Notebook of Thaddeus Royce Entry No. 1 - Bodies Found At Albert Embankment
| Bodies Found at Albert Embankment: Murder On First Anniversary of Builder’s Death
London Times In the shadow of St. Thomas’ Madhouse on the Albert Embankment, Scotland Yard reports that the bodies of several prominent men have been discovered. While police reports are vague as to the identities of the victims, it is thought that three or four bodies have been discovered. The proximity to the Madhouse has led to speculation of an escaped inmate perpetrating the deed. Officials have noted that all the victims were young to middle-aged men and all were described as recently down-on-their-luck. It is thought that they were returning home from a local pub. According to Dr. Horace Hellmeister, chief administrator of St. Thomas’, there have been no reports of patient delinquency in the past year. Scotland Yard has closed a small area on the southern end of the Albert Embankment pending further investigation. Officials have made no connection between the murders and the unremarkable death of embankment architect Sir Joseph Bazalgette on March 15 of last year. |
From the notebook of Thaddeus Royce, Baring House investigator:
15 March 1892 – 10:00am - I noted this article in the London Times today.
In questioning Inspector James Smythe of Scotland Yard, he was reluctant to share the initial results of the investigation – although he confidentially described the scene as a bloody mess – one of the most gut-wrenching he had ever witnessed. “No man should be dismembered while he’s still alive” was his comment. The bodies are now at the London Morgue and autopsy reports are to be delivered to the Yard tomorrow morning.
Another cult in London? I need to know how the men were killed – ritual is always important to fanatics of the Old Ones. TR
18 March 1892 – 11:00am – My meeting with Inspector Smythe was cut short today – it seems the Assistant Commissioner of Crime, Sir Robert Anderson, has been ordered to lock down all access to the case. While Smythe was in the hall getting his marching orders from the Chief Inspector, I managed a quick look at the files.
It seems that the four gentlemen in question were all from well-to-do families but had fallen on hard times. They appear to have known each other and formed a social clique in London with a fifth man – who is yet unidentified. They held weekly meetings at the Windmill Pub adjacent to the Madhouse. It was noted that all were considered by their peers as brilliant thinkers with outstanding intelligence. This may be critical because each of their bodies was found missing one most important organ – the brain - surgically removed as clean as if it were done by the best surgeon in London.
I will stake out the Windmill Pub tonight to see if I can locate this mysterious fifth man. TR
