MURDER IN THE PROCESSION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1938, Page 12

MURDER IN THE PROCESSION

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGHT.

BY I

LESLIE CARGILL

(Author of “Death Goes by Bus.”)

CHAPTER 111. —Continued.

“Shall we consider your simpler twentieth century theory,” prompted the major drily.

“M’m! That ex-batman is an unknown quantity. We’ve had to let him go but he’ll be watched closely. . If only we could find the weapon it would help. “Is is essential?”

“Not absolutely. Nine times out of ten, though, it is.a deciding factor in establishing guilt. Either the guilty person keeps it among his belongings or else he disposes of it. In the first contingency it is easy to build up the case, and in the second it helps in tracing the culprit. The trouble we’re up against is that there isn’t a solitary clue. Plenty of suspects —bags of motives and nothing to go on.” “Water, water everywhere —and not a drop to drink.” “That’s a fact. Ever heard of Chundor?”

“Of course. But I’d forgotten Parminster’s connection with the place.” “He went there after the Baltnian episode. And made himself even more unpopular. Of course, they promoted him about that time. Typical, eh, to reward a man because he’d got into a spot of bother! The Chundor rising was suppressed with ruthless efficiency.” “Of necessity,” retorted the major, defensively. “Perhaps! We expect to pay the price of Empire. But don’t forget that public opinion at Home was outraged by what took place after the riots had ended. Indians of high standing were put through the hoop.” “Kid glove methods are hopeless at such times.”

“Some people think the iron fist is even worse. Britain usually finds generosity a paying proposition. However, this is not a discussion on the art of government. There was an unusual sprinkling of Chundor visitors in London this week.” Well?” “Without wanting to introduce another romantic note, there is a possibility of a terrorist conspiracy. In fact, it may be more feasible than your suggestion.” “I never made one.” •

“Only thought it and acted on it to the extent of driving straight for the Baltnian legation! But Chundor is still in a disturbed state. Civil disobedience flourishes. Shooting Parminster would not only have paid off an old score, but been counted a present virtue.” . “Were any of these folk in the neighbourhood when the crime was committed?” “Significantly enough, we haven t verified any such presence.” “Why significantly?”

“Friends walk openly —an enemy hides among the boulders. That is particularly applicable, because it happens to be a Chundoran proverb.”Mosson looked across with keen interest. “Evidently you know the country,” he observed. “Well enough. I happened to be stationed there in T 3. They’re a particularly enlightened crowd, which means that a desire for independence is very strong. Having decided they are fit to run their own affairs, the next stage is to cut adrift from the British Raj. Altogether an odd lot to be represented in strength here just now.”

“Come, come,” the major remonstrated. “Plenty of people are over from India every summer. Politics apart, there are certain ties which should be taken into account.”

“Admitted. But the question is too wide to discuss at the moment. Take it from me, old man, the people of Chundor are not likely to be particularly sentimental. Many of the wealthy Indians uphold British rule, and so do certain classes. In Chundor the rich and the poor are strongly opposed to the continuance of present conditions. Parminster not only set back the attainment of local ambitions, but did so in a way which made him positively hated.”

“Still I don’t see what good it would do their cause to murder him in the way it was done.”'

Caythers clucked impatiently. “Is political hatred ever logical? Revenge, and prestige,” he continued, “would make a sufficient reason. The news would go round the bazaars like wildfire, stirring up the people and making them feel their cause had won a belated victory.” “Isn’t that rather a far-fetched theory?” “Not so much as your blood-feud notion.” “You’ve dropped that, then?”

“Certainly hot. Every possibility has to be considered on its merits. No harm will be done on checking up the movements of our friends from Chundor. It will be a bit of a job, but not an impossible one. Fortunately, we’ve kept a pretty comprehensive record of certain visitors from those parts.” “Then you haven’t one of these mysterious dark gentlemen singled out for special attention?” The Assistant-Commissioner seemed about to side-track the question. On second thoughts he decided to be more communicative. “As a matter of fact,” he said, “our men have already marked down five who all happen to be staying in the same hotel.”

“Aha! A quintet of conspirators combined for dirty work. Don’t frown. Tm intensely curious to know more.” “At present there isn’t anything to tell. Garrett is going to see them almost immediately.” “So you’re not- doing the interviewing yourself?” “Hardly within my province. I called at the Baltnian Legation because it was a special and rather ticklish engagement. Not knowing the rights and privileges of the diplomatic service, you rushed in where angels feared to tread . . .” “From npw on I'll try and be more discreet.”

“Then let Garrett do the talking. He is a sound man and knows exactly exactly how to handle the business.” Detective Inspector Garrett, a thickset man with “police force” written all over him, certainly did know his job. To watch his methods was an education. Major Mosson did not normally come into contact with this side of the service and he could not help admiring the quiet efficiency which he was now permitted to glimpse. From the

start he took a fancy to the officer, who, despite his somewhat stolid appearance,, had a keen sense of humour. They had gone straight to the quiet little hotel in Kensington where the visitors from Chundor had been located. At the corner of. the street a taxi was standing. The driver looked out inquiringly, and there was some natural talk about fares before muttered remarks showed that this was part of the process of keeping observation on the hotel.

