_1.—At what time was the poison actually administered to
Harrison?_
A terminus _a quo_ is provided by the evidence of Harry Trefusis, who
saw Harrison alive and apparently well at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday. By
this time, Lathom was presumably in the train and on his way to London.
The terminus _ad quem_ can be stated with rather less accuracy. From the
fact, however, that the shin of beef delivered that morning was
afterwards discovered still wrapped in its original paper, it appears
quite certain that Harrison was rendered incapable of seeing to any
household affairs before the evening. From my knowledge of my father, I
should be prepared to swear that he would certainly never have left meat
in this condition over-night. He would have put it on to boil for stock,
or, at the very least, would have transferred it to a
plate—particularly in the case of shin of beef, which, being glutinous,
has a habit of sticking to the wrapping-paper. When I stayed at “The
Shack” with my father, he was accustomed to have his evening meal about
seven o’clock. After this, he would wash the crockery and tidy the place
up, and put on any stock that might be required for the next day. He
would then sit and read for an hour or two, retiring to bed about ten,
possibly taking a cup of cocoa or some patent food before retiring.
It thus seems likely that the poison was taken between the hours of
10.30 a.m. and 8 p.m., and most probably at or about 7 pm.
* * * * *
_Question_: What evidence have we that Lathom actually went to London by
the 7.55 at all? Could he have returned to “The Shack” surreptitiously
during the interval? By hiring a motor-bicycle or car, he might easily
have made his way back from Bovey Tracey or (if this might appear too
obvious) from Brimley Halt, Heathfield, Teigngrace of Newton Abbot. He
could then have lurked about in the neighbourhood of “The Shack” till he
saw Harrison go out, and taken the opportunity to add the poison to the
dish or stock-pot.
* * * * *
NOTE: To inquire as to Lathom’s movements in town. If anybody met him
there on Thursday morning, this hypothesis falls to the ground. If not,
to find out whether he really entered the train at Bovey Tracey, and if
anybody of his description hired any sort of motor vehicle at any point
along the line. This would not, in fact, cover every contingency, for an
active man might easily have walked the ten or twelve miles between
Newton Abbot and “The Shack.” A motor vehicle is perhaps more likely, as
providing a quicker getaway after the crime.
* * * * *
* * * * *
2.—_Is it possible that the poisonous fungus, or liquid
prepared from fungus, was added, not to the fungus gathered by
my father on the Thursday, but to some other collection of
fungus gathered the previous day?_
This appears unlikely, for three reasons. First: My father always made a
great point of eating his fungi freshly gathered. It would have been
quite unlike him to gather them over-night and eat them next day. He
considered early morning the best time for picking fungus. He had stated
his intention of gathering Warty Caps on the Thursday morning, and was,
in fact, seen apparently doing so by the witness Coffin. Secondly: If
the fungi eaten on Thursday night were gathered the previous day, what
became of those gathered on Thursday morning? They were not found in
“The Shack.” Thirdly: For Lathom’s purpose it was necessary that
Harrison should have had the intention of gathering Warty Caps, and no
other kind of fungus, since this is the only variety which could
reasonably be confused with _Amanita muscaria_. It would appear,
therefore, more than a coincidence that my father should have been seen
gathering fungus in a spot where Warty Caps were usually to be found. Of
course, Lathom’s evidence on this point is suspect, and verification is
necessary.
_Questions_: Are Warty Caps (_Amanita rubescens_) actually plentiful in
the spot where Harrison was seen by Coffin?
Can any of the contents of the dish of fungi actually be identified as
_Amanita rubescens_?
When did Harrison mention to Lathom his intention of gathering _Amanita
rubescens_? This question is important, because, if the poisonous fungi
were introduced among the harmless ones in their natural state, it is
absolutely necessary that the two varieties should bear at least a
superficial resemblance to one another. Even in a half-cooked state,
there could be no confusion between _Amanita muscaria_ and, say,
_Chantarelles_ or _Bolitus edulis_ or _Amanitopris fulva_.
Unfortunately, no one can throw any light on this except Lathom himself,
and it is not likely that he will tell the truth.
NOTE: To verify the habitat of _Amanita rubescens_, and, if possible,
its presence in the actual dish of fungi analysed.