# On the Tiles explained — The Brooklyn Murders

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

## What happens

Inspector Blaikie investigates Carter Woodman's financial troubles and tries to trace Walter Brooklyn's walking-stick, but fails. Superintendent Wilson takes a personal hand in the case, cleverly tricks Moorman into revealing that Walter Brooklyn left the office without his stick, and then searches Prinsep's room and the roof, where he finds a small shot-filled bag—the likely murder weapon.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and False Clues

Wilson uses a clever ruse (disguise and a planted stick) to extract the truth from Moorman about Walter Brooklyn's walking-stick.

### Justice and Miscarriage of Justice

The police are determined to find the real murderer after Walter Brooklyn's wrongful arrest and release.

### Amateur vs. Professional Detection

Superintendent Wilson steps in to apply his own methods, contrasting with Inspector Blaikie's more routine approach.

## Character check-ins

### Carter Woodman

Under financial strain from heavy speculation in oil shares; suspected by police of murder.

### Superintendent Wilson

Takes over key aspects of the investigation; uses disguise as Mr. Amos Porter to trick Moorman; discovers the murder weapon on the roof.

### Moorman

Woodman's clerk; unwittingly reveals to Wilson that Walter Brooklyn left the office without his stick.

### Walter Brooklyn

His walking-stick is central to the investigation; Moorman confirms he left Woodman's office without it.

### Robert Ellery

Alibi confirmed by William Gloucester; no longer a suspect.

### Inspector Gibbs

Reports to Superintendent Wilson; frustrated by lack of progress on the stick.

## Key lines

> It did not take the inspector long to prove beyond doubt that Woodman was in a state of serious financial embarrassment. Discreet inquiries in the city showed that he had been speculating heavily in oil shares, and that he stood to lose a large sum on the falling prices of the shares which he had contracted to buy.

Blaikie quickly confirmed Woodman's dire finances: he had gambled on oil shares and faced huge losses as prices dropped.

_Establishes Woodman's motive for needing money._

> Moorman picked it up, but as he was passing it back to its owner, he started violently and almost dropped it. 'A queer old stick, is it not?' said Mr. Porter. 'I value it highly for its associations.'

When Moorman handled the stick, he reacted with shock, and Wilson (as Porter) played along, claiming it was his own prized possession.

_Wilson's trick to get Moorman to talk about the stick._

> And there at last his efforts were rewarded; for on the roof lay, clearly just where it had been thrown, a small bag heavily loaded, not with sand, but with small shot—a deadly weapon.

On the roof, Wilson found a small bag filled with shot, the likely murder weapon, exactly where it had been discarded.

_Discovery of the actual weapon used to kill Prinsep._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters/xxxiii-on-the-tiles
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_brooklyn_murders_se/chapters