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Full Ebook of Justice Outcomes Legal Studies For Vce Lisa Filippin Margaret Beazer Annie Wilson Peter Farrar Online PDF All Chapter
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title: FIL_JO_SB34_14e_10363_CVR format: 280mm x 217mm spine: 22.7mm colours used: CMYK
JUSTICE &
12 UNITS 3 & 4
FARRAR
WILSON
BEAZER
FILIPPIN
14TH
EDITION
YEAR 12
LISA FILIPPIN
MARGARET BEAZER
ANNIE WILSON
PETER FARRAR
ISBN 978-0-19-031036-3
9 780190 310363
visit us at: oup.com.au or
contact customer service: cs.au@oup.com 14TH EDITION
UNITS 3 & 4
YEAR 12
LISA FILIPPIN
MARGARET BEAZER
ANNIE WILSON
PETER FARRAR
14TH EDITION
iii
10.2 THE ROLE OF THE PARLIAMENT IN LAW-MAKING .... 312 13.3 THE ROLE OF THE COURTS IN LAW-MAKING –
DEVELOPING AND AVOIDING PRECEDENT .................. 431
10.3 THE ROLE OF THE CROWN IN LAW-MAKING .............. 319
13.4 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION ......................................438
10.4 THE DIVISION OF CONSTITUTIONAL
13.5 THE DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT.....................................446
LAW-MAKING POWERS .................................................. 321
13.6 JUDICIAL CONSERVATISM ..............................................450
10.5 SECTION 109 OF THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION .. 326
13.7 JUDICIAL ACTIVISM ..........................................................453
10.6 THE BICAMERAL STRUCTURE OF THE
13.8 COST AND TIME IN BRINGING A CASE TO COURT .......456
COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENT ..................................329
13.9 THE REQUIREMENT OF STANDING ................................460
10.7 THE SEPARATION OF EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE
13.10 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COURTS
AND JUDICIAL POWERS .................................................334
AND PARLIAMENT IN LAW-MAKING ............................464
10.8 THE EXPRESS PROTECTION OF RIGHTS ......................340
CHAPTER 13 REVIEW CHAPTER SUMMARY,
10.9 THE ROLE OF THE HIGH COURT IN INTERPRETING REVISION QUESTIONS AND PRACTICE
THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION ...............................348 ASSESSMENT TASK ....................................................470
10.10 THE REQUIREMENT FOR A DOUBLE
MAJORITY IN A REFERENDUM ...................................... 352 CHAPTER 14 LAW REFORM .......................... 472
CHAPTER 10 REVIEW CHAPTER SUMMARY, 14.1 REASONS FOR LAW REFORM ......................................... 474
REVISION QUESTIONS AND PRACTICE 14.2 INDIVIDUALS INFLUENCING LAW REFORM
ASSESSMENT TASK ...................................................356 THROUGH PETITIONS .....................................................482
14.3 INDIVIDUALS INFLUENCING LAW REFORM
CHAPTER 11 CHANGING AND PROTECTING THROUGH DEMONSTRATIONS ......................................486
THE CONSTITUTION .................................... 358 14.4 INDIVIDUALS INFLUENCING LAW REFORM
THROUGH THE COURTS...................................................489
11.1 HIGH COURT CASES AND SECTIONS 7 AND 24
14.5 THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN LAW REFORM ................. 492
OF THE CONSTITUTION ..................................................360
14.6 THE VICTORIAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION ............. 498
11.2 REFERENDUMS ...............................................................368
14.7 PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES ....................................506
11.3 THE HIGH COURT AND THE DIVISION OF
14.8 ROYAL COMMISSIONS ..................................................... 514
LAW-MAKING POWERS .................................................. 376
14.9 THE ABILITY OF PARLIAMENT AND THE COURTS
11.4 INTERPRETATION OF THE EXTERNAL
TO RESPOND TO THE NEED FOR LAW REFORM .......... 520
AFFAIRS POWER .............................................................. 381
CHAPTER 14 REVIEW CHAPTER SUMMARY,
CHAPTER 11 REVIEW CHAPTER SUMMARY,
REVISION QUESTIONS AND PRACTICE
REVISION QUESTIONS AND PRACTICE
ASSESSMENT TASK ....................................................528
ASSESSMENT TASK ...................................................390
UNIT 4 ASSESSMENT TASK S ..........................................530
Hunter v The Queen [2013] VSCA 385 Downie v Spiral Foods Pty Ltd [2015] VSC 190
(19 December 2013) ...................................................... 37 (7 May 2015) ................................................................. 184
GGG v YYY [2011] VSC 429 (1 September 2011) ............... 192
CHAPTER 3 INTRODUCTION TO Blake v J R Perry Nominees Pty Ltd [2012] VSCA 122
(14 June 2012).............................................................. 193
THE VICTORIAN CRIMINAL
Kalos v Goodyear & Dunlop Tyres (Aust) Pty Ltd
JUSTICE SYSTEM [2016] VSC 715 (29 November 2016) .......................... 195
DPP v ABD Group Pty Ltd [2016] VCC 1450
(29 September 2016) .................................................... 44 CHAPTER 7 RESOLVING A CIVIL DISPUTE
Jago v District Court of NSW (1989) 168 CLR 23 ................ 48
Hoskin v Greater Bendigo City Council [2015] VSCA 350
Dietrich v The Queen (1992) 177 CLR 292 ......................... 60 (16 December 2015) .................................................... 212
Ivanovic v Qantas Airways Limited (Civil Claims) [2016]
CHAPTER 4 DETERMINING A VCAT 2202 (23 December 2016) .................................. 215
CRIMINAL CASE Udugampala v Essential Services Commission (Human
Rights) [2016] VCAT 2130 (30 December 2016) .......... 216
Bayley v Nixon and Victoria Legal Aid [2015] VSC 744
(18 December 2015); Bayley v The Queen [2016] Banque Commerciale SA, En liquidation v Akhil
VSCA 160 (13 July 2016) ............................................... 80 Holdings Pty Ltd (1991) 69 CLR 279 ............................ 219
DPP v Bailey [2017] VSC 195 (13 April 2017)...................... 85 McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd v Santam
Ltd (No 1) [2016] VSC 734 (2 December 2016)............. 220
R v MacKinnon [2015] VSC 619 (6 November 2015)........... 92
Crown Melbourne Limited v Cosmopolitan Hotel (Vic)
Cook v The Queen [2016] VSCA 174 (25 July 2016) .......... 102
Pty Ltd (2016) 333 ALR 384 ......................................... 226
Smith v Western Australia (2014) 250 CLR 473 ................ 106
Matthews v AusNet Electricity Services Pty Ltd & Ors
Weissensteiner v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 217 ............ 109 [2014] VSC 663 ............................................................ 245
Gant v The Queen; Siddique v The Queen [2017] SAI Global Property Division Pty Ltd v Johnstone [2016]
VSCA 104 (8 May 2017) ................................................ 111 FCA 1333 (14 November 2016) ................................... 256
DPP v England [2016] VCC 1486 (6 October 2016) ........... 115 Medic v Kandetzi [2006] VCC 705 (13 June 2006)............. 257
R v Banek [2017] VSC 11 (1 February 2017) .................... 116 Erlich v Leifer [2015] VSC 499 (16 September 2015) ....... 257
DPP v Keefer [2016] VCC 1805 (25 November 2016) ....... 117 Bendigo Street Application (SCV, Croft J, 14 August,
DPP v Granata [2016] VSCA 190 (8 August 2016) ............ 118 unreported) ................................................................. 258
DPP v Bilic Homes Pty Ltd [2016] VCC 810 (14 June 2016).. 121 Just Group Limited v van Dyk [2016] VSC 66
DPP v Harrison [2016] VCC 1763 (17 November 2016) ... 124 (23 February 2016) ....................................................... 259
DPP v Bennison [2016] VSC 686 (29 November 2016) .... 130
DPP v Smith [2016] VCC 1419 (16 September 2016) ...... 132
CHAPTER 8 REFORMING THE CIVIL
JUSTICE SYSTEM
CHAPTER 5 REFORMING THE Loftus v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM [No 2] [2016] VSCA 308 (8 December 2016) ................ 267
CHAPTER 10 THE PEOPLE AND THE Davies v Waldron [1989] VR 449 ...................................... 431
Commonwealth v Tasmania (1983) 158 CLR 1 .................. 382 NSW Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages v Norrie
(2014) 250 CLR 490 ...................................................... 489
Richardson v Forestry Commission of Tasmania
(1988) 164 CLR 261 ......................................................... 384 Certain Children by their Litigation Guardian Sister
Marie Brigid Arthur v Minister for Families and
New South Wales v Commonwealth (1975)
Children (No 2) [2017] VSC 251 (11 May 2017) ............ 490
135 CLR 337 .................................................................... 385
Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013]
Polyukhovich v Commonwealth (1991) 172 CLR 502 ....... 386
HCA 55 (12 December 2013) ....................................... 525
vii
EXAMS
TION FROM PAST
EXAMPLE QUES
• tips for success on SACs and TASK WORD
DEFINITION
argument for and
Question 9 (2013
)
inefficient and
outdated.’ Discu
ss two possible
Give a reasoned ‘Trial by jury is
Discuss
the end-of-year examination Tip 2 – Understan
d task words
lete throughout
the year, it’s likely
that questions and
tasks
demonstrate the
against a partic
provide strengths
ular issue (and
and weaknesse
can also give
s
your
reforms to the
jury system.
