Free Who Killed Stella Pomeroy? by Basil Thomson Page A

him. When Richardson exposed his business with them the clerk shook his head.
    â€œI fear that you’ll have to call tomorrow, sir,” he said; “I feel that I ought not to divulge anything about this will without the sanction of my principals.”
    â€œUnless I can get some information from you, I shall have to report that the course of justice is being obstructed,” observed Richardson with a smile.
    â€œWhat is it that you wish to know?” asked Wilson.
    â€œI wish to know the effect of the will which Mr Edward Maddox seems to have deposited with you.”
    â€œOh, you mean the will of Frederick Colter, who died recently in New Zealand. He chose to have his will proved in this country, and the first steps have already been taken to obtain probate. You understand that he had property in this country as well as in New Zealand?”
    â€œI know that Mrs Pomeroy was his heiress, but, as no doubt you have seen in the newspapers, Mrs Pomeroy is dead.”
    â€œYes, murdered if we are to believe what the newspapers say, and as you are the officer investigating the murder I think I should be justified in giving you a resume of the will. Frederick Colter left his personal property half to his niece Stella, the wife of Miles Pomeroy, and half to his adopted son, Edward Maddox, on certain conditions. According to a codicil they were to found a training centre for young men about to emigrate to New Zealand. He specified that Maddox should bring his will to our firm, and this he did.”
    â€œWhat effect would her death before the will was proved have upon the provisions of the will?”
    â€œMrs Pomeroy’s share would go to her next of kin, who, probably, would not be legally bound to contribute towards the training centre for emigrants.”
    â€œThere was no proviso in the will that in the event of her death Maddox should succeed to the whole property subject to the proviso?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou say that you are taking steps to obtain probate?”
    â€œUndoubtedly probate will be obtained, when there has been time to communicate with the various beneficiaries.”
    â€œOne more question. Can you give me the date when Maddox brought the will to you?”
    â€œIt was a few days ago—on the thirteenth, to be exact. He was showing a good deal of agitation. He explained that he had been down to Ealing to see his co-heiress and had found that she was dead. He said that he had called here at nine o’clock but had found that our office was not yet open. That would be so: we do not open before nine thirty.”
    â€œAt what hour did he call on you the second time?”
    â€œJust before lunch.”
    Richardson had found out what he wanted to know, namely, whether Maddox would benefit by the death of his co-heiress if she died before the will was proved. He would not, and so the motive that Richardson was hunting for was lacking. This line of enquiry seemed to be closed, but he had not yet finished with Ted Maddox, and, being in London, he made the Palace Hotel his next call.
    At the desk there seemed to be doubts about the place where Mr Edward Maddox would be found. A page was sent round the reception rooms, calling his name as he went, and drew the first covert in the smoking room, which was decorated with a bar, and there Maddox was found gossiping with a kindred spirit. Seeing his tall visitor following the page, he came forward to shake hands and led him to a seat in the passageway, where there could be no eavesdroppers.
    â€œBeing in this neighbourhood, Mr Maddox, I called to tell you that Mr Pomeroy, the husband of that unfortunate lady, is to be released.”
    â€œReleased! Why, has any fresh evidence been found to clear him?”
    â€œI fancy it was rather the absence of evidence against him that procured his release. The coroner himself visited the Home Office expressly to obtain his release.”
    â€œWell, they always told me in