In chapter 10 of And Then There Were None, Emily Brent finds the words "The Murderer's name is Beatrice Taylor" written in her notebook. She does not know whether she wrote the words herself or whether she dreamed writing them after she had already written that she knew one of the people on Indian Island was possessed by a devil.

The voice that read out all the indictments against the accused on the island said that Miss Brent was "responsible for the death of Beatrice Taylor." When all the others related their stories and defended themselves, Miss Brent was silent, saying that she had nothing with which to reproach herself. Later, however, she told Vera Claythorne the story. Beatrice Taylor had been in service with Miss. Brent. When Beatrice became pregnant, Miss Brent dismissed her immediately. Her parents also refused to help her, and the girl committed suicide. Miss Brent has always maintained that she acted correctly, and that Beatrice's death was her own fault.

The words in the notebook give rise to doubts in Miss Brent's mind. First, she doubts whether she wrote the words herself and, if she did not, she wonders who could have done so. Then she begins to doubt her sanity. Eventually, Miss Brent dreams of Beatrice Taylor and even begins to doubt her own perfect rectitude. This is why she was brought to Indian Island in the first place: to punish her for an act that was not illegal but was harsh, uncharitable, and morally wrong.