 Blair of the Mountains, a story of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police. We present the eighth episode in Blair of the Mountains. Inspector Blair is on leave in England. Our story opens at Barmenster, the quiet old county seat of western Hamptonshire in rural England. Below us, as we look from the windows of Ashley Cottage, we see the winding streets of the quaint old city, sleeping in the haze of a summer day. Ashley Cottage is the home of Colonel Markham, chief of the county police. His wife, Peggy Markham, is the sister of Inspector Blair, who arrives today from Canada. Here you are, driver. Thank you kindly, sir. Hello, Peggy, here we are. Hello, Jimmy Boyd. Why, you look just the same as they were, not a day older. I say to you, Peggy, old thing, you look positively juvenile. Oh, flatterer. Promise, old Peggy, I mean it. Oh, do come in, Jimmy, and let me have a good look at you. Where's Marko? Well, he'll be here soon. Do sit down, Jimmy, I've got such loads of questions to ask you. All right, give me time. You know, Peggy, I didn't realize I possessed such a handsome sister. Oh, you old humbug. Do sit down and behave yourself. How long have you got, Jimmy? Three whole months. How splendid! But where's your uniform? Now, Peggy, you're Colonel's wife and you expect me to come parading round in uniform when I'm on leave. I haven't even brought it. How ridiculous of you. I'm disappointed. Too bad. Well, Peggy, it's wonderful to be in England again, and the country looks gorgeous. But really, Jimmy, things are awfully bad in England. Going to the dogs, I suppose. I'm afraid so. Of course, all this was, and I suppose it always will be. Good old England. She seems to thrive on misfortunes. By the way, I forgot all about this husband of yours. How does he like police work? Oh, I don't know. It's rather a change from the army. He works very hard. Oh, I see. Here, Peggy, Chief Constable of a county in England is supposed to be a soft job been owned. Yes, I know, but Marco takes things seriously. There are lots of new angles in the police business, and you and he are such good friends. I want you to help him. Oh, that's priceless, Peggy. A humble detective inspector advising the Chief of a big county. Oh, but darling, you've had a tremendous lot of experience, and you're making quite a name in Canada. I'd say easy on Peggy. You see, Jimmy, that's the side of the work that Marco needs help with. He's got a beast of a man under him, a superintendent named Cota, who's always trying to steal the spotlight. I see. Well, perhaps I can give Marco a lift. That would be nice, I'm sure. Oh, Jimmy, I knew you. Oh, don't forget, I came over here on a holiday. Oh, we've been really far. Fine, I can go right in. Oh, here's Marco. Hello there, Jimmy. Hello, Marco, how's everything going? Oh, pretty tranquil. Nice to see you again, Jimmy. Yes, isn't it? Splendid. Now we'll have some lunch. I've got a bottle of real old chateau I came for the occasion. Come along. Fine, come on. That's all right, let's go in it. Well, here you are, Jimmy. Thanks, thanks, Marco. Well, here's happiness. The best of luck, Jimmy. Good luck, Jimmy. You're going back to the office, Marco? Yes, but I'm having a day off tomorrow. What do you say, Jimmy? Like to try the Hamilton reaches for trouble? Splendid. Just what I've looked forward to for years. The mayfly is rising. It's ideal weather for to get some big ones in the spinny pools. Morning, Jimmy. How do you sleep? Oh, like a tub. I say, what a gorgeous morning. Yes. Now, good lord, I wonder what that is. Marco. Yes, what is it, Peggy? It's the police car from Headquarter. I think it's that awful man coat. No, just my luck on a glorious morning like this. Good morning, Clota. Anything wrong? Morning, sir. Yes, sir. Serious trouble at the all. It's Sir John Hamilton. He was shot and killed just before 8 o'clock this morning, sir. What? Sir John Hamilton killed? What was it? Suicide. I sent Sergeant McClain out on it. He telephoned a few minutes ago. Says it looks like murder. Murder? Good heavens. Any other information? Any arrest? Don't know, sir. McClain couldn't talk on the telephone. All right. Oh, by the way, I have a guest I'd like to take along. A guest? But that ain't hardly regular, sir. That's all right. He's a policeman. Oh, very well, sir. Well, let's be going. How far is it, Markle? Oh, a couple of miles yet. By George, there'll be a big stir over this. Hamilton was a big shot in the business world. Head of Associated Chemicals. Ah, and I'm personally... No, he kept to himself a great deal. Peggy knew Lady Hamilton, a very fine woman. Quite a figure in the sporting world. She used to be one of the best rifle shots in England. I see. You don't think that she... Lady Hamilton, I mean, was the one who... Lord, I hope not. Right, George, that would be too terrible. But we'll soon find out. Apparently, McClain knew who did it. There you are. There's Hamilton Park ahead. You can see the whole chimney through the trees. Oh, what a glorious place. Yes. Turn in, Parsons. Drive up to the front door. Hello, McClain. Morning, sir. Oh, Blair. This is Sergeant McClain. Hi, Sergeant. Inspector Blair from Canada, Sergeant. Thought him along to give us a hand. Well, sir, there's no need for any Sherlock Holmes on this job. It's as plain as the nose on your face. Well, Colter, you'd better carry on. Yes, sir. You know, what's this? This is Morton, the old butler. Anything I could do for you, sir? Yeah, better come along. Yes, sir. Yeah. Let's save the story, McClain. It was out here in the Rose Garden, where Sir John was standing when he was shot. That windy to the right of the porch is the breakfast room. The one on the left is the library. Well, what evidence have you got? The housemaid saw it from the breakfast room. Sir John was standing just here. He always waits for Lady Hamilton in the morning when she comes back from practicing. Practicing what? Well, you see, Lady Hamilton has a private