Doctors Say That Elsie Walker Was Victim Of Foul Play TO LIFT SUSPICION FROM OTHERS

NZ Truth, Issue 1207, 17 January 1929, Page 5

Doctors Say That Elsie Walker Was Victim Of Foul Play

TO LIFT SUSPICION FROM OTHERS

Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiii JUST three months and two days after the discovery of Elsie Walker's body, face downwards, half hidden beneath a clump of busii and near, her hand a little bloodstained handkerchief, the Auckland coroner, Magistrate Hunt, opened the adjourned inquest. Crown Prosecutor Meredith was present to act for the Crown, Lawyer Mowbray represented Mr. Walker, and Lawyer Northcroft the Bayly family. There was also present, the Bayly family's lawyer, Mr. Lusk. Dr. D. N. W. Murray,- the police surgeon, was the first witness. In the company of Dr. Gilmer, pathologist to the Auckland Hospital, he said he conducted his examination of the dead girl. She had been dead about 72 hours. No external marks of violence were to be seen on the body except for a graze on the skin near the angle . of the right jaw. The skin on ,the angle of the jaw and lower part of, the cheek was missing. The edges of the skin were stained brown. The missing skin was evidently the work of rodent animals. A similar area was missing on the angle of 'the left jaw, forearm, wrist, and left hand, while there were small bites all over the arms. There was no sign of strangulation, or injury to the neck. On the scalp on the right-hand side, there was a small area the size of a shilling which was bruised. "This," said the doctor, "was recent, and anti-mortem (before death)." The brain was very congested, but there was no other sign of injury, and there was no indication of the girl haying been violated. All the organs were . normal and healthy. The stomach contained about four ounces of partly digested food. There were no signs of irritant or corrosive poison. The stomach contents were handed to Chief-detective Hammond for analysis.. Questioned by Mr. Meredith regarding the head injury, the doctor replied that it was possible to get concussion from a blow which produces very little bruising of the skin, though it was usual to find some haemorrhage of the biain, but there was none m this case. "It is," ho added, "therefore no evidence to the actual cause of death. But m our "opinion death , was not due to natural* causes, poison, or exhaustion." Death could follow a blow without I injury 'to the brain, the doctor explained to tne Crown Prosecutor. ■ The witness's conclusion was arrived at m conjunction with Dr. Gilmer by a process of elimination. "The ' only con.elusion we could come to was that a blow on the head had something to do with causing her death." ' "Was there any ; abrasion on the scalp under the bruise?" asked Mr. Meredith. .^ ■. "None at all," replied the doctor. ' "Whatever struck^ her head would not bo a sharp instrument?" was the next question. "No," was the answer. "More likely a blunt instrument or a flat surface." Dr. Murray, .questioned as to certain organs of the dead girl, gave it as his opinion that their condition was consistent with chastity. There Avas no blood on the body. - Reverting to the blow on the head, he said he did not think it could have been received by falling. Had the girl fallen on a stone it would probably have cut her head. ' Mr. Hunt: Would a fist do it? ' Dr. Murray: Yes, a fist might do it.' -• The doctor gave it as his opinion that the small.'*' graze on Elsie's face might be, due r ~ ~* - ~" • to her being dragged through bush Kwyer or sharp ass. The missng skin he attributed to rats or animals, and there was no indication of a knife wound, but if there had been any bruising it might have been eaten away by rodents. The food found In Elsie's stomach had been taken within four hours of her death, and semi-consciousness would retard digestion very slightly. Jt was possibly a tea and cake meal. There were no signs of meat. Cross-examined by Lawyer Northcroft regarding the cause of death Dr. Murray, explained that there were no signs of death from exhaustion. A person could die of fright and leave no indications as to the cause of death, but by a process of elimination,. Dr. Gilmer and himself had counted out fear, and exhaustion, as a reason. "Why do you eliminate exhaustion?" asked Mr. Northcroft. "Because of the signs of a meal; she was quite healthy," was the reply. •,"Why do you eliminate fear?" "There were, no signs of evidence to i lead* us to think she died of fear."

