THE INQUEST ON ELSIE WALKER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 559, 11 January 1929, Page 1

THE INQUEST ON ELSIE WALKER

What was your idea of being before time? —Because I’m always on time so as not to keep people waiting. So you went along the Tauranga road? —Yes. Have you done that before? —Yes; several times. Where did you go to then? —To the social. What time did you get to th.e social? —About 7.45 or S o’clock as far as 1 can remember. LEFT ABOUT 1 OR 1.30 Were you there when the function started?—Yes. Did anyone join you on the road? Not that I remember. Witness said he left at 1 or 1.30 iwith Peg Dees and went home. He did not remember if they gave anyone a lift. Where did he drop you? —At our gate. Then I walked in home. Did you notice anything about the gates?—Yes, the two near the house were open, and another one away from the house. In going up from the front gate you would be going to your room? —Yes. Where was your room? —Attached to the back of the house. On this occasion you went round to the car-shed? —Yes, because I noticed the gates near the house open. And did you shut the gates?—No; I left them open because I thought someone might be ctot in the car. That was before you saw the car was out? —Yes.

: Were you surprised to see the car j out? —Yes, a little. AVhat time was this?—About 2 i o’clock in the morning. That was unusual? —Yes. You left the family in the house, i You did not think anyone would be ! | using the car? —No. , I Of course, it might suggest some I emergency had risen? —Yes. You ' vvent inside?—Yes, to my brother’s room. And waited him? —Yes. YVhat did you say?—“Has anyone gone to the doctor or gone -out?” He ■ said lie didn’t think so. That looked as if someone had the i car who had no right to it?—No, the . family may have taken it after he had . gone to bed. Can you suggest who might have ■ taken it out? —Only in the case of a doctor. . That would mean someone had , fallen ill? Mr. Hunt: They would telephone for a doctor and not take the car. Mr. Meredith: Is there a telephone . in the house?—Yes. What hours can you get anybody?— Continuously. Then there was the other alterna- ' tive of getting a doctor? —Yes. Did you seriously think the car had gone out for that?—l didn’t worx-y. Wouldn’t you be interested to find out who was ill?—Oh, I didn’t think it would be at all. serious. “NOTHING SENSATIONAL" ! And you didn't go into the other j rooms to see who was ill?—-No: I was • Grad and went to bed. I didn’t think j it would be anything sensational. So you thought you would find out : if any of the family was ill nest morning?—Yes. Didn’t the possibility of someone stealing it enter your mind?-—No; ! didn’t think anyone would come up that far for it. Y'ou didn’t tell your father about it? —No, I didn’t want to give them a I restless night. j But if they had been out for the doctor their rest would have been broken. Godfrey has told us he told his father in the morning?—Yes. Had you met anybody along the Tauranga Road who may have taken the car? —No. Has the car ever been out late before?—Bill and I have had it out late. Has Bill had it out late by himself 7 —-Not that I remember. You had a watch, did you not? — Yes; an Ingersoll. Did you take it to the dance?—No. Had you it?- —No, it was missing from my room since October 1. J Anything else missing?—Yes, a j pouch that goes with it. They were ■ j on the dressing-table in my room, j YVhen did you notice they were ! gone?—ln the morning. | Do you drive the car?—Y'es, I can ; drive but I do not. | How long had Elsie been at your | home?—Twelve months. AT DINNER THAT NIGHT j She was at dinner that night?—Yes. How was she dressed?—l don't re- ! member. Have you ever seen her drive your car? —No. You understood she couldn't drive? —I thought she couldn’t. Have you or your family ever tried to teach her?—No. Next morning you found a bucket in the garage?—Yes, a kerosene tin used as a garbage tin. YY r here was the bucket? —Alongside where the car would be. What was in it?—A screwed up newspaper and a dish-cloth. How long had Bill been away?— About a fortnight. Y'ou and he are friendly?—YY’e had differences, as most brothers. But you are friendly?—Y'es. Did you write to Bill or receive a letter or any message from him?— No. Mr. Hunt: Do you say the railway | station is 300 yards from your house. | What time does the train get in from | Auckland?—About 6 o’clock. [ It would be dark?—Yes. Mr. Northcroft: The sun set at 5.55 j on that date, sir. j Mr. Hunt: And if you came from

j Rotorua what time do the service cars | get in? —Three-thirty and 5.30. Is there much traffic on the road between Rotorua and Te Puke ? —A fair amount. Motor traffic? —Y'es. How do you get the mail?—By train about 4.30. Who goes for the mail?—Anyone of us. Who fetched the mail that Monday? —I don’t remember. I’m told Bill left home on August 22? —About that time. He was in bad favour? —I don't know. Was he turned out?—No. YVitness said Bill left home on August 22 for a holiday. He next saw Bill at home again on September 24. Mr. Hunt: Did he make no surreptitious visits home before that?— No. How long did he remain at home that time?—Ten or 12 days. Was he on good terms? Why did | he leave?—He wasn’t on the best of terms. He left for good then Anally?— He’s been home since. When?—YVhen he drove the car home. Did he pay no other visit before that date?—No. YY r lien did you last see Elsie?—At dinner the night she disappeared. Was her father coming up next day?—l heard he was coming up some time. Who told you?—Mother. WILLIAM BAYLY’S EVIDENCE William Alfred Bayly, 22, said he was married on August 29. The family did not know of his marriage. He went hdme on September 3, and stayed until September 13. He did not'intend to stay, v and left his wife in Auckland. His parents then did not know he was married. He told his people he was going for a holiday. The second time he left he took all his clothes. He had a slight disagreement with his father on September 13. Prior to his marriage he came, to Auckland on August 22, ac- 1 companied by his wife. Her people were aware that she was marrying him. His father first knew of it when he saw him in Auckland on a,bout September 23. There was no understanding regarding wages while he was on the farm. Whenever he wanted money he went to his father. On August 22 he had £4 or £5 of his own, and his father gave him £lO. With that he paid the expenses of his wife and self to Auckland. He stayed in Auckland with hts wife until he returned home. When he returned on September 13 he stayed until about September 18 with friends at Epsom. He then stayed at Papakura with Mr. Righton, coming into town on September 23 and 24, when he met his father. His father was a little annoyed with him. He received no further money from him. He had previously lived at Papakura and Kohimarama, and was familiar with the district. Prom September 17 to 22 he stayed at Karaka, and it was then that he

