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The death of Sir Levikus (Posted on 2005-07-12) Difficulty: 2 of 5
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!

  Submitted by pcbouhid    
Rating: 3.8125 (16 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
The order in which the suspects entered the study is : Tom, Lady Jane, Simone, Martin, Reny, Cristian, Lisa and Nathan. Thus, Nathan was the murderer.

The key is the coffee.

Four cups were used, so three people drank with the victim. The second was Simone, but the first and the third are unknown.

Since Cristian and Nathan didnīt drink coffee, Lady Jane, Lisa and Martin are the only other possible coffee drinkers.

Cristian saw no coffee. If he entered before Tom had brought the coffee in, then Lady Jane must have entered still earlier (to take the paper she wanted to see). And Lisa must have returned the paper after Cristian, but before Tom brought the coffee (since he saw it). That would leave only one coffee drinker of the three - Martin - which is impossible. Therefore, Cristian entered after Reny had cleared the coffee.

Since Lisa returned the paper after Cristian, she was too late for coffee. The coffee drinkers must be Lady Jane and Martin, and since Lady Jane saw no paper-knife, she must entered before Simone, and Martin entered after.

Nathan entered after Martin (the first edition), and after Lisa (the newspaper), and so must have been the last person in the study, and therefore the murderer.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Puzzle ThoughtsK Sengupta2024-04-30 09:18:22
No SubjectGeorge Ambrose2022-10-12 04:01:18
SolutionWhodunit?Math Man2017-11-12 21:40:54
100th CommentChris, PhD2012-08-14 02:07:49
Puzzle solutionK Sengupta2007-03-14 04:07:56
No Subjecttrgnllyrntsrhc2005-09-01 09:32:01
re: Another assumptionpcbouhid2005-08-30 14:44:48
Another assumptionRebecca Jaffe2005-08-30 06:03:52
solution--Mahina2005-08-23 22:53:57
re: what if Nathan came earlier?Melissa2005-08-22 02:15:26
If nobody's lying....Melissa2005-08-22 02:13:24
re: what if Nathan came earlier?pcbouhid2005-08-03 21:10:56
what if Nathan came earlier?Christie2005-08-03 20:44:05
re: To BrisoBriso2005-07-29 13:04:03
To Brisojohn2005-07-27 19:59:30
re: Solutionpcbouhid2005-07-26 21:14:15
SolutionMandy2005-07-26 19:56:07
re: Help! I'm stuckAmber2005-07-26 03:26:00
SolutionMan, what a challenge!Chris DeNicola2005-07-25 12:00:14
Is this it?Paws2005-07-25 09:41:21
Some Thoughtsre(2): solutionPaws2005-07-25 08:29:04
re: A questionPenny2005-07-24 23:18:08
SolutionNATHAN killed his fatheBriso2005-07-24 11:07:07
re: the answer lies within the questionryan2005-07-24 05:34:30
the answer lies within the questionryan2005-07-24 05:03:29
A questionBrody2005-07-24 03:29:58
re(2): Wild assumptions ????Penny2005-07-23 18:29:39
re: Wild assumptions ????gail2005-07-23 18:18:01
Solutionsolutionmish2005-07-23 16:04:13
Solutionsolutionmish2005-07-23 15:31:40
Solutionsolutionmish2005-07-23 15:31:32
guessingMandi2005-07-22 22:22:58
Wild assumptions ????Penny2005-07-22 21:06:51
to Penny re(2): Problems with semanticsgail2005-07-22 20:04:10
re(2): Problems with semanticsEric2005-07-22 18:15:10
re: Problems with semanticsPenny2005-07-22 17:55:39
Problems with semanticsEric2005-07-22 15:55:02
re: Resting my case - to Gailpcbouhid2005-07-22 15:47:06
