 Whitehall 1212 for the first time in history Scotland Yard opens its secret files to bring you the true authentic stories of some of its most baffling cases Research on Whitehall 1212 is prepared by Percy Hoskins chief crime reporter the London Daily Express The stories for radio are written and directed by Willis Cooper Here are the participants in case number 6 9 3 m r 9 6 6 Lance Corporal John Latimer of the Royal Corps of Signals was my laurée right enough Signaler Lewis ruling of the same company. It only hadn't rained that night Mrs. Elsie Avery who lost her son. He was a lively lad, but he never done any harm Miss Hartley the colonel's daughter. I was raised in the army and I know what I see Superintendent Robert Lester of Scotland Yard If you will come into the black museum here with me I think Chief Superintendent John Davidson can show you what we started with on this case There's quite a collection in here of items that have figured in various cases. We've worked on here in Scotland Yard Some of them successfully and some of them Unsolved to date shall we say Come with me, please Here you are John This is Chief Superintendent John Davidson who has a long and distinguished record without how do you do? Say I finally found those things barn. Ah, I mislead them. I'm afraid I don't be afraid to look they're not at all gruesome Some folks seem to think we have a kind of chamber of horrors here But I assure you these things are quite innocuous for the most part Now this is the handkerchief still quite clean isn't it wasn't always so clean See an ordinary cocky-colored handkerchief such as millions of soldiers carried during the war I carry one and this You don't recognize it It's a gas mask color See the shoulder strap here. Oh, no soldiers didn't carry this kind This is red leather or imitation leather if you will It was the type children carried with them a Child did carry this one You can still see his name inside it here Written in his own kids handwriting Philip Ainslie Avery Philip Avery is dead But this little red leather bag helped superintendent Lester Start a man on the early morning stroll that ends on the gallows trap. I Was fortunate enough to be called by the Bucks constabulary at once on this case Too many times Scotland yard is called in only after the local police have exhausted their every resource But those chaps in Buckinghamshire wanted help at once and badly in this little village in early November 1941 Station superintendent. No, I'll not tell you his name brief me He tossed the gas mask case the one you just saw on the desk. This is all be found so far Rather a bright colored gas mask case for a boy to carry How old is it? I don't know whether we should say is or was superintendent Been looking for him. How long now? See in a half days now, and this is all you found. All right I must add if he's lost and he'd throw away his respirator case Where'd you find it about a mile from here down the road in the ditch well travel road not very Get anything from his parents Well as dead mother's well, I should expect he was the only child What did she think? Well first she thought he'd run away. He was quite dotty over the army And she thought he'd be hanging around some camp or other in the vicinity He wasn't But he all moved out last one a week ago. Oh, except for that convoy that went through here the day after the kid disappeared Could they have taken him along a mascot perhaps? Huh checked him first bloody thing not with him. No There was he telephoned me from somewhere over the east coast nice chap worried Said he'd turned out the whole party and no one had heard of the kid. Good man And the countryside is turned out you said not enabled bodied men in the village. It isn't out in the country searching They'll find him perhaps That's what I'm afraid of. Yeah Oh Where do you want to start? Who saw the boy last his mother is just setting off for school hmm What about her? Well frankly oh I've seen mothers who treated their kids better. I'd better see her had no Killing her kids awfully nasty superintendent. Yeah In my sister-in-law. Oh Oh the brother's wife I I thought the kid's name was Avery. Well, she met a day after my brother was killed at Kelly Where is it a very killed at a book? She must be pretty bitter bitter I'll have a talk with you. All right Sorry, that's all right. I Was rather fond of my young nephew probably why I telephoned you so quickly. Yeah But you said every man in the village was out looking for the boy They are Who are all those chaps them coming down the road? Well They're carrying something It's my sister-in-law That's it They found it in my time. I've seen a good many murdered person. I Shall probably see a good many more before I turn in my warrant card But this one An 11-year-old schoolboy. I Can still see that great blue bruise on his forehead And his throat. I've got kids myself His mother she was quite controlled when I talked with him Better take me in superintendent. I did it. How did you do it, Mrs. Avery? It was such a lively boy, but he Never meant any harm. Everyone says he was a fine boy, Mrs. Avery. I called him a little hellion We're always talking about the army and I was going to join up the minute