"The Monday Night Murder"

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1930, Page 18

"The Monday Night Murder"

I I By J. R. WILMOT. 1 I

CHAPTER XXII— Continued.

"The good die young, my dear," smiled Willard. "But I think I've got something to go on now, my dear. This is certainly a most entertaining collection," and he showed her the remarkable document labelled "Tlio Crime Club." It was not the first curious document Mrs. Willard had perused, and she realised what an honour it was thus to have her husband's confidence, for Willard knew that his wife's lips were sealed on all matters relating to his profession. The document itself was a curious one. It appeared that Gilbert Dyall, as he*.was then, had been a high-spirited and adventurous young man. He had possessed a wide circle of friends and among them had been Eoger Plcydell. Willard scanned the list but Pleydell's name was the only one with which he was familiar. Mostly the list was composed of men, but there were, he noticed, also the names of two women, Grace Carter and Amelia Turton. The Crime Club which Dyall had organised consisted of nine members, seven men and the two women. The men's names were Sidney Hare, Eoger Plcydell, Geoffrey Stone, Phillip Marten, Oscar Layering, John Eansome, and Gilbert Dyall. On the second page wei*o the rules and regulations of the club, together with a form of oath which members swore- on initiation. Willard read this through carefully. No precise objects were stated, but from what he read Willard gathered that the members had each to commit some crime which would, on discovery, have brought them within the reach of the law. It was expressly stipulated that the crimes in question must be committed in an ingenious manner, and that full details, signed by the member, must be placed in the possession of Gilbert Dyall within 48 hours of the committal. Willard was amazed at the ingenious nature of this remarkable organisation that Dyall had once- brought into being. In those days, apparently, young Dyall was a "bit of a lad," as the inspector expressed it, but he was more than that; he was cunning to a degree. He had succeeded in appealing to the adventurous side of the young men of his acquaintance to band together into a private Crime Club. From further records it appeared that general lectures on various aspects of crime were given to members by "prominent cracksmen of the Underworld," as the statement read, "who shall bo nameless and who shall wear black silk masks." The confessions, which were all carefully signed and dated, Willajd glanced through with more than pa-ssing interest. To-morrow morning ho would hand them over to his subordinates in the Records Office to ascertain whether the particulars and dates tallied or whether they were largely fictions. Eoger Pleydell's private papers told him that Eoger, then aged twenty-three, had been considerably attracted to the adventurous side of life, and had fallen in Avith Gilbert Dyall's suggestion of forming a Crime Club, which, in those days, was no doubt a considerable diversion. Eoger, ho noted, had successfully burgled a Park Lane mansion during a reception given there by Lady de Petersham, and had got away with a pair of diamond-studded hair brushes and an onyx and opal ring. Willard read on. It was more entertaining than any piece of fiction he had ever read, and the document deserved to be perpetuated in the archives of the British Museum. But what Willard marvelled at 'more than anything else was the astute way Gilbert Dyall had contrived under the cloak of youthful adventure to obtain a firm hold over his associates which, Willard had no doubt, could and would be used by him at a later date for his own purposes. No doubt all the people whose names were on the register of the 1808 Crime Club had since achieved considerable success and eminent respectability. Probably the great majority of them had long since repented of their youthful folly, and it was possible that not one of them had ever given the matter a serious thought for many years after the Crime Club came to be disbanded until— ah, until Sir Gilbert Dyall chose the propitious moment. Willard began to wonder how far this skilfully devised system of blackmail had gone during Dyall's lifetime. Eoger Pleydell had already admitted that he had had many business deals with Sir Gilbert, who, to quote Pleydell's own words, was -an "intimate friend of many years' standing." What the inspector wanted to know was how and to what purpose Pleydell had been "used" by Dyall. Did the blackmail, for Willard had no doubt at all in his mind that it was that, and nothing more, have any connection with Dyall's infatuation for Elsa Pleydell, and was it the fear of exposure even after the lapse of nearly thirty years that had made Eoger Pleydell submit helplessly to a state of affairs that threatened his happiness and that of his wife ? Willard whistled softly as'ho laid the document carefully on the table in front of him. "I think I am nearing the end of the trail afc last," he told his wife, after he had related to her the essential details of this amazing exposure which would never, probably, have been brought to light if he had not discovered Kleiner in the house at the secret safe. "I am perfectly convinced, my dear, that in this list of names I shall find the one at whose hand this arch conspirator met— shall I be uncharitable enough to say—a well-deserved death." ■ "I am glad," Mrs. Willard remarked, with a happy gleam in her eyes. "But I sec you have quite a selection of names there, John. Which will you choose? You won't forget what I mentioned about the woman, will you?" Willard laughed. "I shan't forget," he told her. "I'm going to investigate everyone mentioned here, although it will possibly be a delicate matter with the women. Neither of them Avill be particularly young, my dear," he added, with a peculiar littlt pucker of the lips, "and you know I don't particularly like women when I meet them in my business." Mrs. Willard fetched her husband an asl\tray. , "Why not leave the women to Dr. Blayne', my dear?" she suggested. "That young man has a way with him, aod he's clever." "Jolly good idea, Ann. And what's more, it takes a clever man to understand a woman these days."

