  It was a dark, starless, moonless night. The nearest habitation was five miles. The eyes of no animal ever shine in the dark unless there is a light by which they can be reflected, and a man’s eyes never shine under any circumstances. Therefore, Butler could not possibly have seen any eyes shining at him in the dark. It was clearly murder. And thy deep eyes, amid the gloom, Shine like jewels in a shroud. Longfellow. 2. On the ScentNot even a prohibition agent would use alcohol in an automobile radiator in or about Miami! The oil and wine of merry meeting. Irving. 3. Fatal ErrorThe Professor knew it would take a keener pair of eyes than Bronson’s to see a nod in the dark. The lights had not been turned on. Remember? Darkness visible. Milton. 4. The Poison Murder CaseUnless Bob Kewley had returned home after telling the Professor he was going to the theater, he could not have known the library door was locked. The fact that he did, coupled with the strong motive, naturally directed suspicion to him. He inadvertently gave himself away.
5. A Strange ‘Kidnaping’Had Johnson wound his watch immediately before 2 A.M. Friday, the time of his alleged No standard-make watch will run sixty hours without winding. This act is an ancient tale new told; Being urged at a time unseasonable. Shakespeare. 6. A Valuable FormulaIn a small room the intruder would unquestionably have heard Hyde dialing Headquarters, and therefore could not have been unaware of his presence. As Hyde had obviously lied about this, Fordney was convinced he had fabricated the entire story in order to sell the formula twice.
7. StrangledThere had been a dry, hot spell at that place for twenty-two days. Irene Greer’s hair was
8. Death in the OfficeGifford could not have been shot at the time he called Fordney, as he was found with a bullet through his heart. The Professor’s theory was that Gifford wanted his death to appear as murder in order to protect his heavy insurance. The heart does not lie. Alfieri. 9. They Usually Forget SomethingThe note, although misspelled, poorly expressed, and written by a seemingly illiterate hand, was punctuated properly, in two places. A semicolon and a comma would not have been used had the writer been an uneducated man. Force of habit had betrayed him! You write with ease to show your breeding, But easy writing’s curst hard reading. Sheridan. 10. The Professor Gives a LessonCardoni said he saw the kidnapers around a table as he peered through the keyhole. Yale locks do not have keyholes. Kelley was justified in throwing him out, don’t you think? The class found this an easy one—did you?
11. Upstairs and DownThe policeman ran through the hall and unlocked the kitchen door. The doors to the porch and cellar were locked on the inside. Had the old lady committed suicide, she could not have locked the door leading to the hall from the outside. The murderer, in leaving, locked this door and forgot to remove the key. The inevitable slip!
12. Class DayThe student readily recognized the absurdity of the Professor’s story which he had given to his class to test their quick detection of a glaring inconsistency. If it must be explained, an orchestra under personal leadership does not play during the showing of a ‘talkie.’ Right?
13. A Hot PursuitSmith said he ran after the burglar. Had he done so he could not have known the cellar window had been chiseled open. Therefore, his story was obviously faked. A lie never lives to be old. Sophocles. 14. A Question of IdentityAs Diana Lane was walking down the corridor with her back to Nora, it was impossible
15. A Yachtsman’s AlibiAs Picus said there was no breeze, the distress flag would have hung limp against the mast, and the Captain could not have seen, at that distance, whether or not the flag was upside down. That’s all the Professor needed to determine the falsity of his alibi. However, Picus was a poor sailor. While the International Distress Signal is a flag flown upside down, it is by custom and regulation always flown at half-mast. ... And the sea charm’d into a calm so still That not a wrinkle ruffles her smooth face. Dryden. 16. Murder at Coney IslandJasper said he found the woman sitting up in the middle of the chariot. The motion of
17. Too CleverThe murderer tried to give the impression that Dawson had died before finishing the incriminating note. Had he written it and died before completing it, he could not have put the pen back in the tray where it was found. In his effort to incriminate Lynch, the murderer had been too cautious. A costly oversight. Man’s caution often into danger turns, And his guard falling crushes him to death. Young. 18. Bloody MurderThe Professor knew it was not suicide, because Thompson’s coat, which was flung Blood, though it sleep a time, yet never dies. Chapman. 19. Death Back-StageThere were no finger-prints on the gun which killed Claudia Mason. She could not have shot herself in the temple and then wiped off the revolver. The murderer neglected to get her fingerprints on the gun.
