The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THIS GAME IS CALLED "MURDER AT MIDNIGHT" AND CAN BE
PLAYED WITH 4 OR MORE PLAYERS. IT IS BEST INDOORS
ON A STORMY NIGHT. SLIPS OF PAPER ARE FOLDED AND
PLACED INSIDE A BASKET. THERE IS ONE FOR EACH PLAYER.
ALL OF THEM ARE BLANK BUT ONE, WHICH HAS AN "X" ON IT.
EACH PLAYER DRAWS ONE OF THE PAPERS, LOOKS AT IT AND
RETURNS IT TO THE BASKET. THE PLAYERS ARE NOT TO TELL
ANYONE IF THEY DREW THE "X" OR NOT. ALL OF THE LIGHTS
ARE TURNED OUT AND THEN EACH PLAYER QUIETLY FINDS A
HIDING PLACE. WHEN ALL IS STILL, THE PLAYER THAT DREW
THE "X" SLIPS OUT OF HIS HIDING PLACE, PLACES HIS HANDS
AROUND THE THROAT OF A HIDING PLAYER THEN QUIETLY RETURNS
TO HIS PLACE. AFTER SUFFICIENT TIME HAS ELAPSED FOR THE
"MURDERER" TO RETURN TO HIS PLACE, THE VICTIM CALLS OUT
"THERE HAS BEEN A MURDER." THE LIGHTS ARE THEN TURNED
ON AND THE VICTIM HAS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY HIS ASSAILANT.

Submitter comment: THIS GAME WAS OFTEN PLAYED AT PAJAMA PARTIES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Date learned: 00-00-1970