[fouc]

It just follows logically that historically some powerful families would have paid off a fall guy if necessary, and they could have used a butler in some cases. This could've been the origin of the term, before it even showed up in murder mysteries. Perhaps from the 1700s

[coldtea]

>This could've been the origin of the term, before it even showed up in murder mysteries. Perhaps from the 1700s

The thing is, it doesn't show up in murder mysteries themselves (except only as a fourth-wall breaking meta-reference to the trope).

It originates with murder mystery readers -- as the name of a trope.

[rhizome]

I bet a good butler is much harder to find than a patsy.

[eru]

Yes. Though you need a patsy who would have conceivably eg have access to the fancy cars.