Fred McClement

This is a concise version of the Ambrose Small mystery. He was a wealthy theatre impresario who own a string of theaters in Ontario and other parts of Canada. Known as a very unlikable man with many enemies, he had sold his theatre chain for $1,700.000 dollars on December 2, 1919. His wife deposited a deposit cheque of one million and then Ambrose disappeared never to be seen again.

The first delay in solving the case was that no one reported him missing until early January and that individual was not his wife. The Toronto Police proceeded to screw up the investigation from day one by not interviewing key witnesses such as his wife, maids and chauffeur and not searching obvious places such as the cellar floor and furnace of his mansion.

The case dragged on for years with a highlight being all the attacks on his widow by the Orange Order and other Protestant organizations because of her financial support of Roman Catholic organizations. Ambrose's sisters were also litigants over the content of the will and estate.… (meer)

Well written true tale of the World War German Cruiser Emden and its brazen trip through the South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean capturing 20 Allied ships sinking seventeen and driving the British Admiralty to distraction. Lloyds of London insurance premiums went from 2% to 8% while the Emden was on the prowl 1000's of Australian and New Zealand soldiers were kept in home ports until it was felt that there were enough safety measures in place to keep the Emden from sinking their transports.

Ironically, the Emden's exploits were heralded by German and Allied citizens because of the humane methods her captain used to prevent death or injury to the sailors and passengers of the ships he captured. An amazing story and this version was well researched and written.… (meer)