Motive V Opportunity (Mr Petherick, a lawyer's account)
Mystery : The will of late Simon which was kept in an envelope went missing. Simon had the will drafted in pencil, put it in the envelope and passed it to Mr Petherick. But, Mr Petherick found the envelope empty after the death of Simon in his office.
The original will in ink:
5000pounds to each niece
The rest to Mrs Eurydice Spragg.
Suspects: 1) Emma Graut (maid)
She took a fountain pen from another drawer to pass to Simon to write the will.
When she handed Mr Pentherick the letter, it slipped and fell onto the floor. But Mr Petherick could swear that he saw Emma picking up the letter and passing it into his hands and no trick could have been made.
2)Mrs Spragg (Simon's Admiral)
She was kneeling next to Mr Pentrherick's overcoat which contains the letter when the rest entered the room. She stood up with a red face. She had more than enough time to take out the will from the letter.
3)Mary Clode
She had helped to relieve Mr Petherick of his overcoat. She could possibly did it unnoticed skillfully.
4)Grace Clode & Philip Garrod (husband of Grace) They could only get an inheritance of 5000pounds which was much less then Mrs Spragg's, whom was not
5)Mr Spragg called, Mr Pentherick had to leave the letter of will on the desk for 5mins. He smiled to the fact that it was a blank will.
Opportunity- Mrs Spraggs, Mr Spraggs. The Spragg family could have no motive in changing the will because they were the ones who would benefit the most. Emma, just a maid. The will shalln't bother her. Mary Clode had barely the chance.
Motive- Clode family could have felt the will was unjust and sort to change it. It without the will, Clode family could inherit the whole fortune.
Marple's analogy: Tommy Symonds who has the innocent childlike face is always the one up to some mischief. Marple gave a broken link: the analogy is like Mr Petherick's story:' So like a Lawyer'.