Samuel Boyd of Catchpole Square: A Mystery

by B. L. Farjeon

  CHAPTER XXXIII.

  SCENES IN COURT.

  The Coroner: "I cannot allow the proceedings to be interrupted by anyof the spectators, and I must request the person who spoke to preservesilence."

  The Lady (rising): "My name is Lady Wharton, and I know what I amsaying. It is not in the nature of things to be silent when somonstrous a statement as that is made. I say again, it is impossible."

  The Coroner: "The witness has given his impression----"

  Lady Wharton: "He cannot be in his right senses, or he must have somemotive----"

  The Coroner: "You are impeaching the witness and delaying theproceedings. Unless you resume your seat it will be my duty to haveyou removed----"

  Lady Wharton (indignantly): "Have me removed! Is this a court ofjustice?"

  The Corner: "I hope so. Kindly resume your seat."

  Lady Wharton: "I insist upon being heard."

  The Coroner: "You compel me to do what will be disagreeable to you."(To a Constable.) "Officer----"

  Mr. Finnis, Q.C.: "One moment, I beg." (To Lady Wharton.) "Pleaseobserve the Coroner's directions. At present you can be heard onlythrough me." (Lady Wharton, who was accompanied by her brother, LordFairfax, resumed her seat in great agitation.)

  Mr. Finnis: "It is a point of vital importance, and I askthe witness--upon whom neither Lady Wharton nor I cast anyimputation--whether he positively swears that the body is that ofMr. Samuel Boyd?"

  The Coroner (to the witness): "Do not reply to any question exceptthose put to you by me or the jury."

  Mr. Finnis: "You will understand, Mr. Coroner, when Lady Wharton isexamined, why the statement of the witness appears to her incredible.Our desire is to prevent a miscarriage of justice."

  The Coroner: "It is the desire of all of us."

  A Juror: "There can be no harm in asking the question again. With yourpermission, Mr. Coroner, I will put it. Inspector Robson, do youpositively swear that the body you saw is that of Mr. Samuel Boyd?"

  Inspector Robson: "So far as a human being can be positive, I swearit."

  "And that you formed the idea that he had been dead several days?"

  "That is certainly my impression."

  The Coroner (after listening to a whispered communication from thejuror): "It has been suggested to me to ask whether you have anypersonal interest in the death of Mr. Samuel Boyd?"

  Inspector Robson (with warmth): "I do not understand you."

  The Coroner: "We are aware, Inspector Robson, of the high characteryou bear, and of the deserved estimation in which you are held. It isprobable that in the course of this inquiry questions may be askedwhich may not seem to have any direct bearing upon the investigation,but which may eventually lead to issues of more or less importance."

  Inspector Robson: "I am giving my evidence as inspector of police."

  The Coroner: "Not entirely. You are a witness in this case, and arehere both as an official and a private citizen. If you have anobjection to answer the question I will not press it; but I wouldpoint out to you that your refusal may leave an unfavourableimpression on the minds of the jury."

  Inspector Robson (after a pause): "Will you put the question in moredirect terms, Mr. Coroner? I would prefer my private affairs not beingimported into this case, but I should be sorry to lay myself open tomisconstruction."

  The Coroner: "In plainer terms, then, is there any relationshipbetween you and the deceased?"

  Inspector Robson: "He is my son-in-law's father."

  The Coroner: "You were, of course, aware of this when Mrs. Abel Deathreported the disappearance of her husband?"

  Inspector Robson: "No, Mr. Coroner, I was not aware of it."

  The Coroner: "Was the marriage between your daughter and Mr. ReginaldBoyd quite recent?"

  Inspector Robson (with evident reluctance): "No, they have beenmarried two months."

  The Coroner: "There is a strange discrepancy here. How could you havebeen ignorant of the relationship when Mrs. Death came to the BishopStreet Police Station?"

  Inspector Robson: "At that time I did not know that my daughter wasmarried. As what passes in this court will be reported in thenewspapers, I wish to add that no blame attaches either to her or herhusband, for whom my wife and myself have the highest regard."

  The Juror: "He is the only son of the deceased?"

  Inspector Robson: "Yes."

  The Juror: "In point of fact the heir-at-law, unless he isdispossessed by will?"

