Sir Levikus, one evening, rather unwisely, announced at dinner that he was cutting someone out of his will. Sure enough, the next morning, Sir Levikus was found slumped over the desk in his study, having been fatally stabbed with a paper-knife.

Herlock Sholmes, renowned private investigator, immediately began questioning all the suspects to discover who had seen the victim last.

Here are their statements, all of which are true:

a) His long-time friend, Martin, said : "I went to the study to show Sir Levikus a first edition I bought yesterday. He kept it to examine more closely."

b) Lady Jane (my sweet Lady Jane...), Sir Levikusīs wife (now widow), said : "I borrowed the evening newspaper from my husband. There was no paper-knife present at that time; I would have remembered it."

c) Nathan, the son of the deceased, said: "I did not have coffee with my father. When I went to the study he was reading the newspaper and smoking a cigar. He showed me Martinīs first edition."

d) Lisa, Sir Levikusīs daughter, said : "I went to return the newspaper mother had borrowed."

e) Tom, the butler, said: "As was usual after dinner, I brought the coffee service to the study. Sir Levikus was at his desk reading the evening newspaper."

f) Reny, the maid, said: "I only went in to clear the coffee service. I did see that four cups had been used."

g) Cristian, the brother of the murdered man, said: "Since there was no coffee when I went to the study, we had brandy together. I wanted to look at the newspaper, but it was not in the room."

h) Simone, Sir Levikusīs niece, said: "Certainly I recognize the paper-knife. My uncle brought it out when we were having coffee together. I noticed that one other cup had been used."

Herlock Sholmesīs incisive brain immediately determined who was the last person to visit Sir Levikus and thus, was his murderer.

Who was the killer? Can you list Sir Levikusīs eight visitors in order? Show your reasoning!

I came up with a couple of options, and I haven't been able to disprove either yet:

*Jane         borrowed paper, no knife present
*Christian  no coffee, no paper
*Lisa          returned paper
*Tom         brought coffee, paper present (drank 2nd
                        coffee, Levik drank 1st)
*Simone     knife present, drank 3rd coffee
*Martin      showed Levik 1st edition (drank 4th coffee)
NATHAN?   did not have coffee, paper present, 1st edn present
*Reny         cleared coffee, 4 cups used
NATHAN?    did not have coffee, paper present, 1st edn present

Just because Tom is the butler, I don't think we can assume he did not bave a cup of coffee. Actually since he is a suspect he therefore must have gotten something in the will, so he probably was friendly enough to share a cuppa.

The other order I came up with is:
*Tom
*Jane
*Simone
*Martin
*Reny
*Christian
*Lisa
*Nathan
This is the same as a couple of the solutions already submitted, and is probably correct.

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Here is how I worked it out. I group the suspects as follows:

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*Martin gave Sir Levikus 1st edition
*Nathan Levikus showed him 1st edition
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*Lady Jane borrowed newspaper
*Christian newspaper not in office
*Lisa returned newspaper
------------------------------------------
*Tom brought coffee
*Simone shared coffee
*Reny cleared coffee
--------------------------------------------

plus...
--------------------------------------------
*Lady Jane borrowed newspaper no knife present
*Simone knife present
*Reny came after Simone, as shown above
--------------------------------------------
EITHER
Nathan & or Tom (saw newspaper)
*Lady Jane borrowed newspaper
*Christian newspaper not in office
*Lisa returned newspaper
Nathan & or Tom (saw newspaper)
------------------------------------------

 

Tom                 Jane
Simone            Simone
Reny                Reny
Who came first, Jane or Tom?
------------------------
IF Jane came first:
*Jane – borrowed paper, no knife present
                     Tom comes somewhere after Jane, but Tom saw that Levik had the paper, so the paper must first be returned
*Christian newspaper not in office
*Lisa returned newspaper
*Tom brought coffee
*Simone shared coffee 3rd
*Reny cleared coffee

Assumption: Reny did not drink the 4th coffee, as she saw that 4 cups had been used. Nathan did not have coffee, so Martin must come between Simone and Reny to have the 4th cup
Nathan must come after Martin, so it was Tom who drank the 2nd coffee
*Jane
*Christian
*Lisa
*Tom brought coffee
*Simone shared coffee 3rd
*Martin shared coffee 4th
NATHAN?
*Reny cleared coffee
NATHAN?
---------------------

IF Tom came first:
*Tom brought coffee
*Jane borrowed newspaper
*Simone shared coffee 3rd
Someone shared coffee 4th
*Reny cleared coffee
Christian and Lisa must also come after Jane. But when Christian came there was no coffee, so since he can not come before Tom he must come after Reny Than means Lisa must also come after Reny
*Christian
*Lisa

Again, Martin and Nathan are left to be fitted in. Nathan did not have coffee, so Martin must have had the 4th coffee. Nathan must come somewhere after Martin. However Nathan saw that Levik was reading the newspaper, so he must also come after Lisa returns it.
*Tom
*Jane
*Simone
*Martin
*Reny
*Christian
*Lisa
*Nathan

Edited on July 19, 2005, 3:33 am

Posted by Amber on 2005-07-19 03:32:37