Red Roses (A Hope Herring Mystery Book 4) by J A Whiting & Nell McCarthy

Author:J A Whiting & Nell McCarthy
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: J A Whiting Books and Whitemark Publishing
Published: 2020-12-11T23:00:00+00:00

No review of the suspects in the Johnson murder would be complete without mentioning Preston Conrad. From all accounts, Preston was a small man who worked as a carpenter. He was competent enough when he was sober, but sobriety was not his general goal. His sister, Haley June, married well and became the mistress of Tarden Hall, a successful plantation until a storm devastated the house and fields. Haley’s husband died in the storm, leaving her to take on a responsibility she was ill-equipped to handle. When she couldn’t make a go of it, she sold out to Maximillian Johnson. According to what can be found, the terms were highly favorable to Johnson. That had to be expected after the storm.

While Preston was in no position to help his sister, he loudly complained that Maximillian Johnson had taken unfair advantage of the woman. There is some evidence that Preston sought legal means to force Johnson to pay more. Those efforts came to nothing. Then, there was the incident at the wedding of Brooks Conrad and Rebecca Ellison. It was Valentine’s Day, and the bride and groom were giddy with happiness. Preston, true to his nature, drank more than was good for him. On his way home, he encountered Johnson on the street.

What happened next is murky at best. Apparently, Preston and Maximillian had words, Preston voicing his usual complaint. The worse for alcohol, Preston attempted to fight Maximillian, who acquitted himself quite well. When the police arrived, Preston was flat on his back, bleeding from the nose. Witnesses pointed to Preston as the instigator which allowed the police to arrest the man. Maximillian, understanding the effects of alcohol, did not press any charges for the assault. Preston spent the night in jail and was released the next day.

Did the fight leave a wound in Preston, something he would have to deal with by killing Maximillian? There is no evidence that Preston was the killer. The police did not investigate Preston as he was not thought brave enough to murder someone. Since Preston did not stand to gain anything, the police found motive lacking. Maximillian had not done anything so grievous that revenge could be considered.

Did Preston Conrad murder Maximillian Johnson?

The odds are that Preston did not. The lack of official investigation demonstrates the attitude of the authorities. We must surmise that Preston did not possess the fiber needed to kill, not even if it was an attack from the back. There are other suspects much more compelling.

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