THE Twelfth Crime

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 143, 23 July 1914, Page 2

THE Twelfth Crime

AcMystery of Modern London

By SETON CROSS

Author of " The Stolen Governess," " Queen of the Ballet* i "The Mill Girl s Secret," etc.

v i ' [COPYRIGHT.]

CHAPTER XXX. (continued). " T - THIJ CELL. What Wheeler ? s> thoughts were when lie found himself! in! that bare and miserable abode of miefprtune, a prisoner icliaTged with tbeijnost.serious crime linown to the law, i he ,alone knew. But, whatever they were, his -behaviour was strangely unlike that of a murderer and a felon, for, after giving vent to a hearty-rburst of viaughter he stretched Jiimself ■ on the. little wooden .benehin h\p cell, and, muttering something about •' thunderingr hard t bed,'?, i promptly fell off to sleep—a faet .which spoke volumes for..his nerve and tranquility of mind. It was quite hours before Small - piece got Wheeler's message*—lnspector Fletcher had exhibited .no undue haste in dispatching it—and when he did get it he looked very grave. But it said a, good.deal for his genuine friendship towards the journalist that although "he was tired out after a long day's work in connection with an intricate forgery «ase, he did not hesitate a moment. There are always several taxis waiting in Scotland Yard, and, hurrying out of iis-office, the detective jumped into one and told the man where to drive. There was, of course, no difficulty in liia being admitted to see the prisoner «n his arrival at the latter's place of confinement, but he was'certainly surprised on entering- the j cell to find the Journalist rubbing his eyes, : having only just awakened- from his peaceful slumbers. ■ Even Smallpiece marvelled that a man could sleep calmly 'with such a terrible charge hanging ipver" him. "Well," he observed, ;','l must say you take matters 'very; . calmly, Mr Wheeler." v '' 1 , "Yes, don't I?" replied the journalist, in the pleased tone of one who has just been assured ,tha ( t his health is excellent. Then lie in his usual languid manner. / ,

"You see, to-morrow will be a pretty strenuous day, and . a. fellow must sleep."

Looking at..him,, Smallpiece felt a revival of those doubts he had previously entertained with; regard to Inspector Fletcher's perspicacity., Men who knew themselves to be guilty of .murder rarely behaved,in this fashion —even when possessed of Wheeler's natural sang froid. In fact, .he ( becaine more and more convinced in . his own mind that the zealous inspector had made a yery regrettable .blunder,-

CHAPTER XXXI. IN- THE : DOCK,

; ''Well, I'm here," grunted tlie detective, still in a state of considerable mental perplexity. "Jove, so you are!" ejaculated Wheeler, as though only just made conscious of the'fact. "Still," he added, "I'm very glad you've come. Smallpiece; I wanted tp see you pretty badly." ' ' , "So it seems," returned the other, with a touch of irony. The journalist laughed. "Sit : down, '■ ; he' said, in tlie tone of a host offering his guest a chair. " The furnishing's not over-comfortable, but we must make the best of it."

Smallpiece seated himself on the corner of the bench and fixed his' keen eyes on Wheler. And- now," said 'the latter, "wd'll start the pow-wow. ■ Midnight was striking before Smallpiece left that dismal cell, and he shook hands with Wheeler before leaving. But as he passed through the charge-room on his way to the street, the intelligent station-sergeant noticed that the detective's face wore a very grim look. "There's something curious about that case," remarked the sergeant to a colleague a few minutes later. "What case?" asked the other. "That newspaper chap"—he jerked his head in the direction of tlie cells — " 'tisn't all what it might b6j J} he added. And his colleague, nodded wisely in answer to this apocryphal utterance. The sergeant might have been still more surprised had. lie known that Smallpiece had .barely reached the end of the road when the man he had lefk — the man who in a few short hours would be standing in the dock charged with wilful murder," the verdict returned at the inquest on Treve'r'sh—was once more sleeping as peacefully as a babe.

