Marple Bk 13: Sleeping murder

Gwen, a newly wed, came to a house at the hillside in England to prepare to settle in with her husband. She could not remember if she had been to England before. But in her night stay in the house, she felt eerie after seeing a dead woman on the ground floor in her dream. She felt that she had been here before. Later she found out that she had once lived in this house when she was four. If Gwen had been here before, then the she woman she saw in her dream was a recollection of the young Gwen's memory or it was just a scary nightmare?

Murdered?: Helen Spenlone Kennedy
She was the second wife of Kelvin Halliday, whom was Gwen's father. Thus Helen became Gwen's stepmother when Gwen was four.
-> It was just Gwen's dream that caused her to come to this conclusion. Gwen felt that the dead woman's face was very familar but could not recall who was she until she saw the photo of Helen.
-> But strangely, there was no dead body found in the house back then.

Mystery
-> Kelvin Halliday, Helen's husband, had the impression of him strangling Helen to death in the bedroom till he died in a nursing home. (Could have committed suicide?)
-> There was a letter written by Helen from aboard with her genuine hand writing after the mysterious disappearance of Helen.

Victim->
Helen was seemed to be flirtatious. She was a beautiful dancer and had many suitors, Walter Fane, Jackie Afflick and Mr Erskine. There is no reason to rule out any possibilties of Helen having any secret affair with anyone of them.

Suspects:
1) Kelvin Halliday-> He thought that he did really killed her.
- Woke up from a hangover and found Helen stangled to death in the bedroom, he ran to Dr Kennedy's house not far away. Kelvin and Kennedy went back to the crime sence, the bedroom, and strangely, they could not find Helen anymore.
- he believed himself that the reason why he could have done it was the€ Helen's letter to suggest parting with him.
- remembered that Helen had onced asked him to move out of the town together.
- Dr Kennedy, Helen's brother, found Kelvin to have some psychological disorder, after having received Helen's letter from aboard suggesting that she left with anyother man. Dr Kennedy refered Kelvin to a psychiatrist.
- Dr Pencose, Kelvin's psychiatrist, could not find any psychological problems in Kelvin. He would have believed that Kelvin was not mad and did committ a murder, if Dr Kennedy had not provided the evidence that Helen leaving with someone else.

2)Walter Fane-> A Lawyer
- Helen changed her mind about marrying him when she reached India.
- claims to have only friendship relationship with Helen.
- (his account): Helen had mentioned to him that she feared her brother, Kennedy, who was over protective for her.

3) Jackie Affrick-> was one of the member of a entertaining comical group;'Funnybone'.
- shows affection towards Helen

4) Richard Erskine-> a married man with a jeolous wife.
- fully convinced that Helen was dead.
- He could not reached Helen anymore after her mysterious disappearance.
- convinced by Kelvin's story of murdering her.

Witness:
-> Edith Pagett, a housemaid. She heard Helen had a fiece argument with a man.

->Leonie, a swiss girl. She could have possibly saw the murder.
- had bad english
-went back to switzerland.
-told Lily who the murderer could have been.

2nd Victim: Lily Kimble.
Marple had scheduled for Lily Kimble to return to help in the investigation. However, Lily was strangled at a train station before the designated train station. She had also boarded an earlier trian as opposed to the timing writter in Dr kennedy letter. Lily could have possibly met up with the murderer to blackmail him and the murderer died her.

Leads:
-there are some changes in the layout of the house. The stairs to the main door were changed.
-Helen's letter was proved to be geniunely written by her, by her brother, Dr Kennedy.

A possible 20 years ago mystery that was thought to be solved, was awakened. And it claimed one more life. Should the mystery case be left asleep?

Marple BL2: Thirteen problems (13/13)

Death By Drowning (Colonel Bantry's account)

Under maintenance......

Marple Bk2: Thirteen problem (11/13)

The Affair at the bungalow (Jane Helier's account)

Mystery: Leslie being mistaken as burglar of Miss Mary Kerr's bungalow. The jewellery, locked up in jewel case, was stolen. The drawers opened and the content were rifled through.

Marple Bk2: Thirteen problems (11/13)

The Herb of death (Mrs Bantry's account)

Victims: A girl, from Toomie's family, died of ptomaine poisoning- a type of food poisoning while eating on the same table with her family. The rest of the Toomie family members fell ill after Mrs MacArthur sending some herbs to Mrs Toomie for cook.

Was the dead girl targeted to die while the others were to be kept alive?
Sir Ambrace was older and weaker than the girl. The poison in the food should have killed Sir Ambrace before her. Was Sir Ambrace the target, but the unfortunate girl died in his place?