The doctor admitted that he did not expect to find signs of fear on a naked body m a morgue. It was possible that death could have been caused by fear, but he did not think it likely. Asked to explain his theory as to the blow Dr. Murray said that a blow with a fist would depend on the positions of the person giving it and the person receiving it. If the victim was sitting and the striker taller, or standing, a fist could possibly inflict such a blow. "After eliminating all other causes iyou have come to one' conclusion?" asked Mr. Hunt. , "Yes," replied- the witness— "that the [blow on the head had something to do with her death." Magistrate Hunt asked witness: "'Would it not have been a great advantage to you to have seen the body as it lay when found?" "It would," said the doctor. | "And. the clothes should have been left on," suggested the Bench- "It has always been done m previous cases; it lias been the custom. The regulations set it down that tne doctor must see the body clothed. A distinct breach of the regulations has been committed. "I'm giad this was mentioned. I endorse what you have said," interjected Lawyer Northcroft. . "There are many associated, directly and- indirectly, m the case on whom suspicion might fall, and who would, perhaps, have been cleared if the proceedings had been pursued m the correct manner." Evidence was given on lines similar to that of the first witness by Di\ W. Gilmer, who co-operated m the postmortem. F. W. Armitage, bacteriologist of the Auckland Hospital, told an astonished court that he had not received any articles of clothing belonging to the dead girl until seventeen days after the postmortem. Other garments did not reach him until November 7; they seem to have come along piecemeal, for they were placed m his hands ori November 7, 19 and 21. While Mr. Armitage was m the box, various garments were examined and the various stains explained by the bacteriologist. . Perhaps the most pathetic was the violet-colored frock which Elsie was wearing when she was taken away to her dooih. On a little cream tie o£ this frock there were distinct bloodstains, and others could be detected on, the front of the skirt. There were two little handkerchiefs, the smallest being the one found near her. hand, and- on this there wer,e also bloodstains. , , The witness gave evidence indicating that an attempt had been made to interfere with the girl. Frank Bayly, Elsie Walker's uncle, at whose farm she was living at the time of her disap pear an.c c, told the court that his household on the night of October 1 consisted of himself, his wife, his sons, Trevor (aged 19), Godfrey (17), Tom (10), Charlie (4), Audrey Bayly, his young niece, and Elsie Walker. . Audrey had that day arrived from , Rotorua. .She had I been on a visit to Auckland, and arrived by service car about four o'clock m the afternoon. Other members of the rataiily, not present that evening, were a married daughter at the Mount, Tauranga, and his eldest son, William Alfred (22), who was at that time m Auckland. Bayly said that he had lived at Papamoa about 2% years. Previously he and his family had lived at Balmoral Road, Mount" Eden; before that at Ka-r raka, near Papakura, for. about three years, and before, going to Karaka the family had lived at Kohimarama, near the school. The Papamoa farm was about 800 or 900 acres m extent; it was a sheep and cattle property. The house consisted of nine rooms, on one floor. The railway ran through the property and the homestead was about fifteen chains from the road. On the track to- the road was an overhead bridge with one gate. There were two- gates between the house and the road, outr side the .garden gate, which led to the front door. . ' ' The car shed was on the, same level as the house and at the back. There were two or three dogs, which were kept tied up at the back of the house. On the night of October 1 the family had a meat meal.' Whether Elsie was on al ight diet or not he could not say; as far as he knew she was eating meat. Tho meal was over about sixthirty or seven, and everybody m the house, except Elsie and Tom, who stayed m the kitchen to wash up the dishes, adjourned to the billiard-room. Mr. Meredith: When did you last see Elsie? Witness: At the meal. As to the movements 'of the others, Trevor was the only one who left the room, and he went to as ocial evening at Te Puke, about five miles away. Trevor could just about drive .a, car, and Bill could drive, and had done so, but Mrs. Bayly drove mostly. The question of/ where Elsie slept then cropped up, and a plan of the house was consulted. Mr. Hunt remarked: "She really slept' m a curtained vestibule." The place where William Bayly slept was then pointed out on the plan. To leave the vicinity of the farmhouse it would be necessary for the car to pass the house, but it was not heard, and witness could not say if the blinds of the billiard-room were down or up. 1 It was a beautiful, calm, moonlight night. Bayly said that the ' two younger boys went to bed earlier than his wife and himself,. and it was about 9.30 p.m. when Audrey and they retired. "There was no noise at any time to attract attention — nothing unusual. I heard no dogs barking; if they did bark I didn't hear them." Mr. Hunt: Didrl't anyone say, "Where's Elsie?"

WHO KILLED HER, AND WHY?

Girl's Mysterious Disappearance From Farm Homestead, And Ride To Death In A Motor-car Which She Could Not Drive

WITNESSES' MEMORIES FAIL AT THE INQUEST

(From "N.Z. Truth V Special Auckland Representative)

Fourteen weeks after the discovery of the dead body of Elsie Walker, who disappeared from her Uncle's farm at Papamoa, under mysterious circumstances, the inquest proper into her untimely end was commenced at Auckland before Coroner Hunt. A phase of the inquest which has intrigued the public by its repetition is the brief sentence— "l can't remember." This phrase has been the answer to a large number of questions put to several witnesses, especially William Alfred Bayly, the dead girl's cousin, the hearing of whose evidence occupied nearly four hours.