CHAPTER XXIII. The Search. Blayne listened attentively to Inspector Wilhud's remarkable story the following morning. To the medical man it supplied just those missing links in the chain of evidence which were required to complete the case. Willard seemed decidedly more cheerful, and when he heard that Eoger Pleydell and his Avife Avcre staying at Bournemouth (Plcydell had that morning telephoned an apology to Blayne) he felt that tho rest Avould be easy. "I say, Peter," began Willard, "I woncler if you'd care to help me in this? I knoAV it is hardly your line, but I was thinking (he did not suggest that it had been Mrs. Willard who had been doing tho thinking) that you'd like to make a few tactful inquiries about the tAVo ladies mentioned in this list! You are aware, Peter, that avc havs always before us the clue of the violets. As a professional investigator I lay considerable store by those A'iolets although, mind you, I don't altogether share my Avife's belief that the deed was done by a Avoman." "Does Mrs Willard suggest that?" asked Blayne, giving neither a negative nor an affirmative answer to the suggestion. Willard nodded and Blayne saw that a slight smile played around the corners of his usually firm mouth. "Mrs. Willard is a sentimentalist," the detective announced. "So am I," I think," Blayne told him, "and because I am, I'm willing to do what you suggest. Where do I begin ?" Willard constultcd his list and frowned. "The last known address of Grace Carter Avas Childwall Eoad, Clapham, while in the case of Amelia Turton I'm afraid you'll have to go a little farther afield. Her address here is given as "Eookery," Little NeAvstead, Northamptonshire. But you must not forget,'' Willard hastened to add, "that these Avere the addresses in 1809. A great deal can happen in thirty-one years, but it is a beginning and as the success of every investigation depends on a good start, I wish you luck." "Thanks, Willard," smiled Blayne. "I Avonder if I shall be successful and Avhat I shall find?" Willard's first task Avas to go down to Bournemouth. It had been doubly fortunate that Plcydell had telephoned to Blayne that morning. While he Avaa having a little chat Avith Pleydell, his subordinates Avould be scouring the records and districts for some trace of the men whoso names were on tho list. Tho inspector did not consider it his duty, as yet, to report to Garnetfc. The superintendent had little imagination. In all probability he would nofc be able to visualise tho importance of Willard's success. A high-powered police car Avas awaiting him as he left his oflicc. Its driver was a skilful man Avho knew how to handle a car, while beside him sat another officer in charge of the radio which kept Willard fully informed of every development in London. Willard lay back against the upholstery Avith a feeling of contentment. It was a brilliantly warm day and the beautiful roads of Surrey looked their freshest as the car sped on on an almost full throttle towards Guildford. There Avas much for Willard to think over. He had looked up tho records and ascertained that the "crime" which Eoger Pleydell had committed had never been satisfactorily solved. According to the newspaper cuttings which had been preserved, there Avas a great outcry at the time and it Avas even suggested that Scotland Yard needed reorganising. On the other hand there Avas also tho suggestion that the robbery Avas not the work of an ordinary crook, but th&yt a super-gentleman crook had arisen avlio was beginning to prey upon the wealthy. But apart from all that the mystery had never been solved. Willard felt that he did not know what Eoger Pleydell's position Avas. A robbery thirty years old! It was not often that Scotland Yard Avere requested to act in such cases unless it Avas something quite out of the ordinary. Lady dc Petersham had died fifteen years ago. Willard found Pleydell' in the lounge of the Imperial and the man's face was like chalk avlicii he caught sight of the inspector. "I should-like a few Avords with you, Pleydell," mentioned Willard. "Where can avc talk undisturbed?" "I have a private sitting room" intimated Plcydell. "We shall not be interrupted there. My Avifc has gone out with a friend. She Avill not be back before tea." Ensconced in tho well-appointed little room 'Willard Avent straight to the point. "I have discovered everything about Lady de Petersham's loss. I •shouldn't deny it if I Avere you. I have your own account of tho affair in my pocket." Eoger Pleydell's, face went Avhiter. "How did you get hold of that?" he ■breathed huskily. "Your dear friend the late Sir Gilbert Dyall possessed a little safe at his house, , ' Willard told him. "He had every detail about the Crime Club." A groan left the man's lips. "But surely, after thirty odd years?" he cried, conscious of his own helplessness. "Surely the arm of the law is not so long as alj that? Besides, it was nothing more than a mad, insensate prank. We Avere all young fools in those days—Dyall included." "I shouldn't call Dyall a fool," warned Willard. "I think he Avas extremely clever. But look here, Pleydell, I'm not interested in the indiscretion of your youth so much as to ascertain in Avhat way Dyall used his knoAvledge about you concerning this freak escapade to force you to do what you did not want to do?" Eoger Pleydell glanced up at the inspector Avit'h a look almost of relief in his eyes. "Perhaps, inspector," ho began, "I had better make myself perfectly clear. I suppose all of. us had forgotten about that Crime Club business. We regarded it more in the light of a youthful folly than anything else, and, of coursa, we believed that Dyall shared that view. I am speaking now entirely for myself. Tho remaining members I have not seen for raa'ny years—that is all together.

