(3) The Case of the Attic Suicide - Two Minutes Mysteries

 Motoring through Ashe City, Dr. Haedjian decided to drop in on his old friend, Carl Messner. At Messner's home he was shocked to learn that three days earlier his friend had hanged himself.

"Carl Messner was in excellent health and spirits when I heard  from him last month," Haledjian told the sheriff. "I can't believe he committed suicide."

"He did - I investigated it myself," replied the sheriff. "Here's all there is to the case.

"Archie Carter, Mr. Messner's manservant, was returning to the house late that night when he noticed a light in the attic. As Carter got out of his car, he saw through the open attic window Mr. Messner knotting a rope around his neck. The other end of the rope was tied to a rafter. Then Mr. Messner calmly kicked away the small stool he was standing on, and that was it.

"Carter found the house door locked. He had forgotten his key so he ran to a neighbor and telephoned me. He reported to me exactly what I've told you," said the sheriff.

"When I got out to the Messner house, I had to force the front door. Then Carter and I dashed up three floors to the attic. Mr. Messner was dead. The coroner has no doubt death was from hanging.

"The attic floor was clear exept for the little stool that lay overturned by the door, and a broken clay jug that must have been hit by the stool," concluded the sheriff.

"I'd like to go to to the house again," said Haledjian. "From what you've told me of Carter's story, he's lying!"

How did Haledjian know?

 

 Archie Carter claimed he saw Carl Messner kick a small stool from under him. However, standing on the ground, Carter could never have seen a small stool through an attic window three stories above him.

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