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Clare Melford

2006-11-15T09:49:18Z

203.211.98.140: /* Clare Melford */

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According to [[Delia Hartston]], a small Suffolk village where [[Alexander Roby]] claimed that 'nine teeth', of great beauty, had been erected for some undefined event of great significance due to take place in December of 1925.

The investigators arrived in Clare Melford on December 10th, 1928 and visited the Railway Tavern. In conversation with the locals, including landlord Dick Blair, they heard the story of the 'night of the curse', New Year's Eve 1925, on which five local residents died mysteriously in their beds. The victims were four elderly people and a young child.

They were also told about nearby [[Springer Mound]], on [[Harold Jennings]]' property, which [[Saunders]] and [[Browne]] visited the following day. There they appear to have found the 'nine teeth' - granite standing stones apparently brought up to the hill by [[Lawrence Bacon]] and his entourage.

Upon returning to the village at the beginning of December, the investigators found that the stones had been removed from Jennings' property one night a couple of weeks earlier and taken away in a couple of trucks. At least one of the stones was later found to have been re-erected near [[Loch Mullardoch]].

==Local History==

[[Andrew Saunders]] has researched the history of the Clare Melford Area.

== Clare Melford ==

Clare Melford is a tiny village midway between Clare and Long Melford. It basically comprises of a pub and a few houses. It is in the parish of Long Melford. There is no history of interest specific to it - nothing supernatural or any mention of a stone circle, apart from the standard East Anglian ghost stories, in which ghostly dogs such as the hideous Black Shuck are a local specialty.

== Clare, Suffolk ==

Clare is a small town lying on the north bank of the River Stour in Suffolk, England, 22 km from Bury St Edmunds and 14 km from Sudbury.

Lying on an ancient road from Dunwich in East Anglia into the Midlands, Clare contains a large double-ditched "camp" which probably marks the first permanent settlement in the area. This location ensured Clare's importance which continued after the Norman Conquest, and a castle was built south of the "camp" on a high motte overlooking the town. The keep and parts of the inner and outer baileys still exist and the castle is part of the Clare Castle Country Park which contains the only railway station built wihin a castle in the UK, though it is now decommisioned. The town and castle were given to Richard Fitz Gilbert, Earl of Brion in Normandy whose lands became known as the 'Honour of Clare' and Fitz Gilbert called himself the Earl of Clare.

Established by Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester in 1248, Clare Priory is the first house of Augustinian Friars in England. Lying next to the Clare Castle Country Park, the Priory is still used as a retreat centre.

The late 15th Century parish church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is one of the most beautiful churches in East Anglia.

== Long Melford ==

Long Melford, more generally known as Melford, is an ancient village in Suffolk, England, on the border with Essex. The border lying along the banks of the River Stour. Long Melford is approximately 16 miles from Colchester and 14 miles from Bury St. Edmunds.

Long Melford's most unusual feature is the Holy Trinity church which is large enough to be a cathedral and sports a celebrated stained glass three hares motif.

Long Melford contains two stately homes called Kentwell Hall and Melford Hall. Both are in excellent repair, having been built from the proceeds of the wool trade in the Middle Ages.

The Roby Murders

2006-11-15T09:48:13Z

203.211.98.140:

On October 14th 1926, Herbert Roby and his adult daughter Georgina were murdered at their home in Curzon St, Mayfair.

Mr Roby, a retired diplomat, was killed by a deep wound to the upper chest and completely exsanguinated, though almost no trace of his blood was found at the scene.

Georgina was killed by 2 or 3 blows from a large sharp implement, such as an axe, and bled profusely.

Mt Roby's younger son [[Alexander]] was arrested at the scene after claiming responsibility, but instead of being charged was committed to [[St Agnes Asylum]], Herefordshire.

The information above comes from newspaper reports and the statement of [[Dr Lionel Trollope]], and police and family members may have more details, as yet unknown to the investigators.

[[Dr. Bartlett]] has concluded that Roby attempted to summon creatures such as [[the Springer Mound Monsters]] in order to kill his father and that the creature or creatures got out of hand. He has no real evidence for this outlandish speculation.

