Tomorrow's Crimes ll Moriarty the Patriot

The Daily Telegraph - Issue #2

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

2 September 1876

DEPTHS OF DEPRAVITY REVEALED: LORD PEMBERTON'S MONSTROUS PLOT EXPOSED 

EVIDENCE OF PREMEDITATED MURDER SCHEME SHOCKS NATION

In developments that continue to shake the very foundations of our civilized society, the investigation into Lady Adelaide Blackwood's brutal murder has unveiled a web of corruption and savage intent that strikes at the very heart of the nobility. Lord Augustus Pemberton, once counted among England's most eligible bachelors, now stands revealed as an architect of unspeakable evil, his carefully maintained facade of gentility crumbling to expose the monster beneath.

DAMNING EVIDENCE DISCOVERED

Upon executing a warrant at Pemberton House, investigators discovered a cache of correspondence that Inspector Harrison describes as "sufficient to chill the blood of even the most hardened officer of the law." Hidden within a false-bottomed drawer in his lordship's private study, letters detail communication with known highway brigands, including specific instructions for the "permanent silencing" of Lady Adelaide Blackwood.

"The calculated nature of these communications reveals a depth of malice that beggars description," Inspector Harrison declared, his hands trembling as he displayed the damning documents. "These are not the desperate scribblings of a man driven by momentary passion, but rather the methodical plotting of a predator who, when denied his prey, determined to destroy what he could not possess."

The letters, penned in Lord Pemberton's own distinctive hand, speak of "cleansing the stain of rejection" and "ensuring that no other man shall ever claim what I was denied." Most chilling are his specific instructions regarding the use of whale oil to ensure the complete destruction of evidence - details that match precisely with the horrific scene discovered on the Beckenham Road. The cold precision of his instructions betrays a mind consumed by darkness and unbridled malevolence.

SHOCKING TRUTH OF GARDEN PARTY INCIDENT REVEALED

New testimony has emerged regarding the infamous incident at the Ruthven's garden party, forcing society to reconsider its hasty judgment of Lady Adelaide's actions. An anonymous servant in the employ of the Ruthven Estate, who requested her name be withheld due to the delicate nature of her position, has bravely come forward with an account that paints a vastly different picture from the widely circulated version of events.

"I saw it all, clear as day," the servant testified, her voice steady despite visible fear. "His lordship cornered the young lady in the darkness of the garden maze, away from the lights and music. When she declined his proposal, citing its suddenness, he became like a man possessed. He seized her arms with such violence that I heard her cry out in pain. 'You'll not make a fool of me,' he snarled, his face twisted with rage. 'No one refuses Lord Augustus Pemberton.'"

The servant's account continues: "Lady Adelaide fought like a lioness, God bless her brave soul. She struck him repeatedly, fighting for her very honor, until she finally broke free. It was only then that others arrived, seeing only her ladyship's justified defense, not the brutal assault that preceded it."

This testimony stands in stark contrast to the initial society gossip, which had painted Lady Adelaide's resistance as an unseemly display and a sign of madness. Several prominent families who had rushed to Lord Pemberton's defense now find themselves in the uncomfortable position of having championed a monster who walked among them in gentleman's clothing.

PUBLIC OUTRAGE AND ARREST

The arrest of Lord Pemberton yesterday morning prompted scenes unprecedented in recent memory. As officers led him from his townhouse, crowds of ordinary citizens gathered to voice their fury, pelting the disgraced nobleman with rotten vegetables and cries of "Murderer!" and "Beast in fine clothes!"

Lord Pemberton's reaction to this public censure revealed the true nature that had lurked beneath his polished exterior. "How dare you lay hands on your betters, you common filth!" he was heard to roar at the arresting officers, spittle flying from his contorted lips. "Do you have any idea who I am? I'll see you all in the poorhouse! Every last one of you will rue this day!"

Inspector Harrison reports that during questioning, Lord Pemberton's mask of civility crumbled entirely. "His true character emerged," the Inspector stated, "raving about his right to punish those who defied him, boasting of connections that would shield him from consequences. When presented with the evidence, he flew into such a rage that three officers were required to restrain him, his face purple with demonic fury."

WAVE OF PUBLIC FURY

The streets of London seethe with unprecedented anger, as citizens of all classes unite in their horror at this betrayal of noble privilege. Shops have placed portraits of Lady Adelaide in their windows, draped in black crepe, while those of Lord Pemberton are being publicly burned in demonstrations across the city.

"If this is how the nobility behaves, then what separates them from common criminals?" demanded Mr. James Harper, a respected merchant, voicing the thoughts of many. "That he would murder an innocent young lady for the crime of refusing his advances - it shows a depravity that beggars description."

The crowd gathering daily outside Pemberton House has grown so large that additional police have been deployed to maintain order. Many carry portraits of Lady Adelaide and placards demanding justice, while others throw mud at the Pemberton family crest above the gate, now a symbol of aristocratic corruption.

FURTHER REVELATIONS

Most disturbing are new discoveries suggesting this may not have been Lord Pemberton's first incident of violence against young ladies of quality. Several families have now come forward with accounts of similar, if less fatal, encounters that were previously hushed up to avoid scandal, painting a picture of a predator who has long stalked the ballrooms of society.

A noble Lady, breaking ranks with society's usual silence, revealed in a wave of crying fits: "He became quite forceful with my youngest daughter at Lady Hartley's ball last season. When she declined to walk with him in the garden, his grip on her arm left bruises. We said nothing at the time, God forgive us. How many others kept silent, allowing this monster to prowl among our innocent daughters?"

The investigation continues, with Inspector Harrison promising that no stone will be left unturned, regardless of how high up the scandal may reach. "Rank and privilege will provide no shelter from justice," he declared. "The law's arm reaches even into the finest drawing rooms of Mayfair."

Lord Pemberton remains in custody, his protests now turned to dark threats against all involved in his arrest. Sources report him raving like a madman about connections in government who will "make this all disappear," though such claims ring increasingly hollow as evidence of his guilt mounts. His descent into unbridled rage has shocked even the most hardened prison guards, who report his behavior as more befitting a rabid animal than a peer of the realm.

A formal hearing has been scheduled at the Old Bailey, where Lord Pemberton will face charges of murder, conspiracy, and conduct unbefitting his station. The case promises to be the most sensational trial of the century, laying bare the darkest corners of privileged society and forcing all to question whether a noble title truly reflects a noble character.

The House of Ravenscroft, Lady Adelaide's family, has maintained a dignified silence in the face of these revelations, having yet to issue any public statement regarding the arrest of their daughter's alleged murderer. Their grief, it seems, remains too profound for words.

Justice for Lady Adelaide will shake the very foundations of privileged society, forcing the nobility to confront the darkness that has long festered behind their gilded doors. As one common woman was heard to say at the vigil outside Pemberton House: "If this is what lurks in their grand houses, perhaps it's time we looked more closely at all their fine manners and fancy titles."