Did he know that Mr.Van Torp had once lived on a ranch, and had killed two men in a shooting affray?
Yes, he had heard so, but the shooting might have been in self-defence.

Did he know anything about the blowing up of the works of which Van Torp had been accused in the papers?
Nothing more than the public knew.

Or anything about the circumstances of Van Torp's engagement to Miss Bamberger?
Nothing whatever.

Would he read the statement and sign his name to it?
He would, and he did.
Griggs thought the young man acted more like an ordinary lawyer than a detective, and said so with a smile.
'Oh no,' was the quiet answer.

'In my business it's quite as important to recognise honesty as it is to detect fraud.