The Murders at Madlands

Franklin Times, Volume XXI, Issue 67, 10 June 1931, Page 7

The Murders at Madlands

BY AIDAN de BRUNE

“So that is the weapon.” Williams’ official manner relaxed slightly. “You are certain that it had not been fired —-that the magazine was fully charged—when you handed it to Mr Preston?” “I am quite certain. I cleaned and oiled the weapon and filled the maga-

zine before coming- to Madlands on the morning of the meeting.” “You had no personal animosity

against Sir Rupert Haffervale?” “Not the slightest. He had always treated me very decently. In fact, he had gone out of his way to keep in touch with myself and my work at the “Mirror.” I always understood that I had a firm friend in him—in a

business sense, and reciprocated.” “Thank you.” Williams’ nod was dismissal and Bobby returned to bis seat. Almost immediately the Inspector turned to the secretary. “Mr Preston, this gun has not been out of your possession since Mr Trayne handed it to you?” “No.” “When Keston aroused you last night with the information that there were burglars in the house you brought this weapon downstairs?” “No I forgot it.”

“You were unarmed when you came downstairs —not even armed with the traditional British-householder’s poker?”

“I was unarmed.”

“Mr Preston.” Williams .leaned forward, almost eagerly; then sat back at a rap on the door panel. “I have the men here, sir,” reported the plain-clothes constable who entered in response to the detective’s permission.

“Bring them in please.” The detective turned to the men seated at the table. “I must apologise for having to introduce certain outside matters into this meeting. For the present T do not propose to go further into this inquiry. No,” he interjected at a movement on the part of Lord Carriday. “I want you all to remain. In fact, to speak bluntly, you will all remain in your seats until I give you permission to leave.” “This is absurd.” Ibbottson levered himself to his feet. “I’m not going to stand for it. Put that young scoundrel under arrest and let us go about our business.” “I am conducting "this inquiry, Mr Ibbottson.” “I shall complain to your superiors.” “You will have an early opportunity. For the moment I intend to hold you, pending a charge of attempted murder.” “Of a murder?” The big man laughed heartily. Williams did not reply. He waited a few moments and then spoke evenly.

“There are two murders being investigated. The murder of Sir Rupert Haffervale. and that of Mrs Alice Mackenzie. Last night Air Trayne reported to me a scene he had taken part in at the abandoned gardener’s cottage. I ordered their immediate arrest. I am informed that this has been accomplished. I propose, therefore, to have the men brought here, to question. First, I should like to ask Mr Alackenzie certain questions. Are you willing to answer me, fully and frankly. Air Mackenzie?”

Again fell the oppressive silence. Williams repeated his question. Mackenzie looked up sharply, trying to catch Ibbottson’s eyes, but the big man kept his eyes down, on his fingers playing nervously on the table-top. “I will answer you.” The chainstore magnate spoke slowly. “You know of a certain—friendship —existing between Sir Rupert Haffervale and your late wife?” “Yes.” • “You knew that a similar friendship had grown up between your wife and Lord Carriday—superseding the friendship between her and Sir Rupert?” “1 knew Unit my wife wished to gain a divorce from me. Spe told me that if she could obtain the divorce Lord Carriday had promised to marry tier.” “You knew that your wife frequently met Lord Oarriday at the gardener's cottage?” “Yes.” “You were outside the cottage the evening previous to Sir Rupert’s murder and watched your wife and Lord Oarriday enter?” “T pave no reason to deny trial.” “You did not follow them into the collage—create a scene?” “No. T had promised my wife a divorce. From then I considered I had forfeited my rights to interfere with her movements. In fact,! was thoroughly sick of her carryings-on. “Mr Mackenzie.” The Inspector paused as the door opened and the i constable brought in two men. “Ah. ! Thompson, you have our friends. Stand | them at Ihe foot of the table. So! i xo. Mr Trnyne. are these the men you ■ saw in Urn cottage yesterday?” ' “Yes.” 1 “Pn you know lliern. Mr Mackenzie?” ! “They are under-gardeners at Mad--1 lands. They helped carry my wife 1 from Hie cotfage to her home.

