CHAPTER VIII
I
*(EXTRACTS from report to Assistant Commissioner C.I.D. by Detective Superintendent Arnold Pike. Dated Saturday, December 1st.
Received Scotland Yard by special messenger 11.30 p.m. same day).
Arrived Holmdale with Sergeants Blaine and Curtis at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday the 28th ult. Was met by Chief Constable of County and Inspectors Davis and Farrow. Sent Blaine and Curtis to pick up what they could from local Constabulary, under Sergeant Jeffson, and proceeded myself immediately to meeting with Chief Constable and two Inspectors above mentioned. Relations between myself and Inspectors at first strained. Usual resentment, though under control, fairly evident. Smoothed matters down and am now on good terms. Both Inspectors capable men. C.C. content to leave real control to me. At meeting learnt of steps already taken to safeguard population against further outrage. Scheme (for an unavoidably hurried and patchwork measure) very good, but naturally merely protective. (I attach copy of the scheme with pencil notes in its margin shewing the alterations and additions I have proposed and which have been carried out).
Thursday, 29th ult.
Put in long day, with two conferences not worth reporting, and many hours reading mass of documentary evidence (all of it worthless) collected by police in regard to first three murders. During day was ’phoned for by local sergeant to go to station as a man had just given himself up, stating that he was ‘The Butcher.’ Sergeant in a state of excitement. Proceeded immediately to station. Found elderly man, in state of nervous collapse, who stated himself to be Edward William Marsh, a Holmdale resident. Failed to get any coherent statement from him, merely reiteration of ‘I did it. I did it. I am “The Butcher”’ At once sent Curtis to Marsh’s house where, after enquiry of his sister who keeps house for him, it was found, beyond doubt, that upon all the occasions when the murders were being done, Marsh was in the house. He is a mild epileptic and, according to Dr Reade, his medical adviser, a neurotic subject. Called Doctor who recommended removal to a Nursing Home. Since this ‘confession’ there have been three more. Two from elderly women and one from a garage mechanic known to be ‘simple’. Have also had trouble with would-be detectives, vindictive gossips and over-imaginative persons. These troubles so acute and apparently so upsetting to the normal work of the local police that have put Curtis in sole charge of this side. Everyone properly investigated but must note that have very little faith in catching our man this way. Curtis doing invaluable work. Blaine on patrol organisation. His report for last three days copied below.
Progress
Naturally no actual progress except in regard to safety measures. I have, however, satisfied myself upon one or two points which should go some way towards eventual solution. In order to make these points more clear, I give table of murders. Would like to have this studied carefully before my conclusions are read.
Conclusions drawn from comparison of murders
(1) The expert opinion (see attached docs.) tends to prove that all wounds were caused by the same implement. All wounds are the same except in the case of Amy Adams, the girl killed in the theatre, where there was only the piercing and not the post-piercing rip. (This latter accounted for by need for extra caution on murderer’s part owing to locus of murder.)
(2) Every case a ‘Butcher’ letter.
(3) Implication must be that murderer is not only a resident in Holmdale, but one who has some intimate connection with Holmdale in all its class-spheres. As proof of this we have—
(a) Murderer’s knowledge of whom his victim is (in the case of Pamela Richards it is true that there were cards in a pocket which the murderer could have seen, but there were only initials on Lionel Colby’s clothes. There were no identifying marks or papers upon Amy Adams, nor did the murderer have time to look at them if there had been. And on Albert Rogers the only means of identification was a crumpled and torn envelope which had not been disturbed from his pocket and from which his name had been almost obliterated).
(b) Silent delivery by hand, during the night, of the letters in the case of Pamela Richards (showing too, murderer’s knowledge of Holmdale geography).
(c) The very short time in which these letters must have been prepared (such a short time that it looks almost, in some cases, as though the murderer must have known beforehand who he was going to murder).
(d) (See separate conclusion No. 4 below, which applies separately, but is also proof of this conclusion).
