MURDER IN THE PROCESSION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1938, Page 10

MURDER IN THE PROCESSION

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

COPYRIGHT.

BY

LESLIE CARGILL

(Author of “Death Goes by Bus.”)

CHAPTER V. —Continued. This time the small audience had a fresh, and singularly horrible, sight of the murder, almost like a close up. They were able to see the actual moment of impact when the muscles of the victim’s back tensed uncontrollably. Then it was over. No attention paid to the last gallant desperate attempt of the soldier to carry on. Instead a quickly swinging panoramic movement to an entirely different section of the procession. “Now,” exclaimed Phyllis Hulme triumphantly, “do you see what I mean?” The lights had been switched on in the temporary theatre, but Captain Caythers shouted for them to be turned off again and another run through began immediately. “I’ll tell you what I think later,” he said non-commitally. Time after time the gruesome act was repeated, until Major Mosson found his eyes beginning to ache and even when the screen was clear he could visualise every single detail in correct order. Evidently the Assistant Commissioner had also decided that everything possible had been extracted from the film, for he rose from his seat and led the way back to his office. “First of all we’ll hear what Miss Hulme has to comment on this,” he suggested. “Only this,” she answered. “Whoever took the sequence was expecting something queer.” “Anything else?” “N-No.” “Don’t be afraid. We shan’t regard any theories as foolish. At the back of your mind you have on idea. What is it?” “Something too far fetched to bothpr about.” “Let’s have it for all that.” “Very well! Doesn’t it occur to you that the cameraman could have been the murderer if only he had been working with a gun instead of with a lens?” . “Exactly what I have been thinking.” “But, of course, it couldn’t be done. Two hands are needed for taking picture?. The man-who got those scenes was being kept pretty busy. However, I can’t tell you anything about that. If you want to go into those details Dick Cartwright should be able to assist.”

“Who’s he?” . „ “Chief cameraman of Imperia Films. “I see. Did he happen to be responsible for this little effort?” “Oh, no! Oh, no, certainly not! “Friend of yours, I take it?” Her eyes opened widely. “I didn’t say so,” she murmured. “No directly. But you were quick to rise on his defence. If he. didn’t take them, who did?” “That happens to be something 1 can’t tell you.” . “Come, young lady, this is a .very serious business and you will do well to answer all questions to the best oi your ability.” “But I don’t know,” she said, surpnsingly. Captain Caythers was momentaiily taken aback. Ignorant of the procedure of topical film work, he imagined that the girl would be familiar with all the details of photographs passing through her hands. “All our own operators are mobilised for a big occasion,” she explained carefully, “and more than that, we have a working arrangement with other concerns not immediately in competition.”

“How does that come about?” “Like this. Some of the foreign newsreels agree to pool their exposed stock with ours so that we can all make up the best possible record of the event. I believe there was a German a French and a Swedish company working with us. That is also something Mr Cartwright will know more about.” “Good! Tomorrow we’ll have a Chat with him.” “Why not today?” “You’re a very sudden young lady. This is rather an inconvenient time of the day, surely?” She smiled. “Newsreel men are always on duty. If he isn’t at the studios they’ll know where to find him.” At her further suggestion the Assistant Commissioner rang up Imperia Films, to learn that the cameraman was on the premises at that' moment. Agreeing that there was no time like the present Caythers and Mosson accompanied their sprightly guide, who insisted on remaining at hand in case her further assistance was desired. Dick Cartwright was just cramming a spare tin of film into his case when they arrived at the studios. “Sorry to be dashing off,” he exclaimed. “Just assigned to a big blaze in in Poplar.” “These gentlemen are from Scotland Yard. You know that they want to talk about?” “Yes. Sorry again, and all that, but you know the news comes first. Fire might be out if I waited. I’ll tell you what —they can cram into the car and ride down with me if they like.” “May I come, too?” “Not if I know it. You stay here. There ought to be some developing to do before long. Besides, Terry’s driving.” “That doesn’t scare me,” she retorted. It certainly did Major Mosson, who sat in front on that reckless dash Eastendwards. By yirtue of his official position he was accustomed to setting a good example in the observation of all the legal rules and coded recommendations. Once he made a mild protest against the infringement of the thirty-mile limit. A gruff “huh” was the only response from the man at the wheel, who appeared to accelerate if anything. That he was exceptionally skilled was evident. . “After all I do happen to be a police officer” Mosson remonstrated as they sneaked across changing crossing lights in doubtful right of way. “Forget it,” was the reply. The advice wasn’t easy to accept when life and limb seemed to be endangered. He tried to hear something of the conversation going on in the rear seats between Captain Caythers and Dick Cartwright, but the other noises made that impossible. In an incredibly short time, considering the route through populous urban districts, they arrived at the scene of the fire. As they alighted a trim form

