The Second Confesion

“This afternoon Mr Sperling told me that he had noticed that the letters on his desk, ready for mailing, were gone. I told him that I had taken them up to my room, which I had, intending to have them taken to Chappaqua early this morning, but that the blocking of the road by the police, and their guarding of all the cars, had made it impossible. But his bringing up the matter of the letters changed die whole aspect of the situation for me, I don't know why. I at once told him, of my own free will, all of the facts as herein stated. When he told me that the District Attorney would be here later this afternoon, I told him that I would set down those facts in a written statement, and I have now done so. This is that statement.” Sperling looked up. “Signed by Webster Kane,” he said. He stretched forward to hand the paper to the District Attorney. “Witnessed by me. If you want it more detailed I don't think he'll have any objection. Here he is-you can ask him.” Archer took it and ran his eye over it. In a moment he looked up and, with his head to one side, gazed at Kane. Kane met the gaze.

Archer tapped the paper with a finger. “You wrote and signed this, did you, Mr Kane?” “I did,” Kane said clearly and firmly but without bragging.