THE Twelfth Crime

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 145, 25 July 1914, Page 2

THE Twelfth Crime

************** By SETON CROSS • Author of " The Stolen Governess," " Queen of the Ballet, " The Mill Girl's Secret," etc.

A Mystery of Modern London

[COPYRIGHT.]

CHAPTER XXXll.—(Continued.) | WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. j "tyheekr paused before replying to the ! magistrate's question, and his glance . wandered round the court as though j " seeking someone. Apparently: he could j not catch sight of the person he want-| ed,-for■ he-once more turned to the! magistrate. "Before giving the actual name of the person, your Worship," he said. "I should like to be permitted to detail howl'solve* the mystery.'' The magistrate nodded, and leant forward a little in his chair, so as not to mjss a word of the amazing story which was gradually being unfolded. To some extent, at least; he had forgotten his official dignity in the intense human interest of these revelations, revelations j sneh as had never before been made in , that court. Even Mr Lyte, though ever on the alert to trip the young man up, or, discover a weak point in his narra- j tive, listened with eager iiitentness. j '"I must confess, sir," went on, "Wheeler, "that I had, and still have, a j very strong regard for Miss Boyd. It j was for that* reason I kept, to myself the knowledge that she was, apparently, | the last person known to, visit M 'Ewan, j the curio dealer, on the night he was \ murdered." ! Tie paused involuntarily, as a man i naturally would who was conscious that | his words had made a .profound sensation, a sensation which it took his hearers, some seconds to grasp fully. To the.amazed spectators, indeed, it seemed as though this case, was com: posed almost entriely of surprises, each one more astonishing than its predecessor. And yet, strangely enough, they confirmed what had gone before ■ arid fitted in with that which followed so logically, that, viewed retrospective- . ly, they seemed perfectly reasonable and inevitable incidents in this drama of love and crime. '.'Because of my regard for this lady," continued Wheeler, "I was determined, as soon as I knew what sort of' a man Treversh was, that she should not marry him—at least, that she should not marry him in ignorance of his real - character.- With this object in view I informed Peter Holgate, Miss Boyd's guardian, as to who and what Treversh was, and—perhaps quite naturally in the circumstances—he was not disposed to credit The magistrate-nodded* as though fully appreciating the: situation, and "Wheeler then went on to describe what happened, from the moment of Olive's disappearance up to the time he and Treversh separated on the Commons after the fateful interview in old Holgate's house. For the first time in the course of his defence he referred to Frank Goring, and told how the latter had gqne to Casterford in order to try and i find the missing girl. " With reference to Mr Goring's selfimposed task,, I shall have something further to tell the court later on," he said., „ ',' Now, sir,-my investigations seemed Invariably to lead me back to the start-ing-point. I was continually arguing, reasoning, and working in circles. On this particular evening, however, one or two little incidents seemed to point to an entirely new field of investigation. I say seemed to point, because this new field was so unexpected, so unlooked-for, so startling, that I dared hardly begin work upon it. Yet the next step I took appeared to lend confirmation to my suspicions, amazing and almost incredible as they seemed then. "I should like to remind your Worship that Treversh and I left The Retreat, Mr Holgate's residence, for the purpose of going to see Martha Pattinson and Miss Boyd at Camden Town. Treversh, of course, did not accompany me farther than the Common, and when I reached the house I found the two women had gone; whereupon I returned to my rooms. "I now come to the time during which the prosecution alleges I murdered Treversh and went into hiding. I—'' He hesitated a moment, and then continued slowly and emphatically, his gaze fixed on the prosecuting counsel. "I will account for every minute of that time, sir. It was spent in proving conclusively that I had found the murderer of the old curio-dealer; and therefore the perpetrator of the ten< preceding crimes which have baffled the police lip to the "present moment," . By this time the silence ,of the court was so tense, the suppressed, excitement of all present so great, that when the journalist paused to moisten his'lips he was himself startled by the dead still-

ness. "After leaving Camden Towli I decided to go to Casterford. ■ I had a double reason for this, since, as you will remember, Treversh had : himself told dig that Mr Goring was detained in a house there called the Old Vicarage, and naturally I wanted to set him free. Mr other reason was that I wanted to make certain enquiries, the nature of which I „ will explain later. Accordingly, after paying a brief visit to the honse of an acquaintance, I took a motor-bus to Ciapham Junction, and there caught the ten-fifteen train to Casterford. I " He was interrupted by the counsel, who, jumping to his feet, asserted that, according to the medical evidence, Treversh had .been killed prior to that

