For those who have not been to this part of the city Brixton Market comprises a street market in the center of Brixton, south London, England, and the adjacent covered market areas in nearby arcades Reliance Arcade, Market Row and Granville Arcade.
The Market began on Atlantic Road in the 1870s and subsequently spread to Brixton Road which had a very wide footway. Brixton then was a rapidly expanding London railway suburb with newly opening shops, including the first branch of David Greig at 54-58 Atlantic Road in 1870, and England’s first purpose-built department store, Bon Marché, on Brixton Road in 1877. The market is a popular attraction, with lower class shoppers being entertained by street musicians.
If you prefer genteel shopping then Brixton Market is not the place for you. With the many sights and smells of large hanging meat carcasses jostling against stalls full of ten penny shoes, tin pots and pans, local cheese, baked goods of all types, large propped up open rough hewn wooden boxes over flowing with local vegetables and fruit and chicken wire crates full of a variety of objecting poultry and fowl the loud, pushy vendors yelling their wares in a collection South London, Cockney, German, Polish, Italian accents trying to entice the large throngs of curious buyers browsing the abundant stands to buy their goods.
The Prince Albert pub, located on the corner of Coldharbour Lane and the High street was an established medium sized local and well known institution frequented by a mix of working class men, residents living within the vicinity and petty criminals. Andrew knew he could go there for a peaceful pint of beer and a meal of fish and chips and not feel as if he had to quickly wolf down both while looking over his shoulder to see if he was being pursued by an angry creditor or by a constable on the beat.
Besides being a place for drink and food the Prince Albert also acted as an unofficial post office where Andrew could retrieve unmarked anonymous envelopes from the inn keeper containing assignments. The enclosed instructions told him where to go and what clandestine task needed to be carried out.
After a particular trying argument during a meagre supper with his parents about money owed to help pay the rent Andrew decided to go out into evening to drown his sorrows at the Prince Albert pub.
As he passed the large Brixton Market most of the overhead electric lighting had been turned off. Shoppers with their purchases had long since left the area leaving only the vendors their final task of closing up and securing darkened stalls to prepare for the next day.
Andrew angry at himself for forgetting his favourite book and infuriated about his parents hounding him for money stayed at the Prince Albert drinking his problems away all the while hoping that the inn keeper wasn’t keeping too close an eye on a growing unpaid pub tab. When he heard the call “last round” Andrew hoped what he had consumed during the evening in the pub would at least keep all his troubles at bay until tomorrow.
Whether he had left the Prince Albert to return home after an evening of drinking or had taken a late solitary night walk through Brixton all of the failed thief’s troubles ended before he ever reached 15 Exton Street. With a decisive and killing blow to the back of his head delivered by an unseen assailant employing an Irish instrument of death. The killer on instructions had been waiting some time hidden in the dark shadows of a shuttered market stand waiting for his victim to pass by.
Andrew groaned only slightly in response to the precise strike then with the sound of a skull being separated from its spine his crumpled dead body fell to the ground in the same manner as two others from Gravesend had when they had been dispassionately put to death.
Chapter 27
In a dark oak paneled room this time with fewer in attendance (as before, the following dialogue I am paraphrasing came from the actual recorded minutes of the meeting.)
Speaker 3: “Gentlemen, I’m afraid I bring bad news from Gravesend.” “What bad news” asked the others?
Speaker 3: “Our Mr. Perry has failed us on two points. First, he was unable to locate the Survivors list in the mystery writer’s home and at the same time he inadvertently left behind a calling card in the form of a favourite book. Knowing of Mr. Holmes legendary deduction skills upon finding the aforementioned article it would only be a matter of time until he tracks Mr. Perry down.”
Speaker 4: “Can all present in this room hopefully assume then that this matter has been taken care of?”
Speaker 3: “Concerning Mr. Perry yes, the person who dealt with the first two in Gravesend has also dealt with him in Brixton but as to locating the book no. If by some chance Mr. Holmes draws enough clues from it that brings him to the centre of this he will be dealt with by this person too.”
Speaker 4: sounding somewhat frustrated “None of these endeavours have brought us any closer to our objective of retrieving the list, we are fortunate that the President of the United States and our Prime minister are at this time unaware that we have lost the list but it will only be a matter of time until they find out.
Considering that the dust of 1918 has finally started to settle I think that none of us present want to open up old wounds and return to hostilities by the list somehow being made public.”
Speaker 2: “Then I can see gentlemen we have one last course of action to take, it will be somewhat drastic and may involve some risk but we are going to have to take steps to bring Miss Jeffery to London to persuade her in person hopefully with reasonable methods to turn over the list to us.
Speaker 1: “Are you suggesting we kid nap the woman against her will? That would have Mr. Holmes on our trail like the hounds that have caught scent of the fox.”
Speaker 2: “No nothing that drastic, I believe that she is a reasonable woman and with Mr. Prescott’s and Miss Taggart’s help she may be persuaded to make the journey. As it turned out before this plan could be implemented some legal intervention was required.
