# Leander Pfyfe — The Benson Murder Case character guide

> Leander Pfyfe in The Benson Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Pfyfe, Pfyfe, Leander, the knightly Mr. Pfyfe

**First appearance:** 0008-iv-the-housekeeper-s-story

## Snapshot

Alvin Benson's oldest boon companion, a theatrical speculator whose exacting wife keeps him on a short leash while his old crony holds the purse strings.

## Who they are

Pfyfe and Benson were inseparable in the old Haymarket days, living together before Pfyfe married a woman who now makes him toe the mark. He dabbled in speculation through Benson and Benson and, by his own airy admission, was not very lucky — a vagueness that hangs over his lunchtime chatter like cigar smoke. His long intimacy with the victim makes him a natural early figure for the police to circle, and his evasions about money give the investigation its first faint scent of motive.

## Relationships

### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance)

_rivalry_

Leander Pfyfe, a shady financier and blackmail victim of Alvin, clashes with Vance as the investigation exposes his secrets.

### [Alvin Benson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/alvin_benson)

_psychological_

Alvin Benson blackmailed Leander Pfyfe, creating a relationship of victim and manipulator that ultimately leads to murder.

### [John Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/john_markham)

_professional_

Markham interrogates Leander Pfyfe as a suspect, uncovering his financial entanglements with the victim.

### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance)

_rivalry_

Leander Pfyfe, a shady financier and blackmail victim of Alvin, clashes with Vance as the investigation exposes his secrets.

### [John Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/john_markham)

_professional_

Markham interrogates Leander Pfyfe as a suspect, uncovering his financial entanglements with the victim.

### [Alvin Benson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/alvin_benson)

_psychological_

Alvin Benson blackmailed Leander Pfyfe, creating a relationship of victim and manipulator that ultimately leads to murder.

### [Alvin Benson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/alvin_benson)

_psychological_

Alvin Benson blackmailed Leander Pfyfe, creating a relationship of victim and manipulator that ultimately leads to murder.

### [John Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/john_markham)

_professional_

Markham interrogates Leander Pfyfe as a suspect, uncovering his financial entanglements with the victim.

### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance)

_rivalry_

Leander Pfyfe, a shady financier and blackmail victim of Alvin, clashes with Vance as the investigation exposes his secrets.

## In the story

### [A Motive and a Threat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xi-a-motive-and-a-threat)

Arrives to testify; reluctantly reveals Captain Leacock's threat against Benson over a woman; agrees to stay in New York; described by Vance as a deceiver.

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

Identified as the owner of the grey Cadillac found in a garage; Ostrander describes him as a cool gambler with a sentimental side, capable of violence.

### [Links in the Chain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xiv-links-in-the-chain)

Testifies that he saw Captain Leacock outside Benson's house on the night of the murder, though he initially withheld this information.

### [XV: Pfyfe—Personal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xv-pfyfe-personal)

Implicated by Miss Hoffman's testimony as having quarreled with Alvin Benson over a note and a check; the envelope marked 'Pfyfe—Personal' is now a key piece of evidence.

### [Admissions and Suppressions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xvi-admissions-and-suppressions)

Confesses to forging Alvin Benson's name on a check and admits to an affair with Mrs. Paula Banning.

### [XVII: The Forged Check](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xvii-the-forged-check)

Mentioned as the forger of Benson's check and the recipient of Mrs. Banning's jewels; Vance sent him back to Long Island to avoid interference.

### [XXI: Sartorial Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xxi-sartorial-revelations)

Mentioned as a suspect by Markham, but Vance declares him innocent.

### [XXV: Vance Explains His Methods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xxv-vance-explains-his-methods)

Mentioned as a suspect who was eliminated because his temperament (rash plunger) did not match the crime's bold, calculated nature.

## Links

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