  Inspector Robson: "Yes."

  The Juror: "Has any will been found?"

  Inspector Robson: "Not to my knowledge."

  The Juror: "Has search been made for it?"

  Inspector Robson: "It is now being made."

  The Juror: "By whom?"

  Inspector Robson: "By my son-in-law's attorney, Mr. RichardRemington."

  The Juror: "Your nephew?"

  "Yes."

  The Juror (to the Coroner): "Will Mr. Reginald Boyd be called?"

  The Coroner: "Not to-day. It appears, from a letter I have here, whichis accompanied by a doctor's certificate, that he went yesterday tohis father's house in Catchpole Square to identify the body, that hehas been very ill, and that the exertion was too much for him. It ishoped that on Wednesday, to which day the inquiry will be adjourned,he will be well enough to give his evidence."

  The Juror: "How long has he been ill?"

  Inspector Robson: "Since last Saturday week."

  The Juror: "The day following that on which Mr. Abel Deathdisappeared?"

  Inspector Robson: "Yes."

  The Juror: "Can you inform us whether Mr. Reginald Boyd was on goodterms with his father?"

  Inspector Robson: "I do not think it is a question I should be calledupon to answer."

  The Juror: "Very well, Inspector Robson."

  The next witness was Mr. Richard Remington, who gave his answersgenerally with rapidity; but occasionally there was a slight hesitancybefore he replied, as though he were considering the form of words inwhich he should reply. Asked if Inspector Robson was his uncle, heanswered that he was proud to own it. Asked if he followed anyoccupation, he described himself as a Jack of all trades. "And masterof none?" queried a juror jocosely. "I won't say that," replied thewitness, quickly. "There are some things I can do thoroughly."

  "You accompanied Inspector Robson when he entered the house of thedeceased on Saturday?"

  "I did."

  "You saw the body?"

  "Yes. It is the body of Mr. Samuel Boyd."

  "You were acquainted with him?"

  "Intimately. I was in his service nearly three months, and saw himdaily."

  "So that you can speak with confidence on the point?"

  "With perfect confidence."

  "Can you inform us whether the room in which the body was found wasMr. Boyd's regular bedroom?"

  "It was. He always slept there."

  The Juror: "Is it the only bedroom in the house?"

  "No; there is another bedroom on the second floor."

  The Juror: "Occupied by any person?"

  "By no person during my service with the deceased."

  The Juror: "But at some time or other occupied by another person?"

  "I believe by Mr. Reginald Boyd when he lived in the house."

  The Juror: "Under what circumstances did he leave his father's house?"

  "It is hardly a question that should be put to me."

  The Juror: "You think it would be better to ask Mr. Reginald Boyd?"

  "That is for you to decide."

  The Coroner: "You were in the house yesterday?"

  "Yes."

  "We understand you are searching for a will?"

  "Yes."

  "And have found none?"

  "None."

  The Coroner: "I am now going to put a question to you which I put toInspector Robson. When you saw the body did you receive any impressionas to the length of time Mr. Boyd had been dead?"

&n
bsp; "Yes. He must have been dead four or five days at least."

  Lady Wharton: "They are stark staring mad!"

  The Coroner: "I assure Lady Wharton that if she persists in theseinterruptions she cannot be allowed to remain in Court."

  The evidence of Constable Applebee, who was the next witness, was thentaken. Catchpole Square is within the radius of his beat, and not aweek passed without his seeing Mr. Samuel Boyd two or three times. Hewas positive that the body was that of Samuel Boyd, and he would notadmit the possibility of his being mistaken.

  "Did you see any suspicious persons about on the night of the 1st?"

  The witness answered "No," and happened to glance in the direction ofLady Wharton, upon which another scene occurred. Her ladyshipexclaimed, "Gracious Powers! I am in a hornet's nest! Does the mansuspect _me?_" It was with difficulty that she was calmed, and it wasonly upon her giving her promise that she would not speak again thatan order for her removal was not carried out.

  Mr. Finnis: "Her ladyship visited Mr. Samuel Boyd on the night of the1st upon a matter of business, and the witness probably saw her."

