# III: A Lady's Handbag explained — The Benson Murder Case

> Chapter companion for The Benson Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/iii-a-lady-s-handbag
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters