◆ SpookStack

| ‘ i od 55. Meanwhile, however, the shooting had attracted the athuptic neighbourhood. One of the girls had telephoned Stephen Ward qfBils surgery in nearby Devonshire Street and gave him a running commentary ¢f' what was happening. He heard the shooting over the telephone. He es the police. Wireless messages were sent out from the police station gt fhe news- papermen arrived in the Mews before the police. Maybe they listened in to the messages. The Mews was filled with press and police. The police took the girls to the police station and took statements from them as to the shooting. The station was besieged by the press but eventually the girls got away and went to a fat which Christine Keeler had taken at 63, Great Cumberland 56. After they got back to the flat Christine Keeler telephoned Mr. Michael Eddowes. (He was a retired solicitor who was a friend and patient PADS. DAM eo. LEE Fee Seek ee Swe fill LEG of Stephen Ward and had seen a good deal of him at this time. He had befriended Christine Keeler and had taken her to see her mother once or twice.) Mr. Eddowes went round to see her. She told him of the shooting. He already knew from Stephen Ward something of her relations with Captain Ivanov and Mr. Profumo, and he asked her about them. He was most interested and subsequently noted it down in writing. and in March he reported it to the police. He followed it up by employing an ex-member of the Metropolitan Police to act as detective on his behalf to gather information. (iii) Trial Expected First Week of February 57. It was quite plain that Christine Keeler would be an important witness in the case against John Edgecombe, both with regard to the slashing of ‘Lucky’ Gordon on 27th October, 1962, and also the shooting on 14th December, 1962. John Edgecombe was remanded in custody from time to time and the evidence was not taken by the magistrate until the 16th and 17th January, 1963. Christine Keeler attended the magistrate’s hearings quite voluntarily and gave evidence for the prosecution. John Edgecombe was committed for trial at the Old Bailey. His tcial was expected to be early in February. ‘58. On Sunday, the 3rd February, 1963, the News of the World published a large picture of Christine Keeler, in a seductive pose, with nothing on except the slightest of swimming garbs, and the words alongside, “Model in shots case. Attractive Christine Keeler, a 20-year-old London model, features in a case at the Old Bailey this week in which a man is accused of shooting at her with intent to murder. He is a 30-year-old West Indian, John Edgecombe, of Brentford, Middlesex.” I mention this photograph because most people seeing it would readily infer the avocation of Christine Keeler. 59. The trial of John Edgecombe did not, however, take place that week. The driver of the mini-cab was taken iff. On Friday, . 1963, a medical certificate was received by the police that he wa§ unable to attend the Court, and it was decided to apply for an adjowemijunt. It was adjourned until March. It came on for trial on 14th March, bat by that time Christine Keeler had disappeared. Meanwhile, however, much hed happened. The shooting had been given much notice in the newspapers. Many saw that a story might emerge of much interest. It did. 20 ~