| Author | Message | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 928 Registered: 7-2006 |
A penniless sculptor made a statue which he sold. Because of this he died soon afterward. Why? This puzzle is taken from my new book Lethal Lateral Thinking Puzzles. It is a selection of the most gruesome, murderous and mysterious puzzles from previous books. Paul Sloane | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 11098 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is it relevant what the statue was of? What the statue was made of? Did the sculptor die accidentally? Murdered? Suicide? Execution? Of natural causes? Did the sculptor commit a crime? Murder? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 3219 Registered: 1-2007 |
Was he commissioned to sculpt the statue or did he just create it in the hope that he would sell it? Is it relevant who/what the subject of the statue was? If it was a person , did they cause his death? Did he die because he sold it or made it? | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 662 Registered: 6-2003 |
Relevant how much he earned with this statue? to whom he sold it? Was he robbed? Did somebody benefit from the sculptor's death? inherit the money? Did the sculptor conceal something within the statue? if so: knowingly? Was the sculpture small enough that it could be carried around? small enough to fit in a pocket? Relevant what the sculpture represented? a human being? | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 929 Registered: 7-2006 |
Balin, Is it relevant what the statue was of? NO What the statue was made of? YES Did the sculptor die accidentally? YES Murdered? Suicide? Execution? Of natural causes? NO Did the sculptor commit a crime? Murder? NO | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 930 Registered: 7-2006 |
PETER, Was he commissioned to sculpt the statue or did he just create it in the hope that he would sell it? IRRELEVANT Is it relevant who/what the subject of the statue was? If it was a person , did they cause his death? NO, NO Did he die because he sold it or made it? MADE IT | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 931 Registered: 7-2006 |
SUNDOWNER, Relevant how much he earned with this statue? to whom he sold it? NO Was he robbed? NO Did somebody benefit from the sculptor's death? inherit the money? NO Did the sculptor conceal something within the statue? if so: knowingly? NO Was the sculpture small enough that it could be carried around? small enough to fit in a pocket? NO Relevant what the sculpture represented? a human being? NO | ||
| Redwine (Redwine)
New member Username: Redwine Post Number: 196 Registered: 1-2011 |
Did the sculptor die because of the health impact of materials used to make sculpture? Relevant how long it took him to make sculpture? Relevant how much time elapsed between making sculpture and sculptor's death? | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 932 Registered: 7-2006 |
Redwine, Did the sculptor die because of the health impact of materials used to make sculpture? NO - OR NOT DIRECTLY Relevant how long it took him to make sculpture? NO Relevant how much time elapsed between making sculpture and sculptor's death? NO | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 3223 Registered: 1-2007 |
Did he sell the statue for cash? or did he barter? If he had not been penniless and still made the statue would he have been likely to die in the same manner and same timeframe as he did? | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 663 Registered: 6-2003 |
Would he have survived if he did not sell the statue? if he gave it away for free? destroy it? Was the sculpture made in the place where it finally should be? (as it was too big to carry it around) Was it ever moved? Did he die as a consequence of being in the place where the sculpture was made? just being in the wrong place at the wrong time? (did a plane crash on him?) Did he carve out the sculpture out of a rock? Was the material used for the sculpture poisonous? radioactive? | ||
| Ostap (Ostap)
New member Username: Ostap Post Number: 93 Registered: 6-2005 |
I think I may have heard of this story .. Was the sculpture under water? | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 933 Registered: 7-2006 |
Peter, Did he sell the statue for cash? or did he barter? YES OR IRRELEVANT If he had not been penniless and still made the statue would he have been likely to die in the same manner and same timeframe as he did? NO (GOOD QUESTION) | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 934 Registered: 7-2006 |
SUNDOWNER, Would he have survived if he did not sell the statue? if he gave it away for free? destroy it? NO Was the sculpture made in the place where it finally should be? (as it was too big to carry it around) NO Was it ever moved? YES Did he die as a consequence of being in the place where the sculpture was made? YES just being in the wrong place at the wrong time? I GUESS SO (did a plane crash on him?) NO Did he carve out the sculpture out of a rock? NO Was the material used for the sculpture poisonous? radioactive? NO | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 935 Registered: 7-2006 |
