Humpty Dumpty, an Actor Had a Fall

Humpty Dumpty, an Actor Had a Fall

         
                I was sitting at home. I was really bored. To tell the truth I haven't had an interesting case in months. As I was changing channels on the TV my phone rang. It was Puglisi, a cop friend of mine. He was calling to let me know that he would appreciate my help on the latest murder. The case had been assigned to his precinct. It appeared to be a murder at a local dinner theater.
         The police had been called at night to investigate a murder at a dinner party. At this point all the guests were suspects. According to Pogo, some of the suspects would do anything to get off the hook or shift suspicion to other parties.
         Pogo and I arrived at the Waldorf Dinner Theater at about 10 PM. It appeared to us that at least 12 people were suspects in the crime. We entered the theater together and headed toward the stage. It was there that we observed a body. It was a male approximately 45 to 55 years of age. The body had a knife sticking in its back. There appeared to be very little blood at the scene. According to the police officer who was first on the scene no one was allowed to leave the theater.
         The police officer told us that he rounded up suspects. He placed all of them in a separate room with another police officer standing guard. He told the suspects they were not to leave and they were not to have any conversation with each other until they had been interviewed.
         Pogo and I decided it would be best for us to interview each suspect together. We knew this would take longer than usual but we want to be as thorough possible. Both of us wanted to get to the bottom of this investigation as quickly as possible.
         One of the theater owners escorted us to a room. He felt the room would be adequate for our individual interrogations. Pogo immediately set up the room for our interviews. We were ready to begin our interrogations.
         Our first suspect was the lead actor in the current play. He was scared stiff. We questioned him for almost an hour. He was barely able to answer the questions. It seems that the victim was a good friend.
         Next up was a supporting actor in a play. He was less than forthcoming with his answers to our questions. It appeared he had a good alibi. Nonetheless he was not completely without suspicion in the crime. It seems that earlier that night he and the victim had some strong words backstage prior to the evening’s performance.
         The next six suspects all head rock solid with alibis. Pogo and I decided to take a break. So far it didn't seem that we had in the leading candidates for murder. Pogo and I went outside to have a smoke. It was there we discussed each and every one of the suspects that we have interviewed. Like me, Pogo felt we hadn't even come close to making a case to solve this murder. Following are break, Pogo and I headed back in the theater to complete our interviews.
         We completed interviewing for more suspects. Like the previous six, they had alibis for their time and location when the crime was committed. Pogo and I decided it was time to interview the theater owners. We knew that they were in the theater at the time of the crime. We just needed to substantiate where they were when the crime was committed.
         We talked to the two owners for some time. We didn't discover anything that we hadn't seen or heard during previous interrogations. Pogo and I were really stumped. We didn't feel we had any viable suspects. After a short discussion we decided we needed to take a more thorough look at the specific crime scene.
         Pogo and I casually walked to the stage. We had spent the last three hours interviewing suspects. We both agreed we were not even close to solving the crime. We climbed some steps to get to the stage where the performance had taken place. It was here that the murder had been committed.
         The body had been removed. Tape had been placed to outline where the body was found. Prior to removing the body the corner and remove the knife that was seen sticking in the back of the victim. The coroner has bagged a knife and had established the time of death at approximately 9:30 PM to 11:30 PM.
         There was little else to observe on the stage. There was a small table. There were a couple of chairs. We observed some scuffed marks just under the table. We called one of the managers to the stage. He told us what he found the body of one of the chairs was laying on its side. He had failed to tell us this in the original interview.
         I questioned the manager a bit more about the crime scene. He told me that the victim was known to practice his lines while standing on a chair. He went on to tell me that in one of his scenes he delivered his lines while waving a knife. He also told me that the victim preferred to practice his lines at the back of the stage and without other people to interfere.
         A thought flashed through my mind. I told Pogo we needed to get to the coroner’s lab immediately. Pogo and I jumped in a squad car. We headed straight for the coroner’s lab. On the way I explained to Pogo my theory as to the crime we were investigating. After listening to me, Pogo said speechless. It was obvious that he did not believe what I had told him. I wasn't sure my theory would hold water either. That's why it was imperative we speak to the coroner as soon as possible.
         Pogo and I arrived at the coroner’s office sometime after 2 AM. We were both shot. We interviewed a dozen or more suspects. Neither of us felt that any of the people we interviewed were guilty of the crime. Hopefully the corner would be able to shed some light on this murder case.
         As we entered the coroner’s lab we were a bit surprised by what we found. The coroner was sitting back in his chair enjoying a smoke and a cup of Java. He appeared to be laughing under his breath. Pogo and I failed to see the humor. That all changed when he spent the next few minutes detailing his autopsy and report.
         According to the coroner the victim had not been murdered. The coroner explained he found no evidence of foul play. It was his professional opinion that the victim had upset the chair and fell on the knife. This in his opinion caused the death of this actor.
         For once Pogo and I were happy that a case had been solved with the professional work of the coroner. It was time to head to the Idle Hour for a cold one.

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