The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-27
BENSON MURDER }! CASE


army. and who would be likely
own just such IA gun as Benson Y
killed with. Furthermore, this ca
! tain Lcacock lunchcd with the v
man the day Of the murder aid al
called on her at her apartment
morning after"
Markham leaned slightly forwa
and his next words were cmphasiz
by the tapping of hi fingers ON I
arm Of the chair.
"As you see, we have the mott
the opportunity, and The means.
Perhaps you will tell me now til
i possess no discriminating c1
dence.'
My dear Markham Vance
firmed calmly, "you haven't broug
out a single point which could i
easily be explained away by d
bright school-boy." He shook
head lugubriously. And Oh su
evidence people are deprived Of thu
life and liberty! Pom my word, v
alarm me. | tremble for my pc
sonal safety
MaTkflan WdS ncttICu.
would you ,e so good as to poi
out, from your dizzy pinnacle
sapiencc, the errors in my reaso
ing"
"As far as | an see" return(
Vance evenly, "your particulariz
ton concerning the lady is inn
cent Of reasoning. You've simpI
taken several unaffied facts, al
jumped to false conclusion.
Il ha, pen TO know the conclJ
sion is false because all the psi
Geological indications of the Grim
contradict it-that is to say, II
only real evidence in the cas-. poin|
Enthusiastically in another direction
He made gesture of emphasi|
and his tone assumed an unwOntt|
gravity.
"And if you arrest any woms|
TO, killing Alvin Benson, you wi
simply be ADDING another crime
crime of celebrate and unpardol|
able stupidity--to the one alread
committed. And between shootinI
a bounder like Benson and ruinin|
an innocent woman's reputation
I'm inclined to regard the latter q
the more reprehensible."
could see a flash Of resentment
leap into Markham eyes; but n
did not take offcnsc. Remembe1
these two men wer> close friends
and, for all their emergency of nd
ture, they understood and RESPECTED
each other. Their sever
and even mordant at times-was, in
deed, Il result Of that respect.
There was a moments silence
then Markham forced smile.
you fill me with misgivings,
he avcrred mockingly; but, despit
the lightness of his tone, ! felt tina
he was half in earnest. "Howevel
| hadn't exactly plsnned to arrcs
the lady just yet"
you reveal commendable nc
straint," Vance complimentct hin
But I'm sure you've already al
ranged to ballyrag the lady an
perhaps trick her into one or tw
Of those contradictions so dear t
every lawyers hcart-just as
any nervous or high-strung perso1
could help INDUCING in apparen
tradictions while being c-oss-ques
toned as a suspc i crime the
had nothing to do with. -. r
put EN- on the grill a most accur
ate designation. Sc reminiscent Q
burning people at the stake, what :?
well, I'm most certainly goin
to question her" replied Markham
firmly, CLAN ing at his watch. IAN
one of my men is cscorting her t
the office in half an hour; so
must break up this most delightful
and edifying chat"
"You really expect to lea some
thing discriminating by interrogat
ing her?' ask I'd Vance. ..Y' know
Id jolly we'll like to witness you
humiliation. .iut l presume you
heckling OF suspects is part o
the zeal arcana"
Markham had risen and turne,
toward the door, but at Vance
words he paused and appe ed t.
deliberate.
Il can't see any particular objec
ton to your being present." h,
said, IF you ,cally care to come.
think he had an ca that til,
humiliation of which the other ha,
$ ,okcn would prove to be Vance
own; M soon we were in a taxicaI
headed for the criminal courts build
ing.
TO be Continued