Bayly: No; she often went to her room to sew. Even though there were visitors? . — Since she went to Tauranga she rarely came m. ' "When did you hear that; the car had gone?" asked the Ci'OAvn Prosecutor. "At six-thirty m the morning, Avhen one. of the boys came into the bedroom," Avas the reply.

"I got up then, and went' to have a look which w ay the car had turned m the road. The wheelmarks showed towards Te Puke

Bayly Avent on to say that he thought his son Trevor had noticed

them Avhen he Avas coming m during the night. . "He told Godfrey, but he didn't tell my Avife or myself. My AA'ife said, 'See if Elsie is there.' " • Whose coat Avas she Avcaring? — Tom's. The coat, Avhen exhibited m court, proved tp be a boy's dark- colored raincoat, of gabardine raincloth. "In the garage Avas found a rubbish tin?" said Mr. Meredith. "That is so," said the Avitness. "In it," continued Mr. Meredith, "Avas found a dishcloth and a piece of brown paper?" "Yes." Witness couldn't say if the tin had been used. that night: But it Avas not m its proper place, the Avash-house. _ "The police were notified of the disappearance of the girl?" "Yes, Mrs, Bayly rang them up first, and I saAv the local constable about 12.30 p.m. m Te Puke." "Apart from advising the police and sending a Avire to her father, did you do anything?" "No.". Mr. Hunt: What! A car gone, a girl gone, find you didn't do anything but tell the local constable? Bayly explained: "I thought once I had told the constable that AA'as enough. We Avere Avorried about it, especially my A\dfe." After the body Avas found, however, Bayly said, a Avire Avas sent to Mrs. McAllum at Glenalvon at Auckland, stating that he Avould be there about midnight. "As fay as I knoAV Mrs. Bayly wrote to her relations m Auckland, but I did nothing myself. It neA r er struck me to broadcast." The missing money, said B.a'yly, was taken from his trousers pocket m the wardrobe m the room m ■*. which Bill had slept, £3 15s. m all. There was a gold watch' which was not touched m the same room. Both the keys of the car Avere kept m another bedroom. Bill had one key Avhen he Avas at home, and Mrs. Bayly the other. Asked about Bill's movements before this incident, Bayly, replied that hisson had last been at the farm about September 13. When he Avent aAvay he left the key of the car Avith his mother. • That key had been put m the chest of draAvers m Mrs. Bayly's room, and she kept the other key m a little red box on the top of the chest of drawers. It Avas a new procedure to place Bill's key m the chest of draAvers. So far as witness knew, Elsie had never been to Auckland. Her longest journey had been to Rotorua. He had never heard of Elsie driving a car. ? The property he had owned at Karaka, said Bayly, was bought while the family were living at Kohimarama. He Avas building on it, and he had made many journeys to and fro, taking his sons Avith him. Their jpurney Avould take them past St. John's College, A r ia Panmure. It would' be the direct, route out. Bill, continued Bayly, w r ent away from home on August 22 for about ten or twelve days. He - stayed aAvay until early m September, and then Avent away again. Pie had been, Avorking on 1 the farm all the time. When Bill came back m September, witness did not know he was married. He had married on August 29. "When he left m September, did you part good friends?" "No," replied the father, "I was annoyed . Avith him. He had married Avithout telling us. I met him on Dominion Day at. Mrs. McAllum's, Glenah'on. That Avas the first time I heard of the marriage definitely, but I had heard rumors. "He didn't tell me when he returned from Auckland. I said, 'Are you married, son? It's nice for us to find out from others'." Counsel: Did you leave him any money? \ • Bayly: No. Had you given him any Avhen he left about' August 22?— Yes, £10. He had no other money from me. Ori the farm Bill, said his father, Avas paid about 30/- a Aveek. He had no other source of income. "We heard the car Avas found on the Wednesday. We didn't go dOAvn or get it taken to us. We heard the police wanted to be rid of it. "I heard that the body Avas found about 9 a.m. on the Saturday. I caught the train at half-past ten for Auckland, and arriA'cd there about 11 p.m. I Avired to Mrs. McAllum and my daughter - m - laAV. "It's quite likely that 1 wired to others, but I can't remember." On arriving at Auckland, Bayly said, he Avent straight to. the Detective Office. • "Who did you see?" asked Mr. Meredith. "Two policemen. There Avere no detecti\'es m. I can't remember the names of the men I saw, but they said

the detectives had gone for the night. I saAv Detectives Hammond and Kelly at 9 a.m. next morning." Witness stayed at Glenalvon, and attended the inquest on the Sunday. "Where did you go after lunch?" Mr. Meredith enquired. "I Avent out to the home of Mr. Lusk. He is an: old friend of mine. I haA'e knoAvn him for forty shears. He rang me at Te Puke Avhen he heard the body had been found. He has been my solicitor for 25 years."

