A background on clues
Clues are a very important part in a mystery. Without the clues, there would be no way for the reader to figure out who the culprit was. Clues are also important to a mystery because they make the story intriguing, and an intriguing story is always great to read.
When you think of clues, you may think of fingerprints or footprints. But, not all clues are like this. Some clues are more discrete and unusual.
Also, not all clues are useful. In many mysteries, there are things called red herrings. A red herring is a false clue and detectives sometimes have to figure out which clues are real and which are not. An example of a red herring is in The Wizard of Oz. The wizard is really just an ordinary man, but he tries to trick Dorothy and her friends into believing that he is an all-powerful wizard.
When you think of clues, you may think of fingerprints or footprints. But, not all clues are like this. Some clues are more discrete and unusual.
Also, not all clues are useful. In many mysteries, there are things called red herrings. A red herring is a false clue and detectives sometimes have to figure out which clues are real and which are not. An example of a red herring is in The Wizard of Oz. The wizard is really just an ordinary man, but he tries to trick Dorothy and her friends into believing that he is an all-powerful wizard.
Clues in Murder on the orient express by: Agatha Christie
While investigating the scene of the crime, M. Poirot and Dr. Constantine find many interesting and important clues. The clues that they find are below.
There are many clues in Murder on The Orient Express By: Agatha Christie. One of them is that Mr. Ratchett was stabbed twelve times.
Another clue as to who murdered Mr. Ratchett was that his door was locked from the inside. Also, the adjoining door was locked. This means that the only way the murderer(s) could have left the compartment was through the window. But, the detective and the doctor believe that the murderer was trying to trick them by making it seem as if he/she left through the window. So, the murderer probably left through one of the doors...but how?
M. Bouc says "All around us are people, of all classes, of all nationalities, of all ages." Later, Hercule Poirot determines that this quote is very important because in America, there are people of all classes, nationalities, and ages. Poirot determines that this is why everyone on the train (except for Hardman) has a connection to the Armstrong family.
While interviewing Hector MacQueen, M. Poirot finds out that Mr. Ratchett had received several threatening. The letters had been written by two different people alternating who wrote which words. In the letters, the writers threatened to kill Mr. Ratchett.
Dr. Constantine determines that a few of the blows were struck with force that only a man (or a very strong and athletic woman) could have dealt. A man must have been involved in the murder.
The window in Mr. Ratchett's compartment was open, but there are no tracks in the snow. So, either the criminal is still on the train, or they escaped through the window and somehow covered up their tracks perfectly.
Hercule Poirot discovers that some of the blows would have been impossible to strike with the right hand. So, the culprit must have been a lefty. But, some of the other blows were obviously dealt by a righty. So, there must have been two people involved in the murder, a lefty and a righty. Later, M. Bouc, Dr. Constantine, and Hercule Poirot determine that all of the passengers are right handed. But, Princess Dragomiroff refused to write her address and had Poirot write it instead. She is the only possible lefty.
A few of the blows would have been capable of drawing blood, but there is no blood around the wounds. This means that the man was already dead when those blows were struck.
M. Poirot discovers that the top light was off during the murder, and that the roll back light was closed and off.
Hercule Poirot finds a fully loaded pistol under Mr. Ratchett's pillow. So, was Mr. Ratchett really on guard?
Dr. Constantine finds an empty glass and determines that Mr. Ratchett was drugged. This is why he didn't fight back or cry out when he was killed.
Hercule Poirot finds two types of matches in Mr. Ratchett's room. One is the flat kind that travelers received on the train, and the other are more rounded. More investigating reveals that Mr. Ratchett struck the round match, but M. Poirot finds no more flat matches. The flat match may have been lit by the murderer. There is also some burned paper on the desk, along with false teeth in a glass of water, the empty glass, a bottle of mineral water, a large flask, an ashtray containing two burned matches, the butt of a cigar, and the burned paper.
