Thursday. J u n e 2, 1938
WkWtk THK -
a KIDNAP MHDER4
S.S.Van Dine
FINAL INSTALLMENT
'"I want you to go home and
have a good sleep . . . And. by
the by, Sergeant, how about
rounding everybody up and ln
vttin' them to the Purple House
tomorrow, around noon?" he ask-
ed. "I'm speakln' of Fleel, Ken
yon Kenting, and Quaggy. Mrs.
£ Falloway and her son will, I'm
be there, in any event."
• • •
We arrived at the Kenting res
idence, Vance driving us there in
his car, fifteen minutes before
noon. Weem took our hats and
made a surly gesture toward the
i f drawing room. Sergeant Heath
\ and Snitkin were already there,
jr A little later Fleel and Kenyon
Kenting arrived together, follow
ed almost Immediately by Porter
Quaggy. They had barely seated
themselves when old Mrs. Fallo
way, supported by her son Fraim,
came down the front stairs and
joined us.
A "I'm so anxious about Made
laine," Mrs. Falloway said. "How
is she, Mr. Vance?"
"Mrs. Kenting is doing even
better today than I would have
expected. I can assure you that
she will be home in two or three
days, fully recovered and in her
\ normal mind.
■ V "And I imagine she will have a
| most interestin' tale to unfold. Y'
know, it was not intended that
\ she return.
| "The truth is, this was not a
kidnapping case at all. The au
thorities were expected to accept
A it in that light, but the murderer
jb made too many errors—his fault
■ lay in trying to be excessively
clever.
"There is no doubt whatever
v that Kaspar Kenting made an ap
* pointment for the early morning
hours, after he had returned from
his evening's entertainment at
the casino with Mr. Quaggy.
"When Kaspar left this house
. early Wednesday morning, he was
■L met at the appointed place not
f by the person with whom he had
made his appointment, but by
others whom he had never seen
*ll before. They struck him over the
head before he so much as real
* ized that anything was amiss,
' threw him Into a coupe, and then
drove off with him to the East
' River and disposed of him, hoping
he would not be found too soon.
It was straight, brutal murder.
And the persons who committed
that murder had been hired for
that purpose and had been in
structed accordingly. You will |
understand that the plotter at
the source never intended any
thing less than murder for the
victim—since there was grave risk
in letting him live to point an ac
cusing finger later . . . The slen
der Chinaman—the lobby-gow of
t the gang—then returned to the
house here, placed the ladder
A against the window—it had been
f left here previously for just that
; purpose entered the room
A. through the window, and set the
stage according to instructions,
taking the toothbrush, the comb,
and the pajamas, and pinning the
note to the window-sill, generally
leaving mute but spurious Indi
cations that Kaspar Kenting had
»■"* kidnapped himself in order to
collect the money he needed to
straighten out his debts.
"So far the plot was working
nicely. The first set-back oc
curred after the arrival in the
mail of the ransom note with the
instructions to take the money to
the tree. The scheme of the mur
derer to collect the money from
the tree was thwarted, makin'
necess'ry further steps. The same
day Mrs. Kenting was approach
ed for an appointment, perhaps
with a promise of news of her
husband—obviously by someone
she trusted, for she went out alone
at ten o'clock that night to keep
the appointment. She was await
ed —possibly just Inside Central
Park—by the same hard gentle
men who had done away with
■r , her husband. But Instead of meet-
Mging with the same fate as Kaspar
HKenting, she was taken to the
■house on Lord street I visited last
and held there as a sort
■pi hostage. I rather imagine, y'
Hcnow, that the perpetrator of this
scheme had not yet been
■r able to pay the price demanded
■' for the neat performance of Kas
par's killing, thereby irking the
k hired assassins. The lady was,
so to speak, a threat held over
■ one criminal by another criminal
who was a bit more clever.
"Poor Kaspar! He was a weak
chappie, and the price for his own
murder was being wangled out of
him without his realizing It.