hour. "I submit, your-Worship, "the added "that the accused is obviously trying to explain away his flight;, and jn this he fails most lamentably." All eyes were focused on Wheeler, ■who, however, appeared' quite unmoved by Mr Lyte's objection. He ! glanced enquiringly at the. magistrate, who nodded that he was to go on. '■• Somehow, Mr Lyte appeared to have lost (entirely the sympathy of the court, -if rom the magistrate downwards. . ~ ■ "It is quite possible—nay, it is. most probable, that Treversh was dead when • I stepped into the tTain," said Wheeler, addressing himself to counsel in his , Buavest and, to those who knew him, most dangerous tones. ■ ■ A gasp of mingled astonishment and | admiration went up from the spectators. I This extraordinary young man, while he } eeemed to deny nothing except the auf thorship of the crime imputed to him, calmly proceeded to turn what had appeared to be incriminating admissions Jnto evidence of his own innocence.

But could he do the same with this one! Mr Lyte had certainly exposed a weak spot in'the defence, and Wheeler's admission, as it stood, looked very serionus. How would he account for it? Indeed, could he account for it? The journalist, when he saw the looks of blank astonishment, mingled with concern, could not refrain from smiling, especially when he glanced at Mr Lyte, whose expression showed plainly that he was hesitating between triumph and doubt. The truth was that the worthy counsel had been gradually losing his self-confidence, and had ceased to count his successes prematurely. '' On reaching Casterford,'' continued the accused, "I accosted the solitary eabdriver in the station yard, and asked him to drive me to the Old Vicarage. As he was getting on the box I heard him mutter something about a 'blooming soiree.' I questioned him, and found that two hours previously he had driven an old woman and a young girl to the same address, and their description, as he gave it, left no doubt in my mind as to who they were —namely, Martha Pattinson and Miss Boyd. "I realised then that, for once in a way, fortune seemed to be favouring me. This proved to be the case,' for on arriving at the house the door was answered by Mrs Pattinson herself. She peered cautiously through the erack —she had taken care not to open more than, an inch or two—and on seeing me at once attempted to slam the door in my face. I was too quick for her, however, and, having placed my foot against it, practically forced an entrance.

"In the house I found Miss Boyd. At first she seemed afraid of me, and tried to escape, even as she had done on a previous occasion when I saw her accidentally in the public gardens at Camden Town. Without bothering to discover' the reason of her fear—for I already suspected it—l reassured her as briefly as I could* "I. explained that she need have no further fear of Treversh or his threats, since the man was now in my power, and had practically confessed his real character and occupation. That being 90, he could, of course, no longer enforce a sort of moral blackmail. You see, sir, I was at that time in ignorance of the fact that Treversh was actually dead. "Then I turned to Mrs Pattinson and demanded to know where Mr Goring was concealed. At this Miss Boyd cried out in surprise. She had not the faintest idea that, my friend was in the house, and a prisoner. "I am going somewhat exhaustively into these details, jiour Worship, because I want to show what an extraordinary and complicated network this Treversh and those working with him had contrived to spread around their victims, and how it had helped to baffle me in my investigations.

"The old woman at first denied all knowledge of Mr Goring, but eventually I succeeded in making her take me to the place where he-was concealed. It proved to be an attie in a distant wing of the llouse, which was old and rambling. I found my friend none the worse for. his detention, though in a state of considerable anxiety. It was impossible to return to town that night, but early the next morning Mr Goring, with Mrs Pattinson and Miss Boyd, left for I had given him certain instructions, but remained behind myself for the purpose of making some enquiries. The—— "

At this point Wheeler was interrupted by a slight commotion at the side of the court, and looking in the direction whence it came the journalist caught sight of Detective-Inspector Smallpiece. The latter, catching his eye, nodded in a friendly manner, and made his way to a seat.

