THE INQUEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 81

THE INQUEST.

By

Olive Tenison.

(Copyright.—For the Otago Witness.) Two men leaving the Piccadilly Tube station heard the paper boys raucously shouting their news: “ City magnate murdered ! ” “ Did Despard do it! ” “What does this mean? Who is dead? And why should your name be placarded like this?” The speaker, a fat little 'man with a suetty face, looked at his companion with amazement. Cuthbert Despard shook his head absently as he reached a hand for a paper. Despard paused under a lamp-post and. holding the paper up, read in level tones: “The city was startled at noon to-day by the discovery that Mr Morgan, senior partner of the firm Morgan and Despard, was found dead in his office. Foul play is suspected. Mr Despard has not been seen since early this morning. Relations between the two partners were known to have been slightly strained.” Despard passed a hand over his forehead.

“Morgan dead! I can’t believe it! I saw him this morning in his usual health. It is outrageous!” he exclaimed, in a voice trembling with anger, “ that a man should be accused of murder simply because he does not happen to be in the office when his partner sees fit to die. It is so stupid,” he continued in calmer tones. “ W hat good would it do me to murder anyone, least of all my partner! That would be an incredible piece of folly!”

“Here! Hold on!” broke in his companion. “ Nobody is accusing you that I know of. It is only a newspaper yarn—you must know that—just something to whet the public palate. Did they know I had been to see old Morgan last night, no doubt they would think I did it.” He laughed loudly, as at an excellent joke, but quailed under the cold, calculating eye turned on him.

“Shaw!” exclaimed Despard. “I can't believe that you did it, or know anything about it. I am sure of your innocence. But, as you were at Morgan’s house last night, you must tell the police what you know. You might be able to give them a valuable clue.”

“Eh? M hat ? ’ quavered Shaw, his large face turning a sickly hue. “ 1 don’t want to see the police, thank yon. I don t trust them. They’d find the goods on you even if they had to do some conjuring, supposing they had a’ ‘down’ on vou.”

Shaw turned to go, but was stopped by Despard’s iron grip on his arm.

“ You come with me,” he ordered the wretched Shaw. “ We’ll go to the nearest police station and say our say. and see what they have to say to that.” Despard hailed a taxi and thrust the half-dazed Shaw into it. Arrived at the police station, Shaw was assisted out by the highly interested taxi-man, who, gicatly to his disappointment, was not allowed to relate how he had picked up his fares. However, he left his name ami address, and departed, hoping for the best.

The sergeant in charge sent for an inspector, who listened to all Despard had to say about Shaw, making notes all the while. Then lie turned’ suddenly to Shaw and asked him:

Why is Air Despard telling us al] this about you, Mr Shaw? We are not really interested in the movements of anyone who saw the murdered man the night befoie at present. We have some clues concerning the murder to go on with.” “It was murder, then?” Despard’s voice was hoarse, and his hands gripped the edge of the table.

lhe inspector eyed him keenly before answering:

“As there is no reason why Alormrn should have taken his own life, and no oiganic disease killed him, it must be murder.”

“God! How awful!” gasped Shaw, hi 3 ! eyes nearly popping out of his head. “It I was only last night I dined with him, and ne was showing me his collection of dagKe'Sj knives, and other weapons, anv of 15 hi ch, he said, would kill a man.” Indeed! lhe inspector’s voice was dry. “Very interesting! I will report this to the coroner and the jury, and we shall see what they make of it. ‘ Y’ou will, k* 3 su l>poenaed as a witness.” I ? Shaw recoiled. “ I know nothing about it—nothing at all ! I’ve told vou what I did, and saw, and heard, which was absolutely nothing.” smiled sardonically. *1 hough we are friends, Shaw,” he said solernnly, “ niy duty to the dead man is my first —I mav say, my only—consideration. I will make myself responsible tlmt you appear at the inquest.” Aon will have to be there yourself as an important witness,” Despard was reminded. Of course.” Despard waved his hand. I will come. Nothing I want more than to be questioned. 1 se e there are lies abroad about me, and I don’t intend to ignore these scurrilous attacks.” Tiie inspector had read the naper. “It is true, though,” he said. “ that you did not go back to the office after lunch? You wore there this morning?” Yes. Are you suggesting that I murdered him ?” The inspector shook his head. I am not doing tlie suggesting,” he answered, “ nor do I intend doing so here. Gentlemen, the inquest is fixed for 11 o’clock tomorrow morning at Mr Morgan’s office. 1 am afraid the business will suffer, but', out oi respect for the dead, it would be closed, anyhow.” Despard bowed gravely, and left the room, supporting the completely-be-wildered Shaw. * * * A large crowd thronged the narrow City •street wherein Morgan and Desnard’s offices were situated. The papers had kept the public interest to fever-pitch by printing everything they had been able to discover about the case, especially about Despard and Shaw. Thev hinted that the latter bad very good reasons for wishing Morgan out of the way, and that his partner would not be at all sorry to be the only representative of the firm. In the big outer office the clerks and typists were waiting, whispering to each other in hushed and awed tones. In the inner office Morgan’s body had been laid across his big writing table. The coroner, the jury, the police inspectors, the doctoi-s were assembled. Despard entered, looking calm and dignified, the picture of a man grieving for his friend and partner. Shaw, who was with him, was the colour . of an under-done suet pudding. His eyes were bloodshot, . and his restless hands were ever up and down to his quivering mouth. Several merirbers of the jury eyed , him suspiciously. .