Through the gem collection of old
Karl Kenting, of course. He was
depleting that collection regular
ly at the subtle instigation of
someone else, someone who took
the gems and gave him practical
ly nothing campared to what they
were actually worth, hopin' to
turn them over at an outrageous
profit. But semi-precious stones
are not so easy to dispose of
through Illegitimate channels. A
shady transaction of this nature
would naturally require time, and
the now-defunct henchmen who
were waiting for settlement were
becoming annoyed. Most of the
really valuable stones, which I
am sure the collection contain
ed originally, were no longer there
when I glanced over the cases the
other morning. I am quite cer
tain that the balas-ruby I found
in the poor fellow's dinner coat
tsras brought back because the
purchaser would not give him
what he thought it was worth—
m
Kaspar probably mistook the
stone for a real ruby. There were
black opals missing from the col
lection, also exhibits of jade,
which Karl Kenting must un
doubtedly have included in the
collection, and yesterday morning
the absence of a large piece of
alexandrite was discovered—"
Fraim Falloway suddenly leap
ed to his feet, glaring at Vance
with the eyes of a maniac.
"I didn't do it!" he screamed
hysterically. "I didn't have Kas
par killed! I tell you I didn't—
I didn't! And you think I'd hurt
Madelalne! You're a devil. I
didn't do it, I say! You have no
right to accuse me." He reached
down quickly and picked up a
small, but heavy, bronze statue
of Antinous on the table beside
him.
Snitkin, standing just behind
Fraim Falloway's chair, leaned
over and deftly manacled the
youth.
"Really, Mr. Falloway," Vance
admonished in a soothing voice,
"you shouldn't handle heavy ob
jects when you're in that frame
of mind. Frightfully sorry. But
just sit still and relax.
"As I was sayin', the disappear
ance of the stones from the col
lection was an Indication of the
identity of the murderer, for the
simple reason that the hirin' of
thugs and the underground dis
posal of these gems quite obvious
ly suggested that the same type
of person was involved in both
endeavors: to wit, both procedures
implied a connection with under
cover characters—fences and as
sassins. The two notes yesterday
were highly enlightenin'. One of
them was obviously concocted for
effect; the other was quite gen
uine. But boldness—usually a
Endorsed By Citizens In Every Walk of Life!
IVIE for SOLICITOR
21st JUDICIAL DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY JUNE 4th
O A T What others of Allan D - Ivie » Jr -—° f His Character, His Education, His Fit-
IX C x \ mJ • ness and Qualifications for this Office
• IVlEasa
Democrat
During my term as Chairman of,
the Democratic Executive Com
mittee of Rockingham County,
Mr. A. D. Ivie of Leaksville was,
without reward, a loyal and active
worker in the Democratic party
and at all times supported and
fully cooperated in waging the
Party's campaigns. He never fail
ed to respond to a request for
service in behalf of the Demo
cratic party.
J. C. BROWN.
Former Chmn. Rockingham Co,
Democratic Executive Committee.
• IVIE as a Man
Allan Ivie has been known to
me for over twenty-five years. I
knew and admired and loved his
father, Hon. Allan Denny I\«ie,
and I feel the same toward Allan.
His father was a noble and able
servant of his community, his
state and his Ood. I believe Allan
has shown himself to be imbued
with the same spirit in all his re
lationships. I am convinced he
is the kind of man needed in
public office today and that he
will serve with ability, devotion,
sympathetic understanding and
fairness in any office to which
he may be called.
(Rev.) Wm. J. Gordon.
• IVIE as a Young
Man
Allan Ivie, who graduated from
Leaksville High school In 1924,
made a splendid record as a stu
dent. He is studious, capable and
dependable. As a student, he was
always trustworthy and faithful
to every duty.
I feel sure he will be eminent
ly successful in any work he may
undertake, and that he will per-
• IVIE as a
Prosecutor
(By one whom he prosecuted)
"Allen Ivie, when Solicitor
of the Recorder's Court prose
cuted and convicted me before
a jury. He fought my case hard
but did H courteously and
fairly and I have had more re
spect for the law sfaooe. He is
a gentleman even when he is
against you." (This is only one
of many such expressions.)
THE ELKIN TRIBUNE, ELKIN, NORTH CAROLINA
good technique—was, in this case,
seen through."
