- Case
- The Cop-Killer
- Year Published
- 1952
- Case Introduction
- Summer 1951. Carl and Tina, who work at Archie & Wolfe's regular barbershop, panic when a cop shows up, since they're immigrants who've had a tough life, and come to the brownstone for help. Archie discovers that the cop, who was looking for a hit-and-run driver, was found murdered in Tina's stall at the shop.
- Notes
- Resolution
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Wallen had found one of the barbershop magazines (i.e. with the address of the shop) in the car and brought it with him to question the shop employees. Kirk, known to regularly pilfer the magazines, had accidentally left it behind after fleeing the scene.
Characters in the case:
Mentioned. "It would have made you numb, that's all." "Yeah. Napoleon's been numb for over a century."
Character descriptionFrench Emperor.
Reserved notes for this case
Fritz prepared pumpkin puffs and veal & mushrooms during this case. Archie also mentions that Wolfe is very fond of roast Watertown goose, but once gave it up for a year after finding out that a guest who had shared it with him had been a murderer.
Character descriptionMaster chef in Wolfe's kitchen, has a small apartment in the basement. (In "Fer-De-Lance," his apartment is across from the plant room, not in the basement.) Swiss; native French speaker, served in WWI. Uninterested in murder, except whether a client is in the offing; gets anxious about household finance when Wolfe isn't working. Doesn't like to talk while cooking. Changes to his old slippers at 9 pm because of "things left on his feet by the war to remember it by". Implied he was a member of the Swiss Alpine Patrol during WWI.
Reserved notes for this case
Appears at the barbershop in person, since he's a good cop and takes the murder of one of the NYPD very seriously.
Character descriptionInspector with NYPD, Homicide. Has tolerate / hate relationship with Wolfe. He respects Wolfe, but is greatly irritated by his eccentricities. Habitually chews (but rarely lights) cigars. Notably, Cramer lights a cigar in Wolfe's office during "Instead of Evidence" in which the murder weapon is an exploding cigar! First name is given as Fergus one time, but generally accepted as Lionel. Had a son in the Army Air Corps during WWII. Archie has called Mrs. Cramer on the phone more than once to reach the Inspector at home. Archie's favorite alias for him is "the man about the chair" or "any name with a double "d", e.g., Mr. Judd".
At no time is Inspector Cramer ever referred to in the books as "Lionel T." Cramer; his first name is given as "Fergus" in "Where There's a Will." There is a lone later reference to him as L.T.C. (The Silent Speaker), but never Lionel. Stout's biographer, John McAleer, asked Stout to explain the "Fergus"/"L.T.C" discrepancy; Stout replied: "No significance. Laziness. I didn't bother to check on whether he already had a first name. Of course, all discrepancies in the Nero Wolfe stories are Archie Goodwin's fault." (from "Royal Decree; Conversations with Rex Stout)
He is featured in a book by Stout called Red Threads, first published 1939, tracking down a killer with a young fashion designer. There is no reference to Nero Wolfe.
Reserved notes for this case
Divorced. Dislikes Archie, who once made some pointed remarks when Fickler forgot an appointment made over the phone.
Character descriptionOwner, Goldenrod Barbershop, located on Lexington Avenue in the upper Thirties.
Reserved notes for this caseHas been seen publicly with Horny Gallagher, who's in the rackets.
Regular customer of the Goldenrod Barber Shop.
Character descriptionNero Wolfe's tough and witty assistant.
Reserved notes for this case
Gambles on horses. Archie made an appointment with him on the day of the murder.
Character descriptionBarber, Goldenrod Barbershop; Archie's regular barber.
Reserved notes for this case
Wolfe doesn't think he measures up to Fletcher, but prefers his services to those of the rest of the Goldenrod staff.
Character descriptionBarber, Goldenrod Barbershop. Became Wolfe's regular barber sometime after his previous barber, Fletcher, retired.
Reserved notes for this caseHas a criminal record, lives above his visible income.
Says that the barbershop is her Gethsemane.
Character descriptionManicurist, Goldenrod Barbershop.
Reserved notes for this case
Investigating the Wallen murder.
Character descriptionInitially an employee in N.Y. D.A.'s office. Later Cramer's man.
Detective (sergeant). Unfriendly.
Reserved notes for this case
Lost 2 sons in WW II; committed to psychiatric care for a year after having a breakdown in 1945.
Character descriptionBarber, Goldenrod Barbershop.
Reserved notes for this case
Wolfe's client, together with his wife Tina.
Character descriptionHat/coat/tie custodian at the Goldenrod Barber Shop; married to Tina Vardas. Immigrant.
Reserved notes for this case
Wolfe's client, together with her husband Carl.
Character descriptionManicurist at the Goldenrod Barber Shop; married to Carl Vardas. Immigrant.
Reserved notes for this case
Plainclothes cop; found DOA (stabbed with a pair of scissors). Purley and Archie agree that he acted foolishly.
Character descriptionNYPD, 20th Precinct. Married, ambitious.
Reserved notes for this case
Has patronized the Goldenrod Barbershop ever since his former barber, Fletcher, retired.
Character descriptionMaster detective. Genius. Estimated weight: 1/7 ton. Carries a large platinum watch in his vest pocket. Sends a check every month to his mother in Budapest ("Fer-de-lance, ch. 13)..
Reserved notes for this case
Once accused by Fickler of petty theft, apparently falsely. Has a quick temper.
Character descriptionBarber, Goldenrod Barbershop. Usually bounces around like a teenager, despite being in his sixties.
Reserved notes for this caseProne to commit assault; has done time for it at least once.
Meals in the case:
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Orchids in the case:
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Quotations in the case:
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