(such as identify
or define) are simple
to understand and
practice
opinion
Distinguish Expla
in the differences
cteristics
and
Question 7c (2016
Provide one sanct
)
ion that may be
ability of that sanct
imposed if Sam
ion to achieve its
is found guilty
purposes.
of difficulty. Some stand and will take distinctive chara and discuss the
in level challenging to under
citation Task words range example used by
or justify) are more It also provides Ques tion 10 (2013) ods that are
(such as evaluate and their definitions. and assess ss of two meth
master. Others common task words ident ify key features ate the effectivene e in the law.
range of To Evalu a chang
s to influence
a Evaluate
to master. Sourc
e 2 lists s by discussing
in context. may not reflect key their relative merit individuals or group
weaknesses and
task word may or
birthday at Explain
of what is being
To clarify a point
, feature or conce
in more detail or
pt Question 5b
Explain the role
(2015)
of the VLRC in
recommending
a change in the
and establish
Question 9 (2010
)
precedent allow
s for both consi
stency and
the doctrine degree or level
to Audrey’s dispu
Question 12 (2015
)
journal article
wrote the follow
ing
It should all
wh
To consider in detail The doctrine of two strengths of To describe the The author of a e matters of fact.
Examine impo rtant issues ally examine these To what opinio n or d not decid
he
and ent, shoul
the key facts flexibility. Critic to which a statem opinion: ‘Juries
topic or issue . extent is believed to be) judge.’ n? Justify your
related to a of precedent. contention is (or be left up to the
agree with this opinio
t do you
Question 1 (2015
) $1 million in correct or valid. To what exten
and damages of
ibe) the exact ng an injunction ction’.
Define To state (or descr
nature, features,
or meaning of a
conce pt
A plaintiff is seeki
the Supreme Court
of Victoria. Defin
e the term ‘injun answer.
sch
term, feature or Question 9a (2016
) to change. Legal Studies Exams,
2016
examples.
ed account of a n why a law may need From: ©VCAA , definitions and
To give a detail Describe one reaso on VCE Legal Studies task words
Describe or feature Source 2 Comm 15
system, process LEGAL TOOLKIT
CHAPTER 1
ICE
RIGHTS AND JUST
Study tip TIP 3 – Understand the structure of exam questions UNIT 3
1.4
14
A short video explaining
the structure of
To give yourself the best chance of doing well in VCE
Legal Studies exams, it’s important for you to become MASTERING LEGAL CITATION
familiar with types of questions that typically appear.
Legal Studies exam Like assessment tasks, exam questions assess your
questions is provided understanding of key knowledge and key skills.
The only difference is that exams are completed
on your obook assess. exam conditions. under
It gives you more tips As you work your way through the VCE Legal Studies
and examples of the Legal Studies exam questions typically contain course, you will be learning about many different
a defined set of items arranged in different orders. laws and legal cases. To be able to recognise laws
best ways to answer Once you understand what each component and legal cases, and to reference them in your
of the question is asking or telling you, answering and assessment tasks, you should master the basics notes
questions and will the
question becomes much simpler. Source 3 explains of legal citation.
help you maximise the most common items that make up exam questions
your chances of and Sources 4 provides some examples of these
What is legal citation?
in action.
performing well on
tests, assessment tasks
and exams! QUESTION COMPONENT legal citation
Legal citation is the system used to refer to
PURPOSE it might result in certain legal documents and
Question number This indicates the number of the question on sections of the existing sources such as cases and Acts of parliament in
the exam paper acts being deleted or
a consistent and
Mark allocation This indicates the total number of marks available accurate way. The most commonly cited legal documents
for the amended, or other are:
question. The total marks available gives you sections added • Acts of parliament (also known as
an idea of statutes and
how long to spend answering the question. legislation)
Act of parliament
Quote or extract Exam questions often include statements (set a law passed by • legal cases (also known as court decisions).
in quotation
marks) or extracts from key pieces of legislation. parliament, also known The following information will help you in reading
as an Act of parliament
Task word Task words are words that tell you how to demonstrate and understanding legal citations. It will also
or legislation help you
the knowledge you have learned cite legal documents correctly in your coursework
and
Quantifying words Quantifying words state the specific numbers assessment tasks.
(i.e. quantities) of
examples or definitions you should provide in
your answer. They are
bolded for clarity. Follow quantifying words carefully
exactly what is asked.
and provide Citing Acts of parliament
Study tip Content words Content words provide specific details and facts Acts of parliament (often called just ‘Acts’) are
for you to consider laws made
in your answer (i.e. the context) by the various parliaments in Australia (i.e. state
and territory
It’s important to keep
an eye on the clock Source 3 Legal studies exam questions are parliaments and the Commonwealth Parliament)
typically made up of tasks based on these items. and in other
during tests or exams countries around the world.
to make sure you have
enough time to answer Acts of parliament generally feature the following
Question 13 (10 marks) pieces of
every question. information in this order: Source 1 Legal citation is a
Discuss the ability of parliament to change the • The name of the Act or statute – This is
the title that has been system designed help people
law. In your answer,
given to the statute. It is always written in italics. cite (i.e. refer to) specific laws
provide one recent example of an individual and legal cases in a consistent
or group influencing legislative change. • The year that it was made by parliament
– This is also written and accurate way.
in italics.
Question 1 (7 marks) • The parliament that passed it – This
will be either a state or territory parliament,
Commonwealth Parliament. The name of the parliament or the
Nathan commences proceedings in the Magistrates’ is never written in full; instead, abbreviations
for each parliament are used (e.g. Vic or Cth).
Source 4 It is Court against his employer and is seeking $90000
important to keep in damages.
Example 1 – an Act made by the Victorian Parliament
an eye on the clock
during exams.
a. Describe one purpose of damages. This Act (i.e. the Crimes Act) was made in 1958 by
the Victorian Parliament.
• an overview of the
From ©VCAA Legal Studies Exam, 2016
Crimes Act 1958 (Vic)
viii JUSTICE & OUTCOMES LEGAL STUDIES FOR VCE UNITS 3 & 4
CHAPTER 4 2018–2022
including Victoria Legal Aid and Victorian community that the offender serves in the community, with conditions
legal centres attached to the order
that links to
criminal cases
denunciation one purpose of a sanction; a process by which
DETERMINING
determining criminal cases, including specialisation a court can demonstrate the community’s disapproval of the
offender’s actions
core content in
and appeals
deterrence one purpose of a sanction; a process by which
A CRIMINAL CASE
• fines, community corrections orders and
offender from society for a stated period of time and placing
imprisonment, and their specific purposes
them in prison
• factors considered in sentencing, including
legal aid legal advice, education or information about the law
aggravating factors, mitigating factors, guilty pleas
and the provision of legal services (including legal assistance
and victim impact statements. and representation)
plea negotiations (in criminal cases) pre-trial discussions
KEY SKILLS
that take place between the prosecution and the accused,
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to: aimed at resolving the case by agreeing on an outcome to the
• define and use relevant legal terminology criminal charges laid (also known as charge negotiations)
• discuss, interpret and analyse legal principles and punishment one purpose of a sanction; a strategy designed
information to penalise (i.e. punish) the offender and show society and the
• explain the purposes of committal proceedings and victim that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated
the roles of institutions available to assist an accused sanction a penalty (e.g. a fine or prison sentence) imposed by
• explain the reasons for the Victorian court hierarchy a court on a person found guilty of a criminal offence
in determining criminal cases Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) a government agency that provides
free legal advice to the community and low-cost or no-cost
• discuss and justify the appropriateness of the means
legal representation to people who can’t afford a lawyer
used to determine a criminal case
• discuss the responsibilities of key personnel in a
KEY LEGAL CASES
criminal trial
A list of key legal cases covered in this chapter is
• discuss the ability of sanctions to achieve their
provided on pages vi – viii
purposes
Source 1 Criminal law is an area of law that defines a range of behaviours and conduct that are prohibited
• evaluate the ability of the criminal justice system to
and outlines sanctions for people who commit them. Geelong woman, Alicia Schiller, was arrested by police
in 2012 in relation to an armed robbery. In 2016, Schiller was tried and found guilty of the stabbing murder of achieve the principles of justice
Tyrelle Evertsen-Mostert. In this chapter, you will explore the means used to determine a criminal case and
their purpose in a criminal case.
Extract
Study tip
Extracts from relevant legislation,
Targeted study tips are provided in the margin acts, reports, speeches and websites
where relevant. These are designed to explicitly support learning
help students to achieve better results on
school-based and external assessment tasks.
4.9 TYPES OF SANCTIONS – FINES
EXTRACT Study tip
The sanctions available to courts are set out in the Sentencing Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) The VCE Legal Studies
Act. The Act provides a hierarchy of Study Design lists
sanctions. The most severe sanction, (and the sanction of
last resort), is imprisonment. 317A Bomb hoaxes fines, community
(1) A person must not — correction orders
SANCTION (a) place an article or substance in any place; or
and imprisonment as
DESCRIPTION
Australia’s first successful class action occurred in 1995 when a firm of solicitors, Slater & Gordon, sanctions. You must
Study tip Imprisonment
discovered that Recordiodine.
the product contained excessive A significant number of people (b) send an article or substance by any means of transportation learn these three
MOST SEVERE
represented more than 1 000 people who had suffered salmonella poisoning as a result of eating a conviction and order that the offender serve serve time in a prison – A person must not with the
with and (jail).consuming the soy milk. A class action was
conviction sanctions and their
developed thyroid other health problems after intention of inducing in another person a false belief
that the article or substance is likely to
In this chapter the contaminated peanut butter (a type of product liability class action). Other well-known representative explode or ignite or discharge a dangerous or deleterious
purposes, as well as
term ‘class actions’ issued in the CourtSupreme Court
secure of Victoria. matter.
proceedings include business owners suing Esso as a result of the Esso Longford gas explosion in 1998; treatment Record a conviction and order that the offender be detained the ability of these
is generally used to the class action was approved by the Court. The settlement
order withofconviction
In 2015, settlement amount and treated in a Penalty: Level 6 imprisonment (5 years maximum) or
a level 6 fine (600 penalty units sanctions to achieve
describe representative claims in relation to the bushfires that occurred in Victoria in 2009; and a series of bank fee class actions health facility (such as a hospital) maximum) or both. their purposes. It is
proceedings, but to be paid was $25 000 000. possible that you will be
for repayment of fees charged by banks to their customers. Drug treatment order Record a conviction and order that the offender undertake
you must be familiar a judicially asked to demonstrate
with both terms. with conviction supervised drug or alcohol treatment program. Only your understanding of
‘Representative
proceedings’ may be
Benefits of representative proceedings Court in the Magistrates’ Court if a person pleads guilty
available from the Drug
and the Drug Court is
The Sentencing Act expresses fines in levels (1–12). Level 2
is the highest level, and level 12 is the lowest these sanctions in your
assessment tasks.
satisfied that the offender is dependent on drugs or alcohol. level. Each level refers to a number of penalty units. Level
There has been a significant increase in the number of representative proceedings in recent years in 2 attracts a fine of 3 000 penalty units, whereas
6.3 CHECK YOUR LEARNING
specifically referred
level 12 attracts a fine of 1 penalty unit. The court cannot
to in your assessment
Victoria and in Australia. Class actions (representative proceedings) are seen to have a number of benefits: Youth justice centre order In the case of an offender aged 15 or older, record a conviction order a fine at level 1 (very serious offences
tasks.
with conviction and order that such as murder).
