George Baines confessed to killing his employer.

His account was precise.

Too precise.

He described a blue silk tie around the victim's neck.

No such tie had been found.

Cryer checked the victim's wardrobe.

There was no blue silk tie.

Baines had invented the detail because he believed it would make the confession convincing.

The real killer was the victim's brother, who had overheard Baines rehearsing his false statement and used it to divert suspicion.

Cryer arrested the brother that evening.