One Minute to Murder

"One Minute to Murder"
Season	12
Episode	15
Airdate	February 11, 2019
Writer	Maureen Jennings
Director	Mars Horodyski
Guests	Richard Waugh as Jasper Hewitt
Previous	Sins of the Father
Next	Manual for Murder

"One Minute to Murder" is the fifteenth episode of the twelfth season of the Murdoch Mysteries and the one hundred eighty-third of the series. It first aired on February 11, 2019.

Summary

When a man is electrocuted during a typing contest with Crabtree and Louise Cherry, Murdoch suspects the reporter was the intended target.

The inaugural demonstration of the Langston: a typewriter powered by electricity invented by Alexander Langston, takes the form of a competition sponsored by the Toronto Telegraph. Unfortunately, for contestant Ivor Linwood the typewriter is turned into a weapon and his shocking death on public display – sabotage or a revenge murder?

Character Revelations

• Miss Cherry is the target of a murderer...

Continuity

• Murdoch and Ogden's illustrated handbook, Solving Murder, is published and delivered to the Station House by Mr. Clements, who has arranged author reading events to promote book sales.
• George mentions the "Lipstick Murders" (ep.1007) in the handbook "is particularly well-written", trying to elicit some acknowledgement from Murdoch.

Historical References

• This episode takes place in Toronto 1906 – Edward VII (Albert Edward;1841-1910) is King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas.
• King Edward VII 's speech from the throne in 1903 is used as the text in the typing contest.
• According to some, Thomas Edison invented the first electric typewriter in 1872, but it was only used to report stock market transactions. In 1902, George Carfield Blickensderfer invented an electric typewriter with a typewheel, had automatic carriage return and line spacing, and allowed for a light touch; Despite these features, the invention was not popular. James Fields Smathers of Kansas City invented what is considered the first practical power-operated typewriter in 1914.
• There is great competition among typewriter manufacturers: Remington, Underwood, and Royal.

Trivia

• This episode is written by the creator of Murdoch Mysteries Maureen Jennings.
• Thrice re-cast actor Richard Waugh was first seen in Child's Play as Peter Watt and the second time, he portrayed Mason Alexander in Loch Ness Murdoch.

Notable Quote

Murdoch to Elliot: "Life is a precious gift, sir. I would hate to see you waste it."

Cast

Main Cast

Yannick Bisson as Detective William Murdoch
Hélène Joy as Dr. Julia Ogden
Thomas Craig as Inspector Thomas Brackenreid
Jonny Harris as Constable George Crabtree

Recurring Cast

Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Henry Higgins
Bea Santos as Louise Cherry
David Reale as Mr. Clements

Guest Cast

Andrews Musselman as Edgar Leonard
Richard Waugh as Jasper Hewitt
Oliver Dennis as Alexander Langston
Seamus Patterson as Manfred Elliot
Gary Brennan as Caryle Banks
Emily Siobhan McCourt as Maise Bronson
Paul Bates as Mr. Frobisher
Carson Gale as Ivor Linwood
Justin Michael Carriere as Alphonse Maloney
Louise Martin as Winnifred Thompson
Andre Muir as Herbert Lewishman
Matha Girvin as Sarah Trotter
Judith Cockman as Fingermark Woman

Gallery

The contest event...

Mr. Frobisher at the Blackboard

Contestant Mr Linwood

The weapon and the victim