The Detective’s DeskOpal Ray
Wardrobe assistant
“I put a note inside one of this coat’s pockets.”
EASY · CASE FILE
The pocket that wasn’t there
Easy · ALDER COSTUME STORE
Three wardrobe assistants describe using an original ceremonial coat. The inspected coat had not been modified, and their accounts refer to this exact coat, not a bag or a different costume.
Read the case file below, or open the interactive desk to examine records, keep notes and submit your reasoning. These are the case materials, without the solution.
Your assignment
Inspect, test and record the finding. What does the verified record establish?
- The source records are verified and their stated conditions apply to every account.
- Find the account contradicted by a record. A contradiction alone does not establish wrongdoing.
People and accounts
Pavel Moss
Wardrobe assistant
“I fastened this coat at the front.”
Rina Bell
Wardrobe assistant
“I checked its silver-coloured buttons.”
Case records
Read each record on its own terms. A claim made by a person is different from a fact established by an independent record.
PHOTOGRAPH
A loose wooden hanger
A hanger was lying on the dressing table. It had no note attached.
A hanger was lying on the dressing table. It had no note attached.
COSTUME INSPECTION
The original coat
The coat has no pockets of any kind. Its buttons are silver-coloured, and it fastens at the front. These features were unchanged throughout the fitting.
This is a verified source record for this case. Compare its stated facts with the exact question.
DESK RECORD
The fitting appointment
The fitting was booked for the afternoon. It lists no costume features.
The fitting was booked for the afternoon. It lists no costume features.
Questions to resolve
Which accounts remain consistent with the verified facts?
Use the interactive case desk to select your finding and cite the records that support it. The answer is checked there, and your progress stays in your browser.
Build your finding
Compare the records with each account. Work out what the evidence establishes, then separate that finding from anything it does not prove.