Amazing Theory

NZ Truth, Issue 1195, 25 October 1928, Page 7

Amazing Theory

over ISO miles over tricky mountainous country and wait until daylight before disposing of the body?" ' was "Truth's" question to this" line "of argument.

. Walker's reply was somewhat indefinite, but he inclined to. the view that it would be to the man's interest and lessen his chances of discovery if he placed as great a distance as possible between the actual crime and the place where the body was found.

"Truth's"

theory,

expounded

here— that Elsie was probably be-

guiled away by some man who turned out to be a sex fiend, and

who slew her when she finally re-

sisted his attention's at the. scene of the discovery of her body — was not accepted m any shape or form # by Walker.

He could, .'not imagine -.. that his daughter would be "taken m" and could not conceive of her getting out of the car and going off the road with such a man. , .

Although her tender age was stressed — with all the elements of terrified innocence and ignorance of the world that would naturally be the main characteristics of a girl so young, brought up all her short life iri the best, arid most circumspect of homes — her father would not admit . any such theory. -—.

"Truth" does not give the theory as the true explanation of What occurred by any means, but (as was pointed out to Walker) it is certainly one that must be given a considerable amount of credence.

"My daughter was too sensible and level-headed to travel all that distance and then leave the car with a man such as you have pictured/ he said.

It was pointed out that the mere fact of her being level-headed would lessen the possibility of hysterical outbursts on her part — a panicked hysteria that would have prompted any innocent young girl — inclined to hysteria and m the clutches of a licentious monster— to jump out of the car and run the risk of breaking her neck. She would make, full ■' use of her common-sense, playing for time and opportunity to escape, , rather than lose her head. ' r •■ '• ■

But this theory has already been fully expounded and is given, for whatever it may be-worth. . '

Nothing would shake the father from his belief that' the actual crime was committed by, the rna'n'who sfole. the