j came into town for a few days. 110 did not look for a position then. It was while he was at Papakura ho looked for work. Tie did not have much money, and did not go out n.\ -Li or do much shopping. Finally he secured a position at Henderson running a dairy farm. He applied to Mrs. Edwards for the position on a Sunday, between September 17 and 22. It was in the last week in September that Mrs. Edwards finally agreed to take him on. At this stage Mr. Northcroft raised an objection to Mr. Meredith’s method of examination. He stated that he was putting words into the witness’s mouth. The Coroner: 1 will stop him if he does. Continuing, witness said ihat during the four or five days that elapsed before the job was finalised it did not occur to him to go and have a look at the house. He understood it was all right. On the Sunday night prior to Octoj her 1, when Elsie Walker left, he was I staying at Glenalvon, liis wife stayI ing with friends. He occupied four different rooms at the various times he stayed there. On that occasion he was in No. I, in the annexe. In the time that elapsed since he left Karaka on September 22, he usually arose just before breakfast. The Sunday he spent with his friends at Epsom, and the evening at a Mr. Barker’s. That night he slept at Glenalvon. On Monday he went out to see the place at Henderson, but did not take his wife with him. He went merely to have a look round, and see if the house was really fit to go into. Only the kitchen was furnished, and he had no furniture of his own. His wife was quite agreeable to go out there under those circumstances. He went out by bus, which went within about half a mile of the place. Some children directed him to the place. There was no one on the place that he saw, although he knew there was a boy on the property, but he did not know in what capacity. The house was open, and he stayed for only half an hour. He did not look over the property. Mr. Meredith: Do I understand that you took over this job without looking over the farm. Witness: I was concerned mostly with the house. Mr. Meredith: Prior to this stage, l you did net bother to look at the house or property? SAW NO ONE Witness: I had a look at the house I knew exactly what the job was. I had to milk 17 cows, and -keep the place in order. While on the place he saw no one, or spoke to no one. Mr. Meredith: Can you produce anybody who saw you going to the farm, or on the farm? Witness: No, I cannot. Witness stated he returned to town about lunch time, and had lunch in a place in Queen Street. He could not remember where he had it, and during the lunch hour talked to no one whom he knew. After lunch he met his wife

just after three o'clock. During that period he met no one he knew. Mr. Meredith: Why did you not. have lunch at Glen Alvon, where you were staying? You did not have too much money. Witness: There was no necessity to have lunch at Glen Alvon. I could : have got more money when 1 wanted I When his wife came into town they went to the Power Board office to pay |an account. His wife paid the account, j witness accompanying her into the : office. j Later his wife purchased a hat in Karangahape Road. It was a pink ; summer hat, costing 19s lid. He gave | his wife the money for the V. Ho did not stay in the shop long* ti,*:i necessary, and as far as he w , got no docket or invoice for inpurchase. WITNESS’S MOVEMENTS To Mr. Meredith: In tb • evening he went with his wife to Mr Fowler' house at Epsom. He san • 1 ... and his three daughters, Mavis. In: and Edna. They were in the living room when he arrived. He stayed ft between 15 and 30 minutes. This was on the Monday 11 i • •»«. lie left there at about half-past nine, and arrived at Glenalvon a: about ten o'clock. He went straight to bed, and got up next morning at his usual hour. He had breakta the dining room as usual, sitting a one of the tables in the conn y opposite the entrance door. A Mr. CaMui sat at the same table. However, toe had sat at other tables at \ arious times, and could not tell definitely which table he was at. He knew no one there, with the exception of Mr. Cashell Mr. Meredith: Of course you know your movements have been subject to some question At this stage the inquiry was adjourned till "2.15 p.m. INFERENCE REFUTED The inference contained in the report of another evening paper to the effect that Elsie Walker had a mal--companion on the tragic journey that culminated in her dead body being discovered has been refuted. When the inquiry was resumed thi morning, Mr. E. H. Northcrolt. who is representing the Bayly family, drew the attention of the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, to the report in question. Reporting the evidence of Mr. F. W. Armitage. bacteriologist at the Auckland Hospital, regarding stains on the girl’s clothing, the paper concerned stated that “it was definite from his evidence that Elsie Walker had a male companion between the time slie left her home ahd the day she was found dead.” “An inference has been ■written into the report of the evidence,” said Mr. Northcroft, “something that Mr. Armitage ha*l neither said nor inferred.” He would like it made clear that M \ Armitage inferred nothing of the soi l. Recalled, Mr. Armitage said he did not infer from the stains on the clothing that the deceased had necessarily had a male companion with her during the journey. It was impossible to judge the age of the stains by microscopic examination.