Chapter 28
Magistrates’ court or court of petty session is the lowest level of court in England and Wales. A magistrates’ court is presided over by a tribunal consisting of three justices of the peace (also known as magistrates) or by a district judge, and dispenses summary justice, under powers usually defined by statute. The tribunal presiding over the Court is commonly referred to simply as the Bench.
When a defendant first appears before a magistrates’ court, they will do so in one of three circumstances. They will either appear on bail having been charged with an offence and compelled to attend court under penalty; in response to a summons, which requires attendance but does not, in the first instance, carry any penalty for non-attendance; or in custody, having been refused bail by the police. If the defendant is on bail, she/he must first surrender to the custody of the court.
Whichever the circumstance, the first requirement is to identify him/herself to the Court. Once the Court is satisfied as to the identity of the defendant, it must consider the charges. If the charge(s) is a summary offence, the Court will generally expect a plea to be taken. If the plea is one of “not guilty”, the Court will fix a date for trial, taking into account the number and availability of the witnesses.
In the City of London Magistrates’ Court located 1 Queen Victoria Street London a lanky lone male defendant stood sullenly before the three magistrates. The most senior magistrate looked first at the defendant then to the documents in front of him. He cleared his throat and in a judicial sounding voice said “For the record state your name and present address.” “Thomas Malone Prescott, number 22 Margate Road, Brixton.” Looking again at the defendant then to the relevant records the magistrate continued. “Thomas Malone Prescott you are charged with the offence of personal assault causing bodily harm and with the offence and of wilful destruction private property, how do you plead?”
In Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court located at 51 Holloway Road much the same scene was being played out only the defendant was a fatally attractive and defiant female. “For the record miss stat
e your name and present address.” “Ashley Laurinda Taggart...51 Welbury Street, Hackney.” Before continuing the magistrate looked surprised to see someone like Ashley in court, not sure why such an innocent should be here. He resumed, “Ashley Laurinda Taggart you are charged with the offence of theft with burglary on the basis of trespass and with the offence of carrying a concealed weapon with intent to cause harm, how do you plead?”
In the event of a plea of guilty, the Court will then consider sentence. For the most minor offences (or with what are treated as minor offences) where the appropriate sentence is one of a fine or discharge, this will usually follow immediately after the plea of guilty. However, where the offence is more serious and may justify a curfew, or imprisonment. Magistrates have the power to impose sentences of up to six months imprisonment for one either-way offence, and to impose consecutive sentences for multiple either-way offences up to a maximum of twelve months.
On previous instructions from powerful individuals the magistrates would never know the existence of both defendants’ appointed barristers rose while indicating for their client to remain silent and seated addressed each charge then summed up with “Your worships this is my clients first offence (which in fact it wasn’t) and pleads guilty to all charges. Further he/she regrets his /her actions and wishes to make full restitution for all personal and property damage they may have incurred in consideration of a fine and possible suspended sentence. In Highbury Corner Magistrates Court one of the magistrates asked “As to Miss Taggart’s concealed weapon?” The answer was “It was surrendered upon her arrest your worship.”
The magistrates in both courts having also being previously instructed without the knowledge of the barristers about both Thomas and Ashley in an act of believing the sincerity of the directed barristers and the silent innocence of the defendants as final judgement imposed a curfew on Thomas and Ashley that neither had any intention of ever obeying, a modest fine that they would never pay and that each compensate all the injured and wronged parties which they would never do.
The final barrister client transaction to take place that day as all were leaving their respective courts was for Thomas and Ashley each to be handed a letter sized blank white sealed envelope containing instructions pertaining to Winfred that she be persuaded to come in their company to London, of her own free will or against it and that she willingly on her arrival surrender the Survivors list or that it be taken forcibly from her.
Chapter 29
While Winfred and I were engaged in restoring her thoroughly ransacked home Sherlock made his way to the local telegraph office to enquire of his older brother what he knew about the owner of the discovered book or the book itself.
Later in the day just as we were finishing getting the house back into order, collecting piles of scattered papers form the floor, placing books back on their respective shelves and making her writing desk look more like a place to compose mysteries again, Sherlock returned. He said a quick hello to Winfred then indicated that he wish to talk to me in private. After I assured Winfred that whatever information Sherlock had acquired we would share as much as he could with her I joined Sherlock near the front door.
While removing his coat and hat he began with”This is much more sinister than we can imagine.” Sherlock then handed me the telegram he had received from London. It turned out that Andrew Foster Perry, 32 (the owner of the lost book) born March 23, 1888, who had resided at 15 Exton Street had been found lying dead in the street early in the morning by a Brixton market stall proprietor.
I put the telegram down for a minute looked at Sherlock and stated “Why that means.” ” Yes, that means that Mr. Perry’s services were brutally terminated shortly after his arrival in London from Gravesend for his failure to locate this.” And again Sherlock pulled the Survivors list from his pocket. Looking at me, Sherlock indicated that there was more to be read. Picking up the telegram I continued. It turned out that Mr. Perry had been killed in the same manner (or style) as the two who had been murdered in Gravesend.