Not since the murder of David M \K\va n had there be<?n such a sensation in Clapham as that caused by the arrest of Phillip Wheeler on the charge of murdering James. Treversh. The news had spread through the district like wildfire immediately he was iu the custody of Inspector Fletcher. Indeed, the affair soon became of far more than local interest, for, although the crime itself was of a comparatively commonplace nature, it had leaked out in some

■extraordinary tray tliat' there was a womaii at the bottom ofjt." This, together with the fact that /the ac'eusedj was a proiriinerit London journalist; ere- j ated" a ■universal 'interest, since' it rarely happeW that a pressman figures in the dock Hinder-a capital charge.' On'ihe'ixigKt of the arrest two evening plapers brought -out ''late extra" editions, aM next morning V papers, of course, wete full of it: They hinted—but only hinted—that there \tfas.a besiutlful' Ker6ine in' the : ease and since the modern journalist is a past-master lot the getitle art Of innuendo, the readers were 16(1 to believe that the curtain was about to; go iiji .on a thrilling drama of love and hate; '/'• ~ On the morning of the hearing, therefore, the South-Western Police Court was crowded to its utmost capacity with people' eager to indulge their morbid curiosity, while upon the bench sat several weil-.'dressed ladies, equally ajij- , xious to iiidjilge their " dramatic stinpt.. During the wait preceding the arrival of the magistrate, the privileged few upon the Bench gazed curiously at tlie crowd below through their and the crowd gazed back witli' .riipjje or' less respectful curiosity. About & dpzen reporters were seated, &t actable jfaeing tike Bench, their. nots- - ;'and: piencils arranged - ready for use/ '''Heife,'at".least,.there was a feeling of . genuine sympathy and anxiety for for three-fourths of the, were, acquainted with \Vheeler. a man among tbem but hoped from, the.bottom of his heart that Phil Wheeler would be able to establish his, innocence and clear his name of the awlul slur.'whjch rested upon it. .■. j It spokre volumes, too, for. the ; g-o.pd-, fellowship and loyalty of Fleet, Street thatj .when , the accused was brought into court, placed in the dock, those of tyis fellow-Pressmen who knew him : gave him a cheery nod of recognition. Inspector Fletcher, who, with Mr Lyte, the counsel for the prosecution,; had been ampng the earliest to reach the court, was much to the fore. He ..had been very busy all night, collecting and his, evidence; but he showed no trace of weariness, while his air of confidence seemed to bode, ill for the accused mail..

The magistrate entered, and after the usual stir and bustle had subsided the hearing commenced. The charge having been read,. the accused was \Vhether he pleaded guilty or not guilty.: j "Oh, not guilty," answered IWheeler, in a voice which seemed to suggest he way npt particular about it either way. At , a jnatter of ; fact he was looking round tlie,c,ourt, his professional eye intent upon the magnificent material for a "descriptive" which the scene af? forded., . ■

So complete was the chain of evidence against-the accused from the police 1 point'of view that counsel did not ask for a remand; as usually happens when such a serioiis I'harge ia under consideration. 'And Wheeler having offered no opposition 'to the case being jjroceeded with, Mr ELyte opened the proceedings: ! Before he ,did sb, however, the magistrate enquired if Wheeler had a : legal re- ; <' N0,.? ['aasivered Wheeler, with a ' queei; ; smile; f'i don't think I shall needone." .. ' Haying ipcdulged in the usual prelim-;j iiiary preamble with reference to the,a wf uluess of the. charge, the. saeredness, of human life, and the necessity of jus,- ;

