Casual Slaughters: A Golden Age Murder Mystery (Black Heath Classic Crime) by Quince James

Author:Quince, James [Quince, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Heath Editions
Published: 2022-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter IX

The P.C.C. Plans

THUS , fearing or playing according to our ages and dispositions, but at one in being obsessed by one idea, we waited for the inquests. There had been an inquest on Wanborough at which formal evidence only was taken and which had been adjourned. Thus the real inquests on both the doctors were taken in succession. The Rector and I had to attend. According to my instructions I summoned a meeting of the Parochial Church Council for the following Friday evening, but at the urgent request of some of the members this was cancelled and it was agreed that we should meet on Saturday afternoon so that all the members could get home in daylight. Nothing brought home to me more forcibly than this detail the reign of terror in which even the most solid and unimaginative people in the place were living.

The alteration in the date proved to be a happy one as the second inquiry dragged on through Saturday morning.

It was a dreary afternoon. The school had been scrubbed out during the morning after the imperfect manner of landsmen. Dirt and yellow soap, soaked together into the boards, mingled in a dank mist with the smell of stale child. A steady rain was falling and, finding no way along the choked gutters, came down in cascades on the windows.

For the first time in history we all arrived punctually and there was a full attendance. Churchwardens Bradworthy and Knowstone, Mrs. Tawton and Mrs. Hemyock, Caleb Murcom and Sexton Barlow: all who had been present on the last occasion when the mound-levelling resolution had been passed were there. In addition were our representatives of Youth, Fanny Bastow who as a rule contributes nothing to our debates except giggles, and Bill Garvin who grins.

The Rector explained that this was a special meeting which would do no business except that for which it had been summoned and called on the Secretary to make a statement about the inquests.

“The verdict on Dr. Wanborough,” I began, “was ‘Murder by some person or persons unknown’. The Coroner explained that the police had no doubt whatever about the identity of the murderer, but were unfortunately unable to press the charge against him because he was dead. It would therefore, he said, be wasting the jury’s time to hear evidence to prove who might or might not have killed Dr. Wanborough. The medical evidence was to the effect that it was impossible for the doctor’s injuries to be self-inflicted...”

“I should think so,” Mrs. Tawton interrupted. “Cut ’is own ’ead off, indeed!”

“…and the jury brought in the verdict I have read.”

“What about Baird?” asked Farmer Bradworthy.

“Have they found the ’ead?” Farmer Knowstone demanded.

“Nothing was said about Baird,” I answered. “No, they have not found the head.”

“Perhaps it will be as well,” suggested the Chairman, “for the Secretary to tell us about both inquests before we discuss either of them.”

I proceeded, therefore:

“In the case of Dr. Countis, better known to us as Dr. Williams, the jury brought in a verdict of ‘Death from natural causes’.

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