OSTAP, I think I may have heard of this story .. Was the sculpture under water? NO MUST BE A DIFFERENT SITUATION. PLS SET YOUR VERSION AS A PUZZLE! | ||
| Rbruma (Rbruma)
New member Username: Rbruma Post Number: 1215 Registered: 9-2009 |
Did he suffer from a condition that made him more prone to some sort of diseases? Was his poverty the cause for this condition? The time between completing the statue and his death: days? months? years? Was the statue made of stone? Wood? Metal? Salt? Ice? | ||
| Redwine (Redwine)
New member Username: Redwine Post Number: 201 Registered: 1-2011 |
If he had not been penniless, could he afford any safety precautions while making the statue and therefore not die? Did his health suffer while making the statue? | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 936 Registered: 7-2006 |
Rbruma, Did he suffer from a condition that made him more prone to some sort of diseases? Was his poverty the cause for this condition? NO The time between completing the statue and his death: days? months? years? DOES NOT REALLY MATTER - SAY MONTHS Was the statue made of stone? Wood? Metal? Salt? Ice? METAL | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 937 Registered: 7-2006 |
REDWINE, If he had not been penniless, could he afford any safety precautions while making the statue and therefore not die? WRONG LINE - IRRELEVANT Did his health suffer while making the statue? NO | ||
| Redwine (Redwine)
New member Username: Redwine Post Number: 206 Registered: 1-2011 |
If he had not been penniless, would he have made the statue at all? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 11100 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was the metal radioactive? Was the statue made of some precious metal? | ||
| Rbruma (Rbruma)
New member Username: Rbruma Post Number: 1217 Registered: 9-2009 |
The metal: lead? bronze? Relevant the size of the statue? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 2286 Registered: 7-2009 |
If he had not been penniless, would he have used a different material? or a different ingredient in the material? or a different process? Did he make the sculpture at the place he lived? If he had not been penniless, would he have been able to use a workshop or other space separate from his living area? | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 938 Registered: 7-2006 |
Redwine, If he had not been penniless, would he have made the statue at all? YES - HE WAS A SCULPTOR | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 939 Registered: 7-2006 |
BALIN AND RBRUMA, Was the metal radioactive? Was the statue made of some precious metal? NO, NO The metal: lead? bronze? NO Relevant the size of the statue? POSSIBLY A LITTLE. IT WAS NOT SMALL | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 11112 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the weight of the statue relevant? Was it made of brass? Copper? Was it hollow? Solid? | ||
| Redwine (Redwine)
New member Username: Redwine Post Number: 209 Registered: 1-2011 |
If the sculptor hadn't been penniless, would he have chosen another material? Other tools? Other workplace? | ||
| Markobr (Markobr)
New member Username: Markobr Post Number: 978 Registered: 5-2009 |
But it is relevant that the sculptor was penniless? Relevant that he wasn't insured in some way? For sickness? Accident? | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 664 Registered: 6-2003 |
Did he die at home? or in the place where the sculpture was made? while the sculpture was transported? (relevant how it was transported?) Did he stay with the sculpture while it was moved? because he could not afford insurance? or did he have to move it himself? Did he die in an accident? if so: did more people die in this accident? Would the accident also have happened if the sculptor had not been penniless? but he would not have been in this place then? | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 849 Registered: 8-2010 |
I know this one already; I've seen it in one of Admin's books (though not said new one). If you want some unofficial answers before Admin posts to confirm, the weight is possibly relevant (I'm not sure), it could be one of a few different metals (the version I remember states it as being copper), it was solid AFAIK, he would have chosen another material but presumably the same tools and workplace, and it is relevant that he was penniless, but no insurance is relevant AFAIK. It's been a while since I heard the puzzle, though. Are my answers right? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 2291 Registered: 7-2009 |
You missed my questions at 6:38. | ||
| Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo)
New member Username: Jenburdoo Post Number: 4508 Registered: 5-2003 |
I've actually got the book with this in it on my desk at work! | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 940 Registered: 7-2006 |
Balin, Is the weight of the statue relevant? A LITTLE Was it made of brass? Copper? Was it hollow? Solid? NO, YES, NO, YES | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 941 Registered: 7-2006 |
