XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 181

HANGABLE

1.  D. J. Furley (New Barnet): Constable’s work may secure this verdict in England: in America they prefer warmer execution (double mng.; ref. painter, electric chair).

2.  Mrs N. Fisher (Stroud): At the opening hour an actor’s likely to be strung up (h + an + (Clark) Gable).

3.  S. B. Green (NW10): The sailor in the corner at The Horse’s Head is apt to take a drop! (H + AB in angle).

H.C.

D. L. L. Clarke (Oxford): Hareng éventré; competent—worth putting on the line (ha(re)ng + able; gutted herring (Fr)).

S. Goldie (S. Shields): After shooting, how’s the game? Capital? In Bengal—ah, that’s different! (anag.; 2 defs.; capital punishment).

C. P. Grant (Harrow): Constables are often responsible for such a verdict in the eyes of good judges (double mng.; ref. painter).

T. O. Hughes (Maidenhead): Leading piece of handiwork by one who makes pictures suitable for the gallery (h + an + (Clark) Gable).

Mrs L. Jarman (Brough): Mouth in a potty place, foot missing! Dali’s so—equivocal (gab in Hanle(y); town in the Potteries).

M. B. McIlroy (NW11): With a three-quarter size ball Hagen might he upset and made liable to swing in a different way (anag. incl. bal(l); ref. Walter H., US golfer).

M. Newman (Hove): Confronted with the inevitable loophole that lets all murderers down (cryptic def.; noose).

Mrs A. M. Osmond (Richmond): Mistletoe is on the wall, stockings are on the bedpost, and turkey is in the larder—I am darn competent! (hang! able; 3 hangable items).

Mrs M. G. Porter (NW13): “My impression of Salvador Dali,” by Sir Alfred Munnings (or Henry Moore?) (cryptic def.; opponent and proponent of modern art).

E. R. Prentice (Clifton): Subject to the stress of mortal coil? (cryptic def.; noose).

D. W. Reeds (Havant): I’m capable, depend upon it, but liable to open trap at official function! (hang + able; scaffold trap-door).

J. F. N. Wedge (Sutton): So the Corporal was thought to be in suspense—and then the Island turned up! (hang + Elba (rev.); ref. Napoleon, ‘the Little Corporal’).

RUNNERS-UP

E. S. Ainley, J. A. Blair, Rev B. Chapman, A. N. Clark, F. A. Clark, B. C. Cubbon, W. J. Duffin, Brig W. E. Duncan, L. E. Eyres, Mrs K. N. Graham, R. J. Hall, H. A. Hayes, F. G. Illingworth, L. W. Jenkinson, Capt G. Langham, Mrs J. H. C. Lawlor, G. G. Lawrance, P. W. W. Leach, E. W. Lee, Mrs E. Mellersh, T. W. Melluish, C. J. Morse, Rev E. B. Peel, R. Postill, H. Rainger, E. W. Richart, A. Robins, W. K. M. Slimmings, E. B. Stevens, C. A. Stewart, L. E. Thomas.
 

COMMENTS—203 correct: there were a fair number of failures to find SORA and a sprinkling of mistakes elsewhere. The puzzle proved rather harder than usual. Many otherwise promising clues were spoilt—as often before with an adjective—by misleading indications of the wrong part of speech.
 
I hope you like the chosen book-plate, and that you appreciate what a speaking likeness it is of me at work. Someone asked how many regular solvers entered for that competition: in a rapid glance through the entries I noted the following names (and may have missed others):—Mrs. D. Fuller, Mrs. Graham. F. H. W. Hawes, C. Koop, Capt. Langham, A. C. Okell, Mrs. Porter, D. I. Randell, E. O. Seymour, A. C. Tatham, H. S. Tribe. Alas, none of them caught the judges’ eye.
 
I’m very busy preparing to move house—not very far, but even so! Hence no more comments. A very happy Christmas to you all.