by Harry Nankin
“Thank you” replied Jack, South left leaving Jack to read his report.
As he read he smiled and shook his head.
He looked at the clock, it was seven o’clock, well he thought I dare not leave this, something will have to be done Pearson or no Pearson.
He rang Miss Watkiss.
“Chief Constable who is this please?”
“Ah Chief, it is Jack Richards. Sorry to bother you but I have finished the review and to be frank we need to take action immediately. Pearson was called away I am on my own. We need to visit Crampton Hall immediately.”
“There is a big welcome home event taking place tonight, The Lord Mayor, the Commissioner and seemingly half the county of Cheshire are attending”. She said.
“I appreciate that, which is why we have to act but it must be done tactfully.” He added.
“You are too right there Jack, what do you need?”
“Well Chief, perhaps in view of the heavy stuff there you might come and lead the operation. We will need several vehicles and officers for back up but a silent approach”.
“Leave it with me I will see you in half an hour?” she said and rang off.
It was 8.pm precisely when the silent convoy of police vehicles arrived at Crampton Hall.
One vehicle containing Sergeant Gibson made a diversion, sent by Jack, to search the old air raid shelter in the nearby woods. He was armed with a pick axe and a heavy hammer.
As they pulled up another vehicle arrived, a mini bus. Jack smiled, his call was answered and at such short notice.
He walked over to the vehicle and spoke with the driver then returned to the gathered police officers.
Jack knocked on the door it was answered by Tom the gardener, regretfully for him Jessop had delegated him to attend to the front door thus missing the event.
Miles the handyman was running up the stairs, late finishing off his own work.
Tom called, “Thank Christ Miles, all that banging in the cellar. Eh, have a whisky for me and send a couple down with some grub”.
Miles turned, winked and put up his thumb that he would not forget old Tom.
A uniformed police officer was left to accompany him, Tom, as the doorman.
The officer having been updated by Jack as to what action he should take and when.
The police party quietly climbed the stairs and when at the top they could see a light under the door signed Conference Room.
The door opened, the police officers walked in led by Chief-Constable Watkiss.
There were great celebrations in progress similar thought Jack to those on any television film depicting the wealthy of Victorian times.
The room however came to a sudden silence.
All eyes now upon the police.
All stunned, it was left to Commissioner Pendergast to rise and say.
“I say Chief-Constable what is the meaning of this have the police been called, if not what is the meaning of this intrusion?”
The Lord Mayor could be heard whispering "a bloody outrage, what is the world coming to? The whole family murdered and now the police barge in".
In the silence that followed Wilson Crampton spoke. “I say officer, not knowing who Watkiss was or her rank.
“ I see you have Jack Richards with you. Craig his son, is my tutor, is he working with you?”
“Yes Mr Crampton” replied the Chief. “He has been acting as a consultant in the murders of your family and enquiries are I believe complete”
“I think then officer it would be correct if Richards gave us all an explanation as to what you are doing bursting in here”.
“I agree” called Templeton, “bloody police brutality again same as in the case of your late brother sir.”
“I think Chief Constable that it might be better if Richards did in fact reveal all so to speak” said Pendergast.
The Chief was in a quandary for so brief had been the time she herself had not been updated. There seemed little else to do.
Jack Richards took off his raincoat, leaving on his trilby hat. His son Craig was all eyes and ears. He had never seen father in action, this he was sure was not the ideal time. Still, he could do nothing so sat and let nature take its course to quote a phrase.
“Good evening, my name is Jack Richards, a retired Detective Superintendent of New Scotland Yard.”
“ I was asked by Chief-Constable Watkiss, to assist the officer in this case, Detective Inspector Pearson who is unfortunately unable to be here tonight due to a family bereavement. I would first of all wish to place on record the very thorough enquiries made by this officer”.
“I will now give a narrative of the incidents and the enquiries that have been made”.
“The first murders were that of Colonel Crampton and his wife Henrietta, killed when their vehicle had been tampered with causing it to crash. Subsequent enquiries by Inspector Pearson and other expert advice proved that the brake pipe of his vehicle had been tampered with”.
“In addition a can had been deposited inside the engine compartment; a hole had been drilled causing petrol to drip”.
“The car was continually kept in a secure garage when not in use”.
“The maintenance of this vehicle had been undertaken by Mr Rupert Crampton, another son. The keys being retained in his room”.
“The Colonel and his Lady went to the hunt ball; the time of this was likely to be known only to someone here at the hall”.
“A search of the accident scene later discovered some very unusual evidence, footmarks”.
“Time was limited between when the petrol can had been placed and the subsequent accident and finally the explosion”.
“Clearly suspicion fell upon Mr Rupert who apparently was in debt for gambling, or some other member of the household who might have access to the bedroom and have the knowledge to tamper with the vehicle”.
