Question C

[Jonetta]

The constable and townspeople were quick to accept Emma's death as a suicide. Do you think they really believed it because of past history, wanted to believe it or were suspicious because of that history?

[Charlene]

I didn't detect much suspicion about Emma, since she was a new arrival to town. The constable was either oblivious or deliberately obtuse.

[Jonetta]

I think they were just conditioned to accept these verdicts whether they believed them or not.

[Veronica]

I think it was a natural assumption considering they found an empty laudanum bottle near her body. Actually, I'm not clear on what made the young, new Squire not accept the ruling of suicide.

[Lauren]

People, especially those in small communities, do not want to admit that they have a killer in their midst. They do not want to be wary of their friends and neighbors. As such, the explanation of suicide or a the idea of a stranger passing through is psychologically safer.

As to Archie, he was new to the position of Justice of the Peace and wanted to do a good job. Unlike Nash and his father, he wasn't interested in simply going through the motions.

[Jonetta]

Good points!

[Mary Beth]

I agrer with Jonetta! Good points!

[Joanna]

It seemed they didn't want the attention a murder would bring to their small village. Besides, Emma wasn't one of theirs.

[Veronica]

Good point. The villagers may not have been as concerned about the tragic fate of an outsider.

[Lauren]

Joanna wrote: "It seemed they didn't want the attention a murder would bring to their small village. Besides, Emma wasn't one of theirs."

Very true. On the other hand, they also believed that the other girl killed herself and she was one of them.

[Veronica]

Some of it may have been mental self-protection. It's better to think a couple of young girls killed themselves than think there's something or someone dangerous lurking around.

[Lauren]

Yes. No one wants to believe that their neighbor is a killer.