This is howson Wells speaking from London.
Here in the Grimstone structure on the Thames which houses.
Scotton Yard, he is a warehouse of souvenirs.
Where everyday objects, a candlestick, of china, doll, a broom.
All are touched by murder.
Protective button, brass buttons.
The symbol of a barracks parade ground. But this was not found on any parade ground.
This is interesting, sir.
A brass button.
The interestings added, it's from an army uniform to day.
That button can be seen in the Blue Black Museum.
Oh, here we are in the Black.
Museum, Scotland Yards, Museum of murder.
Shelf upon shelf of curious and repellent.
Objects be urged to kill, illustrated in many many ways, here lies death.
Here in the echoing.
Stillnesses of the long room, one stands and looks of.
Violence expressed by the exhibits that line the shells, the tables on the walls. Repellent they may be, but by reason of their association.
Only for most of these tokens of murder are very ordinary objects. It's a medicine bottle.
The drug it contained was beneficial in small.
Doses, but since a woman was forced to drink the whole contents and died shortly after.
The jury called it murder. He has a kitchen knife. No householders was out one, but this knife was not used.
So if a kitchen tasks was found embedded in a man's heart, here we are.
The brass button it is. It's an innocuous, ordinary brass button. This was found near the dead body of a woman.
But come back with me to the beginning of this story, to a day some years ago on the common outside the Kentidge village of Wayfield, a girl was sitting beneath a tree busily sketching. She was too engrossed to hear the approach of a young soldier until he spoke, hello.
H Hello, I.
Didn't hear your cunning enough.
It was so busy with whatever you're doing.
What are you doing sketchy?
Can I see?
You're probably enough?
Haven't show me?
Mm?
That's very good?
Do you really think too?
You must be the one they call the swamp girl.
That's what they call me in the village. Poor routine, dull people.
You don't like routine ways of living, do you?
From what I've heard, you're something of a rebel.
Am I. You seem to know a lot about me.
I heard things.
What kind of things?
Are you living an old shanty at the edge of the swamp?
And are you roam the common and stitch and paint?
You're well informed?
People talk about you sometimes.
I was interested, and so you came down to see yourself.
What's the matter? Couldn't you find a girl in town.
Much to meet you?
To talk to you?
And now that your head, will.
You please go away and let me work all.
You can work anytime. I'll go away soon if you're nice to me.
Go now.
I have no intention of being nice to you, whatever you may think.
Come on, get away.
When you found out so much about me, you might have also found out that I'm not interested in them, least of all soldiers.
That's not very kind.
Come go away, okay, Please don't tell me o kaid.
A woman screamed and cried for help on the way you'll common, but there was no one.
Within a mile. Here there are screams.
Two days later, in the post office at Wayfield, a letter was returned by the postmistress.
Missus rawlegh. Yes, Jimmy, that registered rettly who set me up with? There was nobody about to sign for it.
Oh, wasn't this swamp girl at home?
No, ma'am, I called out, miss Morgan, but it.
Wasn't an answer.
You are right, who could leave it tomorrow?
Whose?
Ma'am?
Her name was Jeanette Morgan.
The people of the town called her the swamp Girl because of a vagrant strange way of living.
The next day, Jimmy, the.
Postal messenger, rode out on his fight to deliver the registered letter, but once again the swamp girl was not at home. Then on the way back, taking a short cut, Jimmy found her, Miss Morgan. Jimmy's only her legs at first, protruding from a bush which had been.
Meant to hide her. At first he thought she was asleep. We didn't think so for long.
She's I've gotta give the news.
Murder transforms a little village like wayfield. All work ceases, that people gather in small groups in the streets to talk about it.
Yeah.
Have you heard the news there's been a murder.
Yes, out of the common the smart girl a founder body.
I was rather afraid that poor girl would come to grief.
Sooner or later.
Well, Vica, you know how it is.
These days, no parental.
Authority be that as it may.
The men who did.
It must be found, no bird.
If young Jimmy Miles hadn't come upon that body like he did, it.
Might a lane hedden some months, even years.
I wonder how it's happened. Well now the way I see it is me now in the bar of the local. They sit there via and discussed the sensation. Jimmy became something of a hero.
