Minute Mysteries [Detectograms] 10 – Ripley · Verses Across
Literature · Crime, Thrillers & Mystery
Minute Mysteries [Detectograms] 10Chapter 9
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Literature · Crime, Thrillers & Mystery
Minute Mysteries [Detectograms] 10
Chapter 9
RipleyEnglish
They Usually Forget Something
‘Here is a good illustration of the old bromide that the smartest criminal leaves some clue in even the most carefully planned crime,’ mused Professor Fordney.
‘While in Colshire, a beautiful little English village, I was asked by the local police to assist them in a rather puzzling affair.
‘Suspicion of a particularly brutal murder had been directed toward an illiterate underworld character. He was accused of sending the following note found in the murdered man’s pocket:
sir john when i last seen you i sed i will kill you if the muney ain’t here by mundy; all of it
yurs truly,
XX
‘When Wellington, the Chief Constable, asked my opinion, I told him the writer of the note, and therefore probably the murderer, was obviously an educated man. After explaining why I was sure of that, he agreed with me.
‘An odd sort of case. The murderer was found to be an extremely wealthy American whose sister had married the murdered man’s brother.’
‘Well,’ laughed Bill Cargo to whom Fordney had been speaking. ‘It’s getting too involved for me. I can’t figure it out.’
How had Fordney determined the American was an educated man?
