更新时间：2025年06月08日
主演：约翰·肖,詹姆斯·格劳特,克莱尔·霍尔曼,丽莎·艾科恩,朱蒂·罗,Louisa Lawrenson
简介：MorseistakenseriouslyillatamuseumreceptionandishospitalizedInthehospital,SuptStrange,visitsMorsetopushhimtotakeearlyretirement,whileDrMillicent'Millie'VanBurengiveshimherbookona140yearoldcourtcaseknownastheOxfordCanalMurdersThecaseinvolvedthemurderandrapeofayoungwoman,MrsJoannaFranks,travelingbycanalboatfromCoventrytoLondonThecaseresultedinthreeboatmenbeingsentencedtodeathandtwoofthemhangedMorsestartstoreadMillie'sbookanddreamsaboutitHesoonhasanumberofproblemswiththecase Whyweren'tthethreemenalsochargedwiththeftWhydidMrsFrankstakeaboatinsteadofatrainthatwasmuchfasterandcomfortableandonlyslightlymoreexpensiveWhydidn'tsheabandontheboataftershecomplainedaboutlewdbehaviorofthecrewattheshippingofficeinBanburyWhydidshethendrinkand'socialise'withthecrewWhathappenedtoher'carpetbag'withwhichshearrivedontheboatbutwhichwasnotmentionedinthecourtcase,norwasitstoredinthearchiveswithher,almostempty,trunkThetrunkwasmarkedwithinitialsofherfirsthusbandwhohaddiedHowdidithappenthathershoeswerefoundontheboatbutnobodysawherreturntotheboatfromtheforest PCAdrianKershawdoessomebrilliantlegworkforMorseHestudiedhistoryandhasinvaluablebackgroundknowledgeForinstance,hementionsthattheboatmenhadbadreputationbecausetheyworkedonSundaysanddidnotattendchurchLaterachapelwasbuiltfortheminOxford Thedeadwoman'sclothesandtheshoesfoundontheboataresubmittedtomodernforensicinvestigationTheresultisthattheshoesdidnotbelongtothedeadwomanfoundinthewaterbecauseshewasmuchtallerTheshoeswereneverusedintheforest OnlyMrsFranks'husband,CharlesFranks,wascalledtoidentifythebodyofthedeadwomanHeclaimedthat,whileherfacewasdarkenedanddisfigured,hefoundabirthmarkbehindherearTheprosecutorwelcomedthatinformationthatonlyahusbandoraloverwouldknowTheaccusedwerenotshownthebodyThedefenseattorneymerelyclaimedthattheguiltofthethreemenwasnotprovedAllthreeaccusedclaimedtotheendthattheywereinnocentOneofthemwasnotexecutedbecauseheembracedChristianityinprison MorseinstructsKershawtoinvestigateifCharlesFranksbenefitedfromhiswife'sdeathand,indeed,hepocketed300poundsinsurancemoneyCaseclosedCharlesFranksmurderedatallwomenanddroppedherinthecanalaftermeetingJoannaintheforestIfJoannaFranksjumpedofftheboatatthesametimeasthedeadbodyhitthewater,sheswamtothebankandjoinedherhusbandThecouplechangedtheirnames,inthecaseof'CharlesFranks'asecondtimeafterhe'died'asJoanna'sfirsthusbandThefourthboatman,ayoungsterwhowasnotcharged,wasprobablypaidbyJoannatogivefalsetestimony MorsetravelstoIrelandandhasagraveofJoanna'sfirsthusbandexhumedThecoffincontainsbagsofsandandsomestones
