Carl Asher interview

Sunday, March 10, 2019 – 10:45 a.m.

Carl Asher worked for Victor Jennings as a researcher and factotum. The men had also been friends since high school.

Detectives Murphy and Parker interviewed him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants:

• Detective S. Murphy
• Detective E. Parker
• Carl Asher

Detective Parker: Please state your name and address before we begin.

Carl Asher: My name is Carl James Asher. My address is 2659 West Oxford Loop here in Oxford.

Detective Parker: Thank you. We have some questions to ask you, and we appreciate your willingness to cooperate with us.

Carl Asher: I’m a cooperative guy.

Detective Murphy: What do you do for a living, Mr. Asher?

Carl Asher: I’m unemployed. My boss is dead.

Detective Parker: Don’t play with us, Mr. Asher. What did you do before your boss died?

Carl Asher: I did a lot of different things. Mostly, I did research for Victor. You know, for his books.

Detective Murphy: Sure. Did you get along well with Mr. Jennings?

Carl Asher: We had our moments.

Detective Murphy: We've heard that you did the dirty work for Mr. Jennings. Is that true?

Carl Asher: Dirty work? Nah. It wasn’t always pleasant. Uncovering things that people want to keep hidden? That's hard work.

Detective Parker: Did you ever break any kneecaps?

Carl Asher: C’mon, do you think I’d answer that if I did?

Detective Parker: Did Victor have any enemies, Carl?

Carl Asher: You mean enemies that wished him dead? That would be a resounding yes.

Detective Murphy: Names?

Carl Asher: The famous Hawke couple, a couple of young college gals, members of his family, and the many people he had ruined with his books.

Detective Murphy: College girls?

Carl Asher: I don’t know who they are, but I'm sure that great detectives such as yourselves will be able to find them.

Detective Parker: Did you wish Victor was dead?

Carl Asher: If I did, that would make me a pretty stupid person. Victor was my paycheck. Why would you even ask me that?

Detective Parker: Did you or not?

Carl Asher: This is ridiculous! Arrest me or excuse me. I’m not answering any more of your stupid questions.

Detective Murphy: All right, Carl. Make it hard for yourself if you want to. We just want to find out what happened to your boss. He was your friend too, wasn't he?

Carl Asher: What if he was?

Detective Murphy: If someone killed him, don't you want us to find out who did it?

Carl Asher: I thought y'all said it was an accident.

Detective Murphy: The coroner hasn't made an official ruling yet.

Carl Asher: Well, if someone killed him, then I sure as hell want to know who did it.

Detective Parker: Was it part of your job to protect Victor?

Carl Asher: You saying something? You saying this was my fault?

Detective Parker: Where were you when Victor died?

Carl Asher: I don't appreciate you asking these questions. You can't put this on me. We about done here?

Detective Murphy: We can be. For now. But we'll probably need to talk to you again. You don't have any travel plans, do you?

Carl Asher: Not at the moment, no.

Detective Murphy: Good. Let's keep it that way for a while, okay?

Carl Asher: Yeah, okay.

Interview ended – 11:07 a.m.