Difference between revisions of "The Mystery Experiences Company"
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 1.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 1.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 1 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 3:45 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I have to admit I was quite intrigued when I first opened the invitation. It was in a black envelope made from expensive linen stock and bore no return address. The invitation was also printed on black and gave no indication of the identity of the host of the New Year's Eve celebration. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The location of the festivities, however, was instantly recognizable to me. Anyone who spent much time in [[Forrest City]] would be familiar with the name: the mysterious [[Bedford Manor]] on [[Savage Island]]. In fact, the latest issue of the [[Forrest City Post]] featured a cover story on the history of Bedford Manor and the recent cahnge in ownership of Savage Island. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Speculation ran rampant in [[Forrest City]] concerning the identity of the new owner of [[Bedford Manor]] — perhaps it was an internet billionaire, a Hollywood A-List actress, a reclusive industrialist, or foreign royalty. No one knew for sure. Now I had been given the opportunity to find out. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The mystique of it all was irresistible. I made my apologies and cancelled my original New Year's Eve plans. Now I was preparing to don my best suit and head out for a night of New Year's Eve festivities with no idea who my host or fellow celebrants might be. The invitation requested that I appear at the [[Bahia del Mar Marina]] at precisely 5:30 for transportation to [[Savage Island]]. I packed my overnight bag, got dressed and poured myself a Scotch to calm the jitters while I awaited the appointed time to depart for the marina. | ||
+ | |||
+ | My plan is to take notes when I can to document the experience. Perhaps I will also have the opportunity to record some video on my phone. Maybe I'll record one now and upload it to my Facebook Page: ChristophersCuriosities. | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 2.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 2.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 2 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 5:40 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I was greeted at the [[Bahia del Mar Marina]] by a young man holding a sign with my name stenciled on it in bold letters. He led me to a water taxi idling at the dock but rebuffed my questions about the host of the event: "I just work here," he said. "I just do what I'm told." | ||
+ | |||
+ | I boarded the water taxi and was greeted by nine other bemused faces. All of them I knew, or at least recognized, from my time in [[Forrest City]]. My fellow party-goers were: | ||
+ | |||
+ | :[[William Thorn]], partner with the law firm [[Oglevie, Thorn & Sharpe]]; | ||
+ | :[[Robert MacKenzie]], CEO of [[Archon Genomics]]; | ||
+ | :Dr. [[David Denton]], archeology professor; | ||
+ | :[[Johnson Savage]], sociality and descendant of [[William Savage]]; | ||
+ | :[[Edward C. Rutherford]], [[Drake University|Drake Univ.]] President; | ||
+ | :Dr. [[Grace Whittington]], European history professor; | ||
+ | :[[Julie Bull]], hedge fund manager; | ||
+ | :[[Marta Perez]], accomplish journalist; and | ||
+ | :[[Sonya Grant]], curator at [[the Lancaster Museum]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Adding myself to the list provided the total number of invited guests: ten in all. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I took my seat and the launch soon departed. There was some scattered small talk during the trip, but the entire group fell silent when [[Savage Island]] came into view. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Rising about the shoreline was the impressive edifice known as [[Bedford Manor]]. None of us had ever set foot on [[Savage Island]]. Now we would all see the inside of Bedford Manor firsthand and meet our anonymous benefactor, the new owner of the island. | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 3.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 3.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 3 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 6:10 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When we reached the dock at [[Savage Island]], we were greeted by a very tall man in a dark suit who identified himself as [[Robert]], the steward of [[Bedform Manor]]. Robert announced that our host had not yet arrived, but was expected soon. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Robert]] gracefully declined to answer any of our questions and stated that his instructions were to escort us to [[Bedford Manor]] for a champagne toast and then to our rooms where we could either relax until dinner or put away our bags and explore the grounds. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The walk from the dock to the front entrance of the manor house took us through well-manicured gardens and trees. [[Bedford Manor]] was an impressive edifice impressive in the style of a French chateau with a granite facade and circular turrets at the corners. We walked through the Entry Hall, past the Grand Staircase, and into the Great Hall. On the back wall was a large, antique organ. On an antique trestle table were twelve champagne flutes, a bottle of champagne, strands of New Year's Eve beads, and other New Year's themed items. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Robert]] ceremoniously popped the cork on the champagne, poured us each a bubbling glass, and led us through a toast to us: the first guests at [[Bedford Manor]] in many years, and to the coming New Year. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 6:25 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Robert]] led us up the Grand Staircase to the second and third floors where each of us was assigned a guest room. Mine was on the third floor in a room called the Reading Room. It had been turned into a guest room with an ornate bed, dresser and night stand, but one wall of the room was still covered with a floor-to-ceiling bookcase filled with hundreds of old volumes. | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 4.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 4.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 4 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Before [[Robert]] left me to settle into my new accommodations, he placed a black wristband around my left wrist: "The RFID chip in this wristband serves as the key to your room," he said, "and also provides you with access to the areas of the manor that are approved for guests." | ||
