The man killed by an automaton

24 May 2014 Last updated at 00:27 By Magazine Monitor A collection of cultural artefacts Author Jeremy Clay tells the grisly story of the Victorian man killed by a bell-chiming automaton.

There was no need for Sherlock. The killer didn't flee the scene. He stood his ground over the lifeless body of his victim, his hand still gripping the bloody weapon, his face betraying no emotion.

At the feet of the mechanised figure of a person - which was to have struck the hour with a hammer - lay Mr Maybrook. Poor, blameless, bludgeoned Mr Maybrook. At least the end, when it came, was swift. Swift, and absurd.

Mr Maybrook was a man of independent means, according to the report in the Illustrated Police News, who was travelling for his own pleasure in the German province of Silesia.

That winter's day in 1876 his wanderlust brought him to a historic church in the town of Glogau. The verger offered to show him round, but was called away during the tour, leaving the visitor alone in the clock tower.

Mr Maybrook wasn't too bothered. The clock was an ornate affair with carved automatons that chimed the passing hours. Left to his own devices, this was a chance to indulge his curiosity and examine the workings at close quarters. He was enthralled by the intricate mechanism. So enthralled, in fact, that he was oblivious to the ominous whirring sound that signalled the wooden figures were about to spring into action.

What followed was a scene that even an author of badly-written whodunits would dismiss as implausible.

Suddenly, one of the figures struck the great bell. The startled Mr Maybrook jumped back in surprise. It was the last thing he would ever do.

"He came directly within the range of a huge hammer wielded by another automaton," said the paper, "which descended on the head of the unfortunate and ill-fated traveller."

The verger returned from his errand to find his guest in a pool of blood inside the clock. Well, when your time's up, your time's up.

Discover more about what life was like in Victorian times and 10 truly bizarre Victorian deaths

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Illustrated Police News image provided by The British Library Board.

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Investment 'has improved A&E care'

25 May 2014 Last updated at 00:34 The health secretary said there was "still work to be done" on emergency care Investment of £30m has brought about "substantial" improvements in accident and emergency (A&E) care in Scotland, Health Secretary Alex Neil has said.

But he stressed the NHS must "build on this initial progress" over the next two years.

He said there was "still work to be done" on emergency care.

The money - £10m from the Scottish government and £20m from local health boards - is the first slice of funding from the unscheduled care action plan.

Since the plan was introduced, there has been an 87% reduction in the number of patients waiting more than 12 hours in hospital A&E units, according to the government.

New measures

Figures showed that 93.5% of people in accident and emergency were treated within four hours in December last year - below the government's interim target of 95% but up from 90.3% in December 2012.

In that month there were 323 cases in December where patients in A&E had to wait more than 12 hours.

Since then, health boards across Scotland have brought in new measures in a bid to improve unplanned care, including the creation of a special unit in NHS Forth Valley aimed at preventing frail elderly people from being admitted to hospital unnecessarily.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran has introduced a discharge hub in a bid to reduce delays for patients waiting to go home, while bosses at NHS Fife have recruited special "flow co-ordinators" to improve how patients move through the healthcare system and reduce delays.

Earlier this month, public spending watchdogs at Audit Scotland revealed that the number of patients forced to wait too long in A&E departments had almost trebled in five years.

'Remarkable service'

About 104,000 people waited beyond the standard four-hour target in 2012-13, compared with about 36,000 in 2008-9, Audit Scotland found.

Mr Neil paid tribute to NHS staff who "provide a remarkable service, day in, day out, to ensure that patients who have the most imminent need get access to the fastest possible treatment".

He added: "That is why I am so pleased to see that our vital unscheduled care services both in and outwith hospitals have been supported by an additional £10m in central funding and over £20m from local investment, in the first year of our unscheduled care action.

"To see the range of improvements that has already come out of this investment is substantial and we must now build on this initial progress over the next two years."

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High fashion: Mario Testino's Andes adventure

25 May 2014 Last updated at 01:18 The Peruvian-born photographer Mario Testino, famous for his pictures of fashion, supermodels and Princess Diana, is now focusing his attention on the culture and heritage of his homeland.

His collection, called Alta Moda or High Fashion, which is on show in his gallery in Lima, features the traditional costumes worn by people in the Andes mountains in the Cusco region of south-eastern Peru.

