Crime and Injustice

Where it surfaces

• The Usher Washes His Hands

  Jabez's poisoning of the boy and his mysterious nighttime expedition suggest a criminal act, while his position of trust allows him to evade suspicion.

• IV: Richard Marwood Lights His Pipe

  Richard is arrested on suspicion of murdering his uncle, despite his apparent innocence and bewilderment, highlighting the theme of wrongful accusation.

• VI: Two Coroner’s Inquests

  The murder of Montague Harding and the subsequent inquest that wrongfully charges Richard Marwood, highlighting the flaws in the justice system and public prejudice.

• The Dumb Detective a Philanthropist

  Richard Marwood awaits trial for a murder he did not commit, with every circumstance against him, highlighting the theme of potential miscarriage of justice.

• Seven Letters on the Dirty Alphabet

  The trial of Richard Marwood highlights the tension between circumstantial evidence and actual innocence, as the prosecution builds a seemingly airtight case while Richard maintains his innocence.

• IX: “Mad, Gentlemen of the Jury”

  The trial process unfolds, with the prosecution building a case against Richard while the defense argues for diminished responsibility.

• Book II: A Clearance of All Scores

  The murder of Montague Harding and the subsequent arrest of Richard Marwood highlight themes of crime and potential miscarriage of justice.

• VI: The Quiet Figure on the Heath

  The discovery of a dead body and the subsequent police investigation highlight the theme of crime and the search for justice.

• Book III: Holy Institution

  Richard's confinement in the asylum is a form of injustice, as he is punished for a crime he may not have committed, reflecting the failures of the legal and medical systems.

• Bad Dreams and a Worse Waking

  Gaston de Lancy's death is suspected to be murder by poison, but no inquest is held; the crime goes unpunished as Paris quickly forgets.

• I: The Boy from Slopperton

  Richard was convicted of murder and imprisoned in an asylum, yet the chapter questions the justice of such prolonged solitary punishment.

• Mr. Augustus Darley and Mr. Joseph Peters Go Out Fishing

  The mention of Richard Marwood's trial eight years ago evokes past injustice and the ongoing investigation.

• V: The Cherokees Take an Oath

  Richard seeks the Cherokees' help to find the real murderer of Montague Harding, highlighting his wrongful accusation and the quest for justice.

• Mr. Peters Relates How He Thought He Had a Clue, and How He Lost It

  Richard remains under the stigma of a false accusation despite his escape from prison; the real murderer is dead, leaving justice unattained.

• Book V: The Dumb Detective

  The investigation into murders and wrongful accusations drives the plot.

• II: Mr. Peters Sees a Ghost

  Mr. Peters hints at a 'little outstanding matter' between him and the Count, implying unresolved criminal business.

• III: The Cherokees Mark Their Man

  Richard Marwood, wrongly accused of murder, now works to identify the true culprit, the Count de Marolles, highlighting the theme of injustice and the pursuit of justice.

• One Step Further on the Right Track

  Richard, though innocent, has been branded a criminal and lunatic; the investigation now seeks to expose the true murderer and clear his name.

• IX: Captain Lansdown Overhears a Conversation Which Appears to Interest Him

  Valerie accuses Blurosset of complicity in murder, and Blurosset admits to providing poison for a test, highlighting the theme of criminal acts and the pursuit of justice.

• Book VI: On the Track

  The pursuit of the true criminal underscores the miscarriage of justice suffered by Richard Marwood and the systemic flaws in the legal process.

• I: Father and Son

  Raymond's arrest for forgery and the exposure of his criminal past drive the chapter's conflict.

• IV: What They Find in the Room in Which the Murder Was Committed

  Peters investigates the murder scene, uncovering potential evidence that Richard Marwood may have been wrongly convicted due to overlooked details like blood dripping through the floor.

• Mr. Peters Decides on a Strange Step, and Arrests the Dead

  The pursuit and arrest of the murderer Raymond Marolles highlights the theme of crime and the quest for justice.

• VI: The End of the Dark Road

  The trial of Raymond de Marolles highlights the flaws of circumstantial evidence and the public's thirst for sensational justice, echoing Richard Marwood's earlier wrongful conviction.