Can You Outwit Inspector Shoopes?

INSPECTOR SHOOPES SOLVED THE MYSTERY OF THE TIGRIS JEWELS…..CAN YOU?

The Tigris jewels were discovered missing on Monday morning! Inspector Shoopes gathered all the suspects in the drawing room. The atmosphere was tense.

“Miss Winterthurn,” Shoopes inquired, “was it YOU who stole the Tigris jewels?”

“No, sir,” Miss Winterthurn replied nervously. “I would never do such a thing. Just last week, I discovered that stealing jewels is….illegal!”

A gasp went through the room. Inspector Shoopes, however, was unfazed. “Doctor Finch,” he asked the venerable academe standing before him, “was it YOU who stole the Tigris jewels?”

“Why, that’s absurd,” Finch countered. “I have no reason whatsoever to crave the damnable things!”

“Indeed…so it would seem,” Shoopes said. He then cocked a baleful eye at the servant boy, Dwight. “Young Dwight,” he said, “you seem to be in a state of unease. Could it be because the Tigris jewels have become YOUR ill-gotten treasure?”

“Why, no sir, never!” Dwight protested, furiously wiping down the bannister. “I…I wouldn’t….I couldn’t!”

“Yes…perhaps,” Inspector Shoopes commented dryly.


MUCH TO EVERYONE’S AMAZEMENT, THE BRILLIANT INSPECTOR SHOOPES THEN SUDDENLY POINTED OUT THE VILLAIN AMONGST THE THREE SUPPOSED INNOCENTS AND HAD THE DASTARDLY THIEF APPREHENDED! BASED ON THE QUESTIONING ABOVE, CAN YOU FIGURE OUT WHO IT WAS?


Solution: We’re sorry, based on the questioning above, Inspector Shoopes was not able at this time to identify the wrongdoer. Much more investigation is necessary. If this puzzle inadvertently affixed the suspicion of guilt to any of the above participants in particular, we apologize. The Inspector’s actions were carried out under his authorization only, and his views and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of this blog, which merely acted as a reporter of the facts as presented to us. We understand and regret that the reputations of certain persons depicted in the story may have been damaged by this reportage, and it is our solemn promise to act more carefully in the future. Inspector Shoopes has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a full accounting of the incident. Again, it was not, and has never been, our intention to create controversy, public outcry, or any sort of backlash against any persons or institutions. In this age of the twenty-four hour news cycle, and ever-increasing competition from other media outlets, we sometimes err on the side of action rather than introspection. Thank you for your patience and your participation.