"We have the biggest variety of costumes in our mountains, but because we see these people walk around on an everyday basis like this we sort of don't pay attention to them, and I decided to go and photograph them and document it," Testino says.

"My original idea to open this space in Peru was to have my work live in my own country and people be able to own it," he says.

"When you start looking at these outfits it's amazing the amount of information they carry, the history they have with them, the glorious colours that they have with them and they are part of our inheritance. They all tell a story of who this woman is, what neighbourhood or what community she comes from," he adds.

The gallery is part of his arts foundation, MATE (Mario Testino Association), located in a restored 19th Century building in the city's historic seaside district of Barranco. It also features pictures of some of the famous women Testino has photographed such as the supermodels Kate Moss and Giselle Bundchen, and Princess Diana.

Mario Testino spoke to World Update on the BBC World Service.

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Life raft still on capsized yacht

24 May 2014 Last updated at 11:00 The US Coast Guard issued photographs of Cheeki Rafiki's upturned hull showing its keel had broken off The wreckage of the yacht crewed by four UK sailors missing in the North Atlantic was found with its life raft still onboard, the US Coast Guard says.

The upturned hull of the 40ft Cheeki Rafiki was found on Friday but there was no sign of the crew.

The yacht began taking on water on its way to the UK after an Antigua regatta.

The US search ended at midnight local time and the RAF will no longer go out. The yacht's owners said it was a "terrible moment" for their families.

A US Navy helicopter crew discovered the wreckage about 1,000 miles (1,600km) east of Massachusetts on Friday after the search for the missing men resumed three days earlier following an official request from the UK government.

James Male, Andrew Bridge, Steve Warren and Paul Goslin (l-r) were all experienced yachtsmen

The crew got into difficulties in the same area on 15 May.

They were Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset; Steve Warren, 52, from Bridgwater, Somerset; skipper Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham, Surrey; and 22-year-old James Male, from Romsey, Hampshire.

Mr Warren's uncle, Albert Davey, told the BBC: "Prior to setting off on this return trip... the Cheeki Rafiki had won its class in the Antigua Yachting Regatta.

"It's not the ending we would want but we have got to gain some small consolation that Steve was doing what he thoroughly enjoyed doing and I think we have got to cling on to that."

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "My thoughts are with the families and friends of the crew of the Cheeki Rafiki after the sad news that its hull has been found with the life-raft unused.

"My sincere thanks to the US Coast Guard for leading the international search with great dedication - and to the US Navy, the Canadian authorities and to our own RAF C-130 aircraft who took part in it."

Many private boats taking part in the ARC Rally across the Atlantic had diverted to help in the search. The event's organiser, the World Cruising Club, is now asking the 120 sailors from 16 nations taking part - as well as other sailors - to observe a minute's silence at sunset.

The Royal Yachting Association said the search efforts of sailors and merchant ships "has been a powerful reflection of the spirit that binds the boating community".

Southampton-based Stormforce Coaching, the owners of the Cheeki Rafiki, said in a statement: "This is a terrible moment for the families and friends of the crew... We all share in their sorrow after this tragedy.

"We would like to thank all those who have participated in the search efforts."

'Cabin flooded'

A US Navy boat crew was deployed after the helicopter sighting and found the cabin of the yacht was flooded and its windows shattered.

A surface swimmer then identified the name on the back of the boat and knocked on the hull but there was no response.

A spokesman said: "The US Coast Guard has confirmed the life raft aboard the capsized sailing vessel Cheeki Rafiki was secured in its storage space in the aft portion of the boat, Friday, indicating it was not used for emergency purposes."

There was no sign of the men and there are no further indications as to their whereabouts.

The yacht's keel was broken, which had caused a breach in the hull, a US Coast Guard spokesman added.

An image showing the life raft still in position had been "shared with and acknowledged by the [men's] families", the Coast Guard said.

The US Coast Guard added it did not perform salvage operations as a matter of policy.

Mr Warren's family said in a statement: "We are very sad that the US has now suspended the search.

"From the beginning we, together with the other families involved, have continued to hold out hope that he would be found alive."

They paid tribute to the US Coast Guard for leading an "exceptional search".

They added: "This is now an incredibly difficult time for all the family. We would therefore request that we are given privacy to come to terms with today's decision."