At one time we had a habit of meeting together once or twice a year for the eolo purpose of recalling old times. They were pleasant and often convivial gatherings, but after the Avar things were not the same. Dyall, as you probably know, received his K.B.E. for his services in connection Avith certain complicated financial dealing at the Treasury, where his knoAvledge of Continental finance was, I believe, invaluable. "I think the honour went to his head. He Avas never quite the same. He was filled Avith an over-rated. sense of his own importance, and I began to feel that I hated him, not for Avhat he had been, but for Avhat he had made of himself. Even then I had no suspicion that he had a vindictive side to 'his nature, and when in 1910 he began to find that post Avar finance Avas rather different from what it had been before and during tho Aval - , he began to grow desperate. You sec, inspector, he had been plunging heavily in the company promoting boom Avhich succeeded the signing of tho Armistice. He felt that becauee he had met Avith success before he could not fail. He believed in his own judgment too much and he lost. "It Avas then, I imagine, that he conceived the idea of putting on the ecreAv. Dyall kneAv that I Avas ahvays financially sound. That, as a stockbroker and a member of the London Stock Exchange I had access to information which Avaa denied him because he Avas purely and simply a company, .promoter. He came to see me one night and he Avas in a decidedly ugly mood.. He Avanted me to rig the market for him concerning a Spanish concern in which he Avas heavily involved. Naturally, I turned him down and it Avas then that he shoAved his hand. "'You remember the Crime Club, Plcydell?' ho said cynically. "Well, you thought when avc decided to disband "the organisation that I, true to my promise, had destroyed all the documents, together with the confessions. I may say, Pleydell/ his voice Avas now more

sneering than ever, 'that I have not done so. I still retain in my possession sufficient evidence as would, -were it brought to the notice of the authorities, entitle you to a nice long stretch of imprisonment. Of course, 5 he went on, 'I am prepared not to make- use of that information, and I don't see any -reason why I should. It depends on you, Pleydell.. There was something quietly menacing about his tone that was far from pleasing, but I knew that I could not refuse. A month before I had met Elea, who is now my wife, and.l couldn't bear the thought of bringing disgrace on her, which is what would have happened if I had refused Dyall's terms. "The rest, inspector, I think you know. . . I mean about Dyall's attitude regarding my wife.' I cannot tell you in words how revolting it was to me. I dffl mention it to him, but once again lie dragged in the past, and what could I do? ... If was a terrible position. But there is one thing, inspector, I have never told you, at least I have never admitted it iii so many words. I did go to Dyall's room last Monday night, but when I opened the door lie was lying dead on the floor." Willard had listened intently to Eo°- er Pleydell's story and felt, in his heart, that the man was telling the truth What Pleydell had told him explained many tilings. Unfortunately, it did not tell him who had killed Sir Gilbert Dyall and it was that, more than anything else, he wanted to know. ° (To be continued daily.)