The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-18

l
tween him and Margie Shannon?
Remember my words: is 1t TOO
absurd to suppose that this same
murderous jealousy extended to
the man who spent so much time
with her?'"
I nodded. He laid down the
manuscript and filled his pipe.
When he had it going he said, Il
won't read any more of this now,
but we can discuss what's in 1t in
the light of what we know now.
I believe that Flint, attending the
trial of Janice Fowler, heard
Wrenn testify and recognized his
voice: that he told Wrenn what he
knew and demanded money; and
when his demands got too heavy
Wrenn went out with him IN his
car and murdered him"
and you think it was Flint who
was spying on us the night we were
at Wrenn's studio?" asked.
eyes"
But how about Saul MITCHELL"
Cropsy demanded.
Brant shrugged. "a queer char
acter. from what I can gather,
and not above suspicion. Mitchell
would fit if Flint did not fit so
much better. And Mitchell GER
tainly had the opportunity to muir
der Miss Shannon if he had so de.
sired. But when your baIliSticS
expert finishes his examination OF
Wrenn's gun I think he'll tell you
it was the same one that killed
Pink Flint; and, presently, I'm
going to tell you how Wrenn
could have murdered Margie Shan.
non, even though he was sup
posed to have been at home in bed.
Threat Of Publicity
Forced DenOuement
when I learned today that
Nelson Rinehart's name was to
be made public and that he had
threatened to commit suicide, ]
saw the possibility Of forcing
Wrenn to play out his hand. If
my theory was correct, Wrenn
hated Rinehart and had hoped
the murder of Margie Shannon
would be fastened on him. With
the new turn of events, circum-
stances at last were playing
right into Wrenn's hands, Tor
Rinehart's suicide would be re
garded as a tacit confession OF
his guilt. If Wrenn had not
stopped at murder twice before,
would he hesitate now with the
particular object Of his hatred
already on record with a threat
to end his own life? Further
more, by shooting Rinehart with
the same gun he had used to
murder Flint and then leaving
it beside him, evidence that the
supposed suicide was Flint's
murderer would be plain. How,
then, doubt that Rinehart had
killed the girl too?
That" said Brant. with a
glance at me, was why / in
sisted on seeing Wrenn today
so he could know about Rine-
hart's scheduled arrest and his
threat. The rest you know"
But Wrenn's ahbi'" I re-
Let's go GO over that alibi. The
colored boy on the desk in
Wrenn's apartment testified that
the artist had come in that
night before ten-thirty and had
not left again. He said he knew
that Wrenn had gone to bed,
because at eleven or a little
after Wrenn telephoned him to
bring some cigarets upstairs, and
when the boy delivered them
Wrenn was taking a shower bath
and told him to get the money
out of his trousers which were
lying on a chair in the bedroom.
That is our evidence that Wrenn
was in bed at the time OF the
murder"
"All right" said Cropsy. "But
how could he have left the
building? The boy operated the
only elevator, remember, and
even if Wrenn had gone down
the stairs he'd have had to pass
the desk to get out. And if he
got out of the building, how did
he get in? He was there the
next morning. The day bow saw
him go out"
You've forgotten that there's
a side door leading out to the.
driveway"
mo haven't, either. But that's
kept bolted at night"
Exactly. Something of which.
Wrenn was well aware. He came
down the stairs, unbolted the side
door, went about his business, re-
turned, bolted the door and went
upstairs again"
Cropsy snorted. With the boy
looking at him? The desk COM
mandS a view of the stairs"
But not Of the door to the
driveway" Brant said patiently.
The turn in the stairs hides it.
Now listen. When the boy left
Wrenn's rooms the artist alJeady
was on his way downstairs. All
he had to do was to descend two
flights and then short turn and
step and he was at the side door. !"
But the man was taking a
shower" Calhoun put in. What
did he do-go out on murder bent
attired in his birthday suit?"
He was no more taking a
shower than he was in bed" said
Brant positively. Come on;
We'll go out to the apartment and
talk to the elevator boy now. You
don't mind driving us out, do you,
Calhoun?"