Hercule Poirot finds a cambric handkerchief on the floor. This means that there might have been a woman involved in the crime. There is the letter "H" initialed on it. Mrs. Hubbard says it is not hers.
Hercule Poirot finds a pipe cleaner on the floor. This is not Mr. Ratchett's because there was no pipe, tobacco, or tobacco pouch. So, a man might have been included in the crime.
Dr. Constantine found a golden pocket watch in Mr. Ratchett's pocket. It is dented and not working anymore. The hands point to a quarter past one. This means that Mr. Ratchett may have been murdered at 1:15 am. Later, Hercule Poirot and M. Bouc determine that Mr. Ratchett was alive at 12:37. Later, the watch is determined to be an alibi, or a red herring! So, Ratchett was murdered either before or after 1:15 am.
Hercule Poirot uses an old hatbox, a small spirit stove, and a pair of curling tongs to find the words written on the burned paper. The paper says
"- member little Daisy Armstrong."
After reading this, Hercule Poirot realizes that Mr. Ratchett is really a man named Cassetti. Cassetti kidnapped a girl (Daisy Armstrong) and murdered her. Then, Mrs. Armstrong died trying to give birth to a second child and Mr. Armstrong shot himself. Then, the maid of the Armstrong family (this was NOT Hildegarde. It was a different maid.)was accused of this crime and she threw herself out of a window and died. It was later proven that she had nothing to do with the murder or the kidnapping. Later, Poirot decides that however burnt the letter must have been connected to the Armstrong family in some way. Then, if the letter was found, it would immediately direct suspicion to that person!
"- member little Daisy Armstrong."
After reading this, Hercule Poirot realizes that Mr. Ratchett is really a man named Cassetti. Cassetti kidnapped a girl (Daisy Armstrong) and murdered her. Then, Mrs. Armstrong died trying to give birth to a second child and Mr. Armstrong shot himself. Then, the maid of the Armstrong family (this was NOT Hildegarde. It was a different maid.)was accused of this crime and she threw herself out of a window and died. It was later proven that she had nothing to do with the murder or the kidnapping. Later, Poirot decides that however burnt the letter must have been connected to the Armstrong family in some way. Then, if the letter was found, it would immediately direct suspicion to that person!
Hercule Poirot sees a woman with a scarlet kimono walking away from his room at about 2:00 (or earlier) in the morning. The kimono is scarlet silk and is embroidered with golden dragons. Mary Debenham says that the woman looked tallish and slim. Also, she wore a shingle cap. Later, Poirot finds the scarlet kimono in his own suitcase! Who could have put it there, and who was wearing the kimono on the night of the murder?
Mrs. Hubbard claims that she saw a man in her compartment the night of the murder. She says that she was paralyzed with fear. She said that the man later left the compartment. She is absolutely positive that the man who was in her compartment was the murderer.
Mrs. Hubbard found a small, metal button in her compartment in the morning after the night of the murder. It is from a Wagon Lit Conductor's uniform. It is obviously not Mrs. Hubbard's, so, M. Bouc has Pierre Michel (the conductor) come in. But, Pierre is not missing a button. The other two conductors have not lost any buttons either. Where did this button come from, and did the murderer drop it? Most likely, the man who was in Mrs. Hubbard's room left or dropped the button by accident.
Mrs. Hubbard says that she heard a woman's voice coming from Ratchett's compartment at night.
Princess Dragomiroff says that the Mrs. Armstrong's mother is very weak and fragile and has to lay on a sofa most of the time. But, Mrs. Armstrong had a sister who is still alive. The Princess doesn't know where this sister is, but thinks that she married an Englishman and went to England. However, she doesn't remember the last or first names of the husband.
Princess Dragomiroff says "This is Destiny" to Hercule Poirot when he tells her his name at the end of her interview. What does this mean, the detective wonders. Is it a clue?
Colonel Arbuthnot sees a fellow in compartment No. 16 peeking out the door. This is rather strange and suspicious. Why was this person acting so secretive?
Mr. Hardman says that Mr. Ratchett described the criminal to him. It was a small, dark man with a womanish, high-pitched voice.
Hildegarde Schmidt bumped into a strange conductor that she had never seen before on the night of the murder. It was not one of the conductors aboard the train in the morning. So, this was a false conductor. Someone in costume. The button in Mrs. Hubbard's room probably belonged to this man. He was small, dark, had a little mustache, and had a weak, womanish voice. This man fits the description of the criminal that Ratchett said was after him. This might have been the murderer!
Mrs. Hubbard finds the blood stained dagger in her sponge bag! She screams like a crazy person when this is discovered, and later has to be moved to a different room. She refuses to sleep it the compartment next to a dead man!
Hildegarde's suitcase contains the conductor's uniform! The uniform isn't hers and is missing a button as well. So, Poirot thinks that the murderer left it there after murdering Ratchett. When the "conductor" ran into Hildegarde in the corridor, he went into her compartment and hid the uniform in her suitcase. Then, the small, dark, man crept out of Hildegarde's room. The uniform wasn't found until a few days later. Poirot also finds a conductor's pass key in the pocket of the uniform. Pass keys are used by conductors to open the doors of passengers' compartments. This was how the murderer got through the locked door between Mrs. Hubbard's and Mr. Ratchett's compartments.
MacQueen tells Poirot twice that he was useful to Ratchett because Ratchett only spoke English. Hector MacQueen was able to speak many different languages, so he could translate and speak for Ratchett when they were in other countries. But, the voice that Poirot heard coming from Ratchett's compartment said something similar to "I am mistaken. It is nothing." to excuse the conductor and ask him to leave. But, this phrase was said in French! So, this couldn't have been Ratchett speaking! The murderer must have been in the compartment and said the phrase in French.
There is a blob of grease on Countess Andrenyi's passport. It is just before her first name is written. When the detective is searching the passengers' luggage, he finds that a luggage tag on the Countess's suitcase has been smeared with water. It is also on her first name. What does this mean? Later, Poirot figures out that the Countess's real Christian name is Helena. She is the younger sister of Mrs. Sonia Armstrong! Helena was hiding this truth so that she wouldn't be suspected of the crime.
Helena Andrenyi tells Poirot, M. Bouc, and Dr. Constantine that she doesn't recognize anyone not eh train form the time of the Armstrong murdering. Is this the truth?
Hypotheses Made by Hercule Poirot, M. Bouc, and Dr. Constantine
Monsieur Hercule Poirot makes a few different hypotheses about how Mr. Ratchett was murdered. Here are a few of the ideas about the murder that M. Poirot has before he solves the mystery.
- He believes that one murderer came in, stabbed Mr. Ratchett and killed him, and then turned the lights of and left. Then, the second murderer came in, couldn't see that Mr. Ratchett was dead, and stabbed him a few more times. Then, the second murderer left.
- "During that ten minutes' absence of the conductor, the murderer comes from his own compartment, goes into Ratchett's, kills him, locks and chains the door on the inside, goes out through Mrs. Hubbard's compartment and is back safely in his own compartment by the time the conductor arrives."
- The conductor Pierre Michel was sitting at his post at the very end of the compartment. He could see anyone and everyone who walked through the corridor. So, the murderer couldn't have snuck into Ratchett's compartment while Pierre was on the train. But, when the conductor got out of the train to stretch his legs at the Vincovci, there is no one watching the corridor. The coast is clear! Then, the murderer(s) could have committed the crime.
