And Then There Were None

by Agatha Christie

Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there were seven. Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six. Six little Indian boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little Indian boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little Indian boys walking in the Zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little Indian boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there were none.

List of deaths

"Indian Island, eh? There's a nigger in the woodpile."

Had to look this phrase up. Language here seemed to be missed while updating to modern times

"Indians." said Tony. "Indian Island. I suppose that's the idea."

You are charged with the following indictments: Edward George Armstrong, that you did upon the 14th day of March, 1925, cause the death of Louisa Mary Clees. Emily Caroline Brent, that upon the 5th November, 1931, you were responsible for the death of Beatrice Taylor. William Henry Blore, that you brought about the death of James Stephen Landor on October 10th, 1928. Vera Elizabeth Claythorne, that on the 11th day of August, 1935, you killed Cyril Ogilvie Hamilton. Philip Lombard, that upon a date in February, 1932, you were guilty of the death of twentyone men, members of an East African tribe. John Gordon Macarthur, that on the 4th of January, 1917, you deliberately sent your wife's lover, Arthur Richmond, to his death. Anthony James Marston, that upon the 14th day of November last, you were guilty of the murder of John and Lucy Combes. Thomas Rogers and Ethel Rogers, that on the 6th of May, 1929, you brought about the death of Jennifer Brady. Lawrence John Wargrave, that upon the 10th day of June, 1930, you were guilty of the murder of Edward Seton. Prisoners at the bar, have you anything to say in your defence?

Every one felt the need of a stimulant. Only Emily Brent demanded and obtained a glass of water.

"Did you know Seton at all? I mean previous to the case." The hooded reptilian eyes met his. In a clear cold voice the judge said: "I knew nothing of Seton previous to the case." Armstrong said to himself: "The fellow's lying I know he's lying."

And natives don't mind dying, you know. They don't feel about it as Europeans do."

This feels icky

Too quickly, perhaps. He choked choked badly. His face contorted, turned purple. He gasped for breath then slid down off his chair, the glass falling from his hand.

Death 1 One choked his little self and then there were nine.

Downstairs in the diningroom, Rogers stood puzzled. He was staring at the china figures in the centre of the table. He muttered to himself: "That's a rum go! I could have sworn there were ten of them."

He'd sent Richmond deliberately to death.

He knew, suddenly, that he didn't want to leave the island.

Ah! that was better. A young probationer was pulling off the handkerchief. Emily Brent, of course. It was Emily Brent that he had to kill.

"Yes, she's gone."

Death 2 Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight.

"She didn't have nothing last night, sir, except what you gave her..."

"Her heart certainly failed to beat but what caused it to fail is the question."

Vera said: "They were only natives..." Emily Brent said sharply: "Black or white, they are our brothers." Vera thought: "Our black brothers our black brothers. Oh, I'm going to laugh. I'm hysterical. I'm not myself..."

She took her own life."

"Her own action her own sin that was what drove her to it. If she had behaved like a decent modest young woman none of this would have happened."

"Why make me say it? When it's on the tip of your own tongue. Anthony Marston was murdered, of course."

The Nigger in the Woodpile!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger_in_the_woodpile

You know it, of course, perfectly.

The voice burst from Vera explosively.

"Yes, he's dead..."

3rd death Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.

Macarthur was hit with a life preserver or some such thing on the back of the head."

Wife murder is perfectly possible almost natural, let's say!

Vera for the first time was vague.

So far the murderer has had an easy task, since his victims have been unsuspicious. From now on, it is our task to suspect each and every one amongst us. Forewarned is forearmed. Take no risks and be alert to danger. That is all." Philip Lombard murmured beneath his breath: "The court will now adjourn..."

They found him shortly afterwards. He was in the little washhouse across the yard. He had been chopping sticks in preparation for lighting the kitchen fire. The small chopper was still in his hand. A bigger chopper, a heavy affair, was leaning against the door the metal of it stained a dull brown. It corresponded only too well with the deep wound in the back of Rogers' head...

Another death Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.

The bee sting on the side of her neck...

Six little Indian boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.

"He's been shot... "

Five little Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four.

He's not here, I tell you. He's gone clean vanished, vamoosed..."

Four little Indian boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.