• the group members can share the cost the young offender be detained in a youth justice centre.
The use of ‘penalty units’ instead of fixed monetary fines
• it is a more efficient way of the court dealing with a number of claims, saving court time and the time Define and Youth explain residential centre a The names of the lead plaintiff and defendants. allows the government to increase all fines
In the case of an offender aged under 15 years, record by increasing the value of a penalty unit each year without
order b The nature of the claim. a conviction and order changing all statutes. Using the example for a
of court personnel 1 Explain w when thewith conviction
plaintiff will have the burden that proof
of the young offender be detained in a youth residential centre. bomb hoax offence, setting the fine to a maximum of 600
penalty units will mean that the maximum fine Did you know?
• people can pursue civil actions that they might not be able to afford in an individual case, and this gives in a civil dispute,
Community and when the defendant may have the c The remedy sought.
correction order With or without recording a conviction, that can be imposed will increase annually, because the value
them access to the courts to resolve their disputes burden ofwith proof. or without conviction d Whether there is anymake a community
information about a correction
litigation order of penalty units will increase. A fine is not paid to
in respect of the offender. The order will be made with Under the Sentencing Act, when fixing a fine a court must
2 What is the difference between beyond reasonable funder or third-party funder in this case. certain conditions consider the financial circumstances of the the victim of a crime.
litigation funder • in certain circumstances, a litigation funder (a third party that agrees to pay the legal costs associated attached to it. offender and the nature of the burden that payment will impose. Instead, it is paid to
a third party who
with the action) may be prepared to fund the class action on behalf of the people who have suffered doubt, and on the balance of probabilities? e The current status of the class action. The court may also consider any loss or the state of Victoria.
Fine with or without destruction of, or damage to, property suffered by a person
pays for some or
loss. They do this in return for a percentage of any settlement or damages awarded, thus increasing the 3 Describe what w a class action is, and give twoWith otheror without8 recording a conviction,
Read the legal case Downieorder the offender
v Spiral Foods (thetoBonsoy
pay a fine, which as a result of the offence and the value of any However, a court can
all of the costs and conviction is a sum of money payable benefit to the offender as a result of the offence. make a restitution order
names for a class action. class to the court.
action).
expenses associated ability of the group members to pursue a claim even when they don’t have the funds themselves. or compensation order
with initiating a claim Adjournment
it mean to say the lead plaintiff has to a conviction If a fine is not paid, the offender can be imprisoned or ordered
A recent example of a Victorian class action was in relation to Bonsoy soy milk (see below).
4 What does Record a and type the
Whatorder release of theproceeding
of representative was this?
offender with conditions
to undertake community work. which may involve a
in return for a share
‘describewith or without
the group’? conviction
Provide an example. attached; or without b Whatrecording
was thea conviction, case?the release of the
issue in thisorder
The case below is an example of the court imposing a fine
as a general deterrence against employers
payment to the victim.
of the proceeds. However, there has been recent pressure for the class action regime to be reformed, as they are seen offender failing to address safety risks.
Litigation funders 5 Explain the difference between a lead plaintiff on and
the aadjournmentc of Didthe
thishearing,
matter gowith conditions
to trial? Justifyattached.
your answer.
to be a risk for businesses, and the costs involved in a class action can be significant. At times, a significant
LEAST SEVERE
Legal case
Foods Pty Ltd and two other defendants.
A recall of the Bonsoy soy milk occurred Source 3 Erin Downie, the lead plaintiff in the
before Christmas in 2009 after it was class action related to soy milk.
04_FIL_JO_SB34_14e_10363_TXT_3pp.indd 120-121
of the book.
a government agency
VLA has two main sources of funding: in Victoria was only
that provides free legal legal problems, and focuses on people who need
advice to the community • the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments. available to prisoners
it the most and can’t get legal assistance any In the 2015–16 financial year, VLA received or the very poor (those
and low-cost or no-cost
$140.7 million in government funding: $91.3 million
legal representation to other way. from the Victorian Government, and who owned property
people who can’t afford $49.4 million from the Commonwealth Government worth less than 50
a lawyer
VLA’s vision is a fair and just society where pounds). More than 50
• the Public Purpose Fund (PPF), a Victorian fund
rights and responsibilities are upheld. Its to meet the costs of regulating the legal per cent of people were
In the news
community legal
profession in Victoria and fund the VLA. The funds come turned away because
centre (CLC) purpose is to make a difference by resolving and from lawyers and legal practices. In they were ineligible for
an independent Source 1 The high cost of the justice system and the 2015–16 financial year, VLA received $28.3 million
preventing legal problems, and encouraging a fair in income from the PPF. legal aid.
organisation that the need for legal aid has been an issue in Victoria
provides free legal and transparent justice system.
for more than 100 years.
services to people who
are unable to pay for
Role of VLA Victoria Legal Aid calls for $72 million funding boost
Did you know? Relevant and recent
those services. Some
are generalist CLCs
and some are specialist
The objectives of VLA are to:
Tom Minear, Herald Sun, 11 April 2016
IN
CLCs • provide legal aid in the most effective, economic and
efficient
manner FAMILY violence victims are among tens of thousands
of Victorians who are forced to defend
THE
• manage its resources to make legal aid available at a
NEWS
media articles are
reasonable cost to the community and on an themselves in court after being denied legal help.
equitable basis throughout Victoria
Interesting, quirky or
Victoria Legal Aid says it needs an extra $72 million
• provide the community with improved access to justice every year to relieve the ‘crushing
Did you know? and legal remedies pressure’ on community lawyers to properly help victims
of crime and disadvantaged people.
• pursue innovative means to provide legal aid to minimise
Free legal aid has the need for individual legal services in the The funding demand underpins VLA’s submission to
the State Government’s Access to
world applications of
body (after the Victorian
‘Legal aid’ includes legal education and information, legal decade but the sector is facing a 30 per cent federal
advice and legal representation. Legal funding cut from July next year.
content to life.
77
04_FIL_JO_SB34_14e_10363_TXT_FL.indd 76-77
3/10/2017 2:27 pm
NING
assistance they can 4.1 CHECK YOUR LEAR has been
, and for how much us Australian and
Example
needs help with aid’. Does it always b John lives in Werribee
matter the person 1 Define the term ‘legal
• the type of legal advice. some help
e is available (e.g. through VLA) representation? Explain. legal advice and Gladstone Park and wants
• if other assistanc tions that provide c Yola lives near
provided to stimulate
is an issue in Australia g to the campaign: and CLCs can’t provide and CLCs for f What did Bayley
Funding to CLCs was launched. Accordin of funding to VLA outcome?
Justice campaign d Research the status summar y. what was the final the Court of
In 2016, a Fund Equal help to over 216 000
people a year year. Prepare a short hs extracted from
different contexts.
between the demand charged with an indictabl good chance Should it be? Give
told that he has a and CLCs impact
lawyer, but has been ent funding to VLA
to defend the charge. 11 How does governm justice system to achieve
the
Links to a range of supporting digital resources appear UNIT 3 RIGHTS AND JUSTICE 3/10/2017 2:27
pm
82
Chapter review
A chapter review appears at the
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER SUMMARY
PRACTICE ASSESSMENT TASK
REVIEW > Institutions available to assist an accused
• Appeals
• Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) Students should read the information at the beginning
of the chapter relating to the learning outcome, key
Unit review
• Protection
TASK
causing death...
> Plea negotiations PRACTICE ASSESSMENT
PRACTICE ASSESSMENT TASK
Sukhuinder Singh, 23, was illegally alone in his Holden
UNIT 3 > Types of sanctions Prosecutor Andrew Grant said the court had to ‘send
• Without prejudice Commodore when he overtook two cars in Bridge Inn
discussions
For Unit 3 – Area of Study 2
between • Fines a message’ that dangerous driving by young motorists
For Unit 3 – Area of Study 1 the prosecutor and the accused about the Road in Wollert on July 31 last year, and ploughed into
ASSESSMENT charges against the accused which may
• CCOs the car driven by John Voss at more than 110km/h. would not be condoned, and called for Singh to be jailed
These cover the key knowledge REVISION QUESTIONS Practice assessment task questions
cope with his difficulties and was regularly outraged, particularly given his attempts those needs. As a result, the student claims she failed you have to write a paper to the principal, who has no
caught for drink driving, petty theft and to recover from his past addictions. He and to get into her choice of university and choice of understanding of the civil justice system, so that the
1 Referring to this case, explain one reason for a court
property damage. He has served five stints Belinda got into a fight. Ronald became that may be
principal can understand the basic issueshierarchy. 6 Explain one responsibility of the jury and the
1 Describe one reason why degree,
a court and has suffered loss and damage as a result,
hierarchy 6 For each of the following scenarios, identify
in prison over his lifetime, the last of which violent towards Belinda, resulting in involved in the dispute. She says the paper needs to prosecution at trial. Refer to Singh’s case in your
is needed for criminal cases.
including anxiety, depression, and the cost of having
one factor that may be considered in (3 marks) answer.
assessment tasks covered in the in her basement. A jurythe matter is likely to 5go to
able to overcome that with an auto-
factor. methamphetamine (2 marks) Was either a plea negotiation or a sentence or for any mitigating factors to be considered in
this case, and the extent to which the negotiations enable greater access to the 9 Whether trial and, if not,
correcting
(6 marks) 3 Whether a jury will be involved, found
andher
your reason
guilty afterfor
the prosecution led indication used to determine the charges? Justify sentencing’. Do you agree? Give reasons for your
case needs to be proven. criminal justice system for an accused. what may avoid the need for trial. your answer.
multiple- evidence that she had made the drug in answer, referring to Singh’s case.