(4) That the ‘Butcher’ chooses for his victims young persons of either sex—
(a) whose deaths come at a time when they are having a run of good fortune, and
(b) who leave behind them persons, resident in Holmdale, to whom the deaths are more than usually painful.
Summarising these points (at the risk of repetition) I submit as a final conclusion, the following:
That these are a pervert’s ‘lust murders’ with a triple satisfaction in them for the murderer (i.e. the killing itself; the youth and happiness of the victim, and finally the observation of the distress caused by the killings), and that the murderer is a resident of Holmdale, who has business, or perhaps official opportunities of mixing with all classes of the community, and therefore is certain to be found, not among the labouring classes or skilled workman class, but must belong to the clerical or governing class, probably the latter of these.
Further reference yesterday’s case of Albert Rogers. This is the first of the cases which has happened whilst I have been in charge. I accordingly submit precis of steps taken. Using fifty men in charge of Curtis and Blaine, had carried out, between 7.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. a house-to-house canvas. Each householder, or householder’s representative, had submitted to him the following form of questionnaire.
(1) Give particulars of all people staying in this house as from evening of November 25th, to December 1st.
(2) Were all these persons in the house last night?
(3) If not, who was absent, during what times, and why?
(4) If unable to state why, give present whereabouts of absent person.
These reports are now being checked, so far with no result. The questionnaire was easily filled in as regards individual houses, but as regards block of flats, and one guest-house or hotel, results cannot be hoped to be so satisfactory. I do not anticipate a definite result from this questionnaire, but felt the step ought to be taken, particularly as if it brings no suspicious movements to light at all other than those we know about already (see below) we shall have a basis for supposing that the ‘Butcher’ is (i) a householder, living alone, or (ii) a householder who has the co-operation of his household (most unlikely) or (iii) a resident in the flats or hotel.
Suspicious Persons held by Authorities
After my inspection of body at 11 p.m. three men were held by the authorities—W. Spring, P. Godly and Dr Reade. All are residents. For details of questioning, etc., please see Sergeant Jeffson’s notes attached.
The murder was reported by the Rev. Rockwall. His movements were questioned and a report of the questions and answers is also attached.
I have not detained any of these four men, though none of their stories can be called satisfactory. I have let them go, but am having them watched. I can do no good at the present stage by wholesale and indiscriminate arrests.
Further reports as to progress in the Rogers case will be submitted from time to time.
Proposals
Subject to not receiving contrary instructions from you, I propose to put the two following schemes into operation at such time as I think fit.
(1) To expend a certain sum, probably not in excess of £30 in having a concealed light fitted over the wall letter box at the main post-office here. The letters posted into this box go straight down the shoot into the first sorting room. The proposed light will be controlled from the bottom of the shoot. As from the installation of the light, a man will be constantly on duty at the foot of the shoot, and as soon as he sees one of the yellow ‘Butcher’ enve
lopes, he will press the switch. The light will then flash momentarily from the top of the box. There will be outside the post-office, inconspicuously, three plain clothes men who, on seeing the light will, by the aid of whistling signals, close the single road which leads between the post-office and The Market. Anyone who has been observed to post a letter during the time immediately preceding the flashing of the light will then be held and questioned as to what letter he had posted. I have chosen the main letter box for the obvious reasons that such a scheme could not be carried out at outlying pillar boxes, and also because I think it highly probable that the ‘Butcher’ letters are all posted at the main box, this being more frequently used and therefore less liable to provide opportunity for observation. This scheme may not have many good points, but we must try everything in the circumstances. I submit that any constructive scheme is better than none. I should be glad of authority for the expenditure.
(2) To obtain similar paper and ink to those with which the ‘Butcher’ writes his letters, have his disguised handwriting carefully imitated and start a ‘fake’ correspondence of my own, addressing the letters to the same three people (the Editor of the Holmdale Clarion, the Chairman of the Holmdale Company, and the Sergeant of the Police) in the hope that I may thus force the ‘Butcher’ into some slip. I do not propose taking this course at present, but submit it herewith for consideration and comment.
