Murders Without Motive (5 page)

The couple married in the year 1980 in Daram, where her father and Colonel Crampton then a lieutenant where serving. Henrietta was aged only 17 years, the Colonel being 27 years of age at that time.

Saturday, October 27
^th
2012

Double Fatal Road Traffic Accident

Crampton Lane, Tarporley, Cheshire

At 11.30pm, the police received information from ambulance control they were attending a road accident in Crampton Lane, Tarporley, Cheshire. There was one vehicle involved it appeared to have two occupants. Almost simultaneously the fire service received a call from the same caller reporting, after the impact. The vehicle had burst into flames. The Fire Service were also now in attendance. Two traffic patrol cars were dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival of the emergency services the Fire Service eventually extinguished the flames.

The ambulance service was unable to take any action as both occupants of the vehicle involved in the accident were visible inside the burned out vehicle. Both were dead, in fact beyond recognition. The ambulance had left the scene informing a local doctor, who agreed to visit to certify death.

Traffic officers attended and spoke with the person reporting and only witness. One Nora Thomas a house maid from the Crampton Hall who was walking her dog.

She alleged the vehicle; a Rolls Royce had been travelling at a fast speed from Tarporley towards Crampton Hall.

On reaching the sharp right hand bend, far from slowing down the car had not only maintained its speed but continued in a straight trajectory.

The car eventually struck an oak tree with full force and came to rest.

She ran to the scene and opened the car driver’s door.

 She identified them as her employers Colonel Archibald Crampton and his wife Henrietta Crampton. Both were still alive as she could hear them breathing and see their chests expanding and contracting. There was however some blood coming from the mouths of both occupants.

Smelling something from within she initially assumed this to be intoxicating liquor. The Colonel and his wife had been to the local hunt ball, he was known to be a heavy drinker.

They were secured by their seat belts. Before she could take any further action she smelled petrol, this appeared to be getting stronger. This caused her to stand back.

It was fortunate for the vehicle suddenly burst into flames and was completely engulfed.

She was of the opinion her own life was saved only by almighty providence.

The officers noted she gave repeated signs of the cross indicating that she was of a religious disposition. Unable to take further remedial action she called the emergency services and remained at the scene.

The fire extinguished. Doctor Assam an on call doctor with the local out of hours on call general practitioner service, attended and confirmed death.

This action prevented the necessity for the ambulance service to remove the dead bodies, thus preventing the ambulance being taken out of service whilst it was disinfected.

The Coroner, Major Lampton also a local solicitor was informed and authorised the removal of the bodies by Messrs Hughson to the mortuary at Chester City Hospital.

The Rolls Royce car was sheeted and removed to the police headquarters garage for further examination.

The incident was thus far reported as a road traffic accident, one vehicle, with no other vehicle or person involved. There was no suggestion of any prosecution. As a result crime scene examination and photographs were not then and there involved.

The following morning a post-mortem examination on both bodies was carried out by Professor Hallam at Chester hospital. Both persons had chest impact injuries and some neck dislocation but had not died from such injuries. The causes of death of the Colonel and his wife were the same, burning.

Constable Jock Peters the police Coroner’s Officer attended the post mortems. He collected the causes of death certificates from Professor Hallam.

Arriving back at Police Headquarters he reported the matter to the Coroner Major Lampton who arranged for and opened an Inquest and conformed death as accidental.

Detective Inspector Pearson was attending the police garage upon another matter. Having heard of the accident he took it upon himself to make a mechanical examination of the Rolls Royce. The officer having served in the force traffic department remains a qualified vehicle examiner.

When he took a closer look at the vehicle involved his suspicions grew as to the reason for the cause of the accident.

He called upon a second opinion from an officer of the Ministry of Transport Traffic and Vehicles Examination Department also known as VOSA.

An officer visited the police garage and confirmed the suspicions of Detective Inspector Pearson.

The examiners had in fact discovered that the brake fluid pipes of the Rolls Royce, owned and driven by Colonel Crampton, had been interfered with, that is to say. 

In the opinion of the officers, the fittings had been made loose. The result of this was that for some time the car brakes performed as normal. After some miles and usage on the very bending country lanes the fittings became so loose that there was a catastrophic failure of the car’s brakes.

In addition a close examination of the interior of the vehicle engine compartment which for this type of old car was large, this search revealed a metal tin which had a small hole drilled at the base.

This was consistent with the petrol can being concealed and carried in the vehicle with dripping petrol.

Forensic tests have been carried out at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Birmingham. These have confirmed that the item was in fact petrol in the can.

The Forensic Science officer, Professor Bolister is also of the opinion that the vehicle brakes having been tampered caused the car to crash.

The dripping petrol could have exploded at any time and it was coincidence it had done so after the crash.

The villain going for a double whammy so to speak the professor had said.

Petrol had leaked from the drilled hole and when it came into contact with the hot engine it caused a catastrophic explosion.

As a result of these findings, the case was no longer recorded as a road traffic accident but one of murder.

Jack smiled as he thought of Pearson.

 “Now there” he thought, lies a future budding, bloody good detective. Not directly his case but he was suspicious, then, taking time to look, to see and investigate.

Further he called upon another qualified opinion before showing his hand. Very good indeed.”

He then thought, “What did he do now?” “Let me see”.

He read on.

Detective Inspector Pearson visited Crampton Hall making further enquiries.

He spoke with Jessop the Butler who stated he had nothing to do with the any of the vehicles but suggested Pearson speaks with Tom the gardener. Jessop then closed the door on the officer. As the officer was walking away Jessop having opened the door again called something.

Pearson looked behind him believing Jessop may pass on further information whereupon the Butler called, “Officer, in future please use the rear door”.

Jack laughed as he read it for he thought “had it have been him he would have replied, “You mean the tradesman’s entrance”.

Tom the gardener was seen confessing to cleaning all the motor vehicles but stated he knew nothing of the mechanics and added that the maintenance on the everyday cars was carried out by Simcock`s garage in the village, but the Rolls Royce was cared for by Mister Rupert Crampton, a son of the Colonel. An old car enthusiast he also maintained his own Bentley and other “old crock cars” to quote the witness.

Mister Rupert was interviewed; he was under his Vintage Porsche car at the time.  He admitted maintaining the vehicle and had done so only a week prior to the accident. He had also refuelled the car from the pump kept at the rear of the hall.

He added that the garage where the old cars were parked up was always kept locked and the key hung up in his room.

 He appeared genuinely shocked on receiving the report of the cause of the accident.

He was however a suspect when Pearson ascertained from the local police officer, rumour was rife Rupert Crampton was in financial difficulties over gambling debts.

One had to keep an open mind but there was always the chance that Rupert had sabotaged the vehicle, killing his parents and thus being the eldest son would inherit the massive estates with all its wealth.

Jack, his hand rubbing the bottom of his chin, thought, “Good work Pearson, the son is a suspect but you quite rightly are keeping an open mind”.

Reading on Jack hesitated when he read.

Pearson, although a little suspicious of Rupert Crampton noted his mechanical safety skills left much to be desired for the car under which he had been working was in fact only resting on bricks. Using his police traffic experience in dealing with deaths in such circumstances he advised Crampton the error of working with such equipment  but rather use a proper Jack.

“Very impressive” thought Jack; this young man really does have his eye to business.

Enquiries at this time were limited for with the deaths of the parents several of the staff had been permitted to take some time off. On the day of the accident the only other members of the household at the Hall were Nora Thomas a maid and Edward Miles.

Nora Thomas was interviewed but stated that she knew nothing. She had worked at the hall for over twenty years, was well liked and very religious, according to Jessop.

Her room was searched nothing was found to assist in the enquiry.

As result she was of no consequence in the investigation save to say that she suggested the officer speak with Jessop or Edward Miles who being the handyman was always around the estate.

A search of the outbuildings revealed one Mr Edward Miles, shaving a door in one of the outhouses.

Miles was a man aged about forty, slim, even lean in build. A man of dark complexion almost of a Mediterranean complexion. He was quietly spoken and occasionally smiled. A pleasant man not a person from his demeanour one would think of as a handyman rather more of a service provider, say a taxi driver or a waiter or other worker In a restaurant or similar.

 He spoke with some type of accent though Pearson could not quite guess what it was.

The man had informed Pearson he was a general handyman with no fixed trade. He dealt with all maintenance problems not only at the Hall but on all the farms and houses on the estate.

He had been working for the Colonel for only a year. A married man but with no children his wife Elizabeth and two children of her previous marriage. They were resident on the estate in a cottage owned by the Colonel. As is normal, the house being rent free and came with the job.

Miles stated prior to finding employment at Crampton Hall he had worked for Cheshire Council for several years again on house maintenance. He had been made redundant when the council had sold off the houses to its tenants under Government instructions.

Jessop spoke highly of Miles, he was a punctual man, did his work satisfactorily, and always attended to any job when asked and without complaint. Jessop confirmed he was well liked by the Colonel and Mrs Crampton.

They liked him particularly; for he was so good with his step-children and in his off time was often seen playing various woodland games with them. The Colonel had commented whilst out riding he had seen the family at play. The children dressed in grass skirts and Miles had been dressed up as a native African or similar, with mud rubbed onto his skin and he could be seen running about in bare feet. Yes a very good family man.