member positively. I was quite satisfied with what he said." "When did you discuss' it Avith him at Glenarvon?" "On Monday. ; The police sent out for him to conic m. I discussed the matter A\ r ith him before he Avent to the police station. I didn't go to the station Avith him." Bayly said they did riot go dOAvn to Mr. Lusk first. ■ ' "I think I asked Bill where he Avas on Monday, October 1. He told me he

Bayly, Senior, Quite Satisfied With Son William's Statement

"Did you spend the* afternoon at Mr. Lusk's house?" "No," Avas Bayly's reply. "Do you Avant to krioAv Avhy?" > "Yes, I do," AA'as the Crown Prosecutor's ansAver. "Detective Kelly rang me to say that Constable Jackson, of Te Puke, '' had Bill's key to the car," said Bayjyi "The matter was getting on my nerves, and I decided to go to see Bill, with Mr. Lusk. ''I got the ring from Kelly just as I was going out Avith Mr. Lusk. I didn't go to see Kelly; I Av.ent out to Mr. Lusk. We Avent to Henderson." "Who did you see AA r hen you got

there?" "My son Bill. Bill and his wife Avere both there." "Hoav long Avere you there?" "A quarter of an hour to twenty minutes." When AAdtness arriA^ed Bill was doing some Avashing. "I had a conversation with the boy. I asked him if he had heard of the trouble over Elsie? He said he didn't knoAV a Avord about it. He didn't read the papers. He'd only got out there the Wednesday before. (That AA r as October 10.)

went out. to Henderson, met his wife m toAvn, had lunch, and did some shopping." Bayly could not say Avhen he next saAv Bill, but he himself Avent and discussed Avith Detective Kelly the matter of getting the car home. Father and son returned to Papamoa on the Tuesday, after taking the car from a garage m Papatoetoe, and Bill drove so as to saA'e expense. % "Did Bill stay there?" "No, he came back next day, I think." . : The car had never been taken away before at night, said Bayly, and on this occasion he was surprised to hear it had gone.

He considered that Trevor had acted foolishly in ' not telling him. "He didn't seem to satisfy himself about it," Avas his comment. Asked lioav Trevor had explained his casualness, the father said that the son had told him that he thought nothing sensational had happened, and that somebody had gone out. "I don't knoAV what he meant. He might haA'e thought that his mother had gone out to some of the neighbours — a very rare thing." Replying to Lawyer Northcroft, Bayly said that he did not think he Avas to.

Surprise At The Motor-car's Mysterious Disappearance

"I asked him, 'What do you know about your key'? "He said he had left it m the car, and it had gone back with his mother.' We talked of land and other matters. "I asked him if he had got his mother's letter? He had not. It hadn't reached him after being readdressed. I don't think I said a word about Monday or Monday night; I may have." "But surely you can remember whether you discussed with Bill where he was on Monday night?" said Lawyer Meredith. "I did later at Glenalvon. I-. quite likely did mention Monday night on Sunday, but I can't re-

be blamed for his actions. He trusted the police. The rubbish tin was usually emptied m the morning by one of the boys, or by himself, Bayly stated, and to go to the rubbish dump it was necessary to go m the . opposite direction to the garage. ■ There Avas no necessity for Elsie .to bother with the tin at night. If the light was left on in ' the -washhouse it would give anyone a view of a person entering or leaving that place from the garage. ''..-'■ •"Did ' Mr. Lusk accompany ybu to Henderson m any way as your legal adviser?" asked Mr. Northcroft. "Not at all." ■ '". ' " , I ' Elsie's father had telephoned the / -

next day and inquired if it was necessary for him to go dOAvn as he Avas very busy.

When Chief- detective Hammond told him that there Avere no indications that Elsie had been interfered Avith he accepted the statement, and he had no idea that his son Bill AA'as thought to be connected Avith the case m any Avay. .

"Did you . seriously think that Elsie had gone off m the car by herself?" inquired Mr. Hunt.

"I did at first." "Did Elsie leave any cash?" v "A little." "You said at the adjourned inquest

