THE HOSTILE WITNESS

SUMMARY:

            Once a man named Charlton was temporarily employed in a hotel called the White Hart Hotel. He was a confirmed rogue. Apparently he was a servant in the hotel, but whenever he got an opportunity he committed robberies. One day he came to know that two men would be carrying the weekly pay of the workers of a factory in New Castle. So he stole someone’s car and lay to wait for the men on the road. When the two men passed by him, he fired at them with his gun. One of the victims was killed there and then and the other was seriously injured. Charlton decamped with the bag of money. At Darlington he met Mr. Earnest King who was going to the white Hart Hotel. Mr. King gave Charlton a lift, and brought him back to the hotel, came there, the manager of the hotel. Mr. Abbot talked to them about the murder and robbery

that had taken place at new Castle. He asked Mr. King if he had been checked up or not. Mr. King did not know anything surprise. At that time Charlton was serving drinks to Mr. King. Johnson said that full description of the murdered had been announced in the news bulletin on the radio. He added that the murderer was of medium height, fair complexion, dark hair and moustaches. He wore a horn-rimmed pair of glasses. He had put on a grey suit and a grey felt hat and was respectable looking. Mr. King said, ‘Suppose the murderer removed his moustaches, hat and glasses, than how will he police be able to arrest him?”

            Just then Detective Sergeant Manning and a police constable Steven came there. Mr. Manning introduced himself, showed them his official card and disclosed the purpose of his arrival. He said that the police was trying hard to find out the man there and so he had come there checking up the luggage of all those who were staying at hotel. He then, asked all of them to hand over of keys. Mr. King and came downstairs with a revolver in his hand. He asked Mr. King if that revolver belonged to him or he had nothing to do with it. Mr. Manning was sure that it was the revolver, which was used in murdering the factory employers who were travelling to New Castle with the money. So he asked Mr. King if he could explain his position. Mr. King was utterly confused and denied the charge. He said that he had never been upstairs. Then the detective asked him where the box containing the money was. At this stage Charlton told Mr. Manning that Mr. King had another big box with unusual locks. But Mr. King explained that the box did not belong to him but it was when Charlton was given a lift. Mr. Manning asked Charlton to bring that box. When I was brought there Manning looked closely at Charlton and saw some false hair on his upper lip. He concluded that Charlton was the real murderer. So he asked the constable to arrest him. He explained that after committing the murder, Charlton had removed the false moustaches from his face. He ran away in the sport car. Then he left the car and reached Darlington. On the way he met Mr. King who gave him a lift on his car. He added that when Charlton realized that the box might be found out. He tried to throw the guilt on Mr. King.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Q.1. What was in the case that Charlton put in the cupboard behind the reception desk?

Ans. The case, which Charlton put in the cupboard, contained weekly wages of worker in a New Castle Factory.

Q.2 What crime had been committed at New Castle that afternoon?

Ans. That afternoon a man was murdered and robbed of his money at New Castle.

Q.3 What did detective Sergeant Manning first speak rather coldly to the group of men in the hotel lounge?

Ans. Detective Sergeant Manning spoke rather coldly to the group of men in the hotel lounge because he thought the murderer was there.

Q.4 Briefly explain Johnson, Carter and Abbot were suspicious of King even before the revolver was found in his room?

And. They were suspicious of King because he was rather respectable looking. Secondly he had a medium size and thirdly he was reluctant to hand over the keys of Manning. So they thought that he was the real murderer.

Q.5 At what point in the play does the audience realize that Charlton is lying in order to throw suspicion of King?

Ans. The audience begins to realize that Charlton is lying when King stated that he had picked up Charlton on the way.

Q.6 Why did Manning never believe that King was the murderer?

Ans. Manning never believed that King was a murderer because if King had committed the crime he could have escaped in his car to the west. He could not have reached the White Hart Hotel at the time when he had reached. If he had come along the great north road the police would have arrested him. By driving his car fast he could have got through from New Castle to Darlington before the police started checking travellers on the roads.

Q.7 Briefly explain what was the Manning’s mind when he said, “You story really interests me, Mr. King”.

Ans. When Manning said these words, he was quite sure that Charlton had committed the murder.

Q.8 Why was Manning certain of Charlton’s guilt after peering closely into his face?

Ans. Manning had seen some treads of artificial hair on Charlton upper lip. So he felt quite sure that Charlton was the real murderer.

Q.9 Why was Manning interested in the make and age of King’s car?

Ans. Manning was interested in the make and age of King’s car because he had learnt that the criminal had escaped in the sports car.

Q.10 Why did Charlton give away the place where the case was deposited for which he had committed murder?

Ans. Charlton gave away place because he wanted to throw away suspicions on Mr. King.