This was a wonderful comedy episode, in which Constable Crabtree is undoubtedly the star. The mystery to be solved in this episode is the murder of a man called Peter Farrelly. He was an antiques dealer, and he was in possession of part of an ancient document on which are some barely discernible words. Constable Higgins is given the job of piecing the message together, which he does with help from Constable Crabtree. It turns out to be the name of a notorious pirate from the 1720s, who is believed to have buried some treasure near a beach in Newfoundland.
The prime suspect in the murder is Ezekiel Farrelly, but he escapes to Newfoundland before he can be brought to justice. Murdoch and Crabtree have to travel to Newfoundland in order to apprehend him, and find the remaining pieces of the document. A journey by train and ship brings them to Saint John's, which is where George Crabtree was raised as a child.
Observing proper protocol, the two Toronto policeman first visit the local police station, where detective Murdoch surrenders his badge, and the local inspector grants him limited powers of arrest, and confirms that the man they have been chasing is not in fact Ezekiel Farrelly but rather Jacob Doyle, a man well known to the police. Murdoch and Crabtree then head off to the house where Crabtree was raised. Several of his aunts are there, and they are delighted to see him. Murdoch takes careful note of the household arrangements, and immediately understands why Crabtree has not spoken of them before.
Crabtree asks his aunt Azalea for a book she used to read to him, because has remembered that as a child he was told the story of three brothers who could not be trusted by their father who was in possession of a treasure map. In order to get the boys to work together the father gave in each of them a third of the map, but they fell out with each other and two of them arranged for the third to be killed. Aunt Azalea finds the book, and from what she says about it, Murdoch recognizes it as a true story.
Following up the clues in the book immediately lands Detective Murdoch in a fight. A different plan is required, and this proves more successful.
In this delightful episode, there are many things to laugh about, including the fact that Constable Crabtree mistakenly arrests Guglielmo Marconi, who is making preparations for a transatlantic wireless broadcast. We certainly learn a great deal about Constable Crabtree, and his upbringing which wasn't exactly the way he has explained things before.
The prime suspect in the murder is Ezekiel Farrelly, but he escapes to Newfoundland before he can be brought to justice. Murdoch and Crabtree have to travel to Newfoundland in order to apprehend him, and find the remaining pieces of the document. A journey by train and ship brings them to Saint John's, which is where George Crabtree was raised as a child.
Observing proper protocol, the two Toronto policeman first visit the local police station, where detective Murdoch surrenders his badge, and the local inspector grants him limited powers of arrest, and confirms that the man they have been chasing is not in fact Ezekiel Farrelly but rather Jacob Doyle, a man well known to the police. Murdoch and Crabtree then head off to the house where Crabtree was raised. Several of his aunts are there, and they are delighted to see him. Murdoch takes careful note of the household arrangements, and immediately understands why Crabtree has not spoken of them before.
Crabtree asks his aunt Azalea for a book she used to read to him, because has remembered that as a child he was told the story of three brothers who could not be trusted by their father who was in possession of a treasure map. In order to get the boys to work together the father gave in each of them a third of the map, but they fell out with each other and two of them arranged for the third to be killed. Aunt Azalea finds the book, and from what she says about it, Murdoch recognizes it as a true story.
Following up the clues in the book immediately lands Detective Murdoch in a fight. A different plan is required, and this proves more successful.
In this delightful episode, there are many things to laugh about, including the fact that Constable Crabtree mistakenly arrests Guglielmo Marconi, who is making preparations for a transatlantic wireless broadcast. We certainly learn a great deal about Constable Crabtree, and his upbringing which wasn't exactly the way he has explained things before.
