The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-01
BENSON +, MURDER CASE
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pudiated all processes Of deduction
whereby the truth may be arrived
at Have you, by any chance, en-
Z! tircly renowned your faith in the
operations of the human mind?"
'Ah, there speaks the voice OF
Gods great common people!" ex-
claimed Vance. "Your mind is so
typical, Markham. 1t works on the
principle that what you don't know
isn't knowledge, and that, since
you don't understand thing, there
is no explanation. A comfortable
point of view. 1t relieves one from
all care and ,rtainty. Don't
you find the world a very sweet
and wonderful place."
Markham adopted an attitude of
affablc forbearance.
"You spoke at lunch time, / be-
lievc, Of one infalliblc method of
detecting crime. Would you care
to divulge this profound and price
| less secret to a mere district at
torney ?"
Vance bowed with exaggerated
courtesy
Delighted, I'm sure" he re-
turned II referred to the science
OF individual 'haracte and the
psychology Of human nature. We
all do things, IL We see. in certain
individual way, according to our
temp'raments. Every human act
no matter how large or how small
lis direct expression of a mans
personality, and bears the inevitable
impress Of his nature.
Thus, a musician, by looking at
Il sheet of music, is able to tell at
once whether it was composed. for
example. by Beethoven, or Schu-
bert, or Dcbussy. or Chopin. And
an artist. by looking at 4 canvas.
knows Immediately whether il is a
Corot, a liarpignies, Rembrandt,
or Franz Halls. And Just as no
two faces are exactly alike, 50 no
two natures are exactly alike: the
combination of ingredients which
20 10 make up our personalities,
varies in each individual.
This is why, when 20 artists. let
US say. sit down tn pa it the same
subject. each ono conceive, and cx-
ceutes it III q different manner. The
result in each case is q distinct and
unmistakablc expression of the per-
sonality If he painter who did it
-. It's really rather simple, don't.
y know
"Your theory, doubtless, would
be comprehensive 30 an artist"
said Markham. in a tone of indul
gent irony. But It's metaphysical
rcfinements are, | admit. consid-
crablv beyond the grasp If vulgar
-ro,IIliu like t74terif -
1.-The mind inclined IS What Is
false rejects the noble co7trse,'."
murmurcd Vance. with u Sigh.
There Is" arened -, "a
slight difference between aat ard
crime
"PsycholorieallN, old chap, there's
ncne,' Vance amended evenly.
Grimes possess a'l the basic fac
tors Of a work Of art approach.
conception, technique, imagination,
attack, method, and organization.
Moreover crimes vary fully as
much in their manner, the,r as
poets, and their general nature, as
do works OF art.
''Indeed, carefully planned crime
Is just "a direct ali expression Of
the individual as Is = paintae. fer
instance. And therein lies tlt me
great possibility al detection. Just
as m expert acsthetciaa can ana
I'VE Z picture and tel you who
painted it, OF the Personality and
temperament of the person who
painted it, 80 can the expert psv-
chologlst analyze crime and tell
YOU who committed it-that Ia. If he
happens to be acquainted viii tho
person. OF else can describe to
you, with almost mathematical
surety, the criminals nature and
character.
Ard that, my dear Markham, is
the only sure and inevitable means
Of determining human guilt. All
others are mere gEess-Work, I'M
scientific, uncertain, and-peril-
GUS"
Throughout his explanation
Vances manner had been almost
casual; yet the very serenity and
assurance Of his attitude conferred
upon his words 4 curious sense of
authority.
Markham had listened with in
tercst, though it could he seen that
he did not regard Nance's theoriz-
ing seriously.
- Your system ignores motive alto
gether," he objected.
The following conversation in
which Vance explains his psyche
logical methods of criminal ANALYSIS,
is, Of course, set down from MEM
DRY. However, a proof Of this
passage was sent to him with
request that he revise and alter it
in whatever manner he chose: so
that. as it now stands, it describes
sance's theory in practically his
own words.
(To be Continued)
ID