New Britain herald., 1927-11-21
CHAPTER IIN

dHCe Stlllcu DuCh III HIS CndlT. Consider, for moment, the characteristics - the outstanding features-of the crime.
 Just before the shot was fired Benson and the murderer und doubt- cdly had been talking or arguing the one seated, the other standing. Then Benson had pretended to read: he had said all he had to say. His reading was his gesture Of finalty; for one doesn't read when conyers- ing with another unless for pur- pose.
 "The murderer, seeing the hope lessness of the situation, and hav- ing come prepared 10 meet ii hero ically. took out a gun. aimed it at Benson's temple, and pulled the trigger. After that, he turned out the lights and went away. Such are the facts, indicated and actual.'
 He took several pufrs on his cigaret.
 NoN, i'-t 5 dildlNI' 'lIG. .tS I pointed out 10 you, the murderer didn't fire al the body, where. though the chances of hitting would have been much greater, the chances of death would have been less.
 He chose the more difficult and hazardous-and. at the same time, the more certain and efficient course. His technique, so 10 speak, vas bold. direct, and fearless. Only man with iron nerves and a high l ly developed gamblers instinct would have done it in just this fortnight and audacious fashion. Therefore, all nervous, hot-head- cd, impulsive, or timid persons Were automatically elim' m'natel as suspects. The neat, business-li like aspect of the crime. together with the absence of any material clues that could possibly have incrim'- mated the culprit, indicated unmis- takably that it had been premedi- tated and planned with coolncss and precision, by person of tre mendous self-assurance, and one used to taking risks.
 There was nothing subtle or in the least imag native about the crime. Every feature Of it pointed to an aggressive. blunt mind q mind at once static, determined and intrepid, and accustomed 10 dealing with facts and situations in a di- rect, concrete and unequivocal man ner. l say, Markham. surely you're a good enough judge Of tions, what"
 T think l get the drift Of your reasoning the other admitted q little doubtfully.
 Very well. then" Vance con- tinued. Having determined the exact psychological nature of the { deed, it only remained 10 find som" int'rcsted person whose mind and tenp'rament were such that, if he undertook a task of this kind in | tIi' 5 'l NIl 4iIiSL IAN'1. lI's NobIh inevitably do it in precisely the manner in which it was done
 As it happened, l had known | the Major for a long time; and so it was obvious 70 me. the moment ! l had looked over the situation that first morning, that he had done it. i The crime, in every respect and ] feature, was a perfect psychological i expression Of his character and mentality. But "von had I not known him personally, would have been ahlo-sInc" posS"ss"d SO clear and accurate q knowledge of the murdcrer'S p"rSOnality-to pick him out from any number of suspects"
 1 ''But suppose another person Of the Majors type had done it"" asked Mark ham.
 "Wc all differ in our natures however similar two persons may appear at times" Vance explained, And while. in tho present cas-. it is barely coucrivab!" that another man Of tho Majors typ" and tenn p'rumcn. might have 'lon" II. the law of probability must h" taken into account.
 "EN"u SuppoSiug there were two men almost identical in personality and instincts in New York, what would b." thr Chanc" of their both having haa reason 10 kill Reason
 "HOwevor, despite tn" l,mot"- ness of The possibility when rtyfc Came.- into the case, and ] earned Ln was q gambler and q hunter, ] took occasion 10 look into his quail ncations. Not knowing him per sonally. l appealed 10 Colonel os- tfandcr for my information; and what le told mo put Ffyfe at once out of consideration"
 "But h" had nerve: he was q rash plunger; and hc certainly had enough at stake" objected Mark