‘Alfie was aware we knew of his association with the Mermaid,’ Amos pointed out, ‘He would have kept well clear of it. I doubt whether he’ll return to Hoxton for a while, either. With a murder charge hanging over his head he might even have boarded an emigrant ship bound for Australia or America! If he did, we’ll never see him again.’
‘If it wasn’t for Enid’s murder that would be a very welcome state of affairs,’ Tom commented. ‘The Met police would certainly be happy about it.’
‘Unfortunately, his disappearance doesn’t make solving Enid’s murder any easier,’ Amos said, ‘Had anyone asked me earlier today, I would have said the death of Jimmy was sufficient for us to close the case, but now I’m not so sure. What Jimmy told us just before he died worries me. He seemed genuinely surprised that Enid was dead - in fact was totally unable to take it in. Then there’s what he said about seeing the footman, Chester Woods, on the night of the burglary. I wish he had been able to give us more details about that. When did he see him . . . and where? Was Woods the one who opened the door to Alfie and Jimmy? If Jimmy told us the truth then both Woods and his wife have been lying and both were probably involved in the burglary.’
Flicking the reins over the back of the pony, urging it to greater speed, Amos said, ‘We need to speak to Chester and Peggy Woods again - and the rest of the staff at the house too. With Jimmy’s information in mind we might learn something we weren’t looking for when we spoke to them before. We’ll call in at Laneglos before returning to headquarters to tell them we’ve recovered the stolen property and make arrangements to interview everyone tomorrow.’
Amos’s intention to question the Laneglos staff suffered an unexpected setback. When they arrived at the great house the following day to interview the servants they learned that yet another tragedy had befallen the Hogg family. Earlier that morning, a maid taking early morning tea to Viscount Hogg in his bedroom had found him dead.
Suffering indifferent health for some time, the ageing peer had taken to his bed the day after the Laneglos ball, apparently suffering from a mild stomach disorder. It had been attributed to the amount of rich food and wine available for all and sundry all night long and which he was known to have enjoyed, most probably to excess.
When his condition failed to improve Lady Hogg called in the physician from Bodmin Town Doctor Hollis, who had attended the family for very many years. The ageing doctor agreed that Lord Hogg had not only over-eaten but also over-exerted himself, something he had been warned against in the past.
Prescribing a strong purgative, the doctor instructed Lady Hogg to keep the patient resting in bed for a few days, by which time he declared he should be ‘as right as rain’.
Despite this cheerful prognosis and increasingly concerned by her husband’s condition, Lady Hogg called the doctor in again on the following day. Whilst accepting that her husband was in the habit of over-indulging in food and drink, she declared she had never seen him in such a feeble state before.
The doctor felt she was worrying unnecessarily but in order to placate a very important member of the community he decided upon an old-fashioned ‘cure-all’ and resorted to blood-letting. At the same time he pointed out, as tactfully as he could, that Viscount Hogg was an old man and should not expect to be able to maintain the life-style he had enjoyed as a younger man.
Still not reassured, Lady Hogg had telegraphed the son and daughter of her husband’s first marriage suggesting that they should return to Laneglos as a matter of urgency.
Unfortunately, both reached Laneglos too late to see their father alive, arriving late in the day of his death. The Honourable Rupert was now the 7th Viscount, he and his sister taking some small comfort from the knowledge that that they had been able to spend time with him on the occasion of the County summer ball
The news of Viscount Hogg’s death was given to Amos and Tom by a very upset Laneglos housekeeper and they knew it would be insensitive to continue investigations at the great house at such a time. Instead, Amos concentrated on collating the remainder of the information that had come to hand concerning the burglary and the murder of Enid Merryn.
He discussed both cases with the Chief Constable who was in favour of closing the murder file in view of the death of their chief suspect, but Amos argued that there were still too many loose ends to be tied up before the young maidservant’s death could be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The Chief Constable eventually conceded the argument - and events were to prove that Amos was right to keep the case open.
