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_Title:_ The Greene Murder Case
_Date of first publication:_ 1927
_Author:_ S. S. Van Dine [Willard Huntington Wright] (1888-1939)
_Date first posted:_ November 20, 2013
_Date last updated:_ March 4, 2023
Faded Page eBook #20131122

This eBook was produced by: Marcia Brooks, Alex White, Al Haines & the
online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net

_THE PHILO VANCE SERIES_
* * * * *

=THE GREENE=
=MURDER CASE=

A PHILO VANCE STORY

S. S. VAN DINE

Murder most foul, as in the best it is;
But this most foul, strange and unnatural.
—_Hamlet._

NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
MCMXXX

Printed in the United States of America

TO
NORBERT L. LEDERER

Ἀγαθὴ δὲ παραίφασίς ἐστιν ἑταίρου

[Illustration: _Courtesy of Paramount Pictures._
DISTRICT ATTORNEY MARKHAM, PHILO VANCE, AND SERGEANT HEATH.]

Table of Contents

I. A Double Tragedy
II. The Investigation Opens
III. At the Greene Mansion
IV. The Missing Revolver
V. Homicidal Possibilities
VI. An Accusation
VII. Vance Argues the Case
VIII. The Second Tragedy
IX. The Three Bullets
X. The Closing of a Door
XI. A Painful Interview
XII. A Motor Ride
XIII. The Third Tragedy
XIV. Footprints on the Carpet
XV. The Murderer in the House
XVI. The Lost Poisons
XVII. Two Wills
XVIII. In the Locked Library
XIX. Sherry and Paralysis
XX. The Fourth Tragedy
XXI. A Depleted Household
XXII. The Shadowy Figure
XXIII. The Missing Fact
XXIV. A Mysterious Trip
XXV. The Capture
XXVI. The Astounding Truth

CHARACTERS OF THE BOOK

Philo Vance
John F.-X. Markham
District Attorney of New York County.
Mrs. Tobias Greene
The mistress of the Greene mansion.
Julia Greene
The eldest daughter.
Sibella Greene
Another daughter.
Ada Greene
The youngest daughter.
Chester Greene
The elder son.
Rex Greene
The younger son.
Dr. Arthur Von Blon
The Greene family physician.
Sproot
The Greene butler.
Gertrude Mannheim
The cook.
Hemming
The senior maid.
Barton
The junior maid.
Miss Craven
Mrs. Greene’s nurse.
Chief Inspector O’Brien
Of the Police Department of New York City.
William M. Moran
Commanding officer of the Detective Bureau.
Ernest Heath
Sergeant of the Homicide Bureau.
Snitkin
Detective of the Homicide Bureau.
Burke
Detective of the Homicide Bureau.
Captain Anthony P. Jerym
Bertillon expert.
Captain Dubois
Finger-print expert.
Dr. Emanuel Doremus
Medical Examiner.
Dr. Drumm
An official police surgeon.
Marie O’Brien
A Police nurse.
Swacker
Secretary to the District Attorney.
Currie
Vance’s valet.