THE ARDLAMONT MYSTERY,

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 50

THE ARDLAMONT MYSTERY,

THE STORY OF THE MISSING WITNESS. The missing witness in the Ardtttmont murder mystery, Scott, it will be remembered, turned up in London recently and surrendered to the police, but they decided to take no further action in the matter. The Pall Mall Gazette publishes Scott's story in a lengthy article of five chapters. From this it appears that Edward Davis (Scott), the bookmaker, became acquainted with Alfred Monson in May 1893, and some betting transactions followed. In July they met casually in London when Monson told Davis with evident pride and pleasure that he was about to enter into possession of what Davis understood to be Monson's new sporting estate in Scotland. A cordial invitation to pay a visit to this estate was pressed by Monson on Davis. The latter accepted and set out for Glasgow on the 7th August to meet Monson. They left Greenock on the following day by steamer, and Scstt explains how, through Monson saying •• Here we are," he landed at Tighnabruiach pier inbtead of going on to Kames. The distance between the two places was only a mile, and as D,avis was being driven by the boots of the hotel he met Monson in a dogcart going to look for him. As they were driving to Ardlamont Sflonson explained the difficulty he te\b in introducing his guest to Mrs Monson as Mr Davis the bookmaker. Davis replied that his friend could call aim " Juggins " if he l^ked, bit it was no use trying to pass him off as a " toflj " or a sport, as though he knew a good deal about horse-racing that was all he kuew of sport. It was then agreed that Davis was to p.vss &i Edward Scott, an engineer, who had accompanied Monson to look after the engines of the yanht. Scott at this stage asks the reader to dismiss all that happened subsequently, and taking a fair unbiassed view of the circumstances under which he agreed to take the name of Scott, to say if, under the circumstances, it was a fact which, taken alone, is in any way suspicious of an evil intention. Mr Monson hid in a moment of good fellowship invited him to stay with him as his guest, and he suddenly realised that it would not be pleasant to have it known his visitor was Ted Davis, the bookmaker, for obvious reasons. Ted Davis, the engineer, ' would not do, for the name Ted Davis was known to his wife ; and therefore the suggestion

that Davis should adopt the name of Ted Scott, and pass as the engineer to account for his presence and want of sporting equipment for the shooting.

Arrived at Ardlamont House, he was introduced to Mrs Monson and cordially received. Mr Hambrough did not appear at dinner, and Scott, as we will now call him, says : — " Although I understood he was staying in the house, I had at this time never seen him, and did not know but what he was a guest similar to myself, and it never crossed my mind that he was the real owner and Monson was his tutor. I do not suggest that Mr Monson deceived me as to this, or that I was wilfully mislead ; but I suppose, having been introduced to him as a 'swell' with lots of money, I assumed all I saw and envied was part of his good fortune. I subsequently ascertained that Mr Hambrough was away fishing that eveniDg, and did not return until very late at nightpast midnight "

In chapter 3 Scott describes the fatal rabbitshooting expedition of August 10. Scott, Hambrough, and Monson were out soon after daybreak. There were " evident signs of a beautiful Scotch mist, and tho air was cold and chilly." Scott says, •' We had not proceeded very far when bang ! bang ! went Mr Monson's gun, and I saw the first rabbit shot — the first I have seen killed in my life. . . . I let the guns go ahead, and when they were well in advance I followed them both. When we came to the wood Mr Monson and Mr Hambrough separated, the former going to the left the latter to the right, whilst I grew more careful than ever because I could not see them distinctly through the wood, and fell further into tbe rear out of harm's way.

"We had not proceed far when I heard a single shot fired, and I called out something to the effect, • What have you got P ' I received no answer, and concluded it was a mis?, so I had nothing to pick up this time. Proceeding along, I came to the end of the wood, and there I saw Mr Monson ahead of me, going towards the direction of the shot.

"Mr Hambrough was not in sight, although he should if he had kept on in his position in the wood have been out first, but I saw Mr Monson was alone fn the open, and as he was evidently not going to shoot I quickened my pace and was soon alongside of him.

' • We turned in the direction Mr Hambrough should be walking in, and had not gone more than 15 or 20 yards when — what did I see ? That which I can never forget. The apparently lifeless body of Cecil Hambrough. Mr Monson was by his side immediately, and lifted up his head to ascertain if the poor fellow was dead, or showed any signs of life. He called him by his name, Cecil, but the lips and eyes made no response.

" I am not an old soldier or a doctor, and the sight of this fine young gentleman lying dead before me almost took away my scared senses.

" I am told I helped to lift him up, and, if I was asked to, I have no doubt I assisted to the best of my ability ; but if my life was staked upon an answer I could not tell with any minuteness what did or did not happen, or what was or was not Baid, during the few seconds we were standing by the lifeless body of Cecil Hambrough — a few hours ago the bright, handsome fellow who made fun of my timidity."

Explaining his departure from Ardlamont, on learning that there was to be no inquest, Scott says : — " I think my readers will agree with me that, immediately I ascertained I was not wanted and could do no good, I did the right thing in taking my leave immediately, and it would have been unseemly for me to have acted otherwise."

It is in chapters IV and V that Scott's elaborate explanation is weak. He arrived in Glasgow on the evening of August 10, and being of a very nervous temperament feared if he remained idle with nothing to do or distract his thoughts, the scene which he had witnessed would prey upon him. He lost no time in getting back to London, where he remained a tew days. Why he should then disguise himself and disappear is not at all very clear. Scott sets it down to his "moral cowardice," which he does not palliate. The remainder of the story is devoted to a description of the manner in which he eluded the police and detectives. He donned some shabby old clothes, and shaved off his moustache as a disguise* He took train to Bradford, travelling thirdclass with some sailors, who freely passed the bottle round. Even this could not revive his spirits, and at Bradford he took fright, and, jumping into another traiD, went to Halifax-. Here he resided for a week.

He then took train to Birmingham, but was Btaggered when the" compartment was filled by a ru.sh of racing men, three of whom knew him but did not recognise him. He left the train and took a ticket for Holy head. Here he thought the end was come. A detective was standing at a well-lighted gateway closely scrutinising all who passed. Scott created a diversion by throwing his handbag into the water, and during the excitement caused by the cryof "Man overboard" he made his escape and made for the open country. In a. little village he bought a pony and cart and went from pla.ee to place throughout the country peddling jcjwellery. He found he was again watched, and thereupon decamped, leaving his pony and cart behind. He worked as a painter at Carlisle, and then, when Monson was acquitted, went to Bournemouth, where he was laid up for six weeks.