“Enquiries revealed no-one in the household or on the Estate had any grounds or motive to kill these two innocent people”.
“The second murder was that of Miss Lydia Crampton tragically killed when she was struck with a tree branch whilst she was riding, following the local hunt.”
“Enquiries proved the tree branch had been tied back by someone with expert knowledge in this field. The woods were being patrolled at that time and no strangers were seen. Suspicion once again fell upon some person or persons within the estate”.
“Yet again there was no motive or any suspect”.
“The wire was seized and retained for examination. Amongst the tests some DNA was found, that of the deceased and that of some other person who must have been the murderer.”
“I anticipate taking further samples from someone here tonight, when my narrative is completed”.
“The third murder was that of Mr Charles Crampton himself, killed whilst working under his car”.
“The scene was at the Hall during early morning. The cause, the car jack had been tampered with. Clearly the villain must have had knowledge and access to perform this wicked deed. Yet again police suspicions could not be supported by any suspect mainly as there was still no motive”.
“The police believed they had a break-through when, searching the room of Charles Crampton they discovered a letter which indicated Mr Charles being in debt had made enquires to sell off rights to permit traveller camps and windmills to be built on the estate, bringing in millions of pounds income but ruining the area. The Colonel and the whole family were against this”.
“Mr Charles was arrested on suspicion of the murder; items were seized, whilst in Police custody he attempted suicide”.
“Shame on you” called Templeton.
All heads turned to face him, he said nothing further.
Jack the Hat continued.
“Upon his release he was found hanged in his room. Initially thought to be suicide. Enquiries revealed it was in fact murder. Not by hanging but by being smothered in his sleep and then hung up hoping to cover the crime”.
“Clearly the murderer had considerable strength to carry this out”.
“Again although all records and statements were checked, no motive was found nor evidence who the killer was”.
“The final murder was that of Miss Emily Crampton murdered in cold blood for no reason save for wickedness”.
“She was slain whilst swimming in the river. Tests showed she was first suffocated by some flat object, this was followed up by a severe blow to her facial area”.
“Again no motive, such as debt or sexual reason, could be found. There was some attempt to remove evidence at the scene but part of a foot mark was discovered and photographed, details will be given shortly”.
“It is my experience over forty years that money is nearly always a motive in these cases, not always directly, but lurking often in the rear is money”,
“As a result a warrant was obtained to search the premises of Messrs Templeton Solicitors to the Crampton Estate. These records have now been examined by a chartered accountant with many years experience working in the City of London, dealing with serious fraud.”
“ I can therefore announce the following”.
“The Crampton Estate is what is known legally as entailed”
“This means it cannot be sold but is transferred from generation to generation”.
“The accounts show that the estate is all but bankrupt, with many large loans outstanding. This has been the situation for many years due to the drop in agricultural income and the life style of the family, none worked for income, all lived off the estate”.
“The Colonel had made it known via his solicitor that should the estate completely fail the property should be transferred to the National Trust, on permanent lease”.
“Enquiries of the records and accounts indicate Mr Templeton was aware of this and it was he who persuaded the late Charles Crampton to get around the situation by not selling but renting or leasing the land for the businesses we have already heard about”.
There were mumbles.
Jack hesitated, then continued.
“I regret to say that it has now been established from the records and accounts seized, that Mr Templeton, Solicitor, and officer of the court and Mr Jessop the loyal Butler have for many years been operating silent businesses of their own selling off estate produce and similar and embezzling rents and other income. In addition records indicate the men sold valuable oil paintings, replacing them with fakes.”
Both Templeton and Jessop looked aghast. They were about to leave, when four police officers approached and stood by them.
The Chief Constable stood and called “Officers arrest both these men on suspicion of obtaining a pecuniary advantage, false accounting and fraud”.
“Inform the Force Fraud Section when you arrive at the police station”.
The two stood, were handcuffed and led away, they made no comment.
There was however much mumbling with the hall.
Jack then continued.
“You will appreciate Chief-Constable and Commissioner that these two arrests although involving large sums of money effectively taking the remaining life blood out of the estate after the wanton ways of the family do not solve the murders”.
“I would now turn therefore to the murders once again.”
“From my narrative you will have gathered my enquiries indicate the murderer is local and knew the family. There was also unfettered access to the scene of the crime and the hall. I turn again to money, it is always money”.
“This was the position in the Crampton murders”.
“The murderer was one with a financial grudge, such a grudge, that even if there would prove to be no financial gain the loss of income was irrelevant to the grudge held by the murderer.”
“Over many years this lust for revenge turned to hate which caused the murderer to plan and to kill wantonly for killings` sake. Not to stop until every Crampton was dead”.