"Go on, Mr Wheeler," said the Magistrate, upon whom the detective's friendly nod of recognition to the accused had not been lost. '' The result of those instructions,'' pursued the journalist, "together with my own enquiries at Casterford, proved conclusively that the man who committed the twelve mysterious crimes, including the murder of M'Ewan and the shooting of Treversh, was——" He turned round to the witnesses' bench behind him, and those watching saw his face suddenly go pale. ' "Good heavens! he's gone," Wheeler exclaimed. "Peter Holgate's; gone! " CHAPTER XXXIV. WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. There was considerable excitement in Court at Wheeler's ejaculation,: and everybody craned their necks to try and catch sight of Peter Holgate or satisfy themselves that he was no longer in his place on the witnesses' -bench. The spectators had been worked up into sueh a state of tension by the amazing character of the accused's story that this interruption, this break in the sequence at its most dramatic point, came as an unwelcome anti-elimax. Peter Holgate, it is safe to say, was the. most unpopular figure in the whole case at that moment. The buzz of excitement was still at its height when Mr Lyte rose to his feet, with an angr}' protest on his lips. '' Your worship, I submit '' he began, and then, observing that the ; magistrate was paying no heed to him, stopped short and fidgeted impatiently i with his papers. "Where is Peter Holgate?" demanded the magistrate. "He left the court a lew minutes ago, sir," replied one of the ushers. ■ "Then he should not have been allowed to leave. Fetch him back immediately." , '■ ■ [' Amidst general commotion the Court officials hurried out, and the ushers did their best to restore silence. At ,last they succeeded, and Mr Lyte, w,ho w£s still on his feet, seized the opportunity to ask for a remand. ' < I submit that a very grave charge has been made against a Crown witness —as grave as it is unexpected; For that reason I ask that a remand may be granted in order to fully investigate it," "You were extremely anxious, towards the opening of the case that it should be dealt with at once," replied the magistrate. "If the accused has no objection " He looked enquiringly at Wheeler.

"Might I point 'out, your worship, that the same .charge has been made against me, and that E have already spent one night in the cells," replied the journalist. "I ask permission to prove my statement, for 1 do not wish to spend another night in custody. The _____ > i

"The accused cannot " began the counsel, heatedly, but Wheeler interrupted him. "The prosecution have stated their case and produced their witnesses," he said. "I claim the same privileges—with due respect to your worship's ruling." After some deliberation with the clerk of the Court and a brief conference with Mr Lyte, the magistrate turned to Wheeler and told him he might proceed. "It was. only during the past few days,'' went on the accused, "that I began to grow suspicious of Holgate, and I cannot say definitely when those suspicions first took shape. Still, I think the sight of the Eossignol diamond had a great deal to do with starting them, though even then I was inclined to believe that Holgate, if involved at all, was so in a more or less passive manner. He might, I thought, have been an accessory; certainly, I did not then think of him as a principal. '' Then came the discovery of the Amsterdam address on Holgate's blottingpad, and Mrs Pattinson's statement to the effect that Holgate and M'Ewan were old friends —although Holgate had never mentioned that fact to me. The significance of his use of Biblical quotations gradually became apparent to me, and, finally, there came a fact proved by Detective-Inspector Smallpiece, and which that clever officer will duly explain from the witness-box. "These, your worship, were the slowly-acquired facts which enabled me, not only to discover, but also fcp prove, that the real murderer of James Treversh and of David M'Ewan,* the author also of the ten crimes preceding these, was Peter Holgate. With your worship's permission I will now call the witnesses.'' A thrill went round the court as Wheeler made the definite and emphatic accusation —-terrible in its comprehensiveness—against one of the best known and, until to-day, most highly respected residents of Clapham. Not that it was unexpected, for the accused's dramatic pause on discovering the absence of Peter Holgate, and his exclamation of mingled astonishment and concern, had prepared them for what was to come. But at last it was .out, and there were few indeed among the spectators who could doubt the N truth of that awful charge or the innocence of the. man who made it.

Mr Lyte's querulous objections, though seemingly so, pertinent before, were now no longer regarded as of any importance. A man who \ could build up such a defence as Wheeler had done was not likely to have overlooked any weak points-for the prosecution to seize upon. ' John Harper, the driver of the taxi, which had taken Wheeler from Clkpham Common to Camden Town on the evening of the murder, was the first witness for the defence. He stated simply that, after, the accused left the house . in Camden- Town he was driven back to Clapham, and, after looking in at; his lodgings, called at the house next; door, called The Retreat. He was able; to corroborate the statement as to the time at which he left th,e Common by the clock at the cab, rank. Mr Jjyte having no questions to put, Mrs Amelia Fleming, who lived next door to Treversli 's house. at Camden Town, stepped into the witliess-box. She stated how, on hearing the bell -next door being rung violently, she went to her door, and found a young whom she identified as the accused — standing on the steps. In answer to his enquiries, she told < hint that her neighbours had just left in a with some luggage. "What time would this havte been?'-' asked Mr Lyte. '' Between eight and half-pastj sir ?'' "Had vou seen the accused before?" "Yes/sir." "When?',' "That same afternoon. I was looking out of my front window, when he called next door——"