“ Gentlemen of the jury,” began the coroner, “we have been called together to reconstruct, if wc can, the tragedy that has taken place here, so as to enable justice to take its course. The head clerk, Air Smith, who made the terrible discovery, will be the first witness wc shall call upon to tell u s his story.” Smith, a pale, elderly man, entered from the outer office, and, in trembling accents, related how, when he returned from his dinner, he waited to be summoned to Mr Morgan’s private office. Alinutes passed, and no .summons reached him, so he began to be uneasy. “What made you uneasy?” asked the coroner. “ Air Morgan was very regular in his habits, sir,” answered Smith. “In the last 15 years I have never known him miss sending for me at 2.30, unless he had to be out, in which case he always left a message for me.” What did you do next?” “ I waited til] 3 o’clock, and then knocked at the door. Getting no answer, I pushed it open, and Here Smith's voice faltered and died away. ‘ ‘‘Come! Come!” said the coroner, encouragingly. I know this is very painful for you, but pull yourself together and tell these gentlemen what happened next.” Smith exerted a big effort to control himself, and continued: “ I found Mr Morgan leaning over his desk. At first I thought be was asleep, but soon realised that something was very wrong. I rushed back to the outer office and telephoned for his doctor and the police.” “Dr Head!” the coroner called. “Will you kindly tell us what you found ?” A tall, grey-headed, clean-shaven man stood and gave his deposition in firm accents. “ When I arrived, at a quarter'past 3, I found that life had been extinct for about two hours. I have not been able to satisfy myself as to tlie immediate cause of death, but I am convinced it was not natural.” “Will you require a post-mortem?'’ asked the coroner. “ Yes,” the doctor assented. “ I should like the Home Office pathologist to conduct it. There are several very puzzling combinations in this matter.” “Next,” the coroner went on, “Air Despard will tell us his story.” Despard rose up slowly and spoke in clear, deliberate accents. “ I came here as usual at 9.30. and Air Morgan arrived at 10 o’clock in his usual spirits. We did what business we had to do together, and I left the office shortly after 12 to keep an appointment with Messrs Weingartner.” “Verify this,’’ ordered the coroner; and a clerk went to the outer telephone. Despard shrugged liis shoulders, and continued: “That was the last time. I saw Alorgan. I may say that the first intimation I had of the tragedy was in the evening papers, when I happened to see a copy in company with Mr Shaw.” He paused significantly, and all eyes turned upon Shaw, who was white and red by turns and gasping like a fish. “What has Mr Shaw to do with this I matter?” asked the coroner. “He was i not connected with the firm in any way, I was he?”

Before Shaw could speak Despard had continued: “It is entirely my fault that Shaw is here. As I said before, we were together when we saw the paper. He seemed very nervous and upset, a-nd told me he had dined with Alorgan the night before. In my anxiety to see justice done, I felt it to be my duty to report this to the police m the hope of a clue. The coroner glanced at a. paper handed to him by a policeman, then addressed Despard coldly: “Will you tell tig why you did not return to your office after vour interview, or after hniHi ?” There was a slight hesitation, and Despard then replied : “It is a private! matter. I would rather not say.” The coroner insisted.

“ I went to see a lady. Need I drag her name into this? It would be painful in the extreme to her, and she has no connection with the matter.”

