Elsie Walker s Death

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 599, 27 February 1929, Page 1

Elsie Walker s Death

POLICE INSPECTOR’S THEORY

“Died From Exhaustion 7 ’

CHIEF DETECTIVE GIVES EVIDENCE

THAT Elsie Walker took umbrage at being left to do the housework while her cousin was entertained, and left her uncle’s farm alone in the motor-car, later abandoning it through fear of her act, and then dying of exhaustion or some other cause, was the theory submitted by Inspector Hollis at the Police Inquiry continued before Mr. E. S. Page, S.M. this morning. He said he was satisfied with the manner in which Chief-Detective Hammond had handled the case.

MEMBERS of the force principally concerned in the inquiry are: SUPERINTENDENT W. G. WOHLIV!ANN, officer in charge of the Auckland head district. (Mr. N. Johnson, of Hamilton.) INSPECTOR J. W. HOLLIS, in charge of the city area and the detective force. (Mr. A. 11. Johnstone.) INSPECTOR J. McILVENEY, in charge of the metropolitan area. (Mr. A- H. Johnstone.) CHIEF-DETECTIVE HAMMOND, responsible for the arrangement of the detective work. (Mr. Allan Moody.) DETECTIVE-SERGEANT KELLY, who had charge of the case in the early stages and was responsible for the primary investigations. (Mr. S. P. Finlay). CONSTABLE MOLONEY, who discovered the abandoned car, and CONSTABLE COLLINS, of Panraure, who reported on the discovery of the body and who effected its removal. (Mr. L. P. Leary.) MR. A. E. CURRIE, of the Crown Law Office, Wellington, is marshalling and leading the evidence.

had been perfectly satisfied with the work of the chief detective. He was also of the opinion that the detective staff had done nothing that called for any comment. Chief-Detective Hammond had done everything possible. To Mr. N. Johnson: Under the system of co-ordinated control the superintendent is practically a senior inspector. To Mr. Currie: In some cases witness would prompt certain inquiries to be made. REMOVAL OF CLOTHING Absence of violence, the condition of the surroundings where the body was found, the results of inquiries made, and the 'absence of motive were all grounds for assuming that death had resulted from natural causes. Mr. Currie: You do not think the removal of the girl’s clothes resulted iu the loss of' any possible information? .Witness: No. Pressed on this point, he said that, even in view of the fact that the doctor’s report stated that it would have been of great assistance to him if the garments had not been removed, he did not think any information had been lost.

Inspector Eccles, of Hamilton, and Dr. Murray, police surgeon, will also be examined. That the police had covered a wide ground in making their inquiries was stated by Inspector J. W. Hollis, who has charge of the city, waterfront and North Shore areas, as well as being officer in charge of the detective branch.

Mr. Page: It is stated that at the ! stripping of the body a layman was present. Is that a breach? Witness: I consider it irregular. INSPECTOR’S THEORY Mr. Page: Did you have a definite theory about the disappearance of Elsie Warker? Witness: Yes. I am of the opinion that the girl took umbrage at the difference in the treatment extended to her to that extended to her cousin on her arrival, the girl Elsie Walker being left to do the house work while her cousin was entertained. I think she took the car and left on her own accord, and, becoming alarmed, abandoned the car and wandered on. She would know that a look-out would be kept so she avoided the thicklypopulated parts and kept on, tired and weary, until she crept into the scrub and died from such natural causes as exhaustion. Mr. Page: Why was Detective-Ser-geant Kelly replaced? Witness: In view of the publicity given to the case it was thought that a fresh mind might elicit something further.

The huge files did not altogether indicate the amount of work done, he said, as many minor details were not included. Inquiries were made as far south as Christchurch. It would be Inspector Eccles's duty to give as much assistance as he could from the Hamilton end, said Inspector Hollis this morning. DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE It was considered a dangerous practice to proceed on any theory. The first procedure was to secure information. To Mr. Moody: From November 5 the chief detective was away for three days through illness. Witness

To Mr. Page: Witness had sufficient time to devote to the detail of detective cases. At this stage the commissioner ordered the court to be cleared and the suppression of publication of certain evidence dealing with police investigations. Mr. Page: You consider it was possible for the girl to drive a car that distance in one night? If she could drive at all, she must have been an inexperienced driver. Witness: Yes. This concluded the evidence of Inspector Hollis, who had been in the box for nearly two days. Evidence regarding the taking of finger-prints was given by Detective-Sergeant Issell. BODY EXAMINED Alfred Hammond, chief-detective at Auckland, said he had 33 years’ experience in the force, 21 years of which had been spent in the detective branch. He said he received informaContinued on Page 11.