Case

Rick Norwood

The Abraham Lincoln Murder Case

“Straight out of Kohn Jeats.”

Abraham Lincoln murdered! By a woman! The news flashed to London via arctic heliograph in a matter of hours. Early the next morning Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson boarded the dirigible for America.

The Secret Service filled the great detective in as to the facts of the case. A handsome, well-dressed woman had been seen standing behind the President in his box. She took a pistol from her purse, fired one shot, and fled. Within minutes, the Secret Service had sealed all of the exits from Ford’s Theater. But, in spite of the most thorough search, the woman was not to be found.

“There is nothing here for you, Holmes,” said the head of the Secret Service. “We know who the woman is. She introduced herself to several members of the acting company earlier in the evening. She said that her name was Trudy, and that she was the girlfriend of the famous actor John Wilkes Booth. Booth, of course, never heard of her. She used his name to gain entrance to the theater.”

“Well, Watson, we may as well return to London,” said Holmes.

“You’re not giving up!” Watson exclaimed.

“Hardly. I’ve solved the case.”

 “Solved it! How . . . ?”

“Come, Watson. It’s elementary. Booth is Trudy and Trudy, Booth. That’s all I know, and all I need to know."