The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-19
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BENSON !, ) \ j! :. MURDER !! !:!!!!! CASE
~ S S. WVAN DINE 9 caAzazs scaHaa So

| to Heath: II guess we'll have to
look for brunette, Sergeant"
Its all right with me-" agreed
Heath jocularly. BY this time, |
think. he had entirely forgiven
F, Vance for de troying the cigaret
| butt.
(Friday, June Ia; il a. n.y.
"Now," suggested Markham, ''sup-
pose we take look over the house.
l. imagine you've done that pretty
thoroughly already, S rgeant, but
I'd like 10 see the layout. Anyway,
| don't want to question the house,
keeper until the body has been re-
moved"
Heath rose.
"Verv good, sir. Id like another
look myself"
The four Of us went INTO the hall
and walked down the passageway
to the rear of the house. At the
extreme end. on the left, was door
leading downstairs to the basement;
but it Was locked and bolted
1.-THE basement is only used for
storage now,' Heath explained;
land the door which opens from it
into the street arcaway IS boarded
up. The Platz woman sleeps up
stairs-Benson lived here alone, and
there's plenty Of SPAR room III the
house; and the kitchen is on this
floor"
He opened dor on the opposite
side Of the passageWay, and we
stepped into a small modern kitch-
Ell. its two hi, n windows, which
gave into the paved rear yard at "A
height Of about eight feet from the
ground. were securely guarded with
iron bars, and, in addition, the
sashcs were closed and locked. Pass
ing through swinging door we en-
tered the dining-1oom which was
directly behind the I.ving-room. The
two windows here looked upon 4
small stone court--really no more
than a deep air-well between Ben
sons house and the adjoining one
-; and these also were iron-barred
and locked.
We now re-ontcred the hallway
and stood for moment at the foot
of the stairs leading above.
You can see, Mr.. Markham"
Heath pointed out, that whoever
shot Benson must have gotten in
ny the front door. There's no other
way he could have entered. Living
alone, ! guess Errson was a little
touchy on the subject Of burglars.
The only window that wasn't barred
was the rear one in the living-room;
and that was shut and locked. Any
way, it only leads into the inside
court. The front windows Of the
living-room have that ironwork over
them; so they couldn't have been
used even to shoot through, for BEN
son was shot from the opposite direc-
ton. It's pretty clear the gum
man got in the front door"
"Looks that way" said Markham.
"And pardon me for saying so,'
remarked Vance, "but Benson let
him in"
Eyes ?" retorted Heath unenthusi-
astically. "Well, we'll find all that
out later, ! hol, -
"Oh, doubtless" Vance drily
agreed.
We assembled the stairs, and en-
tered Benson's bedroom which was
directly over the living-room. 1t
was severely but we'll furnished,
ana III cACclicHL OTUef. ne Deu WAS
made, showing it had not been slept
in that night; and the window
shades were drawn. Bensons din
ner- jacket and white pique waist
coat were hanging ove- chair. A
winged collar and black bow-tie
were on the bed. where they had
evidently bee thrown when Ben
sol had taken them off on return
ing home. A pair of low evening
shoes were standing by the bench
at the foot Of the bed. In glass
Of water on the night-table was a
platinum plate of four false teeth;
and toupcc of beautiful workman
ship was lying on the chiffonier.
This last item aroused VaEcc's
special interest. He walked up 10
it and rcerl ded it closely.
"Mcst int'rcstin'," he commented.
Our departed frienI fecms TO have
worn false air; did you know that,
Markham ?"
Il always suspected it, vas the
Indifferent answer.
lTo no Confip,,oJl