[andrewprock]

Logic puzzles where one must assume so much are not about pure logic. They are "logic" puzzles. If you aren't made aware of the assumptions that were made in building the puzzle, the solution you arrive at may not match the "logical" one.

Because of this, solutions are often not logical.

[baddox]

Is it really such a big leap to assume that fictional people in a logic puzzle or riddle are telling the truth? I don't think so. To me, it's very clear that the names of the people are chosen arbitrarily (with first letters corresponding to the first letters of the alphabet) and that the things they are saying are simply a way to convey the logical constraints to the reader. It's very obvious to me that the fictional people, their names, and the fact that they are speaking aren't actually relevant to the logic puzzle.