Suspicions of a Parlourmaid and The Norfolk Railway Murders

Two more cases for Philip Bryce.

1. An affluent elderly lady dies. The death certificate cites ‘natural causes’, but the servants are uncomfortable.

A parlourmaid decides to go to New Scotland Yard, and talk to someone there. She is fortunate, because Detective Sergeant Haig happens to pass through the foyer while she is trying to explain. The busy desk officer intercepts him, and asks to him to listen to the maid’s story.

Haig listens politely, but is ready to dismiss the story as tittle-tattle, when he hears one thing which makes him take notice. He goes to report to his boss, DCI Bryce, who also finds the point of interest, and goes downstairs to speak to the maid himself.

The full might of the Metropolitan Police is then focussed on the matter – and a post mortem examination reveals that the lady was indeed poisoned.

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