Inspector Cutler:
Learns about the death of Claudine Sayers.
Chapter 1
It has just gone twelve ... the sun has long passed its head through into the darkness of night. Good people who work civilised hours — have gone to their beds.
From the table — the only one vacant at this time of the night ... with views of the new Willmount Road Theatre building; of red bricks, plaster columns and casement windows ... not that this table commanded any greater view than any others of the theatre~theatre now obstructing — the coloured carnival lights on Nelson Pier, and the fishing boats — the building blocking once a panorama view of the harbour; sat eighty-year old mr Grace.
'Coffee, mr Grace? Asked young Mabel. His one word reply was, 'Yes.' Given without any eye contact.
Mabel was young because she was not yet eighty. And as was the way in these modern times ... poured the coffee in haste and without vainness — yet more frivolousness than her own appearance.
'What's holding your nose in that paper this morning?' Her question he felt warranted no reply, and so it received none.
'Rude old bugger, is that mr Grave.' Mabel sharing her option with Janet ... once out of ear shot.
~~~~
The cafe cleared of its clientele — as the town clock struck five minutes passed the hour of one (having never had kept the correct time since 1889.) Caps and heavy coats again placed upon bodies of men setting off home after another day's hard work. Mr Grace only once raised his head to acknowledge a farewell from Jack Newton, then return to his reading.
'Bring me two slices of toast and jam, and another coffee ... be sure it's made from hot water.' The order was firmly directed towards Mabel - and she was well aware of its urgency.
~~~~
The jury — without retiring — returned a verdict that the deceased ... miss Claudine Sayers; was found dead on the 30th November. However there was no evidence to show how death had occurred.
This is what held the head of mr Grace, when Mabel asked the question of him.
Chapter 2
The night of the 13th of November, the new musical "The Pirates of Penzance" had being running for many months ... tonight was to be its finale and farewell performance.
The final act brought all the actors to the stage again — encore; bravo, array, array ... the theatre with-stood the stamping of many feet. When at last the stragglers left the stage — so did Jimmy Toolman ... arm in arm with Dorothy Newbridge.
It appeared all the cabs had occupants; so it was decided to walk ... taking advantage of the exercise it would entail. To the casual observer Timmy was a head taller — a fine Edwardian young man ... with coat and top hat to suit. Dorothy also met most the periods criteria. Dorothy glanced at her watch.
'It's tomorrow already.' She whispered — pinching Jimmy's hand. Jimmy for his part squeezed her cheek.
'Tomorrow by-jove,' said Jimmy, 'and I have not had my reward ... nor taken advantage of a willing encounter.' His hand now on her breast. Ah! ah! The evening has turned from pleasant to very-pleasant; Jimmy has enjoyed the play. Dorothy had slipped her warm hand in his and — together held for most of the performance ... even on one occasion gave him a gentle kiss … any dark thoughts he'd had, now were full of light — nothing was lost at sea.
~~~~
A cab was stopped at the steps of the apartment when they arrived. As coincidences go ... mr Grace has at this moment removed his head from the Dunghill Press - witnessing the arrivals, and shows an interest in their movements ... also noticing a figure come out from the parked cab and slowly follows the new arrivals into the building.
Reader: I (inspector Cutler,) must advise this has nought to do with then narrative with which my mind is set upon solving ... so, will leave Jimmy Toolman and Dorothy Newbridge to make love; and for mr Grace to ponder on the stranger (to him, to them and us,) and as yet found no need to inform the police.
~~~
The younger Mabel has brought a second helping of toast and jam (before the request has been made,) as is her custom to do so ... plus another coffee (made from hot water.)
'That must be some story that's holding your interest in that paper George?' The older mr Grace had often regretted allowing his christian name becoming public. Her question he felt warranted no reply, and so it received none.
The headline reads ... Mysterious Death.
A witness (a girl of much the same age, and known to the deceased,) mentioned — a purse found in the pocket of the dress contained £4 in money, a silver brooch, a watch, and a pair of earrings. Not much for twenty-something old girl ... thought mr Grace, checking his pockets to confirm that he had slightly more (although no brooch nor earrings, and that his watch, still hung on his Albert chain.)
