- Case
- Murder is Corny
- Year Published
- 1964
- Case Introduction
- September 1961, referred to in the papers as the "Sweet Corn Murder". The man who delivers guaranteed-fresh corn on the cob to Rusterman's and the brownstone is found dead in the alley behind the restaurant, head bashed in. Archie is suspected due to another witness' testimony.
- Notes
- Resolution
-
Faber was stupid enough to let his slander of Susan get to her father. Wolfe got suspicious as to why Duncan McLeod, knowing how particular Wolfe was, let a rookie pack the corn, since he was bound to mess up. The dynamite usually shown on the cover of _Trio for Blunt Instruments_ is the weapon in the attempted murder of the brownstone's inhabitants once Wolfe pushes McLeod into tipping his hand.
Characters in the case:
Puts Susan at the scene of the murder near zero hour. Archie questions him.
Character descriptionRusterman waiter.
Reserved notes for this case
Fritz prepared Shrimp Bordelaise, Lamb stuffed Eggplant and Corn on the Cob during this case.
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
Delivers a crate of corn to the brownstone, since it had Wolfe's name on it and was found at a murder scene.
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 caseHe handles it in person because Archie's a suspect, which is a compliment to Wolfe in a way.
Mentioned (he transfers Cramer's call to Purley).
Character descriptionManhattan cop.
Reserved notes for this case
Found murdered in the alley behind Rusterman's. Susan got him his job with Duncan, having agreed to marry him if he proved he could support a family.
Character descriptionFreelance cartoonist, making ends meet by working on Duncan McLeod's farm. 28 years old. Delivers corn to New York City for McLeod.
Reserved notes for this caseMade a pest of himself during her summertime visits to the farm, then tried to pressure Susan into an immediate marriage by spreading the rumor that she was pregnant by him.
Arrested by Cramer as a material witness right off the bat.
Character descriptionNero Wolfe's tough and witty assistant.
Reserved notes for this caseSuspected due to Susan McLeod's misleading testimony, which in turn came from Faber's disinformation.
Named on a list in Ken Faber's notebook. According to Susan, one of 3 other men she was dating, to whom Faber had spread the rumor.
Character descriptionCouturier; Lily Rowan buys clothes from him.
Reserved notes for this case
Named on a list in Ken Faber's notebook. According to Susan, one of 3 other men she was dating, to whom Faber had spread the rumor.
Character descriptionAdvertising man, one of Susan McLeod's four cavaliers.
Reserved notes for this caseMaslow says Pete isn't a Casanova, because Casanova never tried to score by talking up marriage.
Found the body, having stepped into the alley for a cigarette since he can't smoke in the kitchen.
Character descriptionChef at Rusterman's.
Reserved notes for this case
Regards Archie as a serious suspect.
Character descriptionAssistant District Attorney.
Reserved notes for this case
Named on a list in Ken Faber's notebook. According to Susan, one of 3 other men she was dating, to whom Faber had spread the rumor.
Character descriptionFashion photographer, one of Susan McLeod's four cavaliers.
Reserved notes for this case
Puts Susan at the murder scene near zero hour. Arranges with McLeod to take a replacement corn delivery 3 days after the botched one.
Character descriptionRusterman Maitre d'hotel.
Reserved notes for this case
Didn't get the corn to Wolfe on time (before dinner).
Character descriptionFarmer in Putnam County who supplies corn to Wolfe and to Rusterman's. Considers himself a righteous man.
Reserved notes for this case
Archie likes her, but crossed her off because she's a bad dancer. Cramer suspects him of having an affair with her and being shoved out by Faber. Faber had spread rumors that she was pregnant.
Character descriptionOne of the 10 most popular models in New York. Daughter of Duncan McLeod.
Reserved notes for this caseThe rumor was slander.
Archie attended a baseball game with him before the story opens.
Character descriptionTop hired hand Nero and Archie look to for manpower. Hosts regular Thursday night poker game at eight pm at his apartment in Brooklyn. Rust-colored hair, 5'7, 145 lbs, big nose and flat ears.
In the "Rubber Band" (ch. 6) Archie tells us that Panzer has a photographic memory when it comes to faces.
Reserved notes for this caseSent by Wolfe to McLeod's place with an accusation. Tries to only take half his usual fee.
Bails Archie out; Archie, not Wolfe, is his client.
Character descriptionWolfe's lawyer -- the only lawyer Wolfe ever sent orchids to. A bachelor who plays bridge on winter Sundays. (Appears as "Henry" Parker in The Squirt & the Monkey and The Golden Spiders.)
Reserved notes for this case
Wolfe sends for her to notorize his affadavit as to the conversation between Wolfe, Archie, and Susan McLeod.
Character descriptionIn addition to providing secretarial service, doubles as a notary public. Wolfe uses her occasionally.
Reserved notes for this case
Engaged by Lily for Susan McLeod.
Character descriptionLily Rowan's lawyer.
Reserved notes for this case
She arranged for Susan to get her job with Carl, Archie having passed Susan along.
Character descriptionAttractive blonde. Daughter of millionaire sewer man James Rowan, owns the Bar JR ranch in Montana.
Reserved notes for this casePhones Archie after Susan asks her for a lawyer.
Archie has him stuttering in 14 minutes (not a record).
Character descriptionLieutenant in NYPD. Has antagonistic relationship with Archie and Wolfe.
Reserved notes for this case
Cramer telephones him after receiving Wolfe's affadavit.
Character descriptionInitially an employee in N.Y. D.A.'s office. Later Cramer's man.
Detective (sergeant). Unfriendly.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned (Wolfe's trusteeship over Rusterman's will end in the next year).
Character description"He was one of only two men whom Wolfe will call by their first names, apart from employees," Archie relates as he introduces Marko in "Too Many Cooks." A boyhood friend from Montenegro, Marko is welcome to address Wolfe by his first name, and he dines monthly at Wolfe's house. One of the Fifteen Masters, Marko is the great chef of Rusterman's restaurant in New York -- one of the few places Wolfe will dine away from home.
Reserved notes for this case
Considers boiled corn on the cob an abomination, since it's ambrosia if roasted in the husk properly. Reading _My Life in Court_ by Louis Nizer.
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
Meals in the case:
(no meals are currently in the NWD for this story)
Orchids in the case:
(no orchids are currently in the NWD for this story)
Quotations in the case:
(no quotations are currently in the NWD for this story)