Connington: The Brandon Case
Johnnie Brandon, rabbit shooting with a party of guests, was instantly killed by a shotgun charge, just one day after he had attained his majority; and the morning after he was discovered in a compromising situation with the wife of his tutor. The coroner’s jury said “Accidental death”—to the relief of his nearest kin, who were afraid someone might suggest suicide. Inspector Hinton, however, had not gone far in writing up his report before the outline of murder formed itself in his notes. It required Chief Constable Sir Clinton Driffield, though, to solve the puzzling mystery. Review When the sardonic Sir Clinton Driffield appears in a J. J. Connington mystery yarn, one looks for a genuinely knotty problem in crime that will baffle one’s wits until this Chief Constable is ready to make known his findings, which is not before he is able to clamp down on the criminal. . . . Jim Brandon comes down to Edgehill from London to visit his young brother, the family feeling that in the tutor, Laxford, the simple Johnny has come under a sinister influence. There is the Brandon estate, tied up through their governor’s folly, and the matter of barring the entail on Johnnie’s coming-of-age so that the family can gain control of it again. It seems Laxford is influencing Johnnie against the plan, with some scheme in mind to get his own finger in the pie; and Jim means to circumvent him. Then, during the morning’s hunting on the day he reaches his majority, Johnnie is killed in a gun accident. But Johnnie had been in a bad hole, caught making love to Laxford’s pretty wife the night previous and threatened with exposure. His relatives resolutely avoid any suggestion of suicide, but [Inspector] Hinton learns a few compromising facts, and a nonexistent bloodstain forces him to discard the theory of accident. As his investigation proceeds, the idea of murder strongly presents itself. In fact, the inspector is preparing to make an arrest when Sir Clinton appears, to point out some things that had been staring him in the face, and the disgusted Hinton’s hands are held. The solution comes with startling effect, but Mr. Connington’s logical construction makes it credible. (Salt Lake City, UT, Tribune , 1934)
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Johnnie Brandon, rabbit shooting with a party of guests, was instantly killed by a shotgun charge, just one day after he had attained his majority; and the morning after he was discovered in a compromising situation with the wife of his tutor. The coroner’s jury said “Accidental death”—to the relief of his nearest kin, who were afraid someone might suggest suicide. Inspector Hinton, however, had not gone far in writing up his report before the outline of murder formed itself in his notes. It required Chief Constable Sir Clinton Driffield, though, to solve the puzzling mystery. Review When the sardonic Sir Clinton Driffield appears in a J. J. Connington mystery yarn, one looks for a genuinely knotty problem in crime that will baffle one’s wits until this Chief Constable is ready to make known his findings, which is not before he is able to clamp down on the criminal. . . . Jim Brandon comes down to Edgehill from London to visit his young brother, the family feeling that in the tutor, Laxford, the simple Johnny has come under a sinister influence. There is the Brandon estate, tied up through their governor’s folly, and the matter of barring the entail on Johnnie’s coming-of-age so that the family can gain control of it again. It seems Laxford is influencing Johnnie against the plan, with some scheme in mind to get his own finger in the pie; and Jim means to circumvent him. Then, during the morning’s hunting on the day he reaches his majority, Johnnie is killed in a gun accident. But Johnnie had been in a bad hole, caught making love to Laxford’s pretty wife the night previous and threatened with exposure. His relatives resolutely avoid any suggestion of suicide, but [Inspector] Hinton learns a few compromising facts, and a nonexistent bloodstain forces him to discard the theory of accident. As his investigation proceeds, the idea of murder strongly presents itself. In fact, the inspector is preparing to make an arrest when Sir Clinton appears, to point out some things that had been staring him in the face, and the disgusted Hinton’s hands are held. The solution comes with startling effect, but Mr. Connington’s logical construction makes it credible. (Salt Lake City, UT, Tribune , 1934)
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