tice being done, Mr Lyte proceeded to build up his case for the Grown. '' I will not dwell,'' he said, '' upon the motive vhich • led up to this daS' tardly crime, though I shall have occasion to refer to it hereafter, and witnesses will confirm my statements. Sufficient to say for the .present that jealousy was the controlling factor; its. source, I need hardly say was a woman." A thrill went through the court at these words, such as excites an audience when watching a particularly sensation-, i al melodrama. Here, indeed, was a ; "drama of real life." Having briefly stated the rivalry, which existed between the accused and, the murdered man for the hand of a; certain lady, counsel proceeded to show: that as soon as Wheeler learnt Treversh was the successful suitor he developed an intense hatred towards him. To such an extent did he allow his animus to overrule his discretion that he actually went to the lady's guardian with a pack of trumped-up charges against Mr Treversh,'' said counsel. "It is from this point that, the idesi of getting rid of his rival Seems to liayev occurred to hi'm,.-tfiid' -he' <iert&ihly lost:; no time in'putting*that idfea into execution. " ; '• ,■ .. .He ,then outlined,,jthe, qu^rx€!l,.in,Pe^r.. Holgate's house on the evening of the murder, when Treversh was faced with the " trunvped-up" charges. So skilfully and dramatically did he weld the evidence together and link it with the accused's alleged jealousy and his love for the girl who Kad' fitfnsented to marry Treversh, tha,t the coiirt gasped with suppressed excitement. Each damning fact and detail w as brought out in its proper order -or, rather, in the order which wfluld give it most weight—and the case against the accused seemed irrefutable. . , Mr Lyte showed clearly , eq-ch .step led to the ultimate /crime, with such skill that his listeners ..could almost watch the mental., process tha4,. jnust have taken place—as he alleged—-in the miiid of the accused.

'' And now,'' said counsel, ' ' having sho'Wn the ' tfoui-t' 'thfe- pfe'sdiiiCl &hip ' between these two' men—the'' accused and his victim —and the events, which led oip to- and finally put the seal on the former's' jea'lousy, I l 'will 'deal with the facts of the• murder 'itself.'-'

■ . He. paused for- a moinentp td' some 'documents, ,! and"tltfe court'sdizfedi the opportunity to look at the accused and see how he was taking' it. Appal?-! cntly he was taking it very well indeed —t-so well that the proceedings seemed to have 110 interest for him, and he was watching the reporter's ; pencils • flying over their paper -with a sort of bored interest. " ■ ' ' ' ' i

Counsel, having refreshed his memory, went on to describe how the two. men left Holgate's'house after the. in-' terview and proceeded towards Claphain j Common. He described the second quarrel which took place there, and how it ended in violence.

"That fateful quarrel < concluded,'' said Mr Lyte, with* dramatic emphasis, "in..the accused strikittg'fMs victim a terrific blow which seiii liini reeling to the ground. This was the-fiTst ;, Mow struck, but, unhappily, not- the last. A more cunning, a more deadly one 'Was to follow, Of that ghastly etffcht 0 ! 1 shall say nothing now;Mihfe ! 'I l!,! Attt about to produce will' teUiilfer oWn' ''teirij>le. story. .Therefore I : will . proceed to deal with, ; the of '.the body and— —

He hesitated in order to .give effect to a dramatic pause; , >-,.?• .-v f —thq .with twhdfeh: the .foul deefl -was .committed! ,I',-. n-

This last statement) an abusing voice,; senjt a ( .through ithe' cpii'rt'.,-, Then, th,erg , '"Perhaps,''( ."said Mr Lst;B,, ..turning |to Wheeler, ." theaecu^&d^ill,; i .dejiy. •o^hefrshipi'of tfee"weapon.?' ,; 1.: ; ' : Wheeier smiled and ,'shpolc -liis head 'af the suggestion. f V ~ - ; i7 Ah!'' ejacuikted coiinse], triumpli'antly. "The accused admits that the

iweapori is KW. it as well, for had •he denied it we could the contrary." " " : , At this seemingly ' fatal' admission ■Wheeler's friends became 1 liiofe anxious still and engaged nods' : ftill' of'graVe significance. •' ' . Counsel then went on : t0 ;: describe Wheeler's flight, his' 'sneaking Yettttirii; and the clever captui'fi by Inspector Fletcher, of the local force. cap* l ture,.-I might say, which does infinite credit to that official's ingenuity; and perseverance,'' . h.e added, whereupon the inspector, blushed and did' his best to conceal his self-satisfaction. .