Later that day, Doctor Andrew Sullivan, the young surgeon and pathologist who had carried out the post mortem on Enid Merryn called at the Bodmin police headquarters to personally deliver an autopsy report on a baby born to a single young girl who lived on the moor near the town. She had not reported the baby’s birth and the baby had been found dead by a constable, called in by neighbours. The pathologist’s report showed the baby had suffered from a serious heart defect and the trauma of the birth had proved too much for its fragile constitution.
His report delivered, Sullivan put his head around the door of Amos’s office and, greeting the police superintendent, said, ‘I hear that the lad from London you suspect of murdering the young Laneglos housemaid has met his own violent end?’
‘That’s right.’ Amos confirmed,’. . . but almost the last words he spoke were a denial that it was his doing.’
‘Do you believe he was telling you the truth?’ Suddenly interested, the young doctor entered the office and seated himself on a chair on the opposite side of the desk from Amos.
‘I wish I knew. I would be a happier man if I could convince myself he was lying.’
‘So you do believe him! Why? He had both motive and opportunity and was a known criminal - you said so yourself.’
‘True,’ Amos agreed, ‘but he had no history of violence and when he was dying - and I’m convinced he knew he was dying - he wanted me to tell Enid he was sorry if his actions had got her into trouble.’
Doctor Sullivan snorted disdainfully, ‘If he was apologising for getting her pregnant it was far too late. He should have thought about it four months ago, when he made love to her. . . .’
The expression that came to Amos’s face brought the doctor’s condemnation of Jimmy Banks to an abrupt halt and, leaning forward towards him, Amos demanded, ‘What did you say?’
Startled, by the unexpected intensity of Amos’s question, Sullivan began, ‘I said it was far too late for. . . .’
‘No,’ Amos said, ‘After that. How many months pregnant did you say Enid was?’
‘Four months. . . .’
‘Are you absolutely certain of that?’
‘Positive,’ Sullivan said, emphatically,’. . . It might even have been slightly more. She wouldn’t have been able to keep it a secret for very much longer.’
Amos was silent for so long that the doctor began to feel uncomfortable, but something in the Superintendent’s expression stopped him from interrupting his thoughts.
Eventually, Amos said, ‘Doctor Sullivan, you have just produced the strongest evidence yet that young Jimmy was telling the truth - and that someone else had a motive for killing Enid Merryn.’
‘I’m sorry . . . I don’t understand. How does anything I have said indicate that this young man did not kill Miss Merryn? She was certainly pregnant.’
‘Yes, but not by Jimmy Banks. I don’t doubt he made love to the girl, she was apparently quite besotted with him, but he did not go to work at Laneglos until two months before she was murdered. . . by which time she was already two months pregnant! If the real prospective father knew of her condition and had a great deal to lose by having his secret found out then there is still a suspect out there. It is possible Jimmy Banks actually saw him on the night. If so, and the new suspect’s wife gets to know of it we might well have another murder on our hands!’
In spite of the latest information that had come into his possession, Amos was unable to pursue his enquiries
at Laneglos until after the funeral of Viscount Hogg, the chief constable declaring it would be ‘in bad taste’ to further upset the Hogg family. He pointed out that no one at the great house was aware that suspicion had shifted from the ex-footman, so if the killer was still working there he would be unlikely to abscond.
The funeral itself was a sombre but impressive event. Not only were representatives of all the Cornish gentry present, but nobility from beyond Cornwall’s border came to pay their last respects to the well-known and highly respected peer of the realm.
Amos and a number of uniformed constables were in attendance to ensure there were no untoward incidents and Tom took the opportunity to speak with Flora Wicks about Amos’s intention to interview the Laneglos servants once more.
She was surprised by the request but did not question him further after he promised to give her his reasons when he and Amos came to the house. She suggested they should wait until after the reading of the will, which was due to take place the next day. Amos agreed and it was arranged he and Tom would visit Laneglos during the morning of the day after.
When Amos and Tom arrived at Laneglos they found the house in turmoil, with vans and wagons standing outside the front entrance, being loaded with boxes, trunks and small items of furniture from the house.
Amos was about to ask one of the servants the reason for such activity when Flora Wicks came from the house. When she reached the two policemen, Amos said, ‘We seem to have arrived at yet another inconvenient time, what’s going on?’
‘Some of Lady Hogg’s personal belongings are being moved to the dower-house at the far end of the park. The Honourable Rupert is now the seventh viscount. In addition to the title he has also taken over the estate and, of course, Laneglos House.’
‘But this is very soon after the late viscount’s death! I am aware the new viscount is Lady Hogg’s stepson and not her actual son, but surely he is not turning her out only a couple of days after his father’s funeral?’
‘No, Rupert. . . Lord Hogg, wouldn’t do that and she won’t actually be leaving Laneglos for some days, but there’s been a falling out between him and the Honourable Charles yet again and I think Lady Hogg wants to move away with her son as quickly as possible in the hope that he might calm down.’
‘Oh? What’s happened between the step-brothers?’ This time the query came from Tom.
Flora hesitated for only a moment before replying, ‘Well. . . it’s no secret that the Honourable Charles and the new Viscount Hogg have never got along with each other, so there’s nothing new there, but when the late Lord Hogg’s will was read the family learned he had left the Honourable Charles absolutely nothing. Not only that, although he ensured that Lady Hogg would be well looked after and want for nothing, he left her with no immediate access to capital, which means she is unable to finance the extravagance of her son. I believe he was expecting to be left enough to pay off his debts and then rely on his mother to continue to fund his extravagant London lifestyle.’
Detecting a hint of satisfaction in Flora’s explanation, Amos made no comment, instead, he asked, ‘Did Lord Hogg make it obvious when he was alive that he disliked his stepson?’
‘No, he wasn’t the sort of man to do that and wouldn’t have wanted to upset Lady Hogg. In fact he was very tolerant and had paid off the Honourable Charles’s debts on more than one occasion - as well as making arrangements for his illegitimate children, but he warned him some time ago that he would pay for no more. He had no illusions about his stepson and his will ensures he will be unable to bleed his mother dry.’
‘What will happen at Laneglos now? Will you stay on as housekeeper . . . at least, until the old housekeeper returns?’
The question came from Tom and Amos was aware the question was personal and not prompted by professional interest, but Flora had proved very helpful to them in the past and he awaited her reply with some interest.
‘The late Lord Hogg left Mrs Hooper, the housekeeper, a very generous sum of money in his will, enough to enable her to live quite comfortably for the rest of her life. As she is still not very well I think she will retire. The new Lord Hogg is expected to marry next year and with a new mistress in the houses Mrs Hooper would need to learn new ways. She is a little too old for that. I have met the future mistress of Laneglos and quite like her, although she has a strong personality which she will no doubt impose upon the household, but Lord Hogg has already asked me if I will stay on if Mrs Hooper does retire and I have said I would be very happy to do so . . . but you haven’t come here to gossip with me. I believe you wish to speak with Chester and Peggy Woods?’
‘Not immediately.’ Amos replied. ‘Before I do, Tom and I would like to chat with some of the other servants who work with the Woods. Perhaps you would tell us those who are particularly friendly with them - and those who are not.’
When it seemed Flora might protest, Amos said quickly, ‘I am not asking you to repeat any gossip about them, Flora. It’s just that I want to know who might be biased against them, or who is not likely to say anything to incriminate them, so your knowledge is important to us - and to them too.’
CHAPTER 24
The interviews took place in the study of the great house, put at Amos and Tom’s disposal by the new Lord Hogg, who also arranged for them to take a midday meal in the housekeeper’s dining room.
The 7th Viscount was a very pleasant and easy-going man and he seemed genuinely interested in what they were doing. After thanking Amos for recovering the property stolen from the house by the two Banks men he asked to be kept informed of the progress they were making into both the burglary and the murder of Enid Merryn.
By mid-afternoon, Amos and Tom had spoken with all the Laneglos servants except Chester and Peggy Woods. They had tried to be as discreet as was possible in their questioning, but in such a closely knit community it was inevitable that word should spread among the servants that the two policemen were particularly interested in the activities of the assistant cook and her footman husband.
As a result - and as Amos had anticipated - the few friends the pair possessed tended to give vague replies to any questions that might incriminate them. However, the majority of the servants seemed only too happy to mix gossip and fact in order to discredit the married couple - and Peggy in particular.
Thanks to his briefing by Flora and despite the disparity in the statements made about the two servants, Amos was able to make a fairly accurate assessment of the characters of the two people he suspected of involvement in either the burglary, Enid Merryn’s murder - or possibly both.
Nevertheless, the married couple were still able to come up with enough surprises to cast serious doubts upon their involvement in any criminal activities.
Peggy was the first of the couple to come to the study and she had lost none of the arrogant self-confidence she had shown during her previous interview with Tom Churchyard. When Amos asked her to tell him what she had been doing on the night of the Laneglos burglary, she inclined her head in Tom’s direction and said, ‘I’ve already told him.’
‘I am aware of that.’ Amos retorted sharply, ‘but we’ve been given some new information since then, so I want you to tell me what you and your husband were doing - and this time I want the truth.’
Leaning forward in her chair, jaw thrust out aggressively, Peggy Woods said, ‘Is it a liar you’re saying I am now?’
‘Yes!’ Adopting the same pose across the desk from her, Amos returned her angry scowl,’. . . that’s exactly what I’m saying and if you don’t start telling me the truth then I’ll know you’re involved in the burglary and perhaps the murder of Enid Merryn too. You’ll be taken to Bodmin police station and kept there in a cell until you do tell me what you were doing on the night of the robbery.’
For a few moments Peggy Woods maintained her pose, as though hoping to stare him down, but Amos’s glare never wavered and suddenly the assistant Laneglos cook’s shoulders sagged and she unexpectedly capitulated.
‘Alright, so I didn’t tell the truth before - and I wish to the Good Lord I didn’t have to tell you now - but better to lose me husband and me work here than be blamed for something I had no part in and that might have me sent to gaol for the rest of me life.’
‘If you’ve done nothing criminal you have nothing to worry about, but are you saying you had no part in the robbery or murder. . . ? That it was your husband? ‘
Startled, Peggy exclaimed, ‘Chester? Why, he no more had a part in the robbery than I did - and he hasn’t got it in him to murder anyone. Besides, he was sleeping like a babe when I left our room and was still snoring when I came back. The only thing Chester did wrong that night was to pour too much drink down his throat, same as he does all too often.
Remembering to whom she was talking, Peggy added hurriedly, ‘Mind you, he’s never been the worse for drink while he’s working, so I’ll thank you not to repeat anything I say to that Miss Wicks. She’s a nice enough young woman, to be sure, but she’s less understanding of the weaknesses of ordinary folk than Mrs Hooper ever was . . . despite the eyes she has for your sergeant here.’
Hiding a momentary urge to smile at Tom’s evident embarrassment, Amos said, ‘Anything you say to either me or Sergeant Churchyard will be in strict confidence, Peggy, but let’s forget your husband for a few minutes. What were you doing up and about on the night of the robbery. I would have thought you’d have been even more tired than your husband after all the cooking you’d been doing for the ball.’
For a long time Peggy Woods hesitated, as though trying to make up her mind about whether or not to reply and Amos prompted her, ‘I have already told you that unless there’s something criminal involved anything you will say to me will go no farther, Peggy, but I am investigating a murder and a very serious robbery which has now resulted in someone else dying, so I want the truth from you. You’ve admitted that you lied to Sergeant Churchyard when he first interviewed you and that immediately throws suspicion upon you. Unless you can satisfy me you weren’t involved then I have no alternative but to arrest you. If I need to do that I doubt very much whether you will ever come back to Laneglos again, innocent or not.’
Churchyard and Hawke Page 13