re: Resting my casepcbouhid2005-07-22 04:00:51
Resting my casegail2005-07-22 01:45:56
stuffjon2005-07-21 22:00:38
No Subjectlaura2005-07-21 19:56:50
re(3): mental wanderings, and a request for clarificationpcbouhid2005-07-21 13:43:04
SolutionK.I.S.S.Penny2005-07-21 11:56:51
TomAmber2005-07-21 03:36:23
re(2): mental wanderings, and a request for clarificationgail2005-07-20 23:38:24
re: mental wanderings, and a request for clarificationpcbouhid2005-07-20 23:09:26
Questionmental wanderings, and a request for clarificationgail2005-07-20 17:47:27
re: Assumptions?pcbouhid2005-07-20 16:06:37
QuestionAssumptions?Devin Mahnke2005-07-20 03:25:53
Some ThoughtsI know better than to assume anything.gail2005-07-19 22:56:29
solutionjess2005-07-19 22:27:56
No Subject was in reply to In reply to re : Penny's solution by elimination by my ownPenny2005-07-19 20:06:38
No SubjectPenny2005-07-19 19:59:25
re(2): You canīt assume this !! - To my ownpcbouhid2005-07-19 18:17:57
re: You canīt assume this !! - To my ownmy own2005-07-19 16:49:48
You canīt assume this !! - To my ownpcbouhid2005-07-19 16:23:43
re(4): a solution - To Hmpcbouhid2005-07-19 16:18:59
Some Thoughtsre : Penny's solution by eliminationmy own2005-07-19 16:07:22
re(3): a solutionhm2005-07-19 15:17:58
Iīm enjoying this more than you...pcbouhid2005-07-19 15:01:55
Solutionsimply shown solutionorange_protagonist2005-07-19 14:18:33
re(2): a solutiongail2005-07-19 05:15:14
Help! I'm stuckAmber2005-07-19 03:32:37
re: a solutionAmber2005-07-19 03:00:58
a solutionhm2005-07-18 22:58:03
Solutionjeffrey2005-07-18 21:39:48
SolutionLong detailed solutiongail2005-07-18 07:54:39
re(2): Hopefull Solution-To PcbouhidJessica2005-07-16 15:22:07
re: Hopefull Solution-To Pcbouhidpcbouhid2005-07-16 11:59:41
re(5): Solution!pcbouhid2005-07-16 11:54:30
Hopefull Solution-To PcbouhidJessica2005-07-16 00:17:57
re(4): Solution!ALison2005-07-16 00:09:35
re(3): Solution!pcbouhid2005-07-15 21:22:05
re(2): Solution!ALison2005-07-15 19:50:16
re: Solution!pcbouhid2005-07-15 19:28:05
Solution!ALison2005-07-15 18:52:41
re(3): Solution - to Christinapcbouhid2005-07-15 17:45:34
re(2): Solution - to ChristinaAmber2005-07-15 03:19:45
SolutionTim2005-07-14 21:36:15
re: Solution - to Christinapcbouhid2005-07-14 16:31:39
SolutionChristina2005-07-14 05:59:02
emailSpencer2005-07-14 04:36:47
it wasn't merich2005-07-13 19:42:47
re: My solutionpcbouhid2005-07-13 18:25:07
My solutionBeth2005-07-13 15:43:43
re: A problem with NathanBeth2005-07-13 15:31:01
re: And more, Spencer...brianjn2005-07-13 14:14:49
re: No Subject to Spencerbrianjn2005-07-13 14:01:43
re: Solution by eliminationPenny2005-07-13 04:01:34
SolutionSolution by eliminationPenny2005-07-13 03:44:35
re: to pcbouhidpcbouhid2005-07-12 23:03:21
to pcbouhidSpencer2005-07-12 22:10:33
And more, Spencer...pcbouhid2005-07-12 19:50:38
re: No Subject - to Spencerpcbouhid2005-07-12 19:38:11
No SubjectSpencer2005-07-12 19:23:31
No SubjectSpencer2005-07-12 19:19:07
SolutionPossible SolutionGraeme Donaldson2005-07-12 17:00:55
well i think...Tammy Roy2005-07-12 15:56:53
Some ThoughtsA problem with NathanBob Smith2005-07-12 14:09:44
SolutionVerbose solutionscott2005-07-12 12:41:49
re: solutionbrianjn2005-07-12 08:48:26
Solutionsolutionyocko2005-07-12 07:05:44
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