Free Who Killed Stella Pomeroy? by Basil Thomson Page B

New Zealand that British justice was the quickest and fairest system in the world. From the lawyer point of view that may be so, but if you ask me I should say that it was weak kneed. You have laid your hands on the only man who could have committed the crime, and then you look him over and decide that he has a nice honest face and you let him go, without finding anyone else to take his place in gaol. That’s what it comes to, isn’t it?”
    â€œMy particular object in calling here today, Mr Maddox, was to ask you whether you came over alone or whether any friend from New Zealand travelled with you.”
    The young man became alert. “I don’t know the reason for your question, but I’ll answer it all the same. I travelled alone in the Aorangi .”
    â€œI suppose you made friends on board like everyone else on a long voyage?”
    â€œWell, I couldn’t take my exercise on deck with a gag on.”
    â€œExactly, and you were an object of some interest, no doubt—a young man who has inherited a considerable fortune does not go unnoticed.”
    â€œIf you mean that I bragged about it, you’re wrong. I may have mentioned it to one or two, but I can’t see what that has to do with you.”
    Richardson decided quickly that, he must seek his information rather from the ship’s officers than from the young man himself, but he was sure from the resentful tone that he had evoked unpleasant memories of the voyage.
    â€œI’m sorry if I seem to have asked too many questions, but I’m only complying with my instructions. I won’t take up any more of your time.”
    It was but a step from the hotel to the steamboat office, where he learned that the captain of the Aorangi was at home on leave for a few days, but that the purser of the boat happened to be in the office at that moment, if Richardson would like to see him. The clerk carried the official visiting card into a room behind the counter and emerged almost instantly to invite Richardson to follow him.
    He found two men in this room: the one seated at a mahogany writing table, clearly one of the superior officers of the company; the other a weather-beaten man of between thirty and forty—obviously the purser. The manager at the writing table received his visitor cordially and glanced at his card.
    â€œThis gentleman,” he said, “is the purser of the Aorangi , but if your business is of the usual kind I hope that you’ll allow me to be present. Confidence men have a special interest for me. I don’t know which I admire more, their flair for the possible victim, or their power of acting. The part I should like to see played is that of the old Irishman who has come into an unexpected fortune. Please sit down.”
    â€œIt is not confidence men this time, Mr Drury. I want to get some information about a passenger named Edward Maddox, who travelled from New Zealand.” The purser’s expression at the mention of the name was instructive; it called forth memories.
    â€œThat young man was a card. When he first came on board he had come into a little money; but as the voyage continued the fortune grew and grew, until we found that we had a real live millionaire to deal with, and I can tell you that the men, from the chief steward downward, were badly disappointed when he slipped ten bob into their hands.”
    â€œDid he make any friends on board?”
    â€œOh, just the usual type that one meets on board ship who hang round passengers reputed to be rich.”
    â€œYou don’t mean the ordinary confidence man?”
    â€œNo, for a wonder we had none of them on board. But there was one flashy-looking card who stuck pretty close to Maddox; in fact, they left the ship together.”
    â€œName of Otway?”
    â€œYes, but how did you know that?”
    â€œIt was only a guess. When I call at a hotel about anyone I always ask for the register and make a note of the name