"DEATH GOES BY 'BUS"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1939, Page 10

"DEATH GOES BY 'BUS"

BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

LESLIE CARGILL

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

CHAPTER XVII. Continued. “Almost as if the dead man was an acquaaintance,” came the gentle insinuation. “One feels for a friend what is lacking in a stranger." "Caleb Wainwright was no friend of mine.” She was stung into denial. “Bift you did know him?" “Leave me alone. Must 1 be tortured like this?” “Justice must be served, Madam. Any evidence you can give bearing on this case ought to be freely given.” “Police prating.” Maxley winced. He did not relish this sort of treatment. “Look here,” he snapped, “You can’t talk like that.’ “Can’t I?” Her eyes sparkled angrily. This was a new Miss Hanson, and Morrison Sharpe glimpsed the reality behind the hard mask. So she was accustomed to having her own way and disliked dictation. “Superintendent Maxley is trying t< make it easy tor you,” he intervener soothingly. Her lips curved scornfully. "He can please himself. Go away, both of you.’ “That is impossible',” Maxley said. “If you insist on being awkward there are ways of compelling you to speak.” "I shall say nothing more. Do your worst.” "You’re as bad as your friend Huntley Young.” She blanched at that. “M-my friend . . . ? Is this another trick?” “The man who saw you off at Bellham station," continued her tormentor. “The man who has been conducting an illicit love affair. The man who tried to commit suicide when his guilty secret was unveiled. The man . . .” "Stop!” she shouted. “How much do you know?” “Everything. Mr Young refused to tell, but in the end—" Maxley broke off on a significant rising inflection. To their consternation the woman sank into a chair and buried her head in her hands. Great sobs shook her gaunt frame—a pitiable exhibition. The superintendent was about to speak when Mr Sharpe motioned him to desist. Solemnly they stood by unthe spate of tears subsided. Suddenly she sat upright, still moist about the eyelashes, but with a firm grip on herself. “That,” she announced grimly, “was the first thorough cry I’ve had since I was a child. It’s done me good. Now you may resume your examination and perhaps you will find me more amenable." Maxley bobbed awkwardly. “That’s better. Take it easy.” “I don’t want your sympathetic encouragement. What you know you know—or think you do, and I guess it is only a quarter , of the truth. Caleb Wainwright xyas a friend of mine, you suggested. That swine. He wasn't fit to live. ” “So you did know him?” “Yes, for years. More years than I care to count. Why I didn’t kill him long ago is the biggest mystery.” “But you shot him in the end?” She hesitated and then nodded. “Yes. I shot him. Now take me away and release that unfortunate man you’re keeping locked up without cause. ’ CHAPTER XVIII. “This," exclaimed Superintendent Maxley irritably, "is a confounded nuisance.” Morrison Sharpe expressed agree- " What have you done with the lady?" he added. “Sent her to the observation ward. Do you think she’s quite all there?” “Sane, do you mean? Oh, I should think so. What’s your opinion?” “Goodness knows. If she's certififiable, that lets me out. After all we get lots of people with queer kinks who confess to murders without rhyme or reason. The Hanson woman acted as if she was off her rocker.” "Wish fathering the thought. I noticed only a trace of hysteria augmented by excitement. After such a dramatic scene it was almost excusable.” The discussion was taking place at Netherton Police Headquarters, where the two men were considering the unexpected development which had occurred. After the confession Miss Hanson had repeated over and over again, "I shot him," and that was the sum total of all they could get out of her. Such an unsupported statement was insufficient to act upon and it might be accounted a piece of good fortune that the woman, was in such a state of health as to warrant calling in medical aid. Without making so decisive a move as an arrest it had been possible to detain her for hospital treatment. "And that’s where we shall all be if this affair goes on much longer like this,” grumbled Maxley. "You ought to hear what the Chief Constable says about, it." Mr Sharpe could imagine it without much difficulty. "Cheer up, old man,” he said. "Although it doesn't, appear too rosy, I believe things are sorting themselves out nicely. Hullo! it's five minutes to ten." “M'm, better get into court. That’s an order I'm dreading. How the dickens am 1 going to justify my action in regard to Smith?” "Afraid I can’t help you there. Having made your bed. you have to lie on it. If I was in your shoes I should refuse to proceed further with the charge on the grounds of lack of evidence. Doesn’t that'let you out?" "More or less. We could arrest again in such circumstances, providing further facts came to light, whereas a verdict of ‘not guilty’ finishes the case. Nobody can be tried twice for the/ same offence. But the Chief would I never sanction such an action. lib's I only a figurehead, but a mighty important one, Reputation means a lot to