that you did not think Elsie, took the money," pursued the coroner. "I Avouldn't like to express an opinion," said Bayly. "She must have been m ;a bad state of mind if she did." "Have you ever found that Bill Stayed m the house overnight?" "No." In reply to other questions, Bayly said that Elsie sometimes received letters. He had never heard of her having a boy. Bill had left his Avife at Epsom Avith some people named Murphy. Mr. Murphy had been at one time a bank manager at Te Puke. Lawyer Meredith: . "You say you ( Avere at Henderson only about tAventy minutes. I have a statement here that you and Mr. Lusk Avere there from tAvo to three hours." ; Bayly declared that the statement Avas not correct. Godfrey Norton Lyell Bayly (17), j having traversed the facts covering the evening meal, told the coroner that after tea he thought he 'was only out of the billiard room once before eA'erybody retired for the night. That Avould be about 7.30 or eight p.m. when he thought he Avent into the room at the back. In doing so he Avent through the washhouse, and not the kitchen. • - Elsie, he thought, was m the kitchen, though he did not remember seeing her. He Avent to bed at 8.30. On his Avay to bed he Avent through the AA r ashhouse again, but did not sec j Elsie. He looked into the kitchen be-, cause the light Avas on, but there Avas no one there. >. He said for some reason (not explained), he went to Elsie's sleeping place, called her by name, and as there came no answer he switched the light on. The girl was not there. He then ,went to bed. In the billiard room all that they were doing Avas to listen to their cousin, Audrey Bayly, fresh from" the city. He heard no car, neither did he hear any dogs barking. During the night Trevor woke him. Trevor slept m the next room m the lean-to. "He asked, me if anybody had gone out m the car? I don't remember him mentioning anybody." "I said I didn't think so. He mentioned nobody Avho might have taken the car out." Asked to give' the details of the morning of October 2, Godfrey said: "The next thing about the car Avas when I got up m the morning before Trevor. I saAv it wasn't there. I could see from the bedroom. "I told father, I did not talk with Trevor first. Trevor came along just after. I didn't hear my father get on to Trevor." Lawyer Meredith: "Did, you say, 'Perhaps Bill's taken if?" Witness: "No." . . Did Trevor mention Bill to you? — He never mentioned Bill m regard to the car.

The boj? went on to say that he had never seen Elsie drive the car. He had never offered to teach' her, nor heard of the other . boys offering to teach

her, and he had never heard of Elsie being able to drive a car. She had never -asked hiiri to let her have a try. . <• "I think the spare tyre AA r anted blowing up. Tlie rest of the tyres Avere all right, I believe. The car Avas curtained all round, even the front seat." His cousin's bed Godfrey described as being not only unmade, but" the blankets had been tossed upon it. Prank Trevor Bayly (19) described hoAV, after the evening meal, he left the house and Avent toAvards the gate' at 7.15 p.m. He was due to meet a friend, Reg. Lees, m the road;. When he reached the gate he Avas early, and he walked toAvards Tauranga to meet the Car he expected, and past ■- the Papamoa railAvay/ siding. He did not remember meeting anybody. Trevor said the car Avas ahead of time and got into Te Puke about 7.45 p.m. or 8 p.m. He was unable to remember if there was anyone else m the car that night. Neither could he remember whether he sat m ■•front or behind. . - . In the company of Reg. Lees, he left the social to Avhich he had gone, about 1 a.m. Lees dropped him at the gate of his home, and it Avas on his Avay to the house that he noticed the open gates, two of them near the house. ''My room," said Trevor, "is detached from the house at the back, -arid my usual route is by the front gate, but AA r hen I noticed the gates open I went m the back Avay. I left the gates open, for Whoever had gone out to come m." That Avas, he added, before he discovered that the car had gone. He- made this discovery because he went to have a look. "I was a little, surprised, for it would be unusual for the car to be out. I didn't know any of the family were going out. There had been no arrangements. "I Avent into my brother Godfrey's room, Avoke him up, and asked hirii if

