Kerry Tombs - The Malvern Murders

‘Do you believe in such things?’

The well woman said nothing, but turned quickly away, and made her way back inside the building.

Ravenscroft downed his beaker of water before retracing his steps down towards the town.

Later that morning he met Crabb outside the Tudor.

‘Good morning to you Mister Ravenscroft,’ said the constable in a cheerful manner.

‘And to you Master Crabb. Where are we going first?’

‘I thought you might want to speak first with Doctor Sommersby at Malvern College. If you would care to follow me sir, you will find it to be about ten minutes on foot. That’s the trouble with Malvern — all hills. Easy enough going downhill; not so easy coming up.’

‘So I have observed.’

‘I have had a word with my superiors, Mr. Ravenscroft, and they are more than pleased that you have taken an interest in this case. We are quite a small station here in Malvern and welcome any help we can receive.’

As the two men walked, Ravenscroft recounted his meeting with Susan the maid from the night before. Presently they approached a large austere building which bore the name ‘Malvern College’ and followed the winding path until they reached the entrance doorway. Crabb rang the bell and the door was opened by a uniformed servant.

‘Good day, my man. We are here to see Mr. Sommersby if you please,’ said Crabb stepping into the hall.

‘Please follow me gentlemen.’

The two policemen followed the servant across the wide hallway, and along a cloister like corridor, until they reached a large oak door.

‘If you would care to wait here, I will see that Doctor Sommersby is informed of your arrival.’

Ravenscroft and Crabb found themselves in what appeared to be a large library. Books adorned not only the shelves that ran around the walls of the room, but also occupied a number of tall book cases which stood in its centre.

‘Lord me! They certainly likes their books here! Don’t think I have ever seen so many books before. Wonder they has time to read them all,’ said Crabb walking around the room. Ravenscroft looked through the leaded windows out towards the quadrangle and wondered why he had never been sent to such a school as this in his youth.

The door opened and Sommersby strode into the room.

‘Mister Ravenscroft and Constable Crabb, I am sorry to have kept you waiting. Please sit down. We are very busy with examinations at the present time. I warn you that I can only give you a few minutes of my time.’

Ravenscroft was reminded of the academics dry off hand manner of the night before.

‘Thank you sir, as you are probably aware both I and Constable Crabb are investigating the death of Mr. Pitzer,’ began Ravenscroft.

‘I would have thought there was little to ask about. Pitzer died of a seizure I believe,’ replied the schoolmaster in a dismissive tone of voice.

‘How long have you known Mr and Mrs Pitzer?’ asked Ravenscroft ignoring the speaker’s last remark.

‘I have known them for about thirty years or more. I am a native of Malvern, and when Mr. Pitzer arrived here, he and his wife were most generous towards me.’

‘In what way sir?’

‘The life of a schoolmaster can sometimes be a lonely one inspector, and Mr. Pitzer and his wife invited me into their home and accorded me their kindness and hospitality,’ replied Sommersby staring at Ravenscroft through the lenses of his pince-nez.

‘I believe that Mr. Pitzer was a busy man and that he took a prominent interest in the affairs of the town?’

‘That is indeed so. He was a member of the town council, a prominent member in church circles, the local bank, temperance hall, Old Lechmere’s Almshouses, to name but a few. But really I don’t see the relevance of all this. Poor Pitzer is dead and nothing will bring him back. Now if you will excuse me, I have a Latin examination class which I must invigilate.’ said Sommersby rising quickly from his chair.

‘We are here Doctor Sommersby because we have strong grounds to believe that Mr. Pitzer was poisoned last night,’ said Ravenscroft in a matter of fact voice.

‘Poisoned! That is quite ridiculous. Both Doctor Gladwyn and I are of the same mind that Pitzer — ’

‘We found poison in a glass that Pitzer had been using,’ interjected Ravenscroft leaning forwards in his chair.

‘This is quite terrible. Why would Pitzer take poison?’

‘He did not take the poison. He was given it. Someone killed him.’

‘But… I don’t… Pitzer never had an enemy in the world,’ stuttered Sommersby.

‘He certainly had one sir,’ ventured Crabb replacing one of the books on the shelves.

‘What time did you arrive at Pitzer’s last night?’ asked Ravenscroft.

‘I arrived at a quarter past seven, a few minutes before your own arrival.’

‘And the Reverend Touchmore?’

‘He was there already.’

‘How did you travel to the house?’

‘I walked. Yes I walked. It is not far from here. I left here just before seven, and walked through the wood, and across the common until I reached the house.’

‘Even although it was getting dark sir?’ asked Crabb.

‘I know the path well. I have been that way many times constable. Now if you will excuse me I really do have to go,’ said Sommersby recovering his composure and walking over to the door.

‘One more question Doctor Sommersby. Did you see anyone either leaving the house when you arrived, or even anyone loitering in the near vicinity of the building?’

‘No.’

‘You are sure on that point?’

‘Of course, I am not in the habit of telling untruths inspector. Now I wish you good day. I am sure you can make your own way out’.

‘We may need to see you again,’ called out Ravenscroft, — but the schoolmaster had already left the room.

‘Well he’s a fine fellow and no mistake,’ said Crabb as the two men made their way back along the corridor.

‘I think our fine Doctor Sommersby could tell us a lot more, Crabb. He was more than anxious last night to see that everyone should have assumed that Pitzer had died of natural causes.’

‘I think you rattled him sir, with your questioning, if you don’t mind my saying so sir.’

‘Well we will certainly need to return to question him further. Where are we going to now Crabb?’

‘I thought you might want to see the Reverend Touchmore at the Priory Church sir.’

‘Then lead on. Upwards this time I believe.’

‘Afraid so sir,’ said Crabb smiling.

The church clock of the Priory church sounded out the hour of eleven, as the two policemen made their way through the churchyard towards an old building which was situated at the entrance to the site.

‘The Reverend gentleman has his office up these stairs sir,’ said Crabb pushing open the heavy door. They made their way up the winding staircase until they reached a landing, where they found a doorway facing them.

Crabb banged his fist on the door.

‘Ah Inspector Ravenscroft, the constable said that you would want to speak with me. Do please come in,’ said Touchmore ushering the two men inside, ‘I’m afraid you will have to take me as you find me. Paper work you know. Never ending paper work!’

The clergyman picked up a stack of old papers that had been placed on one of the chairs and threw them into a corner of the floor. Ravenscroft observed that Touchmore’s desk was littered with piles of books and ledgers; whilst other old papers, charts and artefacts seemed to be gathering dust in every inch of the room.

‘Do take a seat inspector,’ said the cleric indicating the empty chair with one hand, whilst using the other to mop his sweating brow with a large red spotted handkerchief. ‘Dear me, there never seems enough hours in the day to fulfil all the tasks one has set oneself. Oh my cane. I’ve been looking for that all morning. So that’s where it was all the time, on the chair under all those papers.’