Mrs Lee’s arms were tied tightly behind her back and her legs had been bent at the knees so that she would fit inside the trunk. Her face and neck were covered with a towel which had been tied tightly around her. She was, quite obviously, dead and Constable Langton immediately informed the superintendent of this fact.

Superintendent Benstead and other officers were soon on the scene. Detective Sergeant Cyril Arthur Warren made a search of the premises and noted that, in addition to the milk bottles and newspaper on the front step, there was also an unopened letter behind the door. This was postmarked London SW1 and was dated 31 May 1948.

Warren also noted that Minnie’s body was fully clothed, apart from her shoes, and her false teeth were still in her mouth. He took measurements of the trunk and recorded them as three feet nine inches, by two feet, by one foot six inches. Although all of the rooms were in the same filthy state there were signs that drawers had been pulled out and ransacked. It appeared that this had been a robbery, which had ended in murder.