"DEATH GOES BY 'BUS"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1939, Page 10

"DEATH GOES BY 'BUS"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

LESLIE CARGILL

(Author of “The Yellow Phantom,” “The Arrow by Night,” etc.)

CHAPTER VII. Continued. “Sorry, but I’m working exactly to my customary system of solving these puzzles. Red herrings make such a strong scent that you can utilise them best by avoiding them.’’ “Is this a lecture on logic,” inquired Dr Saunders. “If so, we could listen more comfortably in a public hall.” “Very well, I’ll shut up.” For once Morrison Sharpe took offence. The meekest of men will not tolerate criticism of their pet obsessions. Matthews went into action. As an organiser he had no lack of initiative. Saunders volunteered to drive into town and send out the ambulance. With it would come qualified investigators, skilled in the technique of police work. No single inch of the copse would escape examination. They would relegate Matthews to the background and complain that the delay hampered their work. But it would be much more comfortable to be freed of responsibility. The Sergeant ought to have beer, pleased. Instead, he watched the doctor’s car until it was out of sight with a frown of dismay creasing his forehead. Anxious faces peered out of the bus windows. Without any telling of the facts a sense of added tragedy had been engendered. Even the stolid Higgins betrayed signs of curiosity. “They’ll have to wait now until the Coroner’s Officer gets here,” instructed Matthews. “Ah!” breathed the constable. “Like that, is it?” Without further ado he passed on the information that the detention could not be lifted, ignoring appeals for an-explanation. “Sit still and be thankful,” he advised. More expeditiously than anyone expected, the ambulance appeared on the scene, followed almost immediately by officers from the Netherton County Headquarters. Superintendent Haxley, who was in charge, heard a brief report and then glanced at Caleb Wainwright. Detective-Inspector Hillard accompanied him. Afterwards they went into the copse. Weanwhile the ■ ambulance men and other officers waited for orders. The next stage was described fairly fully by the Superintendent in his formal report—a straight forward document conforming to the prescription laid down in standing orders. Superintendent Maxley had no interests in the theorising of Morrison Sharpe and he took the expected attitude towards Matthews, who looked like being rebuked for going beyond his powers. There was no psycho-analytical reasoning in the second examination of the passengers. Facts were all that were wanted, and they were forced to confine themselves to cut-and-dried information. To the Superintendent, Mr Sharpe's information was of no account. Ultimately the coach resumed its interrupted journey, though not to the normal terminus. Longer statements had to be taken down at the police station, each one signed neatly at the foot. Lipping required these for the inquest proceedings and each passenger was warned to be in readiness to attend the following day at ten o'clock in the forenoon. Before the proceedings were over the Chief Constable of the County. Major Martinshawe, joined the gathering. He was a dapper little man who had served bis country well in command of a battery of artillery. A strict marline i and transparently honest, he ruled his police according to the best traditions of the army. Clockwork precision was his primary demand and he insisted, above all things, on disciplined obedience to orders.

Morrison Sharpe, sizing him up at a glance, was dubious about the future of Sergeant Matthews. That ambitious young officer was certainly due for a wigging. A uniformed constable without a helmet —apparently a member of the administrative staff —came in with a telegram, which he handed to his chief. Major Martinshawe read it carefully, passed it to Superintendent Maxley with raised eyebrows, and then accepted it back. Not being privileged to overlook, Mr Sharpe had to fall back on his own powers of deduction. Catching the eye of Matthews, he beckoned him to come over. “That." he announced oracularly, “identifies the unknown. I wonder what he was running away from?” CHAPTER VII. “. . . .Sovereign Lord the King .... true verdict . . according . . evidence." droned the Coroner. Only occasional words could be heard of the formula. The seven men who formed the jury resumed their seats self importantly. Samuel Higgings. a prominent local tradesman, had been elected foreman, an office which he frequently filled. There are some handy people who are always willing to be called on for such services and Sergeant Lipping knew where to find them when Dr Ambrose, the District Coroner, considered it necessary to call a jury together. First of all the matter of Caleb Wainwright was considered. Evidence of identification was meagre, consisting of a recognition by a London bank manager and a hotel proprietor. No relatives had been discovered. “I propose only to open these proceedings today," announced Dr Am-1 brose, “and then adjourn for further inquiries with a view to finding any] surviving relatives of the deceased." | Laboriously he read over the deposi-' tions, set cut neatly in handwriting cn lined foolscap paper. These had been

prepared by his officer and as a rule the witnesses were examined for fuller information before signatures were affixed.