  The Coroner: "That is no excuse for these interruptions, Mr. Finnis."(To the witness.) "On any subsequent occasion did you see anysuspicious persons about?"

  "Yes, on the night of the great fog something occurred. The fog was sothick that I missed my way, and by accident I stumbled upon ConstablePond, whose beat joins mine. We were close by Catchpole Square, and wewent into it. As we were moving away I saw a woman trying to stealfrom the Square into Deadman's Court. I ran and caught the person bythe arm, but somehow or other she slipped through my hands andescaped."

  "Did you see her face?"

  "No, she was too quick for me."

  "At what time did this take place?"

  "I can't say exactly, but it was past midnight."

  "Is it usual for people to be in the Square so late?"

  "Quite unusual."

  "That is all you can tell us?"

  "That's all, except----" Here the witness hesitated.

  "Except what?"

  "Well, it has nothing to do with the case, but it come into my mindthat two nights last week I met Mr. Richard Remington near theSquare."

  "You must have met many persons. What is there special in your meetingMr. Remington?"

  "Only that both times it was two or three o'clock in the morning. Itisn't worth mentioning."

  "The smallest incident in connection with a case of this descriptionis worth mentioning. Did you have any conversation with him?"

  "Oh, yes. The first time we had a long talk together."

  "Did he say what brought him out so late!"

  "Well, he said he was looking for a lodging."

  "What! At two or three in the morning?"

  "Yes, that is what he said."

  "It sounds like a joke; he can hardly have been serious."

  A Juror: "Perhaps Mr. Remington would like to explain."

  Mr. Richard Remington (from the body of the Court): "I am quite readyto explain."

  The Coroner (to Constable Applebee): "We have nothing further to askyou."

  Mr. Richard Remington was recalled.

  "You have heard what the last witness said in reference to yourself?"

  "Yes; he spoke the truth. I met him on two occasions last week, in themiddle of the night, and we had a chat. Of course it is absurd tosuppose I was looking for lodgings at that time, but I intended to doso next morning, and I mentioned it to Constable Applebee, thinking itlikely he might know of a place to suit me. In point of fact he didknow, and it was upon his introduction that I took a room next day inthe house of Constable Pond in Paradise Row. You might like to hearwhy I went in the direction of Catchpole Square on the night of thefog. Well, I was in the Bishop Street Station at about midnight whenMrs. Abel Death reported the disappearance of her husband and askedthe assistance of the police. As I had been in the employ of Mr.Samuel Boyd I took an interest in her story, and, my time being myown, I thought I would have a look at the old house."

  The Coroner: "Thank you, Mr. Remington."

  The last witness called was Mrs. Jewel, a charwoman, whose evidencewas mainly interesting from the insight it afforded of the singulardomestic habits of the deceased. She was the only female servantemployed by Mr. Boyd, and her services were not requisitioned for morethan two half-days every week. The witness described the deceased asthe hardest master she ever had. When she swept out a room or made abed he grumbled at the way it was done, and made it an excuse forbeating her down to the last farthing. She did no cooking for him; hetook his dinner at some cheap eating house, and prepared his ownbreakfast and tea. "He'd skin a flint," the witness remarked. Thevalue of Mrs. Jewel's evidence lay in her intimate familiarity withthe personal appearance of the deceased. She swore positively to thebody, and laughed at the idea of her being mistaken. Some amusementwas caused by her being hard of hearing, and she resented this bygiving short snappy replies to the questions put to her, and decliningto be moved by so much as a hair's breadth from any statement shemade. The last of these questions were put by the juror who had takenso prominent a part in the proceedings, and who resisted every effortmade by the Coroner to abbreviate his inquiries.

  The Juror: "You worked for the deceased during the time his son, Mr.Reginald Boyd, lived in the house?"

  Mrs. Jewel: "Of course I did, and Mr. Reginald's a gentleman."

  "Were they on good terms with each other?"

  "No," she answered, "old Mr. Boyd was always quarrelling with Mr.Reginald. He stormed a lot, but Mr. Reginald was very quiet, andhardly answered his father. At last he went away, and I don't blamehim."

  Nothing further was elicited from the witness, and the inquiry wasadjourned till Wednesday, when, the Coroner said, important evidencewould be laid before the jury.