He found the body, and even now is being questioned by the London detectives.
From Scotland yard.
Eh, this is Jimmy Miles.
Hello, Jimmy, you found the body. I understand her it is inspected gullico.
Was she really murderer?
Well that's what we must find out, and you can help us.
Ope.
Really, hell, I believe you rode out to her shanty at the edge of the swamp to deliver a registered letter to miss Morton.
Yes, that's right, sir.
She used to get a registered dead every month.
I always took about and she had the sign bottom of course. Oh yes, then you've got an earl.
I suppose. Well, don't tell personals, sist. Sometimes I did stand talk for a while. What was she like?
Oh?
She was nice and really friendly.
People said she was a bit peculiar, but I never thought so, and she could draw her I think carefully, Jimmy.
Did you ever see her with anyone man or woman who never inspect her? She had no friends around here, she once told me so, no friends. I see about this registered letter? Was that the first time you had taken it out? Oh?
No, sir, I went out the previous day on Monday, but she wasn't there.
Did you call out? Yes?
And no.
I went round to Common, to the place where she used to go and sketch. I know most of them, and she.
Wasn't anywhere of her. I'm nowhere at all.
What time of the day was this, Well, I just left the post.
Office just on ten.
It's about half an hour's frong.
We were at there by ten thirty.
Ah, right, Jimmy, thank you very much.
Is that all inspected going?
It's all for the moment.
You'd be very helpful.
A lucky witness, young Jimmy Miles A break for Inspector Gallical early in the case, for with the evidence of the police surgeon, certain facts could be established.
What's your verdict on the post mortem?
Doctor?
Well, the cause of death didn't give us any trouble, inspector. She was strangled. What about the time of death, whom That's not so easy.
I'd say she died forty eight hours ago.
At least wait a minute, that means before noon on Monday. It dies in doctor good. But at what time before noon? I would not care to predict. The contents of the stomach indicates she'd had breakfast, and sometime between breakfast and noon she met her death. And she was no word about ten thirty when the personal boy brought her letter. What about that letter, sat.
Heir, I haven't here, sir. Was it fun?
It's from Missus Morgan of Tunbridge Wells. Her mother money I suppose ten pounds, said, had a pleaded come home and live a normal life. Firm Missus Morgan, I thought I couldn't even die a normal death.
The pattern of the crime begins to make itself clear.
The victim's identity is known, the approximate time and the cause of death is known.
Now the hunt will begin for the killer.
Here is a police message.
The body of a woman named Jeanette Morgan has been discovered on Wayfield. Common evidence suggests that she met her death.
By strangulation some time before noon on October the nineteenth.
Any person who is in the vicinity of Wayfield Common on that day or can give any information, shall communicate to the nearest police station.
In order to assist in the search for the murderer.
And in this the police will be aided by a brass button that saying brass button.
That to day can be found in the black musat to a small cottage in Tunbridge.
Well, now I'll go the detectives from Scotland Yard to a house of the blinds.
Drawn, where at the and bitter woman answered their questions in a strangely lifeless voice.
Yes, I knew you. I knew was the genie when I saw the newspapers.
Why didn't you get in touch with that one?
Why you get in touch with me if you wanted me? Besides, what business is it of mine?
But she was your daughter?
Was she?
She?
Next younger sister lives here with me, walks at a shot nearby. She's my daughter.
Yes, I see what you mean.
I told you that it comes to no good end. Live in that strange and unnatural kind of way.
Missus Morgan.
We won't trouble you any longer.
But could you tell us did your daughter have any close men friends, name friends?
Sir?
I wish she had that your boyfriend would have been too ordinary for her. She had to be different, she had to.
Be the swamp girl.
I'm sorry.
Why did you get to happen to her?
To me?
Why?
Why?
Why?
What do you mean? I'm from the police, the police. I don't recognize him, you see, I'm.
Not from the local police.
I'm from London. I'm down here in connection with the murder. Oh, yes, terrible, Yes, but how can I help you?
Well, you're going to have a good deal, said, did you see a local police?
Said?
Pretty short hand. And Inspector Garrica has decided that our.
