Mary Hill (Miss Marple Tells a Story)

In the short story Miss Marple Tells a Story, Mary Hill is a local resident of the town of Barnchester who works as a chambermaid at the Crown Hotel. She and Mr Rhodes were the only two people who accessed the room of Mrs Rhodes around the time she was murdered. The solicitor Mr Petherick interviewed her and found that she was extraordinarily stupid, almost half-witted. Her account of her movements had never varied: she brought Mrs Rhodes her hot-water bottle and says the lady was drowsy—just dropping off to sleep. Moreover she had absolutely no motive. In Mr Petherick's opinion, no jury would ever believe that she had committed the crime. This left Petherick's client, Mr Rhodes, as the only other suspect who had opportunity.