Chapter 4

The Inquest

The inquest on Marie Morisot was held four days later. The sensational¹ manner of her death hadaroused great public interest, and the coroner’s court was crowded.

The first witness called was a tall elderly Frenchman with a grey beard—Ma?tre AlexandreThibault. He spoke² English slowly and precisely³ with a slight accent, but quite idiomatically⁴.

After the preliminary questions the coroner asked, ‘You have viewed the body of the deceased.

Do you recognize it?’

‘I do. It is that of my client, Marie Angélique Morisot.’

‘That is the name on the deceased’s passport. Was she known to the public by another name?’

‘Yes, that of Madame Giselle.’

A stir of excitement went around. Reporters sat with pencils poised⁵. The coroner said, ‘Will youtell us exactly who this Madame Morisot—or Madame Giselle—was?’

‘Madame Giselle—to give her her professional name, the name under which she did business—was one of the best-known moneylenders in Paris.’

‘She carried on her business—where?’

‘At the Rue⁶ Joliette, No. 3. That was also her private residence.’

‘I understand that she journeyed to England fairly frequently. Did her business extend to thiscountry?’

‘Yes. Many of her clients were English people. She was very well known amongst a certainsection of English society.’

‘How would you describe that section of society?’

‘Her clientèle was mostly among the upper and professional classes, in cases where it wasimportant that the utmost discretion⁷ should be observed.’

‘She had the reputation of being discreet⁸?’

‘Extremely discreet.’

‘May I ask if you have an intimate knowledge of—er—her various business transactions?’

‘No. I dealt with her legal business, but Madame Giselle was a first-class woman of business,thoroughly capable of attending to her own affairs in the most competent manner. She kept thecontrol of her business entirely⁹ in her own hands. She was, if I may say so, a woman of veryoriginal character, and a well-known public figure.’

‘To the best of your knowledge, was she a rich woman at the time of her death?’

‘She was an extremely wealthy woman.’

‘Had she, to your knowledge, any enemies?’

‘Not to my knowledge.’

Ma?tre Thibault then stepped down and Henry Mitchell was called.

The coroner said, ‘Your name is Henry Charles Mitchell and you reside at 11 Shoeblack Lane,Wandsworth?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘You are in the employment of Universal Airlines, Ltd?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘You are the senior steward¹⁰ on the air liner Prometheus?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘On Tuesday last, the eighteenth, you were on duty on the Prometheus on the twelve o’clockservice from Paris to Croydon. The deceased travelled by that service. Had you ever seen thedeceased before?’

‘Yes, sir. I was on the 8.45 am service six months ago and I noticed her travelling by that onceor twice.’

‘Did you know her name?’

‘Well, it must have been on my list, sir, but I didn’t notice it special, so to speak.’

‘Have you ever heard the name of Madame Giselle?’

‘No, sir.’

‘Please describe the occurrences of Tuesday last in your own way.’

‘I’d served the luncheons¹¹, sir, and was coming round with the bills. The deceased was, as Ithought, asleep. I decided¹² not to wake her until about five minutes before we got in. When I triedto do so I discovered that she was dead or seriously ill. I discovered that there was a doctor onboard. He said—’

‘We shall have Dr Bryant’s evidence presently. Will you take a look at this?’

The blowpipe was handed to Mitchell, who took it gingerly.

‘Have you ever seen that before?’

‘No, sir.’

‘You are certain that you did not see it in the hands of any of the passengers?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Albert Davis.’

The younger steward took the stand.

‘You are Albert Davis of 23 Barcome Street, Croydon. You are employed by UniversalAirlines, Ltd?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘You were on duty on the Prometheus as second steward on Tuesday last?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘What was the first that you knew of the tragedy?’

‘Mr Mitchell, sir, told me that he was afraid something had happened to one of the passengers.’

‘Have you ever seen this before?’

The blowpipe was handed to Davis.

‘No, sir.’

‘You did not observe it in the hands of any of the passengers?’

‘No, sir.’

‘Did anything at all happen on the journey that you think might throw light on this affair?’

‘No, sir.’

‘Very good. You may stand down.’

‘Dr Roger Bryant.’