he came of age. I Hate the army. Yes Taken Philip's father from me and Avery. I Couldn't bear the thought of losing him to it. I Raised my hand to my son Said it was his duty I thrashed him so many times, but he was stubborn Duty I said what about your duty to your mother? We're all ready for school with his little gas mask case standing in the door Somebody he said somebody's got to take daddy's place. It's like a kid talk Daddy's place and mr. Avery's and I I Slapped his face I Could cut off my hand and he He gave me such a look Went away and I never saw him again and Bill I Sent him to his death. I murdered him the army got him too. I Went away from that stricken woman What else could I do? She was obviously convinced that she was responsible for the boy's death But if her story was true, then that was a matter for her own conscience If it was not Well, if she had killed the boy there was time enough The divisional superintendent drove me to the place where the body had been found in his own car Was a side road off the main highway? Little traveled and the local constable pointed out the place I was right there sir. I marked it with a stick. I Was with a search and party we came across the road here and Sammy Roberts he seen that red gas mask bag lying on the edge of the ditch right over there We picked it up and we was looking around like it. I spotted the body line right down there And on his back he was Like he was asleep with his little arms folded on his chest I thought he was asleep till I saw the blood. No, they weren't much of it for the rain We run over here, and then we saw the mark on this for it did all right Quite peaceful as I said, that's all sir Be no other cars along here since you found a man only one or two sir Where's it all that oil come from them? Where sir done there? Oh I don't know sir Looks like crankcase oil the car has been standing there Some time ago though Rains washed it out partly I could wash away all the fingerprint from a gas mask Certainly looks as if a car or a lorry has been standing here. Could those be its tire marks? Constable see that no one that comes along here gets near those tire marks You want to make a plaster cast of them sir? Yes, and not be clocked back at the station No, it's how to make him sir. He he was at the police college at Hendon. I'll set him out when we go back Recovered everything else McKinnon. I think so sir Rains washed away everything else, but I I didn't notice these marks Who's that stop him Constable before he runs on those tire tracks Stop stop please Who is it? You know I think it's Miss Hartley. She's got the only mg in this spot Who is she? The daughter of our local retired colonel chief air raid warden Of Philip's superintendent he was such a charming boy. What is the world you're doing out here? This is the place where he was found miss Hartley. Oh, how dreadful you have my deepest sympathy sir Who's this man? I'm superintendent Lester of Scotland yard madam. Yeah, don't call me madam Name's Hartley Inga Hartley lived here for years. My father's colonel Hartley late late the green Howard's been in the army Practically all my life. I You're doing up here. Can't you handle this superintendent? Oh, no, no, no, no, never, of course. Yes, sorry We've got a lorry up here with a leaking crankcase. We don't have a leaking crankcase as far as I can see it Who was it the murderer? Oh sorry, we've only just come in on those I saw lorry Over there at the road junction three mornings ago army lorry doesn't balance corporal driving onto the main road from this road Was that the day the boy was reported missing superintendent? You're sure it was an army lorry miss Hartley Of course, I know it was an army lorry driven by a young lance corporal wearing steel rimmed glasses a 1500 weight boards and I was raised in the army sir, and I know what I see Was there any markings on it miss Hartley? Of course. It was a royal chorus signaled lorry. How did you know? Why it had the blue and white patch painted on the front like the signalers armband a big 56 was Let it on the side in white and there was a red and green clover leaf painted on the left front door The trucks of that signal can't wait to pass through here. I remember the markings on them That's right. What's it? Yes. What are you talking about? They were marked with plain card pips some of them with the ace of spades some with diamonds and hearts and clubs There's your clover leaf miss Hartley. Oh Don't a bloody crow. Excuse me. That's the murderer As miss Hartley roared off an RMG we headed for the village Was a thin enough clue, but it was the only one except for the mother's fantastic confession, but We started to investigate it at once a telegrams of the war office request most agent a present location a Royal corps signal unit pass through this village three days ago headed for East Coast talk Information desired and connection with serious crime. That's the Scotland yard Oh, he was trying to trace him any other way security regulations and all that we'll have a reply in no time I'm sure but if that signals core corporal did kill him. Why? Probably struck in with the lorry and got frightened But what was Phyllis doing over there the schools in the