“They’re in now,” Garrett told his companion.

What followed lacked any touch of the spectacular.- A polite inquiry was answered by an equally courteous invitation and a private room was placed at the disposal of the party. Mosson was surprised at the bearing of the men from Chundor. Not only were they perfectly willing to answer questions, but were obviously under no delusions as to the reason of the visit. For General Parminster they had no high regard, admitting it readily. Yes, any one of them would have been deligthed to level up old scores. Marabool Raschandra, who acted as spokesman, showed his teeth in a pleasant smile as he announced this.

“You come to us because our hatred was known,” he went on. “Let there be no pretence on either side.” For a moment Major Mosson wondered if it would not have been better, after all, to have kept the fact of the murder secret. Now that it was out as a startling newspaper story the guilty would have been put on the defensive.

Not that there was anything obstreperous or obstructionist about these selfpossessed Easterners. Questions were answered freely, without beating about the bush.

“None of us were actually watching the procession,” Raschandra insisted. ‘We are not loyalists. Our countrymen want, to be left alone to work out their own destinies. Forgive me for introducing a political note. It is necessary for your perfect understanding. At the same time we are not personally hostile to your monarchy.” “What has this to do with the death of Sir Vincent Parminster?” asked the Detective-Inspector. “This much—that an occasion of your national rejoicing would not have been chosen for such an act of revenge. You may be interested to know that certain of my people had sworn to kill this oppressor, whose death was richly deserved.” “Why are you in London at this time?” asked Garrett bluntly. “Suppose I do not choose to answer that?” “Of course, I can’t force to you to do so.” • “Exactly, and as I wish to be perfectly frank, I am going to tel! you. Our mission is propagandist. Petitions are being presented to the appropriate authorities and an attempt will be made to influence public opinion in our favour. All that is strictly legitimate. Some of us believe that more can be obtained by working constitutionally than by trying to gain our ends by revolutionary means.” “Very well! Since the cards are being laid on the table, might I suggest that each one of you gives an account of his movements during the course of last Tuesday?” Raschandra smiled again. “That is too simple. We were together all the time.” “Where?”

“At Hampton Court, taking advantage of the opportunity of seeing one of your historic treasures.” “That,” Detective-Inspector Garrett remarked when they eventually left the hotel, “ought to be easy to prove. Owing to the show in town there would be fewer people than usual, and Indian visitors would certain have been noticed by the staff. Care to come along?” Major Mosson was delighted to accept the invitation. He was thoroughly enjoying his introduction’to a routine investigation. “Then we’ll pick up a taxi. It II be quicker.” ' The Major chuckled, for they had just passed the cab which was still parked at the corner of the street. Disappointment awaited them at the famous Tudor Palace. Visitors had been very scarce on the day of the procession. Everybody who could manage it had’ gone to London, and there had also been local celebrations. Even the attendants had been, fewer than usual, as many as possible being released so that they could take part in the rejoicings. Nobody could recollect having seen a group of Easterners. If they had they would have been certain to remember. Yes, there were people of all nationalities constantly coming to Hampton Court, but not on that, particular day. Why should they when there was so much else to see and do, while the palace was always available for inspection?

“Drawn blank,” announced Garrett with resignation. He did not seem put out in the slightest. Trails often came to a dead end and the next thing to do was to find another one which did lead somewhere.

“Evidently -the gentleman from Chundor were romancing,” hazarded Mosson.

“Lying, sir! Oh, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that. Establishing an alibi isn’t always easy, although it happens to be a real one. You’d imagine five men like that would be soon spotted, but that doesn’t signify. People are very unobservant for one thing. Another point is that on the day in question ordinary conditions didn’t apply.” “So you think they really were where they said?” “I wouldn’t say that either. What we want to find out is not,where they weren’t, but where they were, Hampton Court or otherwise. Which meant a return to Kensington. Raschandra betrayed no surprise at seeing them again. “Just checking up on your movements,” the Inspector explained bluntly. “Perhaps you would detail them.” “Certainly as well as possible. Unfortunately our topographical knowledge is slight. First we walked some distance to an Underground Railway station and proceeded as far as Kew, our original intention being to inspect the Botanical Gardens. The landlord here advised us to go by the District Line, At Kew we changed our minds

and found a bus for Kingston. So we came to the palace.” “Did you speak to anybody?”

“Yes, to several people in inquiring the way. To railway officials and the bus conductor also.”

“How long did you remain at Hampton Court?”

Several hours, making a thorough inspection of the building and grounds. A most interesting and informative pilgrimage.” “Quite so! And then?” “We proceeded a short distance to Bushey Park, and sat for some time and watched the deer.” “Ha! So altogether you had a full day.” “Indeed yes." “Somewhat tiring?” “That is quite true.” “And likely to give you an appetite. Where did you have meals?” The detective shot this out as if it was an important afterthought. Raschandra shook his head slowly. “We did not eat.” ‘What? From breakfast you went fasting all those hours?” “Neither did we break our fast. For the space of a moon our religion forbids food, drinking or even smoking between sunrise and sunset.”

The unexpected asnwer disconcerted Garrett. Obviously he had hoped that a call at a restaurant would have been confirmation of the truth or otherwise

of the alibi. (To be Continued.)