The Adventure of the Financier's Fall

Last Saturday evening, Harrison Hawksworth, reputed to be one of London's wealthiest financiers, attended a dinner party hosted by Sir Alan Benchly of Cripton Manor.

Among the persons in attendance were Jonathan and Arthur Hawksworth, Harrison's sons; Lord Mitsford and his flirtatious wife, Lady Elaine; and Brian O'Neill, a noted securities broker.

Promptly at 9.00 p.m. the party sat for dinner, beginning with Benchly's culinary specialty, chicken soup with leeks. At the table Hawksworth's scandalous remarks to his son provoked Jonathan to toss a glass of wine into his father's face.

Over after-dinner brandy, a casual reply by Brian O'Neill to Arthur concerning his father's latest dealing in the market, apparently induced Harrison Hawksworth to leave the room in a fit of pique.

Around 10.45 p.m. Ezra Hailey, a footman, remarks to the other servants that he has seen Harrison Hawksworth and a second figure, obscured in the darkness, on a second story bedroom balcony of the estate.

Within the hour the body of Harrison Hawksworth, his neck broken, was discovered on the ground below the balcony. A search of the balcony by the police revealed only a partially smoked cigarette imprinted with two gold bands.

A distraught Elizabeth Forester has come to 221B Baker Street. Her fiance, Jonathan Hawksworth, has been arrested by Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard for the murder of his father.