Murders Without Motive (7 page)

It was discovered that a compression part, a small but vital rubber grummet had been removed. This had resulted in the jack working for some minutes but then had failed and suddenly dropped.

As a result the case had been reclassified as suspicious and in fact recorded as murder.

The family and staff were interviewed at length, all being at the hall or around or near the scene prior to and at the time of the accident.

The village came to a standstill, the local farms were silent.

 The village church was full to capacity as was the area outside.

The service being piped by loud speakers to mourners unable to enter the body of the building.

County Dignitaries and local business leaders attended the solemn and sad affair.

The only two immediate family members Emily and Charles Crampton appeared in full black regalia she including a black veil. The two hearse carriages and  a massive cortège.

Absent from the ceremony was one Wilson Crampton still in Daram for security reasons but who had recorded a message of condolence and was received as very touching by all those present

The double funeral of the Crampton brother and sister, the latest victims in a bloody series of murders was to some degree a local major event. As for the locals viewing from a distance, it was later described as an attraction.

Behind the scene police enquiries had continued.

Nothing at the time of the last murder was reported as suspicious by any member or person against another.

There had been no visitors during the day before or that morning.

The case remained as mysterious as the previous deaths with no real cause, motive or suspect.

There was nothing to indicate the only remaining son living in the United kingdom was involved his only remaining and younger brother Wilson Crampton being in Daram many thousands of miles away and in any event he was wheelchair bound.

The remaining daughter Emily Crampton was herself to become a victim in August of this year.

Life continued on at the Hall without incident for some months. The burials done the, inquests held, the causes of the deaths but not the motive known. Neither had there been any arrests.

Pearson had scanned, checked, looked and listened but could find no motives for the deaths either from within the family, household or from without.

The case had stalled.

Saturday The 4
^th
of May 2013

Emily Crampton had met her end whilst swimming in the river Dee so tragically and violently. Another case seemingly without motive or reason.

The police had investigated but once again there had been no solution

Saturday the 15
^th
of June 2013

Jack now realising that it appeared that Pearson had done all he could as far as his experience would permit.

He picked up the telephone and rang the officer who said he would visit Jack forthwith. He kept to his word for within the hour he was once again seated. The conversation had only just begun when Pearson received a telephone call. the signal was poor he was obliged to walk outside.

Some minutes later he returned, he was sporting a broad smile.

“A breakthrough” said he”.

“What would that be?” asked Jack.

Pearson picking up his brief-case clearly did not intend to stay.

“There is a major protest at Crampton hall. A large crowd has gathered police are attending in force. It seems that it has been leaked that Charles Crampton has been negotiating the erection of wind farms and has applied for a large caravan site, not for tourists but amenity sites for travellers all to be done within the estate”.

“From reports of the officer in charge Super Jinton, the city council are supporting the idea of the itinerant site, for they are required to provide some.  The planners are bound to agree if it is only for political reasons. It follows, so it is rumoured that once the caravan amenity sites are made this would reduce the area as a place of special natural interest and therefore there could be no objection to the wind farms”.

“The leak also states that this will bring in millions of pounds for Charles Crampton”.

“That seems strange” replied Jack. “I thought they were vastly rich”.

“Well” replied Pearson “who knows but this could be a break through perhaps if they are hard up the villain in all this is Charles Crampton. His parents and older brothers would never have agreed to it.”

“Well” replied Jack I have perused the papers and I did have another hypothesis”.

His words went unheard as Pearson now full of enthusiasm turned and left.

Jack sat on the chair, put his finger to his lips and thought, “I see, such is youth and desperation to clear up these things I will await the outcome with interest”.

Pearson meanwhile arrived at Crampton hall approaching the front gates, what a different atmosphere there was this day in contrast to the days of the Colonel.

Several hundred if not a thousand or more were thronged around the main entrance.

Placards displaying no wind farms, no caravans, no travellers among the many.

The atmosphere as Pearson could see through his windscreen as he approached looked hostile. The massive crowds were shouting abuse at the uniform officers sent in full riot gear to prevent them invading the estate grounds.

It didn’t take his years in the police to realise there was no way he would be permitted to enter.

He saw a field gate ahead so slowed; pull in to his left spun the car around and drove off from whence he had come.

