Murder Most Foul by Larner
Szepilona10 · 7 September 2011 · Chapter 21: The Lords Examine
Aragorn's going to have a lot of information to sort through! Good chapter! (and it was nice and long too!) God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
Oh, yes--LOTS of information to sort through, although I suspect he will do very well at it. And this chapter just wouldn't stop!
S · 7 September 2011 · Chapter 21: The Lords Examine
Your story reminds me of another travesty of justice in the U.S. For those who may question how easily a young child or those of somewhat limited comprehension such as Garestil can give answers or confessions crafted by someone with a hidden agenda to implicate others in a crime, go to the following site: http://werme.8m.net/wenatchee.html In Wenatchee, WA in the '90s, an overzealous police officer with the help of social workers implicated child day care workers, parents and others in a child sex ring. The children were convinced to believe that the truly bizarre and physically impossible things that they testified to had actually happened. Many lives were ruined and there are still people today, like the couple of Destrier, who doubt the innocence of the accused. S
Author's reply
Oh, I'm well, well aware of the Wenatchee "sex ring" case, too, and how the officer would not allow the first girl to say no one had ever molested her, insisting she tell him her "secrets" until at last she began making up "secrets" just to placate him. And do you know of Paul Ingram, a former sheriff's deputy from Thurston County, who was coerced into "confessing" to having "suppressed memories" of ritually sexually molesting his own daughter, sending him to prison for a crime that never even happened? In his case a psychologist who'd been working with his mentally ill adolescent daughter helped the girl "recover" memories of such abuse, complete with times and dates and places where her father had allegedly taken her--times and dates that it proved he'd actually been on duty either at headquarters or about the county in most cases; he's still in prison. Or the Swanns from the U district in Seattle who were also sent to prison for allegedly molesting their three-year-old daughter and their neighbor's child on the word of a mentally ill new worker at the children's day-care facility who insisted that the children had told her of such abuse. An overzealous female prosecutor sent them to prison for fourteen years each, and they didn't learn until after they were behind bars that first the woman whose accusation sent them there had been fired from other jobs before taking her one-day stint at their daughter's day-care for making false accusations of sexual abuse against parents of other children; then their daughter's grandparents took the child to the best pediatric gynecologist in the state, who told them that none of the acts they'd been alleged to have committed had actually happened to the child. They pled innocent, and the prosecutor, intending to prove how apparently decent individuals can hide a dark side, brought in the neighbor's daughter, an exceedingly suggestible three-year-old child, to testify against them. They not only spent fourteen years in state prison for a crime that had never happened and suffered unspeakable abuse at the hands of their fellow prisoners for what they'd been accused of doing, but they could not have contact with their daughter or their newborn child who was secretly born and given into the care of relatives just before they were imprisoned. Oh, I'm well aware of injustice in our home state.
Tari · 6 September 2011 · Chapter 11: An Evening's Discussions
This is certainly an interesting turn of events. So, there are some who know the accused are innocent. The question is, if and when they will devulge this information.
Author's reply
Yes, the ugly truth that some willingly have allowed such terrible things to happen is coming out now.
Szepilona10 · 4 September 2011 · Chapter 20: To Meet Those Accused
Poor Danárion! To learn of Targon's death that way and how he finally began to appreciate him when it was too late. It made me tear up. I'm glad that Danárion and Carenthor don't blame Garestil. Danárion's eagerness to meet the king is so funny (in a good way). He's like a little kid in a candy store! Very interesting chapter! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
One of the things that the NONs tend to hold against Damien and Jason, for some reason we can't appreciate, is that neither holds what happened against Jessie, who was convinced to "confess" to have been there while allegedly the other two killed the three children. Jason's tales of being pressured and threatened as they tried to get him to testify against Damien are rather chilling, actually. Neither felt that Jessie could have been expected to hold out against the pressure put on him. And I do believe Danarion would love to meet the King Returned! I just wish that Damien had as much to think well of his adoptive stepdad as does Danarion!
Szepilona10 · 1 September 2011 · Chapter 19: Revelations in Hevensgil
Well, that's interesting! No one mentioned that Carenthor knew Nedron's family! Avrandahil seems to be an easily persuaded man...or is there money involved? About what Aragorn should do with the youths: maybe they could be found "probationary" apprenticeships (to bad this is before "The King's Commission" otherwise they could go to Ruvemir :D). God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
Oh, I missed this one. In a small community people may have seen one another many times and not actually know one another; but as you have learned by now Carenthor merely found himself reacting to a scene in the marketplace by setting it down in a sketch, and Nedron's mother saw it and bought it from him, and Nedron sought to take that with him to remind him of his mother and sister once he was off "to make his fortune." And now you know that there is indeed a more appropriate apprenticeship for Danarion and for Garestil; as for Carenthor, I suspect he'll find one, too, and perhaps even in Bavarin where Ruvemir eventually will be buried.
Sunny · 1 September 2011 · Chapter 19: Revelations in Hevensgil
So the potter was threatened if he testified at the trial, since the testimony he would give would have so clearly given the lie to the "confession" that had been extracted already. That Avrandahil seems to be an inverted Ruvemir: Ruvemir was physically distorted, but with a great and generous spirit, while Avrandahil is physically normal, but with a twisted spirit. And Aragorn is going to be royally pissed off at Avrandahil and his actions, since the drawings he made for the trials were lies - distorted in such a way that they would inevitably give the wrong impression to the jurors. And I suspect Avrandahis is going to be rather dismayed when he encounters the healer trained by Elrond! *grins evilly*
Author's reply
Yes, several people were threatened, as you now know. In the real case, teachers from Jason's school and the administrator of the youth facility where he was held during the months between his arrest and his trial were both threatened and outright ordered out of town that they not make themselves available to Jason's lawyers. I hadn't thought of that--that Fendril and Ruvemir were the inverse of one another, but you are certainly right. Both artistically gifted, but one misusing his gift to assist in wrongly convicting the innocent, and the other using his gift ever to show not only what was but what is beyond the mere seeming. And it was great fun thinking on just how dismayed Avrandahil would be on actually meeting that healer! I, too, was grinning evilly! Thanks so very much, Sunny! I'll repost the edited Postscript on Friday, and this will then be marked officially complete!
Szepilona10 · 31 August 2011 · Chapter 18: On Evil Averted--or Not
I wonder what Aragorn will do with Danárion, Garestil, and Carenthor. I liked the ent! They always make me laugh. :) I wonder if Vangil knew more about the murders. Exciting chapter! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
A good question. What do you think he should do with them? And I also find I like the Ents. As for Vangil--a good question there, too. Thanks so!
Tari · 31 August 2011 · Chapter 10: Another Journey Made
I am fascinated with the way your mind works. How dis you ever come up with all those questions, which should have been answered the first time thru
Author's reply
Tari, this IS based in good part on a real court case that I've studied for a LONG time. Believe me, we've ALL asked these questions and more over the past eighteen years! How someone could have accepted much of the fantastical assumptions made regarding what was supposed to have happened has driven us nuts for years!
Szepilona10 · 30 August 2011 · Chapter 17: When Those Sworn to Justice Fail their Purpose
Well, that was an interesting end to an interesting chapter! I hope you don't leave us hanging for long! Hanalgor is an awfully biased guard. I wouldn't want him presiding over my questioning! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
I so agree, Szepilona. A most unsatisfactory set of circmstances led up to the convictions of these three youths!
Szepilona10 · 30 August 2011 · Chapter 16: And Whom Might We Suspect?
Aragorn's going to have a lot to look and puzzle over. The tally stick is very interesting. I wonder who's been staying at the abandoned farm? God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
Oh, yes--lots and lots to look and puzzle over! A goodly number of travelers have managed to shelter in the remains of that byre, after all. Thanks so, Szepilona!
