The Washington times., 1935-08-24
WHOSE WIFE?--SOCIETY NIGHT LIFE SECRETS Barred
Who Holds Key to Riddle
OF the Disappearance
Of IsObel Vane?

Mile loved to wear, just as the
boat pulled out; and was to give
out one interview to a society edi-
tor that was so glad to be going
to the Orient"
did Mr.. Thornley, give you
any excuse for this strange re-
queSt?"
"Of course. He said that he
and Mile had agreed to disagree,
and that II it appeared that she
had left him and gone to China
alone, he could get a divorce
and that was what they both
wanted. Millie would stay on in
Frisco and be perfectly happy,
and not have the trouble Of the
long trip, and everyone knew
that Mile couldn't bear the
water.
"And you believed this?"
eyes. I knew that Mile was
afraid Of Roger"
At a sudden movement in the
room, the Judge looked up.
"Stop that man." he ordered.
"No one is allowed to leave the
court"
Miss Gordon? Is Roger Thorn
ley in this court room at pres.
ent?" asked the defense.
Gerry looked out over the tense
throng.
eyes," she said clearly. "That
is Mr.. Thornley,. The man who
just tried to leave"
There was a silence, broken by
the high Shrill laughter Of an old
Negro woman.
It took some moments for the
attendants to restore order.
"Mr. Cyrus K. Mantel!" sum-
moned the defense.
Everyone, as though pulled by
wires worked by an invisible pup
PETER, jerked forward. This was
more than they had expected.
The dapper little figure walked
forward with that strange power
and dignity Of his wrapped about
him like a cloak.
He took the oath, and then be-
fore he sat in the witness chair,
deliberately turned and bowed to
the judge.
The judge returned this cour.
tesy with obvious graciousness,
and the defense, after the usual
preliminary questions, asked:
did you know Mr.. Lawrence
Vane before this case?"
"Only by reputation as a fine
artist"
did Mr.. vane retain you in his
interests?"
mol"
Everyone in the room, with the
exception of the defendant and
one red-haired newspaper scribe,
looked their surprise.
What caused you to enter this
case, Mr.. Mantel?"
mot what-who," Cyrus K.
smiled calmly. my niece, Betty
Potter"
Lawrence Vane looked up from
his abstraction, and slow pain
full flush spread over his face. He
glanced quickly at the press table,
but the flaming head Of Miss Pot
ter was bent over her notes.
"Mr. Mantel? Can you tell the
court of any evidence that you
have discovered that has not been
introduced so far?"
| UVacO N1yr,yc Y ToJ1rcad hiS LING
and then slowly removed his
pincenez and Stroked one eyebrow
with them. He bowed to the judge
again, and then turned fully to
the jury.
Courtroom Drama
when I went to the Vane
apartment to investigate" he told
them, Il noted, as the police had
unquestionably noticed before me,
that there was no sign Of a Strug-
gle either inside the bungalow, or
outside on that roof. I found a
piece of brick and mortar work
Clipped from the wall. It was
Clipped at such a position that it
aroused my curiosity. It was
broken from the wall above the
reach of human hands. Also this
chip had been recently broken off,
and it had fallen from directly
over the door from which the body
had been dragged to the position
in which it was discovered. I ar.
gued from this that it was very
possible that the body had been
swung onto the terrace after death
and Observation-Disclosures as
there was no sign Of struggle at
the scene Of the supposed crime,
If this theory were correct, 1t
would also explain why there was
no sign, in the apartment, Of the
missing head"
Then it Is your opinion that
the murder was not committed on
the Vane roof"
That is my opinion"
"Have you any other evidence.
Mr.. Mantel?"
Eyes. A great deal. I will not
take UP the time OF this court
with my theories and deductions
I will introduce another very con
crete piece of evidence"
He took out a book and from II
drew a blackiSh paper.
These are photostats Of finger
prints" he said, adjusting his
glasses. Then looking mildly up al
the tense jury, he said:
II have here the recently taker
finger prints that correspond tt
those on the bottle Of verona
found in Vane's apartment on thu
: night of the murder"
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