The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-04

~ LO"AA, JNS, oSAS CO
Lieutenant Gregory and I don't
think any of us missed his mean
ing, for it was plain to see that
he did not expect US all to 60 back
to our accustomed habitats.
"All right" he said, glancing
around the group, 1--WE can take a
little recess now. But everybody
must stay within call-that is, in
the house. And by the way, Mrs.
Stuart" he added, as the general
exodus began. may I speak to
you a moment?"
Bill remained with me, of
course, and, when the room was
clear Lieutenant Gregory said,
"In your testimony a little while
ago, you said Mrs. Benedict init
mated that she knew who COM
mitted the first murder?"
"She did," / admitted. but"
II did not press the point" he
interrupted, ito ask whether she
actually gave you any idea of her
suspicious or possible knowledge.
I-er-had a reason for this. But
first, please repeat to Roberts as
much of your conversation with
Mrs. Benedict as you remember. y
"But that's ALL" ] said. "She
simply limited at things, and when
/ tried to get her to be definite
she began to hedge and said she
might be mistaken" ur3 tt'
"Just what did she say ex-
actly?"
Recess
II BELIEVE she said something
Il to the effect that she wanted
to get things straight in her own
mind, or that she wanted to check
up on something. / cannot remem-
Der exactly, because at the time
| got the impression she was only
giving herself airs. She always
liked to appear important"
TOO bad you didn't make her
60 into detail" said Lieutenant
Gregory.
But / did try" told him
again, "and when she shut up I
told her it was her duty to tell
the police what she knew"
"Why didn't you tell me this
when first came? l could have
had her down for questioning i'm
mediately."
II - naturally, thought you
would wish to conduct your in
vestigation in your own way. That
you would question her yourself
and"
Nov. now" said Bill. reading
my mind as he so often does.
Don't you 60 getting any idea
you are responsible for Ewes
death. Whoever killed her had
good and sufficient reason"
"But there is just possibility"
Lieutenant Gregory went on.
"that she was killed because she
knew too much The chances are
more than good. however. that
her murder had nothing to do
with Mrs. Ambler's DEATH"
"But it seems perfectly logical
that the same person committed
both crimes" Mr.. Marshall ar
gued. AFTER all, there cannot be
a house full of murderers running
looked back over his shoulder as
though he expected an assassin
to appear from behind the am
bush of the wing chair.
Il don't see it chat way" said
the officer stubbornly. "True,
when a man or a woman has
killed one time, it is much easier
to kill again. And. after all, you
can die only once, no matter
how many crimes you commit.
But usually a murderer follows
pretty much the same technique
IN his activities. And usually all
his murders can be traced to the
same motive. That's why / think
these were committed by different
people and probably amateurs az
that. II you will analyze the two
cases. you will see that there is
no apparent connection. Mrs.
Amber was strangled TO death.
believe monetary gain to be
the motive. But Mrs. Benedict
was stabbed, and the only motive
we have been able to uncover so
far is personal dislike"
But If she were killed to cover
up on the first murder. you would
need no other motive" Mr.. Mar
shall told him.
II admit that, But there is an
other reason why I do not believe
the two crimes were committed
by the same person. Mrs. Ambler's
death was the result of cold call
culation. But Mrs. Benedict was
killed while the police were in
the house. No one. except in the
heat of passion, would take such
chance"
81 believe" said Mr.. Dodson.
"that he was taking what he be-
lieved 70 be the lesser OF two
chances"
"He2" asked Bill quickly.
Just convenient pronoun."
MFR. Dodson smiled.
Thought perhaps you had
reached some definite conclusion"
Bill explained, his feathers visibly
dropping.
HE probably has" said Mr..
Marshall. That's why ! feel we
should give him all the coOpera-
ton we can.
''Of course, can guarantee
nothing" Mr.. rodson deprecated.
"If ven have definite suspicious.
you should say so" Lieutenant
Gregory told him Grossly.
Don't ask me 20 commit myself
yes II viii be better for all con-
cerned II I keep my own counsel.
And even IL my suspicious are