Johnny Swanson - Eleanor Updale [50]
Then Miss Dangerfield was called to the stand. There was a titter as she confirmed her full name: Letitia Euphemia Gladys Dangerfield. Dressed in black, as ever, she looked stern and trustworthy as she swore to tell the truth. The prosecuting lawyer asked her why she had called the police on 11th December.
‘Because I had noticed a broken window at the Langfords’ house.’
‘And at what time did you notice it?’
‘At about ten in the morning. I called the police immediately, but it took them rather a long time to come.’
‘That’s as may be, Miss Dangerfield. One can perhaps forgive the police for not expecting a broken window to be important.’
‘But I told them I thought there might have been a burglary.’
‘And what made you think that?’
‘Because the night before I had seen someone behaving strangely in the garden.’
‘And do you see that person here today, Miss Dangerfield?’
‘I do, sir.’
‘Would you be so good as to point them out to us?’
Winnie, pale and weak, flinched as Miss Dangerfield lifted her walking stick and waved it at the dock. ‘That’s her,’ she bellowed. ‘Mrs Winifred Swanson.’
‘Thank you, Miss Dangerfield. Now tell us, at what time did you see her?’
‘It must have been between seven o’clock and seven twenty. I had finished my supper, and I had not yet turned on my radio-gramophone.’ She said the word ‘radio-gramophone’ with great relish, glad to boast to the court that she owned one. ‘I can be sure of the time. That night I listened in to a talk by Professor W. W. Watts on “The Origins of Life”. I have consulted the Radio Times. It began at seven twenty-five.’
‘And why do you say that the accused, Mrs Swanson, was behaving strangely?’
‘Because she was. It was pouring with rain, and she was running around with no hat on, shouting abuse and wailing.’
‘And what, exactly, was she saying?’
‘I couldn’t hear. The rain and the wind were too loud.’
‘But you said it was abuse.’
‘I could tell by the tone. And anyway, I know the kind of woman she is.’
‘Yes. I’ll come back to that. But first, could you tell us, had you seen Mrs Swanson near the Langfords’ house before?’
‘Many times. She was their cleaner. She came every day.’
‘And was it customary for her to behave in this manner?’
‘No, sir. But there had been some strange episodes lately.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘Ever since the Langfords went away, I’d seen the accused and her son loitering around the house. On one occasion her son was trying to break in. On another he was climbing a tree in the garden. His mother was with him. I got the impression that they intended to burgle the property while it was empty.’
‘Did you inform the police?’
‘No, sir. Of course, now I wish I had.’
‘And on the night when Dr Langford died – did you actually see the accused enter the house?’
‘No, sir. It was dark and stormy. I did not have as good a view as usual.’
‘But in your opinion, could she have gone inside?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘And did you see her leave?’
‘No. Obviously it was still dark, and the weather was bad, and as I said, from seven twenty-five onwards I was sitting down, listening to my radio-gramophone. I would not have been able to hear her. My radio-gramophone is a Lissenola New Era. That model is equipped with an extremely powerful loudspeaker.’
The lawyer stifled a smile. ‘So I believe, madam. Now, you said the house was empty. But as we know now, Dr Langford was at home. How long had the Langfords been away?’
‘I’m not sure, sir. They didn’t tell me they were going.’ She sounded rather put out about that. ‘I know they were still there on November the eleventh, because I saw Mr Bennett visit them in his big car.’
‘And when did Dr Langford return to the house?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘You saw nothing to suggest he was back?’
‘No, sir – and I keep