The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe

by Gardner Erle Stanley

“From someone in New Orleans?”

“That’s right.”

“And an insurance company had offered a reward for the recovery of it?”

“Yes,” Sergeant Holcomb said shortly.

“And you, as one of the discoverers, have claimed a part of that reward?”

“Yes.”

“How much of the reward?”

“Objection to as incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial,” Sampson said. “It doesn’t go to show the interest or bias of the witness — in this case in the least.”

“Sustained,” Judge Barnes ruled.

Once more, Mason appeared nettled. “When you examined the premises, Sergeant,” he said, “immediately following the discovery of Mr. Cullens’ body, you found that a fuse had been blown out.”