A Murder Is Announced

Inspector Craddock’s boss, Chief Constable Rydesdale, updates Inspector Craddock on the incident at Chipping Cleghorn, putting him in charge of the case. The dead intruder has been identified as Rudi Scherz, a Swiss receptionist from the Royal Spa Hotel at Medenham Wells. They have also established that Scherz placed the announcement in the local paper.

Rydesdale and Craddock are joined by Chief Constable Sir Henry Clithering, who is Craddock’s godfather and a former commissioner of Scotland Yard. Rydesdale tells Craddock that Chipping Cleghorn is a pleasant village inhabited by predominantly older residents. Sir Henry says he wishes that an elderly woman of his acquaintance lived there, as she is a brilliant detective. Discussing the case, they consider that Scherz’s motive may have been theft. However, there was little of value in the house. Medical reports were inconclusive on whether Scherz shot himself deliberately or accidentally. His revolver came from Germany.

Inspector Craddock interviews Mr. Rowlandson, the manager of the Royal Spa Hotel. In the three months Scherz worked there, several items were incorrectly added to guests’ bills. Mr. Rowlandson suspected Scherz of pocketing money, but the cash tallied with the hotel’s accounts. Craddock suggests that Scherz could have paid the money back if he thought he was under suspicion.