- "The enemy as Mr. Ratchett expected, joined the train at Belgrade, or possibly at Vincouci, by the door left open by Colonel Arbuthnot and Mr. MacQueen who had just descended to the platform. He was provided with a suit of Wagon Lit uniform, which he over his ordinary clothes, and a pass key which enabled him to gain access to Mr. Ratchett's compartment in spite of the door being locked. Mr. Ratchett was under the influence of a sleeping draught. This man stabbed him with great ferocity and left the compartment through the communicating door leading to Mrs. Hubbard's compartment. He thrust the dagger he had used into Mrs. Hubbard's sponge bag in passing. Without knowing it, he lost a button of his uniform. Then he slipped out of the compartment and along the corridor. He hastily thrust the uniform into a suitcase in an empty compartment, and a few minutes later, dressed in ordinary clothes, he left the train just before it started off. Again using the same means of egress - the door near the dining car." Also, the watch was set back by Mr. Ratchett himself because of a time change during the train ride. As for the voice in Ratchett's compartment, that was merely someone who had gone in to talk to him, but found him dead. Then, the person called for the conductor. But, not wanting to be accused of the murder, they excused the conductor, pretending to be Ratchett.
Various charts and tables
There are many charts and tables that Hercule Poirot, M. Bouc, and Dr. Constantine use in order to find out who the murderer(s) is/are. Here are the important ones.
Chronological Table of Events on Night of Murder (found on page 128):
9:15 Train leaves Belgrade.
about 9:40 Valet leaves Ratchett with sleeping draught beside him.
about 10:00 MacQueen leaves Ratchett
about 10:40 Greta Ohlsson sees Ratchett (last seen alive). N.B. - He was awake reading a book.
0:10 Train leaves Vincovci (late).
0:30 Train runs into a snowdrift.
0:37 Ratchett's bell rings. Conductor answers it. Ratchett says, " Ce n'est rien. Je me suis trompé."
about 1:17 Mrs. Hubbard thinks man is in her carriage. Rings for conductor.
Suspect List and Why or not They are Suspected (found on pages 236-240):
Hector MacQueen - American subject. Berth No. 6. Second Class.
Motive: Possible arising out of association with dead man?
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Midnight to 1:30 vouched for by Col. Arbuthnot and 1 :15 to 2 vouched for by conductor.)
Evidence Against Him: None.
Suspicious Circumstances: None.
Conductor - PIerre Michel - French subject.
Motive: None.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Seen by H.P. in corridor at same time as voice spoke from Ratchett's compartment at 12:37. From 1 a.m. to 1:16 vouched for by other two conductors.)
Evidence Against Him: None.
Suspicious CIrcumstances: The Wagon Lit uniform found is a point in his favor since it seems to have been intended to throw suspicion on him.
Edward Masterman - English subject. Berth No. 4. Second Class.
Motive: Possibly arising out of connection with deceased, whose valet he was.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by Antonio Foscarelli.)
Evidence Against Him or Suspicious Circumstances:
None, except that he is the only man the right height or size to have worn the Wagon Lit uniform. On the other hand, it is unlikely that he speaks French well.
Mrs. Hubbard - American subject. Berth No. 3. First Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. - None.
Evidence Against Her or Suspicious Circumstances:
Story of man in her compartment is substantiated by the evidence of Hardman and that of the woman Schmidt.
Greta Ohlsson - Swedish subject. Berth No. 10. Second Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by Mary Debenham.) Note. - Was last to see Ratchett alive.
Princess Dragomiroff - Naturalized French subject. Berth No. 14. First Class.
Motive: Was intimately acquainted with Armstrong family, and godmother to Sonia Armstrong.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by conductor and maid.)
Evidence Against Her or Suspicious Circumstances: None.
Count Andrenyi - HUngarian subject. Diplomatic passport. Berth No. 13. First Class
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by conductor - this does not cover period from 1 to 1:15.)
Countess Andrenyi - As above. Berth No. 12.
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. Took trional and slept. (Vouched for by husband. Trional bottle in her cupboard.)
Colonel Arbuthnot - British subject. Berth No. 15. First Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. Takled with MacQueen till 1:30. Went to own compartment and did not leave it. (Substantiated by MacQueen and conductor.)
Evidence Against Him or Suspicious Circumstances: Pipe cleaner.
Cyrus Hardman - American subject. Berth No. 16. Second Class.
Motive: None known.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. Did not leave compartment. (Substantiated by MacQueen and conductor.)
Evidence Against Him or Suspicious Circumstances:
None.
Antonio Foscarelli - American subject. (Italian birth.) Berth No. 5. Second Class.
Motive: None known.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by Edward Masterman.)
Evidence Against Him or Suspicious Circumstances: None, except that weapon used might be said to suit his temperament. (Vide M. Bouc)
Mary Debenham - British subject. Berth No. 11. Second Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by Greta Ohlsson.)
Evidence Against Her or Suspicious Circumstances: and her refusal to explain the same.
Hildegarde Schmidt - German subject. Berth No. 8. Second Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by conductor and her mistress.) Went to bed. Was aroused by conductor at 12:38 approx. and went to mistress.
Note: The evidence of the passengers is supported but the statement of the conductor that no one entered or left Mr. Ratchett's compartment between the hours of midnight to 1 o'clock (when he himself went into the next coach) and from 1:15 to 2 o'clock.
Ten Questions (found on pages 241-242):
Things needing explanation.
Answers to Ten Questions (these answers, or ideas or possible answers, are found throughout the book, not on specific pages):
Green and Italicized = answer
Things needing explanation.
Chronological Table of Events on Night of Murder (found on page 128):
9:15 Train leaves Belgrade.
about 9:40 Valet leaves Ratchett with sleeping draught beside him.
about 10:00 MacQueen leaves Ratchett
about 10:40 Greta Ohlsson sees Ratchett (last seen alive). N.B. - He was awake reading a book.
0:10 Train leaves Vincovci (late).
0:30 Train runs into a snowdrift.
0:37 Ratchett's bell rings. Conductor answers it. Ratchett says, " Ce n'est rien. Je me suis trompé."
about 1:17 Mrs. Hubbard thinks man is in her carriage. Rings for conductor.
Suspect List and Why or not They are Suspected (found on pages 236-240):
Hector MacQueen - American subject. Berth No. 6. Second Class.
Motive: Possible arising out of association with dead man?
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Midnight to 1:30 vouched for by Col. Arbuthnot and 1 :15 to 2 vouched for by conductor.)
Evidence Against Him: None.
Suspicious Circumstances: None.
Conductor - PIerre Michel - French subject.
Motive: None.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Seen by H.P. in corridor at same time as voice spoke from Ratchett's compartment at 12:37. From 1 a.m. to 1:16 vouched for by other two conductors.)
Evidence Against Him: None.
Suspicious CIrcumstances: The Wagon Lit uniform found is a point in his favor since it seems to have been intended to throw suspicion on him.
Edward Masterman - English subject. Berth No. 4. Second Class.
Motive: Possibly arising out of connection with deceased, whose valet he was.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by Antonio Foscarelli.)
Evidence Against Him or Suspicious Circumstances:
None, except that he is the only man the right height or size to have worn the Wagon Lit uniform. On the other hand, it is unlikely that he speaks French well.
Mrs. Hubbard - American subject. Berth No. 3. First Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. - None.
Evidence Against Her or Suspicious Circumstances:
Story of man in her compartment is substantiated by the evidence of Hardman and that of the woman Schmidt.
Greta Ohlsson - Swedish subject. Berth No. 10. Second Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by Mary Debenham.) Note. - Was last to see Ratchett alive.
Princess Dragomiroff - Naturalized French subject. Berth No. 14. First Class.
Motive: Was intimately acquainted with Armstrong family, and godmother to Sonia Armstrong.
Alibi: From midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by conductor and maid.)
Evidence Against Her or Suspicious Circumstances: None.
Count Andrenyi - HUngarian subject. Diplomatic passport. Berth No. 13. First Class
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by conductor - this does not cover period from 1 to 1:15.)
Countess Andrenyi - As above. Berth No. 12.
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. Took trional and slept. (Vouched for by husband. Trional bottle in her cupboard.)
Colonel Arbuthnot - British subject. Berth No. 15. First Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. Takled with MacQueen till 1:30. Went to own compartment and did not leave it. (Substantiated by MacQueen and conductor.)
Evidence Against Him or Suspicious Circumstances: Pipe cleaner.
Cyrus Hardman - American subject. Berth No. 16. Second Class.
Motive: None known.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. Did not leave compartment. (Substantiated by MacQueen and conductor.)
Evidence Against Him or Suspicious Circumstances:
None.
Antonio Foscarelli - American subject. (Italian birth.) Berth No. 5. Second Class.
Motive: None known.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by Edward Masterman.)
Evidence Against Him or Suspicious Circumstances: None, except that weapon used might be said to suit his temperament. (Vide M. Bouc)
Mary Debenham - British subject. Berth No. 11. Second Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by Greta Ohlsson.)
Evidence Against Her or Suspicious Circumstances: and her refusal to explain the same.
Hildegarde Schmidt - German subject. Berth No. 8. Second Class.
Motive: None.
Alibi: Midnight to 2 a.m. (Vouched for by conductor and her mistress.) Went to bed. Was aroused by conductor at 12:38 approx. and went to mistress.
Note: The evidence of the passengers is supported but the statement of the conductor that no one entered or left Mr. Ratchett's compartment between the hours of midnight to 1 o'clock (when he himself went into the next coach) and from 1:15 to 2 o'clock.
Ten Questions (found on pages 241-242):
Things needing explanation.
- The handkerchief marked with the initial H. Whose is it?
- The pipe cleaner. Was it dropped by Colonel Arbuthnot? Or by someone else?
- Who wore the scarlet kimono?
- Who was the man or woman masquerading in Wagon Lit uniform?
- Why do the hands of the watch point to 1:15?
- Was the murder committed at that time?
- Was it earlier?
- Was it later?
- Can we be sure that ratchett was stabbed by more than one person?
- What other explanation of the wounds can their be?
Answers to Ten Questions (these answers, or ideas or possible answers, are found throughout the book, not on specific pages):
Green and Italicized = answer
Things needing explanation.
- The handkerchief marked with the initial H. Whose is it? The initial is connected with three people - Mrs. Hubbard, Miss Debenham, and Hildegarde Schmidt. M. Bouc thinks that the initial is referring the Miss Mary Hermione Debenham. She may be called by her second name, not her first. Also, there is already suspicion attached to her. Dr. Constantine thinks that the initial refers to Mrs. Hubbard because he says that Americans don't care what they pay, and the handkerchief is very expensive. Both eliminate the maid.
- The pipe cleaner. Was it dropped by Colonel Arbuthnot? Or by someone else? Dr. Constantine and M. Bouc both believe that someone else dropped the pipe cleaner in order to make it look like the Colonel was guilty. They both also agree that "The English, they do not stab."
- Who wore the scarlet kimono? No ideas.
- Who was the man or woman masquerading in Wagon Lit uniform? The three agree that the following people could not have worn the uniform: Hardman, Colonel Arbuthnot, Foscarelli, Count Andrenyi, and Hector MacQueen are all too tall. Mrs. Hubbard, Hildegarde Schmidt, and Great Ohlsson are all too broad. The only people left are Masterman, Mary Debenham, Princess Dragomiroff, and Countess Andrenyi. However, none of these four seem likely to have been the one wearing the uniform! All of these four did not leave their compartments! It seems impossible to have been anyone!
- Why do the hands of the watch point to 1:15? M. Bouc thinks that the second murderer (if there was one) or the left handed lady in the scarlet kimono stabbed Ratchett, didn't realize he was already dead, and then turned back the hands of the watch to make it seem like the murder was committed at that time. Poirot thinks that this is unlikely, but has no better ideas.
- Was the murder committed at that time? No.
- Was it earlier? Yes.
- Was it later? Yes. The first murderer came before 1:15 and the second came after 1:15.
- Can we be sure that ratchett was stabbed by more than one person? Yes.
- What other explanation of the wounds can their be? There can be no other explanation.