Sergeant Verity and the Blood Royal Read Online Free
Author: Francis Selwyn
Tags: Crime, Historical Novel
Mr Croaker's obedient servant.
Inspector Henry Croaker
Metropolitan Police 'A' Division
Scotland Yard
Whitehall Place
London, W.
England
3
Metropolitan Police 'A' Division Whitehall Police Office London, W.
2nd January 1860
Inspector Henry Croaker, of the Whitehall Police Office, presents his compliments to Captain Jefferson Oliphant and is in receipt of Captain Oliphant's communication of the 18th of November last.
At the outset, Inspector Croaker must say how deeply he deplores the late incidents at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Ever an enemy to social unrest in all its forms, Inspector Croaker views most strongly the wholesale evils which must result from conferring arbitrary freedom upon those whose status and education ill-equip them to receive it.
In the matter of Lieutenant Vemey Maughan Dacre, late 19th Dragoon Guards, Mr Croaker is happy to assure Captain Oliphant that this officer cannot now be in the United States, having been certified dead by a coroner's inquest in 1857, upon Mr Croaker's own information. Mr Croaker must emphasize that Lieutenant Dacre is not, in law, a criminal, having no indictment or conviction against his name. However, Mr Croaker sees no injury to protocol in revealing those details of Lieutenant Dacre's death known to 'A' Division, Metropolitan Police.
Strong evidence, implicating Lieutenant Dacre in the bullion robbery, had been amassed by the following month. Sergeant Albert Samson of the Private-Clothes Detail, under Mr Croaker's orders, confronted Lieutenant Dacre at the latter's rooms in Albemarle Street, London, W. Also present was Sergeant William Clarence Verity of the detail. This officer was not on duty, however, and therefore not to be credited with apprehension of the suspect.
Sergeant Samson questioned Lieutenant Dacre and was then obliged to go down to the street and send for a constable to carry a message to Scotland Yard. During his absence a shot was heard. On returning to Lieutenant Dacre's room, he found the suspect sitting in his chair, still dressed in the same russet suiting and yellow waistcoat. He had evidently shot himself through the mouth with a Manton duelling pistol which then lay in his lap. The wound was extensive, at such close range, devastating the skull and causing severe general injuries. Of the manservant, Oughtram, there was no trace, though immediate search was made by way of an internal door in the room, leading below stairs. Oughtram eluded all pursuit by the constabulary authorities, who sought him as a witness to the tragedy. There was, of course, no evidence implicating him in the bullion theft.
Air Croaker therefore takes the greatest satisfaction in assuring Captain Oliphant that Lieutenant Dacre died three years since in Albemarle Street. This has been legally established by a coroner’s inquest. In addition, Mr Croaker is prepared to add his own formal assurance of the fact to Captain Oliphant, upon the authority of his own constabulary rank and reputation.
In conclusion, Mr Croaker remains, etc.
Captain Jefferson Oliphant Department of the Treasury Pennsylvania Avenue Washington District of Columbia United States of America
Captain Oliphant handed the letter across his desk to Sergeant Thomas Crowe, who stood plain-suited on the far side. The Captain folded his hands behind him and walked slowly to the tall sash window. He stared, without noticing the view, down the long tree-lined avenue towards the unfinished dome of the Capitol building at the far end. His eyes rested briefly on the litter of builders' scaffolding and blocks of stone. Then he turned back and took the sheet of paper which Crowe had finished reading. Captain Oliphant glanced at it again and then looked up at his subordinate with an audible sigh.
'Right!' he said softly. 'I guess this tells us everything we need to know. Take Stevens. And take Hamilton. And go out there, and find Lieutenant Dacre!'
Beyond the rippling surface of Plymouth Sound at
Inspector Henry Croaker
Metropolitan Police 'A' Division
Scotland Yard
Whitehall Place
London, W.
England
3
Metropolitan Police 'A' Division Whitehall Police Office London, W.
2nd January 1860
Inspector Henry Croaker, of the Whitehall Police Office, presents his compliments to Captain Jefferson Oliphant and is in receipt of Captain Oliphant's communication of the 18th of November last.
At the outset, Inspector Croaker must say how deeply he deplores the late incidents at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Ever an enemy to social unrest in all its forms, Inspector Croaker views most strongly the wholesale evils which must result from conferring arbitrary freedom upon those whose status and education ill-equip them to receive it.
In the matter of Lieutenant Vemey Maughan Dacre, late 19th Dragoon Guards, Mr Croaker is happy to assure Captain Oliphant that this officer cannot now be in the United States, having been certified dead by a coroner's inquest in 1857, upon Mr Croaker's own information. Mr Croaker must emphasize that Lieutenant Dacre is not, in law, a criminal, having no indictment or conviction against his name. However, Mr Croaker sees no injury to protocol in revealing those details of Lieutenant Dacre's death known to 'A' Division, Metropolitan Police.
Strong evidence, implicating Lieutenant Dacre in the bullion robbery, had been amassed by the following month. Sergeant Albert Samson of the Private-Clothes Detail, under Mr Croaker's orders, confronted Lieutenant Dacre at the latter's rooms in Albemarle Street, London, W. Also present was Sergeant William Clarence Verity of the detail. This officer was not on duty, however, and therefore not to be credited with apprehension of the suspect.
Sergeant Samson questioned Lieutenant Dacre and was then obliged to go down to the street and send for a constable to carry a message to Scotland Yard. During his absence a shot was heard. On returning to Lieutenant Dacre's room, he found the suspect sitting in his chair, still dressed in the same russet suiting and yellow waistcoat. He had evidently shot himself through the mouth with a Manton duelling pistol which then lay in his lap. The wound was extensive, at such close range, devastating the skull and causing severe general injuries. Of the manservant, Oughtram, there was no trace, though immediate search was made by way of an internal door in the room, leading below stairs. Oughtram eluded all pursuit by the constabulary authorities, who sought him as a witness to the tragedy. There was, of course, no evidence implicating him in the bullion theft.
Air Croaker therefore takes the greatest satisfaction in assuring Captain Oliphant that Lieutenant Dacre died three years since in Albemarle Street. This has been legally established by a coroner’s inquest. In addition, Mr Croaker is prepared to add his own formal assurance of the fact to Captain Oliphant, upon the authority of his own constabulary rank and reputation.
In conclusion, Mr Croaker remains, etc.
Captain Jefferson Oliphant Department of the Treasury Pennsylvania Avenue Washington District of Columbia United States of America
Captain Oliphant handed the letter across his desk to Sergeant Thomas Crowe, who stood plain-suited on the far side. The Captain folded his hands behind him and walked slowly to the tall sash window. He stared, without noticing the view, down the long tree-lined avenue towards the unfinished dome of the Capitol building at the far end. His eyes rested briefly on the litter of builders' scaffolding and blocks of stone. Then he turned back and took the sheet of paper which Crowe had finished reading. Captain Oliphant glanced at it again and then looked up at his subordinate with an audible sigh.
'Right!' he said softly. 'I guess this tells us everything we need to know. Take Stevens. And take Hamilton. And go out there, and find Lieutenant Dacre!'
Beyond the rippling surface of Plymouth Sound at
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