Having dealt with the in, now the out. And what is out is our second story with Herodotus as sleuth (mentioned in Eric's Bit above) now gracing bookstore shelves in The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits: Volume III (The Mammoth Book of New Historical Whodunnits in the US) ed Mike Ashley. Stories in this collection span three thousand years and we show up early in the roll call with an account of how a strange Egyptian ritual helps Herodotus solve a mysterious death.
Having cited an in and an out and told you what it's all about, we now suggest a short break while readers do the hokey-cokey. Just don't get into arguments about whether it's cokey or pokey, if you please.
MARY'S BIT or A STRANGE CASE
Reading l9th century obituaries is fascinating because of the light they shed in passing on different times and social conditions. For example, what we now regard as relatively minor childhood illnesses could and did carry off half a family, clothing catching fire was a common cause of death for both adult and child, and with little industrial regulation fatal accidents, particularly in railway shunting yards, are repeatedly recorded.There were also, as today, less natural deaths. A month or so ago I read an obituary relating an interesting sequence of events, which had it not been a real life tragedy would make a good basis for a short mystery story.
Late in the l890s neighbours realised animals on the farm next door were neglected. Investigating, they went around the back of the house and saw a ladder next to the window of the second floor bedroom wherein slept the farm owner. The dwelling had been ransacked and the farmer was found murdered in his room, having been strangled, shot, and his head battered.
The day before, the farmer had reportedly quarrelled with his housekeeper, who left in a huff to reside elsewhere. There had also been some trouble between the farmer and the housekeeper's son, who at one time also resided in the house but was now working at a nearby location. Two days after the murder, the son was arrested and a hearing set for the beginning of the following week.
According to a war injury census taken eight years before the farmer died, he was suffering impairment to both hearing and sight as well as some paralysis as a result of military service in the Civil War. In his mid-60s at the time of his death, he was described as being a peaceful, honest person -- although with a bit of a taste for liquor.
It was established that not long before he died, the farmer had travelled to a nearby settlement where a large debt owed to him was settled in cash. It seems he foolishly exhibited this money during a visit to a saloon on his return home.
The farmer was fairly well off, and his will, made about six months before he died, left all he possessed to his brother. The obituary ended with the strange comment that this will was likely to be contested, but the reporter did not say why or by whom.
Supposing this outline formed the basis for a fictional account of a crime, its writer could certainly point out a few clues. For example, placing the ladder next to the bedroom window demonstrates some knowledge of the layout of the house, for most burglars would surely creep in downstairs. On the other hand, they might decide to enter the house in that fashion if they knew the farmer was incapacitated as described above and the downstairs windows and doors were securely bolted. This suggests someone who knew the man.
Alternatively, there is the possibility the murderer was someone who was not a personal acquaintance, but had seen his display of wealth at the saloon, followed him home, waited until he retired, and then entered the house and (going by the dreadful injuries) tried to force him to tell where he had hidden the cash. It appears he did not reveal its whereabouts since the house had been ransacked, and it seems unlikely it would be searched and the ladder only then put in place.
On the other hand, while the person responsible could hardly have arrived with a ladder, it was a fair bet one could be found on a farm. It may be the ladder was set by the window as a red herring, since the farmer would surely welcome a visit if someone he knew came calling that night and there would be no need to enter the house by the window -- or was it used as a means to *exit* the building? Was the money located and taken away? No mention is made of any being found in the ransacked house.
There is also the distinct possibility the quarrels and the departure of both the housekeeper and her son was common knowledge locally, and the way gossip travels in small settlements it's fairly certain a fair number in the area knew this elderly, semi-paralysed man who had come into a large sum of money was currently living alone.
Then there is the odd hint someone might challenge the will. According to a census taken some 50 years earlier, the brother named as sole heir was the first born child, two years older than the farmer. Was there someone with a closer relationship who could challenge his inheritance?
The murdered man's closest relatives appear to be his siblings. The farmer was the second child, and there were three younger children -- a brother and two sisters. There may have been others born after the census was taken, of course. The parents might have still been alive, but it's doubtful given by the time of the murder they would both be in their lower 90s.
Is it possible there was an unknown wife and/or child(ren)? The obituary stated that the farmer had been born on the farm and always lived there. This is not to say that a wife and family could not also have resided with him, but no mention is made of either. Even if there were such relatives and they came forward to challenge the will, it does not seem likely they would prevail if the will was correctly drawn up and witnessed. And then one might well ask what information was known to the reporter to lead him to state that such a challenge was likely? Why was the housekeeper's son arrested for the murder? What caused the quarrel with the housekeeper the day before the farmer died, and what was the nature of the trouble between him and the housekeeper's son? How many knew about the large sum of money the farmer had at the time? Could there have been other motives for the crime?
I wish I could tell you the answer to these questions, but I haven't been able to find further information or establish the end of this strange story.
Yet.
AND FINALLY
Two months hence memories of the torrid summer for 2005 will be fading as fast as its suntans and we'll be enjoying the cooler weather and glowing colours of autumn. Now, as a brazen sun rises day after day, bent on hammering the earth into submission on its iron anvil, we find some relief in thinking it will not be much longer before fall arrives, for the nights are already noticeably drawing in as another year rolls along its appointed round.And speaking of appointed rounds, William Cowper described the postman as a whistling, light-hearted wretch bringing grief to thousands and joy to a few. The same could well be said of the electronic mail server which will bring you the next issue of Orphan Scrivener on l5th October. But never mind, you still have time to move or at least change your email address. Otherwise, we'll see you then.
Best wishes
Mary R and Eric
who invite you to visit their home page, hanging out on the virtual washing line at http://home.epix.net/~maywrite/ There you'll find the usual suspects, including more personal essays, a list of author freebies, Doom Cat (an interactive game written by Eric), and a jigsaw featuring the handsome cover of Five For Silver. There's also an Orphan Scrivener archive, so don't say you weren't warned! Intrepid subscribers may also wish to pop over to visit Eric's blog at http://www.journalscape.com/ericmayer/
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