Statement of Mr Gerald Frome, Stockbroker

After cocktails I retired to the billiard room with Captain Boyne and our host, Sir Reginald. We played three frames of snooker, finishing around half past ten. I went directly to my room in the east wing and read until I fell asleep with the lamp still burning. I heard nothing unusual.

Statement of Mrs Daphne Lechford, Portrait Painter

I spent the evening in the drawing room with Lady Cavendish and Miss Hartley, listening to the wireless. There was a rather fine concert broadcast from the Savoy — dance band music, very gay. We listened until nearly eleven, at which point Lady Cavendish went upstairs to retire. I remained in the drawing room sketching Miss Hartley's profile by the fire until perhaps quarter past eleven, then retired myself. I passed no one on the stairs and went straight to my room in the west wing, next door to Lady Cavendish's suite.

Statement of Captain Alistair Boyne, Retired Officer

After billiards I took a constitutional around the garden. It was a still, clear night — wonderful stars, not a breath of wind — and I could see the South Downs in the moonlight. I smoked two cigarettes on the south terrace, Turkish ones from that little shop on Jermyn Street, and then walked the full circuit of the house along the gravel path. I recall hearing the church clock at Briarwood village strike eleven as I came round the east side. I let myself in through the garden door on the north side at approximately five past eleven, bolted it behind me, and went up the back stairs. I noticed a light beneath Mrs Lechford's door as I passed.

The household retired by half past eleven. The necklace was discovered missing at eight o'clock Sunday morning when Lady Cavendish's maid opened the jewellery box.