Nogales international., 1935-11-16

w AAdASSOA lllG pl CNIOQS lIllpOl
ance of the crime, because of the
Prominence of the divorce action
paled into insigni6cance before
his new revelation. Murder was
.lways murder; but the identity OF
he dead witness-llo plebian citizen
r mere menial-gave it additional
romise of being a genuine cause
flfbre.
Yes, that's who she is," the
lwyer replied to his query, Mrs
Mortimer Keith"
Then her husband will have tc
oe notified of what's happened at
once. I'll want to question him
bout Mrs. Keith as promptly as
.ossible."
He summoned the remaining
oliceman from the outer room and
nparted directions for communi-
ating with the manufacturer.
Now, Mr.. Trumbull," Rankin
ontinued, after the officer had
zone, chow long before the meeting
,egan today did you arrive with
Mrs. Keith?"
Mr.. Trumbull shook his head. Il
didn't bring her at all, Mr.. Rankin
came here alone and Mr.. Rowland
accompanied her into town 1t was
.rranged that he go for her to her
residence in Chestnut Hill, and join
me here. l reached here about two
twenty-five; they drove in with
Mrs. Keith's chauffeur five minutes
afterward"
"At half past two, eh? And at
what time did you leave her in that
Office to wait until you were ready
for her testimony"
About ten minutes later, |
should judge" the other replied.
Then Mr.. Rowland went down to
the street to dismiss the chauffeur
who was parked outside the build
ing. She had ordered him to STAY.
Rowland suggested we let him GO
and use my car to get home"
Are you certain" the detective
probed, she really went downstairs
to speak to the chauffeur"
The lawyer replied vigorously. IN
tones that brooked no doubt. "Pos.
tive, Mr.. Rankin; in fact, / walked
into the hall with him and saw him
take the elevator. He was gone
only a few minutes, less than FIVE;
| was phoning in the outer Office
when he returned"
Then two-forty was the last
time either of you saw her alive!"
Rankin eyed him searchingly. You
didn't enter hfteen-o-hve again,
through either this library or the
door from the hall, while you were
out there?"
mot until found her dead" he
returned. "We left her completely
alone. Mr.. Rowland and | went
into Mr.. Dawson's private office for
the next ten minutes, where we
could discuss today's strategy
without being disturbed. l can
vouch that he never left me the
entire time, nor | him. Then Mr..
Dawson arrived and we assembled
for the hearing"
The detective bent forward, toy
ing with a pencil he took from the
table
"Why was it arranged, Mr..
Trumbull, that Mrs, Keith wait
apart in there, instead of outside in
fifteen-o-seven? Had you some
special reason for that?"
'It was done for privacy and to
spare her all possible DISTRESS" the
lawyer explained. "She was doing
us a service in offering her evil
dence, but naturally, in her position,
she desired no publicity. She even
dressed inconspicuously, In the
main office, under the eyes OF en-
ployees and casual visitors, she
would have felt uncomfortable. And
she couldn't stay in the library with
Mrs. Rowland and Mr.. Willard:
that would have been even more
embarrassing"
Then they had already arrived
before you?"
Yes. l suppose so since thew
came earlier than l and waited for
Mr. Dawson here. In fact, they
were here when Mr. Rowland en-
s.,
K eth; he came out at once and
closed this door between the rooms.
So they saw us leave her at two
forty"
Rankin nodded. Had they anv
dea in advance that It was she who
would be Mr.. Rowiand's leading
witness against them2 That is, be-
5ore she arrived today? Was her
name mentioned, for instance. in
your written defense?"
Mr.. Trumbull's forehead wrin-
Iled in frown Of uncertaintv and
No, the answer | filed was pure
y formal and withheld all the es-
'tential details. Ard considering
he nature Of Mrs Keith's evidence,
don't believe his wife was III a
position to learn her IDENTIFY"
Continued Next Weax