20. An Easy CombinationIt would have been impossible for Fellows to have hastily dialed a number in the dark. Try it!
21. A Modern KnightThe fact that the bullet was found in the body and the only trace of its firing was the hole in the curtain below the window-sill proved conclusively the shot could not have been fired from within the room. Rocca entered at the moment his sister shot Chase from outside. Grabbing the gun from her hand, he chivalrously protected her.
22. The Jewel RobberyThe butler said that, as he called for help, Dudley, a stranger, rushed in. Owings had locked up before leaving and, therefore, Dudley could not have rushed in through a locked door. The robbery was obviously framed by Stuben and Dudley.
23. Before the Coroner’s InquestCurry could not possibly have ‘looked up’ while rowing upstream and seen the action
24. The Fifth Avenue Hold-UpBaldwin said, ‘Mr. Cross tried to call my attention to it [safe] with a jerk of his thumb’ at a time when Cross was unconscious. Obviously impossible. Baldwin was lying, which there was no reason for doing had he been innocent. When all sins are old in us, and go upon crutches. Covetousness does but then lie in her cradle. Decker. 25. Behind Locked DoorsKingston thought his boldness in calling attention to his own footprints in the carpet would distract Fordney’s attention from their significance. The room had been locked for three months. Of the three men, only Watkins rushed into the room; Fordney and Kingston halting over Cunning differs from wisdom As twilight from open day. Dr. Johnson. 26. Lost at SeaIt would have been impossible for Mrs. Rollins to have seen a man pick up from the deck the bag of diamonds. On a dark, moonless night at sea one literally cannot see his hand before his face.
27. A Suave GunmanTaylor said the bandit wore a silver belt-buckle. This he could not have seen, for he stated: ‘As the robber passed through the door, he unbuttoned his coat and slipped the revolver in his back pocket.’ It would have been impossible for Taylor to have seen the man’s belt-buckle when his coat was buttoned. As this statement was false, the rest of his account was disregarded by the Professor. He draweth out the thread of his verbosity Finer than the staple of his argument. Shakespeare. 28. Accidental DeathHad the man’s injuries been caused only by being thrown through the windshield, there would have been no blood on the front seat of the car. Therefore, the Professor knew the blood on the seat had been caused by injuries to the man, with probable murderous intent, before he was thrown through the windshield. His assailant had killed him, started the car, and had then hopped off the running-board, hoping the wreckage would cover the murder.
29. Easy MoneyWilkins said he saw the burglar pick up a stack of ten- and twenty-dollar bills from the table in the center of the large library. Had he not been guilty, he could not have known what the denominations of the bills were. It would have been impossible to have determined this from the doorway. An unconscious slip on his part. If you are doubtful, just try to determine the denomination of a stack of bills on a table in the center of a large room, from the doorway. For any man with half an eye, What stands before him may espy; But optics sharp it needs I ween, To see what is not to be seen. John Trumbull. 30. Robbery at High NoonHe was suspicious of John, the nephew, of course. Upon being asked where he was at the time of the robbery, he stated he was ‘hauling in a muskie.’ Unless he had guilty knowledge, he could not He fell neatly into the Professor’s trap, don’t you think? Let guilty men remember, their black deeds Do lean on crutches made of slender reeds. John Webster. 31. The Wrong Foot ForwardPaslovsky, the witness, who could not understand or speak enough English to make a simple statement to the court, yet knew exactly what the conductor yelled to the motorman. This was so patently impossible that the Judge was entirely justified in dismissing the suit.
32. Death Attends the PartyHad Dawes fallen on the table after being shot, the jar would have knocked over the ‘crazily balanced glasses.’ As the Professor
33. No Way OutThe note was written with pencil, yet there was no pencil found in the room. Apparently the murderer wrote the note to resemble the dead man’s handwriting and through force of habit put it in his pocket. Men are men; the best sometimes forget. Shakespeare. 34. Midnight MurderDay said he got the blood on his muffler when he bent over Quale’s body. As blood coagulates and dries in a short time, it would have been impossible for him to have stained his muffler unless it had touched the blood of Quale shortly after his death. Murder, though it have no tongue, Will speak with most miraculous organ. Shakespeare. 35. Speakeasy Stick-UpSullivan, the bartender, said that, as he worked the combination to open the wall safe, he heard the hold-up man behind him. As he was not permitted to move, he could not have known the gunman was a big, tough-looking mug, as he described him. As there would be no other motive in telling this impossible story, the hold-up was faked. Inspiring, bold John Barleycorn, What dangers thou canst make us scorn. Burns. 36. Behind TimeThe engineer said he had not seen Nelson until he was practically on top of him. That, of course, is impossible. An engineer of a train You cram these words into mine ears, Against the stomach of my sense. Shakespeare. 37. A Broken EngagementMolly said she had retired at ten, after locking her door, and had not awakened until Fordney had aroused her. Yet a few minutes after Dot had been murdered, the Professor idly ‘shaped the wax’ of the candle on her desk. This would have been impossible had not the candle been burning within a few minutes before he entered. Her insistence that she had been asleep, together with the strong motive, convinced Fordney she was involved, as was later proved.
