by Harry Nankin
“I am a local person lived in the area all my life and always in service since I left school aged 15 years old”.
“The Crampons arrived back from Daram, having just married at the English church there. The Colonel was in the army, not a Colonel of course.”
“He met Mrs Henrietta Crampton whose father Major Ralph Livingston was a fellow officer. Her family were also very well placed, with a castle and estate larger than Crampton Hall. In addition I believe they had business interests abroad”.
It appears Henrietta and the Colonel had a dalliance and had to quickly marry. Mrs Crampton was already pregnant when they arrived to take over the hall.”
“I eventually went into service there when the children were getting older. I was their Governess, until they left home for boarding school”.
The boys, well they were as some might say lazy, none ever had a job, nor the girls, just lived off the estate, you know, the farm rents”
“I never heard of them getting into trouble, they all seemed to get on, had their squabbles but they were nothing.
“Wilson Crampton went over-seas some years ago to be educated by a wealthy Sultan, an old friend of the colonel, when he was in the army in Daram”.
“The poor child was struck with some illness which caused him to be an invalid.”
“I did hear once he had been attacked by some roaming beggars but the Colonel always assured us this was lies. The boy was taken by some insect bite which caused the loss of the use of his legs.”
“When the children moved on I was then kept on as a companion to Henrietta until I retired.”
“So you see I have really nothing to tell, I have been retired and in this care home for some years so I am out of touch with life at the hall”.
Richards, cleared his throat, and then asked.
“Miss Barnes surely you must know of some confidential items that shall we say were not readily known outside the Hall. Please bear in mind what you tell us will remain confidential and after all those concerned are all dead.
She hesitated for some moments, then looked up and said.
“Gentlemen, I am not a person of tittle-tattle, neither am I a gossip monger, nor do I betray a confidence.”
“As you say however, all those involved are now dead.”
“ In view of your promise not to reveal my identity I can say something?”.
“You are assured of that Maam” said Pearson.
“Well” said she “The Colonel was a heavy drinker and a gambler.”
“ Over the years I believe the in-laws, that is the Livingston’s came to the rescue paying off the Colonels gambling debts”.
“Mrs Crampton was often left on her own whilst the Colonel went to the Chester races often staying out over night”.
She hesitated but her handkerchief to her mouth then said.
“Well Mr Templeton for years the family solicitor, well he and Mrs Crampton, well I did see them kissing one day. Rumour was rife.
“The Colonel, it was said in the servant’s hall, had alleged two of the children were not his, but as you may have seen from the colour of their hair, they clearly were”.
“I think if it had not been for the good offices of Jessop running all the house accounts, ordering the items and paying all the accounts, the household would have been in ruins many years ago”.
“The same goes for Mr Templeton, his affair with Mrs Crampton well that was one thing but Templeton took care of all the legal things, got the colonel out of various scrapes. He handled all the farm rents and estate workers, the staff; we were all paid by Templeton’s clerk.”
“In fact all the staff were so good, worked long hours for low pay, few holidays and kept all the family secrets. I am sure I am the first to reveal anything.
“What did you know of Mrs Crampton before she arrived as lady of the house?” asked Jack.
“Oh nothing. She had lived in Shrewsbury in Shropshire, at the Castle”
“What about the Colonel?” asked Jack.
“Oh yes I recall him as a boy, a rugged child, didn’t mix in the village of course, but I often saw him with the old General and his mother.”
“ They were a very nice couple, the old sort you know”.
“Well gentlemen I am getting tired, if there is nothing else I would ask you to excuse me” she said.
But, then added, “I take it you have seen all the other old staff though, I don’t think they can help, even as much as myself”.
“You are correct; I will just tell you who has been seen”.
Pearson produced his papers and read the entire staff list current and old including the relatives.
The old lady patiently listened but clearly she was now very tired.
Pearson recognised this put away his papers and said.
“Thank you very much indeed Madam, you have been of great assistance.” Lying of course.
As they arrived at the door Miss Barnes arrived wheeling in hot pursuit.
“Just a moment” she called.
“Yes Madam?”
“Is there something else you wish to say?” asked Richards.
“Nanny, have you asked Nanny?”
“Who is Nanny?” asked Pearson”
“Well Nanny of course, she is nearly a hundred years old bright as a pin they say, she is at The Haven Rest Home just over the road from here”
They stopped, Pearson took out his note pad.
Miss Barnes continued, “Well of course Nanny, she worked for the Crampton family since before the Colonel himself was born”
“ She was Nanny to all the children.”
“She went everywhere with them, yes even overseas, Nanny, Miss Gladys Openshaw is her real name, but everyone just called her Nanny”.
They left and walked down the street until at the far end they saw a large new building signed, “The Haven”.
Pearson rang the door bell; it was opened by a young man, who from his appearance was clearly of East European extract at least.
“Yes Gentlemen, who you come to see?” in broken English. It is not visiting hour you see”
A voice called “Edic, who is that?”