Next move should be to make a very paras search of the.
Common, particularly round about where the body was found.
Right, I see, And I suppose you want some help from my parishioners.
Yes, sir, that's wrapped the idea very well.
Then we'll help you in every way we can.
You can depend upon us, all right, Say, let's get on with this up. You'll take smart and working from the road. I take Rodgers and working from the field side. I'll meet you bothered a.
Here is here is it escape, sir? It's a pencil drawing that view across there.
I'd say yes, it is unfinished too.
She might have been working on it.
What else have you got done? This is interesting?
So it's a grass button, Very interesting, Sergeant, it's from an army uniform.
Where's the nearest camp to Wakefield?
I believe he's run across the rivers there about two miles away.
Inspector Gallico left his sergeant in charge of searching the common and went to the army camp to unless they help in cooperation with commanding officers.
Gentlemen, to see you, sir from Scotland Yard. Oh, ask him to come in? Will you get him?
Will you come through?
Please? Thank you? Magic Curtis. I'm Inspector Gallico from Scotland Yard. Sit down, won't Joe?
Well?
Now I'm gonna help you, Inspector.
I'm here to investigate the murder of Jeannette Morgan.
Oh, the sunco mystery, the.
Sturdy business JA. Not far from where the body was left.
We found this an arm it button. That's why I'm here.
He's he well, we got to assist in anywhere I can, but imply to hope that it wasn't any.
One of my men? How many men are there in.
Camp here, Major at the present time, our unit strength is one hundred and twenty.
We're an engineer section, as you may know, one hundred and twenty men.
Mm hm, I wondered, iffny of them has a button missing from his tunic?
Well, if you.
Wish, I'll order an immediate inspection.
Not eta, you can assist me in another way first.
Oh, oh, inspector, Well, I want.
A list of all those absent from camp on Monday morning. Oh, that would be easy.
They don't leave on any week morning.
If anyone who was away from camp, it must have been for a special.
Reason, anyone at all between the hours of seven in the morning and one o'clock.
Oh, the accident can help us out.
I'll get him to make out a list of always away from camp on Monday morning immediately.
The commanding officer was away a short term, and on his return he brought with him a piece of paper containing a list of names.
He gave it to the London detective.
Yes, there you are, Inspector.
Five men were away from camp during the time you asked about.
Willis they company?
Yes, he's our caterer. At the present time.
We're on the staff.
Of course, Saton Willis and Private Fields were in town with a provision truck. They were together, Yes, so we could always check that with one or the other.
I don't think I'm very interested in those two.
Huh.
What about Private liston B Company.
Oh, he's the unit driver.
I sent him into town shortly before noon on a private land shortly before noon.
Well at leave two Corporal Paul Fellis.
Oh, he's our mail man. He needs every morning at eight o'clock and drives the mail truck.
In to pick up the unit mail bag from the Wayfield post office at firend Yes.
What time does he generally return?
Oh? Sometimes by nine, though.
On occasions he has to wait for registered mail.
You know, I'd even known him to be held up as Slat's for eleven or.
Or e's eleven thirty. Would anyone know what time he returned on Monday?
I'll find that out for nah, this last man Private William Day Company.
Yes, if you ask me beyond their inspector.
Oh, why because you was absent without leave for nine hundred hours on Monday morning until.
Fourteen hundred hours nine till two.
Yes, that's interesting.
I'd better see him and the personal tappy.
I'll have them paraded. Corporal Fellas Ivan Williams. This is Inspector Gallico from Staffan Yard. He has some questions to ask you both.
Thank you, sir.
The Corporal Fellas will take you first. Yes, Suspector, what time did you leave camp last Monday morning?
On your mail run at.
Day hundred hours?
And what time did you return?
Well?
I yeah, if I remember correctly, the may who has brought wrong rather late that morning, Corporal, Yes, sir, I was just.
That, explained to the inspector. I had to wait for several registered letters.
What time did you actually return?
Shortly before eleven hundred hours?
Thank you, corporal.
Now, Private Williams, you were absent without.
Leave throughout Monday morning? Yes?
Are you able to give a satisfactory.
Account of your whereabouts? I dare prefer not.
