Every room was in a filthy state and had obviously not been cleaned or tidied for years. The two men passed from room to room, but there was no sign of Mrs Lee. Unsure what to do next, Constable Langton picked up the telephone, rang his station and reported what he had discovered to Superintendent Benstead. Even as the constable was on the telephone, Mr Thomas noticed a large leather trunk, fastened with straps.

Thinking that there might be a clue as to where Mrs Lee might have gone, Thomas unfastened the straps and lifted the lid of the trunk. Inside he saw what appeared to be nothing but a collection of old clothes but when he removed one or two of the topmost items he saw a woman’s body beneath. Mrs Minnie Freeman Lee had been found.