The "Black Stories" crime riddles thread

[Kweepa]

Did the killer escape into the air?
Did the killer escape into the ground?
Did the killer change his mode of locomotion?

[Mandle]

Case #40

The police followed the killer's footprints across the snowy landscape, but then the tracks suddenly ended in the middle of nowhere. They never found the killer. How did the killer escape?

YES
Did the killer escape alive?
Was the killer human?


NO
did he walk backwards in his same footprints until he got to a point with no snow?
did he get airlifted out somehow?
would it help us to know who he killed?
Did the killer fall through ice?
Did the snow melt?
Was there a cliff?
Did the killer escape using a jetpack?
Was the killer eaten by a dragon?
Did the killer escape into the air?
Did the killer escape into the ground?
Did the killer change his mode of locomotion?

[Adeel]

Was the killer a wizard? If yes, did he disapparate?

[Mandle]

Case #40

The police followed the killer's footprints across the snowy landscape, but then the tracks suddenly ended in the middle of nowhere. They never found the killer. How did the killer escape?

YES
Did the killer escape alive?
Was the killer human?


NO
did he walk backwards in his same footprints until he got to a point with no snow?
did he get airlifted out somehow?
would it help us to know who he killed?
Did the killer fall through ice?
Did the snow melt?
Was there a cliff?
Did the killer escape using a jetpack?
Was the killer eaten by a dragon?
Did the killer escape into the air?
Did the killer escape into the ground?
Did the killer change his mode of locomotion?
Was the killer a wizard? If yes, did he disapparate?

[Kumpel]

Where these the actual footprints of the killer or did he fake them somehow?

[Mandle]

Case #40

The police followed the killer's footprints across the snowy landscape, but then the tracks suddenly ended in the middle of nowhere. They never found the killer. How did the killer escape?

YES
Did the killer escape alive?
Was the killer human?
Were these the actual footprints of the killer?


NO
did he walk backwards in his same footprints until he got to a point with no snow?
did he get airlifted out somehow?
would it help us to know who he killed?
Did the killer fall through ice?
Did the snow melt?
Was there a cliff?
Did the killer escape using a jetpack?
Was the killer eaten by a dragon?
Did the killer escape into the air?
Did the killer escape into the ground?
Did the killer change his mode of locomotion?
Was the killer a wizard? If yes, did he disapparate?

[Tabata]

Did he escape through time?
Was it a bear? sorry - didn't read carefully
Is it a fictional case?

[Mandle]

Case #40

The police followed the killer's footprints across the snowy landscape, but then the tracks suddenly ended in the middle of nowhere. They never found the killer. How did the killer escape?

YES
Did the killer escape alive?
Was the killer human?
Were these the actual footprints of the killer?
Is it a fictional case? (Yes, I made it up)


NO
did he walk backwards in his same footprints until he got to a point with no snow?
did he get airlifted out somehow?
would it help us to know who he killed?
Did the killer fall through ice?
Did the snow melt?
Was there a cliff?
Did the killer escape using a jetpack?
Was the killer eaten by a dragon?
Did the killer escape into the air?
Did the killer escape into the ground?
Did the killer change his mode of locomotion?
Was the killer a wizard? If yes, did he disapparate?
Did he escape through time?

[Snarky]

Did the killer just keep walking across non-snowy ground?
Had later snow covered up the tracks?
Were the footprints made in the order the police believed? (so that those where they "ended" were the last ones made)
Was the killer still in the vicinity when the police reached the end of the footsteps?

[Mandle]

Did the killer just keep walking across non-snowy ground?

WINNER!!!

Hehe... I just knew as soon as I saw Snarky's name as last poster that he would probably have the answer:

Solution: The killer reached the point where the snow cover ended and he continued on his way, leaving no trail for the police to follow further.

I attempted something a bit risky this time around:

I tried to make a riddle like the famous "man lying on the railroad tracks" one, where the answer is incredibly simple, but the question's wording paints a picture in the reader's mind which might be not entirely accurate, but still have no falsehoods in the question.

This is easier said than done, but I guess I succeeded a little bit because the answer wasn't instantly busted.

The riddle is supposed to paint the image in the reader's mind that the tracks end abruptly in the middle of a vast snowy area. The riddle never actually says that, but some of the wording is supposed to suggest that image.

The "man lying on the railroad tracks" is a similar type of riddle:

Spoiler

"A man wearing all black clothing was lying on a railroad track. There were no lights near the railroad track, nor was there a moon out. The train itself did not have its headlight turned on, but the train driver saw the man in time to stop the train. How is this possible?"

Obviously the answer is:

Spoiler

It was daytime.

[close]

But the wording of the riddle is designed to conjure up an image of a

Spoiler

night-time scene

[close]

[close]

Over to you Snarky!

[Snarky]

Being literal-minded is useful when it comes to coding, and apparently certain types of riddles.

OK, here's one in a somewhat different style:

Case #41: Letter from a Ghost
When City financier Arnold Kiesler received a letter threatening that he would be murdered that night, he went to the police. Since he was a prominent businessman with many potential enemies, they took it seriously and agreed to arrange protection. That evening, cops took up position on the street corners all around his mansion (his daughter was sick, and so he didn't want them in the house to disturb her). Kiesler got home around seven. At ten, one of the cops noticed a suspicious person lurking around a side street. The man was apprehended and turned out to be a drunkard already known to the police. Upon being searched, he was found to be carrying an expensive pocket watch, which he refused to account for. He was taken to jail. At eleven, the last lights in the house were turned off as the household went to bed. The rest of the night, police did not see anyone come in or out of the house.

The next morning, Arnold Kiesler was found dead in his study, stabbed in the back. An autopsy put the time of death at around midnight, plus or minus two hours. There was no sign of the murder weapon. A safe in the room was open, and bearer bonds worth upwards of a quarter of a million pounds found to be missing. There was ash in the fireplace, showing that something had been burned there that night. A servant testified that he had last seen Kiesler alive at ten thirty, when he said goodnight. The pocket watch found on the drunk was identified as belonging to Kiesler. Kiesler's daughter gave a statement about a ghost coming into her bedroom that night, and that it somehow made her realize her father was about to die, but she couldn't say whether it was a dream.

Who killed Arnold Kiesler, how, and why?

Since this case is more narrative, let's try it where you don't necessarily need to keep all questions to yes/no format â€" for these questions, I'll write the answers narratively.

[CaptainD]

Okay so to start with...

What time was on the pocket watch?
How old was the daughter?
Was the girl's mother still alive? 

[Snarky]

Case #41: Letter from a Ghost

Spoiler

When City financier Arnold Kiesler received a letter threatening that he would be murdered that night, he went to the police. Since he was a prominent businessman with many potential enemies, they took it seriously and agreed to arrange protection. That evening, cops took up position on the street corners all around his mansion (his daughter was sick, and so he didn't want them in the house to disturb her). Kiesler got home around seven. At ten, one of the cops noticed a suspicious person lurking around a side street. The man was apprehended and turned out to be a drunkard already known to the police. Upon being searched, he was found to be carrying an expensive pocket watch, which he refused to account for. He was taken to jail. At eleven, the last lights in the house were turned off as the household went to bed. The rest of the night, police did not see anyone come in or out of the house.

The next morning, Arnold Kiesler was found dead in his study, stabbed in the back. An autopsy put the time of death at around midnight, plus or minus two hours. There was no sign of the murder weapon. A safe in the room was open, and bearer bonds worth upwards of a quarter of a million pounds found to be missing. There was ash in the fireplace, showing that something had been burned there that night. A servant testified that he had last seen Kiesler alive at ten thirty, when he said goodnight. The pocket watch found on the drunk was identified as belonging to Kiesler. Kiesler's daughter gave a statement about a ghost coming into her bedroom that night, and that it somehow made her realize her father was about to die, but she couldn't say whether it was a dream.