Sunny · 30 August 2011 · Chapter 17: When Those Sworn to Justice Fail their Purpose
I can certainly understand why Erchirion got so angry at Vendrion's testimony here - especially when others in the audience described how he let Leverion get away with anything, anytime - and particularly when the guard used the boy's penchant for wearing the colors of the realm as being one good reason why he had to worship Sauron. And Master Veredorn certainly made it quite clear which of Garestil's confessions was the true one without ever compromising his scribely impartiality. This certainly gives the reader an excellent feel for this character's personality! As for Hanalgor - I see that Berevrion needed to give him very little encouragement to cause him to incriminate himself quite thoroughly. And the only thing he showed off her when he talked at such length about the Enemy and his work was his own prejudices, ignorance and sheer stupidity. It is definitely not going to go well with those guards!!
Author's reply
Yes, prejudice and ignorance is the name of the game with these, unfortunately. How do you suppose they would fare in front of the King himself? I found Veredorn someone I could respect, which isn't true of all the characters I've run into in the course of researching and writing this story, of course. Thanks so, Sunny.
Szepilona10 · 28 August 2011 · Chapter 15: What Everyone Knows
Another interesting look in to the murders, the accused murderers, and the victims. The children offer a unique perspective to the tragedy. He might be annoying at times, but I couldn't imagine losing my little brother. It would be awful. God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
So it is when a sibling is lost. A friend and his sister, when they were quite small, went out to try the sled on their own, and could not stop themselves before the sled went on upon the river. B lived, his sister died in the river. To this day he is still haunted by her loss, and he is in his late fifties now.
Szepilona10 · 27 August 2011 · Chapter 14: To Know the Accused
One has feel sorry for Berevrion and co. All that information and conflicting 'testimonies' is making my head spin! When Berevrion was talking about his daughter and her allergies I was thinking about alternatives to cow's milk and I had a vision of Berevrion sitting outside engrossed in some sort of missive or other important document while his clothes were being eaten by goats! :) Cool chapter! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
Poor guy! Yes, to ignore the fact one was surrounded by goats while distracted could indeed lead to disaster! Hehehehe! Now you have me giggling. And, yes, there are a lot of contradictions--and it was--interesting--to find euphemisms for euphemisms. Heh! Thanks, Szepilona.
Szepilona10 · 25 August 2011 · Chapter 13: “Do Not Seek to Embroider upon the Truth…”
It's very interesting that there were two different testimonies given by Garestil. It's almost ridiculous how different and improbable the testimonies are. Good chapter! I like the 'courtroom' scenes. Anyway, I have to finish getting ready for my first day of junior year! :( God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Tari · 24 August 2011 · Chapter 7: The Investigation Begins
So, Faradir picked up on the fact that all may not be as it seems. Good for him. Perhaps the others will now be more caustious about accepting what they read at face value.
Author's reply
As time goes on all will realize that there is definitely something wrong on many different fronts at the same time. It's not all for the same reason, but definitely each person appears glad to have a scapegoat or three around.
Tari · 23 August 2011 · Chapter 6: Revelations of the North
Why would Bernagil throw The Book of Shadows in the trash? Did he not know someone might find it who could read? I think he offered more information in defense of the three lads than he intended.
Author's reply
Well, Enelmir, who believed in the existence of "dark agents," was after him to rid the house of it. And, as one who doesn't read Sindarin himself, he's not actually read it himself. Yes, anyone might have found it--and obviously someone did! Heh! But as Danarion doesn't read much in the way of Sindarin--not as yet, at least--it didn't do him a lot of good or bad. And, yes, he's given more information to the good of the three than he realized. Thanks so, Tari!
Sunny · 23 August 2011 · Chapter 13: “Do Not Seek to Embroider upon the Truth…”
It seems that the King's representatives find new inconsistencies in how this case has been handled every time they turn around. It is just so incredibly screwed up!! I expect that Anhildë and Lyssë are going to stick to the truth from now on (mostly, at least! :-p ) And certainly NOBODY is going to lie in court - or if they should be stupid enough to do so, they certainly know what they can expect!
Author's reply
I know. Too many botched details and so on. Do you begin to appreciate why the actual case on which this is based has fascinated so many of us for so long? And in Aragorn's courts, lies aren't going to get anyone very far, I fear. Yes, they KNOW what to expect!
Szepilona10 · 22 August 2011 · Chapter 12: A Visit to Medril's Farm
So many lies. Leverion's attitude of "they didn't think it was me so why should I correct them" is a little disturbing, but then again many would do that (to a lesser extent, perhaps). Faradir does like his comforts (and he knows how to 'barter' with Berevrion) :) Good chapter! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
Oh, yes--a family that has done well on lies--or at least until now. But that's ending now. And Faradir does intend to be properly compensated for the physical discomforts of the day. Thanks so, Szepilona!
Szepilona10 · 22 August 2011 · Chapter 11: An Evening's Discussions
So it definitely was not Danárion and the other accused who stole the liquor. I wonder if Narvil and his buddies can be persuaded to admit it. Interesting chapter! God bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
Oh, definitely not. And Leverion's ability to get away with his thefts from his father are basically over now.
Sunny · 22 August 2011 · Chapter 12: A Visit to Medril's Farm
The stories are starting to unravel, I see, to the dismay of Medril and his son, and I expect Medril's wife and daughter to become quite dismayed soon, as well!
Author's reply
Yes, the stories are beginning to unravel a bit at a time, and I doubt that Anhilde and Lysse are going to feel quite comfortable embroidering upon the truth for a time! Heh!
6336 · 20 August 2011 · Chapter 999999: Post Script
Oh, how happy you and they must be to be finally released, but what a way to have to do it! It looks like Arkansas did not want to risk the possibility that they would be found innocent and have to pay out huge sums of money to them in compensation. It also smacks of 'Well I can't be botherd with this any more, lets sweep it under the rug and forget about it!' Keep us posted on how they are doing, I do feel for them. Lynda
Author's reply
That appears to be exactly the situation, Lynda. It's amazing the sheer cheek of the Arkansas legal community after all that's been said and done involving this case in the past eighteen years!
Fantasia · 19 August 2011 · Chapter 10: Another Journey Made
Larner, the 'West Memphis 3' case is all over the news. I just wanted to tell you that I'm reading, even if I'm not commenting and I’m definitely following the real case.
Author's reply
I know. And you can see my response to the last two days' happenings in the temporary chapter I've just posted.
Szepilona10 · 18 August 2011 · Chapter 10: Another Journey Made
So why doesn't Berevrion like white fish? Is it a matter of taste or did he have an unfortunate encounter with them in his youth? :) Harolfileg and his horse are very perceptive. I sense that this will be very useful in the future. Good chapter! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
I don't know. I don't happen to care much for fish myself, so I think we might be related. And yes, the Elf and his horse, after all, are the products of their breeding and environments. Thank you so!
6336 · 18 August 2011 · Chapter 10: Another Journey Made
Even more questions needing answers. I think that byre needs checking out, also! Lynda
Author's reply
Oh, yes--too many questions, or so it might appear. And yes, we KNOW that byre needs to be checked out! And right now, as we speak, the real case on which this story was based is taking a decided turn....
Tari · 17 August 2011 · Chapter 2: A Deputation Formed
The archivist made some excellent observations. Things seem to be progressing smoothly, almost too smoothly. I'm waiting for the other "shoe" to fall, though I am sure Aragorn will be able to rescue them. The ride to redemption should be most interesting.
Author's reply
Oh, it won't always be going smoothly, believe me. There is so much to learn here, and so many who each has his own reason for wanting Danarion to be guilty!