Biographer and book collector tortured, killed for $64,000 first edition of "Wind in the Willows” prosecutor tells British jury

The Wind in the Willows, first published in 1908, is a lovely tale by Kenneth Grahame of camaraderie, friendship and overcoming greed and excess.

The beloved children’s novel features four anthropomorphized animals — a mole, water vole, badger and toad — who become close friends as the toad overcomes his selfish, greedy behaviour that previously led him to do things such as steal.

For more than a century, the story’s message has been clear to the children who read it. It’s the message of countless children’s stories: be kind to your fellow man.

Adrian Greenwood, of Oxford, owned a rare first-edition copy of the book, valued at $64,000.

Michael Danaher tortured him and stabbed him more than 30 times, killing him in order to steal the book, the very one preaching kindness, police say.