‘I thank you for your encouraging words, inspector. And now poor Mister Sommersby has been killed as well,’ she said, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
‘It is indeed so. I am sure that whoever killed your husband also killed Doctor Sommersby.’
Susan began to lead her mistress away.
‘Good day to you Mrs. Pitzer,’ said Ravenscroft beginning to make his own way out of the hall. He pushed his way through the throng, avoiding the stares of some of their number, seeking only one more person before he should leave.
‘Ah, Reverend, I wonder if I might have a word with you,’ he said catching hold of Touchmore’s arm, once they were out of the Assembly Rooms.
‘Why yes of course inspector.’ The clergyman seemed surprised to be singled out by the policeman.
‘Perhaps we could talk outside, away from these people?’ suggested Ravenscroft.
The two men moved away from the hall, and walked out across the lawn.
‘When I came to see you in your office the other day, reverend, I happened to look out of the window, and I saw a widow woman dressed all in black walking across the churchyard. I wondered whether you would be able to assist me in discovering the identity of such a lady,’ began Ravenscroft.
‘We have a number of ladies who visit the churchyard from time to time. They are often in mourning. It is usually the men who die before their wives.’
‘I understand that. This lady would perhaps be aged around forty or so, although I must admit that I have never seen her face. She must be quite active, as I have seen her walking on the hills near St. Ann’s. I would suppose that her husband had been taken from her within the last year or so, for her to be still in mourning. She may well have been visiting one of the graves in the churchyard when I saw her.’ Ravenscroft realised that his line of encouraging questioning with the clergyman, might yet bare fruit.
‘I see,’ replied Touchmore deep in thought, ‘Within the last year or so, I can think of perhaps five or six occasions when we have buried a husband, and the wife has been left to grieve. I would have to consult my records of course, to provide you with their names. Although most widows might tend to wear their widow’s weeds for a few months or so, it is not uncommon for them to remain in black for a number of years.’
‘And that would make our search even more difficult,’ sighed Ravenscroft.
‘Have you also considered the possibility inspector that such a lady might be grieving for the loss of a child, rather than for a husband, or indeed for both of them? Quite a number of our children still unfortunately die as the result of a fever.’
‘You have not been aware of one particular person who has visited the graveyard a number of times in recent weeks?’
‘No, I must say that I have not been aware of such an instance. As I say, I will consult with my records and let you know of any particular instances which might be of help.’
‘Thank you reverend, I would appreciate that.’
‘This lady, to which you refer, has she anything to do with Pitzer’s murder?’ inquired Touchmore.
‘I think not.’
‘Then may I ask inspector, why are you so interested in her?’
‘Let us say, that it is a policeman’s curiosity. Thank you reverend, you have been most helpful.’
Ravenscroft began to walk away, but then turned round suddenly once more.
‘Oh reverend — one more question. Were Doctor Sommersby and Mr. Pitzer involved in any other activities together, other than the fact that they, like you, were trustees of the almshouses in Colwall?’
‘They were both members of the town council. That is all I believe.’
‘Thank you for your assistance reverend. I would be obliged if you could contact me, if you recall any further information.’
‘Of course, inspector, I wish you a good day.’
Ravenscroft walked back to the entrance to the Assembly Rooms where he found Crabb studying his pocket book.
‘Ah, there you are sir. I think I have most of the names down. Most people were forthcoming; one or two were more reserved. There were certainly a lot of them. I should think that nearly the whole town must have turned out today.’
‘There is nothing like the prospect of an inquest that suggests murder, to bring out the crowds Crabb. Keep all your names. We may have need of them later.’
‘Do you think our murderer may have been amongst them?’
‘That is a distinct possibility. Murderers often have a great curiosity to revisit the scenes of their crimes. On the other hand, the killer may well have wanted to keep well away from the inquest, for fear of giving himself away in some incriminating way.’
‘Like Armitage sir.’
‘Like Armitage. Talking of Armitage, it might be to our advantage to return to the almshouses and to make a close search of Armitage’s cottage. We might just find something there that links him to the killings. Let’s see if we can acquire a cab to take us there.’
‘Can I make a suggestion sir? If we walk through the gardens here, and walk out through the other side, a ten minute stroll will take us to Great Malvern Station. We could then take the train to Colwall. The almshouses are quite near the station at the other end. There may be a train due soon, sir, in which case our journey may prove of a quicker duration.’
‘That seems a good idea to me Crabb. After sitting in that stuffy court room for the last hour or so, and listening to all that evidence, I could do with stretching my legs and clearing my mind. A walk would be most acceptable.’
Ten minutes later found the two men standing on the platform of Great Malvern station. They did not have long to wait for the next train, which took them onwards, past the common at Malvern Wells, before plunging into darkness as it entered the tunnel that ran beneath the hill.
‘It must have been quite a feat of engineering to have tunnelled through all this rock,’ remarked Ravenscroft.
‘Only done about thirty years ago sir, I believe,’ informed Crabb.
‘Rather them than me.’
‘After Colwall sir, the train goes on to Ledbury and then to Hereford.’
The train exited the tunnel and began to slow down as it approached the small country station of Colwall. Crabb and Ravenscroft alighted from the train and made their way out through the gate and along the path until they reached the almshouses. Here they found the two old men still sitting in the same place, and smoking the same pipes, as they had done when the two detectives had seen them on their first visit.
‘Good day to you gentlemen again,’ said Crabb.
‘What’s that he says?’ asked the one of his companion.
‘Says weather don’t look too good.’
‘Oh that’s alright then. As long as he don’t be lookin’ for makin’ gammets of us.’
‘Has Mr. Armitage returned?’ asked Ravenscroft.
‘Nowt seen Armitage,’ replied the elder of the two.
‘We’ll just have a look in his cottage,’ shouted Crabb.
‘’Tis no need to shout,’ sniffed the old man, shrugging his shoulders and resuming his smoke.
Ravenscroft made his way down the path towards Armitage’s cottage. ‘The door appears to be unlocked,’ he remarked entering the tiny building. ‘Just two rooms, by the look of it, simply furnished. You take the bedroom Crabb, whilst I have a look through these papers on the table.’
The two men set to their work.
‘Only old letters, one or two bills, some notes he has been making from this book of philosophical thoughts, nothing incriminating here,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘There’s nothing in the bedroom sir, just a bed and a few old clothes. It’s all a bit spartan if you ask me. There’s still bread and cheese on the side here, as though he intended coming back sir.’
‘What’s this old photograph on the wall? Very similar to the one we saw at Miss Armitage’s in Ledbury, almost the same family group I would say, probably the father, mother, and the two children. It was obviously taken some years ago, in better times. Well Crabb, I can’t see anything here that might suggest that young Armitage killed either Pitzer or Sommersby. We will just have to ask the men to keep a look out for him. We best make our way back to Malvern. What’s this on the chair?’