The Case Of The Barefoot Boys - Robert F. Clifton (christmas read aloud .txt) 📗

him in court.”

“So you still think the victims knew their killer, said Baxter.

“Think of it Sergeant, you yourself have affiliated the boys as known to each other. Beckmen's, murder has an effect on Woolford, Lodell and Ridgeway. They have lost a friend under rather brutal circumstances. Still, they do not suspect anything or anyone. Then, Woolford is killed. Lodell and Ridgeway become apprehensive. What would you do in their place? You would be leery of who you observed and where you traveled. Still, the killer got to both of them Why? Because they knew and trusted the killer.”

“O.K. What's next,” asked Alan Baxter.

“Off hand I'd say that you are getting close to making and identification of the murderer if not an arrest. Be patient.

Continue to view the actions of the lads. Did they do certain things together? Look for the logical connection that ties them and their killer together. When you do, you should have your man.”

****************

Back at Princeton, Joyce paced slowly back and forth across the front of the classroom as she gave her lecture. “Although scientific research and the resulting data indicates that the origin of man began in Africa I submit to you the interested student, the fact that there are yet to be discovered, earlier species of earlier humans.

We know that the crust of the earth moves every forty two thousand years. Isn't it possible that remains of another human specie could be entombed in many locations? Note that it is becoming increasingly clear that our evolution is not as straight forward as it was once thought. Allow me to give you another example. The discovery of fossil remains of Homo hablis, also known as the skillful person, a specie of the genus Homo which lived two point two million years ago to at least one point six million years ago refers to Homo hablis as a member of the human family. Homo hablis made stone tools. Stone tool paleolithics have been found in England that date back two and two tenth million years ago. This in itself raises the odds that the missing link can be found anywhere in the world, other than Africa.

Let's stay on the location of England in relation to early man. An ancient elephant pit was discovered in Dawlish, England. It is estimated that early man dug that pit one point two to three point five million years ago. Also, archeologists from the London University unearthed evidence of human occupation in Britain. The discovery was made in East Anglia. These findings demonstrate that ancient humans occupied Britain over 800,000 years ago.”

*************

Once again Alistair Basham sat at the kitchen table in Joyce's apartment. “I say my dear, I'm beginning to feel as though I'm taking advantage of you. You're cooking and inviting me to dinner these so many times,” said Basham.

“Nonsense. I enjoy cooking. To tell you the truth it is probably the only time that I feel domesticated rather than the doctor of anthropology who lectures in tweed and wool with her hair tied back in a bun. Let me enjoy being a woman from time to me.”

“Speaking of lectures how did it go today?”, asked Basham.

“Fine, today was about the findings in Britain. The students can't dismiss physical evidence, even those who will remain tied to the Out of Africa Theory. How was your day?”

“Rather boring I'd say. The class is predominantly female who have visions of saving the world when they graduate. I see them as only taking my class merely for receiving three credits towards their degree, “Alistair answered.

“Are you sure that you don't have in the back of your mind those homicides in Atlantic City? If so, you might not be putting your best effort into your lectures,” said Joyce.

“Hmmmn. You might have a point my dear. Now that I think about it the only thing on my mind is when will the police make an arrest? I feel that I've done all that I can do. I am not a detective in these matters. I'm simply an individual that examines the facts and evidence and attempts to create a personality profile of a subject capable of committing those crimes and why. I think that I've done that. It's up for the police and Sergeant Baxter to take the investigation further.”

“I'm sure he will Alistair.”

“We'll see. Now since you have mentioned things on my mind have you given any further thought to living in Harrow?,”

asked Basham.

“I won't lie to you. I've thought about it certainly, but I still haven't made a decision.”

“Well, you haven't said no and so far that's in my favor,”

Alistair replied.

“Why do you want me to live with you in the outskirts of London?”

“I've already told you that I'm merely providing you with an option of having a place to reside until such time that you decide what it is you want to do. At the same time I believe I mentioned that there are no strings attached. You will be able to come and go as you please. If necessary I'll place locks on your bedroom door.”

“Now, you're being silly. I regard you as a gentleman. I knew that the first time I met you at the faculty gathering.”

“A gentleman you say? Perhaps, but still a man.”

*****************

Eight people, the parents of the four young men that had been murdered sat uncomfortably in mismatched, hardback chairs in the lineup room of the Detective Bureau of the Atlantic City Police Department. Sergeant Alan Baxter placed a chair in front of the group, took a seat and then facing them said,”I want to thank all of you for coming here today. Let me start by saying that we are making progress in our investigation. Each day we have been able to put another piece of the puzzle together. When completed that puzzle hopefully will reveal the person responsible for the death of your children.

Right now what I need from you is any information that you might have they will help us go further into the investigation. For instance, we know that the boys knew each other. They went to the same school and probably studied the same courses. At the same time they lived in the uptown section of the City. Right now, I'm looking for something, anything that

would result in them having a common interest, such as sports, or hobbies.”