Major Martinshawe, who stands the racket when his subordinates make mistakes.” "What does he think of Smith’s chance?” “About the same as I do.” "Which is?" "Brightening daily. Mine grows propcrtianatcly darker . . . Ready to listen in?” Mr Sharpe was —as also were far more inquisitive spectators than the little courtroom could accommodate. Sir Ellington Elleslie was waspish that morning. From the Olympic heights of The Chair he delivered caustic comments at irregular intervals. Plainly enough he did not like the way the case was being handled. “I should like to apply for a remand for a week.” came an ultimate request from the Chief Constable, who had made himself personally responsible for conducting that day’s proceedings. "Do you expect to be able to present a complete indictment?” asked Sir Ellington. “We don't want to drag things on any longer than can be helped. The Assizes are held next month and if the police obtain a committal it will not leave much time.” Smith’s advocate seized his opportunity. He was a keen young man whose legal activities were mostly of a very unadventurous character. "In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the evidence,” he began, “your worship could even decide to release my client forthwith.” Sir Ellington elevated his eyebrows. “Surely, Mr Tomblin, you are going a little too far,” he observed. "The question of bail also arises.” "What, in a charge of murder? Preposterous! I have never heard of such a thing." He leaned over and indulged in earnest conversation with the Clerk to the Court. When that was concluded there was much head-wagging from the other magistrates, who whispered together for the space of perhaps two or three minutes. "I should like to hear the Chief Constable,” Sir Ellington said at last. Major Martinshawe cleared his throat obtrusively. “Of course we oppose bail very strongly, your Worship. In the whole course of my career I have never known it requested in such a serious charge.” “You think then, that by a week from today evidence of a much stronger character will be available?” The Crown solicitor jumped up excitedly. “May I submit, your Worship, that that is an improper question.” The Chairman was not inclined to accept the rebuke. “My colleagues agree with me that aspects of this case seem unsatisfactory.” "I am sorry to hear such an observation. sir. Two of our chief witnesses are unable to attend today through illness. One of them is recovering from a wound which may be the grounds for further action which I am not allowed to discuss at the moment.” “Very well, then. Smith will be remanded in custody for seven days. That ought to allow a sufficient margin. We feel that in justice to the accused every effort should be made to expedite this business.” Major Martinshawe bristled, but accepted the implied rebuke without public comment. Much was made of the court scene by the Press, so that those responsible for the conduct of the case were shown up in a bad light. To make matters worse the resumed inquest was another sorry episode because the Coroner found his hands tied owing to the prosecution. That meant that the Wainwright inquiry had to be adjourned to await results. Dr Ambrose had his revenge. He could, and did, deal with the death of John Winslow., which necessitated dragging into the light quite a lot of facts relating to the other tragedy. The jury played up to the doctor, with the result that the police were still further mortified. “You will, no doubt, have arrived at the conclusion that the deceased took his own life owing to the threat of discovery arising out of an earlier tragedy,” he summed up. “Clearly this man had nothing to do with the shooting. But he was an absconding employee of the British United Banking Corporation, liable to be caught with the spoils still in his possession. John Winslow had a supply of deadly poison with him. Why? Evidently for some such emergency. He preferred to face a higher tribunal than one composed of his fellow men.” “May I ask a question?” demanded the foreman. Dr Ambrose peered over his spectacles. “It is not customary at this stage, but 1 am. prepared to consider it," he replied. “Well sir, we members of the Jury want to know if the police are quite satisfied that the deceased Mr Winslow had nothing to do with the murder?" “Such is my impression, Mr Higgins." He tapped the desk with the butt of his pen and added, “so far as we know what the police are thinking." It was a deliberate cruelty that pushed the unfortunate Maxley deeper into a world of gloom. "That's what everybody’s thinking.” he confided in Morrison Sharpe. "All that was needed was to record the verdict of ‘Suicide.’ 1 expected that, and we accept it absolutely. Instead, we have to sit still and say nothing while a lot of cheap sneers are being slung around." “You have my sympathy for what it's worth. However, the air has been cleared, hasn't it?” “Think so?” (To be Continued I .