Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-05
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on me edge of Ha ,.sa'y1,,S desk ak HIS HIS
On, thumped against The polished sides OF
2 desk as DE looked al he District Attorney
Well how about 1T" he gnnned. Want
- give II a Whirl
Its ridiculous Abel said Halliday He
was tired IN need Of a shave. and more than
a little irritable. The remains Of sandwich
and an emptied pot Of coffee were still on his
desk and Tie ashtray was piled high with
haif-smoked cigarette butts If the papers
ever got wind of an affair like that. they'd
AXE my skin off an inch az time. Think
L over Halliday stages mock murder at
scene " crime or some such rubbish"
It's not mock murder insisted Wheems.
It's sort Of a rehearsal You know as well
as ] that many a perfectly written script
develops dozen flaws when 1t goes into re-
hearsa. 10 matter how wen the playwright
strings his words together. when the actors
walk through their lines there's flock of
mistakes and holes IN the action. And if it's
true on the stage why not equally true in
life o."
oh 4see-the- point of your argument, "
said Halliday But too many things could
haTpeu
That's exactly what I say Plenty can
happen Wen get the same crowd around
,hat liable walk through the whole scene
again and again. until we find the flaw. When
sre f.ad that we find the murderer"
Halliday laughed shortly and tossed an
empty cigarette package into the waste
basket Wheens found the usual crumpled
pack in his coat pocket and offered it to the
District Attorney. Halliday grunted and ac-
copied twisted and forlon-appearing
cigarette ut IT and blew a cloud of smoke
al the ceiling
It's all good but for one thing" he said.
You seem to forget 1 have signed con-
fession from Rock What about that ?"
Wheems pointed to the partially consumed
sandwich on the desk Wrap that thing up
IN your confession and drop them both out
of the window Neither one is worth saving"
You're sure Rock couldn't have done it ?"
Positive. II show You one mistake
In Rocks confession will you agree with
ME
Gladly" grllnted Halliday I'm fact
If you've found hole in it and don't tell
me. I'm apt to toss you into cell and-let
you think it over
That's what comes Of messing
around with politicians said !
Wheems mournfuy I'll save
YOU the trouble Tom The mistake
Is simply tina, Rock didn't think
we would catch up with the ays-
ferrous lady of the ThrtyThree"
And did you ."
Yeah an hour ago. She's a II
stage-stuIck dame by the name of
Lola Barton Plenty of money but II
a little cracked on the theatre IL
angle Wants to be an actress and
ali that sort Of bunk. Thad a talk
with her and she agreed to show Ii
up at the Thirty-Three at 10 III
o'clock tonight She'll play her III
part Now. how about it, II
NAIL right Abel" he said Il
n thoughtfully It's a FOOLS n
trick but wen try it. Not that
ven gel anywhere, mind you he
added hastily But I've hit
peculiar angle one that puts
Arthur Preeble IN bad light" He
opened a desk drawer and picked
up a set of papers He thumbed through
them and glanced at Wheems. Donovan has
been doing some checkup work. He's found
some very interesting sidelights on our friend
Preehe
Is that so ." said Wheems /Whats the
Dirt Preeble been up for nun der before -
Not quite that bad. but he spent over a
year in a santarium for mentaF 6ases~eIt APP
pears Therese Blandon had been riding Preeble
with a rough rein for five years. over long
period Of time such as that Preeble's mind
may have jumped a few kinks, with the result
that took place at the Thrty-Three. If he is
still bit off you can gamble we're up
against a tough proposition, I've run into
these partially unbalanced birds before and
their minds can turn out a plot that's prac-
ucally unbeatable
Did voa have Preeble searched before
You locked him up 90
OF course al of them were searched
Any luck Find poison, anything 90
Nothing any more potent than box OF
aspirin"
Who had that o" asked Wheems quickly
Preeble But it's been analysed and it's
Just what It's supposed to be
"Preebe had IT, eh o." said Wheems. He
was thoughtful for a moment What hap
pens % tho things taken from suspects2".
They're sealed IN envelopes and returned
after the trial # the person is acquitted
Money leweiry- pocket-knives all such arti
c.es are put away in safe-keeping There's
"a envelope with Therese Blandons prop
erty IN it, and that too is held until after
trial"
"She was wearing quite a bit Of lewelry
II I remember correctly SAID Wheems Lets