opposite direction? Maybe he was running away Would you like to have a look at the things we took from the boys pockets? I Would you mind looking Lester? If there's anything you think I should see I'll have a look cancel He's a spring sir. No pet badge. That was his father sir. He always get it it with him That was in copies Hair breaks your heart doesn't it sir poor kid going comfortable Parking handkerchief hold hold hold hold on a minute Was that his can't say sir hold it out. I Think we'll take a closer look at it. I Believe that's oil on it there Here sir Smells like old crankcase oil to me sir. Hold it out. I'll tell you what to do with it might be quite important Yes, sir. How's his mother took her to a nursing home down the road sir. She's I'm afraid she's you know Not going to get over it. I'm sorry Well, is that all any of this sir, but this we found inside the gas mask case there What is it looks like the corner of a pound note sir or crumpled up Bloody strange place to find a bit of money. How do you suppose he got it? Why I think constable the important thing to discover is Who has the rest of it? The murderer How's ever We've heard from the war office about the signal company. Where are they? They're at a port of embarkation. They're due to leave the day after tomorrow for North Africa If we were to follow up what seemed to be a promising clue in fact our only clue it was of course no time to lose But there were things that we must accomplish before we left for the port of embarkation These are the things we accomplished for the aid of Scott and yard technicians who were rushed to us from London We have the plaster cast of the tar marks on the road sir the samples of oil We took out of the matter here too. They match the oil stains on the cocky handkerchief The handkerchief has been washed and examined. What appears to be a laundry mark k 201 537 and was discovered on the edge of it. It had been partially obscured by the oil stains They were done the boys throat was inflicted after death, which was caused with a blow on the headset One thing we do not know yet superintendent is where that torn piece of the one pound note came from I brought Philip's mother here to tell you about that from Philip's money box What I knew at once when I brother-in-law told me I took her home to see Philip had come back and taken it. I looked in the drawer in his cupboard where he kept it I found it broken open and empty. I Knew what had been in it 31 shillings in coins gave him a shilling they're signing my boots a pound note I gave him for his birthday the day before Mikkelmas Taken it all to run away on They murdered him for 31 shillings and a pound note The army paid me much more for his father I Don't think I should ever forget that We arrived at the barracks of the signal company at the port of embarkation shortly after Reveille Major Hugh Scott the young officer commanding who had been an engineer at Wandsworth was waiting for us and what he called his orderly room The man was still at breakfast, but the company sergeant major I should have seen The gentleman from the police sir. Oh, yes. Thank you sergeant major Come in gentlemen. Thank you Saddam don't you want? I'm afraid I don't know what this is all about. You know, I had an urgent message. Yes I'm afraid we should have to cause you some inconvenience. This is a very serious matter. Mm-hmm. I gathered that it It involves murder. Mm-hmm. It's serious What do you want me to do? I'll answer some questions first. Please made her as well as I can By the way, are all your men present the sergeant major all know that son major Yes, sir all our people on hand sergeant major Thank you Well at all here murderers included in any You were encamped at the superintendent's village a few nights ago. I'm right. He called on us. That's correct You have one vehicle that has a bad leak in the crankcase How'd you know that? Well, I'm asking you sir. We surely have 56 of 1500 weight Fordson Well, I don't know how you know, but we're having more trouble with this monster And by your markings on this lorry Well, the usual blue and white signals tab and then there's the section marking on the front door What's it like, please and ace of clubs in red and green? Oh May we see the driver, please? Oh, of course John major again Send in non-scopal Natima get him out of our palatial breakfast room, please Yes, sir He the Murderer we'll see I hope my old man and bloke can't seem murdering anyone. Oh, you must be wrong You have a special laundry mark for your company major No wonder mark. Well hardly in this man's army. We found one on this khaki handkerchief might be anyone's old chap. I Have won myself. It was in the murdered boys pocket boy. Oh Good Lord gentlemen use Come in What makes it jingle so cool jingle sir ring like bow bells. Oh, that's shilling sir. I've got a pocket full of shillings Excuse me, sir, never mind corporal. Where did you get those shillings? Answer anything these gentlemen ask you that am I that policeman. Oh I got them from my mate sir. Who's he? Signal of ruling sir. It's on major Yes, sir send for ruling. Yes Thank You major Scott. Yeah, that's good, right Where did he get them? I don't know Tell them up. Is