Suspects:
1) Mrs MacArthur
2) Mrs Toomie
3) Sir Ambrose
4) Syliva-> her daily job is to pluck the leaves for cooking.
5) Jerry-> absence when the poisoning took place.

Leads-> Sir Ambrose was sticking against Sylvia's marriage with Jerry Lorimer.
-> Sir Ambrose was believed to be suffering from heart pain.
-> The poison was caused by foxglove- digital leaves which acts on the heart. However it is a valuable drugs for heart trouble.

Marple Bk 2: Thirteen problems (10/13)

A Christmas Tragedy (Miss Marple's account)

Death=> 1. Hall porter-> die of bronchitis's & pneumonia.
2. Housemaid-> had an infection on her septic finger and died in 24 hrs.
3. Mrs Sanders found dead on the floor in a room, facing downward dead.

Was it accident? Mr Sanders lost his balance, fell down against his wife, sending her head first down the stairs. Fortunately, a strongman caught her.

Suspects:
Mr Sanders-> came to the room with Marple's group of ladies to the room and discovered that her wife was dead.
=> could not have possibly killed his wife
-> Mrs Sanders left after playing bridge at 6.15pm. She should reach home at 6.30pm.
-> Mr Sanders went out from 5.30pm and shopped till 6.45pm with Hitchcock and Spender. Later he met Miss Marple's group of ladies and was with them all the way.

Gladys-> Her hat was found on the floor.

Lead-> Pearls below the brim of the hat.
-> Jewel case was rifled
-> Hat cupboard which was in the scene of crime, was locked and no one could have hidden inside.
-> Mrs Sanders' hand was icy cold.

Marple Bk 2: Thirteen problem (9/13)

The Four Suspects (Sir Henry's account)

A story of (undiscovered crimes Vs unsolved crimes)

Victim - Dr Rosen was in secret service. He lived in isolated place with 4 family members. He fell down the stairs and died. The cause of the fall was unknown.

What the suspects were doing when the murder was committed?:
1) Greta, niece -> planting bulb
2) Charles Templeton, secretary -> went out for a walk
3) Gertrud, old German Servant with 40yrs of service-> in kitchen and heard nothing of anyone falling down the stairs.
4) Dobbs, gardener & handyman ->in plotting shed.

Mystery: Dr Rosen expected that someone will try to kill him. There must have been message from outside to instigate murder in the house. There are letters being delivered to the house. One letter was mailed in recently and had no recipient name on it. It is highly suspected to be the letter to instigate the murder of Dr Rosen, by pushing him off the stairs.

Suspects for the ownership of the letter:
#1) For Gerturd (above all suspicion)
#2) For Mr Templeton
#3) Dr Rosen, himself

Leads -> The letter has a word; (Honesty)
Greta pleaded to Sir Henry that Charles is not the murderer. The word; (Honesty) may have something to do with the gardening catalogue.

Marple's Anology -> Annie Poultny with 50yrs faithful service to Miss Lamb was suspected of making away with Miss Lamb's will. However, nothing can be proven. In the end, the letter of will was found safely in a secret drawer.

(It isn't really guilt that is important- it's the innocence.)

Marple Bk 2: Thirteen problem (8/13)

The Companion (Dr Lloyrd's account)

Mystery: Two good friends, Amy & Mary Barton came to an island for holiday. Amy was drowning when she was swimming in the sea. Mary saw it and swam to her and tried to save her, but failed to save her. After Amy was being pulled back to the shore, Dr Lloyrd attended to her while Mary left because she was grief stricken. It was too late for Dr Lloyrd to do anything to save Amy. Mary was remorseful, left a suicide note and committed suicide by drowning herself in the sea. Her body was never found.

Did Amy die of natural death in the sea?
Amy was an orphan at early age. She was brought up by an uncle. She is poor but she met Mary who is rich. Mary hired her as an employee for her company and Amy became a close friend and a companion to Mary whom has traveled many places with Mary. Mary could not have possibly gained anything from the death of Amy.

Curious:
1) The companionship between Amy and Mary was supposed to be very strong. However, Dr Lloyrd sensed that they did not have much attachment between them.
2) Mary had asked Dr Lloyrd before if taking the laws into one's own hand ever justified, even when the law is powerless.
3) How could Mary's body never to be recovered after drowning herself in the sea?

Leads:
1) The clothes left behind on the shore suggesting the place Mary had committed suicide.
2) Mary's asset and estate goes to a family of cousin in Australia.
3) Dr Lloyrd had met the girls when they first came onto the island. Dr Lloyrd recognised them by the size of the swimming costumes.

Marple's analogy: Old Mrs Trout drew old age pension. Some families were very poor, having an old age pension would help their children alot. Her children started to die one by one. Old Mrs Trout was good at red herring. She was cheerful and unrepentant up to the last.