Before he could answer a tall lady aged in her mid forties. Wearing a grey uniform and a cotton hat with frills arrived.
Her name badge boldly announced her as Miss Mabel Cowden, Matron.
“Who might you be?” she asked with a very stern and austere look.”
“Police”, announced Pearson producing his warrant card.
“Police, what on earth do the police want here. We have no sudden deaths at least I hope not for I have not been informed”
“No madam” replied Pearson.
“We have come to speak with Miss Gladys Openshaw”.
“Nanny”, she bellowed “you wish to speak with Nanny, good heavens man she is one hundred today, she has had a letter from The Queen among other things”.
“It is a very important matter, but we simply need some back ground information from any years ago”.
“Where are you from? The police station I mean”
“Chester Matron” said Pearson.
“Oh Chester, I see well yes, you may come in, Your Chief-Constable is a patron of this home, she has an aunt here”.
They walked inside and were taken not to a lounge with an array of aged and gaping mouths but to a very nice room over looking the River Dee.
“Nanny there are two nice policemen to see you”
Both the visitors looked, Nanny was one hundred that day but she looked no more than her late seventies possibly early eighties.
She was bright and smiling and clearly had all her wits about her.
Matron sat down; in the circumstances no objection was made by Pearson.
She nodded at Jack to continue.
“Hello Nanny we just needed to ask you a few questions about Colonel Crampton and his family”.
“Of yes” she replied, “Terrible, terrible what happened to them, I have been follow
ing it on the news and in the papers”,
“Well Nanny, is it correct you were Nanny to the Colonel when he was born and in addition to all his children?”
“Yes indeed, I was there the day he was born at Crampton Hall.”
“ His poor mother she suffered so, giving birth to the child.”
“ When his father, the General and his good lady died I stayed on to look after the Colonel and I think I was part of the furniture.”
“ I travelled around the world with him really, a substitute I think for his mother.”
Jack then asked.
“Did you stay on after the Colonel married Henrietta, his now late wife?”
“I did and looked after all the children as well, as the Governess of course.
“I expect you have a long tale to tell Nanny”. Said Pearson.
She laughed and said, “If you say so”
“I expect you have many, very many tales to tell. I think we might just ask you to make a written statement, just in case we forget what you have said” replied Jack, tactfully
“That is the way to do it, thought Pearson.
Nanny laughed, Pearson took out the form. Matron also happy got up, rang a bell and ordered four cups of tea and scones when Edic appeared.
Jack was sat impassively as he led Nanny through the years from when the Colonel was a boy.
Pearson, writing, making no mistakes. There may not be another opportunity. After all, she was aged one hundred, an age he would never see he thought, and though he did not realise it, neither did Jack.
The statement taken they left.
When they arrived in the car and were driving back to base, Jack smiled.
Pearson looked and asked.
“Why the smile Jack?”.
Jack turned, looked, still smiling and said.
“After all the enquiries, all the leads, all the forensic tests, nobody thought to ask Nanny”
It was time to finish when they arrived back at Chester Police Station.
PART SIX
THE HOME COMING
Friday 10th May 2013
There was furious activity at Crampton Hall, Master Wilson Crampton was returning home.
“I must be on top form when the new master arrives home that afternoon” Jessop thought to himself as he prepared his starched shirt and pressed his best suit.
“The only surviving member of the family, he had been such a quiet pleasant boy, not like the other boys, who had been ruffians”.
The remainder of the staff were busying themselves cleaning and tidying the old room of the new master of the house.
The busy scene was added to by the arrival of the Tarporley Catering Company, seemingly Mister Wilson Crampton was having a home coming party for they had been instructed to provide a lavish meal. Unusually for the Crampton family it had all been paid for in advance but a delivery man had said it was paid for by The Sultan of Daram, no less.
Another company arrived and fitted a chair lift to the stairs.
The large conference room upstairs was being cleared for the celebrations.
A further surprise arrived in the form of a message to the phone of Jessop.
It rang just at a critical moment whist he was in the process of ironing his starched collars, he always had a spare.
“Blast”, he thought “who might that might be?”
He was surprised to hear some unknown man, Mr Kato Scott-Ling; he had said he was. “A carer of Mr Wilson Crampton”.
“Hello Jessop, I am just a carer to your employer, Wilson Crampton.”
“How is the master?” asked Jessop intervening.
“He is very well, walking a little, with assistance of course”
“Well done I will update the staff”, replied Jessop.
“That is why I am calling, Jessop” said Scott-Ling adding, “will you please ensure all the staff are notified of the arrival of Wilson and they are to attend the home coming celebrations at the hall. The Sultan of Daram is paying for the catering.
“Well that is most generous” replied Jessop.
Going on to add, “we have heard of the party as contractors are here, the stairs chair lift is being fitted as I speak”.
Jessop was on a roll adding, “I could have done all this for I have many local contacts for food and other things but I see it has been arranged”.
