No Clues at Te Puke

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 603, 4 March 1929, Page 13

No Clues at Te Puke

ELSIE WALKER MYSTERY First Theory was Murder I INTERVIEWED a great many people in Te Puke from lawyers to workmen,” said Detective-Sergeant Ivelly, continuing his examination at the Police Inquiry this morning. “Nothing could be found of any assistance to the investigation.” It was also stated that, in the first message telephoned to Constable Jackson, of Te Puke, the opinion was expressed that the girl had been murdered.

To-day is the ninth day of the inquiry set up by the Minister in Charge of i’olice, tiie Hon. T. M. Wilford, to inquire into the efficiency of the members of the force engaged in the investigations into the mysterious death of Elsie Walker. Mr. E. S. Page, S.M., of Wellington, is conducting the inquiry and Mr. A. E. Currie, of the Crown Law Office, Wellington, is leading the evidence. Superintendent Wohlmann. Inspectors Hollis and Mcllveney, ChiefDetective Hammond and the constables engaged in the inspection of the abandoned car and reporting on the discovery of the body have been examined. The two medical men concerned in the post mortem, Dr. D. N. Murray and Dr. Gilmour, have also given evidence. Several witnesses have yet to be called and it is not expected that the inquiry will conclude before Wednesday. The examination of Detective-Ser-geant Ivelly, the officer who handled the investigation in its early stages, was continued this morning. He said he conducted a close investigation in the Te Puke district, particularly with a view to ascertaining if anyone accompanied the girl when she left home. Inquiries also showed that the girl had little opportunity of making the acquaintance of men outside the family. FOUNDED ON FICTION To Mr. Allan Moody, representing Chief-Detective Hammond, witness said that he could have had further assistance any time lie wanted it. He was satisfied that inquiries were being well carried out by the country stations. At about the end of October witness called on Dr. Gilmour and asked if he had given information to the Press*. Certain information had been creeping into the papers and the police could not understand how it got there. Dr. Gilmour said he had seen what had been written in a weekly paper. He considered the theory was founded on fiction. Mr. A. H. Johnstone, representing the police inspectors: Were the reports prepared by Constable Jackson of any assistance. Witness: They were of great assistance and well prepared. Little additional information was discovered. BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED Mr. H. Cooney, of Te Puke, who is representing Constable Jackson, of Te Puke, also examined the witness. He read the message received from the Auckland detective office stating that the girl had been found dead and was believed to have been murdered. Witness agreed that throughout the Saturday Constable Jackson would be under the impression that the girl had been murdered, and that unless the Hamilton police informed him he would retain that impression until he received the circular dated October 8. CONSTABLE JACKSON’S REPORT Witness also said that Constable Jackson would not know that Mr. Frank Bayly had been asked by the police to come to Auckland to identify tho body, and did not do So on his own accord. Mr. Cooney: Then when Constable Jackson sent through his message he would be under a wrong impression as to the reason for Mr. Bayly’s departure from Papamoa. Witness: Yes. Mr. Cooney said there was some dif-

ference between the report of Constable Jackson on his files and that received at Auckland through the Hamilton station. Mr. .Page: The difference appears to be between Hamilton and Te Puke. What was the suggestion? Mr. Cooney: It was a suggestion regarding the movements of certain persons. This apparently was not received in Auckland. Mr. L. P. Leary, referring to the abandoned car: Some absent-minded people often park their cars in the city and then go home by tram. Detective-Sergeant Kelly: Sometimes it is compulsory. Mr. Currie: Did you examine the locality to see if there were any places where anybody had been sitting down? Witness: I looked for everything. Mr. Currie: Did you look particularly for this? Say yes or no. Witness: The ground was of such a nature that an explanation must be given. You can’t sit on jagged rocks, lawyers, scrub and bushes. Mr. Currie: But were there places where one could sit down. Detective-Sergeant Kelly: It all depends. Perhaps I could sit on a piece of jagged rock where you couldn’t. NOT UNDER SUSPICION To Mr. Currie: Witness did not think lit would be fair publicly to interview a certain man on Sunday, October 8. In witness’s mind he was sa little under suspicion as he was now. There was absolutely nothing against him, said witness. Instead he sent a message to a police station and the person in question came and saw witness at the detective office. Mr. Currie: How did the message reach him. Witness: A. constable took it. M.r. Currie: You didn’t think it was wrong to send a police constable in uniform. / "Witness: He wasn't in uniform. The examination of Detective-Ser-geant Kelly proceeded after lunch, when he was further cross-examined by Mr. Currie. He said that at the end of October when he went on to other work witness handed the file of papers dealing with the case to Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike. To Mr. Currie: During the time witness was away in the Bay of Plenty district he did not report to the Auckland office. He was away from October 17 to October 26. Mr. Currie: In his evidence the chiefdetective said you were asked to return because ho wanted to find out the result of your inquiries. Don’t you think you should have reoprted. Witness: There was nothing to report. Mr. Currie: You had drawn a blank. When you had visited Knox home to interview the staff as to whether they had seen anyone about, did you interview the staff separately? Witness: No. They were together and the matron was present. Mr. Currie: If one of the staff had been out after hours and had seen something she would not have told you in front of the matron. (Proceeding.)