The Case Of The Bog Bodies, Robert F. Clifton [best novels of all time txt] 📗

hands with Sidney Bagley. “Gentlemen, please have a seat,” said Bagley.

“I'd like to thank you for seeing me,” sad Godwin.

“No need to thank me, Inspector. You have questions. I hope that I can provide the answers,” said the solicitor.

“I am aware that Sybil Morgan was your client and that through you she had petitioned the courts for information on her son who she had put up for adoption at a place called Ainsworth House in Hesterton,” said Godwin.

“That's correct,” said Bagley.

“I can also tell you that no such establishment exists and no

evidence appears that it ever existed in Hesterton,” said the Inspector.

“Perhaps we can go back and listen to what you can tell us about Sybil Morgan,” said Basham.

“Sybil Morgan was a young woman who at one time was an unwed mother. Faced with an unwanted pregnancy she answered an ad that appeared in the classified section of the local newspapers. In fact, here is a copy of that ad as that it appeared in 1943,” said the lawyer handing it to Godwin. Godwin then read: Let us prepare and empower teens and other young expectant mothers and their families to be productive members of the community. Contact Ainsworth House, Hesterton,

Bolton County, Greater Manchester, General Delivery.

Godwin then passed the article to Basham who read it. He then said, “Very smart. No telephone exchange and whoever it was picked up the correspondence at the local post exchange,” said Basham as he handed it back to Godwin.

“Please continue sir,” said Basham.

“Well, Sybil made contact and was given two options.

First, for five hundred pounds she could deliver her baby, recuperate at the house and then leave taking the newborn with her. Second, for three hundred pounds she could deliver the baby and immediately place the newborn up for adoption. At the time Miss Morgan decided to pay three hundred pounds and place her baby up for adoption. As she neared her term of delivery she took a bus to Hesterton and was met by a woman named, Elizabeth Garrick who then took her to what was a stately home called Ainsworth House. According to Sybil, the house was a large, older building of quality on the outskirts of Hesterton. Upon her arrival, she was then introduced to Margaret Ainsworth who stated that she was a midwife with many years experience. Miss Morgan was assured that the birth of her baby would be done with discretion and that no one would know about it allowing her to protect her reputation. At the same time, her baby would be adopted by wealthy parents and raised in a healthy atmosphere. The cost for the birth, care and adoption would be three hundred pounds,” Bagley reported.

“Great heavens!” Basham exclaimed.

“Something wrong?” asked the solicitor.

“We have another young woman who has been missing for years who also mentioned needing three hundred pounds for what we think would have been the same situation as Sybil Morgan,” said Alistair.

“Interesting. However, Sybil Morgan was killed on the night of November 22, 1944, when a V-2 rocket bomb struck Orchard Rise East. Thirty homes were destroyed. One was hers with her in it,” said Bagley.

“A pity. Nonetheless, did you as her solicitor meet with

Margaret Ainsworth ?,” asked Inspector Godwin.

“No I didn't,” Bagley answered.

“Did you ever travel to Hesterton? ” asked Basham.

“No. Remember this was during the war. There were many priorities then,” Bagley responded.

“So I take it then that you can not tell us just where this place called, Ainsworth House was located,” said Godwin.

“No. I'm afraid not,” Bagley replied.

“No matter. We'll find it,” said Basham as he got up out of his chair.

“Thank you for your time and assistance,” said the Inspector. After shaking hands with the lawyer both men left the office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight

Charles Fields

 

A thick, wet, fog covered Hitman Road when Alistair

opened the front door of his home and then bent over to pick up his morning newspaper. After closing the door he unfolded the paper and glanced at the headline. It read: SOUTHEND PIER

FIRE TRAPS HUNDREDS! Three hundred people have been rescued after being cut off by a blaze on the world's longest pleasure pier on England's

southeast coast.

“Blimey”, he said aloud.

“What's bothering you now?”, asked Joyce from the kitchen.

“There was a fire yesterday on Southend Pier,” he answered.

“Yes, I know it was on the telly last evening,” said Joyce

“Well, if it was I didn't see it.”

“That's because as usual you were seated at your desk

going over heaven knows what when the news was being broadcast. You were still there when I went up to bed.”

“That reminds me. I must call Inspector Godwin,” said Alistair.

“Well, do it after breakfast your eggs and bangers are getting cold,” Joyce responded.

Basham waited until ten AM the called the Hesterton Police. Once they were online he asked for Inspector Godwin.

“This is Inspector Godwin.”

“Alfred? Alistair Basham here. How are you?”

“Fine sir, just fine.

“Excellent. I have a bit of information for you,” said Basham.

“And?”

“Have you ever heard of the 1902 Midwives Act?”

“No, I haven't.”

“The act was created to assure that all midwives were trained and supervised. It appears that to be qualified a woman desiring to be a midwife had to pass a written examination. Apparently, this kept the uneducated from qualifying. Anyway, I was able to find one Margaret Ainsworth as a certified midwife working as an independent in Derbyshire, in Darby in 1929. The best that I can gather is that at that time she averaged seventy pounds a year. Other midwives in that area were making between twenty and fifty pounds a year. Evidently, Margaret was midwife to the affluent. In any case, she appears again in Manchester in nineteen thirty-eight. After that I lost her,” said Basham.

“Can we be sure that it is the same Margaret Ainsworth that Sidney Bagley mentioned? ” asked Godwin.

