Chapter 5: October 27th

[HoneyDog]

Thursday 27th October, 1881, 9 am

Swanlea School, Brady St., Whitechapel

The weather today is better, but the business at hand is still sordid. The companions fill each other in on the events of the previous day as they wait for the session to begin.

OOC,Feel free to read the other sub-thread to catch up on what happened.

Again, coroner Stephen Partington-White, looking increasingly frazzled, is continuing the Rodrigues inquest, with Inspector Cleveland giving testimony. Most of the details are comparatively trivial, relating to Rodrigues’ position and standing in the community, and there are several interruptions from an impatient crowd, leading to several ejections by the attendant police officers. Looking at the crowd, it is clear that the mood is growing more sullen at the slow pace of the investigation, and Cleveland comes in for some abusive heckling, which he stoically ignores.

Eventually, Partington-White calls an end to the proceedings, with the announcement that the Vernon inquest will continue in the afternoon.

Melody & Alexander & Harry & Vic,Looking at the men in the audience, roll Spot Hidden.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander instantly recognizes someone.

OOC,Spot Hidden roll (67% skill) looking at the audience: [dice]0[/dice]

[Philulhu]

OOC,Spot Hidden (25%) - [dice]0[/dice] As did Vic.

[Raiko]

ooc,Melody: Spot Hidden(60%) [dice]0[/dice]

[Mephistophilis]

Harry Spot Hidden 66%,[dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   Success

[HoneyDog]

Alexander & Vic & Harry & Melody,As he rises to his feet, the companions see a handsome young man of medium build, with sandy hair. He is unshaven and looks very tired, and his face is taut with anxiety. His suit is of good quality, but it looks dirty and rumpled. He looks familiar somehow – yes! He got on the same train as the companions at Hackney Wick the night before.

[Mr. Handy]

"Do you see that lad?" Alexander asks his companions. "He was on the train with us at Hackney Wick. I wonder if he's following us?"

[Philulhu]

Vic nodded. ”It certainly looks like the same fellow,” she said. She studied him intently, to see what his response would be when he noticed her attention.

[Mephistophilis]

'I doubt he's following us but he might work at the asylum' says Harry. 'Good suit, could be one of the doctors.'

Harry resolves to try and follow the man.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,If Harry follows the man, does everyone else want to attend the afternoon session?

[Philulhu]

OOC,Happy with that.

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,That's good for me too.

[aine]

While they wait for the afternoon inquest, Isolde fills the others in about The Blind Begger Inn . It might be worth investigating it further but one would have to look lower working class to fit in; it might require a disguise.”

[Snapper]

Crozier:

Crozier will remain for the afternoon session of the inquest.

[Raiko]

When Isolde talks about the Blind Begger Inn, Melody offers to investigate. "I could do me best ta appear workin' class Miss," she says with a wink.

When the inquest is about to begin, Melody slips away from the others to keep an eye out for suspicious activity as Harry has done at previous inquest sessions.

ooc,In case it is needed - Spot Hidden(60%): [dice]0[/dice]

[HoneyDog]

Harry,As the young man leaves, Harry follows. He wends his way through the crowded streets, intent on his destination. As he walks he is looking around as if searching for something or someone, but he doesn’t notice Harry, or if he does, he doesn’t seem to care. Eventually, he reaches Liverpool Street Station and boards a Hackney Wick-bound train.

Everyone else,The companions grab some lunch and return for the afternoon session of the Vernon inquest. Inspectors Cleveland and Spaulding, together with Dr. Raffin, are giving evidence. Estes Hackett and his group of ruffians are muttering amongst themselves. Melody spies the disguised Sgt. Craig in attendance too. Cleveland is giving details about the injuries suffered by the unfortunate Vernon, at the request of Partington-White, who has had enough of Raffin’s gory descriptions. [color=#0000BF]“The victim was found with his shirt and coat unbuttoned”[/color] intones Cleveland in his level-headed way, [color=#0000BF]“and his trousers were around his ankles.”[/color] A loud wolf-whistle is heard in the audience, and several members begin laughing in delight. [color=#800040]“Enough!” [/color]shouts Partington-White in exasperation. [color=#800040]“For God’s sake, behave yourselves!”[/color] Cleveland flicks some lint off his jacket. [color=#0000BF]“The victim’s throat was slashed, and he had also been stabbed in the chest three times, twice in the heart. The weapon we believe was a knife. A symbol was carved into his stomach.”[/color] [color=#800040]“Well, of course it would be”[/color] Partington-White despairs. [color=#800040]“And what was this symbol, Inspector?”[/color] [color=#0000BF]“A V, in a circle. All points of the enclosed letter, or shape, contact with the outer circle.”[/color] [color=#800040]“Something resembling a V, enclosed in a circle?”[/color] [color=#0000BF]“Yes. The victim’s wallet and watch were missing. We found no money on him.”[/color] Some more minor details follow. The session ends with the announcement that the Rodrigues inquest will resume at the same venue the next morning.

[Mephistophilis]

Harry decides to follow the man to his destination and boards the train.

[HoneyDog]

Harry,At Hackney Wick, the man departs the carriage. With Harry following, he reaches Temple Mill Road, and eventually turns off down the lane towards Malbray Asylum.

[Philulhu]

”What do you make of the symbol?” said Vic to the others. “What might the ‘V’ stand for? Assuming that it has a meaning?”

[Mephistophilis]

Harry decides to take the risk and catches up with the man to ask him about his interest in the murders and the connection with the asylum.