Batman #2 - Story 3
July 20, 1940
"The Case of the Clubfoot Murders"
The third story in this issue of the Batman anthology has the action in progress as Batman sees millionaire Harley Storme being murdered by a person with a clubfoot and a claw for a hand. Batman is knocked down by the killer, allowing him to escape.
The next day, Bruce visits Commissioner Gordon and finds himself invited to Storme's home for Gordon's investigation. This is another element of these early issues - Bruce fishing for information from Gordon. Mind you, in this story, he doesn't announce he is going to do it, but the visit works in his favor.
There, he meets the five members of the family who stand to make a windfall at the reading of the will. They all hate each other. Bruce also learns that Clubfoot Beggs hated Storme because he felt he was cheated out of his share of a gold mine.
The will is read and all are surprised to learn that most of the fortune is being left to charity. They, as well as the family lawyer Ward, are given a gold piece inscribed with "United we stand, divided we fall". They must wait until the end of the month when a letter will then be read.
One of the Storme's sons, Tommy, gets the attention of a bookie he owes money to, who plans to nab Ward to get more information on the scheme. But that night, Clubfoot kills Abel, Storme's brother.
Batman hears of the murder and he and Robin go to Ward's place to question him. Batman mentions how he heard Clubfoot was on a train to New York, so we're not in Gotham City yet.
They interrupt the bookie's men as they search Ward's home. After subduing them, they reveal that Ward is being held at the pier. Batman and Robin rescue Ward as he is interrogated by Varrick the bookie about the location of the envelope.
At home, Bruce works out that if the gold pieces are put together, all would be revealed. Batman sends Robin to Storme's other son, Roger's house, but Robin finds him dead. Clubfoot tries to take out Robin and fails, but manages to escape.
At Ward's home, Batman discovers Clubfoot, the real Clubfoot, that is. Clubfoot was held captive by Ward who planned to kill the entire family and frame Clubfoot. Ward would then kill Clubfoot and make it look like a suicide.
Ward stood to be the sole heir of a goldmine should he be the only survivor at the end of 30 days. Ward now has to kill Batman, but is stopped by Robin. This time, Ward is captured by Batman even though it looked as he might be killed as they fight on the stairs.
