A PHATIKS FORENSIC LINGUISTICS CASE

WHODUNNIT?

Case No. 7 — The Polwenna Poison Pen

Somebody in Polwenna Cove is writing wicked letters. Everyone writes; everyone has habits. Read closely enough, and the writing itself will name the writer.

THE POLWENNA GAZETTE

POISON PEN PLAGUES COVE — GARDEN CHAMPION TARGETED

Polwenna Cove, that most peaceable of villages, is peaceable no longer. Mrs Verity Trewin of Seaview Cottage — whose roses took first prize at last month's judging — has received a series of anonymous letters of a most unpleasant character. A second villager is understood to have been insulted also. The letters are unsigned, but they were written by somebody — and everything a person writes carries their fingerprints, if one knows how to look.

MEMO FROM THE CHIEF CONSTABLE: You have five days before the Summer Show, Detective. Gather exhibits, string together the writing habits, and brief DS Barnes before any arrest. Accuse the wrong person and you are off the case. Polwenna is watching.
INCIDENT ROOM
DAY 1
MERIT 0
UNATTRIBUTED — drag exhibits under a suspect when you have a hunch
DS BARNES

POLWENNA COVE

Where to, guv? Each trip takes half a day. Anything you find goes in the case file for keeps.

TAP A PHRASE TO SNIP IT FOR THE BOARD

CASE FILE

BRIEF DS BARNES

Name the habits, Detective. For each bundle of string, tell Barnes what to look for. A warrant needs a suspect and at least two named habits. Barnes writes down what you say — the interview will test it.
SUSPECT
STRING BUNDLES

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