Who killed Arnold Kiesler, how, and why?

[close]

Yes
Was the girl's mother still alive?

No
...

Other
What time was on the pocket watch?
-The watch was running and showing the correct time.
How old was the daughter?
-She was 12.

[Mandle]

Who apart from Arnold Kiesler knew the combination for the safe?
Was the questioned servant ever present in the same room when Arnold opened the safe?
Was what was burned in the fireplace a will that was taken from the safe?

[Snarky]

Case #41: Letter from a Ghost

Spoiler

When City financier Arnold Kiesler received a letter threatening that he would be murdered that night, he went to the police. Since he was a prominent businessman with many potential enemies, they took it seriously and agreed to arrange protection. That evening, cops took up position on the street corners all around his mansion (his daughter was sick, and so he didn't want them in the house to disturb her). Kiesler got home around seven. At ten, one of the cops noticed a suspicious person lurking around a side street. The man was apprehended and turned out to be a drunkard already known to the police. Upon being searched, he was found to be carrying an expensive pocket watch, which he refused to account for. He was taken to jail. At eleven, the last lights in the house were turned off as the household went to bed. The rest of the night, police did not see anyone come in or out of the house.

The next morning, Arnold Kiesler was found dead in his study, stabbed in the back. An autopsy put the time of death at around midnight, plus or minus two hours. There was no sign of the murder weapon. A safe in the room was open, and bearer bonds worth upwards of a quarter of a million pounds found to be missing. There was ash in the fireplace, showing that something had been burned there that night. A servant testified that he had last seen Kiesler alive at ten thirty, when he said goodnight. The pocket watch found on the drunk was identified as belonging to Kiesler. Kiesler's daughter gave a statement about a ghost coming into her bedroom that night, and that it somehow made her realize her father was about to die, but she couldn't say whether it was a dream.

Who killed Arnold Kiesler, how, and why?

[close]

Yes
Was the girl's mother still alive?
Was the questioned servant ever present in the same room when Arnold opened the safe?

No
Was what was burned in the fireplace a will that was taken from the safe?

Other
What time was on the pocket watch?
-The watch was running and showing the correct time.
How old was the daughter?
-She was 12.
Who apart from Arnold Kiesler knew the combination for the safe?
-As far as the police could ascertain, only Kiesler's attorney. The servant denied knowing the combination.

(For the yes/no questions you get the usual omniscient answers, but for open-ended questions I will only answer what the police would be able to discover by following the line of investigation suggested, based on known facts. So it is possible in theory that some other person knew the combination, but the investigation so far doesn't make it possible to confirm that.)

Edit: The reason for this is that otherwise you could just ask "Who killed Arnold Kiesler?" or some similar question and solve the case immediately.

[CaptainD]

Could the police ascertain from the ashes what had been burned?
Did the safe show any signs of being forced?
Did the stab wound indicate that the attacker had been a professional killer?

[Snarky]

Case #41: Letter from a Ghost

Spoiler

When City financier Arnold Kiesler received a letter threatening that he would be murdered that night, he went to the police. Since he was a prominent businessman with many potential enemies, they took it seriously and agreed to arrange protection. That evening, cops took up position on the street corners all around his mansion (his daughter was sick, and so he didn't want them in the house to disturb her). Kiesler got home around seven. At ten, one of the cops noticed a suspicious person lurking around a side street. The man was apprehended and turned out to be a drunkard already known to the police. Upon being searched, he was found to be carrying an expensive pocket watch, which he refused to account for. He was taken to jail. At eleven, the last lights in the house were turned off as the household went to bed. The rest of the night, police did not see anyone come in or out of the house.

The next morning, Arnold Kiesler was found dead in his study, stabbed in the back. An autopsy put the time of death at around midnight, plus or minus two hours. There was no sign of the murder weapon. A safe in the room was open, and bearer bonds worth upwards of a quarter of a million pounds found to be missing. There was ash in the fireplace, showing that something had been burned there that night. A servant testified that he had last seen Kiesler alive at ten thirty, when he said goodnight. The pocket watch found on the drunk was identified as belonging to Kiesler. Kiesler's daughter gave a statement about a ghost coming into her bedroom that night, and that it somehow made her realize her father was about to die, but she couldn't say whether it was a dream.

