The Leavenworth Case · Chapter
Unexpected Testimony explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Belden testifies that Hannah came to her house on the night of the murder, sent by Mary Leavenworth, and remained silent until her death. The narrator discovers a letter from Hannah under her body, which names a tall, splendid-looking gentleman with a black mustache as the murderer, exonerating Eleanore.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Truth
Hannah's hidden letter reveals the truth, contrasting with the secrecy maintained by Mary and Mrs. Belden.
Guilt and Innocence
The letter exonerates Eleanore and points to a new suspect, shifting the guilt narrative.
Appearance vs. Reality
Mrs. Belden's initial respect for Henry Clavering contrasts with her later suspicion of him as the murderer.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Interviews Mrs. Belden and discovers Hannah's letter.
- Amy Belden
Provides testimony about Hannah's arrival and her suspicions of Henry Clavering.
- Hannah
Deceased; her letter is found, revealing the murderer's identity.
- Mary Leavenworth
Implied to have sent Hannah to Mrs. Belden's house and to have a secret marriage.
- Eleanore Leavenworth
Mentioned in Hannah's letter as being wrongly suspected.
- Henry Clavering
Suspected by Mrs. Belden as the murderer due to his marriage to Mary.
Key passages
“I am a wicked girl. I have knone things all the time which I had ought to have told but I didn’t dare to he said he would kill me if I did I mene the tall splendud looking gentulman with the black mustash who I met coming out of Mister Levenworth’s room with a key in his hand the night Mr. Levenworth was murdered.”
Hannah confesses she withheld knowledge of the murderer—a tall, handsome man with a black mustache—whom she saw leaving Mr. Leavenworth's room with a key on the night of the murder.
This is the pivotal revelation from Hannah's posthumous letter.
“He was so scared he gave me money and made me go away and come here and keep everything secret but I can’t do so no longer.”
The murderer bribed Hannah to flee and remain silent, but she can no longer keep the secret.
Explains Hannah's flight and silence until her death.