Characters of the story by Van Dine Philo Vance
A list of characters in Charles Van Dine's Philo Vance mystery. NYCounty District Attorney John F X Markham, Alvin Benson murder victim, Major Benson, Mrs. Platz, Muriel St Clair, Captain Leacock, Leander Pfyfe, Elsie Hoffman, Paula Banning, Colonel Bigsby Ostrander, Alderman Moriarty, George Stitt, Maurice Dinwiddie, Ernest Heath, Burke Snitkin Emery, Ben Hanlon, Phelps Tracy Springer Higginbotham, Captain Carl Hagedorn, Dr Doremus, Frank Swacker, Currie, and Van Dine as narrator.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philo Vance
John FX
Markham
New York County
Alvin H. Benson
Wall Street
Anthony Benson
Anna Platz
Alvin Benson
Muriel ST. Clair
Philip Leacock
Miss St. Clair
Leander Pfyfe
Elsie Hoffman
Paula Banning
Pfyfe’s
Benson and Benson
Bigsby Ostrander
William H. Moriarty
George G. Stitt
Stitt and McCoy
Maurice Dinwiddie
Ernest Heath
Burke, Snitkin, Emery
Ben Hanlon
Phelps, Tracy, Springer
Higginbotham
Carl Hagedorn
Doremus
Frank Swacker
Currie
Vence
van Dine
Woman's gloves and handbag linked to Miss St Clair in Benson murder
Ben Benson's murder scene yields gloves and a handbag traced to Miss St Clair. She gives flippant answers but shows concern when Colt-45 gun links to Leacock. Markham questions, Vance declares the girl's innocence with certainty.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Benson
Markham
Miss St. Clair
Leacock
Vance
Motives and Opportunity in Crime Debate
In dialogue, characters argue motives are universal and unreliable, while temperament and opportunity drive crime. They discuss disguising motives, false alibis, and the ease of creating or hiding opportunities, citing examples from murder cases and fictional references.
The Psychology of Crime and the Murder Mystery
The dialogue critiques criminal theories from Lombroso to modern psychology, mocking the idea that guilt is detectable by gadgets or signs. It cites Chesterton and Goring, notes criminal careers often start young, and argues murder will out only in rare cases, urging caution toward sensational methods.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vance
Sumner
Authors’ League
Markham
Sunday Supplement
Lombroso
Yellow Journals
Ted
du Bois
Karl Pearson
Goring
Chaucer
Mordre
Shakespeare
Markhame
G. K. Chesterton
Father Brown
Pearson and Goring
England
Sir Basil Thomason
Metropolitan Police
London
Saturday Evening Post
Retired Merchant Endorses Herb Extract Remedy
A Raleigh North Carolina retiree Mr. Spence describes Miller's Herb Extract as a reconstructive tonic and laxative that improved his health after years of decline. He notes better bowel function digestion appetite sleep and energy and urges others to try the medicine which he says is made from natural herbs and widely sold.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Miller
Spence
Raleign
N. C
Salisbury Street
Mr. Spence
Advi
Wiley Potts Arrested on Whiskey Charge Near Advance
Federal Agent J F Ratledge reports Wiley Potts of near Advance was arrested in Greensboro after four gallons of liquor were found in a stone jug near his home. Potts was held for trial in the Salisbury district court following surveillance as he approached to bottle whiskey.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Greensboro
Potts
Also Mentioned on This Page
Charles Scribners Sons
Stewart- Warner
Fried Eiseman
Grebe
Crosley
Murdock
Arborphone
Hart Drug Co
E. T. Spence
Perkins
South Main St
Jcpenneyco
Soisette
Bolivia
Filet
Nottingham
Priscilla
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!