38. The Holden Road MurderHad the butler dashed in the front door as he said he did, there would have been foot-tracks in the vestibule. Remember, the Professor ‘splashed his way through the mud and rain, to the door of 27 Holden Road,’ and found the vestibule spotless. Therefore, Wilkins was lying, and as Cannon corroborated his story, he was also necessarily involved. Nay, her foot speaks. Shakespeare. 39. Fishermen’s LuckHolmes could not have seen the bag on the bottom of the lake during a cloudburst. The agitation of even crystal clear water under such conditions would have so disturbed the surface that an object on the bottom could not be seen.
40. The Unlucky ElephantHolman was lying face down with his topcoat buttoned; therefore, if his watch crystal For never, never wicked man was wise. Homer. 41. The Professor ListensThe notice of the bank failure, appearing in the Jacksonville Herald, was dated July 5th. This could not have reached Delavin at a remote part of Cuba, unserviced by planes, in time for him to get back to New York on the 6th. His alibi, therefore, was completely broken, as he said the newspaper clipping brought him back. Time is the herald of truth. Cicero. 42. Ten-FifteenThe secretary said he heard Waters talking to Fordney over the telephone. As Fordney’s name was not mentioned during the conversation, the secretary could not have known to whom Waters was talking. It’s the little things that count—in crime detection.
43. Rapid TransitThe driver could not possibly have seen from the front seat anyone standing on the tail-gate of the big van.
44. The Professor is DisappointedFordney pointed to the raindrops glistening on a leaf in the shoe impression. According to Vi Cargo’s statement, the burglar had jumped from her window after it had stopped raining.
45. A Dramatic TriumphSibyl Mortimer said Boswell had telephoned her shortly after nine. As he was on the stage Obviously she had some reason for stating he did. Fordney was quick to detect the flaw in her alibi.
46. Murder at the LakeA strong east wind blew off the lake; therefore, regardless of the direction in which he was walking, Rice’s hat could not possibly have blown into the lake. The Professor was naturally suspicious of him when he told such a ridiculous lie. Is’t possible? Sits the wind in that corner? Shakespeare. 47. The Professor Studies a CoatAs the man had removed his overcoat on entering the Professor’s living-room, it was perfectly patent he had not been handcuffed. He said he ran over to Fordney’s immediately after the bandits left. Truth has not such an urgent air. Boileau. 48. Too LateFordney doubted Palmer’s innocence because of his statement, ‘I’d got there not more than five minutes behind him.’ There was, of course, no way he could have determined when Frank had arrived at the cabin.
49. Sergeant Reynolds’s TheoryThe Professor told Reynolds, ‘There was no blood between the road and the boulder.’ Had the man rolled down the embankment, there would have been some blood on the rocks along the path his body took. How hast thou purchased this experience? By my penny of observation. Shakespeare. 50. Daylight RobberyAs no safe locks unless the combination is turned, Shaeffer’s story of banging it closed
51. A Simple SolutionHad Smith committed suicide, the window through which he jumped would not have been closed as Fordney found it.
52. Who?Kelley arrested Weeds, the butler. He said he dropped on the bed the blood-covered towel with which he was trying to arrest the flow from the maid’s wrist as Jones struck at him. Yet Kelley and Fordney found the bed coverlet immaculate. Had Weeds done as he said, there would have been blood-stains on the bedcover. Blood follows blood. Defoe. 53. Murder in the SwampThe three sets of Bob’s footprints in the path told Fordney the story. Had Bob been at the house when his friend was shot, as he contended, there would have been four sets of his footprints.
54. Death by DrowningHad the accident occurred as explained by Carroll, the oar of Ridge’s boat could not have been found, as it was, at the dock opposite the point where he jumped in. The current would have deposited it downstream. Therefore, the Professor recommended the detention of the brothers.
55. Tragedy at the ConventionFordney suspected Pollert because of his own statements that he did not know Hurlenson As his own room was down the corridor, he could not have known from what room the shot came, and he had no reason to assume it came from Hurlenson’s room.
