“We have evidence, Captain Marsland, that the statement you made to Sergeant¹ Westaway regarding your discovery of the dead body of Frank Lumsden at Cliff Farm on the night of Friday, 16th October, is untrue.”

 

If Detective Gillett had expected the young man to display either alarm or resentment² at this statement he was disappointed. Marsland made no outward sign of astonishment³ at being addressed by his military title by the detective, or at being accused of having made a false statement. With steady eyes he met the detective’s searching gaze.

 

In response to a request telephoned by Detective Gillett to Sir George Granville’s house at Staveley, Marsland and Crewe had motored over to Ashlingsea police station. They had been met on their arrival by the detective and Sergeant Westaway, and after a constrained⁴ welcome had been conducted to the Sergeant’s inner room. The door had been carefully closed, and Constable⁵ Heather, who was in the outer room, had been told by his superior that on no account were they to be disturbed.

 

There was such a long pause after Detective Gillett had exploded his bomb, that the obligation of opening up the situation suggested itself to him.

 

“Do you deny that?” he asked.

 

“I do not.” In a clear tone and without any indication of embarrassment⁶ the young man made his reply.

 

“You admit that your statement is false?”

 

“I do.”

 

“What was your object in making a false statement to the police?”

 

“I am not prepared to tell you at present.”

 

“Well, perhaps you know your own business best, Captain Marsland, but I warn you that you are in a very serious position. It is for you to decide whether the truth will help you or not.”

 

“Do you intend to make a charge against me?”

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