+ | |||
+ | I waved the wristband in front of the brass plate beneath the doorknob on my door. There was an audible click. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Fancy," I said. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Robert]], for the first time, broke into a smile. I tried to seize on this new crack in his professional facade — "Come on: Just tell me the name of our host," I said. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Robert]] shook his head, smiling, and said: "Don't tell the other guests, but I don't even know myself." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "How is that?" I asked. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I was hired through an agency and have only been on the island for three weeks." | ||
+ | |||
+ | "Then this will be a surprise for all of us," I said. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "We'll see you downstairs for dinner at 7:00" said [[Robert]], resuming his role as steward. "Until then, please let me know if there is anything else that you require." | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 5.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 5.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 5 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 7:05 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | I wandered downstairs for dinner a few minutes early and the rest of the group began to arrive just before seven. When the grandfather clock in the Great Hall announced the arrival of the seventh hour, only one person had not yet made an appearance — [[Johnson Savage]]. At three minutes past seven, [[Casey Cavanaugh]] announced that she would see what was keeping Mr. Savage. She proceeded upstairs to his room while the rest of us made small talk and enjoyed canapes and champagne. A minute later, we heard a piercing scream. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 7:07 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We rushed upstairs toward the source of the scream: [[Johnson Savage]]'s room. I arrived first alongside [[William Thorn]] and bolted through the open doorway to find [[Casey Cavanaugh]] frozen in terror. In the center of the room, Johnson Savage hung from a wooden beam overhead by a noose around his neck. His feet dangled about a foot above the floor. His face was a most disturbing shade of blue. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[William Thorn|Thorn]] rushed to the dangling corpse and checked [[Johnson Savage|Savage's]] pulse by placing two fingers on the jugular vein in his swollen neck. Thorn shook his head slowly. "No pulse," he said. "Johnson Savage is dead." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 7:18 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When the initial chaos of the horrible discovery subsided, [[William Thorn|Thorn]], [[Robert MacKenzie|MacKenzie]] and I cut down [[Johnson Savage|Savage's]] body, laid it on the bed, and draped a sheet over the corpse. We regrouped downstairs in the Great Hall and discussed the awful turn of events. Our first thought was to call the authorities. | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 6.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 6.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 6 | ||
+ | |||
+ | However, there was no cellular reception on the island due to its distance from the mainland, and [[Robert]] informed us that there were no working telephones or internet service at [[Bedford Manor]]. Until the boat returned the next morning, we were on our own with no way to communicate with the outside world. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We had begun to discuss why [[Johnson Savage|Savage]] would have chosen this time and place to commit suicide by such drastic means when we were interrupted by a booming, sinister voice that seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere: | ||
+ | |||
+ | :Welcome to Bedford Manor. I am [[the Hangman]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | :The ten of you, now nine, were chosen to attend my New Year's Eve gathering for very specific reasons that are unique to each of you. | ||
+ | |||
+ | :On a table in the Reception Room, you will find an interesting puzzle to begin tonight's festivities. This puzzle is the first in a series of challenges I have created for this occasion. | ||
+ | |||
+ | :If you complete my challenges by the end of the eleventh hour, I will allow you to leave [[Savage Island]] unharmed. But if the clock strikes midnight before you have successfully completed them. none of you will live to see the New Year. | ||
+ | |||
+ | :I felt it necessary to make an example of Mr. [[Johnson Savage|Savage]] so that you would understand the gravity of the situation. | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 7.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 7.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 7 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 7:43 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The next fifteen minutes were absolute chaos. We couldn't locate [[Robert]]; he was now missing. There was argument among the group about what to do next. Search the island for [[the Hangman]]? Try to find Robert the steward? Begin working on the Hangman's challenges immediately? Try to look for some other way to communicate with the outside world? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ultimately, [[Robert MacKenzie]], [[William Thorn]] and [[Julie Bull]] decided to search the island for [[the Hangman]] and [[Robert]]. They refused to participate in the Hangman's game despite the possible consequences. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Grace Whittington]], [[David Denton]] and [[Marta Perez]] decided to search [[Bedford Manor]] for some means of communicated with the mainland. | ||
