It started so innocently...

I, Abraham Washington, an Esquire to my profession, member of Lincoln's Inn, together with my lovely wife Aretha, was on my way to the New World on board the Lady Midnight, when we became embroiled in that affair...

I was a successful barrister, a man who stood for the poor, the oppressed, the weak, the hungry.  My sweet precious Aretha stood and for the rights of the down-trodden women of today.  

Oh there were various people on board the ship.  Some of those parasitic aristocrats that Aretha and I were trying to avoid by going to the New World.

Then, on the last night of our voyage, Aretha and I were invited to dine at the cabin of Miss Beryl Sheep, the famous actress.  Miss Sheep was on the way to the New World to entertain the troops...  And a few hours before the dinner, news spread that Lucky Farquhar, one of those despicable aristocrats had been found murdered...

But we couldn't let that interrupt dinner.  The show, as Beryl would say, had to go on...

Abraham Washington, Esq