# XX: Superintendent Wilson Thinks It Out explained — The Brooklyn Murders

> Chapter companion for The Brooklyn Murders by G. D. H. Cole.

## What happens

Superintendent Wilson, stuck on the Brooklyn case, goes home to talk it over with his wife. As he explains the evidence against Walter Brooklyn, his wife's simple questions lead him to realize that both sets of clues—the ones pointing to a mutual murder and those pointing to Walter—are false. He deduces that the criminal laid two sets of false clues: one obviously false to mislead, and one subtler set to frame Walter. He focuses on the walking-stick as the key to identifying the real murderer.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and False Clues

The entire chapter revolves around Wilson's realization that both sets of clues are deliberately false, laid by the murderer to mislead the investigation.

### Amateur vs. Professional Detection

Wilson, a professional detective, uses his wife's amateur observations to crack the case, highlighting the value of outside perspectives.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The clues that appear to incriminate Walter are shown to be a constructed reality; Wilson sees through the surface to the true criminal's design.

## Character check-ins

### Superintendent Wilson

The central thinker of the chapter; he works through the case by talking to his wife and deduces that both sets of clues are false.

### Mrs. Purvis

Wilson's wife, who provides a passive but crucial sounding board; her simple question about two sets of clues sparks his breakthrough.

### Walter Brooklyn

The prime suspect; Wilson discusses the evidence against him, including the walking-stick and telephone message, but doubts his guilt.

### John Prinsep

One of the murder victims; the walking-stick was found in his room, and Wilson considers how it got there.

### George Brooklyn

The other murder victim; mentioned as part of the case Wilson reviews with his wife.

## Key lines

> By George, you've given me just the idea I wanted. Yes, that must be it.

Wilson exclaims that his wife's comment has sparked the exact insight he needed.

_This moment marks the turning point in his reasoning._

> The criminal laid two sets of false clues. He meant us to see through one set; but he thought we should never see through the other.

Wilson explains that the murderer created two misleading trails, expecting investigators to dismiss the obvious one but fall for the subtler one.

_This is the core deduction of the chapter._

> When we know for certain who got hold of that stick we shall have found the murderer.

Wilson asserts that identifying who took the walking-stick will lead directly to the killer.

_The stick becomes the crucial piece of evidence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xx-superintendent-wilson-thinks-it-out
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters