Mr Durden
Piper then speaks to the owner of the property, Mr Durden, who you had agreed to meet at a local pub.
Inspector Piper - “Now Mr Durden just tell me about the events today please”.
Durden - “I was in the living room room about 10 o’clock just tidying up after breakfast when I heard an horrendous scream coming from upstairs. I ran up and found Agnes covered in blood. There was a metal pipe next to her and she had a wound to the head. I checked her pulse to see if she was still alive. I shouted to George to call yourselves and the doctor.
George was beside himself and very upset. When he came back I left Agnes with him and went to check the building. I went out of the front door and just a bit down the drive I found a right hand glove covered in blood on the floor. Here it is Inspector”
He handed the black, blood covered glove to Inspector Piper.
Inspector - “Who else was in the house?”
Mr Durden - “Just me, Agnes, the cook and George at that time. Due to the Princess being here we did not have any other guests”.
The cook was called for and stated that when she heard the commotion she looked out of her front window and saw the legs of a male limping away from the front of the house. It was just one male wearing dark trousers. She could add no further to the investigation.
Inspector Piper - “Where is George now?’
Mr Durden - “I’ll get him for you although he is quite shocked”.
Inspector Piper - “just before you do that did you know that the Princess had put her jewels in the secret compartment?”
Mr Durden - “Yes I showed her where to hide it but only I know about it, no one else”.
Mr Durden is a white male, 5’ 9” aged 60 years.
The Inspector noted that he was right handed.
Inspector Piper - “Who else knew the location of the compartment Mr Durden?”
Mr Durden - “Only Peter the carpenter and he has been sworn to secrecy”.