The Adventure of the Murdered Manager

Holmes and Watson have been invited to the Theatre by Inspector Gregson to help solve the murder of the manager, Roger Selman. He was found in his office, strangled with a length of rope. Among those questioned by Inspector Gregson were some of the performers involved in the variety talent show currently being produced there: magician Harvey Blackwell; mimic and impressionist William Austin; ventriloquist Robert Mylow; and the Trentino Family, an acrobatic troupe consisting of father, Mario, and son and daughter Roberto and Gina. They are all considered the very best in their respective professions.

Selman's secretary, Bella Brockton, gave the following statement: "The show was being rehearsed downstairs when I brought some financial papers into Mr. Selman's office for him to look over. As I left, Mario Trentino entered. Whilst sitting at my desk, I heard them arguing. It seems Mr. Selman had made a pass at Gina, and Mario was ordering him to stay away from her.

Mr. Selman refused, Mario left, obviously in a temper. About 15 minutes later, William Austin came in to see him, staying in his office for about 5 minutes. As he left Mr. Selman called out asking me to get Harvey Blackwell. Mr. Austin said he would get him and then left. It was at least half an hour before Mr. Blackwell came up. He was in the office for 5 minutes and then came out saying "Selman's been murdered". Nobody else came in or out of Mr. Selman's office and I was here the whole time.

Gregson has arrested Blackwell, he being the last person to enter the office. Blackwell can only say that Selman was dead when he entered and claims the delay in his reappearance was caused by his fainting when he saw Selman's dead body. "I don't see how anyone else could do it" said Gregson. The only other entrance to Selman's office is the window but that's two stories up. It would be difficult for someone to get in that way.

"An apparently easy case" replies Holmes. "But perhaps you will allow me to ask a few questions of the other dramatis personae!"