NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 600, 28 February 1929, Page 1

NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK

Startling Turn in Police Inquiry “INSPECTOR STOLE MY THEORY” {TRIED to force myself into the proceedings at the inquest, but was blocked. This is the first opportunity I have had of speaking and I am glad of it.” —Chief-Detective Hammond at the Police Inquiry this morning. Questioned by the Commissioner, Mr. E. Page, S.M., of Wellington, Chief-Detective Hammond said he had the same theorv as to the girl’s death as expressed by Inspector J. W. Hollis yesterday. “The theory was stolen from me by the Inspector,” added the chief-detective.

Mr. A. E. Currie, of tlie Crown LawOffice, Wellington, is leading tlie evidence. Evidence has already been given by Superintendent Wohlmann, represented by Mr. N. Johnson, ol Hamilton, and Inspectors Mcllveney and Hollis, represented by Mr. A. I-I. Johnstone.

counsel’s table. He is for j Constable Jackson, of Te Puke, who, at the inquest, had been referred to by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., as the “one bright spot of the inquest.” | Chief-Detective Hammond said it j was decided to send Detective-Ser-geant Kelly to Te Puke, as the evidence received from there had been of so conflicting a nature. The detec-tive-sergeant was not recalled. Witnes wanted to know the result of special inquiries and asked him to return. BLOCKED AT INQUEST “I did not have an opportunity of reading the brief.” said Chief-Detective Hammond, replying to Mr. Currie. “I did' not appear at the inquest. I tried to force myself into the proceedings, but was blocked. This is the first opportunity I have had of speaking, and 1 am glad of it.” Mr. Currie: Did you leave the detectives on the field for a long time without instructions ? Witness: X conferred daily with them while they were in the Auckland district. Mr. Currie, referring to the form of inquiry: Did it not occur to you to instruct inquiries to be made in the Papamoa district regarding the possibility of the girl obtaining food from refreshment rooms en route? Chief-Detective Hammond: How could she obtain refreshments at that hour of the night? She had a good meal before she left Papamoa, the family having killed the fatted calf that evening for. a visiting relative. UNSATISFACTORY INQUIRIES Mr. Currie remarked that the form of the inquiry sent out to country Xiolice stations was not specific enough, instructions had been given to see if benzine had been procured. He considered that it should have directed that inquiries be made to ascertain whether benzine was procured either from garages, bowser stations, or settlers.

Chief-Detective Hammond, who is represented by Mr. Allan Moody, con* tinued his evidence to-day. He has stated that Elsie Walker was once seen starting the car with the starting handle.

He was certain that if anyone could do that they could drive a car. On examining the girl’s shoes, witness also found a mark across the waist of one shoe, which might have been caused by driving a car. NO MOTIVE FOR MURDER

Witness also referred to the question of the girl’s clothing, which he said was of very flimsy material. Obviously it could not have been roughly handled.

“I could find no motive why anyone should murder the girl,” he said.

For the past 10 years Dr. Murray always typed his reports, said witness. Formerly he wrote them, but the writing of medical men is often hard to read. We secured a typewriter for him. If the report had been made out in any form other than usual witness would have known that the doctor considered the case unusual.

At this stage, when the medical reports were being discussed, it was discovered that the original medical report and the copies had become mixed.

“This can’t be the original,” said Mr. Moody. “Stomach is spelt ‘stomack ’ ” It was then discovered that they were referring to one of the copies. Later Dr. Murray came to see witness and said he was worried about the bruise on the head. Witness then knew that someone was worrying the doctor. The doctor said he could not understand why there had been no haemorrhage. PUBLICITY NOT WARRANTED “I know no case in New Zealand that has caused so much inquiry as this case. No murder case would warrant the publicity and Inquiry this has had —and this is not a murder ‘case,’ ” said Chief-Detective Hammond. “it is all due to some enterprising reporters who have rushed about the country getting scares here and there,” he said. The case has had far more inquiry thau it warranted. A new figure appeared in the proceedings this morning when Mr. H. D. Cooney, of Te Puke, took his place at

Chief-Detective Hammond will know better than I how you have to cross your t’s and dot your i’s when writing to country police stations.

“I have perused the replies, and while some appear to be full and complete, others are unsatisfactory. It is a question whether the inquiries were properly carried out. Many of these inquiries have been limited to towns and townships, said Mr. Currie. Mr. Currie also referred to an anonymous letter received by the police. C-hief-Detective Hammond: Anony-

liious letters! They -would drive you mad!

Mr. Moody; The waste paper basket is the place for them. Witness said that although a lot of them obviously did net merit attention. the anonymous suggestions were all inquired into. Mr. Page: Where circumstances are in doubt, do you think a body should be removed?

Witness: I think not. The regulations are sufficiently clear on the point. In the present case he thought that the constable was justified in removing the body. If he had left it there until daylight, it would have been further disfigured by rats. A STOLEN THEORY

To Mr. Page: He thought the Crown Prosecutor’s brief was prepared on the theory expresesd by Inspector Hollis yesterday. Mr. Page: Are you also of that opinion? Witness: Yes. I think the inspector stole the theory from me. Mr. Page: Proceedings on the part of the Crown took a different turn at the inquest. Witness: Yes. (Continued on Page 13.)