RED AND MARK If the sculptor hadn't been penniless, would he have chosen another material? YES Other tools? Other workplace? IRRELEVANT But it is relevant that the sculptor was penniless? YES Relevant that he wasn't insured in some way? For sickness? Accident? NO OR IRRELEVANT | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 942 Registered: 7-2006 |
SUNDOWNER, Did he die at home? or in the place where the sculpture was made? YES, YES while the sculpture was transported? (relevant how it was transported?) NO Did he stay with the sculpture while it was moved? NO because he could not afford insurance? NO or did he have to move it himself? IRRELEVANT Did he die in an accident? if so: did more people die in this accident? YES, NO Would the accident also have happened if the sculptor had not been penniless? NO but he would not have been in this place then? NO | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 943 Registered: 7-2006 |
NOEL, If he had not been penniless, would he have used a different material? YES or a different ingredient in the material? or a different process? NO Did he make the sculpture at the place he lived? YES If he had not been penniless, would he have been able to use a workshop or other space separate from his living area? IRRELEVANT | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 665 Registered: 6-2003 |
Was the sculpture still there when the accident happened? Did the sculpture damage his home in some way? because of its size? its weight? Did the process of making the sculpture damage his house? Did he use material he had removed from the house? Was the accident an explosion? a fire? did the house collapse? did something fall on him? did he die from electric shock? did he die from poisonous gas? | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 944 Registered: 7-2006 |
Sundowner, Was the sculpture still there when the accident happened? NO - HE HAD SOLD IT Did the sculpture damage his home in some way? because of its size? its weight? NO Did the process of making the sculpture damage his house? YES Did he use material he had removed from the house? YES Was the accident an explosion? a fire? did the house collapse? did something fall on him? did he die from electric shock? did he die from poisonous gas? NO, YES, NO, POSSIBLY, YES, NO | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 666 Registered: 6-2003 |
Was the sculpture made of copper wire? Did he take the copper wire from the house's electrical installation? (did he use the water pipe as neutral wire -- never try that at home, guys!) | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 945 Registered: 7-2006 |
Sundowner, Was the sculpture made of copper wire? YES Did he take the copper wire from the house's electrical installation? YES (BROADLY) (did he use the water pipe as neutral wire -- never try that at home, guys!) NO | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3628 Registered: 9-2009 |
Was he electrocuted? Poisoned? Did he own the copper? Or steal it? Relevant? Did he damage something relevant in the process of taking the copper? Something important? Did he die because he had damaged something that could've saved his life? Such as the phone wires? Heating system? Water system? Did he take the copper form his own home? Another home? Another building? Outside? | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 947 Registered: 7-2006 |
Galfisk, Was he electrocuted? Poisoned? YES, NO Did he own the copper? Or steal it? Relevant? IRRELEVANT Did he damage something relevant in the process of taking the copper? Something important? Did he die because he had damaged something that could've saved his life? EFFECTIVELY YES Such as the phone wires? Heating system? Water system? NO Did he take the copper form his own home? Another home? Another building? Outside? YES, NO, NO, YES | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 11210 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did he take the wire from a light source? An alarm? | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 1444 Registered: 6-2008 |
Was the copper he took from the ground wire of an electrical box or power outlet? Was there then a malfunction of an appliance that electrified the box? | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 948 Registered: 7-2006 |
Balin and Biograd, Did he take the wire from a light source? An alarm? NO Was the copper he took from the ground wire of an electrical box or power outlet? Was there then a malfunction of an appliance that electrified the box? NO | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3632 Registered: 9-2009 |
was he removing the grounding cable from a lightning rod, when lightning struck the rod? Or did lightning strike the rod later, go through various parts of the house instead of the ground cable, and kill him inside? | ||
| Admin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 949 Registered: 7-2006 |
* * * SPOILER * * * Well done Galfisk. was he removing the grounding cable from a lightning rod, when lightning struck the rod? Or did lightning strike the rod later, go through various parts of the house instead of the ground cable, and kill him inside? Because he was poor he could not afford materials so he took the copper cable from the lightning conductor on his house which stood on top of a hill. Months later the house was struck by lightning and he was killed. |
