Murder in the Gunroom · Chapter
IV explained
Rand visits Stephen Gresham, a fellow collector and neighbor of the late Lane Fleming.
What happens
Rand visits Stephen Gresham, a fellow collector and neighbor of the late Lane Fleming. Gresham reveals that Arnold Rivers is a swindler who uses a gunsmith, Elmer Umholtz, to create fake antique firearms. He also expresses his belief that Lane Fleming's death was a suicide, not an accident, and that Fleming was about to lose control of his company. Rand arranges to meet with Gresham's group of potential buyers for the Fleming collection.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Gresham details Rivers' and Umholtz's elaborate forgeries of antique firearms, highlighting the theme of deception in the collecting world.
Murder and Justice
Gresham questions the official story of Fleming's accidental death, suggesting suicide or foul play and criticizing the coroner's fixability.
Collecting and Obsession
The chapter revolves around the Fleming collection, with Gresham's detailed description of its contents and the intense interest of collectors.
Characters to notice
- Jeff Rand
Visits Stephen Gresham to discuss the Fleming collection and learns about Rivers' fraudulent activities and suspicions about Fleming's death.
- Stephen Gresham
A fellow collector and neighbor of Fleming; reveals details about Rivers' forgeries and his belief that Fleming committed suicide.
- Arnold Rivers
Mentioned as a swindler who sells fake antiques made by Umholtz; Gresham holds a grudge against him.
- Elmer Umholtz
A gunsmith who creates fraudulent antique firearms for Rivers; also built a deer-rifle for Gresham.
- Lane Fleming
Deceased collector; Gresham suspects his death was a suicide, possibly due to losing control of his company.
- Humphrey Goode
Mentioned as the executor of Fleming's estate, but deemed incompetent to handle the collection sale.
- Philip Cabot
Part of Gresham's group of potential buyers for the Fleming collection.
- Pierre Jarrett
A former Marine captain and science-fiction writer, part of the buying group with his fiancée Karen Lawrence.
Key passages
“I believe he deliberately shot himself, and the family faked the accident and fixed the authorities.”
Gresham suspects that Fleming's death was a suicide covered up by his family and a corrupt coroner.
Gresham expresses his belief that Fleming's death was not accidental.
“I hate to see him prostitute his talents the way he does by making these fake antiques for Rivers.”
Gresham regrets that Umholtz uses his skill to create forgeries for Rivers.
Gresham comments on Umholtz's craftsmanship being misused.
“Why, that story's been absolutely disproved. There never was any such revolver.”
Rand states that the myth of a heavy .44 Paterson Colt is false.
Rand corrects the historical inaccuracy about the Walker Colt.