The Brooklyn Murders · Chapter
XVIII: The Case for the Defence explained
Fred Thomas, Walter Brooklyn's lawyer, reviews the case against his client and is convinced of his guilt.
What happens
Fred Thomas, Walter Brooklyn's lawyer, reviews the case against his client and is convinced of his guilt. He meets with Carter Woodman to discuss a defense strategy, but Woodman refuses to help shift suspicion onto innocent persons. Thomas then investigates the servants, discovering that Winter had a motive for murdering Prinsep due to a personal grievance involving a girl at Fittleworth.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Miscarriage of Justice
Thomas considers using illegitimate means to create reasonable doubt, risking a miscarriage of justice.
Deception and False Clues
Thomas plans to throw suspicion on Winter despite lacking evidence, highlighting the use of deception in defense.
Class and Social Status
The servants' respectability and Prinsep's exploitation of a gardener's daughter reflect class power imbalances.
Characters to notice
- Fred Thomas
Walter Brooklyn's lawyer, skeptical of his client's innocence, seeks to build a defense by shifting suspicion.
- Carter Woodman
Family lawyer who meets with Thomas but refuses to implicate innocent persons in the defense strategy.
- Walter Brooklyn
The accused, maintains his innocence but refuses to provide a clear account of his whereabouts.
- Morgan
Former servant of Prinsep, provides Thomas with information about Winter's motive.
- Winter
Servant with a motive against Prinsep due to a personal grievance involving his fiancée.
- John Prinsep
Murder victim, revealed to have been involved in an intrigue with a gardener's daughter at Fittleworth.
Key passages
“The more Fred Thomas thought over the case which he had to handle, the less he liked it.”
Fred Thomas grew increasingly uneasy as he considered the case he was responsible for.
Thomas's initial doubt about defending Walter Brooklyn.
“I only want to throw dust in the jury’s eyes.”
Thomas aims to confuse the jury rather than prove innocence.
Thomas admits his strategy is to mislead rather than seek truth.
“I decline to be a party to attempt to throw the guilt on any innocent persons.”
Woodman refuses to help frame innocent people.
Woodman's ethical stance contrasts with Thomas's approach.