The Nursery Rhyme Murders Unfold

Follows the sequence of deaths as they mirror the Ten Little Indian Boys rhyme, from the first poisoning to the final hanging.

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First Death by Choking

Anthony Marston's End The Poisoned Drink Anthony James Marston, the reckless young man who had killed two children in a car accident, died of cyanide poisoning. The poison was in his whiskey glass—he had refilled it from a decanter that was later found to be pure. The murderer must have slipped the cyanide into his glass while the others were distracted by the gramophone accusation. The death was swift and violent, his face turning purple. The first little Indian boy had "choked himself." The First Warning The death served as a grim warning: the nursery rhyme was not just a decoration. It was a blueprint. The guests were terrified, but they still clung to the hope that it was a suicide or an accident. The next morning, however, when Mrs. Rogers was found dead, that hope evaporated.

Second Death by Oversleeping

Mrs. Rogers' Silence The Sedative and the Overdose Ethel Rogers, the frightened cook, had been given a sedative by Dr. Edward George Armstrong after the gramophone accusation. She was found dead in her bed, having "overslept" permanently. The cause was an overdose of chloral hydrate, which had been added to her brandy or her sedative. The second little Indian boy had "overslept himself." The china figures on the table were now eight. Suspicion Grows William Henry Blore suggested that Thomas Rogers might have killed his wife to silence her about their past crime—the murder of Jennifer Brady. The theory was plausible, but it did not explain how the cyanide had gotten into Anthony Marston's drink. The deaths were piling up, and the island was still isolated. The guests began to eye each other with deep suspicion.

Third Death by a Blow

General Macarthur's End The Confession to the Sea John Gordon Macarthur, the old soldier who had sent his wife's lover to his death, walked to the far end of the island and sat gazing out to sea. He seemed at peace, telling Vera Elizabeth Claythorne that none of them would leave the island. He was waiting for the end. Sometime later, he was struck on the back of the head with a life preserver or similar blunt instrument. The third little Indian boy had "chopped himself in halves." His body was found by Dr. Armstrong just before lunch. The Murderer's Method This death was different—it required physical force. The murderer had to approach the General from behind and strike him. The blow was powerful but not necessarily requiring great strength; a woman could have done it. The crime scene was by the sea, far from the house. The guests realized that the killer was among them, and that no one was safe.

Fourth Death by Axe

Rogers' Murder The Chopping Block Thomas Rogers, the butler, was found dead in the wash-house, his head split open by a heavy chopper. He had been chopping sticks for the fire. The fourth little Indian boy had "chopped himself in halves." This murder was brutal and violent. The chopper was wiped clean of fingerprints. The china figures were now six. The Killer's Signature The murder occurred while the other guests were still in bed. The killer had to have known Rogers' routine. Suspicion fell on the remaining guests, but no one could prove anything. The death of Rogers removed the only servant, increasing the isolation. The guests now had to fend for themselves, and the tension became unbearable.

Fifth Death by Injection

Emily Brent's End The Hypodermic Syringe Emily Caroline Brent, the puritanical spinster, was found dead in the dining-room, a needle mark on her neck. She had been injected with cyanide. The fifth little Indian boy had been "stung by a bumblebee." The murderer had used Dr. Edward George Armstrong's hypodermic syringe, which was later found missing. The syringe was discovered outside the dining-room window, wiped clean. The Religious Context Emily Brent had been a self-righteous woman who drove her pregnant servant, Beatrice Taylor, to suicide. She felt no remorse, believing she was God's instrument. Her death was ironic: she who had judged others was now judged. The remaining guests were terrified. The killer was following the rhyme with theatrical precision.

Sixth Death by Shooting

The Judge's Mock Death The Robed Figure Lawrence John Wargrave was found in the drawing-room, dressed in a scarlet robe and a wig of grey wool, a bullet hole in his forehead. The sixth little Indian boy had "got in Chancery"—a legal term for being trapped. The revolver was missing. The guests were horrified, but they did not know that Wargrave's death was a fake. He had staged it with the help of Dr. Armstrong, who believed they were tricking the real murderer. The Red Herring This death was the turning point. The nursery rhyme said "A red herring swallowed one"—and indeed, Dr. Armstrong was the red herring. He was lured to the cliff and pushed into the sea by Wargrave. The fake death allowed Wargrave to move freely and observe the remaining suspects. The real murders continued.

Seventh Death by Drowning

Armstrong's Disappearance The Red Herring Swallowed Dr. Edward George Armstrong left the house in the night to meet Lawrence John Wargrave, who had convinced him they were setting a trap. Wargrave led him to the cliff and pushed him into the rough sea. Armstrong drowned. The seventh little Indian boy had been "swallowed by a red herring." His body was later washed ashore and found by Vera Elizabeth Claythorne and Philip Lombard. The Loss of the Doctor Armstrong's death removed the only medical professional. The remaining guests were now three: Vera, Philip, and William Henry Blore. The island was nearly empty of victims. The killer—Wargrave—was still alive and hidden, watching from the shadows. The final act was about to begin.

Eighth Death by Crushing

Blore's End The Marble Bear William Henry Blore, the ex-policeman, was killed by a marble bear clock that was pushed from the window of Vera Elizabeth Claythorne's room. The bear crushed his skull. The eighth little Indian boy had been "hugged by a bear." Blore had gone to the house alone to get lunch, and the killer—Wargrave, still in hiding—took the opportunity. The Final Three After Blore's death, only Vera and Philip remained. They were alone on the island, except for the hidden murderer. They knew that one of them must be the killer, but they suspected each other. The tension reached its peak. The nursery rhyme was almost complete.

Ninth Death by Shooting

Lombard's Death The Confrontation After finding Dr. Armstrong's body, Vera Elizabeth Claythorne and Philip Lombard realized that only they were left. Vera, suspecting Philip, tricked him into helping her move the body, then picked his pocket and took his revolver. She shot him through the heart. The ninth little Indian boy had "got frizzled up." The nursery rhyme was almost complete. Vera's Triumph Vera felt a surge of relief. She believed she had killed the murderer. She was alone on the island, the sole survivor. She walked back to the house, exhausted but exultant. She did not know that Lawrence John Wargrave was still alive and watching her every move.

Tenth Death by Hanging

Vera's Hanging The Final Act Vera Elizabeth Claythorne returned to her room, exhausted. She saw a noose hanging from the ceiling hook and a chair placed beneath it. In a state of hypnotic suggestion, she believed she was being called to account for her past crime—the drowning of Cyril Ogilvie Hamilton. She climbed onto the chair, put the noose around her neck, and kicked the chair away. The tenth little Indian boy had "hanged himself." The rhyme was complete. The Judge's Final Touch Lawrence John Wargrave, who had been hiding in the room, came forward after Vera's death. He set the chair upright against the wall, picked up the revolver, and then went to his own room. There, he staged his own suicide, using a clever arrangement of elastic cord and his eyeglasses to make it look like a murder. He wrote his confession, sealed it in a bottle, and threw it into the sea. Then he shot himself. The island was left with ten dead bodies and no living soul.

August 8th, after dinner

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early morning, August 10th

mid-morning, August 10th

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night of August 10th

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