‘I’m the ticket taker on a merry-go-round at Coney Island. This bein’ Saturday, we had a big crowd. The trip was almost over when I reached out, saying, “Ticket, please,” and I see this woman sittin’ up in the middle of the chariot with that terrible look on her face. She didn’t answer, and when I shook her, she slumped over in the corner. I screamed, jumped off, and ran for the manager. I got blood on my hand when I shook her.
‘Yes, sir, she’d ridden a couple of times and I seen the man she was with on the two rides before,’ continued Jasper, giving a detailed description of him. ‘I happened to see him jump off just before I got to her.’
‘The doctor said she had been stabbed through the heart and had died instantly?’ queried Professor Fordney.
‘That’s right, sir,’ replied the policeman.
‘It seems strange, Jasper,’ remarked the Professor, ‘that you can give such a good description of this woman’s companion on two previous rides when you just “happened” to notice him jump off. Does the merry-go-round ever make you dizzy?’
‘No, sir; I’m used to it.’
‘Well, Inspector,’ said Fordney, turning to his friend, ‘I suppose you are going to hold this man?’
‘Certainly,’ replied Kelley. ‘That’s just about the dizziest story I’ve heard in a long time.’
[What justified the police in holding Jasper?]