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How to Host a Murder: The Chicago CaperEpisode 5List Price: $32.00
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Philadelphia, September 26, 1928
Coppone Released From Prison!!
Chicago gang leader Harold "Hal" Coppone was released today from Awsume State
Penitentiary near Philadelphia after serving a six-month term. Coppone, who was
jailed for carrying an unlicensed weapon, was met by a group of his men - among
them was Chicago gangster Joey "The Rattlesnake" Ratello, chief suspect in the
recent killing of Marco "Machete" Molino - and departed quickly in a powerful
seven-passenger Lincoln Touring car. While he had nothing to say to the press,
Coppone and his men were undoubtedly headed back to Chicago where, it is rumored,
they have more than one score to settle.
CHARACTERS
Molly M. Awbsterr, Earnest ("Bet A Million") G. Ambler, "Silky" M. Adam, Eddie
("Socks") R. Gyle, Malissa F. Orrthot ("Scoop"), S. Treighton Harrow, Anna Maria
Carlotta Sassine ("Torchy"), Billy "The Kid" Thrower.
MOLLY M. AWBSTERR
A society dame from New York, where the Awbsterrs are a prominent and respected
family, Molly came to Chicago for the action and because, in her own words, "Chicago
is a fun town." Molly is a flapper from the top of the feather in her hat to the
tip of her satin shoes and she maintains an apartment on the top floor of Chicago's
most exclusive apartment-hotel. She is a consummate shopper, driving herself about
town in an elegant Packard DeLuxe Eight Sport Phaeton automobile. Friends and
acquaintances call her "The Moll."
Costume Suggestions: Fringed flapper dress with bead necklace, cloche hat with
feather.
ERNIE ("BET A MILLION") G. AMBLER
Chicago's most colorful millionaire gambler, Ernie parlayed a small stake into
a stock exchange fortune early in the decade. He still actively plays the stock
market, but his favorite game is poker and he can often be found at a table in
the notorious back room of Chicago's Green Tables, where they play the "richest
game in town." Ernie is flamboyant, outspoken, always ostentatiously dressed,
and never without his diamond stickpin and Havana cigar. It's said that he will
bet on almost anything.
Costume Suggestions: Flashy (ostentatious) suit, diamond stickpin, Havana cigar.
"SILKY" M. ADAM
Silky is a slinky and shady lady who owns and operates The Everlay Club, Chicago's
most prominent private establishment situated in the exclusive Luxington Gardens
district. Silky's father, "Champagne" Charlie McCorker, founded the club years
ago, and his daughter, christened Penelope McCorker - known to friends as "Poppy"
- took over management at about the time she married prominent Chicago businessman
U. Penn Adam. After her husband's unexpected death, the young and beautiful owner
became known as "Silky" for the elegant silk gowns she was accustomed to wearing
in the evenings. Silky counts among the club's members the wealthiest and most
influential citizens of Chicago, who, despite their busy schedules, often stop
in at the club for an hour or two simply to pass the time in the club's elegant
and relaxing atmosphere.
Costume Suggestions: Silk evening gown shimmering with glittery beads.
EDDIE ("SOCKS") R. GYLE
Smooth, fashionable and clever, Eddie is an avid golfer and spends most afternoons
on the links at the exclusive Lake View Country Club dressed elegantly in plus
fours and argyle socks. In the evenings he can be found at his exclusive gaming
house in downtown Chicago, known simply as Green Tables, where the affluent, the
trendy and the compulsive citizens of Chicago come to gamble. Those close to Eddie
also know him as a deal maker and in certain circles as "Fast Deal Eddie," although
what he deals in and with whom he deals is never mentioned.
Costume Suggestions: "Plus fours" (knickers) and argyle socks; bow tie and
putter.
MALISSA F. ORRTHOT ("SCOOP")
As a young reporter for the city's leading paper, The Chicago Trumpet, Scoop quickly
made a name for herself on the crime beat, later covering the political scene.
