I remember seeing long ago (the late 1960s) a TV show featuring an ingenious murder by crossbow. The victim was found in an armchair (impaled!) in a locked room. The detective figured he'd been shot through an open window and the bolt had taken out the prop used to hold the window open, etc.
Trouble is, I can't remember the series or the detective! I think it might have been "The Saint" with Roger Moore, but another part of my cobwebbed mind thinks it may have been "Peter Gunn," though the country house, locked room, and crossbow sound more like an English mystery than an American one.
Does this ring any bells with anyone?
Paul
Last edited by Ivo on Mon May 02, 2011 6:40 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Title Edit)
We don't discuss such use of crossbow here. I've made the same mistake once on here in bringing up the Crossbow Cannibal case, however only because of shock brought on by the news.
So to go through the rules to keep us at least marginally safe in this discussion:
*Do not discuss "murder or harm of an individual" in general, be it publicly or privately on this forum. You may discuss it with a group of investigators as an outside consultant/witness - privately, or on a forum dedicated to mystery novels or in any other place, but not on this forum.
Yep - Just one rule...That's all I'm asking for.
Failing to follow this basic rules will result in an inevitable suspicion of our group conspiring to aid in the execution of a human being or in any other way to aid in the breaking of the law- This is NOT what we do here. We are artists, craftsmen, sportsmen and hunters - NOT Criminals or people interested in helping those who seek information to be used in that manner. Nor do we like to have our weapon associated with such (be they real or fictional).
I'm not suggesting the above applies to you, just a touchy subject and it needs to have rules set to prevent this conversation from going the wrong way - It's my job to keep the forum and its' visitors safe, even if it means I have to protect them from themselves. To get back to your original question...
~ So you are looking for the novel/show where the assailant's choice of weapon is a crossbow and a window shot scenario is in effect.
Sorry, personally I can't help in finding of written works since I don't read too many mystery novels and the rule prohibits this discussion.
However...*Strictly literature/film related*
I can think of a similar scenario where a crossbow was skillfully used by a group of thieves in a movie to carry a line to a target through a window and by these means deliver a remotely operated device to disable the security system. Only to find out that the safe was already cracked/emptied by the rival thief Night Fox (played by Vincent Cassel) )...and that movie is "Ocean's Twelve". That shot scenario was actually a pretty good mystery because for the shot to be even possible the building supports had to be raised using water pressure(this scene takes place in Venice) to allow this difficult shot to be made. The "greater mystery part" also resides in the fact that to cover up the operation, the projectile was later removed and the hole was patched and skillfully blended with the wood grain of the wall panels, using the artistic skill of one of the thieves - Rusty (palyed by Brad Pitt). Still the crime was solved instantly by a skilled young detective Isabel Lahiri (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones).
I didn't find any videos of the "Raising the building operation", nor the pictures, so you will have to take my word for it. But...It is a very similar scenario, so I assume this resource can aid in the search of the novel as it is very likely that it served as a template for this movie scene...Hope this proves helpful in your search and maybe someone here can land a better hand here.
Oh and I highly recommend watching the movie if you haven't seen it yet - Just the laser dance is worth your time.
As to the technical side of things...
There is a problem with the first one - *taking out a thin window support*.
A crossbow ,as well as a bow for that matter, is a clear shot weapon and it wasn't a skillful shot, but actually a lucky one. Any obstacles (a stock of grass or a twig) will deflect an arrow horribly(in the scenario: probably hitting a bookcase). I also think it was an English story, since the majority are not too fond of crossbows and would happily put it in the hands of their fictional killer for the exotic effect, when really a simple crossbow would be impractical and any other weapon would have been a better choice (though not as exotic).
For example like in one of Sherlock Holmes stories...a window shot scenario in which a mercenary uses a silenced air-rifle, but fails in the assassination of Holmes due to the target in the armchair being only a skillfully crafted wax sculpture decoy of Holmes...while in the mean time Holmes and Watson are hiding in the closet located in the room from which the shot was to be made...ready to crack the case and make the arrest. I like happy endings.
All in all...
Good luck finding the novel/show and Sorry for my over the top reaction.
Sorry about that. I am new here. I didn't realize a fictional treatment was right out. I take an Ambrose Bierce attitude about such things, but I will respect the rules.
Like I said...It's fine to talk about it as long as murder doesn't become the primary theme for the topic.
To be honest with you even I don't really know how to approach the issue, but it's better to be safe than having to answer a call from National Guard asking what our intentions are. Believe me...weapon forums are no joke and I have to be on top of: Who joins, what topics are discussed, and how that information is used.
So far, our members are very civil and mature, so I don't see a problem with this thread(above rule applied)...Sorry if it seemed like I cracked on you.