MYSTERY OF ELSIE WALKER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 744, 17 August 1929, Page 1

MYSTERY OF ELSIE WALKER

No Authority to Reopen Inquest

minister of justice to decide

IT is not likely that there will be any new developments in the Elsie Walker case unless a direct communication is received from the Minister of Justice.

The Minister’s authority is final and M decisions were given at both the inquest and the police inquiry nothing further can be done except by the Government. The Crown Prosecutor has no power to do anything. He is merely appointed by the Department of Justice to act for the police where necessary. tpart from this there must be some direct and conclusive evidence to warrant any future action being taken. So far a number of unsubstantiated statements have been made by various persons, but there has been nothing really definite on which an investigation could be made. “Unless I received instructions from the Supreme Court I could not reopen the inquest into the circumstances of the girl’s death,” said the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., this morning. "However, 1 considered It rny duty to draw the attention of the authorities to these latest developments,” he said.

“I have, of course, no power to recommend the reopening of the Inquest for, after delivering my verdict, my official connection with the case was ended. I was not entirely satisfied with the evidence of one witness at the Inquiry and It is for that reason that I have suggested to the Crown Prosecutor that he make an appllca-

tion for the inquest to be reopened or a prosecution for perjury instituted. “If the suggestion were adopted, and the inquest reopened,” said Mr, Hunt, “it would be possible to hear the evidence of Mrs. Thomason and Mrs. Langdon.” At the inquest held into the death of Eilsie Walker, neither Mrs. Thomason nor Mrs. Langdon were called. In delivering his finding the coroner drew attention to what he termed “the inefficient way in which the police inquiries were carried, out,” and suggested that an inquiry into the police conduct of the case be held. An official inquiry into the conduct of the case by the police was later held by Mr. E. Page, S.M., of Wellington, who entirely exonerated the police. The police are still making inquiries and probing every possible clue. This has gone on 3ince the case concluded in the Coroner’s Court. OFFICIAL SILENCE MINISTERS WILL NOT COMMENT (The SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Today. Neither the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister of Justice, nor the Hon. T. K. Sidey, Attorney-General, will comment on the Elsie Walker case.