Monday, December 17, 2007, 8:00 AM

Detective Armstrong and Detective Murphy of the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department interviewed the witness, who is the victim’s attorney. The interview was conducted at the Yoknapatawpha Sheriff's Department and recorded on a portable tape recorder with the witness’s knowledge and consent.

Detective S. Murphy
Detective T. Armstrong
Thomas J. Eldon III

Detective Armstrong: Please state for the record your name and address.

Thomas Eldon: My address is 25 David Street, Oxford Mississippi.

Detective Murphy: Good morning Thomas, are you about finished with Victor's legal matters?

Thomas Eldon: Good morning to you. Actually I have run into a few problems.

Detective Murphy: Such as?

Thomas Eldon: Bradford Jennings. You see my grandfather has been his attorney for many years, since his very first criminal offense. Gramps tells me that Bradford refuses to change his will. He originally left everything to Victor and he will not amend it. He says he will not leave his money to his lying wife and he has already given Raymond way more than he deserves.

Detective Armstrong: Exactly how is this your problem?

Thomas Eldon: I am still the attorney handling Victor's financial affairs and I cannot close until Brad dies or rewrites his will.

Detective Murphy: I’m curious, would you happen to know what Brad's first criminal offense was?

Thomas Eldon: It was a misdemeanor, domestic battery.

Detective Armstrong: You said you can’t close Victor's file. Did he have a will then?

Thomas Eldon: He does.

Detective Armstrong: Interesting. Who is named as beneficiary?

Thomas Eldon: Until recently it had always been Carl Asher.

Detective Murphy: Until recently?

Thomas Eldon: Yes, in August he asked me to change it. He is now leaving half to Carl and half to a Troy Daniels. Before you ask, I have no clue who Troy is.

Detective Armstrong: You didn’t ask?

Thomas Eldon: I am paid to represent my clients. When it comes to preparing wills I just do what the client wishes. They are under no obligation to tell me why they choose who receives their fortunes.

Detective Murphy: Thomas, I need to return to something you said earlier. You said that
Brad Jennings had a domestic battery charge?

Thomas Eldon: Yes he did. Gramps said that when Margaret was in the maternity ward at the hospital, her and Brad had a marital spat. Raymond was only hours old when the nurses said that they heard them arguing. One of the nurses went to check on Margaret and saw Bradford slap her. Margaret pressed charges but gramps convinced her to drop them.

Detective Murphy: Anyone else with motive you can think of?

Thomas Eldon: Not necessarily motive but Margaret did ask me if I would talk my grandfather into "suggesting" to Bradford that he make her the beneficiary now that Victor is dead. I found that cold and calculating.

Detective Murphy: Why would she ask you to do that?

Thomas Eldon: One reason could be because I am her attorney.

Detective Armstrong: Seems like the Jennings keep the Eldon attorneys in business.

Thomas Eldon: Very funny Ted.

Detective Armstrong: Has she asked you to do anything else for her since Victor's death?

Thomas Eldon: Yes, but it has no relevance to this case.

Detective Armstrong: You let us be the judge of that, Thomas. What did she ask of you?

Thomas Eldon: She asked me to put her in contact with a good private investigator. She wanted to locate someone but didn’t want him to know she was searching for him.

Detective Murphy: Did she mention a name for this mystery person?

Thomas Eldon: John Raymond.

Detective Murphy: Well, did you hook her up with a PI?

Thomas Eldon: No, I did not. Before you ask, she didn’t tell me her reasons for wanting to find him either.

Detective Murphy. Okay. Let’s return to Carl for a moment. Do you think he knew he was named in the will?

Thomas Eldon: Honestly I do not know. He could have.

Detective Armstrong: In our last interview you said that Victor died owing you fees.

Thomas Eldon: Correct. When I finalize his will I will subtract my fees first and then divide the remaining money between Carl and Troy.

Detective Murphy: You know where Troy Daniels lives?

Thomas Eldon: No. Barbara Daniels phone number is written on Victor’s phonebook. I will contact Troy that way.

Detective Armstrong: Is Troy Barbara’s husband?

Thomas Eldon: I assume so.

Detective Murphy: Thank you for your cooperation Thomas.

Detective Armstrong: We may need to question you further if any legal questions arise.

Thomas Eldon: I’ll make myself available if so. Good day.

Interview ends: 8:25 AM