The murderer did leave clues, though some have yet to be proved, I am certain they will be when further forensic tests are done and compared with those already undertaken”.
All, including The Chief-Constable and the Commissioner were holding their breath, would the villain be revealed.
“The clues were as follows.
“The skill to plan and carry out the practical elements in the killings.”
“The use of the wire”.
“ An officer is checking whilst I speak to recover further items of the wire from an old bunker on the estate.”
“I discovered only today, whilst rechecking the police aerial photographs taken on the day of the final murder from the force helicopter used in the search”.
“The technical ability to manipulate the brakes of the car, to make the petrol bomb, to sabotage the car jack”
“There was also the foot prints not of a shoe or boot but of.”
At that moment he was obliged to stop as his surprise witness arrived.
All looked with amazement as the elderly lady in the wheel chair arrived, looked and called.
“Hello Master Milton, it is you, yes it is you my boy?”
“I recall the Colonel showing me your photograph, when he called to visit me about a year ago”
“He told me you had arrived in the country some time ago and when you were unemployed he had given you work and the house.”
“It was such a shame, you being his first born son that he was forced to leave you and your mother Ravinder back in Daram. It wasn’t his fault you know. He was not wealthy and the English lady Henrietta whom he also made pregnant, her family was so rich”. I recall all these years he regretted it and not caring for you.”
“ I heard you and your mother were so poor”.
“Your poor mother, I knew her when she was having the dalliance with your father, in Daram.”
“A very pretty girl.”
“ What a shame, killing herself those many years ago. Such a shame”
All were looking around the room but could not see to whom the old lady was speaking.
Matron Cowden pushed Nanny forward.
Suddenly Milton Crampton alias Edward Miles stood.
In an instant he jumped onto the table rushed forward, knife in hand.
He thrust it at Master Wilson Crampton but Carer Kato instantly stepped in grabbing his arm, twisted it with agonising pain pushing Miles back across the table.
The knife dropped to the ground Wilson was safe.
Milton Crampton stood momentarily as the police officers moved forward.
He shouted, “Yes it was me, I killed them all. You all laughed at my black face and bare feet, it was my plan to mislead you, I didn’t have ginger hair for you see, I featured my mother, an Arab, I fooled you all. The old Colonel, he thought I had forgiven him. He gave me a lowly job, provided I told no-one who I really was. Father, he was no father to me, he deserved to die and his bitch with him. I trained hard to learn mechanics, how to deal with engines how to enter rooms and leave. My mother gave her all to this Colonel, she bore his child, me. She was disgraced. Her family deserted her. The good old Colonel ran off and married this rich white girl leaving us to starve. My mother became a harlot to feed and house me”.
“Finally it got too much and she killed herself.”
“ No, she was murdered by these Cramptons”.
“This house and estate should all have been mine, Yes mine I was the eldest son.”
“ If I had been given my birthright, the place would now be prosperous but it is now a nothing”
“I could not have it, no one will”.
“I will leave you now, forever.”
“You Wilson Crampton you are penniless like me and you will never have this place, never”.
“I have arranged it, my final revenge.”
“There will be no Crampton Hall for anyone”.
He turned as the first police officer took a grab at him. In an instant he dived through the window.
Officers ran and looked outside the
n shook their heads.
When the Chief herself looked outside there he was, dead.
He had fallen onto the spiked railings below.
Suddenly Jack thought, “This fellow was the maintenance man, working in the cellar for days”
He called, “Quickly Chief, everyone out of the building, quickly”.
She called, "Will everyone please leave the building immediately, do not panic but leave quietly and quickly.”
It took ten minutes before all were standing on the lawn outside well away from the house, ready for transport home with such a tale to tell.
Suddenly there was terrific explosion, the whole building erupted.
Clearly the gas had been made into a time bomb.
The once lost but now found, Mr Crampton was correct, no one it seems would ever have Crampton Hall.
The fire service arrived, the area cleared.
The following day Crampton Hall was a shell.
Wilson Crampton left by the Sultans private plane for Daram.
The estate nearly bankrupt, it appeared the National Trust would at least have the land and its deer as a visiting attraction for the locals and tourists.
What a tale the visitors would have to tell as they sat having their picnic and feeding the deer.
Jack was sat at home, his work done, the conclusion even he had not envisaged.
Anne arrived with the daily paper, the front page carried the story of the events and showed Crampton Hall in ruins, just a shell.
The only comment she made was not of Crampton Hall, nor events of the previous evening, nor of the Crampton family.
“I say Jack what a pity, I was just reading.”
“That detective Mr Pearson”
“His only son aged only ten years of age”.
“The child fell in the city centre last week and banged his head, the poor child has died.
Jack looked up, “Yes sad, life is very sad”.
The End