# Muriel St. Clair — The Benson Murder Case character guide > Muriel St. Clair in The Benson Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Miss St. Clair, St. Clair, Muriel, the delightful Miss St. Clair **First appearance:** 0007-iii-a-lady-s-handbag ## Snapshot A singer of strong character and deep reserves who dined alone with Alvin Benson the night he died, and whose lost gloves and handbag were found in his house. ## Who they are Muriel St. Clair is an independent artist who had been losing money through Benson's firm and suspected he was engineering her losses on purpose. Her resentment of his attitude that final evening drove her to abandon his car at Times Square and walk home alone, dropping her belongings in her haste. Captain Leacock's chivalrous silence on her behalf makes her the emotional hinge of the early case — a woman the District Attorney reads as a suspect and Vance reads as a wronged client. ## Relationships ### [John Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/john_markham) _professional_ Markham questions Muriel St. Clair, a socialite and possible romantic interest of the victim, as part of the murder investigation. ### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance) _social_ Muriel St. Clair is a sophisticated acquaintance of Vance, and her connection to the victim makes her a person of interest in the case. ### [Alvin Benson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/alvin_benson) _romantic_ Alvin Benson was romantically pursuing Muriel St. Clair, though she was repulsed by his advances and his blackmailing nature. ### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance) _social_ Muriel St. Clair is a sophisticated acquaintance of Vance, and her connection to the victim makes her a person of interest in the case. ### [John Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/john_markham) _professional_ Markham questions Muriel St. Clair, a socialite and possible romantic interest of the victim, as part of the murder investigation. ### [Philo Vance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/philo_vance) _social_ Muriel St. Clair is a sophisticated acquaintance of Vance, and her connection to the victim makes her a person of interest in the case. ### [Alvin Benson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/alvin_benson) _romantic_ Alvin Benson was romantically pursuing Muriel St. Clair, though she was repulsed by his advances and his blackmailing nature. ### [John Markham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/john_markham) _professional_ Markham questions Muriel St. Clair, a socialite and possible romantic interest of the victim, as part of the murder investigation. ### [Alvin Benson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/alvin_benson) _romantic_ Alvin Benson was romantically pursuing Muriel St. Clair, though she was repulsed by his advances and his blackmailing nature. ## In the story ### [The Benson Murder Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/the-benson-murder-case) Becomes a suspect after a lady's handbag and gloves are found near the body, suggesting a woman was involved. ### [III: A Lady's Handbag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/iii-a-lady-s-handbag) Implied owner of the handbag monogrammed 'M. St.C.'; not yet formally introduced. ### [VI: Vance Offers an Opinion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/vi-vance-offers-an-opinion) Implied as the woman Markham suspects; Vance insists she is innocent and that no woman could have committed the crime. ### [VII: Reports and an Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/vii-reports-and-an-interview) The suspect interviewed; she remains evasive, playful, and composed, even when confronted with evidence. ### [Vance Accepts a Challenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/viii-vance-accepts-a-challenge) Vance insists on her innocence, prompting the challenge from Markham. ### [X: Eliminating a Suspect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/x-eliminating-a-suspect) Revealed to have visited Benson on the afternoon of the murder; Vance insists she is innocent and that no woman committed the crime. ### [The Owner of a Colt-.45](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xii-the-owner-of-a-colt-45) Referenced during the interrogation as having dined with Benson and left her handbag at his apartment. ### [The Grey Cadillac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xiii-the-grey-cadillac) Described by Ostrander as a strong, deep, and capable woman who might take desperate measures; she dined alone with Benson on the night of the murder. ### [Admissions and Suppressions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xvi-admissions-and-suppressions) Refuses to answer Phelps's questions and is overheard telling Leacock that they know he took the pistol. ### [XX: A Lady Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/chapters/xx-a-lady-explains) Explains the presence of her gloves and handbag at Benson's house, her dinner invitation, and her midnight curfew; shows concern for Captain Leacock. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters/muriel_st_clair - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_benson_murder_case_se/characters