“Mr Tayne, when we discovered Ml'S Mackenzie in the cottage, dead, you

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volunteered to get Ihe gardeners at badlands to carry her to Treview. Did you do so?” “I sent a messenger for them. At the time I was pursuing another line

of investigation and was pressed for time. When I saw them yesterday at the cottage I did not know they were Madlands’ gardeners.” “Thank you.” The inspector turned to the men and obtained the usual formal particulars. Again he turned to Bobby. “These men came to the cottage yesterday to meet some one. Have you any knowledge of whom that man is ?”

“No. I have suspicions.” “Which are not evidence!” For a moment the detective was silent. “Did you go to the cottage yesterday to

meet these men, Mr Mackenzie?” “I did not go to ihe cottage yester-

day.” “That is an evasion.” Williams spoke sharply. He , turned to the men. “Charles Rufus and Edward

Thoms, I shall arrest you for the wilful murder of Alice Mackenzie. I have to warn you . . .” “You arrest me?” Rufus leaned

forward, questioningly. “You dud of a john! Why don’t you arrest the right man?” “I warn you ..." commenced Williams, but the man interrupted. “Here, hold hard a minute. Suppose a bloke f may speak sometimes. Now, just you listen to me.” The detective sat back, a slight smile on his lips. Bobby thought lie appeared pleased: that he had not intended to arrest the men; that he was playing a game of big bluff. “Talk if you wish to.” The inspector sat back % bis hands clasped on the edge of the table. “Well, me and my mate were working the day Sr Rupert was shot in the little gully south of the big house. It was hot there and we got thirsty. We knew that someone used the old cottage on the other side of the road and we knew that there was stuff there

‘Stuff?” “Drinks, if you want it that way Well, as I was saying ...”

“Wait a moment.” Williams leaned forward. “Let me get a connected tale. Some little while after Sir Rupert’s murder Mrs Alice Mackenzie called her to see me!” The detective addressed the group around the table. “She told me that a very extensive —friendship existed between Sir Rupert and herself. She said nothing of the —er—friendship between herself and Lord Carriday.”

“I ha-ve not admitted that —friendship.” Carriday spoke quickly. “I guessed it at the time that Mrs Mackenzie was trying to lay a smokescreen. Williams smiled. “I had occasion to watch the lady go from ths house and noticed that she turned up the road in the direction of the cottage, instead of back to Treview. I also noticed that she was walking and from my observation of the lady I considered that strange. Thus I was quite prepared to hear that she had come from the gardener’s cottage, after spending the morning about Madlands, in .disguise. Now, Rufus,

you may continue your story—if you want to. Remember, I have warned you.” “Warned, be, damned.” Rufus laughed. “I’m going to get out of this, and put someone else in. Get me? Well, listen.” “I said we were thirsty, if you like it that. way. We went to the cottage and found a couple of bottles of beer. We’d just got into the bush again when we heard someone coming up the path from (he road. It was a man and he was carrying a girl. lie went round to the back door and got into the cottage that way. I was curious and persuaded Ted to wait and see." “Presently ihe man came out of the cottage and went down the path to the road. Almost at the gate he met the woman . . .”

‘Who?” Williams questioned sharp-

“Mrs Mackenzie—her that's dead.” “Who was the man who met her.” When tlie man hesitated Williams continued. “Look around this room. Is lie hero?”

Immediately the man pointed to Lord Canada y.

Then Lord Carriday met Mrs Mackenzie outside the cottage? Were they friendly.

“They argued a bit.” The man smiled. “She seemed anxious to go to the cottage and he didn’t appear to want her there. Not likely considering ihe girl he had just carried there. Anyway, at last he got her to walk through the hush with him. We followed.”

“You had Airs Mackenzie in view from that moment to the time of her death?”

“Yes. We found that there was another man watching her as well as us. Ted saw him first and we had quite a job dodging him. Then that man,” he pointed to Carriday, “left her and the other man came up to her. They weren’t far from the cottage then. Well, they just got round a clump of trees out of sight when we heard a shot ...”

“Well, what then?” Williams spoke as the man hesitated.

“We saw him coming back with her in his arms ...” “ATrs ATackenzie?” “Yes.” “And the man who was carrying her —the man who was with her when the shot was fired?” “Oh, he was her husband —that man there!”

(To be concluded). __