anyone had gone for the doctor. He said he didn't think so." Questioned as to his omission to make further inquiries, the youth said that though it might have been clear that someone had taken the car who had no right to, he thought some member of the family might have taken it after the rest had gone to bed, to get a doctor. •, "I didn't worry about it at all," concluded the witness. "I didn't think it could be anything very serious. I was tired and went to bed. I didn't think it was anything sensational. I thought I would find out m the morning who was ill." ' .- Witness said he didn't think anyone would come that far from the road to steal a car. Bill and he had had the ear-out late at times. He could not remember that Bill had had the car out late at night by himself. He had not taken his watch to the dance, and he had not got it now; it had been missing since October 1. Exactly where he had left it m the room he could not remember. A pouch had disappeared, too, and that would have been on the 'dressing-table beside the watch. How Elsie was dressed that night at dinner he could not sayHe had' never seen her drive a car. "I understood she couldn't. I have never tried to teach her, and I know of no member of the family who has." "You found the bucket?" witness was asked. Witness: Yes. It was just alongside where the car would have been. It had m it some screwed-up paper, potato peelings and a dishcloth." "Were you and Bill, friendly?" "Yes, but we've had "our differences, like all brothers." Trevor said he had not written to Bill, had had no letter or telegram from him, and no talks with - him on the 'phone. " To the Coroner: The last train from Auckland arrives at Papakura about 6 p.m. and it would, be dark .by then on October ,1. The" service, cars arrived m Te Puke about 3.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. To another .question witness replied: "Bill wasn't on the best of terms with us all about September 14, and he has never slept at home and been seen m the morning. He had last seen Elsie at dinner. To Lawyer Northcroft': The displeasure of the family had nothing to do with Elsie Walker. "Has Bill ever threatened you with a hiding?" asked Mr. Hunt. . "No," was the reply. When William Bayly was called, everyone m the courtroom leant forward to catch a glimpse of the young man as he walked with perfect selfpossession into the witness-box. He looked more than the 22 years that he gave as his age, and added to his name . a middle one of Alfred. On August 29 he married, h e said, without the knowledge of his family. After his marriage he went home for a few days from September 3rd till the 13th. It was not his intention to stay. "I left my wife m Auckland. I told my. parents that I was going to live m Auckland, and leaving the farm permanently. When I first left I only took sufficient clothes for a holiday. I took the rest when I left on September 13.. "I had a slight disagreement with my father that day. He had not asked if I was married and I did not tell him. I went to Auckland on August 22 and my wife came with me. Her people knew. None of her people came with her. "My father first knew about it on September 24. I was at Glenalvon then. If I wanted money my father gave it to me. I had no banking account. I had about £4 or £5 with me on August 22, and my father gave me a cheque for- £10. I paid my expenses out of that." "You were doing no work?" inquired Mr. Meredith. "No," was the reply. Bayly went on to say that his father had given him no more money after the £10, and when he returned to Auckland he went to stay with friends at Epsom and at Papakura. At the latter place he stayed with a Mr. Wright.

About September 17 or 18 he was at Epsom, and his visit to. Papakura followed. He came into town for a few days about September 24. It was then that he met his father, who asked him about his marriage and was' annoyed with him. After that he went again to Papakura after two or three nights at Glenalvon. Questioned as to the road from Kohimarama to Karaka, 'the witness said: "I know the road. I went .there and back, mostly on horseback/ I was living at Karaka m those days, help- \ ing, the carpenter. I was at Papakura last year from September 17 or 18 to 27; I stayed at Glenalvon from then till October 3. "My wife was with her friends at Epsom. I was looking for a position while at Papakura, and earning nothing. I was m town various times and saw. my. wife', but Aye never went out very much, and ' did very little shopping; there Avas very little we needed. I did not go to the rates. "Finally I got a position at Henderson ' running a dairy farm for. a Mrs. Edwards. It was the result of an advertisement I had seen m the paper." Counsel: When did you see Mrs. Edwards? — On a Sunday between September 17 and 27. She gave me the job on terms of £2 a week and find myself, and a house to live m. ' . When did you close with Mrs. Edwards? — The; last week m September, about four or five days after seeing the advertisement. ; Where were you on the Sunday prior to October 1?— On October 1 I was staying at Glenalvon. My wife was still with her friends. What room did you have at Glenalvon? — I occupied four different rooms at four different times. That night I was m No. 1 m the .. annexe. I stayed there till the morning of the third.

