ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 1

ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY

A dramatic turn developed in tli

inquest yesterday afternoon when the evidence of Constable Jackson, of Te Puke, was given to the Court. Wordy warfare, involving the coroner, Crown Prosecutor. Mr. Northcroft, counsel for the Bayly family, and Constable Jackson, of Te Puke, ensued. Mr. Northcroft alleged that the inquest had wandered far from its original point, which was an inquiry into the death of Elsie Walker, and had now developed into a police inquiry. He questioned the justice of the coroner and the police, and said that. Constable Jackson’s evidence was . turning the Court into a vehicle for „ slander against the Bayly family. Constable Jackson said the loss of the car and the disappearance of ' Elsie Walker were reported to him about 8 a.m. on October 2. The loss of the money from the 1 house was not reported to him until he went out to interview the Baylys. Elsie Walker’s clothing, which had been taken to the police station at Te Puke, was examined by Detective Bickerdike. The detective remarked: “If we found the man who was responsible for that we would have solved the case.” Witness communicated the news of t.he dual disappearance to all stations in the evening. Witness said he received a message- from the Hamilton police that the motor-car had been recovered, and to tell Bavly to go out aiid get 'his car. On the Saturday morning about 3.40 a.m. a telephone message was received that the body of a girl had been found at Panmure. Witness got statements from Mrs. Bayly in the absence of her husband. He learned the son William was in Auckland and gained possession of the key of the car. She said the key that was missing was hers, which ! had been taken from the box in her 1 possession. The one she produced | was Bill’s, and when asked why she | had it she said Bill had left it behind when he went away on holidays, i Witness then communicated with the Hamilton police, and gave them all the information he had. He told them Bayly senior had left for Auckland at one o'clock that day, arriving in Auckland at 11 o’clock at night. He told the police to get Bill Bayly before the father arrived. “A SHREWD MAN’ “1 told them if they didn’t get hold of Bill before the father, they would learn nothing more about the case. I told them Bayly was a shrewd man,” | said witness. “I formed the impression of Mr. Bayly on the Wednesday, when he | would not let his wife say anything to |me during the interview,” said wit- : ness. i “He sat between his wife and myself. He said to his wife: “Don’t tell | him too much, mother. Leave it to me. j I’ve got more brains than you have.” I Witness told Mrs. Bayly she was idoing all right, but Bayly said, “Women i are all the same; they have no brains.” : When Mrs. Bayly signed the statej ment she wanted to withdraw the inJ formation about the car being missing | but witness said it would not be fair i to the police. “They did not suggest the girl could have driven the ear. In fact they ‘pooh-poohed’ the idea that she could drive the car.” The little child had said she could drive the car. but Mr. Bayly said that was childish nonsense. “Mr. Bayly said he would ‘fix it,’ ” said witness. “When I asked him how, he said he had influential friends. “When I went out to Mr. Bayly with j Detective-Sergeant Kelly, Bayly said, j T have a complaint to lodge against j Constable Jackson.’” When w-itness had , asked what it | was Bayly had said witness had come j out and interviewed Mrs. Bayly and j j taken the key of the car. Witness ' said Bayly had a “cheek” to say such j | a thing when assistance was being ! offered. “I said to Bayly. ‘Don’t'you talk to ! me like you talked to your wife last j : Saturday. You talked to her like a I pig-’ ” i j Bayly then apologised for his rude-1 ! ness. ! Mr. Northcroft: Well, Constable: Jackson, so you are the author and ; originator of the Bill Bayly "theory ? “THE ONLY BRIGHT SPOT” Mr. Hunt: He is the only bright j spot we have seen in the box so far. Mr. Northcroft: Your Worship may ; think so. The witness is the only ! one who seems to coincide with your j views of the ease. Mr. Hunt: -You don’t know what 1 my views of the case are. Mr. Northcroft: You have shown j them in every possible way since ! ! (he inquiry started. Mr. Hunt: You may think what you like, but please cross-examine the ; witness. . —— i

Inquest Twice Adjourned COUNSEL TALKS OF SLANDER SPECULATION is rife concerning the reason for the adjournment of this morning’s hearing of the Walker inquiry. Startling evidence was given yesterday, afternoon, at the conclusion of which it was announced that the inquiry would be resumed at ten o’clock this morning. At that hour the body of the court was packed with spectators, including a fair percentage of women. It was then announced that the hearing would he resumed at 11 o'clock, but at 11.30 it was definitely stated that it would not be resumed until 2.15. It is thought that further evidence is being sought.

