Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30
BLEMISH By E. Philips Qppenheinl

ought to apologize for coming at all. 1t
was just an idea Things look very bad
for your client, Higgins"
so far as can see at present
Grimes admitted, "he has handed him
self over to you gentry this time in fine
style. What's your game? Are you in
here to pump me? Surely you don't
need to, this time?"
Not in the least" Benskin assured
him, and as a matter of fact, 1t isn't
my case at all. If have any object in
coming, 1t is rather for Higgins than
against him. Not that the fellow doesn't
deserve whatever may be coming to him.
but there's just one point of view. Mr.
| Grimes, that we detectives must remem-
her,"
Il mean," Benskin explained, that If,
by any chance, Eddie Higgins, who Was
| quite capable of this crime and who
am quite sure has already committed it
in his mind many time, happened to
be innocent on this particular occasion.
| the actual criminal would go free"
| Just so,' the lawyer agreed. Nov
you've started that line of talk, I'll tell
you one thing that seems strange to
me. These fellows look upon me as their
friend, as a rule. They're never afraid
to tell me the truth. got Eddie Hug
gins off two years ago on that man.
truth before I started to work. If he
hadn't, shouldn't have had the ghost
of a chance
Benskin nodded 81 understand"
well. this time, for some reason or
other, he's crafty obstinate. He swears
| he found the woman dead when he got
there. He admits that he threatened to
| do her in the night before he admits
that they had been scrapping, he admits
| that he went there meaning to have an
other row with her, he admits that he
drank three tumblerfuls of whisky be-
| fore he left the room-says he was.
knocked silly seeing her lying there
with a knife IN her chest.
HE knows that he put down his pipe
and left it on the table. He knows he
was seen to leave the house and that he
reeled back to bed. when, If he had been
anything less than fool-proViding hsi
story Is a true one-he would have called
in the police, but even to me he won't
admit that he touched her"
What about the knife?" Benskin
asked.
"His knife. right enough-there's no
doubt about that Swears that he left
it there the night before, had it out
and was half-inclined to use it., Then
they made it up, and he threw the
knife into the sideboard drawer
IF he didn't do it," Benskin re-
fected, has he any idea or sugges-
ton to make as to who did or might
have done it? Does he know anything
about her friends that he hasn't dis
closed?"
mot he!" was the scofing reply.
ED Higgins would sell his own mother
to save his skin. The woman was
pretty tight-lipped-must have been"
You're going to make inquiries
about her, suppose?"
After fashion" the lawyer replied,
somewhat doubtfully. Something may
come out about her. although how 1t
is going to help Higgins I can't mag
inc. think you've got him this time,
all right"
Benskin rose and nodded his fare
we'll.
well, the world will be none the
worse place without him." he remarked,
as he turned to go.
The lawyer was right. Certainly, this
time. the law had firm grip upon
at the request of the police, remanded
him, with a few curt words. At the
coroners inquest upon the body VI
Elizabeth ChalderS an unheSitating
verdict was brought in of "willful MUIR
der" against Edward Higgins, the day
of the trial was duly fixed. and de-
pressed, but disappearing and protest.
ing, Edward Higgins occupied in NOR.
bid melancholy what are known as the
state apartments" in Wandsworth
Prison.
A NDREWS, butler of 80 years stand
"A ing in the household, opened the
door of the library at Haddington
House, Regents Park, and presented
himself before the desk at which his
master was writing.
"A person of the name of Benskin
wish to see you. Sir Frederick" h.
anr ID. II told him that you did
no. We visitors without an appoint
me- out he wished me to say that
his business was of some Importance
The man at the desk looked up lit
tie YEARLY from his papers. He was
very handsome in somewhat cold ana
severe fashion-a man apparently o.
later middle age, although there was