The Benson Murder Case · Chapter
III: A Lady's Handbag explained
Officer McLaughlin reports seeing a grey Cadillac outside Benson's house around midnight.
What happens
Officer McLaughlin reports seeing a grey Cadillac outside Benson's house around midnight. Vance examines cigarette butts, deducing the owner of a found handbag is a brunette. The handbag, monogrammed 'M. St.C.', contains a cigarette-case, perfume, compact, lipstick, handkerchief, and a latchkey. Heath and Markham plan to trace the owner.
Themes in this chapter
Psychological Detection vs. Conventional Policing
Vance's observation of lip rouge and makeup contrasts with Heath's conventional evidence gathering.
Class, Sophistication, and Elitism
The handbag's fine gold mesh, sapphire catch, and luxury brands highlight the victim's and suspect's high social standing.
Appearance vs. Reality
Vance's casual demeanor masks keen deductive skills, while the handbag's elegant appearance conceals clues to a crime.
Characters to notice
- Philo Vance
Examines cigarette butts and the handbag's contents, deducing the owner is a brunette based on makeup products.
- Ernest Heath
Leads the investigation at the scene, initially hostile to Vance but later appreciative of his observations.
- John Markham
Oversees the investigation, questions Officer McLaughlin, and examines the handbag's contents.
- Anna Platz
Benson's housekeeper who reported the murder; mentioned as being watched upstairs.
- Muriel St. Clair
Implied owner of the handbag monogrammed 'M. St.C.'; not yet formally introduced.
Key passages
“I see she uses 'Rachel' powder and Guerlain's dark lipstick. And it simply isn't done among blondes, old dear.”
Vance deduces the handbag owner is a brunette based on her choice of makeup.
Vance uses cosmetic knowledge to identify the suspect's hair color.
“It's a lady's cigarette, all right. It looks as though it might have been smoked in a holder, too.”
Heath observes the cigarette is typical of a woman and may have been used with a holder.
Heath's initial assessment of the cigarette evidence.
“Putting his forefinger deep into the case, he drew out a small cigarette which had evidently been wedged flat along the bottom of the pocket.”
Vance finds a hidden cigarette in the case, proving the butts match the case's contents.
Vance demonstrates the cigarettes came from the found case.