Chapter 4 Section 4

The Marie Morisot murder hearing is four days away.The sensational event drew intense public attention, and the hearing was packed. The first witness to appear was a tall, gray-bearded Frenchman, Mette-Alexander.His English is very slow, but very idiomatic. "Have you seen the body," asked the judge, "can you recognize who she is?" "She's my client, Mary Angelique Morisot." "That's the name registered in her passport. Does she have another name?" "Yes, Madame Giselle." There was a buzz in the arena, and the reporters had paper and pens ready.The judge said: "Can you tell me more about this Morisot or Madame Giselle?"

"Madame Giselle is her professional name, she uses it for her business. She is a well-known moneylender in Paris." "Where does she conduct business?" "Jorritt Street, her private residence." "It is said that she often comes to England, and her business has also extended to this country?" "Yes. She has many clients in England, and enjoys a very high reputation in a certain class of English society." "What do you mean by a certain social class?" "Most of her clients are upper-class and professional people. You need to be very cautious when dealing with such clients."

"Could you go into some detail about her various businesses?" "No. I am legally responsible to her. But Mrs. Giselle is a first-rate businessman, with all the qualities of a good businessman. She takes all her businesses under her control. She is, so to speak, a Highly innovative and well-known personalities." "So, as far as you know, she died a wealthy woman?" "Very rich." "As far as you know, has she ever had an enemy?" "I have no idea." Mette Alexander stepped off the stage, and the next witness was Mitchell. "You're an old flight attendant from Universal Aviation Co., Ltd., serving on the Prometheus, isn't that right?"

"yes." "Last Tuesday, the 18th, you were in service on the two o'clock flight from Paris to Croydon, and the deceased was on this flight. Have you seen her before?" "Yes. I served on the 8:45 flight half a year ago, and she took this flight once or twice." "Do you know her name?" "I have records, but I didn't pay special attention." "Have you ever heard of the name Madame Giselle?" "No." "Please tell me what happened at that time." "After I delivered my lunch, I started sending bills. At first I thought she was asleep. After five minutes I tried to wake her up, but she was dead. I found a doctor among the passengers. He said-- "

"Dr. Bryant will be testifying shortly. Please look at this." The blowpipe was brought to Mitchell. "Have you seen it before?" "No." "Did you see one of the passengers holding a blowpipe?" "No." "Albert Davis." The young steward came up. "You're an employee of Universal Airlines Ltd., the second flight attendant on Prometheus flight 2 last week, aren't you?" "yes." "How did you know this happened?" "Mr. Mitchell says a passenger has had an accident." "Have you seen this before?" The blowpipe was sent.

"No." "Did you see a passenger holding a blowpipe?" "No." "Any other clues you think you can offer?" "No." "Very well, you can go down." "Dr. Roger Bryant." Bryant reported his name, address, occupation, etc. "Please describe what happened on the plane last Tuesday, the 18th." "As the flight was approaching Croydon, the steward on duty came to ask me if I was the doctor. He said a passenger was sick. I got up and walked over to him. The woman had been dead for at least half an hour. I estimate about Between half an hour and an hour."

"What do you think of the cause of death?" "It's hard to make a judgment without a detailed inspection." "It was you who noticed the needle eye on the side of her neck, didn't you?" "yes." "Thank you. . . . Dr. James Whistler." Dr. Whistler was thin and short. "Are you the forensic doctor of this police district?" "yes." "Please testify in this case." "Just after 3 o'clock on Tuesday last week, I was called to Croydon Airport and boarded the Prometheus. A middle-aged woman was dead. The death happened about an hour ago. I noticed that There was a small dot on the jugular vein, probably the result of a wasp sting or a small needle stick. After the body was brought to the morgue, I examined it in detail."

"What's your conclusion?" "Death is caused by toxins seeping into the blood vessels, and the heart is suddenly paralyzed." "Tell me about this toxin." "It's a toxin I've never seen before." Dedicated reporters note: "Unknown poison." "Thank you. . . . Henry Winterspout." Mr. Wintersup was a tall man with a good-natured expression.He is the government's chief authority on rare drugs.The judge held up the needle and asked Mr Wintersp if he had seen it. "Saw it. And analyzed it." "Please tell me about the results of the analysis."