+ | |||
+ | That left me, [[Casey Cavanaugh]] and [[Sonya Grant]] remaining: we elected to try to solve [[the Hangman's]] first challenge. We moved to the Reception Room where we found the Hangman's first puzzle: it looked like a childhood version of the hangman game. | ||
+ | | transcription2 = | ||
+ | You should now try to solve [[the Hangman]]'s first puzzle before proceeding to Page 8. | ||
+ | <br />— [[Mr. X]] | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 8.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 8.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 8 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dev. 31, 8:46 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The solution to [[the Hangman]]'s first puzzle was both cryptic and disturbing. It also told us where to go next. Solving it had taken too much time. At this rate, we would not likely finish in time before midnight. We would have to work more quickly. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Just as we were preparing to leave the Reception Room, [[Marta Perez]] burst into the room, breathless. During their search of [[Bedford Manor]], they found [[Robert]]'s body in the Head Butler's chamber. Like [[Johnson Savage|Savage]], he was hung from a rafter by a noose around his neck. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Marta Perez|Marta]] told us that [[Grace Whittington]] had panicked, locking herself in her guest room on the second floor and refusing to come out. [[David Denton]] had left to find the group searching the island for [[the Hangman]]. Marta insisted on joining our group to solve the Hangman's challenges. We were happy to have her help. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our newly expanded group proceeded to the second location in search of the next challenge. There, on an antique Victorian desk, we found a letter bound notebook surrounded by some interesting items. On the first page of the notebook were a series of handwritten symbols that looked like stick figures. This was the [[the Hangman]]'s second puzzle. We quickly went to work. | ||
+ | | transcription2 = | ||
+ | You should now try to solve [[the Hangman]]'s second puzzle before proceed to Page 9. | ||
+ | <br />— [[Mr. X]] | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 9.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 9.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 9 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 9:43 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It took us about an hour to solve [[the Hangman]]'s second puzzle. Ultimately, [[Marta Perez|Perez]] had the insight that led us to the solution, so we were thankful that she had joined our group. Over the preceding hour, there had been no contact from the other group or from [[Grace Whittington]], who presumably remained locked in her room. There also had been no sign of the Hangman. Was he watching us, even now, from some unseen vantage point? | ||
+ | |||
+ | From the solution to the second puzzle, we were able to move to the next location to find the third puzzle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When we reached the next location, we found two pages displayed in plain view. On the front of the first page was a poem above some items common to the room. On the back was a grid of letters. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Next to this puzzle, on a second page, was a photograph of the room. Both pages appeared to be important to reach the solution to the third puzzle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We started working on it immediately. | ||
+ | | transcription2 = | ||
+ | You should now try to solve [[the Hangman]]'s third puzzle before proceeding to Page 10. | ||
+ | <br />— [[Mr. X]] | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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| files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 10.jpg|thumb|center]] | | files = [[File:TMEC-The Eleventh Hour-Notes taken by Christopher-Page 10.jpg|thumb|center]] | ||
| transcription1 = | | transcription1 = | ||
+ | PAGE 10 | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dec. 31, 11:01 p.m. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The third puzzle proved to be more difficult to solve than the first two. It was nearly eleven when we finally cracked it. The solution to the third puzzle gave us the location of the fourth challenge. With no time to waste, we ran toward the next location. As we passed through the Entry Hall, [[William Thorn]] burst in through the front door. His face was pale and he appeared quite shaken. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once we were able to calm [[William Thorn|Thorn]] down, he gave us a most disturbing account of the fate of his group. During their search of the island, they discovered the old fishing camp used by [[William Savage]] before the island was sold to [[Nathaniel Bedford]]. It consisted of several cabins and a lodge connected by wooden walkways above the tidal flats along the shore. The group split up to search the buildings more efficiently. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When [[William Thorn|Thorn]] finished searching his designated cabin, he returned to the walkway to find [[Julie Bull]] floating face down in the shallow water below. She had received a grievous wound to the back of her head, and there was no chance she was still alive. Thorn called out repeatedly for [[Robert MacKenzie]], but after hearing no response, he ran back to [[Bedford Manor]] to find us. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[William Thorn|Thorn's]] group had seen no sign of [[David Denton]]. We then appraised Thorn of our progress and stressed the short amount of time left before midnight. He decided to join us as we tried to solve the next puzzle. We ran to the new location where we discovered a vintage piece of furniture with rows of small drawers. On some of the drawers were strange symbols. I took a picture on my phone in case it might be useful later. We quickly got to work trying to figure out the nature of this new challenge. | ||
