 This mention of Cannae means that Witherall is about to marshal his assistants as part of a clever scheme to deliver the murderer to justice.Hazeltine is also subject to the machinations of the "octopus of fate", by which an incredible coincidence is explained at least once in every Witherall novel.In 1944, the character was adapted into a Mutual radio mystery program, "The Adventures of Leonidas Witherall".