The narrative follows the investigation of a murder case involving Samuel Chapman, who is accused of killing his estranged partner, Rebecca Mings. The story begins with Chapman’s brother, George, seeking help from a detective, Thorndyke, after Samuel is arrested for murder. Samuel had been living with Rebecca, a woman of questionable character, and their tumultuous relationship culminated in her disappearance. Samuel's troubles began when he was wrongfully accused of pickpocketing after finding a woman's purse. Despite his innocence, he was arrested and later released when the accuser vanished. Upon returning home, he discovered an advertisement regarding a box he had left at a hotel, which contained his stock of jewelry. However, when he went to claim it, he was arrested again, this time for murder, as police had found dismembered remains in the box. The investigation reveals that the remains belonged to Rebecca, identified by a distinctive tattoo. However, the evidence against Samuel appears circumstantial. Thorndyke, skeptical of the straightforward narrative, begins to investigate further. He examines the remains and the box, discovering inconsistencies that suggest a conspiracy rather than a straightforward murder. Thorndyke deduces that the real culprits are likely Rebecca and a man named Gamble, who had a close relationship with her. They had conspired to frame Samuel by switching the contents of the box and using a post-mortem tattoo to mislead investigators. The timeline of events reveals a pattern of deceit, with both Rebecca and Gamble disappearing around the time of the murder. As the investigation unfolds, Thorndyke gathers evidence that ultimately exonerates Samuel. He presents his findings, leading to the arrest of Rebecca and Gamble for their roles in the crime. The story concludes with the resolution of the case, highlighting themes of deception, the complexity of human relationships, and the pursuit of justice.
By R. Austin Freeman · First published 1914 · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Detective Fiction