LANGUAGE IV

In Cold Blood

PART II – PERSON UNKOWN (pages 73-96)

1. Describe Alfred’s feelings. Do you think he was involved in any way? Explain. How can he convince people of his innocence?

Alfred was nervous and concern about what people thought about him and his family. People couldn`t believe how he couldn`t hear the shots. But, he convinced them when the police explained that the wind and a big barn which was in between the Clutters and Aflred`s house covered the noise of the massacre.

In my opinion, Alfred was innocent. He didn`t have motives for killing them. Mr. Clutter gave him home, work and was comprehensible to Alfred`s problems. Why could Alfred be angry with Mr. Clutter? It doesn`t make sense to think that.

2. Describe Alvin Dewey.

Alvin Dewey was 47 years old and got married 17 years ago with Marie (they met in New Orleans when they worked for the F.B.I.). He was the man in charge of the Clutter`s investigation. Dewey was determined to solve the case because he respect the Clutters. Herb and him went to the same church. After investigating a while, Dewey discarded the connection between the insurance and the murders. He thought in two possible hypothesis, one involving a single murderer and other with 2 perpetrators.  

3. Why do you think Nancy was not gagged?

I think Nancy was the first victim of the massacre. She must be slept when Dick and Perry killed her. But first, they tied Herb, Kenyon and Bonnie up. In that way, when they heard the shot they couldn`t do anything.

4. Discuss the evidence the KBI has accumulated so far.

The evidence they collect were:

• ·         Footprints with a particular pattern soles (diamond). The only sustainable clue they have.
• ·         They discarded a robbery because jewellery wasn't been stolen.
• ·         The murderer/s could be from outside the town. There isn`t possible that 2 people from the same place could think about committing such a crime.
• ·         The adhesive tape and the cord the police collected from the crime scene.

5. Explain Dewey’s major reason for believing that the murder was the work of only one individual. Do you agree?

Dewey thought in the hypothesis where there was just one murderer. The perpetrator woke Herb up and made him tie all his family. But, without reason took Kenyon to the playroom and Herb to the furnace room. The fact that the Clutters were tied with the same knot made Dewey think that one person was the responsible for the crime.

No, I don`t support this idea. First, there could been 2 or more murderers. But, they could arrange that just one of them was in charge to tie the victims. Second, as Dewey thought, when Kenyon was taken to the playroom with Herb, they could been fought with the murderer. Finally, If Herb tied his family, where did he learn to make that kind of knot? The police should have looked for the same knot in the farm. I don`t remember well now, but I think Perry learnt to make that knot in the army/navy (I don`t remember).

6. What evidence exists that the murder may have been the result of a feud?

Despite of the Clutters were beloved by all Holcomb, Herb had had a problems with two men.

John Senior and John Junior: Senior had made a business transaction with Herb which ended bad for John. He and his son became alcoholics after that. One day, they went drunk to speak with Herb, but he threw them out with a gun. One month earlier, John Senior told he would like to kill Herb.

Mr. Smith: His haunting dog was killed by an employee of Mr. Clutter. When the agent Church went to investigate Smith saw a similar knot in the barn of Mr. Smith. The same knot which was used to tie the Clutters.

If someone wants to add something that I missed, please do it.