The present chronicle has to do with Vance’s solution of the notorious Benson murder which, due to the unexpectedness of the crime, the prominence of the persons involved, and the startling evidence adduced, was invested with an interest rarely surpassed in the annals of New York’s criminal history.
This sensational case was the first of many in which Vance figured as a kind of amicus curiæ in Markham’s investigations.
S. S. Van Dine.
New York.
CHAPTER I. PHILO VANCE AT HOME
CHAPTER II. AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
CHAPTER III. A LADY’S HAND-BAG
CHAPTER IV. THE HOUSEKEEPER’S STORY
CHAPTER V. GATHERING INFORMATION
CHAPTER VI. VANCE OFFERS AN OPINION
CHAPTER VII. REPORTS AND AN INTERVIEW
CHAPTER VIII. VANCE ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE
CHAPTER IX. THE HEIGHT OF THE MURDERER
CHAPTER X. ELIMINATING A SUSPECT
CHAPTER XI. A MOTIVE AND A THREAT
CHAPTER XII. THE OWNER OF A COLT-.45
CHAPTER XIII. THE GREY CADILLAC
CHAPTER XIV. LINKS IN THE CHAIN
CHAPTER XVI. ADMISSIONS AND SUPPRESSIONS
CHAPTER XVII. THE FORGED CHECK
CHAPTER XIX. VANCE CROSS-EXAMINES
CHAPTER XXI. SARTORIAL REVELATIONS
CHAPTER XXII. VANCE OUTLINES A THEORY
CHAPTER XXIII. CHECKING AN ALIBI
CHAPTER XXV. VANCE EXPLAINS HIS METHODS
CHARACTERS OF THE BOOK
Philo Vance
John F.-X. Markham
District Attorney of New York County.
Alvin H. Benson
Well-known Wall Street broker and man-about-town, who was mysteriously murdered in his home.
Major Anthony Benson
Brother of the murdered man.
Mrs. Anna Platz
Housekeeper for Alvin Benson.
Muriel St. Clair
A young singer.
Captain Philip Leacock
Miss St. Clair’s fiancé.
Leander Pfyfe
Intimate friend of Alvin Benson’s.
Mrs. Paula Banning
A friend of Leander Pfyfe’s.
Elsie Hoffman
Secretary of the firm of Benson and Benson.
Colonel Bigsby Ostrander
A retired army officer.
William H. Moriarty
An alderman, Borough of the Bronx.
Jack Prisco
Elevator-boy at the Chatham Arms.
George G. Stitt
Of the firm of Stitt and McCoy, Public Accountants.
Maurice Dinwiddie
Assistant District Attorney.
Chief Inspector O’Brien
Of the Police Department of New York City.
William M. Moran
Commanding Officer of the Detective Bureau.
Ernest Heath
Sergeant of the Homicide Bureau.
Burke
Detective of the Homicide Bureau.
Snitkin
Detective of the Homicide Bureau.
Emery
Detective of the Homicide Bureau.
Ben Hanlon
Commanding Officer of Detectives assigned to District Attorney’s office.
Phelps
Detective assigned to District Attorney’s office.
Tracy
Detective assigned to District Attorney’s office.
Springer
Detective assigned to District Attorney’s office.
Higginbotham
Detective assigned to District Attorney’s office.
Captain Carl Hagedorn
Fire-arms expert.
Dr. Doremus
Medical Examiner.
Francis Swacker
Secretary to the District Attorney.
Currie
Vance’s valet.
CHAPTER I
PHILO VANCE