prologue

From the Daily Courier,Thursday June 9th, 1930.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT HOUSE PARTY

Well Known London Clubman Killed

TRAGIC END TO JOKE

Detective Drama

FROM OUR OWN REPRESENTATIVE

Minton Vale,Wednesday.

A shocking accident occurred today at Minton Deeps Farm, the residence of Mr John Hillyard, the well known detective-story writer. Mr Hillyard, who is better known in this district as a scientific and up-to-date farmer than as the writer of the series of detective stories centring round Inspector Goodge which enjoys such a wide popularity, was, with Mrs Hillyard, entertaining a small house party at his farm, which included Mr Eric Scott-Davies, a popular and well known man-about-town. I understand that, following a good-natured ‘chipping’ of their host regarding the powers of detective-story writers if put to the stern test of reality, the younger members of the party, including Mr Scott-Davies, had arranged to enact a little drama in which one of their number should pretend to have been murdered by another, and Mr Hillyard was then to follow up the clues that had been laid and discover the pseudo-criminal.

The drama was actually played this afternoon, and Mr Scott-Davies, who was to represent the victim, pretended in realistic manner to have been shot by another of the guests, a Mr Cyril Pinkerton. Several fellow authors had been invited by Mr Hillyard to co-operate with him in unmasking the villain, including Mr Morton Harrogate Bradley, ‘A W Henry’ (Professor Henry Johnson), and the well known novelist, Miss Helen Asche, and these had duly investigated the circumstances of the supposed ‘murder’, during which there was considerable amusement at the antics of the ‘corpse’. After the investigation was over, the whole party returned to the farm, where Mrs Hillyard was awaiting them, for tea. On their way, it is alleged, two shots were heard, at an interval of about five minutes.

As Mr Scott-Davies did not arrive, two of the party went down to the woods to look for him. They found him lying on his face a short distance away from the glade which had been the scene of the pretended ‘murder’. A doctor was summoned as rapidly as possible, but Minton Deeps Farm is a considerable distance from the nearest town, which is Budeford, and some time necessarily elapsed before Dr Samson could arrive. When he did so, he pronounced at once that life had been extinct for about three quarters of an hour. This corresponds roughly with the time that had elapsed since the two shots were heard.

The police had already been notified by Mr Hillyard, and arrived as Dr Samson was concluding his preliminary examination. A careful survey was made of the circumstances, and Dr Samson, proceeding to a more detailed examination, was able to state his opinion that a single bullet had entered Mr Scott-Davies’ back and penetrated directly to his heart. Death must have been practically instantaneous. A .22 rifle was lying on the ground just behind Mr Scott-Davies and slightly to his left, and it is assumed that he must have been dragging it along the ground behind him by the muzzle when the trigger caught in a twig or some similar obstruction, with tragic results. The fact that two shots were heard in the wood instead of only the fatal one lends support to the idea that Mr Scott-Davies was carrying a loaded rifle. He has a great reputation as a sportsman, and I understand that he would nearly always carry a gun of some sort when strolling in the country, on the off-chance of seeing a rabbit or some other suitable target.

The tragedy has, it is needless to say, cast a deep cloud of sorrow not only over the party at Minton Deeps Farm, but over London society in general, where the late Mr Scott-Davies was a well known and popular figure.

I had a short conversation with Mr Cyril Pinkerton, who had enacted the part of ‘murderer’ in the little comedy that preceded the tragedy. ‘It is naturally a great shock to all of us,’ Mr Pinkerton said to me. ‘What we cannot understand is how Mr Scott-Davies can have been guilty of such terrible carelessness. I am no “sportsman” myself (unfortunately the slight astigmatism from which I suffer renders it impossible), but even I know that the first rule when handling loaded firearms is not to drag them along the ground by the muzzle. One can only suppose that in Mr Scott-Davies’ case familiarity bred contempt.

‘For one dreadful moment after I heard of Mr Scott-Davies’ death the thought flashed through my mind that the rifle (a .22 too, by the way) with which I had been supposed to shoot him in our little play must by some unthinkable carelessness have become loaded with ball instead of blank ammunition. It was a positive relief to me to remember how Mr Scott-Davies had amused us all during the subsequent part of the play by his humorous imitation of a ‘dead’ man. His death will leave a gap which will not be easily filled.’

I understand that the police are still proceeding with their investigations at Minton Deeps Farm.

From a report by Superintendent Hancock, of the Devonshire County Police, dated June 10th, 1930:

…so that the theory of accident, though still possible, seems to me almost disposed of.

With reference to the two shots. I questioned Mr John Hillyard further regarding the shot which, as I stated the day before yesterday, he admits to firing himself in order to complicate the play-acting. He is still unable to state whether he fired before or after the other shot, as he did not hear the latter. I have not been able to get any information on this point from anyone else. I have still not been able to trace who fired the other shot, if it was not due to the deceased’s carelessness (see above). I am satisfied that it came from the gun that was lying near the deceased.

