The Cyanide Ghost (Mina Scarletti Mystery Book 6) by Linda Stratmann

Author:Linda Stratmann [Stratmann, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2021-02-22T16:00:00+00:00

Brighton Gazette, May 1867

Coroner’s Inquest

The inquest was held on Monday evening at the Town Hall, before D. Black, Esq., the Borough Coroner, on the body of Hector Samprey Jnr, aged 33, whose body was discovered on the seashore near to the fish market on Saturday night. Mr William Woodruffe, boatman in the Coast Guard service stated that on Saturday evening at about ten o’clock he was on duty near the fish market when he heard the report of a firearm a short distance from him. Witness saw a man running from the scene, but it was too dark for him to make an identification. After making a search he went to the east end of the groyne and saw the body of a man lying on the edge of the water. He sent to the Town Hall for the police and the body was removed to the dead house. He made a thorough search of the seashore as soon as it was light, but no weapon was found.

Mr Taaffe, surgeon, stated that he was called to look at the body of the deceased on Saturday night. There was a large wound in the chest. The bullet had penetrated the heart, which would have proved instantly fatal. Charring of the skin showed that the weapon had been discharged close to the deceased, most probably by someone standing facing him. He believed that the weapon would have been a pistol of a kind easily concealed in a pocket.

The deceased’s father, Hector Samprey senior was brought to the court to give evidence. He was conveyed by bath chair and attended by his younger sons Mortimer and Charles Samprey, who were visibly distressed and did their best to care for their frail parent. Mr Samprey, his voice painfully weak, stated that his eldest son had fallen in with some bad men whose trade was dealing in stolen valuables. There was, he insisted, no evidence to suggest that his son had been involved in their crimes. Here, the poor gentleman’s composure almost failed him, as he attempted to convey the impression that his son had been no more than a convivial companion with these desperate individuals, in their enjoyment of beer. Nothing was said out of sympathy, but onlookers glanced at each other, as if to say that they knew better. One of these dubious associates was a man called Barnes who had a reputation for violence and was known to own a gun. Hector junior had recently promised his father that he would have nothing more to do with these unsavoury persons, or indeed, places where beer was sold and consumed. His father had been overjoyed by this, and agreed to take him into the family firm, in the hope that he would join his brothers in partnership. Charles Samprey confirmed that Hector junior had told him, his father and his brother Mortimer that he was going to lead a better life. On the night of his death Hector junior planned to meet Barnes and tell him that he wanted nothing more to do with him and his companions.

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