SUSA prevent Williams as consistent to if you was any explanation of his conduct in spectrum, that's rather I'm wise Williams.
If you have an alibi, you'll read it. This is an investigation in the murder. I didn't do no murder. I was with me Gurley Waitfield what's her name?
Hey, Susie Walker, nine Ice Street. You are, sir, If I wasn't there, I didn't want to get her into.
Any commonly understand that's all but murder.
Oh I don't know nothing about that girl.
Who was killed.
Holly show down.
Oh, we'll check your state with Williams. I finished the nabas Private Williams dismiss.
Infecting Allaho drove into Wakefields number nine High Streets.
Oh no, Susie wasn't out with him that day.
I remember distinctly.
She went over to see your girl, saying it's Kendry. Wait and ask yourself.
Susie Walker was a small, frightened girl, the counterpart of Private Williams inspector.
I hope he hadn't done anything growing up at the camp in not telling him where he was. Oh, letuld be terrible.
He wouldn't tell a lie.
I know that, I'm sure of it. You see that acquired and he wanted to see me. I didn't dare let mother know, so I made up a story about it.
She confirmed his alibi, and Gallagher went next to the post office to interview missus Riley.
Just one enquirer. I'd like to make Missus.
Riley, really tomatory Inspector fitting for that pause and my Jimmy Myers fighting up.
Can you recall off hand whether you had any registered mail for the army unit on Monday?
Registered mail on Monday? Well, I couldn't remember off hand, Inspector, but I'll have here in the book. Will commute and I look it up. No, no, there was nothing on Monday.
Here.
Hasn't been your biggest abneted to the army since last week.
And the personal corporal wouldn't have been delayed on Monday morning.
Not him.
He was in for his mail bag and out again as quick as you like.
Didn't even stop, richet.
I remember that.
Now, what time would you have left here, Missus Raleigh? Can you give me an idea?
I can give it to you right on the dot. It's come back to me quite cleanly. We opened the gate thirty. Corporal Serrace was here waiting when I arrived to.
Open up, and he didn't stay.
No, he got more than a few minutes.
The inspector picked up Sergeant Worthington, and together they drove back to the army camp. A few orders of the commanding officer in Corporal Terrace was paraded once more and his gear searched at the bottom of his kit bag, they found what they were looking for.
Here we are, said, a battle jacket with one button missing, and it matches. Sergeant her parents, What have you got to say about this?
Crazy sir, do anything about it.
She was sketching, wasn't she, Fetters, She drew a pencil drawing off her.
Wasn't that, sir?
You're laughing. She didn't do any drawing of me. It was a landscape scene.
A landscape scene, Yes, so it was, and that fact has never been mentioned in any of the papers.
Only the sergeant Fly knew with that.
Fetters and the killer.
Paul Ferris, was taken into custody and charged with the murder of Jeanette Morgan, the swamp.
Girl I love in Corps.
Ladies and gentlemen of the journey, you have heard the facts in this case, as related by the witnesses, which have been called both by the defense and the prostitution.
The prisoner stands before you.
Accused of the crime of murder, a particularly brutal murder, a murder without motive.
But lack of motive is.
Not necessarily a defense. It is for you to decide whether the facts which you have learnt.
During this case, not only the.
Words spoken by the witnesses, but the mute testimony of the material objects placed before you, justify your verdict, which must be beyond all reasonable.
Such a brass button and a slip of the tongue led to his downfall. To day, that brass button occupies a place of honor in the Black Museum.
The picture was completed when the tracks of a vehicle were found some fifty yards away from the.
Scene of the crime.
The tracks were identified as those of the mail truck of which the driver had been Corporal Paul Fellis. The defense did their utmost to prove insanity, but the jury were.
In little doubt that the man was sane and that his advance as repulse he had strangled the swamp girl to death. They took seventeen minutes to find him guilty, and the brass button which had led to.
His arrest, was exhibit ay on the court room table, from where, at the end of the trial and the pronouncement of the inevitable death sentence, it was taken to with presents resting place in the Black Museum and answer we meet next time in the same place I tell you another story about the Black Museum.
I remain as always obedient to you.
No want