iiniiniiiimiiinimiiiiiiniiminiiiniitiiiiuinnminniiiiimiiiiuntiiiDiiiiimiium What did you do with yourself during this period? — I got up before break- " fast, about 8 or 9 o'clock." On the third you left ; to go to Henderson? — Yes. Where did you spend the Sunday? — With my Avife at Epsom, and at night I Avent to' Mrs. Barter's, my -aunt. Prom there I went back, to bed at i Glenalvon. Did ybu tell the Barters that you' had this job to go to? — I probably did. You had m mind all that week: that you -were going to Henderson on Wednesday? — Not quite -correct. ! Ihad m mind that I was gqirig;;to.H,ehdej.son on Monday; I don't^kn'oAy^ whether I mentioned it to Mr. Barter 6r : not. The arrangeriient was altered, to suit ' Mrs. EdAvards." .■ '. . V r V -'-; Bill was then asked what he did on Monday, October 1. "I went to the place at, Henderson to see the house," he said^ "I didn't take my wife." "Wasn't she concerned?" asked the CroAvn Prosecutor. "She was; but she thought I was capable 'of seeing what it was like," replied the Avitness. "My wife did not AA'ant to travel around much." Witness said he' had no furniture of his oAvn, but he^was only concerned about a oed, as he dldn't-expect to be there long, arid he suggested that his wife' was quite agreeable to the notion. He went out by bus, which took him within -■ half a mile of the place. He saAv no one on the . property. The back part of the house Ayas open and he completed his look . around m half an hour. He didn't think "he went into the;. coAVShed. He saAV..;nbbody and..spoke ; to nobody. " .'•*.-■•■ "Can ybu tell us any one you sawor spoke to on the way back?" asked Mr. Meredith. Witness: No, I can't. You saw by the house being open that there was somebody about, but— you did not look ; for him?— No. Witness was questioned regarding his later movements. He said • that he was back m town about ">• 12.15 p.m. .He could not recollect where he had lunch, but it was by himself somewhere m Queen Street. He was not familiar with Auckland. . . After lunch he met his wife at John . Court's Corner, just after 3 p.m. The interval he spent just Avaiting around. He met no one he kneAV. "You were staying at Glenalvon," said Mr. Meredith. "Why did you not lunch <there. You were not too flush, were you?" "I often lunch m town," said witness, "f kneAV I could get more money when I Avanted it.". After meeting his wife, witness said, they went to the Power Board Accounts Department, . to settle a bill. After that they Avent up to Karangahape Road, where his : wife bought a m .hat. i "We came "down town after, and looked m the shops and had some tea. After a lapse of three months I can't recall where I went for tea." Mr. Meredith: "You have been asked, previously, and very much closer to the date m question, where you spent that Monday. You said Avhen asked before 'that it was the Bluebird Tea Room?" ' \ Bayly: "Yes." "Up to that time had you or your wife met anybody m toAvn you knew?" "No, nobody. I anl a perfect ■" stranger m Auckland and might walk all day and see no one." The later movements' of -Bayly and his wife, as related by the witness, were that they went to Epsom, where they ■ Avere about 9 p.m., ' the rest of the time being - spent m Queen. Street. The people they went to at Epsom his wife knew well. He could not recall who he was speaking to there. The people there were Mr. 'Fowler and hi s. . three . daughters : and a son.. The _ girls' names Avere ;; Mavis, Ina, ;: and Ada, and the /little boy's was Jack. They were m the living room, and he was there either a quarter or half an hour, leaving about 9.30 p.m. „From there he ■ AveritH i° Glenalvb^- and straight tbbed.Aylthbut seeing any", ond. "Next mbrning; Tuesday, Avere-' .you up at the usual time?" asked Mr..Meredith. ; "Yes,'" was the .reply. • ..',.'> .', . Bayly thought !he had breakfast wjheh the usual boarders weiSe present,, "What table ; fcit attXyC; : ; . "At one; of iihejtables near ;-tble ; entrance 'd6"pr.""'""'-'" : '""'' ,! "'' '. . ;: ' •'* "-''■";■ "With whom did you have breakfast?" , . "I can't say who." "Can you name "anybody who wfts at the table that morning ?■' ■ "I knew no one but Mr. Cashel."'

Wm. Bayly Declares That Detective Tried To Entice Him To Make An Admission QUESTIONED CLOSELY ABOUT HIS MOVEMENTS AT THE TIME

UTJOW many people were there?" IX "I can't say."; "ThoAigh you had been on frequent visits you did not knoAV the names of any people staying there?" But witness could give the names of none. Counsel: Of course, Bayly, you know your movements have been the subject of some question? Bayly: Yes. Have you discussed this matter with the Fowlers? — Yes, Mr. Fowler mentioned it to me some time after October 8, within a Aveek, but I can't say the exact date. With any other members of the Fowler family? — I think we were all together, at FoAVler's house. Did they agree with you that you were there? — I don't know what their opinions were; whether they discussed where I was I don't know. You had been asked by the police as to your movements and your wife also? — At that time, no. I know they had seen my Avife about what I was doing that day. I 1

Could Not Remember

I : ! . Didn't she tell them she had talked to you at the back door that night? — I don't know. I was inside during that time and saw Mr. Fowler. It was somewhat important for you to establish where you were that Monday night. Did you know it was important? — No, I did not know that it was important that I should explain my movements on the Monday. The police asked you m detail about Monday and Tuesday? — Yes, Sunday night included. You can't remember any of the Fowlers saying that you were there that night?— No. The witness said he could not remember having seen anyone or talked to anyone when he returned to Glenalvon on Monday night or on the Tuesday morning. "I don't know which waitress served me on Tuesday morning. I think it was the same one who served me all the 'time, but I do not know her name," Up. renli^d to other questions put by Mr. Meredith. He knew none of the waitresses by name. He could not give the name of anyone who was m the room when he hnd his breakfast that Tuesday morning. To further questions the witness said: "I gave the police all I knew while it was fresh m my memory, and I have not thought much more about it." lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllirlllllllllllllillllM

WILLIAM ALFRED BAYLY'S recital of Detective Bickerdike's interview with him was listened to with rapt attention* He declared that the detective tried to persuade him to admit that his relations with Elsie Walker were more than friendly; but he had told Bickerdike that he would not admit doing something he had not done.