shooting gallery in the grounds. Goes there every morning for breakfast. All right, what else? Well, about 7.50 a.m., Lady Hamilton comes back from the shooting gallery. When she met Sir John, they had a quarrel. Lady Hamilton was carrying her rifle under her arm. The maid saw her suddenly turn away and she heard the sound of a shot. Sir John staggered and fell, and that was all the maid saw. She didn't actually see Lady Hamilton fire the shot. No, but two people saw her shoot her husband. Now, who were they, McClain? Well, the butler and Morton here and the housekeeper, Mrs. Bubbin. All right. Let's go in the house. Just a minute, Colter. I'd like to know if Inspector Blair has any questions. Just one if you don't mind. No, no, go ahead. I'd like to ask Morton here something. Yes, sir. Did you ever see Lady Hamilton do any shooting before? Not likely, sir. She always locks the door of the shooting gallery when she's a practicing. All right, that's all. Well, sir, with all due respect to Inspector Blair, I don't see what he's got to do with this here. All right, I'll tell you. I've chosen to ask him to assist us. Is that clear? Very well, sir. Now, one more thing. McClain, what is the position of Sir John's body when you found him? I don't know about that Inspector. They'd moved him when I arrived. What? Before the police arrived, what do you mean? Well, well, you see, sir, it was me who has moved him. That's all, Morton? Yes, sir. I was the first to get to him. All right, what do you find? Sir John, he was lying just here with his head on the flower border. I thought at first he'd had a stoke or something and was still alive. So milling the footmen and me, we carried him into the library. Yes, that was reasonable enough. But didn't you see any wound? Not that we got him inside, sir. Then we found a small wound at the back of his head. It was hardly bleeding at all. I see. Then what did you do? Well, I'd telephoned Dr. Rutherford, sir. He was here in a few minutes. By that time, we knew Sir John was dead. It's a terrible business, sir. But when did you telephone for the police? Well, as soon as the doctor came, sir, he told me to. And all that time, you were with Sir John? Yes, sir. All right, I thought I wanted to know. Big pardon, gentlemen. Dr. Rutherford said he's ready for the police. All right. I think we'd better go in. I expect they found the bullet. You go ahead, Colter. I want to talk to Inspector Blair. Do you mean this is a bad business? Yes, looks like it. I haven't got to ask for a claim, but I wonder what they've done with Lady Hamilton. Yes. I must find out about that. It's rather a delicate business. Colter didn't seem to be very happy having me in on this thing. No, but that's all right. Colter's a good policeman, but this is his first murder case in years. Naturally, he wants all the credit he can get. Oh, yes, as natural. Hmm. Personally, I'm thankful you're here. Colter's rather bullheaded, and we've got to be careful. Hello? What is it? Found something? Yes. It's this little metal screw or cap. It was lying in the flower body. I wonder what it is. Let's see it. Hmm. Screw cap of some sort. Milled on the outer edge with a hole through the center. It must be off some garden implement. Better turn it over to the... Hold on, Marco. You know, I've seen a cap like this before somewhere. I'd like to identify it just for fun. If you don't mind, we won't mention it for the present. All right. You don't think it's a clue, do you? No, no, I wouldn't say that. Still, sometimes it's the little things that count. All right. Let's go in and see what the doctors have got. Well, Colter, did you get the doctor's report? Yes, sir. He's the bullet. Hmm. I see. Small lead bullet. Pretty badly broken up. Yes, sir. But the weight corresponds to the bullet Lady Hamilton using her rifle. It's the same caliber. I see. Tell me, McClain, where is Lady Hamilton? Well, sir, she collapsed when this thing happened. She's in Dr. Rutherford's care. I was going to question her, but the doctor interfered. Said he'd be responsible. Ah, good man, that doctor. That's all right, but we have to take her in charge. Hold on, Colter. One thing at a time. How about the doctor's report? Well, there's not much to it, but it's blind enough. The bullet was lodged against her frontal bone with the cause of death. How about the gun? Well, here it is. It's a .22 caliber target gun. Plenty of fingerprints, all made by the same person. Of course, they're Lady Hamilton's. I see. Any questions, Blair? No, seems pretty straightforward. Can I look at that gun? Certainly. Thanks. Morton, you saw Lady Hamilton fire at her husband. Yes, sir. I was astounded. Never mind where you were. Which shoulder did she fire from? Why, the right shoulder, sir. You're sure of that? Positive, sir. All right, go ahead, Colter. Well, gentlemen, we have the evidence of two people who saw Lady Hamilton fire at the shop. The maid and the footman. Saucer John Fall. This is the rifle that done it. In the bullet fits the rifle. What more do you want? Yes, and the motive, Colter. Motive? Why, bless my soul. Ain't the motive enough? What I says is that this year Lady Hamilton is guilty of murder. I say she ought to be charged. She's no more right to consideration than anybody else, lady, or no lady. I'm afraid you're right, Colter. And I'm sure Inspector Blair agrees. Of course he does. What else could he do? Well, really, Colter. I don't want to be awkward, but I'm afraid you'd have a bad time on a witness stand with a smart defense lawyer. What? How do you make that out? Really, I can't see your point, Jimmy. Well, perhaps I can explain. But first, let me say this. That butler just now was lying. What? Why? How do you know? Because it was utterly impossible for Lady Hamilton to have killed her husband. You have heard Episode 8, the first part of the Hamilton mystery. The second part of this story will be presented in Episode 9 of the dramatic series entitled Blair of the Mounties.