“I will not insist on your giving us her name now,” said the coroner, “but I may require yon to do so later. Air Shaw, will you have the goodness to tell these gentlemen about your evening with Air Alorgan?” Shaw moistened his lips, and then said, hesitatingly: “It was quite a friendly dinner —no business about it. We had a chat about things in general, and he showed me liis collection of knives, daggers. and arrow-heads, of which he was very proud. He then suggested I should come here to see a new one which Despard gave him, and he was keeping in his safe till be had time to take it to the British Museum to have it classified.” All eyes turned on Despard, who smiled faintly as he straightened bis tie-pin. “ Did you come here yesterday morning?” rapped out the coroner. “Yes, I did.” “ At what time?” " It must have been about half-nast 12. Alorgan complained of not feeling very well, and asked me to return another time.” “Did you ask him what the matter was ?”

“ No, I didn’t. I saw he looked green about the gills, and thought I bad better g°-” . “ Did you tell them in the outer office be wasn't well?” “No.” “Why not?” “Because I left hv the private staircase and saw no one.” This disclosure caused a sensation, and Despard jumped up and exclaimed, in a trembling voice : “ There stand s the murderer, self-confessed !” “ Murderer yourself!’’ retorted Shaw angrily. “ Alorgan spoke to me about you. I wasn’t going to tell, but when youl talk like that I must, in self-defence. Alorgan iold me he was afraid that Despard had some bad debts.” " Not so fast!” interposed the coroner. ‘‘l see here that Air Morgan gave von a cheque for £2OOO a year ago, and you

nave not repaid him a penny, nor can any interest be traced.”

Shaw’s face became mottled. “ It is quite true,” Shaw admitted. “ I have not been able to meet the interest, but Morgan was kindness itself, and did not press me for the money.” Despard spoke again. “ There you have the motive—sordid, but the true one, nevertheless. This poor devil is evidently down and out, and has invented this cock-and-bull story. I demand justice for mv dead friend, in my dead friend’s name!”

While his words still rang upon the air a faint sound was heard. It was from the corner, where a loud speaker was installed. It was the ghost of a sound. It seemed as if someone were fumbling with lifeless fingers to'switch the current on. The atmosphere of the room changed. It was as if an Unseen Presence were there.

Still the fumbling continued. No one dared speak or move. AU listened, holding their breath. The fingers seemed to achieve that which they sought to do, and a series of curious short calls resounded. They came from far off, attentuated out of all semblance to any worldly sounds. Then they seemed to become firmer, more like a voice far, far off. Surely, there were words forming ! Despard made as to move, but found himself held back by invisible bonds. All bent forward to listen. There was something unreal about this voice coming through space. What message had it to deliver? The words were clear now—clear as bells on a frosty dav. “ Despard, you asked for justice for your dead friend, in your dead friend’s name. I have come to tell the truth.’’ The voice was loud and firm now, and all who knew it whispered: “It is Morgan s voice. He is speaking to us from the dead.” “Don’t you know, Despard,” the voice continued, “ that a murdered soul does not go far from its body? It wants to help justice, for crime of all kind is abhorrent in the regions where we go, and the soul, violently wrenched from its moorings, is bound to have justice done. You called upon me, and I have come gladly, for now I shall be able to go where I belong. Despard ! Despard! Why did you do it ? Could you not trust me, and confide in me instead? I knew you had been gambling and falsifying the books. But your father was my oldest friend—for his sake I would have forgiven you. Shaw did not kill me. He wanted to bring me the money he owed, but I would not let him. He has a wife and small children, and his heart is excellent, though not his brain. Despard, you slew me unawares. You came behind me when I was .lending over your last gift, and said there was a mosquito on my neck, and you would kill it. You slew me instead. '• Your scarfpin has in it a deadly poison, which doesn’t act at once, and you thrust it into my neck, under my hair, and made me leave the world!” The voice ceased. With a snarl, Despard rushed forward and knocked the loud speaker down, and then faced the room defiantly. “What will you do now? It is true, but you cannot touch me!” he shouted, as he struck his tie-pin into his wrist, and pressed it down hard.

I did kill him, for I wanted his money. I never thought I should be found out. I felt sure I could foist this affair upon Shaw, but it was not to be. It was the gambler’s last throw. I gambled with death, and death has beaten me. Gentlemen. I bid you farewell!” He sank, and lay as if asleep. “ A justice more powerful than ours has made him pay the full penalty. Gentlemen of the jury, your, services'will not be required,” said the coroner.

In silence all filed out, leaving the dead alone with the dead.