"Thanks, that will do," broke ill the counsel, and sat down v '' Mr Lyte has been kind enough to prove one of my former statements," observed Mr Wheeler, with a smile, which was that I called on Martha Pattinson during the afternoon in order to try and find out what had become of Miss Boyd. I have not troubled to bring forward a witness to prove that I undertook the journey from Glapham Junction to Casterford," he added, turning to the Magistrate, ''for I have a habit of always noting the number of my ticket. Therefore the prosecution can easily confirm that for themselves if they wish. My next witness is— Martha Pattinson." There was. a murmur of excitement in court as Wheeler called this witness —the woman who had played isuch a strange and mysterious part in this complicated drama of crime. . Next moment Martha, heavily, veiled and dressed in deep mourning, entered the box and took the oath. As she raised her veil to kiss the Testament, Wheeler was surprised at her altered appearance. Her face, drawn and white, was a picture of grief and despair, while her eyes were red with crying—yet, this silent, grim, ; and. sour woman had been transformed. ~ And even then, engrossed as he was in unravelling the last tangled skeins of this web of crime, he could not help reflecting on her marvellous strength' and the eternity of maternal love.

This woman had loved her son —loved him passionately, thief, liar, and rogue as he was. He had been hers —flesh of her flesh, bone of her bone—her boy, the inheritor of her life. Like his wife, she also had said, "In my child I live again, and my life shall pass on to the children of his children."

And realising this there was a note of compassion in his voice as he gently put his questions to her. "You were M'Ewan's housekeeper!" he asked. "Yes." "Will you tell us how long you were in his service?" "Ever since his wife died four-and-thirty years ago,'' replied the woman. '' I had lived at Casterford before that, and had known both M'Ewan and Mr Holgate there." ' "Did j'ou know Mrs M'Ewan?" "I did." "Before she was married?"

" Yes; she was a pretty girl, and had several suitors. The two favourites were Holgate and M'Ewan, and the latter won." i.'

"Did you know Holgate's mother?" "Yes."' "And she died when Holgate was a young man?" , "Yes." "Where did she 1 die?" ! "In the county asylum.'* ■■■-■' "She was insane?" "Yes." . .

'' Might I ask your worship to make a note of this factf asked Wheeler, turning to the magistrate. The latter nodded, and the journalist

proceeded with his cross-examination. '' Have you seen the body of the murdered man Treversh?" he asked. <«I have.''

"And you recognised him?" "Yes," replied Martha, with some emotion. "11; js,—my son, James Treversh Pattirisori. I was Martha Tre-' versh before I married."

"Thank you, Mrs Pattinson. I shall now have to put a few questions to you which may be rather difficult for you to answer. I beg you to do your best, however, in order that justice may be done."

"I don't care what questions you put! " exclaimed the woman, in a highstrung voice quivering with passion. "I will answer them if they will avenge my son 's foul death." Wheeler waited a moment for Martha to recover, for she was trembling with emotion, and then proceeded.

"Your son was the chief of a band of clever 'crooks,' whose headquarters were in an underground apartment in the Borough?" "He was," answered the woman, with a touch of defiance in her voice.

"And M'Ewan was their 'fence,' was he not?"

"Yes," replied Martha, and added, " I 'd like to explain that my reason for not having said anything about Miss Boyd having come to the shop on the night of the old man's murder was that such information would not have suited my son's purpose.'' "But why," put in the magistrate, "wouldn't "it have suited your son's purpose f'' "Because," replied the witness, somewhat contemptuously, "the police would have watched her, and through that probably have got wind of my son 's real occupation." '' Your son had a hold over Holgate,'' pursued Wheeler. "What was that hold!" Everyone held their breath in, suspense for the answer, since this was one of the most vital points in the w T hole case. It might, indeed; corroborate the accused's story from beginning to end. The : magistrate,- Mr: Lyte,* and Inspector Fletcher bent forward, thenfaces expressive of strained attention, and, in the case of the latt'es, apprehension as well. Even Wheeler, with all his marvellous self-control,; could not restrain the nervous twitching of his lips. .'.'.■'.'