"Certainly. Certain tribes used it, by dipping their arrowheads in a poison called curare." "You think the death was caused by curare?" "Oh, no," Wintersp said. "This poison is not produced by humans. According to my analysis, the needle is dipped in a poisonous juice called Boomsland." "What is Boomsland?" "A venomous snake in South Africa, the most venomous snake in the world. Let me give you an example. The venom was injected into a hyena, and it died before the needle was pulled out. The venom caused subcutaneous bleeding and paralysis of the heart. "

Reporters wrote: "Strange Stories. Air Viper Incident. Deadlier Than a Cobra." "Have you ever seen a murder with such poison?" "No." "Thank you, Mr Winterspout." Detective Inspector Wilson testified under oath that the blowpipe found under the seat had no fingerprints.Experiments were made with regard to the firing distance of the blowpipe, and the maximum range was 10 yards. "Hercule Poirot." Poirot's testimony was rigorous enough that he did not notice anything in particular.Yes, it was he who found the small needle on the ground, just below the neck of the deceased.

"The Countess of Horbury." "Earl's Wife Testifies in Air Crash Mystery," wrote the reporters. Their favorite was the young and pretty Vinicia Kerr, but her testimony was less compelling than that of James Ryder. "What's your job?" "The general manager of Ehes Cement Company." "Look carefully at this blowpipe, have you seen it before?" "No." "You were sitting in seat 4 in front of the deceased and could see everything that happened in the cabin?" "No, I can't see because the seats are all high back." "If someone came up the aisle and pointed a blowpipe at the dead, you'd be sure to see it." "Of course, but I don't see that happening." "A man two rows in front of you went to the bathroom." "right." "He walked directly towards you?" "No, he went straight from the bathroom to his seat." "Is he holding something in his hand?" "Nothing." "Who else left the seat?" "The guy in front of me, he passed me to the back of the cabin." "I protest," cried Mr. Clancy, pulling himself up from his seat. "It was before that, around one o'clock." "Sit down, please," said the Judge, "it will be your turn. . . . Go on, Mr. Ryder. Is this gentleman holding anything, then?" "Looks like a pen. He came back with an orange book in his hand." "He's the only one walking towards you? Have you ever left your seat?" "I've been to the bathroom, but I don't have a blowpipe in my hand." "Your tone is disrespectful. Please go down." Norman Gale's testimony was almost always negative, and he was soon replaced by the aggrieved Mr. Clancy. So, the reporter wrote, "The detective novel writer appeared in court, and the well-known writer admitted to buying murder weapons." "Yes," said Clancy, "I did buy a blowpipe, and I brought it with me today. I vehemently protest the association of a murderous blowpipe with my blowpipe. This is my blowpipe." He proudly showing off his blowpipe.The reporters wrote: "Teaching the second blowpipe in the courtroom." Clancy told the judge solemnly that he appeared in court to uphold justice.His long speech was interrupted from time to time, and nothing of value was obtained from his mouth. Jane Gray's testimony meant little to journalists.Then came two Frenchmen.Armand Dupont said he was going to the Royal Asiatic Society to give an academic lecture.On the plane, he and his son had been discussing technical issues and did not pay attention to what was happening around them until they heard that there was a problem with a passenger behind him. "Did you know the dead man?" "do not know." "She is said to be a well-known figure in Paris?" Old Dupont shrugged. "I haven't heard of it. Besides, I'm often away from Paris these days." "As far as I know, you have been to the Middle East recently." "Yes, ancient Persia." "You father and son have been to many mysterious and distant places in the world?" "yes." "Have you ever seen a people who used snake venom as a weapon?" "No, absolutely not." The son's answer was much the same as the father's.He did not recognize the deceased and did not notice anything on the plane.Also, he killed a poisonous bee.The DuPonts were the last witnesses to appear in court. The judge cleared his throat and told the jury that this was the most elusive case the court had ever dealt with.A woman was murdered in the air, in a closed space, and it was clear that the murderer was among those who testified, and one of them was lying with the utmost cunning. The way of the crime was extremely cruel. Among the 10 witnesses—including 12 flight attendants—the murderer held a blowpipe and shot the poisonous needle into the dead man's throat.Significant physical evidence is a blowpipe, a poisoned needle and the eye of a needle in the neck of the deceased.Since those who testified in court denied knowing the deceased, the matter had to be handed over to the police for further investigation. A square-faced juror leaned over with suspicious eyes and said, "You said the blowpipe was found under a seat. Whose seat is that?" The judge checked the file, and Inspector Wilson leaned over and whispered something in his ear. "Oh, yes, seat No. 9, M. Poirot's seat. I can tell you that M. Poirot is a well-known and respected private detective who has worked successfully with the Metropolitan Police on many occasions." The square-faced juror turned his gaze to M. Poirot, seeming to doubt the little Belgian with the beard before him. The court adjourned for 5 minutes.When the jurors re-seat and handed the verdict to the judge, he frowned, "Nonsense! I can't accept this verdict." A few minutes later, an amended verdict was submitted: "We unanimously agree The deceased were poisoned and died, but there is not enough evidence to prove who poisoned them."