(2 marks) 7 Describe one sanction that may be your answer.
choice quiz (4 marks) (5 marks
front of her two (3 young
marks)
children. (5 marks)
2 Belinda is a witness for the prosecution in imposed on Ronald, and one of its (10 marks)
10 Whether there are any recent improvements to
VCE Legal Studies Study Design. this case. Describe one way in which Belinda
may be able to give evidence in this case.
purposes in this case.
136
(3 marks) 8 Provide four factors that may be
(6 marks)
UNIT 3 RIGHTS AND JUSTICE
4 Two factors that may be relevant as to whether the
plaintiff does initiate a claim, and why.
(5 marks)
the civil justice system that the school needs to be
aware of that can help it in the claim.
(6 marks)
Total: 50 marks
3 Discuss two responsibilities Ronald will considered in sentencing Ronald, and 5 What options, if any, are available to the school now CHAPTER 4
11 How the school should measure whether justice DETERMINING A CRIMINAL CASE
137
have representing himself at trial. comment on how they may impact on the to prevent the plaintiff from issuing a claim, and your
has been achieved in this particular case,
(5 marks) sentence imposed if Ronald is found guilty. reasons.
addressing each of the principles of justice.
(8 marks) (5 marks)
4 Discuss the appropriateness of plea (8 marks)
negotiations in this case. 9 Discuss the ability of the criminalp.indd
04_FIL_JO_SB34_14e_10363_TXT_3p justice
136-137 6 The likely dispute resolution body used to resolve the Total: 50 marks
(5 marks) system to ensure a fair trial in this case. dispute, and your reason for your answer.
In your answer, describe one recent (4 marks) 25/09/2017 3:28 pm
5 Explain the relationship between the
reform which aims to ensure a fair trial.
judge and the jury at trial.
(10 marks)
(5 marks)
Total: 50 marks
6 Describe one time factor that may affect
the ability of the criminal justice system
25/09/2017 4:09 pm
08_FIL_JO_SB34_14e_10363_TXT_3pp.indd 296-297
Students receive:
• a complete digital version of the Student book with
notetaking and bookmarking functionality
• case study videos (with supporting worksheets) from
some of Australia’s finest news and current affairs
outlets (including ABC and SBS)
• targeted instructional videos by some of Victoria’s
most experienced Legal Studies teachers, designed
to help students prepare for exams and assessment
tasks
• a range of engaging worksheets for every chapter,
designed to consolidate and extend understanding
on key points from the study design
• additional case studies and examples for extension
• access to interactive auto-correcting multiple-choice quizzes.
Teachers receive:
• access to all student resources
• detailed course planners, teaching
programs and lesson plans
• answers to every question in the
Student book
• chapter summary PowerPoint
presentations ideal for whole-class
revision
• practice exams and SACs with answers.
TOOLKIT
Source 1 Congratulations on choosing VCE Legal Studies! This chapter provides you with an introduction
and overview to the course, but is also a handy reference that can be revisited throughout the year.
Unit 3 – Rights and justice • Units 3 & 4 are most commonly completed
in Year 12
Unit 4 – The people and the law • Units 1 & 2 are not a pre-requisite to
complete Units 3 & 4.
Source 1 Structure of VCE Legal Studies Units 1–4
Each Unit of the course is separated into Areas of Study. You are required to achieve an Outcome
for each Area of Study. Source 2 shows how Units 3 & 4 of the course are broken down into Areas of
Study and Outcomes. It also shows the chapters in this book that cover this content.
Each Outcome in the course includes a series of key knowledge dot points and key skills dot points:
• the key knowledge dot points tell you what you should know and learn
• the key skills dot points tell you what you should do with that knowledge.
You will find the key knowledge and key skills for each Outcome at the start of each chapter of this
book. It is important that you read and become familiar with these before you begin each chapter.
Source 4 The VCE Legal Studies course is a two-year course made up of four units. Units 1 & 2 are
covered in Access & Justice Legal Studies for VCE Units 1 & 2 (13th edition). Units 3 & 4 are covered in
Justice & Outcomes Legal Studies for VCE Units 3 & 4 (14th edition).
Satisfactory completion
The award of satisfactory completion for each unit of the VCE Legal Studies course is based on your
teacher’s decision that you have demonstrated achievement of the set of Outcomes for that unit. For
example, to be awarded satisfactory completion in Unit 3 – Rights and Justice, you will need to demonstrate
the required achievement for Outcomes 1 and 2.
At the end of each unit, your school will submit a result for each student to the VCAA:
• students who demonstrate the required level of achievement will receive an S (Satisfactory)
• students who do not demonstrate the required level of achievement will receive an
N (Not Satisfactory).
Your teacher’s decision to award you with an S or an N will be based on your performance in a range
of learning activities and tasks, known as school-assessed coursework (SACs). Your teacher’s decision
to award you with an S or an N in each unit is separate from the levels of achievement (i.e. mark) you
receive on your (SACs).
Assessment tasks
Your level of achievement in VCE Legal Studies Units 3 & 4 is determined by:
ASSESSMENT TASK DESCRIPTION
School-assessed Your school will determine these tasks. The range of tasks you may be required to
coursework (SACs) complete includes:
• a case study
• structured questions
• an essay
• a report in written format
• a report in multimedia format
• a folio of exercises.
End-of-year The final assessment task you will undertake is the end-of-year examination, set by VCAA
examination and held in November each year. The VCAA will release a complete examination timetable
(for all subjects including Legal Studies) during the year and publish the exact time and
date on its website. Details of the examination specifications are published on the VCAA
website. A link to these details is provided on your obook assess.
Source 5 School-assessed coursework and assessment tasks
The percentage contributions to your final study score in VCE Legal Studies are as follows:
50 per cent
Check your obook assess for these additional resources and more:
» Video tutorial » Weblink » Weblink » Course planner
How to structure an VCAA – current Study VCAA – examination Printable course planner
essay Design table for VCE Legal Studies
Tip 2 – Study
Success in VCE Legal Studies doesn’t just begin and end in the classroom. If
you’re going to perform at your best, you will need to make time for regular
periods of study and revision outside school hours. This doesn’t mean you have to
study for hours every day, but it does mean you should incorporate short periods
of revision into your daily routine. Studying daily will help you to continually
reinforce new concepts in your mind and help you avoid the stress of last-minute
cramming. Here are some tips to help you study effectively:
TIME MANAGEMENT
DETAILS
STRATEGY
Create a study timetable • Creating a study timetable that helps you schedule periods of
regular study and revision in all your subjects is key to your
success.
• Once you set your study timetable, be sure to stick to it. If your
timetable isn’t working, revisit it and make a new one.
Use a diary, wall • Recording key dates is essential to your success. Adding due
planner or calendar to dates for assessment tasks and assignments will help you
record key dates manage your time effectively and meet your deadlines (especially
in weeks when you have multiple assessment tasks due).
• Recording the dates of tests and exams will also help you keep
your preparations on track.
Make lists • A simple ‘to do’ list can be a great tool to help you manage your
time and achieve your goals. Creating a short list of daily goals
for each study session can also be a great way of keeping you on
track each day.
• A separate list of weekly or monthly goals can help you keep the
bigger picture in mind.
• Using lists is a great way to help you break big tasks down into
smaller, more manageable tasks, so that you gain a sense of
achievement.
Set reminders • Setting a regular alarm to remind you it’s time to study can keep
you on track.
Source 3 Time management strategies
TYPE OF
WAYS IN WHICH YOU LEARN BEST LEARNING STRATEGIES AND TOOLS
LEARNER
Visual you learn by seeing and you learn best by using pictures, images,
learner looking diagrams, colour coding and mind maps
Auditory you learn by hearing and you learn best by using sounds, music, audio
learner listening recordings and mnemonics (songs, rhymes or
phrases designed to aid memory)
Verbal you learn best by using you learn best by reading content aloud, engaging
learner words, both in speech and in discussions, using word-based memory
writing techniques (such as scripting)
Physical you learn best by touching you learn best by drawing diagrams and using
learner and doing physical objects and role-playing situations
Source 4 Strategies for different learning styles
r e y our
u e c ards a d!
C f rien
e s t
new b
Study tip
Setting up automatic
alerts is a great way of
keeping up to date with
developments in legal
cases and legislation.
Just enter the keywords
you want to search
for and enter your
email address. You’ll
Source 6 Detailed revision notes are great, but you may also benefit from creating really brief study notes receive regular updates
in the form of dot-point summaries. Copy these summaries onto index cards that you can carry with you, on anything you’re
and use them to revise on your way to school or at home on the couch. interested in – and
it’s free!
A link to Google
Check your obook assess for these additional resources and more:
» Weblink » Weblink » Study timetable
VCAA Google alerts Study timetable template
Source 1 Learning key legal terms and using them correctly in your assessment tasks will show your
teacher that you understand them. Getting into the habit of adopting and using legal terminology in your
everyday language will help you learn key terms quickly!