"It is, I contend," -went on counsel, "the simplest and most conclusive case ever brought before this Court,., a case in which motive and action coincide perfectly. I have endeavoured to show —not without occasion, 1.-trust —every mental .step by which the .accused advanced towards -his, culminating crime —personal dislike, jealousy, hatred, and, finally, revenge. ; ; "A more simple, a more a more coherent example .of criminal psychology it has never been my lot to ijeal with. And now, having outlined the case against the accused, I shall proceed to call Witnesses." ■ ' i The tram-conductor who discovered the' body then entered the witness-box, and stated how and at what'time he had. seen it, the position in which, it lay, 4nd how he immediately rah for a policeman. i -P. t-: Granate, the constable in qjiestiion, 1 lieu stated how he had 'been called I'y the previous witness, and,' ttpon arriving on the scene, found the body as already described. The man, he said, was quite dead, and upon ascertaining this lie at once dispatched the previous witness to telephone to the police station, while .he kept guard over the body.

Inspector Fletcher was the next to enter the box, and from his manner it obvious • that he entertained no doubts as to his ability to bring the ctripie home to the accused. As his evidence Was of great importance, the prosecuting counsel put a few, questions to him.

, "I he said, "that you witnessed the quarrel between the accused and Mr Treversli ou the Cotillion t' ' '' •■. ... i. ! "J, did," replied tke witness. *.' l was proceeding on ihy usual official rpulid of inspection when, on approachiiig a'little-frequented path'riot far from the rab-rdnk, I heard the . .sbuiid df a'.ngry 'voices. I approached' cautiously, and; unobserved, saw the? 'accused anil Mr Treversli on a seat' together. I cbuld not hear all that was saidj but t Hard accused use threatening expressions. : Finally, when they* rose from the 'scat, I saw accused strike* Mr Treversli •\\ l ith such force that he fell to the gvound.-" v 1 • " Did Mr Treversli ! give '-a ijy provocation?" asked the. magistrate.; ! "He ;was half hidden .by a tree, sir, ahd 1 .could not see,replied, the witiiesst ' :

(To : be' cbritiniied to-morrow.)

S did lie raise , .voice or use Words of intimidation (,lur,iii.g the quarrel?.",. iM ßoth men were , eycited... JVtr Treversli seemed very angry." : "H'm—naturally. What followed f'' asked counsel. ," The accused, having knocked the

man down, walked away,'' continued the witness, '' and I went up to Treversh to see if he was hurt. He did not appear.; to have been> and mentioned nothing about charging accused with assault. I then proceeded on my round of inspection. About half-past six on the following morning I was called by telephone. On arriving at the Common I found the dead body of Mr Treversh in the position described by the former witnesses. With Detective-Inspector Smallpiece, of Scotland Yard, who accompanied me, I searched the ground and picked up" —he hesitated for a moment while casting a look of malicious triumph at Wheeler—"an automatic pistol with the initials, 'P.W.,' on the butt.

"At my suggestion Detective Smallpiece and I went to the house of Mr Peter Holgate, a neighbour of the accused, who identified the weapon, having seen it in accused's possession.'' He then described how, failing to find Wheeler at his lodging, he lay in wait for him, and captured him near the Clapham Road. "That pistol was all you found near the body?" "enquired. t jie Magistrate. . "Yes, sir; but Detective ISmallpiece ■ came across a page torn from :a Bible with a passage underlined. So far : as we can tell, however, it has no bearing on the case."

"And the accused made no statement when "No, sir. *' ' N •' '

A buzz of subdued conversation —instantly silenced by the ushers—went round as the inspector left the box. His evidence had been so convincing that even Wheeler's most loyal supporters at the Press felt their allegiance waver. If the' accused were innocent, how could he possibly hope tor refute such evidence as this? ; N 4

Yet he did not appear concerned or anxious in the faintest degree, but continued to stare dreamily in front of him as though almost unconscious of his surroundings,

