DEATH CAUSED BY BLOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 571, 25 January 1929, Page 1

DEATH CAUSED BY BLOW

Whether Accidental or Homicidal Coroner is Not Able to Determine

POLICE SEVERELY CRITICISED

“THAT Elsie Walker died on or about October 1, 1928, some--1 where between Papamoa and Auckland, and that the cause of her death was concussion following a blow on the head; but whether that blow was accidental or homicidal there is no evidence for me to determine,” is the finding of the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Elsie Walker inquest concluded this morning. Strong comment on the ‘‘mistakes made by the police and the inefficient way the inquiries were carried out,” was made by the coroner. From the evidence submitted he was of opinion that the girl was accompanied by a male companion on her tragic journey.

The evidence showed that Elsie Walker left the place where she was residing at Papamoa on the evening of October 1, the car belonging to the place disappearing at the same time. On the following Friday Klsie Walker’s body was found among some scrub in a scoria paddock at Panmure. Mr. Hunt’s finding, delivered this morning, was as follows: “My finding is that the deceased Elsie Walker died about October 1, 1928, somewhere between Papamoa and Auckland, and 'that the cause of her death was concussion following a blow on the head; but whether that blow was accidental or homicidal there is no evidence for me to determine/’ Mr. Hunt remarked that he was satisfied that a man had accompanied the deceased, but who that man was there was insufficient evidence for him to say. POLICE INEFFICIENCY The conclusion of the finding was directed to the police and seated: “I very much regret that I find it my duty to draw attention to the way the police handled this case in its early stages. The Superintendent of Police for the Auckland district was present throughout the inquiry. He must have seen, as I did, th€: mistakes that were made and the inefficient way the inquiries were carried out. “I feel sure that he will see the necessity for holding an Inquiry at once into the whole question. The publie are entitled to better service from the police than 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 an* intelligent inquiries been made. EVIDENCE REVIEWED

In his review of the evidence, Mr. Hunt stated: “The deceased, Elsie Walker, was 'A well-developed, healthy girl of 1 * years of age. She had been living for about 12 mouths with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bayly, at Papamoa. She received a small wage, and assisted in the household duties. “On Mondty, October 1, 1928, there were present at dinner at Papamoa Mr. and Mrs. Bayly, their four sons, Trevor, Godfrey, Tom and Charles, and a relative who had arrived that day. Miss Audrie Bayly, and Elsie 'Walker. The eldest son, William, had left home permanently about a fortnight earlier. “Dinner was over at about 7 p.m. Und Elsie Walker, assisted by Tom, washed up. The others went into the Mlliard-sitting-room, and Tom joined them later. Elsie did not. “About 8 p.m. Audrie Bayly left the i»itting-room for a glass of water. Elsie Walker gave her a glass. This was in the kitchen. That is the last time Elsie Walker was seen alive. At 5.30 'p.m. Godfrey went to bed. 110 says Elsie was not in her room, and he did not see her in the kitchen. Tre v or spent the evening out. The oilier members of the family chatted in the sitting-Boom until about 11, when they went to bed. DOGS DID NOT BARK “Nothing unusual ui.racted their ..attention that evening. There were ' three clogs on the farm, one tied up near the garage, and two at the back ( ‘f the house. Had a stranger been c.bout one might have expected that they would have barked and attracted attention, but they did not. “Trevor returned home at about 2 a.ra. it was a moonlight night, and he saw that the gates were open, and that the motor-car was gone. He did m>t tell his parents till the morning. hen it was found that not only was the motor-car missing, bat Elsie Walker was gone too. Later it was found that £7 had been taken from Audrie Bayly’s handbag and £3 15s fl ‘om Mr. Bayly’s trousers, which had been hanging up in a spare room. The car key had been taken from Mrs. Ilaylv’s room. and a cheap silver from one of the boy’s rooms. BODY FOUND “That same morning, Tuesday, October 2, the car was found deserted in Station Road. Papatoetoe, £lose to the Great South Road. It had been driven 200 miles during fhe night. There was still petrol in and it was in good order, which shows that it had been deliberately abandoned and not deserted because travel no further. “Oa Friday evening, October 5, the

body oC Elsie Walker was found under some shrubs and bushes in a scoria paddock at Panmure, near Mount Wellington, eight miles from the deserted car. Only the feet of tjhe dead girl were projecting from the hushes. She was dressed just as she was when last seen at Papamoa. She had her house dress on, and apron in front of it, sand-shoes, no hat. She had on, though, a boy’s overcoat which belonged to Godfrey Bayly. No money was found on her, nor was the missing watch. MAN WITH HER “Her dress and clothes were stained. These stains were examined by a bacteriologist and conclusively prove that a man had been with her. These stains were not on her dress at dinner on the Monday. She did not wear an apron at that meal, and they would have been clearly visible and would have been sure to attract notice. “The post-mortem examination of the body was made by Drs. Murray and Gilmour, two of the—most experienced pathologists in the Dominion. “This examination was an exhaustive one. They say that there was no -evidence as to the actual cause of death, but in their opinion, death was due to no natural causes, poison or exhaustion, but was probably caused by concussion following a blow on the head. “They had found on examining the scalp near the top of the skull on the right side, a small area bruised.

This bruise was recent and antemortem and the brain was much congested, this congestion not being a ’post mortem congestion. They also, from an examination of the food in the stomach, came to the conclusion that the girl died about four hours after a meal. HONEST, GOOD GIRL “The evidence that I have heard satisfied me that the deceased was an honest and a good girl. She had money owing to her by the Baylys. She had a few shillings in her purse, which was left at home. She could have had any money she wanted from her father. I do not believe that she stole the money or the watch, f have seen the ground plan of the home, and it would be a simple matter while the family were in the dining room at one end of the house, for a person to take the money from the room which was at the other end of the house. The girl did not intend to leave the house for long, or she would have been differently dressed, or taken other clothes with her. “The evidence also proves to me that the deceased could not drive a car. A man drove it. He had to change a wheel on the road. A task also which was beyond the ability of the girl. CORONER'S THEORIES “I am of opinion that either the girl discovered the thief in the yard and he struck her, rendering her unconscious, and took her away with him in the car, or he induced her, which I think the more probable, to accompany him for a short run in the car, then attempted to assault her. during which attempt she received the injury to her head. The man drove on through the night, hoping against hope that she might recover. When slie did uot lie feared to stop till ne decided oil a place to conceal the bodv 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 then that he pulled the body under the shrubs. Then he drove the car as tar away as time or light would allow, eight miles, to Papatoetoe, and either walked or caught an early bus or train to Auckland. “Who that man was there is not sufficient evidence for me to say.