"Referrin' again to the various
ransom notes, they were dictated
by the plotter of Kaspar's mur
der—that Is, all but the one re
ceiver by Mr. Fleel yesterday—
and they were couched In such
language that they could be
shown to the authorities in order
to side-track suspicion from the
actual culprit and at the same
time Impress Mr. Kenyon Kenting
with the urgent necessity of rais
ing the fifty thousand I
had two statements as to the
amount of money which Kaspar
himself was demanding for his
debts—one, an honest report of
fifty thousand dollars; the other,
no doubt a stupidly concocted tale
of thirty thousand dollars—again
obviously for the purpose of di
verting suspicion from the person
connected with the crime."
"The second note received by
Mr. Fleel, was not. as I have al
ready Intimated, one of the series
written at the instructions of the
guilty man—it was a genuine
document adddresed to him, and
the recipient felt that he not only
could use It to have the ransom
money paid over to him, but to
disarm once more any suspicion
that might be springing up In the
minds of the authorities. It did
not occur to him that the ad
dress, cryptically written in for
his eyes alone, could be Inter
preted by another."
He turned slowly to Fleel again
and met the other's smirk with
a cold smile.
"When I suspected you, Nfr.
Fleel," he said, "I sent you from
the District Attorney's office
Thursday before Mr. Markham
and I came here, in order to veri
fy my expectation that you would
form honestly and conscientiously
the duties of any position he may
hold.
C. H. Weatherly,
Principal Leaksville
High School
• IVIE as a Boy
My dear Allen,
As your first teacher it gives
me a great deal of pleasure to
write a short letter testifying to
the genuine worth and ability that
has marked your life since I have
first known you. ,
As a first grade pupil when you
entered my classroom at the ten
der age of six, I was struck with
your superior mental capacity—
far above the average child of
such tender years. While, of
course, you did the mechanical
part of the first grade work along
with the other children, you show
ed a wonderful pre-school train
ing and a far greater knowledge
of life, nature, history and litera
ture, together with a sense of
sportsmanship, fair play and the
manners of a young Chesterfield.
It has been my pleasure to
watch your career on through the
years in high school and college
where you graduated with honors,
and later as a gifted young law
yer—the youngest ever to be ad
mitted to the bar in Rockingham
county.
I feel exceedingly proud and
happy that I had even a small
part in your early training. You
have reflected much credit on
your lovely parents and teachers,
and your many loyal friends
throughout the District are de
lighted to support you for the
Solicitorship, and I feel sure that
you will bring honor and dignity
to the high office to which you
aspire, and I, among many others,
with all my heart, wish you a full
measure of success.
You know how much I admired
your splendid father, not only for
his brilliant intellect but for his
spirituality, as well, and I have
always 1 regarded your lovely
mother as one of my good friends.
You have a wonderfully fine heri
tage, and I am happy that you
are carrying on the tradition «f
your family.
With kindest regards and best
wishes for your continued success,
I remain always
Your sincere friend,
(and first teacher)
Annie Hundley
urge Mr. Kenyon Renting to re
quest that all police interference
be eliminated. This you did, and
when I learned of It, after arriv
ing here with Mr. Markham, I
definitely objected the proposal
and counteracted your influence
on Mr. Renting so that you could
not get the money safely that
night. Seeing that part of your
plan hopelessly falling, you clev
erly changed your attitude and
agreed to act for us—at my re
quest through Sergeant Heath—
as the person to place the money
in the tree, and went through
with the farce in order to prove
that no connection existed be
tween you and the demand for
money. One of your henchmen
had come to Central Park to pick
up the package if everything went
according to your pre-arranged
schedule. Mr. Van Dine and I
both saw the man. When he
learned that you had not been
successful with your plans, he un
doubtedly reported your failure,
thereby throwing fear into your
hirelings that they might not be
paid—which accounts for their
keeping Mrs. Renting alive as an
effective threat to hold over you
till payment was forthcoming."
Fleel's expression did not
change.
"A very pretty theory, Mr.
Vance," he commented. "It shows
remarkable ingenuity, but it en
tirely fails to take into consider
ation the fact that I myself was
attacked by a submachine gunner
on the very night of Mrs. Rent
ing's disappearance. You have
conveniently forgotten that little
episode since it would knock the
entire foundation from under
your amusing little house of
cards."
"No. Oh, no, Mr. Fleel. Not
conveniently forgot—conveniently
remembered. Most vivid recollec
tion, don't y' know. And you
were jolly well frightened by the
attack. Surely you don't believe
your escape from any casualty
was the result of a miracle. All
quite simple, really. The gentle
man with the machine gun had
no intention whatever of perfor
ating you. His only object was
to frighten you and warn you of
exactly what to expect if you did
IVIE as a Lawyer
(From one who served 16 years as Superior Court Judge)
To the Democratic Voters of the 21st Judicial District:
My friend, Mr. Allen D. I vie, Jr., of this County, now a candidate
for the nomination for Solicitor of this district, is in my opinion
well qualified both by natural talents and legal training for this office.
Mr. I vie has been at the bar of Rockingham county for 10 years, and
during that time has appeared as counsel in many important causes,
both civil and criminal, and has ako served as solicitor of the
Recorder's Court of Leaksville.
At the bar he has distinguished himself as a fair and impartial
prosecutor, who would do his full duty in all cases without fear or
favor, and thus won the full confidence of the public. In this position
he rapidly developed into a most capable trial lawyer.
This experience and training will enable Mr. Ivle to enter into
the office of Solicitor of the district well equipped and thoroughly
competent to handle the state's business.
As a member of the bar of this county, and as presiding officer
of the Recorder's Court of Leaksville I have had the opportunity to
observe in Mr. Ivle those qualities of which I speak. I consider him
a fine type of lawyer for this position.
Henry P. Lane
• IVIE as a Student
Prom Professors Under Whom He
Studied Law at Duke University.
(Written May, 1931, upon his appointment as Solicitor of Recorders
Court)
"I knew Mr. Ivie quite well during
his residence as a student in the
undergraduate school and law school
of Duke University. It is a privilege
and a pleasure for me to commend
him as a young man of excellent
character and fine habits. In my
opinion he is in every respect a
thoroughly conscientious and de
pendable gentleman of high order.
I can heartily recommend him as a
young man worthy of the confidence
of good people."
H. J. Herring,
Assistant Dean
In support of the application of
Mr. Ivie, I take this opportunity to
advise that I knew Mr. Ivie person
ally while hte was both an under
graduate and a law student at Duke
University. I cannot speak too
strongly of the excellence of his
character and gentlemanly qualities.
I believe him to be possessed of more
than ordinary ability in the practice
of his profession. You will know
more about his success in the prac
tice of law in your locality than I
am prepared to know, but I am cer
tain from my knowledge of his
characteristics that if appointed to
the Solicitorship of the Recorder's
Court he will render the best service
of which he is capable.
I take pleasure in making this
statement in support of my friend,
whom I feel merits your careful con
sideration.
Chas. E. Jordan,
Assistant Secretary,
Duke University
not raise the money instanter to
pay for the dastardly services
rendered you. You were never
safer in your life than when that
machine-gun was sputtering away
in your general direction."
The smirk slowly IJpded from
Fleel's lips.
"Your theory, Mr. Vance," he
said angrily, "no longer has even
the merit of humor. And I wish
you to know that I greatly resent
your remarks."
"I don't regard that fact as dis
concertin', in the least," Vance
returned with a cold smile. "The
fact is, Mr. Fleel, you will be in
finitely more resentful when I
form you that at thi& very minute
certified public accountants are
at work on your books and that
the police are scrutinizing most
carefully the contents of your
safe."
For two seconds Fleel looked at
him with a serious frown. Then
he took a swift backward step
and, thrusting his hand into his
pocket, drew forth a large, ugly
looking automatic. Both Heath
and Snitkin had been watching
him steadily, and as Fleel made
this movement Heath, with light
ning-like speed, produced an au
tomatic from beneath the black
sling of his wounded arm. The
movements of the two men were
almost concurrent.
