The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-13

| wholly OH MS COnVlCClOn CfdG he
could follow my reasoning step by
step, and, in the last analysis, out
wit me. 1T took courage and daring
to do that. And it also took a de-
gree of self confidence which would
never have permitted him to bet on
sure thing.
THE psychological principles in
volved in that hand were identical
with those of the Odell crime.
II threatened SpotSwoode with a
powerful hand-a pat hand-just as
the girl, no doubt, threatened him;
and instead of compromising in
stead of calling me or laying down
he outreached me; he reSorted to
one supreme coup, though it meant
risking everything.
MY word. Markham! Can't you
see how the mans character. as re-
vealed in that amazing gesture,
Govetails with the psychology of the
crime?'
Markham was silent for a while:
he appeared to be bordering the
matter.
But you, yourself, Vance, were
not satisfied at the time" ne sub
mitted at length. In fact, you
looked doubtful and worried"
True, old dear I was no end
worried. The psychological proof of
Spotswoode'S guilt came so dashed
Unexpectedly
Il wasn't looking for it. don't y
know. After eliminating Cleavcr I
had parti pris. 50 to speak. in re-
gard to Mannix; for all the material
evidence in favor Of SpotSwoode's
innocence-that is, the seeming
physical imposSibility of his having
Strangled the lady-had, admit,
impressed me.
I'm not perfect, don't v know.
Being unfortunately human, I'm
still susceptible to the malicious
animal magnetism about facts and
appearances which you lawyer
chaps are continuously exuding
over the earth like some vast as
pLlyAIdClIlS eIIluVluIn.
And even when I found that
Spotswoode's psychological nature
fitted perfectly with all the factors
of the crime, still harbored a doubt
in regard to Mannix.
1T was barely possible that he
would have played the hand just
as Spotswoode played it. That is
why, after the game was over, I
tackled him on the subject. I wanted
to check his psychological reac-
tons"
Still, he staked everything on
one turn of the wheel, as you put
It,"
"Ah! But not in the same sense
chat Spotswoode did. Mannix is a
cautious and timid gambler as COM
pared with SpotSwoode.
ITO begin with, he had an equal
chance and an even bet, whereas
SpotSwoode had no chance at all
his hand was worthless.
And yet SpotSwoode wagered the
limit on a pure bit of mental calcu-
lation. That was gambling in the
higher ether.
'On the other hand, Mannix was
merely tossing a coin, with an even
chance of winning. Furthermore, no
calculation of any kind entered into
it; there was no planning, no figur-
ing, no darig.
And, as I have told you from
the start, the Odell murder was
premeditated and carefully worked
out with snrewd calculation and
supreme daring.
And what true gambler would
ask an adversary to double a bet
on the second flip of the coin, and
then accept an offer to redouble
on the third flip?
II purposely tested Mannix In
that way, so as to preclude any
possibility of error Thus I not
only eliminated him-I expunged
him, eradicated him, wiped him out
utterly.
ut cost me a thousand dollars,
but it purged my mind of any lin
gering doubt. I then knew, despite
all the contr'ry material indica-
tons, that Spotswoode had done
away with the lady"
you make your case theoreti-
cally plausible. But, practically, I'm
afraid I can't accept it." Mark
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