detached itself from the throng and came forward. “Phyllis,” gasped Cartwright. “What on earth are you doing here?” “Mason brought me,” she answered. “You people have been a long time coming.” “That lunatic, eh! Didn’t I tell you to wait behind for my rushes?” “Oh, don’t bother about them. Mason will take me back and the films as well.” “I’m too busy to tell you what I think about you at the moment, but just wait.” He was getting ready his camera as he spoke and a moment later it was in action. Before long he had somehow or other got to the roof of a neighbouring building, where the flickering flames lit up his sharply silhoutted ..figure cranking away with calm efficiency. “Wants pluck, this job,” Caythers commented. “Dick’s got plenty of that,” Phyllis said sturdily. Within ten minutes Cartwright was back, thrusting a tin box containing an exposed spool into her hands. “Sharp’s the word,” he snapped. “Mason’ll soon get me to th? studios.” “Oh, no he won’t. You’re going with Terry.” “She smiled demurely. “But I understood you to say I couldn’t make the trip because of him.” Dick pushed her into the waiting car and slammed the door. “Be off,” he yelled to make himself heard above the crackling of burning woodwork, the incessant chatter of the onlookers and the hoarse orders of the firemen. “You know,” he said, turning to the two Scotland Yard men, “I love that girl, only she doesn’t know it. Wait while I let off another couple of hundred feet and we’ll get back.” Mason must have driven furiously to get to the scene so expeditiously, but on the return journey he was the soul of circumspection. “No hurry now we’ve got what we wanted. Shall we carry on the conversation where we left >of?” Cartwright remarked. “Better start again at the beginnipg,” suggested the Assistant Commissioner. “My colleague couldn’t hear while he was sitting alongside the driver and I’m ready to admit I was too concerned with wondering when the crash would come to pay proper attention.” Cartrwight began to explain in detail how news films were taken, with special reference to the arrangements for the big procession. All the cameramen on the specially constructed stand by Nelson’s Column were accredited representatives supplied with special police passes. According to the terms of their permits they had to be in position at least an hour before the cavalcade was due to pass. Every one was a picked man, for this was an important vantage point. They were not allowed to leave until all was clear, so there was no possibility of getting films hurried away.

“Actually,” he went on, “we had a messenger waiting just off the route and. I rushed my stuff to him as quickly as I could. There were five full reels of my own and eight others collected from the foreigners who were working with us. Imperia was attending to all the developing.” “Didn’t I' understand from Miss Hulme that an assistant was needed during the course of photographing the scenes? Caythers asked. “That’s true to a. certain extent. Young Tranter was helping me, but I know the German and the Frenchman were on their own. So was the Swede. Working solo means more hard graft and you have to be a lot quicker in changing spools and that sort of thing. But a good cameraman is accustomed to being on his own quite a lot. For instance, I had to manage this evening-” x . ~ “So I observed, and that partially explains why I mentioned the point. Now about these, er, sequences, I think you can call them ...” “Correct. You rriean the rear views of General Parminster? All I can say is that I didn’t take them.” “Correct. You mean the rear views of General Parminster? All I can say is that I didn’t take them.” “Then it remains between our German, Swedish and French friends?” “Exactly.” „ . “Could we tell from the film? Any distingushing marks?'"’ “Afraid not. It all came out of Imperia stocks. In fact, I saw to ij; being issued myself.” , “Awkward, but I expect we 11 find a way.” Captain Caythers was thoughtfully silent for some moments. Then, “I’ve an idea that the man who took those pictures should be able to, give us some interesting information, he observed with a grim smile. (To be Continued.)