At the far end of the road he turned left and stopped at the home of Miles the handyman.

Knocking on the door Miles answered. It was with surprise that Pearson saw a man with blackened face and bare footed standing at door.

“Hello Inspector” said Miles, “Oh I see you looking, sorry I am playing a game in the rear garden with the children. I heard you stop and I wondered if it was protestors or worse the media snooping around.

“Oh Heavens” replied Pearson. “I need to get inside the estate to the hall, the road is completely blocked. I dare not leave the police car unattended. It is unmarked but it would soon be recognised and probably nothing left of it. I was hoping to get your consent to park in your driveway”.

“By all means officer, please feel free to do so, if you will excuse me I have two rampant kids waiting”

Pearson smiled and Miles closed the door.

Securing the police car he climbed over a fence and made his way across the field, into the woods finally emerging outside the hall.

When he arrived at the rear door, all was locked and barred. Knocking failed to receive a response.

He walked to the front banged on the door. It was on this occasion answered by Jessop.

“Ah Inspector thank heavens it is you, we thought it was protestors, come in please".

Pearson walked in and through the house to the rear kitchen area.

Seated there was Charles Crampton, his cousins Liza, Leanne, Nora Thomas, the house maid and Tom the Gardener.

“Hello Inspector I say what can we do you for. Come to arrest us have you?”

Do not be so flippant” replied Leanne “we are about to be consumed by rioters due to you”.

“What the hell do you mean by that?” replied Charles “for Christ’s sake all I have done is try to improve the income for the estate”

Looking at Jessop he added, “Jessop”

The Butler, hovering, was mumbling, “If only the Colonel was here now it would be shotguns out and clear away those people”.

“Do not be so stupid Jessop, for heavens sake man, remember you are British, stiff upper lip and all that.” Replied Crampton.

Pearson was now of the opinion he had made an error of judgement returning at this time.

With that there came another banging on the door, Jessop went and opened it.

There was talking and then into the kitchen walked Chief Superintendent Jinton accompanied by Mr Timothy Templeton, recognised by Pearson immediately from court appearances.

Jinton spoke; “I can announce the protestors have gone for time being at least. Mr Templeton has assured them only initial enquiries have been made and no formal application submitted. As a result they have dispersed. I suspect they will be back, eventually” he added.

Those present began to disperse; this was now Pearson’s chance.

“Mr Charles Crampton, may I please have a quiet word with you?”

“What about?” he asked.

“The murders of your family”. Said the officer.

“I had better stay I think?” replied Templeton, “it seems Mr Jinton I will be required for other matters in addition to assisting the police with crowd control and pacification”.

Jinton not knowing what was afoot made no reply but turned and left.

As he left Detective Sergeant Jonathon Gibson arrived together with a uniformed sergeant and two constables.

“Hello boss I wondered if we might be able to assist?”

“Yes, indeed” replied Dick Pearson “Sergeant would you please arrange for my car to be collected and brought over, I was forced to leave it with Mr Miles the handyman”.

“Indeed I will sir” replied the sergeant in uniform adding I will leave Phillips here” referring to one of his constables, “Outside the front door, just in case any protestors think of coming back.”

“Thank you sergeant" replied Pearson.

He turned to Charles Crampton, “now sir if there is somewhere we could speak?”

”Well yes, if you must, follow me through to the Library”

Crampton turned and lead the way his solicitor Templeton in pursuit.

Pearson caught the sleeve of Gibson and whispered something to him, causing him to nod, smile and then leave towards the front entrance.

Once in the library the three were seated.

As Pearson began he noted Templeton was now recording events on his dictating machine.

This had not crossed the mind of Pearson, he had no means of doing it, he was stuck, however he had to act.

After hesitating and noting the other two were gazing at him, awaiting his next move.

He took the bull by the horns so to speak and said

“Charles Crampton, I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of your father, Colonel Crampton and other members of your family”.

There was gasp from Crampton and his solicitor, Templeton. Crampton about to speak noted that his solicitor had now placed a finger over his own mouth. A clear signal for Crampton to remain silent.

Pearson adding the police caution as set out in the police and criminal evidence act.

“You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in Court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence”