Chapter 60: Scotland Yard’s guidelines for handling cases

Chapter 60: Scotland Yard’s Guidelines for Handling Cases

In the interrogation room at Greenwich Police Station, Wells, the innkeeper, sat across the table with shackles on his hands, while on the other side of the table were Arthur, who was seated, and Tom and Tony, who were in charge of surveillance.

Arthur threw the delivery note from the London Gaslight and Coke Company on the table.

“The delivery slip from the London Gaslight and Coke Company shows that the last delivery of gas canisters for the Wells Hotel was made twenty-three days ago.

We have searched all the rooms in the hotel, and there is only one gas canister in the hotel, and that is the one in the room where the murder took place.

We have also consulted the authorities of the London Gaslight and Coke Company, who state that a gas lamp will light for three hours on full fuel, which is probably just enough for one night’s illumination.

And a gas tank will furnish about thirty to forty refills of gas.

It is even more interesting to note that there were only two gas lamps in the Wells Hotel, one at the front desk and one in the room where the crime occurred, the rest of the guest rooms being lit by kerosene lamps.

That means that if the lighting was normal, then the canister left in the crime room should be almost out of gas, and even if there was some left it would not be enough to poison anyone.

Mr. Wells, can you tell me why that is?”

Wells looked at the delivery note and struggled back, “It’s nothing to be concerned about.

Gaslighting is a new product, and everyone thinks new things are unsafe. Weren’t there a lot of accidents with exploding gas lamps in the papers last year?
I also thought it was bad at first, so when I was choosing lighting equipment for the hotel, I still chose kerosene lamps.

But a few months ago, a friend of mine told me that the London Gaslight & Coke Company was having a sale with reduced prices, so I casually bought two and came back to try them out.

As for the comment that the gas tanks were almost out of gas, that’s nonsense; it’s not like our discounted rooms at the hotel are occupied every day, and it’s not unusual to have some gas left over.”

Arthur nodded at that, “Not a bad answer, Mr. Wells. But how do you explain this one?”

Tom stepped forward and placed a thick stack of ledgers on the table.

Arthur leaned back in his chair with his hands folded, “We have ample evidence that you have purchased large quantities of nitrous oxide in multiple batches at different stores over the last six months.

Normal people wouldn’t buy this stuff if they had nothing to do, much less know what it does. The only people who know how to apply nitrous oxide are chemists, doctors, and the rich young ladies of the upper class.

Chemists study its properties, doctors use it for surgery, and rich ladies use it for fun and parties. Why are you, the innkeeper, connected with such a thing?”

Wells wryly said, “Who says these are the only people who know about nitrous oxide? Don’t you, a Scotland Yard policeman, know about it too? I’m just having fun with him, as are the broads; my usual life is dull enough, I have to have some fun for myself.”

“All right.”

Arthur nodded, “At first glance your words seem like there’s nothing wrong with them, what you do is your own business, as long as you don’t commit a crime, it’s none of our business. But from what we know, your financial situation doesn’t seem to be too good.

I remember you also admitted in the hotel, you opened the hotel money after deducting the rent and other costs will not have much left. But you’ve spent close to 20 pounds on nitrous oxide in the last few months. Where do you get all your money from?”

Wells’ whole face turned red when he heard this, and he couldn’t make it up any more.

“What do you care where I get it from? I don’t steal or rob, I just run a small business. You don’t have any reason to force me to speak, and you can’t torture me to make a confession. I deny all the accusations you have made against me, and this is slandering my honor!”

“Hey! Fuck you!” Tony’s eyes glazed over and he almost drew the civilized cane from his belt.

Taken aback by his action, Wells asked warily, “What, what are you doing? It’s against your internal rules to torture a confession!”

Tony went up and clanged him three times on the head, “Fuck! If I didn’t ask a question, it’s not torture, if you’re not going to answer, it’s not coercion, I just simply want to beat you up, is this torture! This is torture! This is forced confession!”

Wells was knocked to cover his head in a hurry, he couldn’t stop wailing in pain, “Beatings! The police are hitting people!”

Tom hurriedly hugged Tony from behind, “Tony, almost two strikes are enough! It’ll bring the others in later.”

Arthur also reached out to block Tony as he continued.

“Mr. Wells, it seems that you do know the rules of Scotland Yard very well, and it is true that we can’t torture you into making a confession, which is why we have to have more than one person present when we arraign a suspect. And you do have the right to remain silent under the law.”

When Wells heard this, the hand covering his head instantly loosened, he thought Arthur was showing him submission and immediately stopped neither crying nor howling. He said viciously, “It’s good that you know! Then why don’t you let me out of here? If you don’t let me go, I’ll go to Scotland Yard and complain about your use of violence!”

As soon as Tony heard this, the fire that had just subsided was suddenly raised again, “Tom! You let go of me! This kid has the nerve to have a temper! It’s just that Willox is not here anymore, if this man had fallen into Willox’s hands, he would probably have gotten several mouths!”

Arthur crossed his fingers with both elbows on the tabletop and dragged his chin.

“But, Mr. Wells, are you sure you want to remain silent? All the evidence points to you now, and you’re the only suspect. If it comes to court, you won’t be able to escape the gallows with what you just said.”

“I …… “Wells’ arrogant smile stalled when he heard this, “Are you, are you trying to scare me?”

“Do I have to scare you? Mr. Wells, you’re a person who looks like you know a little bit about the law, but not much.”

Arthur leaned back in his chair and said, “Let me be honest with you. Do you know what the guidelines are for handling cases in many of Scotland Yard’s police districts?”

Wells hesitated for half a second and asked tentatively, “The pursuit of truth?”

Arthur smiled helplessly, “I’m sorry, but Scotland Yard doesn’t pursue the truth, for the most part, what we pursue is an account. An account to the above, an account to the public, as long as there is an account, it doesn’t really matter if it’s true or not.

What’s more, just in terms of this case, this account of yours is quite like the truth.

However, it is only like just, I have checked your social relations, you and the two deceased do not have any grudge relationship.

Moreover, you are also a hotel owner who owns a fixed property. Although you are not particularly rich, you can still say that you are.

You don’t have any grudges and you have a good life, what kind of anger do you have to kill to solve your problems?
You have to thank God that you met me and not another police inspector.

If anyone else had taken over this case, they probably wouldn’t have bothered to continue interrogating and investigating you.

They would have just sent you to the court when the time came, picked a good day to hang you on the gallows, the public would have applauded, the authorities would have praised you, and all would have been happy, and the case would have been closed.

If you want to go through this procedure, I can also satisfy you. So, that concludes the process of your trial, Mr. Wells, and I’ll see you in hell.”

At the end of his words, Arthur stretched his back and then stood up with the information on the desktop.

His hand had just gripped on the door handle of the interrogation room when he heard a shout from behind him.

“Wait!”

Arthur’s footsteps stopped and he turned around with a smile.

Shivering and shaking his legs, Wells lowered his eyes and held his tongue for half a day before he opened his mouth as if he had given up, “People, I really didn’t kill them.

I …… I just ran errands for them to buy something, provided a room, and earned a small profit from it.

Opening a hotel really doesn’t make any money, I …… I can’t live without this deal. The price of everything is going up, I, I can’t help it.”

Arthur’s eyes narrowed, “Profit? There’s still profit in killing people?”

Wells gulped, he slowly nodded, “They …… they are a group of people who do business with dead people, I didn’t say before because I was afraid that they would retaliate against me. I …… can’t fight them, and I don’t dare to fight them, they are all desperados.”

Arthur resumed his seat and sat down, “Mr. Wells, until the criminals are captured, I can ensure your personal safety on behalf of Scotland Yard.”

When Wells heard this, it was like taking a chill pill, he finally stopped hiding.

He took a deep breath and asked, “Mr. Officer, have you heard of the sixteen-man serial murder case that happened in Edinburgh two years ago? Those two infamous serial killers, William Hale, and William Burke.

And …… those who dealt with me, did the same business as they did. Killing people and then selling the bodies ……”

(End of chapter)