Murder at the Circus

Sarasota Bay Club residents found themselves in the middle of a murder investigation Friday, April 25.

The investigation was part of the residence’s annual Murder Mystery event. The 10 residents selected to act in the scenario have been working on their characters for weeks, coming up with names and back stories.

This year’s murder took place at the circus. Ringo Masterson, the ringmaster, whipped the victim, Joe Castaway, who was known as “Sloppy Joe,” to death. Castaway was the chief engineer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Other suspects included Castaway’s employers, John and Mable Ringling, as well as co-workers such as Wilma Whipette, the lion tamer, and comic relief Scrubby Tubinsky.

Will Rogers, played by Curtis Hecht
Will Rogers was a friend of Castaway and the Ringlings. Rogers spent most of his evenings playing poker at John Ringling’s man cave, where he would gamble and tell stories from his time out West.

Rogers was a generous man and invited Castaway to join the poker games.

“I never met a man I didn’t like,” says the cowboy.

However, after lending Castaway quite a bit of money, tension grew among the two.

Ringo Masterson, played by John Duckrum
Born in 1888 in Barbeton, Ohio, Masterson is a nature- and animal-lover. After graduating from high school, Masterson joined the circus, where he rode and trained horses as well as other animals.

“I jumped at the opportunity to join Barnum & Bailey and eventually rose to ringmaster,” he says.

When the Ringlings purchased Barnum & Bailey, Masterson stayed on as ringmaster.

Although Masterson enjoyed his job as ringmaster, he wanted more money. He saw an opportunity in Mable Ringling and befriended the wealthy wife.

“Then along came Castaway,” says Masterson. Masterson feared Castaway would cosy up to Mable Ringling’s for her wealth, so he came up with a plan.

“I mused that if Sloppy Joe should have an accident, he would be eliminated, and I’d have some of John’s money,” he says.

Flo Ripples, played by Florence Katz
Growing up in a household of boys who towered over her, Flo was the runt of the family.

“They called me ‘Shorty,’” she says.

Ripples hated the nickname and began eating spinach every day. Although she didn’t grow taller, Ripples did grow muscles. Even though she was strong, her family still called her “Shorty,” so Ripples ran away to join the circus.

Ripples’ first job at the circus was working with the ropes. After the Ringlings saw her muscles and strength, they asked her to become the show’s bodybuilder. One day, a man, Castaway, asked Ripples for help with bodybuilding. Ripples helped the man, however, he called her “Shorty” the entire time. It was the last straw when he called her “Runt.”

“When I found out he was murdered I couldn’t have been happier,” says Ripples.

Hester Jester, played by Hilsen Hecht
Hester Jester has been a clown ever since she can remember.

“I was the youngest of five children,” she says. “To get people to look at me,
I clowned around.”

Her ability to make people laugh led to her joining the circus, where she met Castaway. Jester and Castaway had an affair before she was turned off by his terrible temper. Jester moved on from Castaway to Rogers, for whom she rolled cigars in the Cà d’Zan man cave.

Contact Harriet Sokmensuer at [email protected]