Question 1 (7 marks)
Nathan commences proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court against his employer and is seeking $90 000
in damages.
Source 4 It is
important to keep a. Describe one purpose of damages.
an eye on the clock From ©VCAA Legal Studies Exams
during exams.
Source 5 Examples of the common items that make up exam questions
Check your obook assess for these additional resources and more:
» Video tutorial » Flashcard glossary
Understanding the Digital interactive to
structure of Legal Studies help you learn key
exam questions legal terms
As you work your way through the VCE Legal Studies course, you will be learning about many different
laws and legal cases. To be able to recognise laws and legal cases, and to reference them in your notes
and assessment tasks, you should master the basics of legal citation.
This Act (i.e. the Crimes Act) was made in 1958 by the Victorian Parliament.
This Act (i.e. the Competition and Consumer Act) was made in 2010 by the Commonwealth Parliament.
Study tip This amending act (i.e. the Sentencing (Community Correction Order) and Other Acts Amendment Act) was
A short video with tips made in 2016 by the Victorian Parliament.
and examples of how Once the amending act has done its work, it is repealed, and it will no longer appear in the list of
to cite legal cases and
Acts of Parliament is
current Acts. That will occur once the changes it makes to the principal act (the act it is amending)
provided on your obook commence. In this example, the Sentencing (Community Correction Order) and Other Acts Amendment Act
assess. Watch it to help
states that it will be repealed on 2 October 2018. That is because the changes it makes to various principal
develop your skills!
acts take effect on 1 October 2018.
Citing bills
Bills are drafts of proposed laws that have been presented to parliament but haven’t been passed into law.
When citing bills, you should adopt the same approach as acts, except the word ‘Act’ is replaced by the
word ‘Bill’, and the title of the bill is not italicised.
This Bill (i.e. the Disability Amendment Bill) was presented in 2004 by the Victorian Parliament.
• The parties in this civil case were the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Tasmania.
• The ‘v’ between the names of the parties is short for versus, but is pronounced ‘and’.
• The decision was published in 1983.
• This is an example of a written judgment published in a law report. It was published in Volume 158 of
the Commonwealth Law Reports (CLR) on page 1.
• The parties in this criminal case were the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and a man called
Christian Patrick Styles.
• The ‘v’ between the names of the parties is short for versus, but it is pronounced ‘against’ or ‘and’.
• The case finished in 2017, and the written judgment was given by the court on 9 February 2017.
• The decision was handed down in the County Court of Victoria (VCC).
• The case was No. 96 in the Court’s list for that year.
These rules (i.e. Supreme Court (General Civil Procedure) Rules) were passed in 2005 by the Victorian
Parliament.
These regulations (i.e. Native Title (Federal Court) Regulations) were passed down in 1998 by the
Commonwealth Parliament.
Local laws
Local laws are passed by local councils. They are easily identifiable because they will contain the words
‘Local Law’ in the title.
This Local Law (i.e. the Melbourne City Council Activities Local Law) was passed down in 2009 by the
Melbourne City Council.
Check your obook assess for these additional resources and more:
» Video tutorial » Worksheet » Weblink
Citing legal cases and How to find and Australasian Legal
Acts of Parliament understand acts and Information Institute
cases (AustLII)
There are a wide range of exciting and meaningful careers related to the study of law, and VCE Legal
Studies is an important first step towards gaining a range of skills and knowledge that can help get
you there.
While many people who choose to study the law go on to become lawyers, this is certainly not the
only career path available. In fact, a sound knowledge and understanding of the law is highly valued in a
range of different industries.
In this topic we take a look at what it actually means to be a lawyer. We also take a brief look at a range
of other career and job opportunities in which a sound knowledge of the law is highly valued and will help
you secure a great job in the future.
Source 1 While many people who choose to study the law go on to become lawyers, this is certainly not
the only career path available. In fact, a sound knowledge and understanding of the law is highly valued in
a range of different industries.
A lawyer may choose to provide legal services across many different areas of law, or they may choose
to specialise in one area of law. For example, some lawyers specialise in employment law, while others
specialise in mergers and acquisitions.
There are many different areas of law that a lawyer may specialise in, including
• wills and inheritance • mergers and acquisitions • entertainment
• family law • commercial disputes • building and construction.
• employment law • large infrastructure projects • class actions
• personal injury • property • charities and not for profit
Barristers
A barrister is a lawyer who specialises in giving advice in difficult cases and representing clients in court.
As lawyers, they must be admitted and have a practising certificate. In Victoria, a lawyer who wishes to
practice exclusively as a barrister must become a member of the Victorian Bar. The Victorian Bar is
the professional association that represents more than 2000 barristers in Victoria. Becoming a member
requires the barrister to undertake an exam and a course which allows them to develop the skills required
to be a barrister.
Barristers generally specialise in a particular court and in a particular area of law. As a result, they
develop a special set of skills. The barrister will be briefed (engaged in writing) by the solicitor or law firm,
and generally not directly by the client who needs legal advice (though this can occur with experienced
corporate clients). Communications will be between the barrister and the solicitor, not between the
barrister and the client.
Unlike solicitors, all barristers practice as individuals, rather than as partners or employees of a law
firm or company.
In Victoria, there are senior barristers (called Queen’s Counsel or Senior Counsel) and junior barristers
(called Counsel).
Check your obook assess for these additional resources and more:
» Weblink
Victorian Bar
Source 1 A statue of ‘Lady Justice’. She is holding the scales of justice in her hand. These scales symbolise
the impartial weighing of arguments and evidence for and against a case tried in court. In Unit 3 of VCE Legal
Studies, you will learn about the principles of justice and how the criminal and civil justice systems aim to
achieve them.
disputes
• the purposes of civil pre-trial procedures
• the reasons for a Victorian court hierarchy in
determining civil cases, including administrative
convenience and appeals
• the responsibilities of key personnel in a civil trial,
including the judge, jury, the parties and legal
practitioners
• judicial powers of case management, including the
power to order mediation and give directions
• the methods used to resolve civil disputes, including
mediation, conciliation and arbitration, and their
appropriateness
• the purposes of remedies
• damages and injunctions, and their specific purposes
Chapter 8 Reforming the civil • factors that affect the ability of the civil justice system
justice system to achieve the principles of justice, including in
relation to costs, time and accessibility
• recent and recommended reforms to enhance
the ability of the civil justice system to achieve the
principles of justice
Extracts from the VCE Legal Studies Study Design (2018–2022) reproduced by permission, © VCAA.
Source 1 The rule of law is a fundamental concept in Australia. It is the principle that everyone in society is
bound by law and must obey the law. The rule of law also states that laws should be fair and clear, so people
are willing and able to obey them. The scales symbolise the weighing of evidence for and against a case
being tried in court. In Chapter 2, you will explore the nature of laws and law-making in Australia.
bill a proposed law that has not yet been passed by rule of law the principle that everyone in society is bound by
parliament law and must obey the law and that laws should be fair and
clear (so people are willing and able to obey them)
civil law an area of law that defines the rights and
responsibilities of individuals, groups and organisations in sanction a penalty (e.g. a fine or prison sentence) imposed
society and regulates private disputes (as opposed to criminal by a court on a person guilty of a criminal offence
law) secondary legislation rules and regulations made by
common law law made by judges through decisions made in secondary authorities (e.g. local councils, government
cases; also known as case law or judge-made law (as opposed departments and statutory authorities) which are given the
to statute law) power to do so by the parliament. Also referred to as delegated
legislation
constitutional monarchy a system of government in which
a monarch (i.e. a king or queen) is the head of state and a statute law law made by parliament; also known as
parliament makes the laws under the terms of a constitution legislation or Acts of Parliament (as opposed to common law)
criminal law an area of law that defines a range of Westminster system a parliamentary system of government
behaviours and conduct that are prohibited (i.e. crimes) and that developed in Britain and upon which Australia’s
outlines sanctions (i.e. penalties) for people who commit them parliamentary system is modelled
(as opposed to civil law)
damages the most common remedy in a civil claim; an KEY LEGAL CASES
amount of money that the court (or tribunal) orders one party A list of key legal cases covered in this chapter is
to pay to another provided on pages vi–viii.
Source 1 When millions of people live together in a society, it is inevitable that laws will be broken and
disputes will arise. The legal system is designed to rule on cases so that these disputes are resolved in a
peaceful and fair way.
Define and explain 4 How are laws different from non-legal rules? In your
1 What are laws? answer, give two examples of laws, and two examples
2 Describe two aims of laws. of non-legal rules.
3 What is meant by the term ‘social cohesion’?
Check your obook assess for these additional resources and more:
» Student book » Video tutorial » Video » Video worksheet
questions Introduction to Unit 3 What is law? What is law?
2.1 Check your learning
Source 2 The High Court of Australia was established by the Australian Constitution. The High Court
building in Canberra was opened by the Queen in 1980.
Source 3 Australia is a constitutional monarchy, meaning that the British monarch – currently Queen
Elizabeth II – is our head of state. Queen Elizabeth has occupied this position since her coronation in 1953.
That’s more than 60 years!
Check your obook assess for these additional resources and more:
» Student book » Weblink
questions The Australian
2.2 Check your learning Constitution
CHAPTER VI
A Card of Re-Entry
The door of the little flat in Dover Street was opened by an elderly
man-servant, whose anxious face bore signs of his grief at his
master's death. He informed them that Major Fentiman was at home
and would be happy to receive Lord Peter Wimsey. As he spoke, a
tall, soldierly man of about forty-five came out from one of the rooms
and hailed his visitor cheerily.
"That you, Wimsey? Murbles told me to expect you. Come in.
Haven't seen you for a long time. Hear you're turning into a regular
Sherlock. Smart bit of work that was you put in over your brother's
little trouble. What's all this? Camera? Bless me, you're going to do
our little job in the professional manner, eh? Woodward, see that
Lord Peter's man has everything he wants. Have you had lunch?
