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before a crowd had collected in Tanfield Court； up the stairs to Mrs。
Duncomb's landing； and round about the door of Mrs Duncomb's
chambers。 It did not disperse until the officers had made their
investigations and the bodies of the three victims had been removed。
And even then； one may be sure； there would still be a few of those odd
sort of people hanging about who； in those times as in these； must linger
on the scene of a crime long after the last drop of interest has evaporated。
％ III
Two further actors now come upon the scene。 And for the proper
grasping of events we must go back an hour or two in time to notice their
activities。
They are a Mr Gehagan； a young Irish barrister； and a friend of his
named Kerrel。＇18＇ These young men occupy chambers on opposite sides
of the same landing； the third floor； over the Alienation Office in Tanfield
Court。
＇18＇ Or Kerrolthe name varies in different accounts of the crime。
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Mr Gehagan was one of Sarah Malcolm's employers。 That Sunday
morning at nine she had appeared in his rooms to do them up and to light
the fire。 While Gehagan was talking to Sarah he was joined by his friend
Kerrel； who offered to stand him some tea。 Sarah was given a shilling
and sent out to buy tea。 She returned and made the brew； then remained
about the chambers until the horn blew； as was then the Temple custom；
for commons。 The two young men departed。 After commons they
walked for a while in the Temple Gardens； then returned to Tanfield Court。
By this time the crowd attracted by the murder was blocking up the
court； and Gehagan asked what was the matter。 He was told of the
murder； and he remarked to Kerrel that the old lady had been their
charwoman's acquaintance。
The two friends then made their way to a coffee…house in Covent
Garden。 There was some talk there of the murder； and the theory was
advanced by some one that it could have been done only by some
laundress who knew the chambers and how to get in and out of them。
From Covent Garden； towards night； Gehagan and Kerrel went to a tavern
in Essex Street； and there they stayed carousing until one o'clock in the
morning； when they left for the Temple。 They were not a little astonished
on reaching their common landing to find Kerrel's door open； a fire
burning in the grate of his room； and a candle on the table。 By the fire；
with a dark riding…hood about her head； was Sarah Malcolm。 To Kerrel's
natural question of what she was doing there at such an unearthly hour she
muttered something about having things to collect。 Kerrel then；
reminding her that Mrs Duncomb had been her acquaintance； asked her if
anyone had been ‘‘taken up'' for the murder。
‘‘That Mr Knight；'' Sarah replied； ‘‘who has chambers under her； has
been absent two or three days。 He is suspected。''
‘‘Well；'' said Kerrel； remembering the theory put forward in the coffee…
house； and made suspicious by her presence at that strange hour； ‘‘nobody
that was acquainted with Mrs Duncomb is wanted here until the murderer
is discovered。 Look out your things； therefore； and begone！''
Kerrel's suspicion thickened； and he asked his friend to run downstairs
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and call up the watch。 Gehagan ran down； but found difficulty in
opening the door below； and had to return。 Kerrel himself went down
then； and came back with two watchmen。 They found Sarah in the
bedroom at a chest of drawers； in which she was turning over some linen
that she claimed to be hers。 The now completely suspicious Kerrel went
to his closet； and noticed that two or three waistcoats were missing from a
portmanteau。 He asked Sarah where they were； upon which Sarah； with
an eye to the watchmen and to Gehagan； begged to be allowed to speak
with him alone。
Kerrel refused； saying he could have no business with her that was
secret。
Sarah then confessed that she had pawned the missing waistcoats for
two guineas； and begged him not to be angry。 Kerrel asked her why she
had not asked him for money。 He could readily forgive her for pawning
the waistcoats； but； having heard her talk of Mrs Lydia Duncomb； he was
afraid she was concerned with the murder。 A pair of earrings were found
in the drawers； and these Sarah claimed； putting them in her corsage。 An
odd…looking bundle in the closet then attracted Kerrel's attention； and he
kicked it； and asked Sarah what it was。 She said it was merely dirty linen
wrapped up in an old gown。 She did not wish it exposed。 Kerrel made
further search； and found that other things were missing。 He told the
watch to take the woman and hold her strictly。
Sarah was led away。 Kerrel； now thoroughly roused； continued his
search； and he found underneath his bed another bundle。 He also came
upon some bloodstained linen in another place； and in a close…stool a
silver tankard； upon the handle of which was a lot of dried blood。
Kerrel's excitement passed to Gehagan； and the two of them went at
speed downstairs yelling for the watch。 After a little the two watchmen
reappeared； but without Sarah。 They had let her go； they said； because
they had found nothing on her； and； besides； she had not been charged
before a constable。
One here comes upon a recital by the watchmen which reveals the
extraordinary slackness in dealing with suspect persons that characterized
the guardians of the peace in London in those times。 They had let the
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woman go； but she had come back。 Her home was in Shoreditch； she
said； and rather than walk all that way on a cold and boisterous night she
had wanted to s