this your handkerchief? Looks like mine, sir. May I see it, please? Yes, sir. He is the laundry mark. They put on it when we were stationed at lead, sir Okay, two or one five three seven Yes, sir, that's mine. Where did you lose it? Lose it sir. I didn't lose it my pal had it. I lent it to him ruling Yes, sir, sure Yes, sir, I'm sure Do you always wear those steel rim glasses letterman? Yes, sir always wearing them when you met the lady in the mg the other morning What morning sir when you turned off the side road onto the main road When you were to camp before the last one I Never saw a lady up there, sir. I Wasn't even out of the camp the morning You stopped your lorry on the by-road and stay there a few minutes. I never left the camp, sir Your lorry was out, I think I Wouldn't know sir. I was working on the generator truck all day, sir alone. No doubt alone. Yes, sir. Look at this You know what it is looks like slabs of plastic, sir They are plastic casts of tire marks left by your lorry yet At a certain place Latimer. I don't think they could be so The lorry wasn't in a certain place what certain place Where you'd sit sir you can easily prove it by comparing these cuss with your tires Well, sir, if it if it was where you said it was it wasn't me driving it. Where did I say it was? I? Don't know sir. Latimer one moment, please major Latimer do you recognize this? You know what it is No, sir a Red satchel it was the boys Gas mask cave. I never thought before in all my life, sir. I'll take my bloody oath to that What boys sir? Oh blood come in What is it Sergeant major? Sorry, sir. What rulings missing sat I think he's gone over the hill Major scott got the military police on the track of the missing signal ruling at once We wanted to see him badly enough, but major scott had reasons of his own Desertion from a post in wartime is also a very serious matter While a red cap MP left tenant a former Barkshire Constabulary sergeant assured the major that they very soon find the adjective Rascal the superintendent. I went out to compare our plaster cast with the tires on lorry number 56 They matched perfectly We return to the order room to find the policeman gone a major scott sitting staring at the contents of rulings kit Look here at these clothes gentlemen That's soaking wet perhaps they were the ones he wore when He was raining then I could very well be If he did it I didn't do it. Yes. You said that Adam look here's something on the cuff of this jacket. Well, okay What's this? Looks like blood He said he cut his hand. Did he? Didn't show me the cut sir. Then you don't know No What kind of chap is this man ruling anyway? Well, he's a he's a great husky young fellow He wears steel rimmed glasses just like I do he does Sir, I was just thinking what well When I came back to my baby after working on the generator lorry all day. I had a look at 56 and She was awfully muddy much muddier than the other lorries that had been standing in the park all day Would someone have taken her out without you all knowing it Could they let him it would be possible sir ruling well, sir. He's Supposed to be my pal But what? He was always drifting off. I remember alone Well, he he always liked to visit people in the business. He said what business? Business he was in before he was called up. What's he do? He was a butcher The MPs brought signal or ruling back at three the next morning They had found and they said standing in front of a you guess what kind of shop It was quite self-possessed as he stood in major scouts office Stand easy ruling These gentlemen want to talk to you ruling. Aye, sir. I think they want to ask you some questions First we want to search this man major go ahead. I look at your wallet first ruling. Aye, sir Not much in it sir. We'll see it. Yes, sir. I Opened the wallet There was nothing in it at all nothing Except a torn one-pound note Give me the torn piece of Phillips pound note. I said to the superintendent that was all It fitted perfectly Let me do it Lewis ruling I Arrest you for the willful murder of Philip in slavery. Hi, sir And I warn you that anything you say will be taken down in writing and may be used in evidence I'm not afraid to tell you about it sir. I Killed poor little beggar He said he was running away to join army I laughed at him. He told me he had plenty of money and I asked him where he kept it He said in his respirator case and I reached for it and he yelled Just like one of them little lungs when you've got it by it back And he jumped out of Lori and I have him and he turned to yell at me and Hit him with a spanner Just like a cute little lump and then he fell down and I did what you always do to a lump when you kill it No as rolling was tried and found guilty of the murder of the Poor little lamb But his counsel appealed on the grounds of insanity and he was a judge mentally irresponsible He was committed to an institution for the criminal insane and died there more than a year ago You have heard another authentic story from the files of Scotland yard on Whitehall one to one two Research is prepared by Percy Hoskins of the London Daily Express The stories for radio are written and directed by Willis Cooper Three chimes mean good times on NBC