Well, you'll have a spot of something, I take it, before you start
measuring up the footprints. Come along. We're a bit at sixes and
sevens here, but you won't mind."
He led the way into the small, austerely-furnished sitting-room.
"Thought I might as well camp here for a bit, while I get the old man's
belongings settled up. It's going to be a deuce of a job, though, with
all this fuss about the will. However, I'm his executor, so all this part
of it falls to me in any case. It's very decent of you to lend us a hand.
Queer old girl, Great-aunt Dormer. Meant well, you know, but made it
damned awkward for everybody. How are you getting along?"
Wimsey explained the failure of his researches at the Bellona.
"Thought I'd better get a line on it at this end," he added. "If we know
exactly what time he left here in the morning, we ought to be able to
get an idea of the time he got to the Club."
Fentiman screwed his mouth into a whistle.
"But, my dear old egg, didn't Murbles tell you the snag?"
"He told me nothing. Left me to get on with it. What is the snag?"
"Why, don't you see, the old boy never came home that night."
"Never came home?—Where was he, then?"
"Dunno. That's the puzzle. All we know is ... wait a minute, this is
Woodward's story; he'd better tell you himself. Woodward!"
"Yes, sir."
"Tell Lord Peter Wimsey the story you told me—about that
telephone-call, you know."
"Yes, sir. About nine o'clock...."
"Just a moment," said Wimsey, "I do like a story to begin at the
beginning. Let's start with the morning—the mornin' of November
10th. Was the General all right that morning? Usual health and spirits
and all that?"
"Entirely so, my lord. General Fentiman was accustomed to rise
early, my lord, being a light sleeper, as was natural at his great age.
He had his breakfast in bed at a quarter to eight—tea and buttered
toast, with an egg lightly boiled, as he did every day in the year.
Then he got up, and I helped him to dress—that would be about half-
past eight to nine, my lord. Then he took a little rest, after the
exertion of dressing, and at a quarter to ten I fetched his hat,
overcoat, muffler and stick, and saw him start off to walk to the Club.
That was his daily routine. He seemed in very good spirits—and in
his usual health. Of course, his heart was always frail, my lord, but
he seemed no different from ordinary."
"I see. And in the ordinary way he'd just sit at the Club all day and
come home—when, exactly?"
"I was accustomed to have his evening meal ready for him at half-
past seven precisely, my lord."
"Did he always turn up to time?'
"Invariably so, my lord. Everything as regular as on parade. That
was the General's way. About three o'clock in the afternoon, there
was a ring on the telephone. We had the telephone put in, my lord,
on account of the General's heart, so that we could always call up a
medical man in case of emergency."
"Very right, too," put in Robert Fentiman.
"Yes, sir. General Fentiman was good enough to say, sir, he did not
wish me to have the heavy responsibility of looking after him alone in
case of illness. He was a very kind, thoughtful gentleman." The
man's voice faltered.
"Just so," said Wimsey. "I'm sure you must be very sorry to lose him,
Woodward. Still, one couldn't expect otherwise, you know. I'm sure
you looked after him splendidly. What was it happened about three
o'clock?"
"Why, my lord, they rang up from Lady Dormer's to say as how her
ladyship was very ill, and would General Fentiman please come at
once if he wanted to see her alive. So I went down to the Club
myself. I didn't like to telephone, you see, because General
Fentiman was a little hard of hearing—though he had his faculties
wonderful well for a gentleman of his age—and he never liked the
telephone. Besides, I was afraid of the shock it might be to him,
seeing his heart was so weak—which, of course, at his age you
couldn't hardly expect otherwise—so that was why I went myself."
"That was very considerate of you."
"Thank you, my lord. Well, I see General Fentiman, and I give him
the message—careful-like, and breaking it gently as you might say. I
could see he was took aback a bit, but he just sits thinking for a few
minutes, and then he says, 'very well, Woodward, I will go. It is
certainly my duty to go.' So I wraps him up careful, and gets him a
taxi, and he says. 'You needn't come with me, Woodward. I don't
quite know how long I shall stay there. They will see that I get home
quite safely.' So I told the man where to take him and came back to
the flat. And that, my lord, was the last time I see him."
Wimsey made a sympathetic clucking sound.
"Yes, my lord. When General Fentiman didn't return at his usual
time, I thought he was maybe staying to dine at Lady Dormer's, and
took no notice of it. However, at half-past eight, I began to be afraid
of the night air for him; it was very cold that day, my lord, if you
remember. At nine o'clock, I was thinking of calling up the household
at Lady Dormer's to ask when he was to be expected home, when
the 'phone rang."
"At nine exactly?"
"About nine. It might have been a little later, but not more than a
quarter-past at latest. It was a gentleman spoke to me. He said: 'Is
that General Fentiman's flat?' I said, 'Yes, who is it, please?' And he
said, 'Is that Woodward?' giving my name, just like that. And I said
'Yes.' And he said, 'Oh, Woodward, General Fentiman wishes me to
tell you not to wait up for him, as he is spending the night with me.'
So I said, 'Excuse me, sir, who is it speaking, please?' And he said,
'Mr. Oliver.' So I asked him to repeat the name, not having heard it
before, and he said 'Oliver'—it came over very plain, 'Mr. Oliver,' he
said, 'I'm an old friend of General Fentiman's, and he is staying to-
night with me, as we have some business to talk over.' So I said,
'Does the General require anything, sir?'—thinking, you know, my
lord, as he might wish to have his sleeping-suit and his tooth-brush
or something of that, but the gentleman said no, he had got
everything necessary and I was not to trouble myself. Well, of
course, my lord, as I explained to Major Fentiman, I didn't like to take
upon myself to ask questions, being only in service, my lord; it might
seem taking a liberty. But I was very much afraid of the excitement
and staying up late being too much for the General, so I went so far
as to say I hoped General Fentiman was in good health and not
tiring of himself, and Mr. Oliver laughed and said he would take very
good care of him and send him to bed straight away. And I was just
about to make so bold as to ask him where he lived, when he rang
off. And that was all I knew till I heard next day of the General being
dead, my lord."
"There now," said Robert Fentiman. "What do you think of that?"
"Odd," said Wimsey, "and most unfortunate as it turns out. Did the
General often stay out at night, Woodward?"
"Never, my lord. I don't recollect such a thing happening once in five
or six years. In the old days, perhaps, he'd visit friends occasionally,
but not of late."
"And you'd never heard of this Mr. Oliver?"
"No, my lord."
"His voice wasn't familiar?"
"I couldn't say but what I might have heard it before, my lord, but I
find it very difficult to recognize voices on the telephone. But I
thought at the time it might be one of the gentlemen from the Club."
"Do you know anything about the man, Fentiman?"
"Oh yes—I've met him. At least, I suppose it's the same man. But I
know nothing about him. I fancy I ran across him once in some
frightful crush or other, a public dinner, or something of that kind, and
he said he knew my grandfather. And I've seen him lunching at
Gatti's and that sort of thing. But I haven't the remotest idea where
he lives or what he does."
"Army man?"
"No—something in the engineering line, I fancy."
"What's he like?"
"Oh, tall, thin, gray hair and spectacles. About sixty-five to look at.
He may be older—must be, if he's an old friend of grandfather's. I
gathered he was retired from whatever it is he did, and lived in some
suburb, but I'm hanged if I can remember which."
"Not very helpful," said Wimsey. "D'you know, occasionally I think
there's quite a lot to be said for women."
"What's that got to do with it?"
"Well, I mean, all this easy, uninquisitive way men have of makin'
casual acquaintances is very fine and admirable and all that—but
look how inconvenient it is! Here you are. You admit you've met this
bloke two or three times, and all you know about him is that he is tall
and thin and retired into some unspecified suburb. A woman, with
the same opportunities, would have found out his address and
occupation, whether he was married, how many children he had,
with their names and what they did for a living, what his favorite
author was, what food he liked best, the name of his tailor, dentist
and bootmaker, when he knew your grandfather and what he thought
of him—screeds of useful stuff!"
"So she would," said Fentiman, with a grin. "That's why I've never
married."
"I quite agree," said Wimsey, "but the fact remains that as a source
of information you're simply a wash-out. Do, for goodness' sake, pull
yourself together and try to remember something a bit more definite
about the fellow. It may mean half a million to you to know what time
grandpa set off in the morning from Tooting Bec or Finchley or
wherever it was. If it was a distant suburb, it would account for his
arriving rather late at the Club—which is rather in your favor, by the
way."
"I suppose it is. I'll do my best to remember. But I'm not sure that I
ever knew."
"It's awkward," said Wimsey. "No doubt the police could find the man
for us, but it's not a police case. And I don't suppose you particularly
want to advertise."
"Well—it may come to that. But naturally, we're not keen on publicity
if we can avoid it. If only I could remember exactly what work he said
he'd been connected with."
"Yes—or the public dinner or whatever it was where you first met
him. One might get hold of a list of the guests."
"My dear Wimsey—that was two or three years ago!"
"Or maybe they know the blighter at Gatti's."
"That's an idea. I've met him there several times. Tell you what, I'll go
along there and make inquiries, and if they don't know him, I'll make
a point of lunching there pretty regularly. He's almost bound to turn
up again."
"Right. You do that. And meanwhile, do you mind if I have a look
round the flat?"
"Rather not. D'you want me? Or would you rather have Woodward?
He really knows a lot more about things."
"Thanks. I'll have Woodward. Don't mind me. I shall just be fussing
about."
"Carry on by all means. I've got one or two drawers full of papers to
go through. If I come across anything bearing on the Oliver bloke I'll
yell out to you."
"Right."
Wimsey went out, leaving him to it, and joined Woodward and
Bunter, who were conversing in the next room. A glance told Wimsey
that this was the General's bedroom.
On a table beside the narrow iron bedstead was an old-fashioned
writing-desk. Wimsey took it up, weighed it in his hands a moment
and then took it to Robert Fentiman in the other room. "Have you
opened this?" he asked.