Dr Bryant gave his name and address and described himself as a specialist in ear and throatdiseases.

‘Will you tell us in your own words, Dr Bryant, exactly what happened on Tuesday last, theeighteenth?’

‘Just before getting into Croydon I was approached by the chief steward. He asked me if I was adoctor. On my replying in the affirmative, he told me that one of the passengers had been taken ill.

I rose and went with him. The woman in question was lying slumped¹³ down in her seat. She hadbeen dead some time.’

‘What length of time in your opinion, Dr Bryant?’

‘I should say at least half an hour. Between half an hour and an hour would be my estimate.’

‘Did you form any theory as to the cause of death?’

‘No. It would have been impossible to say without a detailed¹⁴ examination.’

‘But you noticed a small puncture¹⁵ on the side of the neck?’

‘Yes.’

‘Thank you…Dr James Whistler.’

Dr Whistler was a thin, scraggy little man.

‘You are the police surgeon for this district?’

‘I am.’

‘Will you give your evidence in your own words?’

‘Shortly after three o’clock on Tuesday last, the eighteenth, I received a summons to Croydonaerodrome. There I was shown the body of a middle-aged¹⁶ woman in one of the seats of the airliner¹⁷ Prometheus. She was dead, and death had occurred, I should say, about an hour previously¹⁸. Inoticed a circular puncture on the side of the neck—directly on the jugular¹⁹ vein²⁰. This mark wasquite consistent with having been caused by the sting of a wasp²¹ or by the insertion of a thornwhich was shown to me. The body was removed to the mortuary, where I was able to make adetailed examination.’

‘What conclusions did you come to?’

‘I came to the conclusion that death was caused by the introduction of a powerful toxin²² into theblood stream. Death was due to acute paralysis²³ of the heart, and must have been practicallyinstantaneous.’

‘Can you tell us what that toxin was?’

‘It was a toxin I had never come across before.’

The reporters, listening attentively²⁴, wrote down ‘Unknown poison.’

‘Thank you…Mr Henry Winterspoon.’

Mr Winterspoon was a large, dreamy-looking man with a benignant expression. He lookedkindly but stupid. It came as something of a shock to learn that he was chief Government analystand an authority on rare poisons.

The coroner held up the fatal thorn and asked Mr Winterspoon if he recognized it.

‘I do. It was sent to me for analysis.’

‘Will you tell us the result of that analysis?’

‘Certainly. I should say that originally the dart²⁶ had been dipped in a preparation of native curare—an arrow poison used by certain tribes.’

The reporters wrote with gusto.

‘You consider, then, that death may have been due to curare.’

‘Oh, no,’ said Mr Winterspoon. ‘There was only the faintest trace of the original preparation.

According to my analysis, the dart had recently been dipped in the venom²⁷ of Dispholidus typus,better known as the boomslang or tree snake.’

‘A boomslang? What is a boomslang?’

‘It is a South African snake—one of the most deadly and poisonous in existence. Its effect on ahuman being is not known, but some idea of the intense virulence²⁸ of the venom can be realizedwhen I tell you that on injecting the venom into a hyena²⁹, the hyena died before the needle could bewithdrawn. A jackal died as though shot by a gun. The poison causes acute haemorrhage under theskin and also acts on the heart, paralysing its action.’

The reporters wrote: ‘Extraordinary Story. Snake Poison in Air Drama. Deadlier than theCobra.’

‘Have you ever known the venom to be used in a case of deliberate poisoning?’

‘Never. It is most interesting.’

Thank you, Mr Winterspoon.’

Detective-Sergeant³⁰ Wilson deposed³¹ to the finding of the blowpipe behind the cushion of one ofthe seats. There were no fingerprints³² on it. Experiments had been made with the dart and theblowpipe. What you might call the range of it was fairly accurate up to about ten yards.

‘M. Hercule Poirot.’

There was a little stir of interest, but M. Poirot’s evidence was very restrained. He had noticednothing out of the way. Yes, it was he who had found the tiny dart on the floor of the car. It was insuch a position as it would naturally have occupied if it had fallen from the neck of the deadwoman.

‘The Countess of Horbury.’

