The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-20

= Edwin brood Mystery Contest
HEXNlt Owing to the Unexpectedly large
- number Of contestants the labors
of the jury of awards have been severe
but they have performed their duty with
strict impartiaIity under the contest condi-
tons. BY these conditions il was necessary
that the prizes should be awarded TO the
contributions showing the most plausible
ending of Dickens's unfinished powell. The
theory upon which the judges acted was
that Edwin brood should be found in one
of the Cathedral tombs. The atmosphere
of tragedy which marks the story from first
TO last make il clear, the judges believe,
that the author had no intention of resur-
recting the hero of the story. The sinister
significance which was given by Mir. Dick
ems 10 John Jasper's night prOwlings in the
cathedral to the incident of DuTdle's keys,
10 the reference 10 the piles of quick-lime.
to the displaced hands of the cathedral
clock and, above all. to the horrible raw
ings of the villain in the opium den, con-
WINGED the judges that they must act on the
theory that Edwin brood was murdered
and thrown from the cathedral tower, his
body concealed in a tomb, covered with
quick-lime, and that the bag who presided
at the opium den should play an important
part in the detectives efforts to unravel
the mystery.
Under this decision a large number of
most excellent contributions were neces-
sarily disqualified. About 25 per cent. of the
solutions received were written on the
theory that brood had either voluntarily
disappeared or had been assaulted by Jas
per and left for dead but had later re-
covered Many of the contestants made the
mistake OF paying very much more atten-
ton TO the possible matrimonial alliances
of the story than to the unraveling of
the mystery of young Drood's disappear
ance- considerable number of solutions
were disqualified because they largely ex-
ceeded the specified space limit. In addi-
ton to the prize-winners there was large
number of solutions which were possessed
of much merit and the Journal publishes a
list of these as having received honorable
mention. The contest has aroused great
interest throughout the city and State and
the Journal wishes to express its thanks
TO the gentlemen who have acted as judges
for their courtesy and care in the discharge
of the duties which they have so cheer
fully assumed.
BY the terms of the contest the prizes
were distributed as follows: First, $50;
second. SIS: third. $40; fourth. fifth and
sixth. s. each.
The judges Of the contest were: William
Pinkerton. Chicago; Judge Fremont Al
ford. Indianapolis; Capt. ]. E. Kinney. In
dianapolis.
The prize-winning contributions follow:
FIRST PRIZE
Mrs- Will Cumback Green.burg
Dickenss Mystery of Edwin Brood is
study in the criminal psychology. John
Jasper. an artistic voluptuary, is an en-
bryonic criminal. and the use of opium has
destroyed his moral sense. so that he has
TO restraining influence in the qualification
OF desires. In love with Rosa, Drood's be-
trothed. Jasper murders brood In the Ca
thedral tower after midnight Christmas
eve, by strangling him with black
scarf of strong close-woven silk" Jasper
takes watch. chain and pin from body and
throws body to that stillest part" the
shadow near the crypt door.
Jasper descends through regular cathe-
dral entrance and drags body into crypt
and secretes it, Having disfigured body
with quicklime, IL is never recognized, and
only identified by the discovery of Rosa s
mothers ring on Droods person by Dur
dies and Detective hatchery. Presence of
ring was unknown TO Jasper, but easily
recognized by hatchery, who as Bazzard,
witnessed Grewgious's delivery of the ring
to brood
The story of the murder is at last re-
lated by Jasper when under the influence OF
opium he is manipulated by the keeper OF
the opium den in the hearing of detectives
and officials Corroborated in essential
parts by Deputy.
Crisparkle. Grewgious and Landless (for
motives apparently become the most Wig
orous prosecutors, and iandiess loses his
life in the untangiing of the tragedy in
which he. although innocent. has been
woven.
Jasper commits suicide in a condemned
cell
Crisparkle marries Helena Landless and
Tartar marries Rosa, Rosa being in love
for the first time.
Proof of Above Theory
The above theory comprehends all the
mysterious incidents in the story. whether
expressed in this proof or not. and can be
verified plausible. 1t accords also with
artistic development of story.
brood murdered. because his tempera
ment makes voluntary. mysterious disap
peerance improbable. His failure TO respond
TO general inquiry. The finding OF valuable
personal effects in river. thrown there by
Jasper when ostensibly searching fol
brood. Kidnapping impractical.
Murdered by Jasper. Motive, jealou:
love for Rosa. Confesses his capabiity-
Chapter 10. Guilty dream, "Who did it?"-
Diary record. Chapter 10.
Jasper's exaggerated emotion wher
Grewgious explains broken engagement
Chapter Is.
His wild guilt Christmas morning Jas
per publishes discord between brood ane
Landless before murder; persecutes Land
less Immediately after. Opium hays warn
Ing concerning Ned
Time OF murder corroborated by Jewel
ers. Jasper's and Landless's testimony
Cathedral tower best place for murder
no outcry heard; brood easily decoyed I,
view scenery. Fresh winds" sufficient ex
cuse 10 transfer scarf to Droods neck
Tower staircase too liable TO leave telI-taI
marks; hence body thrown outside.
Crypt. with windows bare of glass; un
tenable.
Note repairs on Tower-Dickens's ear
mark OF tragedy. a storm.
Suicide. Jasper's natural sequel. Dicken
never executes criminaI)
-