"Yes—only old letters and things."
"You didn't come across Oliver's address, I suppose?"
"No. Of course I looked for that."
"Looked anywhere else? Any drawers? Cupboards? That sort of
thing?"
"Not so far," said Fentiman, rather shortly.
"No telephone memorandum or anything—you've tried the
telephone-book, I suppose?"
"Well, no—I can't very well ring up perfect strangers and—"
"And sing 'em the Froth-Blowers' Anthem? Good God, man,
anybody'd think you were chasing a lost umbrella, not half a million
of money. The man rang you up, so he may very well be on the
'phone himself. Better let Bunter tackle the job. He has an excellent
manner on the line; people find it a positive pleasure to be tr-r-
roubled by him."
Robert Fentiman greeted this feeble pleasantry with an indulgent
grin, and produced the telephone directory, to which Bunter
immediately applied himself. Finding two-and-a-half columns of
Olivers, he removed the receiver and started to work steadily
through them in rotation. Wimsey returned to the bedroom. It was in
apple-pie order—the bed neatly made, the wash-hand apparatus set
in order, as though the occupant might return at any moment, every
speck of dust removed—a tribute to Woodward's reverent affection,
but a depressing sight for an investigator. Wimsey sat down, and let
his eye rove slowly from the hanging wardrobe, with its polished
doors, over the orderly line of boots and shoes arranged on their
trees on a small shelf, the dressing table, the washstand, the bed
and the chest of drawers which, with the small bedside table and a
couple of chairs, comprised the furniture.
"Did the General shave himself, Woodward?"
"No, my lord; not latterly. That was my duty, my lord."
"Did he brush his own teeth, or dental plate or whatever it was?"
"Oh, yes, my lord. General Fentiman had an excellent set of teeth for
his age."
Wimsey fixed his powerful monocle into his eye, and carried the
tooth-brush over to the window. The result of the scrutiny was
unsatisfactory. He looked round again.
"Is that his walking-stick?"
"Yes, my lord."
"May I see it?"
Woodward brought it across, carrying it, after the manner of a well-
trained servant, by the middle. Lord Peter took it from him in the
same manner, suppressing a slight, excited smile. The stick was a
heavy malacca, with a thick crutch-handle of polished ivory, suitable
for sustaining the feeble steps of old age. The monocle came into
play again, and this time its owner gave a chuckle of pleasure.
"I shall want to take a photograph of this stick presently, Woodward.
Will you be very careful to see that it is not touched by anybody
beforehand?"
"Certainly, my lord."
Wimsey stood the stick carefully in its corner again, and then, as
though it had put a new train of ideas into his mind, walked across to
the shoeshelf.
"Which were the shoes General Fentiman was wearing at the time of
his death?"
"These, my lord."
"Have they been cleaned since?"
Woodward looked a trifle stricken.
"Not to say cleaned, my lord. I just wiped them over with a duster.
They were not very dirty, and somehow—I hadn't the heart—if you'll
excuse me, my lord."
"That's very fortunate."
Wimsey turned them over and examined the soles very carefully,
both with the lens and with the naked eye. With a small pair of
tweezers, taken from his pocket, he delicately removed a small
fragment of pile—apparently from a thick carpet—which was clinging
to a projecting brad, and stored it carefully away in an envelope.
Then, putting the right shoe aside, he subjected the left to a
prolonged scrutiny, especially about the inner edge of the sole.
Finally he asked for a sheet of paper, and wrapped the shoe up as
tenderly as though it had been a piece of priceless Waterford glass.
"I should like to see all the clothes General Fentiman was wearing
that day—the outer garments, I mean—hat, suit, overcoat and so
on."
The garments were produced, and Wimsey went over every inch of
them with the same care and patience, watched by Woodward with
flattering attention.
"Have they been brushed?"
"No, my lord—only shaken out." This time Woodward offered no
apology, having grasped dimly that polishing and brushing were not
acts which called for approval under these unusual circumstances.
"You see," said Wimsey, pausing for a moment to note an
infinitesimally small ruffling of the threads on the left-hand trouser-
leg, "we might be able to get some sort of a clew from the dust on
the clothes, if any—to show us where the General spent the night. If
—to take a rather unlikely example—we were to find a lot of
sawdust, for instance, we might suppose that he had been visiting a
carpenter. Or a dead leaf might suggest a garden or a common, or
something of that sort. While a cobweb might mean a wine-cellar, or
—or a potting-shed—and so on. You see?"
"Yes, my lord," (rather doubtfully).
"You don't happen to remember noticing that little tear—well, it's
hardly a tear—just a little roughness. It might have caught on a nail."
"I can't say I recollect it, my lord. But I might have overlooked it."
"Of course. It's probably of no importance. Well—lock the things up
carefully. It's just possible I might have to have the dust extracted
and analyzed. Just a moment—Has anything been removed from
these clothes? The pockets were emptied, I suppose?"
"Yes, my lord."
"There was nothing unusual in them?"
"No, my lord. Nothing but what the General always took out with him.
Just his handkerchief, keys, money and cigar-case."
"H'm. How about the money?"
"Well, my lord—I couldn't say exactly as to that. Major Fentiman has
got it all. There was two pound notes in his note-case, I remember. I
believe he had two pounds ten when he went out, and some loose
silver in the trouser pocket. He'd have paid his taxi-fare and his lunch
at the Club out of the ten-shilling note."
"That shows he didn't pay for anything unusual, then, in the way of
train or taxis backwards and forwards, or dinner, or drinks."
"No, my lord."
"But naturally, this Oliver fellow would see to all that. Did the General
have a fountain-pen?"
"No, my lord. He did very little writing, my lord. I was accustomed to
write any necessary letters to tradesmen, and so on."
"What sort of nib did he use, when he did write?"
"A J pen, my lord. You will find it in the sitting-room. But mostly I
believe he wrote his letters at the Club. He had a very small private
correspondence—it might be a letter or so to the Bank or to his man
of business, my lord."
"I see. Have you his check-book?"
"Major Fentiman has it, my lord."
"Do you remember whether the General had it with him when he last
went out?"
"No, my lord. It was kept in his writing-desk as a rule. He would write
the checks for the household here, my lord, and give them to me. Or
occasionally he might take the book down to the Club with him."
"Ah! Well, it doesn't look as though the mysterious Mr. Oliver was
one of those undesirable blokes who demand money. Right you are,
Woodward. You're perfectly certain that you removed nothing
whatever from those clothes except what was in the pockets?"
"I am quite positive of that, my lord."
"That's very odd," said Wimsey, half to himself. "I'm not sure that it
isn't the oddest thing about the case."
"Indeed, my lord? Might I ask why?"
"Why," said Wimsey, "I should have expected—" he checked himself.
Major Fentiman was looking in at the door.
"What's odd, Wimsey?"
"Oh, just a little thing struck me," said Wimsey, vaguely. "I expected
to find something among those clothes which isn't there. That's all."
"Impenetrable sleuth," said the major, laughing. "What are you
driving at?"
"Work it out for yourself, my dear Watson," said his lordship, grinning
like a dog. "You have all the data. Work it out for yourself, and let me
know the answer."
Woodward, a trifle pained by this levity, gathered up the garments
and put them away in the wardrobe.
"How's Bunter getting on with those calls?"
"No luck, at present."
"Oh!—well, he'd better come in now and do some photographs. We
can finish the telephoning at home. Bunter!—Oh, and, I say,
Woodward—d'you mind if we take your finger-prints?"
"Finger-prints, my lord?"
"Good God, you're not trying to fasten anything on Woodward?"
"Fasten what?"
"Well—I mean, I thought it was only burglars and people who had
finger-prints taken."
"Not exactly. No—I want the General's finger-prints, really, to
compare them with some others I got at the Club. There's a very fine
set on that walking-stick of his, and I want Woodward's, just to make
sure I'm not getting the two sets mixed up. I'd better take yours, too.
It's just possible you might have handled the stick without noticing."
"Oh, I get you, Steve. I don't think I've touched the thing, but it's as
well to make sure, as you say. Funny sort of business, what? Quite
the Scotland Yard touch. How d'you do it?"
"Bunter will show you."
Bunter immediately produced a small inking-pad and roller, and a
number of sheets of smooth, white paper. The fingers of the two
candidates were carefully wiped with a clean cloth, and pressed first
on the pad and then on the paper. The impressions thus obtained
were labeled and put away in envelopes, after which the handle of
the walking-stick was lightly dusted with gray powder, bringing to
light an excellent set of prints of a right-hand set of fingers,
superimposed here and there, but quite identifiable. Fentiman and
Woodward gazed fascinated at this entertaining miracle.
"Are they all right?"
"Perfectly so, sir; they are quite unlike either of the other two
specimens."
"Then presumably they're the General's. Hurry up and get a
negative."
Bunter set up the camera and focussed it.
"Unless," observed Major Fentiman, "they are Mr. Oliver's. That
would be a good joke, wouldn't it?"
"It would, indeed," said Wimsey, a little taken aback. "A very good
joke—on somebody. And for the moment, Fentiman, I'm not sure
which of us would do the laughing."
CHAPTER VII
The Curse of Scotland
What with telephone calls and the development of photographs, it
appeared obvious that Bunter was booked for a busy afternoon. His
master, therefore, considerately left him in possession of the flat in
Piccadilly, and walked abroad to divert himself in his own peculiar
way.
His first visit was to one of those offices which undertake to distribute
advertisements to the press. Here he drew up an advertisement
addressed to taxi-drivers and arranged for it to appear, at the earliest
possible date, in all the papers which men of that profession might
be expected to read. Three drivers were requested to communicate
with Mr. J. Murbles, Solicitor, of Staple Inn, who would recompense
them amply for their time and trouble. First: any driver who
remembered taking up an aged gentleman from Lady Dormer's
house in Portman Square or the near vicinity on the afternoon of
November 10th. Secondly: any driver who recollected taking up an
aged gentleman at or near Dr. Penberthy's house in Harley Street at
some time in the afternoon or evening of November 10th. And
thirdly: any driver who had deposited a similarly aged gentleman at
the door of the Bellona Club between 10 and 12.30 in the morning of
November 11th.
