Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
May 29, 1963
The Daily News Of The Virgin Islands
Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas County, Virgin Islands
What is this article about?
Detective investigates the stabbing death of pianist Colin McGregor in his apartment. His wife claims an intruder killed him silently while he practiced piano, but the detective suspects her after noticing she should have heard the piano keys bang when his body slumped over them.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Solve A Crime
You Are The Detective
By A. C. GORDON
Upon entering the apartment of the famous concert pianist, Colin McGregor, you see his body slumped over the keyboard of the gleaming white grand piano in one corner of the room, his head and clenched fists lying on the keys of the piano. You also see the handle of the switchblade knife protruding from his back, a crimson stain around the wound spread over the musician's white-shirted back.
Police Officer Mike Shea, who phoned you of the tragedy, enters from an adjoining room. "I'm mighty glad you arrived," he says. "Mrs. McGregor is in much better shape to talk about it now. She was pretty well broken up about this when she called headquarters, and when I got here I couldn't get much sense out of her story. Maybe you'd like to talk to her now."
You nod and walk past him into the other room where you find the pretty young wife of the middle-aged pianist reclining on a chaise longue dabbing at her eyes with a wisp of handkerchief. After introducing yourself, you ask her to tell you what happened.
"Colin was in the other room this evening practicing for his concert which he was to have given tomorrow night, and I was in here reading. I could hear him playing quietly on the piano, but I was engrossed in my book and wasn't paying too much attention to his music, other than the fact that it was a very somber and quiet sort of music. Suddenly I became aware that it had stopped. I called to him, and when there was no answer, I walked into the other room and found him like that . . . dead! Oh, it's too horrible! I realize, of course, that there were a few people who didn't like Colin. He was very temperamental, you know . . . given to sarcastic outbursts . . . and he wounded a lot of feelings. I didn't dream though that someone hated him enough to steal in here and . . ."
She breaks into a fit of sobs.
"You heard no noise at all? No sounds possibly of a struggle?" you ask.
"None at all. The murderer must have been very quiet. We never lock the door . . . and he must have slipped into the room and taken advantage of the sounds of Colin's music to steal up behind him and . . ."
"Was the door between this room and the other room closed?" you break in.
"Only partially . . . enough to close out my vision of the other room, but not enough to close out the sounds of Colin's music."
After meditating for a few seconds, you say, "Mrs. McGregor, there is a serious flaw in your story that has aroused my suspicions. You'll have to accompany me to headquarters for further questioning on the murder of your husband!"
What is the flaw in Mrs. McGregor's story?
Solution
Mrs. McGregor claimed she had heard no sounds from the other room, other than her husband's music. But surely, if Colin McGregor had been stabbed from behind by an intruder, as she related, there would have been a discordant banging of notes from the piano when the musician's head and clenched fists struck the keys!
You Are The Detective
By A. C. GORDON
Upon entering the apartment of the famous concert pianist, Colin McGregor, you see his body slumped over the keyboard of the gleaming white grand piano in one corner of the room, his head and clenched fists lying on the keys of the piano. You also see the handle of the switchblade knife protruding from his back, a crimson stain around the wound spread over the musician's white-shirted back.
Police Officer Mike Shea, who phoned you of the tragedy, enters from an adjoining room. "I'm mighty glad you arrived," he says. "Mrs. McGregor is in much better shape to talk about it now. She was pretty well broken up about this when she called headquarters, and when I got here I couldn't get much sense out of her story. Maybe you'd like to talk to her now."
You nod and walk past him into the other room where you find the pretty young wife of the middle-aged pianist reclining on a chaise longue dabbing at her eyes with a wisp of handkerchief. After introducing yourself, you ask her to tell you what happened.
"Colin was in the other room this evening practicing for his concert which he was to have given tomorrow night, and I was in here reading. I could hear him playing quietly on the piano, but I was engrossed in my book and wasn't paying too much attention to his music, other than the fact that it was a very somber and quiet sort of music. Suddenly I became aware that it had stopped. I called to him, and when there was no answer, I walked into the other room and found him like that . . . dead! Oh, it's too horrible! I realize, of course, that there were a few people who didn't like Colin. He was very temperamental, you know . . . given to sarcastic outbursts . . . and he wounded a lot of feelings. I didn't dream though that someone hated him enough to steal in here and . . ."
She breaks into a fit of sobs.
"You heard no noise at all? No sounds possibly of a struggle?" you ask.
"None at all. The murderer must have been very quiet. We never lock the door . . . and he must have slipped into the room and taken advantage of the sounds of Colin's music to steal up behind him and . . ."
"Was the door between this room and the other room closed?" you break in.
"Only partially . . . enough to close out my vision of the other room, but not enough to close out the sounds of Colin's music."
After meditating for a few seconds, you say, "Mrs. McGregor, there is a serious flaw in your story that has aroused my suspicions. You'll have to accompany me to headquarters for further questioning on the murder of your husband!"
What is the flaw in Mrs. McGregor's story?
Solution
Mrs. McGregor claimed she had heard no sounds from the other room, other than her husband's music. But surely, if Colin McGregor had been stabbed from behind by an intruder, as she related, there would have been a discordant banging of notes from the piano when the musician's head and clenched fists struck the keys!
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
What keywords are associated?
Detective Puzzle
Murder Mystery
Pianist Stabbed
Wife Suspect
Story Flaw
Discordant Notes
What entities or persons were involved?
By A. C. Gordon
Literary Details
Title
Solve A Crime: You Are The Detective
Author
By A. C. Gordon
Key Lines
Upon Entering The Apartment Of The Famous Concert Pianist, Colin Mcgregor, You See His Body Slumped Over The Keyboard Of The Gleaming White Grand Piano In One Corner Of The Room, His Head And Clenched Fists Lying On The Keys Of The Piano. You Also See The Handle Of The Switchblade Knife Protruding From His Back, A Crimson Stain Around The Wound Spread Over The Musician's White Shirted Back.
Suddenly I Became Aware That It Had Stopped. I Called To Him, And When There Was No Answer, I Walked Into The Other Room And Found Him Like That . . . Dead!
"You Heard No Noise At All? No Sounds Possibly Of A Struggle?" You Ask.
"None At All. The Murderer Must Have Been Very Quiet.
Mrs. Mcgregor Claimed She Had Heard No Sounds From The Other Room, Other Than Her Husband's Music. But Surely, If Colin Mcgregor Had Been Stabbed From Behind By An Intruder, As She Related, There Would Have Been A Discordant Banging Of Notes From The Piano When The Musician's Head And Clenched Fists Struck The Keys!