Peter Holgate followed Inspector Fletcher, and was told by counsel to describe the origin of the enmity between accused and Treversh. The old iraan looked almost jubilant as he Stepped into the box and gazed around him with an. air. of intense self-im-portance. f \ Having expladtD&ii hje accused were ylive Boyd, /' wie wdraaii in the cake," Spas his ward, he went on:— ' "Mr Treversh, an intimate friend of mine, had been paying attentions to Miss Boyd for. some time, prior to what! I may term Mr Wheeler's advent. Quite recently, however, Mr Wheeler developed a regard for the- young lady,, although she had never given h'ijn,'"and never did give him, : any encouragement. '' It was not till the engagement between Miss Boyd and Mr Treversh was announqjsfl,. that: he' displayed any signs of enmity, towards the latter, and then lie did SQ,ift.a malic jous and'underhafr'd m&n'iWr;

'' Waiting till Mr Treversh had gone away for;the weekend;; he".Mine" 1 to me .and made the mast.... foul accusations against my him with nearly everything t short of murder^''N&tMrallly 'i 'did not 1 Relieve a wdrd o-f'-'Ms'.story,' Bjat, } -'Atf'-hty ward's happiness t was i'at. stake 1 , 1 1 that u W ii^o'ritf^jj of) whatf feaid j iii ■ bhter 'ttitti fie was arranged for th# following Monday* V'ut.t took, place on the prefeedinig Baturt dayyi- as Mr ■ Treversh • Teturnel tutex* town on" that day. '

Wheeler Was sent "for,' and in. niy keciisfe,d 'Mi 4 iVever^ii' witK jtjie i cKm r es :r he ,? him. } Thfe - latt^fc; ! I iay, Was ;tb tlieriv'in thfeir entirety. Towards thß ); %i'd' ; '<if ' the! ■ tile, ilb&t : his temper, arid/' f did Mr : !;t 'However, ' : aged ffco' "rest'Ord ; -p6afee,'' ai'd ef itbe* two 16ft ! tft6 : hoixse : that' a Quarrel' might breaJc out agiain between them, with, perhaps, se'rioiis cOxtsequericefc, I decided to follow. I Was on a'■seat not far from theni when; ■they sat down on, the.Qommon, and myself witnessed all that 'lnspector Fletcher had already told the court." ■'Tiieluding the blow which iaecused struck' Mr 'Treversh ?'' the* ipagiStfate. ; y-_ • ' • sir.'' ;>; ' "Did you see Mr Treversh i again evening? !f> ' '/ . I went tb him as hegot. lip, from the glrouriij. told me that Wheelbr had threatened' to kill ''

: "Never mind whatflie told you^'' interrupted the magistrate. * 4 That : is not evidence.''

"I take it that Miss Boyd was quite willing , to marry. Mr him, in short?" asked counsel. ~ 1 • "Certainly,';' replied the witness : The; accused,! having refused to crossexamine .Holgate—he had not .: put a single question to any of the witnesses —the old man stepped down, beaming with satisfaction.. ■ " I shall now call the medical evidence," said Mr Lyte;. whereupon the divisional police surgeon was : duly sworn. He described . the cause of death and stated, that . Treverah . must have been dead some hours before he was discovered. - / '

"There is no suggestion of suicide, I suppose?'' asked the magistrate. • 1 ; " Certainly not. It would be physically impossible ■ for a man to shoot him ; self in -such-a position. ' He was shot from behind at (very close range."

: "You examined the bullet 1' * asked' counsel- •' "Yes; it Was facsimile of those found in the mag&zine ■ of -the pistol fromwhich, I 'noticed,. One bullet had 'been fired.''

This closed the ease for the prosecution, and counsel, after briefly summarising the'evidence, said there could be no vestige of doubt as to the accused man's guilt. ' 1 There are other witnesses who could be called," he added, "such as 'the woman in the case.' But I prefer not to waste the time of the court, being convinced tliat sufficient evidence has been given to justify a committal." The magistrate nodded a grateful acquiescence, and then tufned.to the accused. "You ,}iav,e heard the evidence against 'you,''* he; said, '*' and have refused to inly of the witnesses. But, before youiatre committed for trial, is there -arty statement that you wish to make?":. ■ : : .v > ; ' 4 Certainly, V- : replied Wlieeler, appearing ftQ take some interest in the proceedings for first time. "1 want to tell you:-who!;committed the murder-i----and-whyli'i', l 'k. . ■ i-':

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