Nicholls was keen to visit the scene of the murder at the earliest opportunity and after finishing breakfast the four men walked the short distance to Star Stores.

The Deputy Chief Constable had arranged to travel over from Llandeilo at noon to discuss the case and both Scotland Yard detectives wished to familiarise themselves with the shop and surrounding area prior to the meeting.

Sergeant Richards was also keen to show Nicholls what, he considered, might be the only clue to have been found inside the Star and he led the men the short distance along the valley road to the shop.

Before entering however, Nicholls asked to be shown the broken, boarded window pane fixed by Thomas Thomas in the hours prior to his death.

With the detectives noting down the details in their pocket books, Richards then guided them down the darkened Coronation Arcade to the yard at the rear of the Star where, in response to the questions of his new companions, he highlighted the complete absence of any footprints which might have been linked to the crime and subsequent getaway.

Nicholls was again satisfied that the uniformed officers assessment was correct that there had been little or no chance of any impressions being left due to the heavily compacted earth and sub-zero temperature overnight on February 12.

Richards then ushered them to the cellar door through which the killer had most likely escaped and from there up into the heart of the Star.

After carrying out a minute examination of the bloodstained floor and wooden box on which the shopkeepers vital fluid had been splashed, the detectives expanded their search throughout the remainder of the shop, warehouse and cellar area.

During their examination, Nicholls marked a number of smudges and grease marks which, after viewing under his magnifying glass, he identified as fingerprints.

Nicholls, Canning and the two Carmarthenshire officers then examined each of the doors and windows of the Star and apart from the broken window pane could find nothing untoward.

There appeared no sign of forced entry anywhere on the premises.

Once the senior office was satisfied that nothing has been missed during previous searches he allowed Richards to direct his attention to the safe and the one item which the sergeant believed may have been worthy of consideration as a clue.

During his initial examination of the open safe in the hours following the discovery of the body, Richards had spotted a small piece of a broken button lodged in the lower of the two mortises inside the right-hand side of the safe.

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