The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-11
Chapter 43
Bungled Confessions

Bungled Confessions
ID OBERTS," asked Mr.. Dodson,
IN will you check Miss Dun
bars statement with the confess
sion? And now, Miss Dun b a r,
please tell us how you killed Mrs.
Benedict"
with the dart, of course" said
Alice. CT stabbed her."
eyes, we know, ut tell us what
you did before that. What passed
between you and Mrs. Benedict
when you first went to her room,
and any other details that led up
to the-er, killing"
Alice had that scared-rabbit
look again and / thought, She is
right, they should not torture her
this way. After all. she had made
a confession. "Oh," she cried. cts
all there in that paper. I've told
it once. I won't 60 through it
again"
as this necessary" Bob de-
manded holly. "My sister COM
mitted no murder. Any confession
obtained from her under stress is
without value"
what did you say when you
went into Mrs. Benedict's room,
Miss Dunbar" Mr.. Dodson asked
quietly.
II told her she had to stay out
of my brothers life," said Alice.
Then the words came tumbling
out, Il said / knew something that
would stop her alimony if | told
her husband. She said she would
kill me if / told him. She started
toward me, and | grabbed up the
dart and stabbed her with it and
she fell back on the chaise lounge.
IL killed her in self-defense."
Roberts" asked Mr.. Dodson,
docs that statement check with
Miss Dunbar's previous one?"
mo, sir, the conversation is diff.
ferent and in her previous state
ment Miss Dunbar makes no men
ton that Mrs. Benedict made any
move toward an attack. She says
that Mrs Benedict just laughed
at her when she told Mrs. Benedict
to stay out of her brothers life.
She says Mrs Benedict told her
she miss Dunbar) had no attrac-
tion for men. Besides. Mrs. Bene-
dict was struck while lying down
on the sofa in a more or less re-
Taxed position"
"You are all just trying to
tangle me up," Alice spit out the
words, her eyes rowing from one
10 the other
There was moment OF waiting
silence. Then Claire spoke up.
"Ifs all right" she said. Don't
badger her any more. Alice didn't
do It, She couldn't have. because
because / did it,"
Sternly. Lieutenant Gregory's
voice rose above the confused bab-
bic which followed this startling
announcement. why didn't you
admit this when questioned ear
her, Miss Harper" he asked
Claire looked at him appealing
ly and, even in the face of all the
circumstances which may prevail
against her. it is remarkable how
appealing a beautiful woman can
be | was sorry Mr.. Dodson could
not see her. Because" she said,
Il did not know that anyone else
would be accused. But naturally
cannot let--Alice--suffer in my
place"
Don't pay any attention to her,
Officer" Kirk ordered. "It's i'm
possible She couldn't have done
Lieutenant Gregory turned on
him with that look of a tiger ready
to spring. "And why not?"
Kinks mouth dropped open and
he stared at Lieutenant Gregory,
obviously at a loss. "Why-why.
because 1t is impossible" he said
finally.
Call TO Order
MY witness" MIR Dodson no.
Ifi htelv called the situation to
oruer, ana Lieutenant Gregory
settled back into his chair unwill-
ingly. Miss Harper" Mr.. Dodson
asked, "will you please tell us
how you killed Mrs. Benedict?"
II was Claire's turn to look
blank, then she frightened and
said, u prefer not to discuss the
details now, don't have to, do /,
Mr.. Marshall?"
Mr.. Marshall cleared his throat.
heSitated and Claire. cheeks
flushed. raced on, isn't 1t enough
that IL killed her? will make
a statement later through my--my
lawyers. OF course, killed her in
self-defenSe, but my lawyers can
60 into all that. Now, can't we 60
homer"
In way, II was all just like
Claire, 10 think that even the con.
sequences of murder could be ar
ranged to suit her convenience. In
another way, il didn't sound at all
rs should have imagined Claire
would react to such circum-
stances But evidently both Bob
and Kirk believed her, There was,
however, subtle difference in
their expressions. Boh'S. Ii seemed
to me, was all horror. while that
% NAAA was a HltNtuEe OF anguish
and compassion.
You wish 20 sign 2 comics
sionG Lieutenant Gregory asked
impersonally
"No," cried Bob anc Kirk In
u. .isor.
No" said Mr.. DodSon. II want
you 70 tell us first how you killed
Mrs. Benedict"
"She Didn't kill her Kirk burst
Out.
DO you really know something
about this case, Mr.. pierces" NJ.
DodSoa asked mildly.
Kirk lost his belligercnt look.
Yes he said slowly. Enough ]
killed Eve Benedict
Your notive9s