“Charles was an avid, Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles fan. He also collected stamps and coins”, said Harvey Beckmen.

Baxter wrote down the information.

“Micheal was mostly interested in music. He had his own phonograph that he kept in his bedroom. I don't know how many times I had to bang on his door to tell him to lower the volume. Once in awhile he would play around with postage stamps and coins. I think that the Ridgeway boy got him into collecting those things, said Mary Woolford.

Baxter added the information in his notepad.

“Now that I think of it Harry wasn't so much into stamp collecting. He appeared to be more interested in coins.

Many times he asked to look at the change I had in my purse”, said Helen Lodell.

“I'm not certain, but I'm sure of you were to look into it, Norman was a member of the Coin Collector Club in Atlantic City High School, said Fred Ridgeway.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Nine

The Numismatic

 

On Monday, August 21, 1950 at two PM Alistair Basham

continued his lecture on the subject of Social Structure Theories in Criminology. Pointing to student in the third row Alistair said,

Mr. Anderson. Would you come forward and relate to your classmates the definition of the Social disorganization theory.”

Harvey Anderson made his way to the front of the class and began to speak. “ The Social disorganization theory is actually based on the work of Henry McKay and Clifford R. Shaw. Their theory is that Social disorganization contends that neighborhoods affected with poverty and economic deprivation tend to have high rates of population turnover. With high turnover , informal social structure often fails to develop. When that happens it is often difficult to maintain social order in a community.”

Basham could hear the words spoken by the student. Yet his eyes focused on the way the young man was dressed. Anderson wore a white Tee-shirt, blue jeans and brown loafers. He also did not wear socks. After clearing his throat Alistair said,

“An excellent recitation young man. However, not to be accusatorial, but out of curiosity why do you come into my classroom without wearing socks sir?”

Harvey Anderson stood in embarrassment for a moment, then answered. “Because it's the style Doctor Basham. Barefoot and loafers. That's the way it is, for now at least.”

Basham though for a moment and said, “Of course. Please excuse the ignorance of an old man from a past generation.”

Back in his apartment Alistair dialed the long distance telephone number of the Atlantic City Police Department's Detective Bureau. When the connection was made he asked to speak to Sergeant Baxter. He was then told that Baxter was unavailable at the moment. Basham then left a message, asking that Baxter call him as soon as possible.

At six PM that evening Alistair answered Baxter's call.

“I'm sorry to be late in calling Doctor. However, you would be pleased to know that we are close to zeroing in on a suspect,” said the Sergeant.

“Who?”, asked Basham.

“I'd rather not speak about it on the telephone sir. There are too many leaks around here as it is and I don't want the news media interfering and screwing things up for me. If you are free tomorrow I'll drive up, bring you up to date and after putting our heads together wrap up these cases once and for all.”

“I look forward to our meeting Sergeant.”

“Same here I should be there between ten or eleven in the morning.”

“Excellent, see you then. Cheerio.”

Later that evening Alistair sat eating a steak and kidney pie made by Joyce. “Excellent as usual my dear. Now, how much is my share of the cost for the ingredients?”

“Well if you insist, eight dollars will do it,” Joyce replied.

After removing his wallet from his left rear pocket he removed the bills and placed them on the table. “So, my girl how are you today. Still down in the mouth?”

“Not really. Time is running out. The summer semester is just about over and I must let the university know if I'm interested in the California dig.”

“I see.”

“Do you have any suggestions?”

“Oh no. I have no intentions of swaying you one way or the other. I will say, however, that I will support any decision that you do make.”

“Thank you, but that doesn’t solve the problem at the moment. Anyway, you appear to be in good spirits,”said Joyce.

“Oh, rather. I heard from Alan Baxter earlier this evening. It appears that he is close to naming a suspect and making an arrest. He is motoring up here tomorrow morning.”

“Don't you have a class tomorrow?”, she asked.

“Not really. Actually it is nothing more than a study period allowing my students to prepare for the final exam.”

“Does Maxwell Shieble know about the study period?”

“Don't bloody know. Don't bloody care.”

At approximately ten thirty the next morning Alan Baxter knocked on the front door of Basham's apartment. “Ah Sergeant, how good to see you. How was your drive up here this morning?,” asked Alistair.

“I must admit there was some traffic. Mostly commuters going to work. Route 206 is always busy,” said Baxter.

“Come sit down. Can I get you anything? A cup of coffee or tea?”

“No thank you, but since you mentioned coffee I could stand to use your bathroom. I've been holding a morning coffee piss for the last thirty minutes.”

“Of course old boy. You know where it is.”

When Baxter walked back into the living room he took a seat on the couch opposite of where Basham sat in a chair. “Well, I know that you are anxious to know what we have. In interviewing the parents of the boys we found one, let's say, social connection. All of them collected either postage stamps or coins or both,” he