“Well, think about it. In Derbyshire, she made more than the average midwife in that area. In Hesterton her fees were between three hundred and five hundred pounds. Why so high?

Two reasons. Some young women from wealthy families found themselves in trouble. Many a father and mother would gladly pay the going rate to rid itself of the problem pregnancy. The less affluent? Well, that's another story.”

“Did you find anything on Elizabeth Garrick? ”asked Godwin.

“Not yet. Speaking of finding, what about Charles Fields?”

“ I was just about to give you a bell when you called. Yes, finally Manchester City Police located him in a nursing home. It seems he's in a wheelchair but supposedly his mind is gone It appears that he's suffering from senility ” said Godwin.

“Damn the luck. Is he lucid at times? said, Basham.

“Yes but he's in an out remembering one time, forgetting other times,” Godwin replied.

“Very well. I suggest that we go see him. You see, it might be just a chance that we catch him at the right time. If nothing else, we tried,” said Basham.

“I agree,” Godwin replied.

“Then I shall motor up to Hesterton in the morning. You make arrangements whatever necessary for our visit to the nursing home. I should be arriving at approximately ten AM.”

“Brilliant. I'll see you then,” said Godwin.

As Alistair was finished speaking on the telephone Joyce appeared from the kitchen. “Did I just hear you say that you were motoring up to Hesterton?.” she asked.

“Yes. I'll leave in the morning around eight.”

“And what time do you expect to be home, may I ask?”

“I should be back by five. Maybe earlier.”

“See that you do. Don't expect me to cook and prepare a dinner for two and sit down and eat all alone,” said Joyce.

 

At ten-fifteen AM the next day Alistair parked his Bentley in the Hesterton Police parking lot. After securing the vehicle he made his way across the lot and entered the headquarters building. Once inside he was met by the Desk Sergeant. “Doctor

Basham to see Inspector Godwin,” said Alistair.

“Right here! ” Godwin announced. “I saw you when you drove into the parking lot. If you are ready we can be off to Manchester,” Godwin continued.

“ Then let's be on our way, by all means,” Basham replied.

During the drive to Manchester, the two men discussed the case of the bog bodies murders as they did Godwin asked, “Are you any closer in creating a portrait profile of whoever killed the babies?”

“Closer, yes but I'm not absolutely certain of the identities of the killers. I can tell you this, there is more than one,” Alistair answered.

Well perhaps Mr. Fields can be of assistance,” Godwin added.

After they parked the police car both men waked up onto the porch of the Oak View Nursing Home. Godwin opened the front door and walked inside. Basham followed him. The two men then met with the Senior Sister who was sitting at the reception desk.

“Good morning Sister. I am Inspector Godwin of the Hesterton Police. May I introduce Doctor Alistair Basham.

We would like to see and talk with one of your, shall I say patient

or tenet?”

“Either one is correct. Now then, which person are you referring to may I ask? ” said the nurse.

“A Mr. Charles Fields.”

“Allow me to advise you that Mr. Fields is suffering from dementia. There are times when he is as sharp as a tack. Other times he has no memory. Now, then after you show me your credentials and I confirm who you say you are I'll take you both to his room, By the way, my name is Bertha Hicks.”

Alfred Godwin reached into the inside pocket and removed the small leather wallet like case, that held his identification card. He opened it and showed to the woman.

“Very well. Now doctor let's start with the location of your surgery,” she instructed.

“I'm afraid you overestimated me. I am not a doctor of medicine. I am however the holder of a Ph.D. I am also a professor at Harrow University,” said Basham.

“I see. Alright, gentlemen if you would follow me I'll take you to Mr. Fields. I hope that your meeting will be quick as lunch will be served very soon.”

Both men walked slowly behind Bertha Hicks as she led them down a long hallway. Basham listened to the sounds of the woman's heavily starched white uniform as the fabric of her skirt rubbed against the apron she wore. Finally,she stopped and gestured for the two men to enter a room.

When they entered the room Charles Fields looked up and said, “Ello? Ello? What's this?' he asked.

“Charles, these two men have come to visit. They would like to talk with you,” said Bertha.

“Any of you gents have a fag?,” asked Fields.

“No sir,” said Godwin.

“That figures. Now, as you can see there's only one other chair in this room. I suggest that one of you sit down. Then, tell me what you want to talk about,” said Fields.

Basham sat down and waited for the Inspector to open the conversation with the man.

“Mr. Fields, it is my understanding that you worked at

Ashton's here in Manchester,” said Godwin.

“Aye, that I did for thirty years. I was the shipping clerk,” said Fields.

“Yes, I was told that you held that position. I was also told that you might remember where certain articles were sent,” Godwin mentioned.

“What kind of articles? ” asked Charles,

“A particular blue silk ribbon. It was manufactured in China and purchased by Ashton's before the war,” Godwin explained.

“I don't know anything about blue ribbon,” said the man.

“We were told that you shipped an order of blue silk ribbon to Hesterton. We're hoping you remember the address where you sent it,” said Basham.

“I just told you, I don't know anything about any blue ribbon,” said Fields.

“Are you sure? Try to remember,” said Godwin.

“No. I told you I don't remember. Now, I'm tired and it's lunchtime. I want you both to leave. Sister, tell them to leave,” Fields ordered.

“Gentlemen, I'm afraid your visit is over. I'm sorry but I must honor Mr. Fields request,?” said Bertha.

Basham got up slowly out of the chair. He stood and looking at Fields said, “Thank you for meeting with