“Please Jessop, do not concern yourself with that, it is all arranged, the caterers should have arrived”.
“What I will ask, is that you also invite local people off the estate, other relatives of the family and any dignitaries, the Mayor and such, I will leave that with you” concluded Scott-Ling, who ever he was.
Jessop finished his dress preparations so spent some time making the arrangements for the home coming.
His telephone was red hot, to quote a phrase as he rang around the estate farms, the Lord Mayors office, not forgetting Mr Templeton who had always been such a help to the family, not least in the recent dealings with the police, a great stalwart he was.
Who else might he invite he thought, “why of Course Sir Claude Pendergast the Police Commissioner who had according to Templeton been very critical of the actions and more importantly the lack of action by local officers”.
Finally he left his room and walked, no paraded around the house, checking all was going well and ensuring the staff were told they were required to attend the home coming, rather than invited he thought.
Almost all done he heard a banging in the cellar, “what the hell is that?”
He opened the door and went downstairs. Miles the handyman was in full swing at work.
“Still at it Miles” asked Jessop.
“Yes, Sir nearly done” he said.
In case I forget Miles, you will have heard the Master is due home later today, you are required to attend a home coming celebration, here this evening in the conference room.”
“Well thank you Sir”
“Yes, well make sure you are properly dressed my man, no overalls or bare feet with a painted black face as I normally see you running around the place each evening and week-ends”
Miles laughed “just playing with the kids”
“Yes so I see Miles. I must go. I have to report to Cousin Liza she will be in command so to speak”, he shook his head and laughed as he went upon his Butler duties.
At Chester Police Headquarters Chief-Constable Watkiss had arrived early. She would ensure she was out and about today ensuring Chief Superintendent Jinton had sufficient resources. The home coming of Wilson Crampton had now been on the television news.
To make her day Mildred Renton had just put her head around the door, “The Commissioner is on the line”.
She picked up the telephone it was as she anticipated, Pendergast.
“Chief, a brief call to check you have everything in hand for the Wilson Crampton home coming, security wise that is, albeit from a distance”.
“Yes Commissioner, I am here as you can hear and will be about until late tonight”.
“Well Chief it seems to add to your duties as there is to be a major gathering at Crampton Hall this evening. A welcome party for the new Master.”
“I have been invited of course, plus the Lord Mayor, some Magistrates and others, local farmers mostly. The staff of course they have been asked along.”
“I see. Thank you for the update” she said, then put down the phone.
Once done Mildred Renton was surprised to hear the Chief talking to herself, “That is all I bloody need a major gathering at Crampton Hall. The new Master, and now all and bloody sundry with a murderer still at large, worse, the police had been barred from any security duties at the place”.
Jack Richards meanwhile together with Pearson had gathered in the police museum, Jack’s previous office. It was quiet so they could work in peace. Next door was the accountant Allan South still hard at it apparently having found little or nothing for there had been no updates from him.
The duo set about goi
ng through all the papers, when disaster struck.
Sergeant Ted Large the officer in charge of the museum arrived in a panic. “Inspector Pearson your wife is at the counter, it seems George, your son has just fallen badly in the city centre and has been rushed to hospital, you are required”.
Pearson looked in a panic; dreadfully he was to think later his first comment had been, “blast, why now?”
“You had better get off” said Jack “I will deal with this paper work; we have nothing else to do anyway”.
In a moment Pearson had gone Jack settled to do what had to be done.
The day passed and at five o’clock that evening a large car and a van arrived at Crampton Hall. Jessop came to the door to greet Mr Wilson Crampton arriving; he was in fact walking though with difficulty. At each side were two men dressed in green track suit tops and trousers.
The men were very small and oriental in appearance just like the ones Jessop saw on his night off when he called for a Chinese takeaway. The men were very attentive, one had nurse written upon his coat, the other simply carer.
Jessop looked on as the two assistants carefully held Wilson as he put one foot before the other.
With great difficulty he climbed the steps, at one stage Jessop almost panicked for the invalid stumbled slightly.
Jessop had visions of him falling down the steps and dying before his very eyes, the last Crampton.
The three arrivals eventually arrived inside. The staff now all lined up.
Wilson returned to his wheel chair he looked up and said, “Although the circumstances are so very sad, with the loss of all my family I am however happy to be home. I am also very pleased to see you all. I am tired now after the journey I will rest and hope to see you all later this evening”
“We will all be here Sir”, said Jessop.
Master Wilson and his carers turned to leave.
Wilson aided up onto his feet from the wheel chair, then sat on the stair lift and was soon on his way.
All was set for a wonderful home coming.
At 6 30 pm Jack had just finished his paper work and had made out his notes.
South arrived and said, “here you are Jack. All done and dusted I think there is enough there for your purposes. It may be necessary to have a much bigger review done later. If you require that I will have a word with my old firm and get a full dossier done for you”.