Lateral Thinking Puzzles

6. The Cut Off Arm

Man A man B and man C. Man A gets on a bus followed by man B. Man A gets off at an empty bus stop and walks down a dark alleyway. There man B kills him, cuts off his arm, wraps it up and sends it to man C, 500 miles away. Man c on receiving the parcel throws it away apparently satisfied. Why?

Submitted by tartle · Added 7 December 2007

Solution:

Man C had contracted Man B to kill Man A and demanded A’s arm as unmistakable proof of the assassination. When the parcel arrived, the severed arm verified that the job was done, so C, now satisfied, discarded the arm because he no longer needed it.


Rate this puzzle

No votes yet — be the first! ❤️ 👍 🔧 👎 💀

Vote totals refresh periodically.


Comments (7)

Absentee 13 December 2007

does some former incidence has to the anything with it?
were they three frineds or in any other relation?

zee076 8 June 2008

Considering the facts provided it seems that Man B was hired by Man C to assasinate/murder Man A. Does that seem right ?

Shadow Hunter 4 September 2008

Man B was hired to kill man A. Man A had a tatoo on his arm, so his severed arm would be proof to man C that man A is dead

mallk10 14 August 2009

Man A. B and C were all deserted on a desert island together. They made an agreement that they would all cut off their arms to eat. Man B and C did it but they were rescued before Man A could. He promised them that he would cut off his arm when he got back home. Man B sees Man A with both of his arms. He calls man C to discuss this and they decide to kill Man A. Man B follows Man A and cuts off his arm and sends it to man C to let him know the job is done.

Mr JG Reeder 21 August 2010

There are quite a few variations on this scenario - I particularly like the one with the neatly severed arm delivered in a parcel - however, it doesn't involve murder, but accepting the consequences of an agreement. Perhaps a little more gentlemanly I think, however, it may depend on the audience...

cat 4 July 2011

Man C is the man from the south in the Roald Dahl story. Man B has lost a bet to him and run away without paying. The bet was for Man B's left arm (against a Cadillac). He knows that Man C is persistent and will track him down. Man A, on the other hand (!), just happens to be a perfect stranger who has the same size, build, and skin tone as Man B. So....

agarhi 11 July 2014

Man A said he was the best 'Lateral Thinking - Fanciful' problem solver and agreed if he can't solve one he be punished in whatever way B and C want. He couldn't solve the "The cut off arm" problem.

Add a Comment or Suggest an Answer



« Back to Lateral Thinking Puzzles


Puzzles

Site Map | Contact Us