The Case Of The Missing Bride - Robert F. Clifton (red novels .txt) 📗

case is again where the victim is a female. The cause of death was a single bullet wound in the head. Her body was found in a burning automobile which we believe was set on fire after her murder. At this time we believe that the woman was a witness to or had information related to two or more murders in the Philadelphia area. We also are under the opinion that her death is mob related or if you will, by organized crime.

The last open case is the murder of James Wilbert. Wilbert was a homeless man and a hopeless alcoholic. He survived by panhandling on the streets of Nautilus Beach, sleeping under the boardwalk in spring and summer and in apartment house laundry rooms in the winter. It was in one of these laundry rooms that his body was found. Cause of death, a slit throat. We have always believed that James Wilbert was killed for what money he had hidden in his shoe. Homeless men, some also referred to as wino's would place what paper money they had in one of their shoes instead of a pocket.

Wilbert was found with one shoe on and one shoe off. I hope that I have answered your question Steve”.

“Yes, thank you Steve. Next caller please”, said Morton.

“Hello, my name is Alice. My question is for both the Chief and the Captain. Since Captain Wallace has stated that the Nautilus Beach Police Department is still investigating three open homicide cases my question is why did he omit the Partheana White case? I'll wait for either one of the officers to answer. Thank you”.

Chief Monahan looked at the television camera and said, “We have been discussing open homicide cases. The Partheana White matter although some believe that the White girl was murdered no body has ever been found. As a result several theories have been presented over the years. One theory was that on the night of her wedding she ran away. Another is that she went to the outhouse and in the dark fell into the bay that is located behind the White estate and drowned. And, of course there is the theory that Partheana White was murdered. So, what we have are opinions, runaway, accident and homicide. Let me also inform the audience that the matter involving Partheana White occurred in June 1862. This is now 1975. I take the position that if there was any evidence it has long disappeared. Personally, I believe that Partheana White who was sixteen at the time ran away from a man she was forced to marry. If this is referred to as an open case it is an open case of a Missing Person and not homicide”.

“Nonetheless Chief, you must admit that at this time you can't be certain that Partheana was not murdered and her body buried or thrown into the bay”, said Morton.

“Naturally, I can't be certain. We are talking about an incident that happened one hundred and thirteen years ago. As mentioned, all evidence has long disappeared as have any witnesses. However, just as I can't be certain that the young lady wasn't murdered no one else can be certain that she was?”, said Monahan.

“Well, lucky for us we have a qualified homicide investigator sitting right here next to us. Captain Wallace, with your experience and today's modern police methods of investigation do you think that you could solve the Partheana White case one way or another?”, asked Morton.

Wallace smiled. “The Chief more or less answered the question and at the same time presented one. There is no evidence or proof that the young lady was murdered over one hundred years ago. Still, you present a question as to whether one could solve a cold case that is over a century old using modern police techniques. Personally, I believe that such an investigation would be difficult at best.

As mentioned, most, if not all physical evidence has long ago disappeared. So too are the witnesses. However, I think that it could be done”.

Morton gave a slight laugh, then said, “Interesting. You actually think that you can solve a mystery that has gone unanswered in this city since nearly the time of its origin. I am aware of your reputation Captain, but I must say that in this matter you might just be just a bit egotistic”.

“Not at all. At one time no one could read the Rosetta Stone, but eventually Jean-Francois Champollion solved the problem and translated the inscriptions. This mystery, as you call it may or may not be solved. However, keep in mind that in 1862 law enforcement in Nautilus Beach consisted of one man, the town sheriff who chained his prisoners to a large tree in his front yard. How much scientific investigation do you think was used at that time in the case?

The problem we face today is an allotment of police time and an allocation of police funds both of which would be necessarily used to investigate a century's old case”.

Morton turned his attention back to Chief Monahan. “Chief, if I supply the funding, which may I say will come from my sponsors, could you spare Captain Wallace to investigate the case of Partheana White?”, he asked.

“I would have to have the approval of the city commissioners, and the taxpayers of Nautilus Beach”, said Monahan.

“Alright listeners. You heard the Chief. Now, if you are like me and would like to see this age old mystery associated with our city's past investigated then I urge you to contact the Mayor and the Commission and allow our police department to re-open the Partheana White case.

Chief Monahan. Captain Wallace, I want to thank you for appearing on my show this evening. I look forward to having both of you back at which time you can give me and our audience a final solution. Good night everyone”, said Morgan

 

 

 

Chapter Two

Partheana

 

Mary Wallace sat and watched her husband seated at the dinner table. He was staring off into space, deep in thought. Finally, she spoke to him. “What's on your mind? You've been pushing your mashed potatoes with your fork for the past five minutes and haven't put anything in your mouth for the last ten.