The next paragraph followed up on an earlier report that on August 23rd, miss Claudine Sayers obtained a fortnight's holiday, and left with the intention of visiting her mother, who resides near Graymarsh. It was confirmed that she did go there, and while there endeavoured to negotiate for the sale of some jewellery (no description provided,) which she owns jointly with her sister.
Chapter 3
As is my custom become these days — after the arrival of miss Blue-bell Jones ... into my life — now, that's to be aired here at this time; arrive at my office — two hours from the hour once arrived prior to her acquaintance ... find the Dunghill Press - opened upon the very page that held the head of mr Grace.
With continuous annoyance ... as is his habit — constable Krone - highlights interesting (to him anyway,) paragraphs within the text.
The headline reads ... Mysterious Death.
The details followed as recorded ... in the theatre group was one girl Friday named Claudine Sayers - aged twenty-three, and on Friday last her dead body was found on the premises under very singular and mysterious circumstances ... the girl came to Mrs Lewis (the groups manageress,) as a general stage hand last Christmas, and was with them until August 23rd of this year, when she obtained a fortnight's holiday, and left with the intention of visiting her mother, who resides near Graymarsh.
Sleep (I have found,) has been a problem of late — new lovers find themselves (burning the candle from both ends ... it's said,) and now I have come to understand the meaning — however a good mystery sharpens the mind.
'Hot coffee constable, with three sugar lumps today.' My voice, to me (anyway,) has the tone of a lover — not that of Police Inspector. (I hope he does not pick up on the warmth in my command.) On his return with the coffee and a slice of chocolate rough, the constable remarked. 'To think that girl was here in Graymarsh, and we never knew.'
'Why would we know?' I replied with less feeling (I hopped,) in my voice. He rejoined. 'We my know of her sister, for she — it say lives here?'I believe there is no case for me to investigate - it's just a missing person, once missed was found dead. No murder as far as the Dunghill Press and the police reports show.
~~~~
On September the 2nd she resumed duties at the theatre (prior to her departure on this holiday,) she had been a cheery, lively happy natured girl — but after her return she appeared to have some trouble on her mind, some joy and spirit seemed to have gone.
Yet over the following months performed her duties with the best of her skills — never once was she slow or late to her post. However, she did not put in an appearance, and an examination of her room showed that her bed had not been slept in. Mr Lewis reported her disappearance to the police, and communicated with the girl's friends. No information as to her movements could be gained.
November the 23rd, while Mr and Mrs Lewis were sitting together - with other members of the group ... having just completed a rather superior performance from the night before (they had all agreed - that was the case,) they heard moans coming from over head (possibly from a room above the curtain holding bay,) knowing that this store-room was continually overrun with rats and cats, it was concluded that one of these animals had been unfortunate enough to become jammed between two pieces of the scenery and was unable to escape. No one (that night,) volunteered ... so it was not till the following Friday - after that nights performance concluded, and any, if any, moaning had ceased.
Mr Lewis added here at this point, that several months had passed between that night and the following Friday.
Yes this was confirmed by those there.
Now the smell from above became very offensive ... growing in noisomeness until it became almost unbearable. It's at this moment of time mr Lewis, mr Applebee, and mr Rivers - determined to overhaul the scenery and endeavour to ascertain the source of this annoyance.
Stripped from actors costume ... naked to trousers and boots; lanterns at hand and fear to the rear of their thoughts ... climb the ladder to heights (seldom achieved on the stage below.) They move large quantities of stored scenery, props and ropes and buckles and chains and boxes (most with ease,) but one piece defied their united efforts. Mr Rivers (the younger by ten years and fitter by five stone,) climbed up to the top of the mass to see what was the cause of resistance. To his horror he discovers lying on the top of the scenery the dead body of miss Claudine Sayers in an advanced stage of decomposition.
At the inquest the facts were presented with the best of memory. Mr Rivers advised.
The body was lying on its back with the hands crossed over its breast, and the bodice of the merino dress which she had worn when last seen — torn as if in great agony. The girl lay on a bed, which she had carefully prepared, between two unused curtains — the bed must have been prepared in a most deliberate manner, and must have been difficult to except to such a young person.