(NOTE.—The obvious objection to any schemes of the sort outlined above is that to be a hundred per cent. efficient, such scheme should be carried out with the co-operation only of persons who are demonstrably not capable of being the ‘Butcher.’ In the case of the ‘fake’ letters, this could be done, but I am afraid in the case of the letter-box suggestion, one or two Holmdale persons will have to be ‘in the know,’ I would however, pick those with due regard to the improbability of their being in any way connected with the outrages.)
ARNOLD PIKE,
Superintendent
II
(Additional report enclosed in same envelope as full report above. Dated 1st December, and time 5.30 p.m., marked ‘Confidential and Urgent’.)
Further to my long report enclosed herewith of today, and in confirmation of telephone message just now—I have to report that at 4.45 p.m. this afternoon, Mrs W. Reade, wife of Dr Reade (one of the persons mentioned in the long report as being taken by the authorities last night) called at the Police Station and informed the Sergeant in charge that returning unexpectedly from a long holiday she had found that Dr Reade’s dispenser, a Miss Marjorie Williams, had left the house on the afternoon of yesterday (Friday, the 30th), and had not since returned. The Housekeeper, Mrs Flewin (see also statements attached to long report) had heard Miss Williams in an agitated voice answering the telephone at about half-past two in the afternoon and had then seen her rush out of the house, pulling on her coat as she ran, and holding a hat in her hand. She (Mrs Flewin) had been in her room upstairs at the time. She had told Mrs Reade that she had assumed at the time that Miss Williams had thought her away from the house, as it was her afternoon off. Dr Reade had been out at the time. He had returned just before dinner at about seven o’clock and then acted as set out in attached report.
On interviewing Mrs Reade myself, I soon discovered that she is jealous of her husband and Miss Williams. It seems to have been some rumour that there was a liason between these two which had brought her back on this unexpected visit to her home. I asked her why she thought it necessary to come to the Police because Miss Williams has gone out and failed to return. She replied that Miss Williams, though a Holmdale resident, lived alone, was an orphan, and had no one to look after her, and that this curious behaviour seemed to her (Mrs Reade) especially in view of the recent outrages, a matter in which the Police should be informed. I tried to gather from the lady what Dr Reade’s attitude would be towards her action in coming to the Police. She stated that she had not yet seen her husband, but thought that he would be annoyed. This did not, however, deter her from endeavouring to do her duty. I am trying to get in touch with the plain clothes man watching Dr Reade, and if there is anything in his report which shows Dr Reade’s movements to have been at all suspicious, I shall use one of my special warrants and hold him for the time being.
ARNOLD PIKE
P.S.—Dr Reade has returned and the plain clothes man D/O Harboard is now with me. He reports as follows:
‘Reade left house 11 a.m. this morning and proceeded on (apparently) usual round of medical visits, returning own house 12.45 p.m. After lunch (2 p.m.) Reade again left house and got into car. I followed. For three hours he drove round and about Holmdale (on outskirts) frequently stopping car and descending to enter copses and thickets. Owing to necessity of being unobserved could not get very close while he was thus away from car; from what I could see, however, he seemed to be watching for something in every instance. Behaviour very strange. Demeanour nervous, apprehensive, excited. Returned home 5.03 p.m.’
Under these circumstances I am taking immediate steps to execute warrant so that Reade may be held pending further investigation.
There is, of course, nothing yet to connect Reade’s strange behaviour with the outrages, but his unaccountable ‘walk’ last night and unsatisfactory statements, added to his behaviour this afternoon, have made me decide that he must be held for the time being at least. I shall charge him according to the formula you devised for emergency arrests during this case.
CHAPTER IX
I
ACCORDING to many, the chief among Holmdale’s much advertised amenities is the fact that the bars of the Wooden Shack open every morning at ten. At one minute and thirty seconds past ten, Mr Percy Godly leant over the wooden counter of the saloon bar.