Her considerable beauty and lively charm have undoubtedly helped further her career,
and she enjoys a broad circle of influential and powerful friends on both sides
of the law. She counts as a close friend and ally the editor-in-chief of the paper,
Augustus Kohn - known affectionately to his staff as "Citizen Kohn." Recently
though, Scoop has written a series of articles exposing corruption in government
and, as a result, has antagonized several of the city's most powerful figures.
Undaunted by threats against the paper and herself, Scoop has vowed to carry on
the crusade "until I've exposed every crook in Chicago."
Costume Suggestions: Long loose jacket with a tight skirt; business suit.
S. TREIGHTON HARROW
U.S. District Attorney and chief opponent to the criminal element in Chicago,
Harrow is single-handedly responsible for bringing to justice several of crime's
most despicable practitioners. Foremost among those convicted through Harrow's
efforts are mob hit man Charlie "Golf Bag" Marconi (who carried a machine gun
in his golf bag) and Maximillian Buccher, alias Max the Butcher, alias Max the
Knife. Amidst the corruption and complacency that characterize Chicago law enforcement,
Harrow stands out as a shining example. Harrow carries on a tradition set by his
renowned trial attorney father, Clarence D. Harrow. Nobody knows his first name.
Costume Suggestions: Sharkskin suit; briefcase.
ANNA MARIA CARLOTTA SASSINE ("TORCHY")
Currently the featured singer at Eddie Gyle's Green Tables, Torchy has also appeared
in many of the exclusive night clubs of Chicago and has sung with many of the
town's top jazz bands. While she brings to music an exuberance of style enjoyed
by fans of the modern sound, it is her rendition of the more traditional blues
melodies and so-called "torch songs" that have earned her the nickname "Torchy."
Her smoldering beauty and sultry voice contribute to Torchy's appeal, as does
an extensive repertoire that includes the latest in Chicago jazz, as well as more
traditional blues numbers.
Costume Suggestions: Sultry, shimmering sequinned gown.
BILLY ("THE KID") THROWER
Star pitcher for the Chicago Stock Kings major league baseball team, Billy was
born to play baseball. His grandfather was Bulford "Bull" Thrower, famed for his
dreaded "mud-ball." Termed "almost impossible to hit," the pitch suffered the
disadvantage of requiring a muddy field or, in the alternative, a well-endowed
cow pasture. Grandson Billy has carried on Bull's tradition and in his first major
league game struck out 11 batters. He currently holds the league strikeout record.
Off the field, Billy is as fun-loving, hard-drinking, warm-hearted, lustful, brawling
and hell-raising as a baseball player can be. He won 22 games for the team last
season and is on a faster pace this year.
Costume Suggestions: Baseball uniform, glove and ball.
This game is great. This was our groups first murder mystery and everything was laid out so easily that anyone can do one. All of the people who came dressed up and acted the part. We also turned my friends patio area into a speakeasy with a craps table a bar and poker. All of these extra things added to the fun and let us stay in character for longer. No one completely figured out who done it, but it was all still very fun and the ending did make sense. We are going to do the 70's themed one next. any suggestions?
For years, I have been eagerly waiting to be able to host a murder party for my birthday, and "The Chicago Caper" was definitely a surprise. I had expected the story itself to be weak, but its complexity and intrigue had me wondering why the authors hadn't pitched it as a film script instead!
The characters are all very exciting as each of them has a thoroughly believable motive and the way in which they have all had interactions with each other adds layers upon layers to the plot.
It might have just been our group, but none of us managed to completely solve the case, and so I am inclined to think that this episode is probably one of the more difficult stories. However, that didn't stop us from enjoying it. And hey, hopefully we might get the chance to do another.
This was one of the most enjoyable parties we have hosted - everyone came in costume and acted their parts to the hilt - but we were so busy laughing at all the double-entendres and insinuations that we neglected to closely follow the time details of the clues , which were imperative to the solving of the mystery...none of us guessed the correct murderer, but we all left laughing. Perhaps a bit less of the bathtub gin next time.... I would highly recommend this game - every character is well-rounded and fun to play. The solution is tricky, but makes sense. I will definitely play more of the 'How to Host A Murder' line.