Fifteen
The inquest was well attended by the general public. Thrilled by a murder in their midst,Crowdean turned out with eager hopes of sensational¹ disclosures. The proceedings², however, wereas dry as they could be. Sheila Webb need not have dreaded³ her ordeal⁴, it was over in a couple ofminutes.
There had been a telephone message to the Cavendish Bureau directing her to go to 19,Wilbraham Crescent. She had gone, acting⁵ as told to do, by entering the sitting room. She hadfound the dead man there and had screamed and rushed out of the house to summon assistance.
There were no questions or elaborations. Miss Martindale, who also gave evidence, wasquestioned for an even shorter time. She had received a message purporting⁶ to be from MissPebmarsh asking her to send a shorthand typist, preferably Miss Sheila Webb, to 19, WilbrahamCrescent, and giving certain directions. She had noted⁷ down the exact time of the telephone call as1:49. That disposed of Miss Martindale.
Miss Pebmarsh, called next, denied categorically that she had asked for any typist to be sent toher that day from the Cavendish Bureau. Detective Inspector⁸ Hardcastle made a short emotionlessstatement. On receipt of a telephone call, he had gone to 19, Wilbraham Crescent where he hadfound the body of a dead man. The coroner then asked him:
“Have you been able to identify the dead man?”
“Not as yet, sir. For that reason, I would ask for this inquest to be adjourned⁹.”
“Quite so.”
Then came the medical evidence. Doctor Rigg, the police surgeon, having described himselfand his qualifications, told of his arrival at 19, Wilbraham Crescent, and of his examination of thedead man.

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