upon questioning miss chambers and miss strauss , it would seem that miss strauss 's fiance had forced his unwanted attentions on the beleaguered miss chambers and that miss strauss , upon discovering her fiance 's perfidy , lifted the brass candlestick off her mother 's mahogany fireplace mantle , and struck the head of her fiance one dozen times until he fell to his death , his lifeblood spilling on the hardwood floors and ruining the sprigged muslin gown of miss strauss as it sprayed her with each blow . ' ''