‘George!’ said Mr Godly. ‘George!’ He rapped upon the counter with a florin. ‘George! For God’s sake, George, I’m waiting!’
George came at last. ‘Mornin’ sir,’ said George. ‘Usual?’
Mr Godly nodded, ‘Only twice as strong as usual.’
George busied himself with a large wine glass and many bottles. Mr Godly, anxious to while away the time until the filled glass should be his, picked up a copy of the Holmdale Clarion which lay upon the bar counter. With unsteady fingers he flicked it open and began to read …
‘Jumping Gabriel!’ said Mr Godly. ‘What’s all this.’
George set the glass, now nine-tenths full, gently upon the counter before his customer. ‘What’s all what, sir?’ said George.
‘All this,’ said Mr Godly, and read aloud:
‘PROMINENT HOLMDALE GIRL MISSING.
MYSTERY OF DOCTOR’S DISPENSER.
WHERE IS MARJORIE WILLIAMS?
‘The Clarion learns with alarm and consternation that Miss Marjorie Williams, a popular figure in Holmdale circles, has mysteriously disappeared. As all her friends are aware, Miss Williams was the able assistant and dispenser of Dr Reade, one of Holmdale’s leading physicians.
‘On the afternoon of Friday last, the 30th November, Miss Williams was seen to leave Dr Reade’s house—Dr Reade being absent upon his afternoon rounds—in what appeared to be an extremely agitated condition. Before leaving the house, Miss Williams had been heard to answer a telephone call and appeared to be much agitated thereby. On leaving the house, Miss Williams was seen, as she ran down the path into Marrowbone Lane, to be struggling into her coat. She carried her hat in her hand. She was seen thus leaving the house and was seen again at the junction of Marrowbone Lane and Holmer Road. After that she seems to have vanished into thin air!
‘Nothing has been heard of Miss Williams since. The Clarion are empowered to offer a substantial reward to anyone able to inform the police, either through the Clarion or direct, of any further movements of Miss Williams, either upon Friday the 30th November, or subsequently—either upon the Saturday or Sunday.’
Mr Godly finished his reading with an air of triumphant, if somewhat weary, melodrama. ‘What d’ you think of that, George!’ said Mr Godly, and reaching fo
r his glass, emptied it at a gulp.
George closed one eye, very knowingly.
‘Same again,’ said Mr Godly, pushing his glass forward.
George once more busied himself with bottles.
‘Marjorie Williams?’ Mr Godly was saying to himself. ‘Marjorie Williams? Damn funny thing, George, I thought I knew all the girls in Holmdale.’
Again George set down the glass, this time filled only to seven-eighths of its capacity. ‘R!’ said George, darkly. ‘Tell you what you ain’t done, sir. You ain’t looked at the Stop Press. ’Ave a dekko at that!’
Mr Godly, having half emptied the second glass, turned for the paper with fingers which already were a little steadier. Again Mr Godly read, this time silently. He saw:
LATEST
Prominent Medico detained by Police.
The Clarion are authoritatively informed that following Police enquiries regarding the disappearance of Miss Marjorie Williams, Dr Reade has been detained by the Police upon a certain charge.
LATER
Upon being interviewed, Mrs Reade, the wife of Dr Reade, stated emphatically that she was convinced of her husband’s innocence of anything to do with Miss Williams’ disappearance. ‘My husband,’ said Mrs Reade, ‘is not that sort of man. I am sure that this dark mystery will shortly be cleared up and that those responsible for my husband’s detention will be brought rapidly to book.’
Mr Godley pursed his loose-seeming lips and breathed out a small, thin whistle.
‘What,’ said Mr Godley, ‘d’you know about that, George?’
George shrugged his shoulders; a shrug which spoke volumes but which implied that what George did not know about anything which George might be asked was not worth knowing.
II
They were talking about it everywhere. In The Market; in the Wood Cutter—the Wooden Shack’s only rival; in the factories; at the Golf Club; at the corners of the streets; in back gardens; in drawing-rooms and lounges and parlours.
Murder Gone Mad Page 10