Police Report: May 4^th 1926

The body of May Cook was discovered lying in long grass behind the butcher shop in the High Street. It would appear Miss Cook had been killed by a blow to her head.

Newspaper Report: The Edgeworth Times May 5^th 1926

Local Girl found Murdered.

May Cook daughter of the renowned town Mayor, Robert Cook, was found this morning lying face down behind Turks Butcher shop.

Miss Cook was last seen the evening before leaving the Dance Hall after partaking in the weekly dance lessons run by the Town Two Step Society. A spokesman for the Dance Society said Miss Cook was a regular participant and was beginning to shine as a dance student attracting the attention of many of the more experienced dancers.

Police anticipate an arrest in the near future.

Diary: May Cook May 3^rd 1926

I can’t wait for tomorrow’s dance class. We are learning the mambo and Harry Glass has asked to be my partner. Harry is an excellent dancer and real likeable man.

I think I’ll wear my pink-ribboned dress, as I want to impress Harry who is the most likeable of all men at the Dance Class..

Email: Terrence Cook to Virginia Pearon Private Investigator. April 23 2015

Dear Miss Pearon, in relation of our recent emails re: the mystery surrounding the death of my Great Aunt May Cook it has been a month since I heard back from you. Are you able to reveal any more knowledge as to the circumstances of this mystery that has haunted our family all these years?

With Thanks

Terry Cook

Email: Virginia Pearon to Terrence Cook

Mr Cook,

Sorry for the delay but it has been slow going pouring through the archives to unearth anything substantial in regard to your Great Aunt’s death.

Most of the records from the twenties have been digitalised and are accessible but they are not complete.

From my investigation there seems to have been some interference perhaps a cover up during the initial investigations. Documents which should be there are not….I am sorry to say that there are a lot of blanks in this case.

For example we know that photos were taken of May’s dead body as there are notes to that effect but no print is contained in the records.

The best clues have come from May’s own diary, which has been preserved in its entirety.

In the diary she makes mention on at least eight occasions of an attraction to Harry Glass and I would think he would be a suspect.

Sadly Harry died in 1998 and so cannot be interviewed but police records at the time exonerated him from any involvement.

I did look into Harry’s life and came across a cousin who was prepared to be interviewed. This was one Audrey Burgess who was some ten years younger than Harry and was able to tell me quite a lot about Harry.

What Aubrey remembered from Harry was that Harry carried a flame for May throughout his life but would never be drawn on the circumstances of May’s death. Aubrey always suspected that Harry knew more about May’s death than he ever let on.

Then as I was wrapping up my investigations I discovered a letter from May to Harry. I enclose it as it does shed some light on the relationship between the two:

Letter: May Cook to Mr Harry Glass

Dear Harry,

The plans you discussed as to our elopement sound wonderful to me.

I will be ready at 8 pm at the previously agreed meeting place.

My heart races in anticipation.

I pray my father does not discover our plan.

Yours in anticipation of a life of love and happiness

 May.

May’s father was never suspected as far as I can ascertain but I would think he would be a prime suspect in this case.

There is an entry in the social pages of the Edgeworth Times mentioning the proposed engagement of Miss May Cook to Arthur Titcombe.

This might explain the elopement.

Arthur Titcombe as far as I can see was never implicated either.

May’s father William Cook was the town mayor at the time of her death.

I fear Mr Cook that much of the evidence of merit in this case was swept away thus rendering it impossible with any certainty to discover evidence of an obvious culprit.

I am sorry I could not provide you with the closure you sought in this case.

Yours sincerely

Virginia Pearon, Private Investigator.

Letter: Dated May 6^th 1926 (found in the attic of the old family home)

My Dear Aunt Julia,

You have no doubt become aware of the terrible and shocking events of late in Edgeworth. My cousin May has been savagely murdered and her body dumped behind the butchers shop.

We are all in shock as to why and how this could have happened.

Uncle William has been in such a rage since the day of the discovery.

Aunt Anne has not stopped crying.

May was loved and treasured in our community.

As to who did this heinous crime I can not be certain only that Uncle William

had a bloodstain on his cuff the morning of May’s death. I saw it and he saw I saw it. He quickly pulled his coat sleeve over the offending spot and nothing was said of it.

I did raise the issue with Aunt Anne who said he no doubt got the spot on his cuff when he held his daughter’s body.

Uncle William is a shady character and I suspect he knows more than he is letting on but I am bound my family confidence in this matter.

I am sure in time the truth will emerge.

Hoping you are well Aunt Julia

Your devoted niece

Angela.

Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/tale-weaver-12-its-documentary-my-dear-watson/