a framed copy of a nursery rhyme, "ten little niggers" (called "ten little indians" or "ten little soldiers" in later editions), hangs in every guest's room, and ten figurines sit on the dining room table. after supper, a gramophone (or "phonograph") record is played; the recording accuses each visitor of having committed murder, and then asks if any of "the accused" wishes to offer a defence. anthony marston and philip lombard admit to the charges leveled against them, both instances of irresponsible endangerment resulting in death rather than murder as normally defined.