Jeremy Wyatt from the World Cruising Club sailing organisation said the chain of events was still "all speculation".

But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the yacht would have become unstable after the keel came off and it would have capsized "very quickly" and the crew might not have had time to launch the lifeboat.

The Cheeki Rafiki contacted Stormforce Coaching on 15 May to say it was taking on water and diverting to the Azores. Contact was lost in the early hours of 16 May and locator beacons were activated later that day.

The US Coast Guard said at the start of the search that winds were blowing at more than 50mph and the sea reached heights of up to 15ft. On 18 May an overturned hull that matched the description of the Cheeki Rafiki was spotted by a container ship.

The RAF Hercules C-130 plane operating from the Azores had been due to continue its search on Saturday.

The Foreign Office said: "In light of the US Coast Guard's decision to suspend their search for the crew following photographic confirmation that the life raft is in the hull of the boat, the C-130 will now return to the UK."

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Saracens 6-23 Toulon

By Chris Osborne BBC Sport at Millennium Stadium Tries: Giteau, SmithCons: Wilkinson 2Pens: Wilkinson 2Drop-goal: WilkinsonJonny Wilkinson marked his last game on British soil by leading Toulon to back-to-back Heineken Cup crowns as they outclassed Saracens in Cardiff.

A first-half try from former Wallaby Matt Giteau and Wilkinson's drop-goal put the French giants 10-3 up at half-time after Owen Farrell's penalty.

He landed another on the resumption but Wilkinson, his predecessor as England fly-half, restored the advantage.

Wilkinson 'humbled' by support

Juan Smith finished a fine move before another Wilkinson penalty sealed it.

The 2003 World Cup-winning hero, who kicked 13 points in all in his penultimate game before retirement, is now just one game away from crowning a remarkable career with the perfect ending, when Toulon go in search of a first French league title since 1992 in the Top 14 final next Saturday.

Regardless of what happens against Castres, he will go down in Toulon folklore for helping the club become only the third side, after Leicester in 2002 and Leinster in 2012, to successfully defend the Heineken Cup, one day before his 35th birthday.

Saracens, led by their own retiring captain Steve Borthwick, may rue their inability to crack open a resolute Toulon defence, in what was the last ever staging of the competition before it is replaced by the European Rugby Champions Cup next season.

Leicester - 2001 and 2002 Leinster - 2011 and 2012 Toulon - 2013 and 2014 Mark McCall's side still have the prospect of their own domestic title, when they face Northampton in next week's Premiership final, and they have made genuine progress over the past 12 months, after falling to the same opposition at the last-four stage a year ago.

Farrell landed a Sarries penalty for the only score in a first 20 minutes characterised more by eye-watering tackles than pulsating play.

Saracens survived a Toulon charge with gritty defending and mounted their own period of pressure, absorbing some massive hits in the process.

When Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe was sin-binned for taking Alistair Hargreaves out in the air it seemed there might be a chance to capitalise, but it was the French side who emerged with the game's first try.

Saracens struggled to break down the Toulon defence

It was Australian made, with Giteau's chip through eluding Alex Goode and bouncing for Drew Mitchell, who fed the ball back to his on-rushing countryman for a simple finish, Wilkinson adding the extras.

Back up to full numbers, Toulon thundered forward from a catch-and-drive to create room for the left-footed Wilkinson to land a trademark drop-goal with his supposedly weaker right foot - the same one that won the World Cup 11 years ago.

A Saracens surge immediately after the break resulted in Farrell popping over a penalty, only for Wilkinson to land one of his own from just inside the London side's half.

Four - Toulouse Three - Leinster Two - Leicester, Wasps, Munster, Toulon And then the reigning champions stretched clear as Mathieu Bastareaud made yards and found Smith, who received the ball back from Fernandez Lobbe and crossed for a superb try that belied the lack of quality the game had possessed to that point.

Wilkinson, faultless from the tee all evening, converted and slotted over a penalty to put the gloss on Toulon's performance, before being replaced with two minutes remaining to a resounding roar of approval and chants of "Jonny, Jonny" in an emotional farewell to a British audience.

Saracens: A Goode; C Ashton, M Bosch, B Barritt, D Strettle; O Farrell, R Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, S Brits, M Stevens, S Borthwick (capt), A Hargreaves, K Brown, J Burger, B Vunipola.

