The Possible Murder of Georgina Byrne

[curious]

It's not the vanishing act I'm complaining about. It's the fact that he said he was going to go for a doctor. Then did not do so. This might have meant a long delay while Duffin waited for him to return before it was decided to take Mrs Byrne to a hospital. In short, his lie might have meant there was no chance of saving her life when there might have otherwise have been a chance.

Gotcha.

You've already wondered about Duffin's account of things and his strict adherence to the truth. I wonder if it is possible in some cases, certain things might have been "glossed over" officially?

For a massive heart attack or aneurysm there's little to nothing that can be done even with today's medical advances.

curious

[David Orsam]

For a massive heart attack or aneurysm there's little to nothing that can be done even with today's medical advances.

Sure but how could he have known what had happened to her at the time? Or whether there was a chance she could survive if she received urgent medical attention?

[John G]

Seems like an attempted robbery, as the "victim" had a substantial amount of money on her person. For instance, £2 10s (£2.50) in gold, at 1888 values, would be worth over £300 today: http://inflation.stephenmorley.org

[curious]

Sure but how could he have known what had happened to her at the time? Or whether there was a chance she could survive if she received urgent medical attention?

Well, it is entirely possible he was just a cad -- on numerous levels.

curious

[John G]

As for the deceased I did a little bit of preliminary work in Ancestry.

Her maiden name was Nelson and she married John Byrne in circa 1877 (unconfirmed).

At the time of her death she was living at 42A Broad Street in Canterbury.

She had a son, Reginald John Matthew Byrne (born 1882) and she left a personal estate of just over £138.

Equivalent of about £16700 today: http://inflation.stephenmorley.org

[Pierre]

It's not the vanishing act I'm complaining about. It's the fact that he said he was going to go for a doctor. Then did not do so. This might have meant a long delay while Duffin waited for him to return before it was decided to take Mrs Byrne to a hospital. In short, his lie might have meant there was no chance of saving her life when there might have otherwise have been a chance.

Some leading questions for you here, Oscar.

Why did he have the parcel in his hand?

Why did he hand it over to the policeman?

Why did he say he was the husband?

Why did he say he would get help?

Why did he not do so?

Why was he not at the inquest?

You dear boy Pierre

[David Orsam]

Some leading questions for you here, Oscar.

Why did he have the parcel in his hand?

Why did he hand it over to the policeman?

Why did he say he was the husband?

Why did he say he would get help?

Why did he not do so?

Why was he not at the inquest?

You dear boy Pierre

My dear boy, have you been drinking?

[Pierre]

My dear boy, have you been drinking?

Yes. I have been drinking a bottle of MNWR.

[David Orsam]

Yes. I have been drinking

I thought so my dear boy, I thought so.

[Pierre]

I thought so my dear boy, I thought so.

Really? So why have you not tried it?

[Pierre]

Some leading questions for you here, Oscar.

Why did he have the parcel in his hand?

Why did he hand it over to the policeman?

Why did he say he was the husband?

Why did he say he would get help?

Why did he not do so?

Why was he not at the inquest?

You dear boy Pierre

OK, so no reply from you.

Then, having been drinking the bottle of MNWR, I will answer the questions for you.

Why did he have the parcel in his hand?

Because he had taken it from Mrs Byrne.

Why did he hand it over to the policeman?

Because it belonged to Mrs Byrne.

Why did he say he was the husband?

Because that was an explanation as to why he had the parcel in his possession when the police showed up.

Why did he say he would get help?

Because that was the method, i.e. lying, to get away from the site.

Why did he not do so?

Because he used a lie to get away from the site.

Why was he not at the inquest?

Because he had lied to get away from the site.

Yes, Oscar?

And the bottle of MNWR is cheap and it is easy to use. Mr Nelson was right.

[David Orsam]

My dear boy, your extraordinary intellect has, I see, once again been put to incredible use in answering your own questions, with answers of such insight that I don't think they could have occurred to any other human being, let alone any other member of this forum.

Thank you, my dear boy, for solving the entire mystery surrounding Georgina Byrne's death.

[John G]

Ah, having read further, which is what I should have probably done in the first place, see the complexity in this case now: why would a mugger/robber be dressed in "gentlemanly" fashion?

[John G]

OK, so no reply from you.

Then, having been drinking the bottle of MNWR, I will answer the questions for you.



Because he had taken it from Mrs Byrne.



Because it belonged to Mrs Byrne.



Because that was an explanation as to why he had the parcel in his possession when the police showed up.



Because that was the method, i.e. lying, to get away from the site.



Because he used a lie to get away from the site.



Because he had lied to get away from the site.

Yes, Oscar?

And the bottle of MNWR is cheap and it is easy to use. Mr Nelson was right.

Mais pourquoi, Pierre?

[curious]

Ah, having read further, which is what I should have probably done in the first place, see the complexity in this case now: why would a mugger/robber be dressed in "gentlemanly" fashion?

I know, John. I spoke first and read the fine print later, too. Because the clippings were difficult to read, I skipped over the additions because of my eyesight. Then had to go back and re-read everything.

Human frailty.

I still think she had been dancing, probably with top-hat guy and he was either seeing her to her hotel or train station, perhaps even all the way over to her sister's place in Chelsea when she collapsed.

curious