Delia Hartston

2006-11-15T09:47:22Z

203.211.98.140:

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Delia Hartston (now Delia Morrison) is [[Alexander Roby]]'s former fiancee. When [[Dr Bartlett]] spoke to Roby, Roby initially seemed to think he was talking to Delia.

[[Grahame Roby]] expressed a distrust of Delia, suggesting she was in some way involved with the [[Roby murders]].

[[Captain George Withers]] engaged a private detective to locate her and traced her to Enfield, North of London, where she lives with her husband [[Peter Morrison]]. They married less than a year after Delia split with Roby, and he is 12 years her senior.

Withers and [[Bartlett]] visited her. She told them of Roby's dealings with [[Lawrence Bacon]], [[Malcolm Quarrie]] and [[Edwards]] and also mentioned [[Coombes]]. She also provided them with a copy of '[[the Walker by the Lake]]' and told them of [[Clare Melford]] and the 'nine teeth' that could be found there.

Withers believed that Delia's husband beat her, and was greatly troubled by this. When Delia invited Withers to her home on 21st November. ostensibly with information about the Roby case, Withers encountered a drunken, bellicose Peter and saw that Delia was sporting a black eye.

Challenged to fight by Peter Morrison, Withers soundly beat and hospitalised Delia's husband. Delia warned the stricken man to stay away from her.

After this event, Withers asked his sister Anna to take Delia in and Delia temporarily moved to Anna's house. Dining together at Anna's house shortly afterwards, both Delia and Withers struggled with their growing feelings for one another and the scandal that any relationship would surely cause.

When Delia received a note from Alexander asking her to meet him at [[Loch Mullardoch]] she immediately brought it to [[Withers]].

After his return from [[Drakmar]], Withers married Delia.

Delia Hartston

2006-11-15T09:46:49Z

203.211.98.140:

[[image:deli.JPG|right]]

Delia Hartston (now Delia Morrison) is [[Alexander Roby]]'s former fiancee. When [[Dr Bartlett]] spoke to Roby, Roby initially seemed to think he was talking to Delia.

[[Grahame Roby]] expressed a distrust of Delia, suggesting she was in some way involved with the [[Roby murders]].

[[Captain George Withers]] engaged a private detective to locate her and traced her to Enfield, North of London, where she lives with her husband [[Peter Morrison]]. They married less than a year after Delia split with Roby, and he is 12 years her senior.

Withers and [[Bartlett]] visited her. She told them of Roby's dealings with [[Lawrence Bacon]], [[Malcolm Quarrie]] and [[Edwards]] and also mentioned [[Coombes]]. She also provided them with a copy of '[[the Walker by the Lake]]' and told them of [[Clare Melford]] and the 'nine teeth' that could be found there.

Withers believed that Delia's husband beat her, and was greatly troubled by this. When Delia invited Withers to her home on 21st November. ostensibly with information about the Roby case, Withers encountered a drunken, bellicose Peter and saw that Delia was sporting a black eye.

Challenged to fight by Peter Morrison, Wither soundly beat and hospitalised Delia's husband. Delia warned the stricken man to stay away from her.

After this event, Withers asked his sister Anna to take Delia in and Delia temporarily moved to Anna's house. Dining together at Anna's house shortly afterwards, both Delia and Withers struggled with their growing feelings for one another and the scandal that any relationship would surely cause.

When Delia received a note from Alexander asking her to meet him at [[Loch Mullardoch]] she immediately brought it to [[Withers]].

After his return from [[Drakmar]], Withers married Delia.

Francesca Nicholson

2006-11-15T09:45:53Z

203.211.98.140:

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Pretty, fashionable and middle-class, Francesca works as a typist in London and also has a keen interest in amateur dramatics and a fine singing voice. An avid reader of novels with a taste for the fantastic, she was a fan of [[Nathaniel Browne]]'s work before meeting him aboard [[the Viceroy of India]].

She is travelling to India with her friend [[Patricia Berry]] to holiday with relatives.

Francesca and Nathaniel have become inseperable since meeting, and its clear to all who know them that they are falling in love.

After his return from [[Drakmar]], Nathaniel married Patricia.