"Though probably," thought Wimsey, as he footed the bill for the
insertions, to run for three days unless cancelled, "Oliver had a car
and ran the old boy up himself. Still, it's just worth trying."
He had a parcel under his arm, and his next proceeding was to hail a
cab and drive to the residence of Sir James Lubbock, the well-known
analyst. Sir James was fortunately at home and delighted to see
Lord Peter. He was a square-built man, with a reddish face and
strongly-curling gray hair, and received his visitor in his laboratory,
where he was occupied in superintending a Marsh's test for arsenic.
"D'ye mind just taking a pew for a moment, while I finish this off?"
Wimsey took the pew and watched, interested, the flame from the
Bunsen burner playing steadily upon the glass tube, the dark brown
deposit slowly forming and deepening at the narrow end. From time
to time, the analyst poured down the thistle-funnel a small quantity of
a highly disagreeable-looking liquid from a stoppered phial; once his
assistant came forward to add a few more drops of what Wimsey
knew must be hydrochloric acid. Presently, the disagreeable liquid
having all been transferred to the flask, and the deposit having
deepened almost to black at its densest part, the tube was detached
and taken away, and the burner extinguished, and Sir James
Lubbock, after writing and signing a brief note, turned round and
greeted Wimsey cordially.
"Sure I am not interrupting you, Lubbock?"
"Not a scrap. We've just finished. That was the last mirror. We shall
be ready in good time for our appearance in Court. Not that there's
much doubt about it. Enough of the stuff to kill an elephant.
Considering the obliging care we take in criminal prosecutions to
inform the public at large that two or three grains of arsenic will
successfully account for an unpopular individual, however tough, it's
surprising how wasteful people are with their drugs. You can't teach
'em. An office-boy who was as incompetent as the average murderer
would be sacked with a kick in the bottom. Well, now! and what's
your little trouble?"
"A small matter," said Wimsey, unrolling his parcel and producing
General Fentiman's left boot, "it's cheek to come to you about it. But
I want very much to know what this is, and as it's strictly a private
matter, I took the liberty of bargin' round to you in a friendly way. Just
along the inside of the sole, there—on the edge."
"Blood?" suggested the analyst, grinning.
"Well, no—sorry to disappoint you. More like paint, I fancy."
Sir James looked closely at the deposit with a powerful lens.
"Yes; some sort of brown varnish. Might be off a floor or a piece of
furniture. Do you want an analysis?"
"If it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all. I think we'll get Saunders to do it; he has made rather a
specialty of this kind of thing. Saunders, would you scrape this off
carefully and see what it is? Get a slide of it, and make an analysis
of the rest, if you can. How soon is it wanted?"
"Well, I'd like it as soon as possible. I don't mean within the next five
minutes."
"Well, stay and have a spot of tea with us, and I dare say we can get
something ready for you by then. It doesn't look anything out of the
way. Knowing your tastes, I'm still surprised it isn't blood. Have you
no blood in prospect?"
"Not that I know of. I'll stay to tea with pleasure, if you're certain I'm
not being a bore."
"Never that. Besides, while you're here, you might give me your
opinion on those old medical books of mine. I don't suppose they're
particularly valuable, but they're quaint. Come along."
Wimsey passed a couple of hours agreeably with Lady Lubbock and
crumpets and a dozen or so antiquated anatomical treatises.
Presently Saunders returned with his report. The deposit was
nothing more nor less than an ordinary brown paint and varnish of a
kind well known to joiners and furniture-makers. It was a modern
preparation, with nothing unusual about it; one might find it
anywhere. It was not a floor-varnish—one would expect to meet it on
a door or partition or something of that sort. The chemical formula
followed.
"Not very helpful, I'm afraid," said Sir James.
"You never know your luck," replied Wimsey. "Would you be good
enough to label the slide and sign your name to it, and to the
analysis, and keep them both by you for reference in case they're
wanted?"
"Sure thing. How do you want 'em labeled?"
"Well—put down 'Varnish from General Fentiman's left boot,' and
'Analysis of varnish from General Fentiman's left boot,' and the date,
and I'll sign it, and you and Saunders can sign it, and then I think we
shall be all right."
"Fentiman? Was that the old boy who died suddenly the other day?"
"It was. But it's no use looking at me with that child-like air of
intelligent taking-notice, because I haven't got any gory yarn to spin.
It's only a question of where the old man spent the night, if you must
know."
"Curiouser and curiouser. Never mind, it's nothing to do with me.
Perhaps when it's all over, you'll tell me what it's about. Meanwhile
the labels shall go on. You, I take it, are ready to witness to the
identity of the boot, and I can witness to having seen the varnish on
the boot, and Saunders can witness that he removed the varnish
from the boot and analyzed it and that this is the varnish he
analyzed. All according to Cocker. Here you are. Sign here and here,
and that will be eight-and-sixpence, please."
"It might be cheap at eight-and-sixpence," said Wimsey. "It might
even turn out to be cheap at eight hundred and sixty quid—or eight
thousand and sixty."
Sir James Lubbock looked properly thrilled.
"You're only doing it to annoy, because you know it teases. Well, if
you must be sphinx-like, you must. I'll keep these things under lock
and key for you. Do you want the boot back?"
"I don't suppose the executor will worry. And a fellow looks such a
fool carrying a boot about. Put it away with the other things till called
for, there's a good man."
So the boot was put away in a cupboard, and Lord Peter was free to
carry on with his afternoon's entertainment.
His first idea was to go on up to Finsbury Park, to see the George
Fentimans. He remembered in time, however, that Sheila would not
yet be home from her work—she was employed as cashier in a
fashionable tea-shop—and further (with a forethought rare in the
well-to-do) that if he arrived too early he would have to be asked to
supper, and that there would be very little supper and that Sheila
would be worried about it and George annoyed. So he turned in to
one of his numerous Clubs, and had a Sole Colbert very well
cooked, with a bottle of Liebfraumilch; an Apple Charlotte and light
savory to follow, and black coffee and a rare old brandy to top up
with—a simple and satisfactory meal which left him in the best of
tempers.
The George Fentimans lived in two ground-floor rooms with use of
kitchen and bathroom in a semi-detached house with a blue and
yellow fanlight over the door and Madras muslin over the windows.
They were really furnished apartments, but the landlady always
referred to them as a flat, because that meant that tenants had to do
their own work and provide their own service. The house felt stuffy
as Lord Peter entered it, because somebody was frying fish in oil at
no great distance, and a slight unpleasantness was caused at the
start by the fact that he had rung only once, thus bringing up the
person in the basement, whereas a better-instructed caller would
have rung twice, to indicate that he wanted the ground floor.
Hearing explanations in the hall, George put his head out of the
dining-room and said, "Oh! hullo!"
"Hullo," said Wimsey, trying to find room for his belongings on an
overladen hat-stand, and eventually disposing of them on the handle
of a perambulator. "Thought I'd just come and look you up. Hope I'm
not in the way."
"Of course not. Jolly good of you to penetrate to this ghastly hole.
Come in. Everything's in a beastly muddle as usual, but when you're
poor you have to live like pigs. Sheila, here's Lord Peter Wimsey—
you have met, haven't you?"
"Yes, of course. How nice of you to come round. Have you had
dinner?"
"Yes, thanks."
"Coffee?"
"No, thanks, really—I've only just had some."
"Well," said George, "there's only whisky to offer you."
"Later on, perhaps, thanks, old man. Not just now. I've had a brandy.
Never mix grape and grain."
"Wise man," said George, his brow clearing, since as a matter of
fact, there was no whisky nearer than the public-house, and
acceptance would have meant six-and-six, at least, besides the
exertion of fetching it.
Sheila Fentiman drew an arm-chair forward, and herself sat down on
a low pouffe. She was a woman of thirty-five or so, and would have
been very good-looking but for an appearance of worry and ill-health
that made her look older than her age.
"It's a miserable fire," said George, gloomily, "is this all the coal there
is?"
"I'm sorry," said Sheila, "she didn't fill it up properly this morning."
"Well, why can't you see that she does? It's always happening. If the
scuttle isn't absolutely empty she seems to think she needn't bother
about filling it up."
"I'll get some."
"No, it's all right. I'll go. But you ought to tell her about it."
"I will—I'm always telling her."
"The woman's no more sense than a hen. No—don't you go, Sheila
—I won't have you carrying coal."
"Nonsense," said his wife, rather acidly. "What a hypocrite you are,
George. It's only because there's somebody here that you're so
chivalrous all at once."
"Here, let me," said Wimsey, desperately, "I like fetching coal.
Always loved coal as a kid. Anything grubby or noisy. Where is it?
Lead me to it!"
Mrs. Fentiman released the scuttle, for which George and Wimsey
politely struggled. In the end they all went out together to the
inconvenient bin in the back-yard, Wimsey quarrying the coal,
George receiving it in the scuttle and the lady lighting them with a
long candle, insecurely fixed in an enamel candle-stick several sizes
too large.
"And tell Mrs. Crickett," said George, irritably sticking to his
grievance, "that she must fill that scuttle up properly every day."
"I'll try. But she hates being spoken to. I'm always afraid she'll give
warning."
"Well, there are other charwomen, I suppose?"
"Mrs. Crickett is very honest."
"I know; but that's not everything. You could easily find one if you
took the trouble."
"Well, I'll see about it. But why don't you speak to Mrs. Crickett? I'm
generally out before she gets here."
"Oh, yes, I know. You needn't keep on rubbing it in about your having
to go out to work. You don't suppose I enjoy it, do you? Wimsey can
tell you how I feel about it."