But there was no need for
Heath to fire his gun, for In that
fraction of a second Fleel raised
his automatic to his own temple
and pulled the trigger. The wea
pon fell from his hand imemdiate
ly, and his body slumped down
against the edge of the desk and
fell to the floor out of sight.
Vance, apparently, was little
moved by the tragedy. However,
after a deep sigh, he rose list
lessly and stepped behind the
desk. Vance bent down.
"Dead, Markham —quite," he
announced as he rose, a moment
or so later. "Consid'rate chappie
—what? Has saved you legal
worry no end. Most gratifying*
Snitkin unlocked the handcuffs
on young Falloway.
"Sorry, Mr. Falloway," mur
mured Vance. "But you lost your
self-control and became a bit an
hoyin' . . . Feelin' better?"
I take pleasure in recommending
Mr. Allan D. Ivie, Jr., for the posi
tion of Solicitor of the Recorder's
Court of Leaksville Township. Mr.
Ivie was a student of mine while he
attended the Lew School at Duke
University. He was a good student
and a young man of the highest
ideals and I trust that he will re
ceive your favorable consideration
for the office above mentioned.
Marshall T. Spears
Now Judge of Superior Court
As Professor in Duke University I
first came in contact with Mr. Ivie.
I had the pleasure of having him as
a student in undergraduate history
courses. Mr. Ivie made an excellent
record in those courses as he did In
all other work that he took at Duke
University. As a student on the
campus of Duke university, Mr. Ivie
wielded a great influence for good
and was respected and esteemed by
his fellow-students. I often remark
ed to my fellow faculty members not
only about his high scholarship, but
about his influence upon other stu
dents. I consider Mr. ivie to be a
fine Christian gentleman. As you
knew, he comes from one of the
finest families of North Carolina. As
Solicitor of the Recorder's Court of
Leaksville Township, I am sure that
Mr. Ivie would see that Justice was
given to all and that all wrong-doers
were punished . I will be very happy
to learn that Mr. Ivie has been ap
pointed to this responsible position.
Paul N. Garber,
Registrar, school of Religion
The youth stammered: "I'm all
right." He was alert and appar
ently his normal self now. "And
Sis will be home in a couple of
days!"
THE END
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. Jt
""KU 1
Candidate Ivie's
Own Statement:
I am now approaching the home
stretch. For more than three months
I have devoted my best thought and
given practically my full time and
energy in aid of my effort to secure
the nomination for the Solicitorship in
the 21st Judicial District. You are
familiar with the character and aggres
siveness of the campaign which with
your loyal help and that of your friends
I have made. That it has been clean
and fair no one can truthfully gainsay.
The loyal support of my County plus
the kindness and courtesies which I*
have received at the hands of my
friends and their friends throughout
the District since the date of my an
nouncement, together with the num
erous letters of encouragement which
have come from men and women in
every walk of life have more than offset
the physical and mental labor and tht
discomforts naturally involved in cam
paigning. For these reasons I approach
the home stretch with strong body, in
fine spirit and buoyant hope with no
unpleasant feeling toward anyone of
my splendid opponent* or their friends.
Having spoken in all the Counties in
the District and having traveled for
approximately 5,000 miles and having
had the privilege and pleasure of dis
cussing my campaign with hundreds of
representative men and women in the
District I am fully warranted in stating
that it is my firm belief that I am at
this time leading my opponents by a
splendid margin and that on June 4th,
my friends will pile up a splendid vote
of victory.
I have not had (he means to form
a monted organization, therefore, I will
have to rely oa the loyalty and rood
will of thoee whose splendid friendship
it has been my privilege to have and
for which I shall always be grateful.
My chief rerret is that I have been
unable to see all of my friends, however,
I know you understand how utterly Im
possible It is to do this, however much
I would have liked to, and to those
whom I have not seen I ask that you
take this as my personal appeal for
your friendship.
I therefore leave my candidacy in
your keeping: with full confidence and
abiding faith in your friendship wad
loyalty.
Gratefully and sincerely yours,
Allan D. I vie, Jr.