Out of genuine fear for Winifred’s welfare I asked “Do you think that Winfred is facing any real danger because of what has happened?” He flashed one of his trademark brief smiles, then cautiously in a low voice said “because it turns out that there is a criminal connection between the deceased Mr Perry and Mr Prescott our killer it would be well that when Miss Jeffery steps outdoors for any reason that she be in the company of one of us at all times.”
Sherlock took the telegram from me, started folding it to put back in his pocket then almost as an after thought unfolded it read it then surprisingly like a magician pulling a rabbit from a top hat he said “from my brother’s telegram I have reason to believe that the young lady at the Spring fete held on Saturday, May 15 at the Gordon Gardens who attempted to rob Miss Jeffery of the contents of her hand bag could be an Ashley Laurinda Taggart. If this is the same person because she has a criminal connection to both Mr Perry and Mr Prescott it would be prudent that whoever keeps watch on Miss Jeffery also minds the people she may accidentally come in contact with.
Chapter 30
In a dark oak paneled room in early evening (as before, I am paraphrasing from the actual recorded minutes of this meeting).
Speaker one ”That will be all Peterson and close the doors on your way out” The older of the two lone occupants stated to their server then remained silent until the man addressed withdrew and the solid sound of heavy doors being closed indicated that the two lone occupants of the room had total privacy.
Speaker one: as he took out a cigar from a nearby humidor clipped the end then lit it asked “I trust that all went to plan this morning at the City of London Magistrates’ Court and at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.”
Speaker two: “The good news is that the barristers we engaged and instructed performed their legal duty as did the presiding magistrates and both Mr. Prescott and Miss Taggart are free of all charges and will be able to escort Miss Jeffery with the Survivors list back to London soon. There has been a set back though.”
Speaker one: “Concerning?”
Speaker two: “Our Mr. Perry.”
Speaker one: “I think I already know, the book Mr. Perry left at Miss Jefferies home has been discovered by the intrepid detective and through his older brother Mycroft, Mr. Holmes has no doubt linked the deceased Mr. Perry to Mr. Prescott and possibly to Miss Taggart.”
Speaker one: “There are no known photographs with the exception of the police, that Mr. Holmes could have access too so he could identify either Mr. Prescott or Miss Taggart on sight should he see either one of them in Gravesend?”
Speaker two: “No, but Miss Jeffery while at the spring fete had enough time to look at Miss Taggart and might remember and recognize her.”
Speaker one: “It’s clear then as to how we will approach this matter. There can be no doubt what Mr Holmes and probably now Mrs Watson suspect. I believe Miss Jeffery will now be escorted at all times when outdoors by either or both of them. It will be Miss Taggart’s task to remove the blind so to speak, being either in the form of Mr Holmes or Mrs Watson then Mr Prescott’s task to secure the prey.”
Chapter 31
Despite the three terrible murders that had taken place at the hand of one individual since Winifred had discovered the Survivors list the next part of this account would prove to be the most terrifying for her, troubling for me and the most challenging for Sherlock to unravel and solve.
Winifred unknowingly had become the determined focus of a group of powerful and influential men who because of past failed attempts would now stop at anything to retrieve the telling document. They had to assure that it would never fall into the wrong hands or see the light of day again and that the temporary owner could never speak of having it.
By now, both Sherlock and I had spent some considerable time in Gravesend since his arrival from Doncaster and mine from London
. It was during supper one evening that Sherlock calmly announced that since the investigation could not proceed any further at this time he would return first to London to see how his brothers wound was healing, then home to his bees in Doncaster.
Upon hearing this news I noted that both Winifred’s knife and fork drop to her dinner plate and a sudden look of panic played across her face.
It was as if a lifeline had been violently pulled from her grasp. Sherlock momentarily reacted to Winfred’s response and to put her mind at ease calmly stated “Miss Jeffery, let me assure you that you have not been abandoned. I leave you for the moment with three certainties.” “One” at this point he raised the index finger of his right hand “the list which has caused many problems will accompany me back to London where Mycroft may be able to find out more about it and its origins.”
“Two” at which the finger beside went up “You will be in the competent care and protection of Mary who has proven herself to be more than capable and I trust will see that no harm comes to you until this matter how ever it plays out is finished” It was with this compliment I smiled and thanked Sherlock in my mind for imparting to me a responsibility he once would have given John to carry out.
“Three” and the third and final finger was raised “I will leave you both with Mycroft’s private office address and his club where he can be contacted and a priority message may be delivered to him immediately should a situation arise that requires my attention here in Gravesend. “If’ Winfred gasped...Sherlock continued “If I have gone on to Doncaster, my older brother although an arm chair expert in the arts and skills of detective work will immediately contact me then proceed in my place to expertly assist you until my return.”
Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery Writer Page 8