The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-22

outside BensOn's house at midnight.
Mrs. Platz hesitates when Vance
asks her whether Benson had had
any visitors the evening Of the
crime. then says he had not.
NOW BEGIN THE STORY
CHAPTER VIII
Markham lapsed into gloomy 81
lence, and sat looking out Of the
window in troubled meditation until
we reached Vancc's house.
| I don't like the looks of things
he remarked, as We drew up to the
curb. Il have a curious feeling
about this case"
Vance regarded him a moment
from the corner of his eye.
"See here, Markham" he said
with unwonted seriousness: "haven' t
you any idea who shot Benson ?"
Markham forced n faint smile.
II wish | had. Crimes of wilful
murder are not so easily solved.
And this case strikes me as Il par
ticularly complex one
Fancy, now!' said Vance, as he
stepped out Of the machine. And
/ thought it extr' ordin'rily simple
Saturday, June Is; Forenoon
You will remember the sensation
caused by Alvin Benson's murder.
It was one of those crimes that APP
peal irresistibly to the popular
imagination. Mystery is the basis
of all romance. and about the Ben
son case there hung an impene-
trablc aura Of mystery. 1t was many
day before any definite light was
shed on the circumstances surround
ing the shooting; but numerous false
fires arose to beguile the rublic's
Imagination, and wild speculations
were heard on all sides.
tic figure in any respect, had been
well-known; and his personality had
been colorful and spectacular one.
He had been q member of New
Gork's wealthy Bohemian social set
an avid sportman, a rash gam
bier, and professional man-about-
town; and his re. led on the border
land Of the demimonde, had con-
tanned many high-lights. His ex-
PLOTS in the night clubs and caba-
refs had long supplied the subject
matter for exaggerated stories and
comments in the various local pa
pcrs and magazines which batten on
Broadway's scandalmongers.
Benson and his brother, Anthony,
had, at the time of the formers sud-
den death, been running a brokerage
office at q Wall Street, under the
name Of Benson and Benson. Both
were regarded by the other brokers
Of the Street as shrewd business
men, though perhaps shade unethi-
cal when gagged by the constitution
and bylaws of the New York Stock
Exchange.
They were markedly contrasted
as to temperament and taste. and
saw little of each other outside the
office. Alvin Benson devoted his
entire leisure to pleasure-seeking
and was regular patron of the
city's leading cafes; whereas An
thony Benson, who was the older
and had served as a major in the
late war, followed sedate and con-
ventional existence, spending most
Of his evenings quietly at his clubs.
Both, however, were popular in
their respective circles, and between
them they had built up large
clientele.
The glamour Of the financial dis
trict had much to do with the man.
ner in which the crime was handled
by the newspapers. Moreover, the
murder had been committed at q
time when the metropolitan press
was experiencing a temporary lull
in sensationalism; and the story
was spread over the front pages Of
the papers with prodigality rarely
encountered in such cases.
Eminent detectives throughout
the country were interviewed by
enterprising reporters. Histories
Of famous unsolved murder cases
were revived; and clairvoyants and
astrologers were engaged by the
Sunday editors to solve the mystery
by various metaphysical devices.
Photographs and detailed diagrams
were the daily accompaniment Of
these journalistic outpourings.
In all the news stories the gray
Cadillac and the pearl-handle1 Smith
and Wesson were featured. There
were pictures of Cadillac cars,
touched up and reconstructed to
accord with Patrolman McLaughlin's
description, some Of them even show
ing the fishing tackle protruding
from the tonneau.
A photograph of Bcnson's center
table had been taken. with the secret
drawer enlarged and reproduced in
an Unset" One Sunday magazine
went so far as, to hire an expert
cabinet-maker to write a disserta-
ton on secret compartments in furni-
ture.