+ | | transcription2 = | ||
+ | A photo of the drawers and symbols is included in your box. You should now try to solve this puzzle before proceeding. The solution to this puzzle will lead you to [[the Hangman]]'s next challenge. | ||
+ | <br />— [[Mr. X]] | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
}} | }} |
Revision as of 09:39, 21 October 2018
Contents
- 1 TODO
- 2 Timeline
- 3 The Eleventh Hour
- 3.1 What's included in the box
- 3.1.1 Letter from Mr. X
- 3.1.2 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 1
- 3.1.3 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 2
- 3.1.4 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 3
- 3.1.5 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 4
- 3.1.6 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 5
- 3.1.7 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 6
- 3.1.8 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 7
- 3.1.9 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 8
- 3.1.10 Notes taken by Christopher page 1
- 3.1.11 Notes taken by Christopher page 2
- 3.1.12 Notes taken by Christopher page 3
- 3.1.13 Notes taken by Christopher page 4
- 3.1.14 Notes taken by Christopher page 5
- 3.1.15 Notes taken by Christopher page 6
- 3.1.16 Notes taken by Christopher page 7
- 3.1.17 Notes taken by Christopher page 8
- 3.1.18 Notes taken by Christopher page 9
- 3.1.19 Notes taken by Christopher page 10
- 3.1.20 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 1
- 3.1.21 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 2
- 3.1.22 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 3
- 3.1.23 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 4
- 3.1.24 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 5
- 3.1.25 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 6
- 3.1.26 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 7
- 3.1.27 Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 8
- 3.1.28 Notes taken by Christopher page 1
- 3.1.29 Notes taken by Christopher page 2
- 3.1.30 Notes taken by Christopher page 3
- 3.1.31 Notes taken by Christopher page 4
- 3.1.32 Notes taken by Christopher page 5
- 3.1.33 Notes taken by Christopher page 6
- 3.1.34 Notes taken by Christopher page 7
- 3.1.35 Notes taken by Christopher page 8
- 3.1.36 Notes taken by Christopher page 9
- 3.1.37 Notes taken by Christopher page 10
- 3.1 What's included in the box
TODO
- Add categories to all related pages.
- Make a quote or quotations template.
- Go over the newspapers website for /jan2017.
Timeline
- December 31st, 2016
- "The Eleventh Hour" occurs on Savage Island.
- The Eleventh Hour's shipping date was "last week of December, 2016".
- Which would typically mean an arrival of January for players.
- The included Forrest City Post had URL of "/jan2017".
- "The Eleventh Hour" occurs on Savage Island.
The Eleventh Hour
What's included in the box
Letter from Mr. X
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 1
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 2
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 3
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 4
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 5
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 6
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 7
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 8
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Notes taken by Christopher page 1
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Notes taken by Christopher page 2
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Notes taken by Christopher page 3
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Notes taken by Christopher page 4
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Notes taken by Christopher page 5
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Notes taken by Christopher page 6
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Notes taken by Christopher page 7
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Notes taken by Christopher page 8
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Notes taken by Christopher page 9
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Notes taken by Christopher page 10
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Transcription and analysis | Evidence |
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 1
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 2
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 3
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 4
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 5
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 6
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 7
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Forrest City Post volume 5 issue 32 page 8
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Notes taken by Christopher page 1
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Notes taken by Christopher page 2
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Notes taken by Christopher page 3
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Notes taken by Christopher page 4
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Notes taken by Christopher page 5
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Notes taken by Christopher page 6
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Notes taken by Christopher page 7
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Notes taken by Christopher page 8
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Notes taken by Christopher page 9
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Notes taken by Christopher page 10
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