Murders Without Motive (10 page)

Crampton replied, “No comment”.

“May I just say something” said Gibson. “Surely Mr Crampton if you have nothing to hide you would here and now give some explanation”

“No comment” he replied

Gibson asked, “May I suggest if you are considering waiting until you have an opportunity to confer with your solicitor, then realising what evidence is mounting against you? Then, come back with some concocted story, this will not only help you but go against you”.

“I say Inspector, that is a disgraceful comment it amounts to an allegation I as a solicitor, an officer of the court, a respected person from a respected firm am in the business of colluding  no more, aiding, abetting ,counselling or procuring a client to commit a serious offence,”

He added, “I suggest that unless you have further questions and evidence, legal ones that is, to put to my client this interview should come to an end. As for you sergeant I intend to make an official complaint as to his over bearing attitude and unwarranted allegation”.

The interview came to an end.

They arose and then left the interview room arriving in the charge office where Pearson said to the custody sergeant, Striker, “Bail this man under part four of the police and criminal evidence act, say for two months that should give time for the results to be known.”

“What is that” asked Crampton; part four bail, what does it cost I don’t have any money with me?”

“ Sergeant Striker as the custody officer and now in charge replied, “It means Mr Crampton, that you sign a legally binding document that when you are now released from police custody you will go free but your are on bail until the date given. Bail is an obligation to do or refrain from something. At that time of your return you will appear here unless cancelled in writing. On your return you may be re-bailed to a further date or you may be released from bail or you may be charged with a crime or an offence”. If you fail to comply that is another offence to be dealt with by the court, you don’t have to pay the police anything”.

“Oh I see” he said looking grim and worried.

“Not to worry sir”, said Striker “all will be resolved; if you might just sign here Sir I will give you a copy.

“Crampton signed and was given his copy

Templeton replied as all good solicitors do, “Don’t worry Charles, what he is telling you is, they don’t have any evidence, they have just been on as fishing trip”.

“Let them test your clothes they won’t find anything I am sure. Come Charles let us be off.”

They both turned and left. Striker looked at Pearson and said, “Slimy Bastard that Templeton, ah. slimy and it is amazing how many of his clients most of whom are illiterate come up with the most fantastic stories when they send in their statement made to him. That is after they have had time to digest the questions and therefore the evidence the police have.

“Yep, they are all the same Briefs, I mean, money grabbing bastards, making a mint on the taxpayer supposedly in the name of justice.” Said Pearson, adding a rider, “an informant told me that his mate on a charge of damage was on a bender, you know a community service order if he stays good ok but if he gets done again he goes down the line to the nick. The guy was told by Templeton to get some other kids with a clean sheet to admit it". The kid arrived at court give evidence to the court it was him not the boy in the dock. The villain was discharged and the fall guy arrested. Templeton then represented him and then told his client to no comment. There being no other evidence and they couldn’t use what he had said in court, no action was taken. Templeton got both off, the bastard, bent as a pin.

“Ah” replied Striker, “you are right, history will show he did more harm to the community getting these kids off, than any of them individually.”

“They get off, it’s a kick to them so they keep offending, they keep going back to him, and he keeps getting more fees”.

“It is a bloody scandal really. Still we are only the cops”.

“Such is life”, he added, closed the custody book, picked up his cup of tea, just brought in for him, and then walked into the main office.

Pearson followed then ran upstairs to his office, what now he thought.

Gibson and he spent the remainder of the next day bagging up the items seized from Charles Crampton; labels were placed, the accompanying paper work done.

The process completed Pearson picked up the telephone and called Ray, the handyman driver to come up and take the items to Forensic Laboratory at Birmingham.

The job finally done for the day, he sat in his chair and stuck his feet up on the desk. After several moment he said, “Gibson”.

“Yes Skipper” replied Gibson, what is it?”

“I really don’t have a bloody clue who committed these murders”.

Gibson smiled but said nothing.

After a moment’s silence Pearson stood walked over to the door put on his coat and said, “I sent Richards the list of old staff I had seen they didn’t help. I wonder if his magical skills found something I did not?”

In a moment he was gone.

Jack Richards finishing his review now of all papers to hand had several notes recorded, if the arrest of Crampton came to nothing as he suspected these tit bits might just help.

Tuesday the 7
^th
of May 2013

Charles Crampton failed to appear at breakfast time, Cousin Liza was not anxious, the poor man had such a traumatic day yesterday and the night before in police custody, so traumatic he had attempted suicide. “Heavens” she thought, what a to do. Still, Mr Templeton had said he was taking proceedings against the police, for compensation.

At the police headquarters Superintendent Lampton and Detective Inspector Bates of The Professional Standards Office were setting off on a mission enquiry of a different line.

Both young aged below thirty, they had been direct entrants from university.

They were academically very bright and were able to absorb and retain information. This, from children, they had always had excellent grades in examinations at school and they carried this ability onwards.

They had a good knowledge of the law and even better of police regulations.

As for dealing with criminals on the street, undertaking raids, attending serious public disorder, or being alone on a Saturday night with gangs of drunken yobs running wild, they had no knowledge and experience and of course due to their rank, never would.

Lampton the boss was little known, however, his briefcase carrier Bates was known as being arrogant and smarmy by the troops he had a name of being “A loveable shit”.

It was always practice in the police, emulating politicians, that the main man never carried anything, instead it was the bag carrier, in this case the Inspector.

The Chief-Constable had passed details of the suicide attempt by Crampton.

It was their task to investigate, the case, dressed immaculately in dark suits they arrived at Chester police station.

Showing their warrant cards to the civilian at the desk they were shown to the custody suite.

On arrival they opened the prisoners in custody book, turned the pages and on reaching the relevant one they removed it replacing it with a piece of paper stating they had seized the items.

They went through the building arriving in the office of the duty inspector, who knowing they were in the building had left post haste.

Striker had remained for he knew they would wish a statement, It was self survival.  He would have to make a full and frank statement of what had happened, dropping two other cops in the shit from a great height.

He was, as he thought called and duly made his statement and signed it.

Sergeant Eric Smith and Constable Wason were called in turn. They had sat and on doing so were served with papers as to the nature of the complaints against them. They signed for a copy.

The interview commenced after the usual caution, you are not obliged to say anything. The proceedings brief, both refused to answer any questions.

They were told they could leave, however they could see from the expression of the faces of the men from the Gestapo or field police as they were known. That going back to headquarters or The Big House, without full and Frank confessions their outlook was not bright.

As they left Lampton called, “You two?”

They turned Lampton was holding out his hand.

“Your note books for the night of this incident, hand them over”.

They reached into their pockets and duly handed them over.

“You can go now; get another book each from the Inspector, where-ever he is hiding” said Lampton.

“We will see Crampton next” said Lampton; they walked through the police station speaking to no-one as they did so.

It was thirty minutes later nearly lunch time in fact when they arrived at Crampton Hall.

Ringing the front door bell it was answered by Jessop. He looked them up and down after a few moments of silence he asked.

“Yes, do you have an appointment?”

“No but we wish to speak with Mr Charles Crampton” said Inspector Bates.

“Not the press or media are you? If so all enquiries are being directed to Mr Templeton the family solicitor”. Came back Jessop in an arrogant stance.

“Police, we are the police” replied Lampton

Producing his warrant card, he then identified himself.

“I am Superintendent Lampton, this is Inspector Bates, we are from the police Professional Standards Office. We are here investigating the bad care of Mr Charles Crampton whilst he was in police custody.

Jessop attitude completely changed, he smiled and said, “Gentlemen, please do step inside”.

Once inside they arrived in the magnificent hallway.

“Please wait here said Jessop adding, “I will get someone to speak with you”.

Before he could do anything a female voice called,

“Jessop who is that?”

“ Not the damn press again?"

“No madam” he said, “two senior police officers investigating the atrocious treatment Mr Charles received whilst unlawfully locked up like a criminal”.

“Hello” said the lady, short fat and sporting the family ginger hair, “I am Cousin Lisa, would you like to see Mister Charles?”

“We would madam,” said Bates. “We require written statement from him concerning all the details of the treatment he received or rather failed to receive. We take these matters very seriously” he added”

“I will go at once and call Mr Charles; strangely he has not been down from his room today. I assume he is too upset from all the distress of the false arrest and such, not to mention attempting to take his own life. It is all very disgusting Superintendent. I hope you will punish those responsible and of course as Mr Templeton says, adequately compensate Charles”.

She turned and left before he could reply.

She ran up the stairs, meanwhile Lampton and Bates waited.

A moment or so later there was banging, and then she arrived at the top of the stairs.

Looking down she called “Gracious Jessop, I cannot get a reply, the door is jammed, there must be something amiss, get a man in quickly”.

“I will get the handyman he is working in the cellar, I will not be long.