Murders Without Motive (6 page)

The Colonel was over-heard saying to Mrs Crampton how the fellow would make a better son than the ones they had. He had nothing yet he was a proper family man unlike his own sons who were just scroungers living off him.

Mrs Crampton had commented, “Really Archibald, watch your tone, the servants may hear you”.

Miles consented to having his home and outbuildings searched by Pearson and his sergeant. There were no tools or other items discovered directly to connect him to the crime.

Pearson had also checked the antecedents of Miles with the council who confirmed his story and the foreman had given him a good reference stating he would employ him again if it were necessary. At this stage Miles having no motive was not a suspect.

Again, thought Jack “yes my lad but, this Miles fellow as with the rest even Jessop the Butler, he wouldn’t be the first disgruntled employee to see off a family, yes, keep an open mind” he mumbled.

The funerals were held Pearson and Gibson attending standing at the rear of the church and at the perimeter of the burial Ground so as to be discreet. If the murderer attended he must have blended in well for neither officer saw anything suspicious.

The trail grew cold; other serious cases were reported Pearson and Gibson were obliged to place the Crampton murder on the back burner.

The Coroner a friend of the Crampton family had recorded a verdict of unlawful killing by a person or persons unknown.

December the 26
^th
2012 Bank Holiday Boxing Day

It was 11am the local hunt had gathered on the outskirts of St Martin’s village, at the Bull’s Head car park in fact some two miles from Crampton Hall and still within the area of the estate.

It was full not only of cars but of hunt supporters. All were taking a glass, or two, of Sherry, this, the day after Christmas.

The old Colonel gone, the tradition was continued if only in memory or rather some might say respect for him and his good Lady.

The hunting of animals such as foxes now banned by law the local organisation known as “The Hunt “ had continued.

In theory they now hunted drag, which was a bundle pulled behind a horse. The hounds chased the item and the riders received their thrill.

In reality it was suspected by all including the local organisation of hunt saboteurs that should a fox show its head then who could say or rather stop dogs in full cry from following their natural instinct.

It was a shady affair not as it was supported by many locals but those who did were the gentry.

Many of whom were magistrates who was to say anything?”

The local police were officially supposed to enforce the law but in reality with all the crime and reduced budgets, foxes were at the lower end of their priorities.

When officers were giving evidence in the local court and relying upon the judgement of magistrates, in the real world it was wheels within wheels, so to speak.

In the absence of the Colonel and his lady, pride of place was afforded to a daughter Lydia Crampton. Herself a fine horse woman, or so it was reported.

Royal connections even with a Princess not to mention various lords and ladies were the local gossip.

The sherry drunk, the hounds titillated, the hunt set off at a brisk tempo.

It was an hour later when lady Lydia Crampton was found lying in Dansons Wood, her horse standing nearby.

The poor maiden lay lifeless when her cousin Rose Madeline Crampton entered the clearing in the wood, in pursuit of cousin Lydia.

The hounds in full cry it had been every man or woman for themselves to keep up in the hope of being present at the kill.

As she approached and seeing the jet black gelding standing alone poor Rose saw her cousin lifeless on the floor.

Reaching for her mobile phone she called an ambulance and next the hunt master.

On arrival the ambulance crew contacted the police. Inspector Pearson and several uniformed officers attended the scene.

The deceased identified by one Rose Crampton as being that of her cousin Lydia of Crampton Hall. The deceased was aged 31 years of age, born in the year 1982. She was small in stature, standing about five feet four inches, very slim. She had bright red ginger hair as did the Colonel, her father.

A very keen horse rider of many years standing.

It seemed that the death was accidental for above where she was lying there was a long thin branch of a tree stretching across her path.

When measured by the police it was consistent with being at a height where the deceased riding flat out in full cry would have struck it, thus knocking her from her horse.

The body when examined by the paramedics at the scene indicated a broken neck.

They exhibited to police officers at the scene that the head revolved nearly 360 degrees, a sure sign of a broken neck

As yet there was no apparent bruising,

A check at the scene revealed no other injures.

The body was then transported to Chester City hospital.

The Coroner was informed at home and authorised a post mortem examination the following day.

Jack stopped, hesitating from his reading, he rose momentarily, and then walked around the room stretching his legs and resting his eyes.

On returning, he read on with interest, “was this then the first accidental death?”

Picking up the file he read on

Professor Hallam carried out a post-mortem. The only but fatal injury to the body of Miss Crampton was that of a broken neck. This was as anticipated

What had not been anticipated was the additional comment of Professor Hallam in that the neck now showed very severe bruising across the front.

Once the Coroner’s officer Constable Jock Peters had reported this, Pearson and his sergeant had again visited the scene, taking a closer look.

As a result it was decided to consult one Mr Bret Chambers. A retired sergeant who, having served in the Special Air Service, had become an expert in survival techniques.

Mr Chambers had visited the scene and made a close examination of the area. He immediately discovered marks upon the branch of the tree branch which indicated it had been tied back.

A series of tests were carried out, the result being that it was clear that prior to the so-called accident the tree branch had been pulled aside, then tied.

There were traces that a trip wire had been used.

The result was that as Miss Crampton had ridden past the tree, her horse had struck the trip wire. This had released the branch which had swung at speed striking the rider across the throat with devastating and fatal consequences.

In reality, a man trap had been set and Miss Crampton had set this off and received a fatal blow across the front of the throat.

The case was reclassified from accidental death to that of Murder.

Brett Chambers was satisfied that the technique was not unusual in the armed forces and by those trained in the art of survival.  It was also common to see such a trap set for wild animals in Africa and in the Middle East.

Marks found upon the branch were consistent with having been tied back with the strong but thin wire recovered from the near the scene.

Footprints were discovered at the scene but could not be connected due to the numbers of members of the emergency services who had attended  The impression was simply flat.

Detective Inspector Pearson had made further enquiries at Crampton Hall amongst its staff.

A Mister Tom Forest, the local game keeper was interviewed and stated that he had been in the woods that day ensuring trespassers were not there to obstruct the hunt. He had in fact only seen three persons. Nora Thomas walking her dog; Ted Miles was seen running in the woods as was his regular routine. The third person was Jessop the Butler also out walking.

The enquiry had thus far advanced no further, the staff seemingly cleared. None in any event appeared to have any motive for such a horrendous crime. Certainly there was no financial gain apparent. For, the estate fell to the sons in order of birth. The death of a daughter held no immediate reasoning.

Back-ground checks locally revealed no scandal or gossip against the deceased. She appeared to live a quiet peaceful existence, no record of debt nor any traumatic love affairs.

Pearson found himself with a blank sheet as to reasons or motive. The death just seemed a pointless waste of life.

There remained no motive whatsoever for the death of this young lady. To all intents and purposes it was either murder by mistaken identity of done without motive or any hop of gain.

The mystery had only deepened.

December the 27
^th
2012

The following day the family and staff once again in deep mourning were joined by two cousins

A Miss Liza Macdonald and Leanne Carr, arriving to give support to what remained of the family.

The house in mourning the family and staff wearing black it was therefore with some surprise that when the household awakened the cousins Macdonald and Carr hearing a banging noise looked through their bedroom window when they saw  their cousin Rupert Crampton working on his vintage sports car.

Although accepting he was an enthusiast and possibly in shock and requiring a distraction it was nevertheless thought as rather undignified.

They washed, dressed and arrived for Breakfast. They were joined by Charles Crampton a younger member of the family.

Rupert failed to show and it was not until Linda Gibson the local post girl arrived. Being off duty over Christmas she was a keen horse rider and often visited Crampton Hall as a part time stable maid and groom.

They heard her diesel Land Rover pull up and stop, this was followed by screams causing the breakfasters to rise and look though the window. They witnessed the devastating sight of seeing Mister Rupert lying still.

His car lying upon his chest. They all ran to the scene but he appeared dead,

Help came in the mode of Miles the handy man who ran from a nearby building attempting to raise the car Jack but was unable to do so. Another was brought by Mister Charles from his car. He and Miles were then able to raise the stricken sports car from off Mr Rupert.

 Miles gave what assistance he could including, mouth to mouth resuscitation but Rupert failed to respond.

An ambulance was called but although Rupert was removed to hospital he was pronounced dead on arrival by Doctor Khan the casualty officer at Chester hospital.

The scene was visited by Inspector Pearson the local uniform sergeant and on this occasion Superintendent Jinton.

Clearly from enquiries made at the scene it appeared the death was accidental, through failure of the Jack. Pearson had recalled that at least Mr Rupert had taken his advice and refrained from using bricks. The advice was it seems insufficient.

The vehicle jack was however seized and sent for examination.

A post-mortem was carried out again by Professor Hallam who announced death had been caused by compression of the chest cavity when the car lay upon it.

It was some days later when the Forensic Science Laboratory contacted Detective Inspector Pearson that they had discovered the jack had in fact also been sabotaged.