There has been a Murder in Jamesport

              Rules of the Game (and Advise)

1.     You may never lie (unless directions tell you to lie).  Instead of lying, you need to try to evade answering the question or just plain avoid answering. If you can think of a logical answer, that is not an outright lie, then try it. 

2.     You need to use the facts that you have discovered about the others to implicate them. The only way to prove your innocence is to find the real killer. A clue must be revealed right after the clue has been discovered, but be smart, and don・t volunteer any information that will implicate you. 

3.     If you are the killer or think you are, then you do not want to be convicted of this murder.  Murder trials are very expensive, and prison is not the place where you want to retire.  Shift the blame to someone else. Prove that another person who had a motive, opportunity, and means could have killed, and did! 

4.     Do not volunteer any undesirable information about yourself. Start thinking up excuses for your shortcomings before someone else finds out about them. There are some very suspicious things in your past, and this past will always come back to haunt you. 

5.     This mystery is divided into six rounds of play. Friday evening you will be reminded of some skeletons in your closet that have been hidden for years. You will be introduced to the other characters, as they are known in Jamesport, and Friday evening the murder scene is open for your inspection.  Roam around and ask the inspector all of the questions that you have.  He wants to find the murderer also. 

6.     Use the night to dream about your excuses, because you will need them after finding out about your ghosts in the closet. 

7.        Saturday morning・s breakfast will be an informative time. You will all have found clues about others that must be divulged at the breakfast table. This is not a time to be quiet about what information has come to your attention.

9.       Saturday afternoon is a time to search for clues throughout the town. Some of the shop owners are very informative. Gossip is a way of life in a small town.  You may shop until you drop, but find the hidden clues in the stores before dropping. The clues will not be easy to find. Only open YOUR clues. NO CHEATING HERE. The clues will be in envelopes with your names on them. (Some clues will be given verbally without an envelope.) There may not be a clue for you in each participating shop, but one never knows until the clues have been found. Bring your envelope back with you to help play the next round. Your memory is not what it used to be.  You may want to refer back to the information that you have heard or found.

10,    Saturday evening there will be a formal dinner. At this time there will be no detailed discussion of clues, but a few innuendoes may be dropped. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the candlelight dinner. 

11.   After dinner in the parlor you need to seriously pursue all the nasty information ferreted out during the day. Accuse, repeat gossip, tell what you know, tell what you think you know, and tell what you assume. Just don・t out and, out lie (unless told to do so). 

12.   When sleeping remember the clues. Dream of ways the murder could have been committed. Decide who really did commit this murder, but don・t trust others in your room. If you slip and divulge your ideas to another, you too may have to be dealt with. How well do you trust those around you? You thought that you knew these people, but now there is so much that you never knew.  Well, please be careful・・the dark is very dark, and the night is very long. 

13.   Early Sunday morning there will be a final discussion of the facts. At this time you will explain who you think the killer is.  Make and justify your accusation. Explain why you could never have done it. 

14.   After breakfast there will be a carriage ride if weather conditions permit.  The killer will be revealed before you depart to go home, at this time you will be a captive... audience. 

15.  Good luck! I hope you are clever enough not to get caught