There is a ratting competition at the Manchester Terrier pub, and one of the spectators doesn't like the outcome, so a fight breaks out. Later, John Delaney, the major prizewinner, is attacked and killed on his way home, with his body in a river, and his winnings taken. A short distance away, a drunkard, the one most aggrieved at the fight, is discovered. The drunkard is Murdoch's father, so Murdoch asks to be released from the investigation, but Brackenreid expresses every confidence in Murdoch's professionalism.
Murdoch starts by interviewing Vincent Newcombe, landlord of the Manchester Terrier, who thinks it a great pity that Delaney is dead. It was, he says, a normal evening until the incident with the drunken fellow, who was unknown to Newcombe, and as far as he knows, also a stranger to Delaney. Philip Delaney, the victim's son, who works at the pub and who found the body is rather taciturn, but unusually precise about the time his father left the pub, 9:47, and when he left, 10:04. He knows the times because he has been given a pocket watch by Jess Lacey, so that he can keep track of things in his head. He found his father's body at 10:22; after that, it took him 1 minute to recognise his father, he cried for 2 minutes, thought for 1 minute about what to do, and then took 11 minutes to run back to the pub. Jess Lacey helps out at the pub and does a little cooking there, while her husband Walter does odd jobs for Newcombe. Jess has a soft spot for Philip, and hints that John Delaney was unkind to him.
When interviewing his father, Murdoch finds his patience tested. Harry Murdoch staunchly maintains that he didn't kill Delaney but that he also cannot remember anything about the night before. The experience unnerves Murdoch and stirs in him a memory of him finding his mother, drowned in a river.
Dr Ogden confirms Delaney died from three blows to the head, and that he was dead before being placed in the river. This chain of events leads William to wonder if that is what his father did to his mother. At any event, he knows his father was thrown out of the pub at 9:35, and Murdoch is seemingly convinced that Harry did it.
While Brackenreid distracts Newcombe in the bar, Murdoch checks the place the dogs are kept, to see if there is any evidence of fixing. He finds bottles containing laudanum, chloroform and cocaine, from which Dr Ogden concludes that Harry was right about the dog fights being fixed.
Murdoch interviews Harry again to find out how the fix is put in. Harry, now more sober, regrets not taking more interest in William, and thinks it a terrible thing when a son distrusts his father, like William does. William tells Harry that they both know what Harry is capable of doing when drunk. With Harry still protesting his innocence, Murdoch returns to the Manchester Terrier to ask Lacey why he is drugging the dogs, and how the punters would feel if they found out. He says the doping scheme was developed by Newcombe and Delaney. Murdoch asks Philip if he saw Newcombe and his father after the fight, and Philip says he saw them arguing at 9:45, and that Newcombe left the pub at 9:56.
Back at Police Station 4, Murdoch charts the time-line based on the details supplied by Philip.
So, who could have killed John Delaney? Where is the money Delaney was carrying? Will Murdoch ever see any good in Harry? What do the long looks between Murdoch and Dr Ogden mean?
The Murdoch Mysteries are just getting into their stride, and this episode is notable for what it tells us about Murdoch's background. The mystery element of the episode is not as strong as in some other episodes, but then the writers only have 45 minutes to play with.
Murdoch starts by interviewing Vincent Newcombe, landlord of the Manchester Terrier, who thinks it a great pity that Delaney is dead. It was, he says, a normal evening until the incident with the drunken fellow, who was unknown to Newcombe, and as far as he knows, also a stranger to Delaney. Philip Delaney, the victim's son, who works at the pub and who found the body is rather taciturn, but unusually precise about the time his father left the pub, 9:47, and when he left, 10:04. He knows the times because he has been given a pocket watch by Jess Lacey, so that he can keep track of things in his head. He found his father's body at 10:22; after that, it took him 1 minute to recognise his father, he cried for 2 minutes, thought for 1 minute about what to do, and then took 11 minutes to run back to the pub. Jess Lacey helps out at the pub and does a little cooking there, while her husband Walter does odd jobs for Newcombe. Jess has a soft spot for Philip, and hints that John Delaney was unkind to him.
When interviewing his father, Murdoch finds his patience tested. Harry Murdoch staunchly maintains that he didn't kill Delaney but that he also cannot remember anything about the night before. The experience unnerves Murdoch and stirs in him a memory of him finding his mother, drowned in a river.
Dr Ogden confirms Delaney died from three blows to the head, and that he was dead before being placed in the river. This chain of events leads William to wonder if that is what his father did to his mother. At any event, he knows his father was thrown out of the pub at 9:35, and Murdoch is seemingly convinced that Harry did it.
While Brackenreid distracts Newcombe in the bar, Murdoch checks the place the dogs are kept, to see if there is any evidence of fixing. He finds bottles containing laudanum, chloroform and cocaine, from which Dr Ogden concludes that Harry was right about the dog fights being fixed.
Murdoch interviews Harry again to find out how the fix is put in. Harry, now more sober, regrets not taking more interest in William, and thinks it a terrible thing when a son distrusts his father, like William does. William tells Harry that they both know what Harry is capable of doing when drunk. With Harry still protesting his innocence, Murdoch returns to the Manchester Terrier to ask Lacey why he is drugging the dogs, and how the punters would feel if they found out. He says the doping scheme was developed by Newcombe and Delaney. Murdoch asks Philip if he saw Newcombe and his father after the fight, and Philip says he saw them arguing at 9:45, and that Newcombe left the pub at 9:56.
Back at Police Station 4, Murdoch charts the time-line based on the details supplied by Philip.
So, who could have killed John Delaney? Where is the money Delaney was carrying? Will Murdoch ever see any good in Harry? What do the long looks between Murdoch and Dr Ogden mean?
The Murdoch Mysteries are just getting into their stride, and this episode is notable for what it tells us about Murdoch's background. The mystery element of the episode is not as strong as in some other episodes, but then the writers only have 45 minutes to play with.
