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!

<>In order of apperance in the study:
TOM
LADY JANE
SIMONE
MARTIN
RENY
CHRISTIAN
LISA
NATHAN



TOM enters study to bring coffee for LEVIKUS; he sees LEVIKUS reading the newspaper.

LADY JANE comes in to borrow the newspaper and have a cup of coffee with her husband; LEVIKUS uses CUP 1, JANE uses CUP 2.

SIMONE comes in and has coffee with LEVIKUS; LEVIKUS shows her the pape-knife; LEVIKUS uses CUP 1, SIMONE uses CUP 3 (she sees that ONE OTHER cup has been used).

MARTIN comes in to have a cup of coffee with his friend; shows him the first edition he bought; LEVIKUS uses CUP 1, MARTIN uses CUP 4.

RENY comes in to clear the coffee; sees that all 4 cups have been used; cups used by LEVIKUS, LADY JANE, SIMONE and MARTIN respectively.

CHRISTIAN enters and sees that there is no coffee, also no newspaper, as LADY JANE borrowed it.

LISA comes in to return the newspaper from LADY JANE (her mother).

NATHAN enters; sees there is no coffee; sees LEVIKUS reading the paper LISA brought back; LEVIKUS shows him the first edition from MARTIN.

<>As NATHAN is the last person to enter the study, he is obviously the culprit who murdered his own father.
(LOL ... reminding me of Star Wars for some reason ...)

Posted by Briso on 2005-07-24 11:07:07