Did Treversh know \yho murdered M'Ewan: It was the question he'had been asking himself for three days past. "My son knew that Holgate' was a thief," answered Martha, after a pause. ' 4 He had found outf-bbw, I can't say ■ —that Holgate had stolen his Rossignol diamond, and that he was the man who robbed the merchant in Hatton Garden. The price of his—of my son's silence was the hand of Holgate's ward in marriage.-" ■ ;; '■[ Involuntarily Wheeler gave a sigh pf relief. The fact that Holgate was known to have stolen the Rossignol diamond was proof conclusive that he nacL murdered M'Ewan. It was a big umph for the defence. ~ : . ' •' "Miss Boyd is rich in heir own right?" he asked. ■'■.

"Yes," ' |j ■ ■■■ "And neither you nor yourison knew that Holgate had"—he paused ; for a second—"been ; with M'Ewan ; on jthel night the latter was murdered!';'' :! "No; neither of us knew th?it. J ' £ "You took charge of Miss Boytjwihen; it was deemed essential she should not' meet my friend Goring or myilelfi?'!; ;; : "Yes." i: \'< "And went with her to Casterfordi on the very afternoon of the day your sou was murdered?"

"Yes." '•■■ :.; ; .;V.-;Why did you go there?" : :. x .y \ [t ■"I had seen my son thatt moriiing«>He'i had just returned from Goring. He said he intended; you, and thought he had better be pared, in case you knew too much. In the afternoon I received" this teiegram." j ; She took a telegram from a little' handbag, and. at a gesture from the magistrate handed it to him. "The telegram says, 'Clear out immediately Vicarage. —Jim.' "observed the magistrate, "and I see it was dispatched from Clapham Common Post Office,''

''You spoke to your son about Mr Goring when you saw him?" asked Wheeler, turning again to the witness. "Yes." , "He told vou his prisoner was safe." : <<Y es .". '' Had he done anything besides merely detain him f" ■'' "He had taken away' all,his money, his knife, and a revolver, also an electrie torch. He said he did so in order that he could neither signal to anybody nor betray his! whereabouts.•"""'

"He brought those things back with him when he left Casterford ? "

"Yes; he had them with him when I was with him."

'' From you he went straight to Peter Holgate's house in order to meet me?" "Yes; he said he was going direct." "You saw me at Casterf ord on the night of the murder,?." . "Yes." ' - "How long was I there?','

'' You were there till next morning, when I returned to London with Miss Boyd and Mr Goring.". ■'.. "What happened when you got back to town?"

"From: a newspaper Mr Goring bought we read of the murder of my son. I—-—■

She paused, for her voice had almost failed her. Then, recovering herself, she proceeded. "I broke down at the news, and Miss Boyd—she was an angel and went home with me to the house at Camden Town. She is still there."

"Thank you, Mrs Pattinson," said Wheeler. "I don't think I have anything further to ask you." Mr Lyte, having intimated that he wished to put some questions to the witness, rose to his feet. His method of cross-examination was not tempered by any of the gentleness which had characterised Wheeler's manner, and Martha showed that she realised the difference.

"Do you actually know," he asked, "who murdered your son?"

"No, I don't." "You know the crime for which the accused stands charged?"

' < Yes.'' "And he may be guilty?" "He may." , "He called on you upon the evening of the murder —for the second time, didn't he?" ; ' :

"No, he didn't," snapped Martha. "At any rate, I'd left the place if he did," ■ ■■ '

Mr Lyte 's attempt to trip up the witness was obvious to all; yet this, and several similar attempts, failed \o shake the woman's evidence. What she. had said she adhered to, and at last the counsel told her he had no farther questions to ask. His case was hopeless, and he knew it. "I will next call Mr Frank Goring," said Wheeler, Avhen Martha had left the box.- •■ ''■''■• •'•'■ ; <'First of all,'' said Wheeler, ''were the statements made by the; last- witness in reference to your, halving been deprived of a pistol and other articles correct?" '. ~.■..,..,, -.„■■ ■.;.., .. ■ (To be continued.) > ... ■...,'