The reporters wrote: ‘Peer’s wife gives evidence in Air Death Mystery.’ Some of them put ‘…inSnake Poison Mystery.’

Those who wrote for women’s papers put, ‘Lady Horbury wore one of the new collegian hatsand fox furs,’ or ‘Lady Horbury, who is one of the smartest women in town, wore black with one ofthe new collegian hats,’ or ‘Lady Horbury, who before her marriage was Miss Cicely Bland³³, wassmartly dressed in black with one of the new hats…’

Everyone enjoyed looking at the smart and lovely young woman, though her evidence was ofthe briefest. She had noticed nothing; she had never seen the deceased before.

Venetia Kerr succeeded her, but was definitely less of a thrill.

The indefatigable³⁴ purveyors of news for women wrote, ‘Lord Cottesmore’s daughter wore awell-cut coat and skirt with one of the new stocks,’ and noted³⁵ down the phrase, ‘Society Women atInquest.’

‘James Ryder.’

‘You are James Bell Ryder, and your address is 17 Blainberry Avenue, NW?’

‘Yes.’

‘What is your business or profession?’

‘I am managing director of the Ellis Vale Cement Co.’

‘Will you kindly²⁵ examine this blowpipe.’ (A pause.) ‘Have you ever seen this before?’

‘No.’

‘You did not see any such thing in anybody’s hand on board the Prometheus?’

‘No.’

‘You were sitting in seat No. 4, immediately in front of the deceased?’

‘What if I was?’

‘Please do not take that tone with me. You were sitting in seat No. 4. From that seat you had aview of practically everyone in the compartment³⁶.’

‘No, I hadn’t. I couldn’t see any of the people on my side of the thing. The seats have got highbacks.’

‘But if one of those people had stepped out into the gangway—into such a position as to be ableto aim the blowpipe at the deceased—you would have seen them then?’

‘Certainly.’

‘And you saw no such thing?’

‘No.’

‘Did any of the people in front of you move from their seats?’

‘Well, the man two seats ahead of me got up and went to the toilet compartment.’

‘That was in a direction away from you and from the deceased?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did he come down the car towards you at all?’

‘No, he went straight back to his seat.’

‘Was he carrying anything in his hand?’

‘Nothing at all.’

‘You’re sure of that?’

‘Quite.’

‘Did anyone else move from his seat?’

‘The chap in front of me. He came the other way, past me to the back of the car.’

‘I protest,’ squeaked³⁷ Mr Clancy, springing up from his seat in court. ‘That was earlier—muchearlier—about one o’clock.’

‘Kindly sit down,’ said the coroner. ‘You will be heard presently. Proceed, Mr Ryder. Did younotice if this gentleman had anything in his hands?’

‘I think he had a fountain-pen. When he came back he had an orange book in his hand.’

‘Is he the only person who came down the car in your direction? Did you yourself leave yourseat?’

‘Yes, I went to the toilet compartment—and I didn’t have any blowpipe in my hand either.’

‘You are adopting a highly improper³⁸ tone. Stand down.’

Mr Norman Gale³⁹, dentist, gave evidence of a negative character. Then the indignant Mr Clancytook the stand.

Mr Clancy was news of a minor⁴⁰ kind, several degrees inferior to a Peeress.

‘Mystery Story Writer gives Evidence. Well-known author admits purchase of deadly weapon.

Sensation in court.’

But the sensation was perhaps a little premature⁴¹.

‘Yes, sir,’ said Mr Clancy shrilly⁴². ‘I did purchase a blowpipe, and what is more, I have broughtit with me today. I protest strongly against the inference that the blowpipe with which the crimewas committed was my blowpipe. Here is my blowpipe.’

And he produced the blowpipe with a triumphant⁴³ flourish.

The reporters wrote, ‘Second blowpipe in court.’

The coroner dealt severely⁴⁴ with Mr Clancy. He was told that he was here to assist justice, not torebut totally imaginary charges against himself. Then he was questioned about the occurrences onthe Prometheus, but with very little result. Mr Clancy, as he explained at totally unnecessarylength, had been too bemused with the eccentricities⁴⁵ of foreign train services and the difficulties ofthe twenty-four hour times to have noticed anything at all going on round about him. The wholecar might have been shooting snake-venomed darts⁴⁶ out of blowpipes for all Mr Clancy would havenoticed of the matter.

