressed or would have taken other clothes with her. SUGGESTED EXPLANATIONS. “The evidence also proves that the deceased could not drive a car. A man drove it. He had to change a wheel oil the road, a task which was beyond the ability of the girl. I am of opinion that either the girl discovered a thief in the yard and he struck her, rendering her unconscious, and took her away with him in the cai", or he induced her, which I think .more probable, to accompany him for a short run in the car, and then attempted to assault her, during which attempt she received the injury tef the,head. The man drove on through the night, hoping against hope that she might recover, and when she did' not, he feared to stop till lie decided on a place to conceal the body. He drove to the Quarry road, and hid the body. The position of the body, with the coat pulled up at the back of the head, proves to me that he pulled the body under the shrubs, and then drove the car as far away as time or the light would allow—eight miles from Papatoetoe — and either walked or caught the early ’bus or train to Auckland. Wllio that man was, there is not sufficient evidence for me to say. POLICE WORK CRITICISED. “I very much regret tliat I find it my duty to draw attention to the way the police handled this case in tire early stages. The Superintendent of Police of the Auckland District was present throughout the inquiry. He must have seen, as I did, the mistakes that were made, and the inefficient way the inquiries were carried out. I feel sure he will see the necessity for holding an inquiry at once into the whole matter. The public are entitled to better service from the police thaii they received in this case. , It is possible that suspicion may rest against a perfectly innocent man for the rest of his life. This might have been avoided had prompt and intelligent inquiries been made.”