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 believe the order is as follows:

Lady Jane, Cristian, Lisa, Tom, Simone, Reny

Martin can fit anywhere into the order because he made no mention of coffee or the newspaper

Nathan can fit anywhere after Martin, so long as he is not between Lady Jane and Lisa, because he said the newspaper was present. Nathan said that he did not have coffee. this doesn't tell whether the coffee was there or not.

I believe Lady Jane was first. She came in, borrowed the newspaper, and left.

Then followed Cristian. As he said, there was no coffee present, so he and Sir Levikus had brandy. He also said the newspaper was not present.

After him, followed his niece Lisa. She came, returned the newspaper her mother had borrowed and left. She too made no mention of coffee.

Then came Tom. He brought the coffee into the study as he usually did. He said Sir Levikus was reading the newspaper.

Simone was next into the study. Levikus showed Simone the paper knife while they had coffee together. At  this time, it is recognizable that four cups had been used. Two were used during Cristian's visit to the study, and two more during Simne's visit. Unless Sir Levikus was completely intoxicated from the brandy, he most likely wouldn't have used the same cup for both the brandy and the coffee. I know, I know, "but Simone said she saw only one cup had been used". Maybe, just maybe, Simone saw that two cups had been used, but knew that one was obviously Levikus's because he hadn't left the study since dinner. When she said one other had been used, she meant other cup that belonged to one other person.

Next came Reny. She came and and cleared the coffee service.

So, in my explanation either Reny or Nathan killed Sir Levikus. I belive it was Nathan. His answer sounded either nervous or anger filled. He said he did not have coffee with his father. Why would he mention that. He wasn't asked. He didn't say if there was coffee there or not, he only said he did not have coffee. I think Nathan knew he was the one to be removed from the will. He went into study after he had seen that everyone else had visited and most likely made their point as to why they should be included in the will.

Plus there's really only three people that were in the will in the first place. Sir Levikus's wife and children. Anyone else included in the will probably wouldn't kill him if they were to be discluded because having them in the will was really just a kind gesture.

I'm pretty sure that the maid wasn't in the will in the beginning.

 

 

Posted by Spencer on 2005-07-12 19:19:07