56. A Murderer’s MistakeThese murderers, like many others, betrayed themselves by a simple oversight. One look at the ladder and Fordney knew no man could have climbed up or down it. The thirty-foot ladder was placed two feet from the house. Any person ascending or descending the ladder in such a position would have fallen backwards before reaching the top or bottom. To all facts there are laws, The effect has its cause, And I mount to the cause. Lord Lytton. 57. Babe Comes ThroughThere is a screen on the grandstand behind the home plate. Fordney had noticed a few seconds before, in the box next to him, the man whom the policeman had caught running down the ramp. As he could not have thrown a bottle through the screen, and, in the time at his disposal, could not have reached either side of the screen, Fordney knew he was innocent. He had noticed the man after two strikes and three balls had been called, and the pitcher delivered the next ball quickly. We must have bloody noses and crack’d crowns, God’s me, my horse! Shakespeare. 58. A Soldier of FortuneHamilton knew the real Walter Briggs had gone to Africa as a child. So, when this chap said he had shot tigers in Africa, Fordney was very, very skeptical. There are no tigers in Africa. Oh, well—look it up yourself!
59. Number Twenty-SixThe inconsistency is this: Farrell said he pushed open the door. Yet Bradford, inside the house, pushed the door in Kelley’s face as the Inspector was entering. If Bradford pushed the door in Kelley’s face, Farrell must have pulled the door to open it. The smallest hair throws its shadow. Goethe. 60. The Pullman Car MurderEvery piece of baggage had been examined and every inch of the car inspected. All passengers, even the maid, porter, and brakeman, had been searched. The knife was still in the car. Remember?—there was nothing said about the conductor being searched. The knife was found in his pocket. He was in logic a great crytic, Profoundly skilled in analytic; He could distinguish and divide A hair twixt south and south-west side. Butler. 61. ForgeryThe forged signature was copied from the blotter which Mead had used. Thou strong seducer, opportunity. Dryden. 62. The Christmas Eve TragedyThe Professor said to Brown, ‘Sheriff, look for a man in your community who is skilled or adept in the use of stilts. Only a man on stilts could have made the marks in the snow you described.’ P.S. The Professor was right. Be the first to say what is self-evident, And you are immortal. Ebner-Eschenbach. 63. A Knight of the BathYou recall that Leimert was eccentric. No mention of bath room was made. Leimert’s bath had no top, so he climbed out! Silly, what?
64. Murder in the First DegreeThe fact that none of the suspect’s fingerprints were on the dishes or silver used while eating convicted him of first-degree murder. In wiping his own prints from the things he had handled, he destroyed all prints—those of the waitress, cook, etc. A damning bit of evidence that proved premeditation.
65. A Rendezvous with DeathNo one called at the Times for the answers to the advertisement, yet Stone received a reply to his letter of application. The ad was inserted by Carroll under the fictitious name of Jonathan Gills and answered by Stone at his wife’s suggestion. She acquainted her lover, Carroll, with this fact, and he wrote Stone, arranging the meeting at which he disappeared. When any great design thou dost intend, Think on the means, the manner, and the end. Denham. 66. A Rum RegattaThe old sailor whispered to each, ‘Run the other man’s boat.’ As the owner of the last boat to reach Miami was to get the money, each one raced the boat he was driving. By doing so, he hoped to beat his own boat, which was being driven by one of the others.
67. Who is the Heir?John Morgan’s sister, of course!
68. The Professor Stops a BlunderMundy had been unexpectedly called to Washington. Skidder’s secretary said the note was habitually kept at the office. Mundy, therefore, could not possibly have known of Skidder’s intention of taking it home. That was exactly the weakness in the case of the police. Despite the damning circumstantial evidence, motive could not be proved unless it How little do they see what is, who frame Their hasty judgments upon that which seems. Southey. 69. The Perfect CrimeAlas! Peter Johannes had forgotten to remove his mask on leaving the house! Whoever thinks a perfect work to see, Thinks what ne’er was, nor is, nor e’er shall be. Pope. 70. The Professor Sees Through ItWhen Hawkins said, ‘it’s twenty minutes after six’ and ‘it’s a quarter to eleven,’ Fordney knew he was not a railroad man. No railroad worker ever speaks of the time in any other manner than, ‘it’s six-twenty’ and ‘it’s ten-forty-five.’ Ask the next conductor!
71. The Kidnapers’ ClevernessThe express package contained a carrier pigeon.
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