Phyl Coe Mysteries Solutions Page
Background on Phyl Coe Mysteries
The solutions to the Phyl Coe mysteries were not announced on the air. In order to assist the listening public, here are the solutions as I deduced them.
Solutions
1. The Case of the Dead Magician
The magician Umberto was killed by a shot to his chest from the side. He was facing away from the audience at the time of the shot.
Sam was not the killer, because he was behind Umberto in the orchestra pit.
Mrs. Brown was not the killer, because she was behind Umberto in the audience.
Eddie the prop man was to the side of Umberto, and admitted catching Umberto's gloves. When the gun was found, it was determined that the killer wore gloves.
2. The Missing Masterpiece
A painting was stolen by someone standing on a table. The culprit dropped sand on the table.
Richard Duncan is not the thief because he is described as tall. Nelson Young is not the thief because he has long gangly legs.
Marsha Bedell is the thief . She is a "tiny thing". Also, she admitted going to the beach the day before, in discussing her missed hair appointment. She then lied about her activities on the previous day.
3. Mystery of the Death Ray Tube
The Death Ray Tube has been stolen. Major Osborne statements had inconsistencies. He said that he had been cooped up in Washington for five years, but later said he studied in Paris last winter. He said he dashed from his pitch black room after waking up, but later said there was a candle lit in the room. He also would not have had time to light his pipe if he ran from the room.
4. Mystery in the Sky
Guy Johnson is murdered by poisoning. He stated that he lost his glasses, and he could not read without them, because he was farsighted. Stewardess Drake claimed she saw him reading a magazine when she served him coffee.
5. Death Boards the Sea Serpent
Jack Wilson was murdered by a blow to the head. Alice Joslyn claimed she was sound asleep from 12 to 1, and did not hear a thing. Later she said that Nagi had the radio on at that time. She also said that she did not know how to run the boat, but Nagi said that she tore her clothes on a nail while steering the boat.
6. Double X Mystery
Mr. Oliver is murdered by someone in the hospital. Harry Jewett claimed that he did not have his door open earlier in the day, yet he saw Jud in Room Y across the hall. Harry said that his doctor recommended that he check in to the hospital, but the hospital doctor said that Harry did not have his own doctor.