He could not recall the exact time he was talking to his aunt that morning, but as he left Glenalvon before 10 a.m. it must have been previous to that. "Where did you go after?" "I went out to see my wife, came into town with her, went to the Newmarket Railway Station and re-directed some luggage which had been sent up to me from my wife's home." Then, he said, they went into town for lunch, but whether it was before midday or not he could net remember, and where they went for lunch he could not say. After that they went to the pictures for a while and then about a quarter to two, or three o'clock, they met a Mrs. McDonald and had afternoon tea at Milne and Choyce's. He left his wife and her friend and bought some suit-cases before 5 p.m. He then did some packing, after which he went to Kingsland to see Mrs. Edwards. He did not see her, however, but a boy who was "running the place" while she Avas away. Pie told the boy that he would be out there

the following morning. Then he returned to town and Glenalvon.

Next morning, Wednesday, he and his wife, after an early ' breakfast, loft for Henderson, by train from Newmarket, at 8.35 a.m. "There was a man named Dobbs living on the farm when we got there," continued Bayly, "and he continued to live there after we got there." \ "You learnt from him that he'd been there for some little time," said Mr. Meredith. "As a matter of fact, he was the man who got the job?" Bayly: No. He was carrying on, and Dobbs was to leave when I came. "Did you tell Dobbs you'd been out on Monday to see the place?" "I can't remember."' Bayly said that on Sunday his father and Mr. Lusk paid him a visit, and he was asked about the key of the car. "Had you heard about Elsie Walker's disappearance?" "I had heard nothing, and seen nothing m the papers." "There were two keys to the car?" — "Yes." '

police as to his movements on October 1, • ori the Monday following. He replied In the affirmative. At that time, he said, he had a reasonably clear recollection of what he had done, and he had made no notes, so that he was at present speaking of events three months old. He had told the police all he knew, and he did not know at that time that there might be any possible suspicion, or suggestion, attached to him. "At any rate it has been open to the police to check up during the past three months on that story you gave them?" - "Yes." Bayly said his only other interview was with Detective Hammond, when the latter had conveyed a message to him from his father. Bayly said, replying to the lawyer's questions, that he was fairly well known m the Bay of Plenty, and that it was improbable that he could have visited his home without being seen. Detective Kelly had interviewed him again three or four weeks later and he had had plenty of time to check up on

his first story. The detective did not question him again m detail, and he only questioned him on two or three matters the second time. Later he was interviewed by Detec-tive-sergeunt Bickerdike who came out Lo the farm where he was working at Huntly. "Previous" to this you had heard ot an attempt to get at your belongings j jat Henderson by the police, surreptitiously?" j "Yes." I "Without search warrant or any authority?" > "Yes, as far as" I know." Bayly then told of the detectivesergeant's visit to Huntly, where he was interviewed alone. Bickerdike told him that he had come down to see about the "poor dead girl," and that he was there m strictest confidence, and whatever he said would not go any further. They Avere standing by the first dividing rails of the cow shed, and the door of the separating room was open.

son. I went out after a few days to Henderson, and the man working on the place — not Dobbs — said the detectives had been out a*nd wanted to see my stuff. He gave me to understand that they had said they were my friends, and. wanted to see through my belongings." "Did they look through them?" asked the coroner. "No," said the witness. "Well, that's all right. An innocent man would not object to them looking through his things if it was to help clearing up' a crime-— if it is a crime — like this. There was a girl lying dead m the scrub like a dog, and the police were endeavoring to solve the riddle." Bayly offered no comment tb this remark. He said, however, that the detective had endeavored to entice, or cajole, him into making an admission that he had been intimate with Elsie. "Did he make any referehce to her attractiveness?" "Yes, but I told him she was not so to me. Then he said I had been m trouble before." "Were you?" asked Mr. Hunt. "No," said Bayly, "but there were _^ __ ;

Detective's Regret

I J allegations made against me before, and I told him a man was innocent "until he was found guilty." "Perhaps I should interpose," interrupted the lawyer for the family, "and say that the judge stopped the prose-, cution, and directed the jury to acquit." "What was the charge ?" asked Mr. Hunt. "Carnal knowledge," replied Bayly calmly. Detailing Bickerdike's words before he left the cow shed, the witness said that the detective expressed his regret that he had not said what he had been wanted to, as it would have cleared practically everything up. Before he left, however, he took a statement. His wife had £26 when she left Te Puke, Bill told the Court, and he had £14. They were under no expense m the city as he was staying at his aunt's with his wife for a while, and they did not pay any board. They had no difficulty m carrying on. He had a Ayr ist Watch when at Papamoa, but it had been out of order for six months, and was not reliable, and he had not worn it for six months. It was the only watch he had until he purchased another, about November thirteenth or sixteenth. The inquest had not concluded when this edition went to press. A special story of the remainder of the evidence will be published m "N.Z. Truth's" next issue. llllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllHlllllllilllllllllH^