“The Proverbial Murder Case”

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20423, 14 February 1938, Page 4

“The Proverbial Murder Case”

CHAPTER XXll—.Continued The Chief Constable sat down at tho table. "If you can Icll me how f a man could sit here in this room un~ ter the eye of a police sergeant and yet attack a man on the top of tShilstone Tor at the same time 1 should like to hear it. That has been tue weakest part of our case against Richey." Haskell smiled and drew an envelope from his pocket. "On the contrary, sir, It is the strongest part. Do you remember this?” He held out the envelope. The Chief Constable opened It. '.This strand of brown hair? Certainly." "That strand of brown hair is the one thing which proves that Richey was responsible for the attack on Garnett. 1 have examined It under the microscope." "Well! Did that prove who was wearing the coat?" ••Yes, sir. The animal whose coat it was. The hair was that of a dog! ' The Chief Constable's eyes widened with amazement. "A dog!" he repealed. "How did 1! happen?" "When 1 first arrived at the tor,” Haskell began, "1 was impressed by one outstanding fact. That was the lack of concealment afforded the attacked by the nature of Hie terrain. The scene of the attack was the top of a pedestal-like rock formation which could be seen for miles around; it was like a stage. There was nothing to hide behind, no trees, no other rocks, no river beds or depressions in the earth. The bracken which grows thickly all over the moor was not thick enough to hide a man. 1 made j an experiment and proved that. ‘‘Now’, reconstructing the scene at the time of the attack, we find Garnett on top of the tor, standing at the northern edge, which is ttie side away from the road. He was watcliiny ! Blavre, who was walking down the northern slope. Both were intent on catching some glimpse ol the girl whom Richey had described as .Miss crosiev. With their attention thus taken.'it is easy to imagine how a man could have crept up Hie southern side of the tor, attacked Garnett, thrown him over the edge, and escaped Hie wav ) Ie came without having been seen hv Blayre ■Rut here another factor enters the situation. The southern side was under the eyes of Detective-Sergeant Max- and Constable uubbins, who had lust stopped their car at the fool of jit and were starting to climb Ihe slope. It would have been impo- | sibln for a man to escape in that; I direction without their having seen him. I The attacker's only choice, therefore, | was by way of the eastern or western i 1 slopes, which, save for the bracken, | were devoid of any concealment. j "In connection with the question of concealment, the time element had also to be taken into consideration. There was an interval of not more than five minutes between the lime ol the attack and the moment when Blayre turned to discover Garnett was no longer on the tor. In five mm- j utes a man could not get “very xar, away from the tor, even by running at top speed, which he obviously i couldn’t have done without being seen, j -Putting all these conditions to-, gether, I saw at once that the attacker of Garnett could not have been a man. It had to be something smaller, swiftei and more capable of concealing itselt tn the bracken. Two filings occurreo to me almost simultaneously. a a*.could have done it; amt h;' r several dogs. Following hat thcoi j. ‘ e Wn ne stle le and C very soin- found what 1 was looking for —this strand of brown hair. “To-night 1 had tho questionable pleasure of meeting Hie actual culprit, j and I took the opportunity of asking him If he hail done tt. Imt turn

sniff my hand. He took no interest. Then 1 let him snirf a glo. ■ belonging to Garnett. His reaction left no doubt as to his feelings about that j gentleman.” . The Chief Constable nodded his approval. “But what 1 don t >ct see,” he said, “is how the affair was carried out. It's all very well to s-t a dog on a man—that's simple enough but how can you set a dog on a man when you are in one place, the dog Is in a second, and the victim is in a third?" "This was the way it was done, ! replied the Inspector, "as nearly as I have been able to work It out. Richey i left his house that morning telling i his caretaker to let the dog out at a oertain time, perhaps about an hour later. He had already trained the dog In what tt was to do, giving jt the scent from one of Garnett's gloves which he had stolen when Garnett was at the house on the day Dr. Crosiev was murdered. He walked to the village, passing by Shllstone Tor, and found Blayre and 'Garnett at the inn. He.told his story, and as be expected, they rushed off at once to i look for the girl. In the meantime the dog had been released by the I caretaker and had started off on its master’s trail toward the village. When it reached the tor It suddenly ‘ caught the soeriT of Garnett. (1 noted that the wind was from the south that morning, so that it would have carried the scent in the right direction). "The dog followed the scent, and watched its opportunity to make the attack. In descending from the rock it dislodged a few pebbles, which clattered down, attracting the attention of May and Gubbins. You will remember that was mentioned in their report. Once down from the tor, it made ofT rapidly through the bracken, and by the time May had reached the top was far enough away to be indistinguishable. The tiling was done, and Richey, sitting comfortably in this room, had a perfect alibi." "Damned clever!" said the Chief Constable. "But how about the rest of It? Did Richey kill Dr. Crosley and Hie Vicar?" Thev were Interrupted by a knock at the*door. A constable entered He addressed Haskell. "The Doctor saxs you are to come .if once. sir. Garnett is conscious. wants to tell yon snnielhlng." The Inspector sprang In his feet. ' i;ome along," lie said. I think 11, ,1 this may prove to lie Hie answer to i ‘ \t Hie "Abbot's Hoot" the last of ! the crowd was departing. Mr Hailey, xxho \Tas being idled xvllli Ids own ale liv a group Of reporters in Hie bar. glanced up as (hex entered and mumbled ~ fexx xx onts concerning of-lhe-house- hope- you don't- mindsir." He blinked in surprise they i dashed up the charred staircase j Haskell knocked at the door of the

By WILLIAM SUTHERLAND A Thrilling Mystery Story

room. II was opened softly by the nurse. Dr. silting beside the bed. motioned them to enler. He spoke to the injured man. “Inspector Haskell is here. You! may talk with him for a few minutes, i but don’t tire yourself.” Garnett opened his eyes. The doctor rose, and Haskell sat down in the chair and leaned over the bed. "You wanted to tell me something?" he asked. Yes.’’ Garnett's voice was weak and he seemed to concentrate with an effort. * Must warn you—about Richey. Pie's—crazy. Look out for the—girl.” His voice trailed off weakly and he closed his eyes. "Miss Crosley is safe.” Haskell said. “She has been found. Richey has been arrested.” Garnett’s band moved on the blanket. “Arrested.” be repeated as !if the meaning w.-re not quite dear. Good. I thought—he was the—- ' man. Crazy. Mad about—dogs.” ' lie was silent, and Ibr Doctor beckoned Haskell away. The latter was about I-. rise when Garnett spoke again. ! “Another thing. I know—about | the woman’s scream—that night at : ihe manor. It was a—wireless—set. I'unny mistake. Don’t forget—mad—about dogs!” Haskell looked up at the Chief Con- ; stable and nodded slowly. Then he rose and they tiptoed from Hie room. “A wireless set!” he said exultantly. | "That, does it!” The Chief Constable was pleased, i but not quite satisfied. “Do you mean that that breaks his alibi?” “Certainly, sir. His alibi hinged entirely on whether or not he had heard a certain programme that night —the news report at six 6’clock.” He became suddenly serious. “Mad,” be said, half-aloud. “I suspected that. Bui about dogs ” He turned to the Chief Constable. "There's not. much more to be done to-night, sir. If you'd like to get a bit of sleep I suggest you take my room. I’ll go across to the station and see that Richey starts for Exeter. There are one or two other things I’d likp to do. but there’s a cot in the station in case I deride to go to bed.” They separated at the top of the stairs. Haskell, on his way out. cast a glance into the bar. The reporters were no longer there, but Mr Bailey, tired out by the excitement of the dav. was fast asleep in a chair and making the bottles rattle with his (To be continued.)