Murder in the Library
TASK: Read the following information in order to solve the mystery of the murder in the library!
Background
Friends ought to have discovered Mildred Horsehair in her impressive mansion, just outside of Canterbury, reading a book or drinking afternoon tea. Unfortunately, Mildred must have died in her own home at around 10pm (the time on her watch which might have stopped as the crime took place). She was found in the library, between the conservatory, billiard room and staircase. Police have reason to believe she may have rowed with family members. The crime appears to be a one-off as a result local residents ought not to have worried about further murders. The crime can’t have taken long because no witnesses came forward, however, the house was full of people at the time. Police may have ruled out suicide as a legitimate possibility because the wealthy victim couldn’t have wished for a happier life. The large number of suspects can’t have made the case easy to crack for detectives however one of the guests must have committed the crime. The remaining question is who?
Source A: The Butler
The dinner guests started arriving at about 7.30. That evening, Reverend Truelove, the neighbours, old Mr Archibald and his son, and Dame Christie, a lady novelist, were joining the weekend quests.
I served drinks in the parlour before dinner. From the start I could see things weren’t going too well. Miss Daphne looked as if she had been crying, and after she had spoken a few words to young Mr Archibald in the hall, that young gentleman looked pretty unhappy too. Mr Jeffery looked extremely angry - he can look quite violent at times. The actress, Miss Topless, looked furious too, and I could see why: her companion, Mr Oscarsson had been flirting with Mrs Horsehair all weekend, and as I served the wine at dinner I noticed that they were having a particularly intimate conversation at one end of the table.
Dinner ended at about nine o'clock, and I served port to the gentlemen in the billiard room. As I left the kitchen, Miss Daphne came up to me, and, looking appealingly at me- she always looks so pretty in blue - pressed a note into my hand, asking me to give it to young Archibald.
I couldn't help reading the note, which said:
Darling,
Meet me in the conservatory at 9.30. I have a plan.
Desperately,
Daphne.
I served port in the billiard room, and passed the note surreptitiously to young Mr. Archibald. Then I went back to the kitchen where I remained until shortly after half past nine, when I went back into the billiard room to refill the port glasses. As I was crossing the hall, Miss Topless came out of the parlour and went over to the ballroom. As she opened the door, I heard voices, and caught a glimpse of a young man in a white suit. I'm sure it was Mr Oscarsson.
I went into the billiard room to find only old Mr Archibald, Reverend Truelove and Mr Jeffery. Mr Archibald took a glass of port and said he would join the ladies in the parlour, and the Reverend followed him. Mr Jeffery took the port decanter from me and went into the library, saying he had an urgent letter to write.
I returned to the kitchen and stayed there till about ten o'clock when I heard a piercing scream. I rushed into the hall and found Charlotte, the maid, standing there with a tray of coffee cups. She gasped 'Velvet, the library...' and fainted. I went into the library and found Mrs Horsehair dead on the floor. She had been hit on the head. I looked around the room. The port decanter was lying smashed on the floor and there was broken glass everywhere. The ashtray was full of cigarette stubs - the kind that Mr Jeffrey smokes. I also noticed immediately that one of the large silver candlesticks was missing. Both the library window and the connecting door to the billiard room were open. I called for help, and Miss Daphne and young Mr Archibald came running in from the conservatory. Dame Christie and Myrtle Berry were next on the scene, followed by old Mr Archibald. Mr Oscarsson came in via the billiard room, followed a few seconds later by his actress friend, and last of all Mr Jeffrey came rushing in, calling for help, and shouting that he had found the vicar unconscious on the terrace.
Velvet
Source B: The Maid
Around eleven o'clock I went upstairs to put on my new uniform. Reverend Truelove, old Mr Archibald and his son, and a famous lady novelist were joining the weekend guests for dinner, so it was a formal occasion. As I got to the top of the stairs I heard angry voices coming from Mrs Horsehair's room, and guessed that Mrs Horsehair and her niece were having one of their rows. I tried not to listen, but couldn't help catching one phrase very distinctly. Mrs Horsehair shouted, 'If you marry him, you stupid little fool, I'll cast you off without a penny.' Then the door burst open, and Mise Daphne rushed out, sobbing. She ran straight to her own room and slammed the door.
I came downstairs again about fifteen minutes later, and heard Mr Jeffery talking on the telephone in the hall. I tried not to listen, but I couldn't help overhearing one or two phrases: Can't you wait a bit longer - the old woman's so damned mean with her money ... There was a long pause then he said, 'I'll find the money somehow .. And slammed the receiver down. I guessed he was talking to one of his gambling companions. Mr Jeffery is very fond of roulette, but his mother disapproves, and tries to prevent him gambling by keeping him short of money.