~~~~
The constable entered my office with fresh coffee ... I placed the paper to one side, stood and cleared my vision — no words did we exchange. As a man recently in love, and fond of a young female figure ... my eyes filled with tears — some escaping, down and over my checks into my mouth.
~~~~
The report continued (a majority of her face features were completely destroyed, and the flesh deeply discoloured.) The girl had disappeared on November l0th, and was found on November 30th. The Dunghill Press being of the date of November 16th seems to show that she was then alive, but this is only conjecture; as all enquires made to date cannot discover any one who saw her after October 15th.
The inquest found. The medical evidence was to the effect that the body was too far gone to enable it to be said how long she had been dead. There was no trace of poison or of any tampering with the girl. The doctors favoured the idea that she had died of starvation, though they could not say positively. The girl shared jewellery with her sister, and some disagreement had taken place between them as to disposal of it. This appeared to be the only trouble on her mind.
Dressed in her fineness (with her stage manner to the front,) mrs Lewis addressed the Coroner's court. Spoken, better than any previous solo recital — her voice would be heard at the back of any theatre in town (or in any country.) Mrs Lewis said in evidence. I asked her what her trouble was, but she had a way of clenching her teeth and nothing could then be got from her. I told her to go in and have a good cry, but she threw herself on the kitchen table (and said.)
'It is my sister who is driving me to this; I want my money, I want my money ... is all she demands of me.'
Mrs Lewis rejoined. I laughed the matter off, and tried to comfort her as much as I could. I had engaged another girl to come on the Wednesday afternoon. (She, miss Claudine said.) 'I might as well stay here as anywhere else.' She said (continued mrs Lewis,) this with what appeared to be some meaning, but at the time I did not take any notice of it. She was depressed and her appearance was very remarkable, and there was a very peculiar look about her eyes. I never saw her again alive ... and her last words to me were — that she wished to go right away — right away from everybody, and everyone, from here, there and everywhere.The Coroner in summing up said.
The deceased had evidently been most respectable and trustworthy — becoming much depressed in consequence of the unsatisfactory position of her property, her love of her sister and her life in general; and in his long experience as a medical man and as a Coroner had convinced him that young women in certain conditions of health were likely to take most irrational views of matters which they would at other times treat lightly.
It was not at all unlikely that the deceased had given way to despondency to the extent of determining to take her own life by starvation. The Coroner paused to gain new breath, a sip of (who there in the room,) thought — water, continued.
There were no indications of violence having been used towards her, so that any theory that she had been murdered was quite untenable, nor were there any signs of poisoning. The post mortem examination revealed conditions which bore out the theory of starvation, and he would not say that the examination absolutely established that as the true solution of the mystery surrounding her death (but it pointed to it as being most probable,) along with the circumstance that the body was almost nude was also evidence in favour of that explanation — because it was a remarkable fact that in every case of death from starvation or thirst that he had heard of — the deceased had been discovered partly nude. Although no one there in the courtroom this day could (ever,) remember having heard or read such an explanation ... a surveyor who had nearly perished from thirst - has given such account ... there had said, that just before losing his reason, he was overtaken by an uncontrollable desire to tear off his clothes.
The Coroner - looking up from the report, which lay in front of him ... added, while indications of starvation were thus present in this case, there was an absence of direct evidence to that effect, and the jury would probably be unable to express any opinion as to what had actually caused the death of miss Claudine Sayers.
Chapter 4
Willmount Road Theatre ... was now discharging those there on this last performance of "The Pirates of Penzance" — not a derogatory word was said against reputation of any actor or actress — nor a disparaging comment of a person or thing — encore; bravo, array, array ... the theatre was experiencing for the first time ... stamping of many feet.
Mr Lewis (theatre owner, and his wife,) were as proud as punch.
~~~~There was no other incidents brought to my attention today ... the people of Graymarsh — having behaved themselves (maybe due to the winter weather,) or maybe all were intrigued by life in general. What ever their reason, my mind was not concerned towards them — my only thought was a night before a roaring fire and the company of my love ... my pretty miss Blue-bell Jones.
'Goodnight constable.' Were my parting words. As I passed the desk an old gentleman stood (his back towards me,) giving information to the constable
Based on a true story - first posted, December 1888.
(Mysterious Death.)
The End.