shadow of britain

Chapter 69
It rained all night in London, and Arthur was busy almost all night in the police station.

The gate of the police station is pushed open every once in a while. Although all the policemen in and out are wearing the same uniform, knowledgeable people can tell that they belong to different police districts by the police numbers on their epaulettes and collars. .

From XH in Shillington in the west of Greater London to KD in Havering in the east, YE in Enfield in the north, and ZD and PY in Croydon and Brumley in the south.

Almost overnight, Greenwich Police Station seemed to be the center of Scotland Yard.

"Sir, the hospitals in the entire Greater London area have basically been checked, and the results... don't seem very optimistic..."

"The dissected corpses in the hospital that cannot explain the source exceeded our original basic estimate..."

"At present, several police superintendents are leading the interrogation department to expedite the interrogation. Based on the information we have so far, most of the corpses have nothing to do with the disappearance case."

"The superintendents initially judged that most of these bodies should have been stolen from the cemetery by professional gravediggers."

"As far as we know, these gravediggers should have multiple stable channels of communication.

They will know in advance that there are corpses to be buried, and then wait early near the cemetery.

After the relatives of the deceased left, they immediately pried open the grave and stole the body and sold it to the hospital. "

"Several superintendents asked for instructions, should we let go of the gravedigger case first, because the number we have caught is indeed a bit too much. If they are interrogated one by one, the progress of the murder case may be delayed..."

Arthur heard this, and said, "Let it go? How? The difference between a gravedigger and a corpse snatcher is very vague. Who knows whether their bodies were stolen or murdered?

Ten years ago there were only eight anatomy schools in England; now there are double that number.

Even just after the Napoleonic Wars, when the "Blood Code" was enforced most severely, the supply of legal autopsies was in short supply.

There is no reason why these people are still engaged in the ordinary grave-digging business when the demand is increasing and the legal source of corpses is decreasing.

You go back and send me a message to interrogate all these people in isolation, and tell the group of diggers and autopsy doctors, don't think that nothing will happen if you keep your mouth shut and don't give evidence.

If they can contribute useful information, the Home Office and Scotland Yard can also give them a light sentence from a legal point of view and spare their lives.

If they don't answer, then we can also let them out.

But they better not forget how the public in Great Britain thinks about the autopsy, let alone the murders involved!

In 1795, in the corpse robbery case in the Lambeth district, the public excited by the public found that the coffins of relatives and friends in the cemetery were empty, and almost beat the gravediggers to death on the spot.It was the authorities who came forward to save their lives.

In 1801, the citizens of London burned down the houses of the group, and it was only by the authorities that large-scale violence was prevented.

And not only in England, the Scottish Garrison has dispatched military police at least four times in the past ten years to prevent the angry public from attacking the University of Glasgow.

What is the reason, presumably those doctors are also very clear.If we hadn't come forward to block them, they would have been tied to the stake by the public and burned to death!
The public all over Great Britain, and the clergy and archbishops of all dioceses, have seen them ill for a long time!

Tell them, if Scotland Yard can find out the criminals of the missing murder case this time, then according to the "Grave Digging Act" passed in 1828, that means the doctor will get "illegal possession of a corpse", and the gravedigger will get " grave-digging'.

Both charges can be released after paying a fine.

However, if they do not explain clearly the source of the corpse and the channel through which they obtained the corpse.

Well, though Scotland Yard cannot legally punish them.

But I guarantee that those who do not cooperate with the investigation will appear on the front pages of various tabloids.

At that time, if some righteous London citizens burn their houses, beat their people, and dig their ancestral graves, don't blame Scotland Yard for their ineffective protection of their lives and property! "

The little policeman standing in front of Arthur was sweating profusely on his forehead when he heard this: "But... sir... can we say such things? Don't we want to guarantee their dignity and honor?"

Tony, who was sitting beside him with a dark complexion, looked the little policeman up and down, and asked, "Little brother, are you new here?"

The little policeman stood at attention nervously and saluted: "Report! I have only been employed for a month."

Tony asked, "Have you read the new revised regulations issued by Scotland Yard?"

The little policeman nodded: "I see."

Tony asked again: "Then let me ask you, what is the third Arthur Hastings principle in the amendment?"

The little policeman recalled it for a while, and then recited it aloud: "The third rule of Arthur Hastings, if the law-abiding public voluntarily cooperates with the police, the police must ensure and maintain the honor and dignity of the public!"

"What is the fourth of the Arthur Hastings principles?"

"Article [-], the extent to which the police obtain the cooperation of the public is inversely proportional to the amount of force and coercive measures needed to achieve the police's goals!"

"Are these people obeying the law?"

"Report! No!"

"Did they cooperate with the investigation!"

"Report! None!"

Tony stood up and yelled, "Then what dignity and honor do you guarantee him? A crime is a crime. We didn't directly use violence against them, and we have given them a lot of face!"

The little policeman was sweating: "Yes, sir!"

Seeing him like this, Arthur raised his hand and said, "Tony, that's fine. Don't vent your temper on others, it has nothing to do with him."

Tony also noticed his gaffe, and he rubbed his face.

Not only did Arthur have a busy night, so did he.

He patted the little police officer on the shoulder and apologized to him: "I'm sorry, actually... Maybe you're right.

When I first came in, I thought the same as you, but after working in this place for a long time, I realized that sometimes the right method does not work, and the effective method may not be right.

Huh... what am I talking about... I am not a member of parliament who makes laws, nor a judge who decides to judge, I... I am just a policeman. "

Tom felt a little uncomfortable when he heard this. He comforted Tony and said, "Don't worry, Tony. With Arthur here, the case will definitely have a good result. You and Arthur have been busy all night, why don't you go inside first?" Lay down for a while? I'm watching here, if something happens, I'll call you."

Tony nodded sadly: "Maybe... maybe I should sleep for a while, maybe the world in my dream will make me feel better."

Arthur looked at his figure going away, but instead of following Tony, he spoke to the little police officer.

"Are you going back to Scotland Yard? I'm going to a meeting later, so I might as well pick you up on the way. Anyway, the price for one person and two people in a public carriage is the same."

Tom was surprised: "Arthur, are you still awake?"

Arthur shook his head: "I can't sleep."

After saying this, he pulled the dazed little policeman in front of him and walked out together.

Arthur found an empty space, lit the pipe in his pocket, took a deep breath, and with the thick smoke, he asked, "What's your name?"

The little police officer looked at the legendary figure in Scotland Yard in front of him, and stood at attention to salute.

"Report! My name is Charles Field!"

(End of this chapter)