Two years before Road Hill House, he had apprehended a thief who had made off with a Leonardo da Vinci. He had also aided the hunt for some revolutionaries who had attempted the assassination of Napoleon III in Paris. Dickens whose character of Bucket in Bleak House was broadly based on Whicher's friend and boss Charley Field knew Whicher and had eulogised the new breed of detective as "models of modernity" in several magazine articles and stories. Until now, the trend in fiction had been for crime stories about dashing crooks.
Dickens and Collins would shift the focus to analytical detectives who were, like Dickens himself, largely working-class boys made good. Some, however, were resistant to the very notion of detectives. Their view was that the killers had probably been Saville's own father and nursemaid.
Kent had "previous", having married the children's governess after his first wife went mad and died. Whicher, however, soon formed a different conclusion, one based on psychology and instinct. For him, the prime suspect was Saville's half-sister Constance, aged 16 at the time.
Whicher was swayed neither by village gossip nor by intrusions by phrenologists and hoaxers. One particular story in Constance's past suggested to him that she might be leading a double life.
Four years previously, she had run away from home accompanied by her brother William. Before leaving, she had gone into the same outdoor privy to change into a boy's clothes, cropping her hair at the same time. Sigmund Freud would later compare detection to psychoanalysis, and the author suggests that Whicher was investigating Constance's "hidden psychic material The murder was so dense in symbolism that it almost outdid interpretation.
Most onlookers were appalled at the notion that a child could have carried out such a crime. But then it also appalled them that a middle-class father could have been guilty. While The Woman in White was undergoing its gripping serialisation, Constance was examined by local magistrates. Her defence lawyer made a mockery of Whicher's inquiries and guesses, while the local constabulary campaigned to discredit the Londoner.
Anonymous pamphlets were issued, books were written, theories flooded in, and at least one journalist bluffed his way into the Kent household to ask some questions of the master. In fact, what is so extraordinary about this whole story is how modern it feels. When one newspaper pointed a finger at Samuel Kent, a libel writ was soon issued, while Constance received proposals of marriage from her "fans".
Easy enough to imagine both still happening today. The detective, meanwhile, was being denounced in parliament for his ineptitude. The home secretary ordered a fresh inquiry and the nursemaid, Elizabeth Gough, was arrested but eventually released. Storyline Edit. Did you know Edit. Trivia Unlike the end of this movie, Jack Whicher never left the force. Though his reputation was tarnished by failing to close the case, over the years he built it back up, eventually reaching the rank of assistant superintendent, retiring in and passing away later that year.
Only this first movie is based on a real case: the rest are works of fiction. Connections Featured in Crime Connections: Episode 1. User reviews 33 Review. Top review. A grim tale, told incredibly well. I can understand the view from those that describe this as a rather grim affair, that's very true, but so often is the case from real life events.
The story is not only interesting, dark, but it's also one that draws you in, a fascinating look into the dark side of human nature. Paddy Considine is key, his understated, but truly sincere performance brings the steadfast character of Whicher to life, he's terrific.
Well supported, Capaldi stands out. The subject matter may be too dark for some, but the actual production is excellent. Details Edit. Whicher was called in to help, and started his enquiries by concentrating on a missing nightdress belonging to Constance. He established that Constance had had an opportunity to have withdrawn another of her night garments from the laundry basket as a ruse to blame the shortage of night wear on to the local woman who did the household's laundry.
He reported his suspicions to the magistrates. There was also other circumstantial evidence. The magistrates directed Constance's arrest and gave Whicher seven days to prepare the case against her.
Mr Kent provided a barrister for his daughter who dominated proceedings. Constance was released on bail and the case was later dropped. The reaction in the newspapers was sympathetic to Constance and Whicher was heavily criticised. His reputation never recovered. The nightdress was never found and Whicher returned to London. Subsequently the local police conducted a prosecution against Elizabeth Gough, but that also failed.
The baby is taken from the bedroom Constance Kent in later years. Nurse Gough arrested for second time With Mother Superior.
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