# Colonel Bigsby Ostrander — The Benson Murder Case character guide

> Colonel Bigsby Ostrander in The Benson Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Colonel Ostrander, Bigsby Ostrander, the Colonel, The Colonel

**First appearance:** 0006-ii-at-the-scene-of-the-crime

## Who they are

A military acquaintance of the Bensons, present at the crime scene.

## In the story

### [The Owner of a Colt-.45](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xii-the-owner-of-a-colt-45)

Vance proposes inviting him to lunch, describing him as a scandalmonger who knows Benson's circle.

### [The Grey Cadillac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xiii-the-grey-cadillac)

Provides verbose and rambling character assessments of Captain Leacock, Leander Pfyfe, and Muriel St. Clair; reveals he saw Miss St. Clair dining with Benson on the night of the murder.

### [XIX: Vance Cross-Examines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xix-vance-cross-examines)

Calls Markham to offer unsolicited advice on the case.

### [XX: A Lady Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xx-a-lady-explains)

Mentioned as one of Miss St. Clair's acquaintances who knew about her midnight curfew.

### [XXII: Vance Outlines a Theory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xxii-vance-outlines-a-theory)

His alibi is scrutinized; Vance notes he attended the Midnight Follies with Alderman Moriarty.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/colonel_bigsby_ostrander
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters