The Case Of The Electric Torch

For the first time in its history, Scotland Yard opens its official files to bring you the true stories of some of its most baffling cases. Research for Whitehall 1212 is from Percy Hoskins, Chief Crime Reporter of the London Daily Express.

The stories for radio are written and directed by Willis Cooper. Now here is the custodian of Scotland Yard's famous Black Museum, Chief Superintendent John Davidson. Good afternoon. Here in the Black Museum we have murder weapons in quantity and in variety as no doubt you're aware.

Killers are not at all particular about the means they employ in their dreadful pursuits and whatever comes to hand is often useful. Now this has served its purpose. It's an electric torch as you can see.

It's shape makes it an excellent weapon on a violent death. It fits the hand, and when charged with batteries, it's heavy enough to do considerable damage, as this one did. The shape is in. Well, it had a great deal to do with a man's death, and the man who wielded it died too.

The fatarch here didn't cause his death. It was a hangman's knock that struck him under the left ear. Chief Inspector Francis Hand can tell you a great deal about it. Can't you, Francis? There I can, John.

A Chief Inspector Lawrence Campbell-Bannaman and I were assigned to this case, which took place in Wimbledon in the early autumn of 1937, I was right. September, 1957. That's right. It was the 16th of September, wasn't it?

That's right. Just fifteen years ago. Wimbledon, that's right. When we got to the house we found quite a display. Nice place, wasn't it? Big house, quite nice indeed. Good, solid construction, good days. Well, it's a builder himself, wasn't it? The fellow around it.