‘Apparently you and Mr. Pitzer had words over the new scheme,’ said Crabb.
‘I am sorry gentlemen, you have completely lost me. What is Mr. Pitzer to do with this new railway company?’ asked Armitage, appearing to grow in confidence.
‘I think Mr. Armitage that you know perfectly well — ’
‘I assure you, I know nothing of what you speak,’ interrupted Armitage.
‘Mr. Pitzer was one of your trustees?’
‘Yes.’
‘He was also a director and a major shareholder of the Tewkesbury to Leominster Railway Company. He would have stood to gain quite a great deal of money had the scheme gone ahead, whereas you and the residents of the almshouses would have been out in the street.’
‘All this has come as a great shock inspector. Had I known what Mr. Pitzer was involved in, I would certainly have taken it up with him — but as I said before, I knew nothing of his involvement, or indeed anything about this new railway company of which you speak.’
‘Then how do you explain the fact, sir, that the article in the newspaper had been so marked?’ asked Crabb.
‘I don’t constable. This is the first I have known about it. Ah, of course. The residents often give me their old newspapers to read, after they have finished with them. One of them must have marked the newspaper. Yes, that would explain how that came about,’
Ravenscroft smiled and leaned back in his chair. It was as he thought — the warden had proved himself to be a man of endeavour and deception. ‘I must congratulate you Mr. Armitage, on your inventions.’
‘What I am telling you is the truth inspector. It is not my fault that you choose not to believe it,’ replied Armitage, a touch of arrogance creeping into his voice.
‘Is that why you killed Pitzer?’ asked Ravenscroft leaning forwards again and folding his hands neatly in front of him on the table.
‘Oh come, inspector! You surely cannot think that I killed Pitzer?’
‘You wrote Pitzer a letter, making an appointment to see him alone in his study, on the night he was killed.’
‘This is nonsense,’ replied Armitage turning away.
‘It would have been quite easy for you to have gained entry to his study unannounced, from the garden, where you administered the poison.’
‘Absolute nonsense! This is all conjecture.’
‘And is it nonsense, that you also killed Doctor Sommersby?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘Sommersby? What is this about Sommersby?’ Armitage looked shocked.
‘Come now Mr. Armitage, I’m sure our friend Troutbridge told you of our visit to his farm, when we mentioned we were investigating the death of Doctor Sommersby?’
‘He mentioned nothing of this to me. How did Sommersby die?’
‘He was hit on the back of the head with a blunt instrument, and a heavy bookcase was pulled over on top of him, to make it look like an accident. But I’m sure you know all this Mr. Armitage? Where were you when Sommersby was murdered?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘As this is the first I have heard of Sommersby’s murder, and as I am therefore completely unaware of what time the schoolmaster was killed, I am unable to say where I was at the time of his death — but as I have told you already inspector, I have been away in Hereford for a few days. I only returned to Mathon last night.’
‘And what precisely were you doing in Hereford?’
Armitage said nothing.
‘Well, Mr. Armitage, your answer if you please. What was the nature of your business in Hereford?’ continued Ravenscroft, wondering what line of nonsense the warden would come forth with now.
‘It is of a delicate nature,’ replied Armitage moving uneasily in his seat, ‘I was visiting a lady friend.’
‘Her name, please sir?’ asked Crabb lifting up his pencil.
‘That I am not prepared to disclose. It is a question of honour. The lady is married. If I were to disclose her name, the knowledge would bring disgrace, not only upon her, but to all her immediate family as well,’ replied Armitage looking distressed.
‘How very convenient Mr. Armitage. If you were to tell us the name of this lady, I am sure that such a lady could confirm your presence in Hereford. You would then be released from all suspicion, but you seem unwilling to do that.’
‘I am sorry, I cannot disclose her name. Her husband holds high office.’
‘Come now sir. This is all nonsense, as you well know. You and I both know that you never went to Hereford. I caught sight of you the other day when we visited the farm, looking out of the window. You have been at Troutbridge all the week,’ said Ravenscroft, deciding to adopt a slight mocking tone.
‘You must have been mistaken inspector. It must have been someone else you saw. I have told you I was in Hereford for most of the week,’ replied Armitage irritably.
‘Did you use Troutbridge to help you kill Sommersby? It was a big bookcase to move on your own.’
‘How many more times do I have to tell you — I was in Hereford all week,’ replied Armitage.
‘Enjoying the pleasures of a lady,’ said Crabb.
‘For whom we have no name,’ added Ravenscroft.
Armitage let out a deep sigh, shook his head and looked out of the window.
‘Tell me Mr. Armitage are you familiar with Raggedstone Hill?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘I have been that way one or two times. Why do you ask?’
‘Were you there the other day when Doctor Gladwyn was murdered?’
‘Gladwyn murdered! What is this?’ asked Armitage anxiously.
‘You do not know that Doctor Gladwyn was murdered at a cottage near Raggedstone hill?’
‘No, of course not!’
‘Hit on the temple, here, with a stone,’ said Crabb pointing to his forehead.
‘This is terrible!’
‘Three prominent citizens of Malvern; all trustees of the almshouses; all known to you,’ began Ravenscroft.
‘Look here Ravenscroft you have to believe me. when I tell you, that I did not commit any of these murders. I am completely innocent of these crimes,’ protested Armitage becoming agitated, ‘You have no evidence to link me to any of them.’
‘You know Old Penny?’ asked Crabb.
‘Old Penny? Who in blazes is Old Penny? You are not going to tell me he is dead as well, and accuse me of yet another murder?’
‘Tell me Mr. Armitage. Do you own a walking stick?’ asked Ravenscroft ignoring the last comment.
‘A walking stick? What has my walking stick got to do with all this?’
‘Answer the question please Mr. Armitage.’
‘Yes I have a walking stick. I use it when I go out walking on the hills.’
‘Describe it to us, if you please,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Well, it’s just a walking stick. It’s all made of brown wood,’ replied a bewildered Armitage, becoming more frustrated.
‘Does it have a handle, a silver topped handle?’
‘No. It’s all wood, as I just told you. What is all this?’
‘Do the initials M.W.B. mean anything to you?’
‘M.W.B.? No, should they?’
‘Those initials appear on the handles of the walking sticks that belong to both Doctor Sommersby and Doctor Gladwyn.’
‘Well I don’t have a walking stick with a silver topped engraved handle, and the initials M.B.W. mean nothing to me,’ said Armitage defiantly.
‘Mr. Armitage, I have to tell you that we are not satisfied with what you have told us this morning,’ said Ravenscroft standing up, and pacing the room. ‘In fact I do not believe one word of all this nonsense about a lady of honour in Hereford. I think you and Troutbridge are mixed up in something together, and I mean to get to the bottom of it. In fact, I believe you have been at Troutbridge’s farm for several days now, and furthermore that you know a great deal about the murders of Mr. Pitzer, Mr. Sommersby and Doctor Gladwyn. In fact, you are in very serious trouble. You will shortly be up before the bench on three counts of murder. You can still save yourself man. I advise you to tell us the truth Mr. Armitage before it is too late,’ pleaded Ravenscroft.
‘I have told you all I know,’ replied Armitage looking away in a defiant mood.