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.