Who killed Arnold Kiesler, how, and why?

[close]

Yes
Was the girl's mother still alive?
Was the questioned servant ever present in the same room when Arnold opened the safe?


No
Was what was burned in the fireplace a will that was taken from the safe?
Could the police ascertain from the ashes what had been burned? [The case takes place around 1930, when forensic science was less advanced]
Did the safe show any signs of being forced?

Other
What time was on the pocket watch?
-The watch was running and showing the correct time.
How old was the daughter?
-She was 12.
Who apart from Arnold Kiesler knew the combination for the safe?
-As far as the police could ascertain, only Kiesler's attorney. The servant denied knowing the combination.
Did the stab wound indicate that the attacker had been a professional killer?
-Hard to say. The entry point was quite precise, indicating some skill, but in a position that would not necessarily be fatal if treated.

[Tabata]

What is Mrs Kiesler's alibi?
Is Mrs Kiesler the mother of the child?
Is the marriage intact?

[Snarky]

Case #41: Letter from a Ghost

Spoiler

When City financier Arnold Kiesler received a letter threatening that he would be murdered that night, he went to the police. Since he was a prominent businessman with many potential enemies, they took it seriously and agreed to arrange protection. That evening, cops took up position on the street corners all around his mansion (his daughter was sick, and so he didn't want them in the house to disturb her). Kiesler got home around seven. At ten, one of the cops noticed a suspicious person lurking around a side street. The man was apprehended and turned out to be a drunkard already known to the police. Upon being searched, he was found to be carrying an expensive pocket watch, which he refused to account for. He was taken to jail. At eleven, the last lights in the house were turned off as the household went to bed. The rest of the night, police did not see anyone come in or out of the house.

The next morning, Arnold Kiesler was found dead in his study, stabbed in the back. An autopsy put the time of death at around midnight, plus or minus two hours. There was no sign of the murder weapon. A safe in the room was open, and bearer bonds worth upwards of a quarter of a million pounds found to be missing. There was ash in the fireplace, showing that something had been burned there that night. A servant testified that he had last seen Kiesler alive at ten thirty, when he said goodnight. The pocket watch found on the drunk was identified as belonging to Kiesler. Kiesler's daughter gave a statement about a ghost coming into her bedroom that night, and that it somehow made her realize her father was about to die, but she couldn't say whether it was a dream.

Who killed Arnold Kiesler, how, and why?

[close]

Yes
Was the girl's mother still alive?
Was the questioned servant ever present in the same room when Arnold opened the safe?
Is Mrs Kiesler the mother of the child?
Is the marriage intact?

No
Was what was burned in the fireplace a will that was taken from the safe?
Could the police ascertain from the ashes what had been burned? [The case takes place around 1930, when forensic science was less advanced]
Did the safe show any signs of being forced?

Other
What time was on the pocket watch?
-The watch was running and showing the correct time.
How old was the daughter?
-She was 12.
Who apart from Arnold Kiesler knew the combination for the safe?
-As far as the police could ascertain, only Kiesler's attorney. The servant denied knowing the combination.
Did the stab wound indicate that the attacker had been a professional killer?
-Hard to say. The entry point was quite precise, indicating some skill, but in a position that would not necessarily be fatal if treated.
What is Mrs Kiesler's alibi?
-In her telling, she only briefly saw her husband after he came home, before he went to his study. She checked on her daughter before going to bed, but otherwise slept in her own bedroom all night.

[Riaise]

Did anyone else reside in the house aside from Mr and Mrs Kiesler, their daughter, and the servant?
What time did Mrs Kiesler go to bed?
Did the drunkard have nay connection to Arnold Kiesler or the family?