With reference to relations between inmates of Minton Deeps Farm and the deceased. I am satisfied that the play-acting was not all playacting. Mr John Hillyard still states that the story they were to act (see my report dated 9.6.1930) was quite imaginary, but I have some reason to believe that a good deal of it is not far from the real truth. I shall be glad to receive the report from London in answer to my request for news of any gossip connecting the deceased with Mrs Sylvia de Ravel, as soon as it comes to hand. I should like to state here that I have not found the inmates of Minton Deeps Farm (with the exception of the servants and outside staff) very helpful. I do not wish to imply that they have hindered or obstructed me in any way, but it is my impression that they are concealing something, either in league or separately.

With reference to Cyril Pinkerton. I have questioned him again today more closely as to his movements in the wood after the first shot was heard, and I do not consider his answers satisfactory. He is unable to account, in my opinion, for spending so much time there. His answers when pressed as to the direction from which the sound of the second shot seemed to come (while he was alone in the wood; see my report of the 8th) were today confused and uncertain. I have obtained more information regarding the quarrel between himself and the deceased, which I am embodying in a separate memorandum attached to this report. Having regard to Mr Pinkerton’s character and the high opinion he appears to have of his own importance, it is my belief that such an incident as the throwing of Mr Pinkerton into the swimming pool (see my report under yesterday’s date) would alone provide ample motive for Mr Pinkerton’s going to extreme measures; added to which there is the rivalry between them concerning Miss Elsa Verity. I should be glad to hear from you whether you agree with my conclusions on this point and whether you have any suggestions to make. In my opinion there is not yet sufficient evidence to justify detaining Mr Pinkerton for inquiries, but I am hopeful of obtaining more shortly.

In the meantime I have a peculiar circumstance to report. Detective Sergeant Berry, whom I had detailed to keep Mr Pinkerton under observation, followed him last evening shortly after 11 p.m., when it had just become dark, to a piece of land on a steep part of the hillside known as ‘the moorland field’, about a quarter of a mile southeast of the house buildings. This field is about two acres in extent and is covered with bracken, gorse, and brambles, and is consequently useless for grazing purposes and is little used. Detective Sergeant Berry, unobserved by Mr Pinkerton, saw the latter bury something in circumstances of secrecy among the roots of a gorse bush. Detective Sergeant Berry waited until Mr Pinkerton had returned to the house and then retrieved the object. It was a flat metal waterproof box containing several sheets of closely written paper. Detective Sergeant Berry reported the discovery to me, and I sent a staff constable with a knowledge of shorthand at 4.30a.m. this morning to take a shorthand transcript of the manuscript. I have had two copies typewritten and attach one to this report. The manuscript is in the nature of an account of the matters preceding the death of the deceased, and I have already found it of great assistance to me in clearing up of several points which had been obscure. I shall of course be careful to check all statements of fact and have already done so with many and found them hitherto quite correct. It will be seen that Mr Pinkerton states his intention of proceeding with this writing, and I shall therefore continue to have transcripts taken of any additions he may make from day to day and attach them to my reports. I have reprimanded Detective Sergeant Berry for carelessness in allowing Mr Pinkerton to observe that his effects had been searched.

I have refused permission for any of the persons at present staying at Minton Deeps Farm to leave the neighbourhood for the time being, and trust you will find this in order.

I have only one other circumstance to report. Mr Pinkerton was observed to be at the telephone for some time this morning, and Detective Sergeant Berry was able to hear that he was endeavouring to ascertain the address of R Sheringham, Esq. This was obtained for him by the post office in Budeford from a copy of the London Telephone Directory, and Mr Pinkerton at once telephoned the following telegram:

Sheringham, Albany, London. Please come if possible Minton Deeps Farm, Minton, Budeford, Devon, in connection with Scott-Davies affair. Am in most awkward position. Was at Fernhurst with you.

CYRILPINKERTON

It is therefore clear that Mr Pinkerton has an idea of my suspicions, but this cannot be helped; and if he is the guilty party it is only natural.

A telegram was subsequently telephoned from Budeford to Mr Pinkerton signed ‘Sheringham’ that the sender was arriving this evening. There can be no doubt that this is Mr Roger Sheringham, who has been attached for duty once or twice to Scotland Yard. I shall see him tomorrow and ask if that is the case now, and if not I should be glad to have your instructions as to how you wish me to treat Mr Sheringham and whether I am to regard him as likely to assist our inquiries or the reverse.

I am still confident that it will not be necessary for us to ask help from Scotland Yard in this matter, and hope to have it cleared up within a few days.

I have the honour to be,

Your obedient servant,

JAMESHANCOCK

Superintendent.

Enclosure: [1] memorandum.

1 transcript of manuscript by Cyril Pinkerton, Esq.