Replacements: J George (for Brits, 69), R Barrington (for M Vunipola 65), J Johnston (for Stevens, 64), M Botha (for Hargreaves, 64), J Wray (for Burger, 61), N de Kock (for Wigglesworth, 51), C Hodgson (for Farrell, 64), C Wyles (for Strettle, 69).

Toulon: D Armitage; D Mitchell, M Bastareaud, M Giteau, B Habana; J Wilkinson (capt), S Tillous-Borde; X Chiocci, C Burden, C Hayman, B Botha, D Rossouw, J Smith, J M Fernandez Lobbe, S Armitage.

Replacements: J-C Orioli (for Burden, 41), A Menini (for Chiocci, 46), M Castrogiovanni (for Hayman, 57), A Williams (for Botha, 52), V Bruni (for Smith, 72), M Mermoz (for Wilkinson, 77), M Claassens (for Tillous-Borde 71), J Suta (for Rossouw, 52).

Sin-binned: Fernandez Lobbe (22)

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).

Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales) and George Clancy (Ireland).

Att: 67,578

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In pictures: TV Bafta awards 2014

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Rosberg on pole after investigation

By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer in Monaco Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has been cleared of wrongdoing over a controversial incident that sealed pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The German, fastest at the time, locked a wheel and went into the escape road at Mirabeau on his final lap.

The incident brought out caution flags, preventing his team-mate Lewis Hamilton from completing his own final lap and securing Rosberg's pole position.

Race stewards said they could find "no evidence of any offence".

Rosberg told BBC Sport before going to the stewards that he was "surprised" to be called to give evidence, adding: "They'll see in the data it is all very similar to the lap before and I just locked up the front tyre."

Asked if he was uncomfortable about the incident, Rosberg: "Of course I need to apologise for having ruined his lap. But that's the way it is."

The incident revived memories of an incident at Monaco in 2006, when Michael Schumacher deliberately parked his Ferrari at Rascasse to prevent Renault's Fernando Alonso, his title rival, from taking pole.

Hamilton is three points ahead of Rosberg in the championship heading into this race.

Hamilton said: "I found the time at the end and wasn't able to execute it so it wasn't a true showing of my true pace. But I should have known that was going to happen and done it the lap before."

Rosberg had been the quicker of the two drivers by 0.059 seconds on their first runs in final qualifying, and the incident came immediately after he was just over 0.1secs down on that lap at the first official timing point on his final run.

Hamilton was the next car on track, and had to slow down for yellow caution flags at Mirabeau.

The Englishman had been fractionally up on his previous time up that point, but the flags prevented any prospect of him beating Rosberg's time.

The incident has come during a weekend in which tensions between the two Mercedes drivers have been rising as a result of their close battle.

There have already been comparisons between this year and 1988-89, when McLaren team-mates Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost fell out while disputing two world titles.

Those battles ended in title-deciding collisions at the 1989 and 1990 Japanese Grands Prix, in the second of which Senna rammed Prost off the track at 160mph.

Asked whether his relationship with Rosberg was "even more like Senna and Prost now", Hamilton said after qualifying: "Essentially."

When it was suggested the two drivers would have to sit down and discuss the incident, Hamilton said: "I don't know if Senna and Prost sat down and talked it out. I quite like the way Senna dealt with it, so I'm going to take a page out of his book."

Mercedes bosses defended Rosberg, saying the incident was an innocent mistake.

Non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, a three-time F1 world champion, said: "If you look at it the way I look at it, he tried to go quicker, braked too late, the right front wheel locked, tried to go into the corner and not to crash he had to go left.

"These things can happen. They happen to a lot of other people but there's nothing wrong about it."

Lauda admitted the atmosphere between the two drivers was tense.

"I fully agree. I think there might be some more discussions later today or tomorrow morning, I agree this thing is building up over there, but from my point of view nothing wrong on Nico's side. Lewis was now four or five times quicker than Nico and now Nico's quicker, so what is wrong about that."

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen said of Rosberg's incident: "I saw he locked the wheel and ran wide but obviously I am not here to judge anybody and say what was true and what was not. He knows himself. Obviously it is hard to say was it a mistake or not. Everybody will have their own opinion about this."

Monaco qualifying result

Monaco Grand Prix full coverage details

Archive: Hamilton & Rosberg - best of friends

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