Page:The Benson Murder Case (1926).pdf/312

 was a serious, good-looking, well-dressed youth in his late twenties—not at all my idea of an alderman—, and he spoke clear and precise English with almost no trace of the Bronx accent.

Markham introduced him, and briefly explained why he had been requested to call.

"One of the men from the Homicide Bureau," answered Moriarty, "was asking me about the matter, only yesterday."

"We have the report," said Vance, "but it's a bit too general. Will you tell us exactly what you did that night after you met Colonel Ostrander?"

"The Colonel had invited me to dinner and the Follies. I met him at the Marseilles at ten. We had dinner there, and went to the Piccadilly a little before twelve, where we remained until about two-thirty. I walked to the Colonel's apartment with him, had a drink and a chat, and then took the subway home about three-thirty."

"You told the detective yesterday you sat in a box at the theatre."

"That's correct."

"Did you and the Colonel remain in the box throughout the performance?"

"No. After the first act a friend of mine came to the box, and the Colonel excused himself and went to the wash-room. After the second act, the Colonel and I stepped outside into the alley-way and had a smoke."

"What time, would you say, was the first act over?"

"Twelve-thirty or thereabouts."

"And where is this alley-way situated?" asked