e I In answer to Mr. Northcroft the e constable said he did not know of _ | anyone else making the suggestion. 1 • He knew that he had got the information first. He had reported it to e his superior officers. Mr. Northcroft: May I have the report?—l cannot say. p Mr. Northcroft: Now, Constable e Jackson, will you give me that report? Answer me at once! L " Mr. Hunt: That is a police report. s Mr. Meredith: Inside reports are f available for your Worship, but it is a a different matter to hand them to e my friend here. Mr. Northcroft: I want to look at that report because this witness has " stated the most intimate conversas tion with my clients. r Mr.. Hunt: You know quite well that I have no power to direct that 1 you see the report. £ Mr. Northcroft: So that is the sys--1 tern? A man can get up in the box and slander another man under the 3 guise of giving evidence. A police ! officer has given evidence of a most. intimate character and has said he 1 reported the same thing to his super--1 tors. I appeal to the Crown Prose--3 cutor and the superintendent of police, Mr. Wohlmann, who are here - now. They have sat and listened to 3 the constable giving, evidence and have made no attempt to stop him. f Surely they will let me see the coni stable’s report! The Coroner: "Well, I have no i power in the matter, i fciteidyihgxio the tirade delivered I - f>>’ my friend,” said Mr. Meredith, “I want to say that I did not call for the i evidence. I point out to Mr. North- ! croft that I did not “get any of the officer’s evidence out of him, but it was given by the witness when questioned by the coroner, whose sole responsibility it is,” It would have been ungracious and discourteous for the speaker to have interrupted when his Worship was getting evidence from the witness, said Mr. Meredith. “It was Mr. Northcroft’s place to have objected to witness making such statements,” Mr. Meredith concluded. He cannot throw the blame on me, because I will not take it, and thermore I propose to follow the Wsual procedure and not allow confidential documents to be seen.” Mr. Northcroft: The witness’s evidence has been in Mr. Meredith’s hands and witness in the box has simply stated the ideas and theories which were contained in his report to headquarters, while your worship has let him go on. Mr. Hunt: 1 want to get everything that can possibly throw light on the death of Elsie Walker. WANDERED FROM POINT Mr. Northcroft: What we originally set out to do was to inquire into the death of Elsie Walker with a possible chance of bringing in a verdict of murder against some unknown person. But we have wandered far from our original point. Your Worship is now conducting a police inquiry. Your Worship has been grievously unjust to my clients. This is now the grossest slander being perpetrated against them. If my learned friend and the Superintendent of Police sit on this document I will take the matter further and leave the public to judge the sense of justice of yourself and the police! Mr. Hunt: Put your clients back in the box if you like and get their version of the Interview-. I want to -clear up the death of this poor girl by any means. “The constable has told me of a report he made to his superior officers,” said Mr. Hunt. “There is a poor girl lying in her grave, and I am inquiring into her death. I have, j her father before me in the front" j seat. I w-ant to satisfy the father j and show him the country is doing ; ail it can and that the police have ! made every inquiry.” “VEHICLE OF SLANDER” ! Mr. Northcroft: This court is being : used as a vehicle of slander against mv client. To Witness: How long; have you been in the police force?—Twenty i years. Have you been off for any specificreason during that period?—Only holidays and sick leave. What kind of sickness?—Mumps, j measles and the like. Have you ever suffered an injury?— Yes. at Whakatane in 1915. To your head?—Yes. Concussion, i How long were you off ? —Three | months. Mr. Northcroft: You knew Bill j Bayly had been living in Auckland k for some weeks? Witness: I knew he was away. ! Mr. Northcroft: And you thought 1 you were justified in saying that Bill ! Bayly was missing. Witness: I knew he was in Auckland because Mrs. Bayly had a letter from Mrs. Barter stating that Bill was there on the Sunday and was going to j Henderson next morning. That was

the Sunday before Elsie Walker disappeared. Mr. Northcroft: Why didn’t the police bring this forward. Nothing has been brought forward by the police—things they knew might clear this boy. Only now we have got it by accident from the police. The police have been very unjust. Mr. Meredith raised an objection to this accusation. He said all the inquiries made by the poilce at Te Puke want to clear the boy. In reply to Mr. Northcroft, witness also said it was a policeman’s duty to be suspicious of everybody. Mr. Northcroft: You think it was your duty to blurt out all this slander to-day? Witness: I couldn't get out of it. I was led on by the corbner, and I had to tell the truth. At 4.30 p.m. the court adjourned till 10 a.m. to-day.