Miss Jane Grey, hairdresser’s assistant, created no flutter among journalistic pens.

The two Frenchmen followed.

M. Armand Dupont deposed that he was on his way to London, where he was to deliver alecture before the Royal Asiatic Society. He and his son had been very interested in a technicaldiscussion and had noticed very little of what went on round them. He had not noticed thedeceased until his attention was attracted by the stir of excitement caused by the discovery of herdeath.

‘Did you know this Madame Morisot or Madame Giselle by sight?’

‘No, Monsieur, I had never seen her before.’

‘But she is a well-known figure in Paris, is she not?’

Old M. Dupont shrugged⁴⁷ his shoulders.

‘Not to me. In any case, I am not very much in Paris these days.’

‘You have lately returned from the East, I understand?’

‘That is so, Monsieur—from Persia.’

‘You and your son have travelled a good deal in out-of-the-way parts of the world?’

‘Pardon?’

‘You have journeyed in wild places?’

‘That, yes.’

‘Have you ever come across a race of people that used snake venom as an arrow poison?’

This had to be translated, and when M. Dupont understood the question he shook his headvigorously.

‘Never—never have I come across anything like that.’

His son followed him. His evidence was a repetition of his father’s. He had noticed nothing. Hehad thought it possible that the deceased had been stung by a wasp, because he had himself beenannoyed by one and had finally killed it.

The Duponts were the last witnesses.

The coroner cleared his throat and addressed the jury.

This, he said, was without doubt the most astonishing and incredible case with which he hadever dealt in this court. A woman had been murdered—they could rule out any question of suicideor accident—in mid-air, in a small enclosed space. There was no question of any outside personhaving committed the crime. The murderer or murderers must be of necessity one of the witnessesthey had heard this morning. There was no getting away from that fact, and a very terrible andawful one it was. One of the persons present had been lying in a desperate and abandoned manner.

The manner of the crime was one of unparalleled audacity⁴⁸. In the full view of ten—or twelve,counting the stewards—witnesses, the murderer had placed a blowpipe to his lips and sent the fataldart on its murderous course through the air and no one had observed the act. It seemed franklyincredible, but there was the evidence of the blowpipe, of the dart found on the floor, of the markon the deceased’s neck and of the medical evidence to show that, incredible or not, it hadhappened.

In the absence of further evidence incriminating some particular person, he could only direct thejury to return a verdict of murder against a person or persons unknown. Everyone present haddenied any knowledge of the deceased woman. It would be the work of the police to find out howand where a connexion lay. In the absence of any motive⁴⁹ for the crime he could only advise theverdict he had just mentioned. The jury would now consider the verdict.

A square-faced member of the jury with suspicious eyes leaned forward breathing heavily.

‘Can I ask a question, sir?’

‘Certainly.’

‘You say as how the blowpipe was found down a seat? Whose seat was it?’

The coroner consulted his notes. Sergeant Wilson stepped to his side and murmured:

‘Ah, yes. The seat in question was No. 9, a seat occupied by M. Hercule Poirot. M. Poirot, Imay say, is a very well-known and respected private detective who has—er—collaborated severaltimes with Scotland Yard.’

The square-faced man transferred his gaze to the face of M. Hercule Poirot. It rested with a farfrom satisfied expression on the little Belgian’s long moustaches.

‘Foreigners,’ said the eyes of the square-faced man, ‘you can’t trust foreigners, not even if theyare hand-and-glove with the police.’

Out loud he said:

‘It was this Mr Poirot who picked up the dart, wasn’t it?’

‘Yes.’

The jury retired⁵⁰. They returned after five minutes, and the foreman handed a piece of paper tothe coroner.

‘What’s all this?’ The coroner frowned. ‘Nonsense, I can’t accept this verdict.’

A few minutes later the amended⁵¹ verdict was returned: ‘We find that the deceased came to herdeath by poison, there being insufficient⁵² evidence to show by whom the poison was administered.’

 

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