The Middle Temple Murder

While walking home late one evening, Frank Spargo, assistant editor of London's WATCHMAN newspaper, sees a dead body that the police have just discovered in Middle Temple Lane, that has no identification. At first it appears that this might simply be a case of a drunk who fell down some stairs, but by working alongside New Scotland Yard's Detective Sergeant Rathbury, he learns who the man was, what caused his death, and about some diamonds, rare stamps, and a mysterious leather box. At the time this story was written, it was considered one of the best of its genre and was widely read throughout the UK and also here in the States, especially by our then-President, Woodrow Wilson. And one should not ignore the coincidence between "J.S. Fletcher" and Angela Lansbury's popular Murder She Wrote TV heroine "J.B. Fletcher," both mystery writers