Robert Wallace, at the sound of her voice came back to reality and looked at his wife. “Sorry, I'm thinking about the Partheana White case”.

“What about it?”, she asked.

“It just that most of us born and raised here are familiar with Hiram White who was the first settler here on Shell Island but there's not too much information about his family. It seems to me that I've got to know more about the original White family if I want to solve this mystery”, Robert answered.

“And just how do you think you are going to get more information? The story of Hiram White is one or two paragraphs in maybe two history books. One here in Nautilus Beach and the other probably in the Library Of Congress. Any other knowledge about the family at this point has always been by word of mouth. At best those words are just old wives tales”.

“You may be right. However,

at the same time there is a lot of history in this county, going back before the Revolutionary War. Every once in awhile a new incident or a new name appears. Meanwhile, it appears as though I'm going to need to go back to the beginning and see where it leads me”.

“Bit off more than you can chew, did you?”, asked Mary.

“Not really. There's probably no answer to the story. And, just between you and me I want to solve this matter”, said Robert.

“The only reason you want to solve it is to be able to have Red's Morton appear wrong and embarrassed on his own show. You're investigating this old legend because a television reporter tricked you into investigating a case that everyone except you knows can't be solved. You fell for one of the oldest tricks in investigative journalism. He presented you as a great cop, an excellent homicide detective and then slowly reeled you in like a fish on a line. He exposed your vanity and as a result got you to do just what he wanted you to do, investigate the Partheana White case. And, do you want to know why? Because he wants to not only embarrass you, he wants to humiliate you. He wants to show you on television, admitting that you, the great Captain Robert Wallace could not solve a mystery that is part of the history and lore of this community”.

“And, why would he want to do that?”, asked Robert.

“Probably because of your big mouth and your well known dislike for reporters. Ask yourself how many times in the presence of other people have you referred to Reds Morton as an asshole or a bullshit artist. Think back on how many times you called news reporters a bunch of whores. When you come up with a total then you'll know why he an other journalist's dislike you”.

Wallace sat in silence.

“Well? What do you have to say?”, asked Mary.

“I'm still counting”, Robert answered.

“You're such an idiot”, Mary replied in a weary voice.

“I've got to start somewhere. Tomorrow's Saturday. I'll go to the library and see what they have. Maybe there's more than two paragraphs”, said Robert.

“Good. I need you out of the house. I have a deadline for a magazine article I'm working on and I don't need you moping around and asking me dumb questions”, Mary replied as she got up from the table and began clearing the dishes.

The next day at ten A.M. Captain Wallace walked into the Nautilus Beach Library. He crossed the carpeted floor observing an old man reading the free local newspaper. Some high school kids were seated at tables working on homework assignments and he walked past them and stopped at the librarian's desk. “Good morning Elsie”, he said.

Elsie Tillman looked up and over her black rimmed eyeglasses. “Good morning Captain. I saw you on television the other evening. Let me tell you, it's true that the camera adds ten pounds on people they are photographing. However, you look trim at the moment. Is there something I can help you with?”, she asked.

“Since you saw me on television maybe you can supply me with written or printed information on the White family of Nautilus Beach”, said Wallace.

“Certainly, but keep in mind that there is only one copy and it can not be borrowed”, said Miss Tillman.

“That's why I brought this”, said Wallace holding up his briefcase.

“Here you are Captain. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with”, said Elsie as she handed Wallace a blue colored leatherette covered book, “The History of Nautilus Beach, New Jersey.”

Wallace looked at the book that was handed to him. “Not very thick”, he said.

“Not too much history to write about evidently”, said Elsie.

After walking to an empty table at the end of the library and near a window, Wallace placed his briefcase on the table, opened it and removed a yellow, lined notepad. He then took a seat, made himself comfortable, opened the book and began to read.

“Nautilus Beach, New Jersey like Absecon Island was visited by the English settlers during the summer months for the collection of shellfish, such as clams, crabs and snails.

“The first, white permanent settler to the island was Hiram White. Hiram White was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At age twenty five he left that city and traveled to the edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens where he took a job as a wood cutter at Batsto Village. Batsto Village had been developed by Charles Read, a well known iron master. Read built the Batsto Iron Works on the Batsto River which along with its streams and tributaries contained large amounts of bog iron ore. Wood from the surrounding forest was taken and turned into charcoal used for the smelting of the iron.

It has been said, that during the Revolutionary War the