From a quarter past seven till eight o'clock I was in the kitchen preparing the food, but I peeped out to watch the guests arrive - young Mr Archibald looked very dashing in a blue velvet suit. Dinner was at eight, and as soon as I came in with the soup, I noticed that things weren't going too well. Dame Christie and Myrtle Berry seemed to be getting on quite well discussing some murder in great detail, but Mr Jeffery looked like thunder, and young Mr Archibald looked terribly unhappy: he's passionately in love with Miss Daphne, you know. Daphne looked as if she were about to cry, and the actress, Miss Topless, looked a bit annoyed as well. This might have been because she and Miss Daphne were wearing exactly the same dress, or it might have been because her companion, Mr Oscarsson, and Mr Horsehair were having a very intimate conversation at one end of the table. Reverend Truelove and old Mr Archibald tried to keep the conversation going, but it was quite a relief when dinner broke up at about nine o'clock. The ladies then retired to the parlour for coffee, and the gentlemen went to the billiard room. I served coffee, and then went back to the kitchen to clear up.
At about 9.45 I went into the parlour to collect the coffee cups, and as I crossed the hall, I overheard loud voices in the ballroom. I tried not to listen but it sounded very like Miss Topless. Suddenly the door opened, and Mrs Horsehair came out. She looked rather embarrassed on seeing me, and said, Oh, Charlotte, I was looking for my book. Do you know where it might be?' I said that I hadn't seen it, and she muttered something about looking in the library and made off in that direction.
I went on into the parlour where I found Dame Christie, Myrtle Berry, and old Mr Archibald deep in conversation. They were still talking about murder. I couldn't help listening. It made me feel quite cold, so I collected up the cups as slowly as I could. As I was doing this, I heard a door slam in the hall, followed by the sound of footsteps crossing the hall. Then the front door slammed. I finished collecting the cups, and went out into the hall, but no one was there. I started to cross the hall towards the kitchen, suddenly, I heard a piercing scream. It came from the library. I couldn't move. I tried to call for help, but couldn't make a sound. The kitchen door opened, and Velvet, the butler, came running out. He looked at me in astonishment. I gasped, 'The library and then I fainted.
Charlotte
Source C: The Vicar
I arrived at Conkers for Sunday tea as usual, and was invited to return for dinner after Evensong. Before I left, Mrs Horsehair asked me to advise her on a certain problem, and we went into the library to discuss it. Mrs Horsehair then confided in me that she and the young film director Oscar Oscarsson, who was one of her weekend guests, were planning to marry. I expressed my approval of the project, congratulated her, and then enquired what the problem might be. She was worried, it appeared, about how the marriage might affect her son, Jeffery. She thought he might disapprove of her remarrying so soon, and, furthermore, night object to her altering her will in favour of her new husband. I advised her to put her own interests first. She appeared satisfied with this, and left the house.
I returned at about half past seven, after Evensong, and was shown Into the parlour by Velvet, the butler. I was immediately conscious of a rather strained atmosphere, particularly among the young people. Daphne and Archibald looked very unhappy although I put this down to a lovers' tiff - and Jeffery's face looked like a thundercloud. I wondered if his mother had broached the subject of her marriage. The older members of the party, however, a lady novelist and an American friend of Mrs Horsehair’s seemed pleasant enough, although there was also an actress who I found distinctly unpleasant. However, I endeavoured to put them all at ease with one or two of my anecdotes in the usual style, and dinner passed quite pleasantly.
After dinner, we gentlemen. retired to the billiard room for port, and a game of snooker. The first, game ended just before 9.30 and both Oscar and young Archibald excused themselves, saying they had urgent matters to attend to. The rest of us stood around balking until Velvet reappeared with the port. At that point our little party dispersed: Jeffery went to the library to finish off a letter, while old Archibald and I went to join the ladies in the parlour. I found the subject of conversation there rather distasteful, so after about, ten minutes, I went for a quiet stroll and a smoke in the grounds. I had been there for about a quarter of an hour, enjoying the evening air and mentally composing next Sunday's sermon, when Jeffery carne out of the house, slamming the front door behind him. He had taken off his formal dinner jacket, and was wearing a dark blue smoking jacket. I invited him to join me, but he only grunted and strode off into the shrubbery. I finished my pipe, and, hearing the church clock chime ten, I decided to go back into the house, to take my leave. As I was crossing the terrace, I became aware that someone was behind me. I started to turn, and, out of the corner of my eye, caught a flash of something blue, but, before I could make out who it was, a hand was pressed over my mouthand I felt someone strike me with a heavy object from behind. Everything went black, and I fell to the ground.
Reverend Truelove
Notebook
Complete the floor plan and detective’s notebook below in order to solve the case! Be sure to present your solution to your teacher in the next class.