To the disappointment of the Press representatives nothing startling was elicited. “That is as far as 1 propose to proceed today," declared the Coroner, and the Wainwright inquest was broken off.

Then came the second inquiry, of which perhaps, the “Daily Tribune” gave the best account. It ran: Extraordinary evidence was given at a Netherton double inquest yesterday. An adjournment was ordered in the case of Caleb Wainwright, who was shot on a motor bus. No member of his family has been traced and identification was given by . business acquaintances. It was stated that during a series of back-fires from the engine a shot rang out and Wainwright died almost instantly. Sergeant Matthews, who was early on the scene, found certain papers in the man's possession and was present later when the body of the second victim was found in a spinney close to hand.

Not until the second inquiry was opened was it revealed that the victim was being sought in connection with defalcations at the Woolham Branch of the British United Banking Corporation.

Superintendent Maxley stated that it had been ascertained that the man was John Winslow, a chief cashier, who left his lodgings the previous day. Certain information had been given to the police as a result of which they were anxious to interview Winslow. A leather case found on the bus was claimed by the bank. The Coroner (Dr A. T. Ambrose): You were present when this case was opened. Supt. Maxley: “I was. sir.” The Coroner: “Kindly say what you found.”

Supt Maxley: “Treasury notes to the value of £4OOO and bearer bonds to £1250.”

According to Walter Ellstone, supervisor of the British United Banking Corporation, cash and securities as specified were missing from the Woolham Branch, where Winslow had been employed. He was a trusted servant of company and had access to the strong room. Auditors had been called in when the chief cashier failed to turn up for duty. He presented a list of the defalcations. The Coroner: Have you ever heard of Caleb Wainwright.? Witness: Never. Coroner: After viewing the body of this man you are certain he is a complete stranger? Witness: Absolutely unknown to me. Addressing the jury, Dr Ambrose said he would adjourn this case as he had done in regard to the other. “There are certain factors that will not have escaped notice. These I will amplify in my subsequent summing-up. “Wainwright has been killed for some unaccountable reason and the weapon has not yet been found. Medical testimony deposed to Winslow having taken cyanide of postassium, and no doubt you will have arrived at certain conclusions which may, or may not, be modified later. “Although indications suggest obvious verdicts in both of the cases I do not propose to close the inquiry until the police have concluded their investigations, but it seems certain that both tragedies must be considered in conjunction.” Interviewed immediately afterwards by a “Daily Tribune” representative, Superintendent Maxley said he had nothing to add. His department had the matter in hand and anticipated no difficulties in providing the necessary evidence to enable the inquiry to be concluded the following week. This was a reasonably accurate summing-up of the facts as publiclj' presented. If there were any doubts, they existed in the minds of people who were not supposed to concern themselves with such speculations. Morrison Sharpe was particularly dissatisfied, and he passed on his feelings to Sergeant Matthews. “Probably you're nearer right than anybody,” agreed that officer. “They’ll say that Winslow killed Wainwright and afterwards committed suicide, which doesn’t agree with our conclusions. However. I can’t do anything at all. For one thing I’m suspended." “Good gracious, that is a blow.” “Yes, indeed. The Disciplinary Board is likely to give me short shift. Already I've had a severe telling-off for taking too much on myself, and the order of the sack is waiting for me." Matthews’ pessimism turned out to be unfounded. Two days later he was reinstated and the Disciplinary Board never assembled. The reason for this was that Maxley was no fool. His investigations began to reveal some strange undercurrents and he decided that the patrol officer could be of considerable use to him. “The Chief Constable has decided to overlook your conduct," he announced. “Thank you. Superintendent." "For the time being you are attached to this department." "What?” “Only temporarily. That bus case isn't as clear cut as we thought at first, and 1 think we can utilise your first hand knowledge better if you are immediately available. Although most irregular, your action put us in possession of information that might have been missed." (To be Continued) .