Type Comic
Date None (1941-04 (Spring))

The Case of the Honest Crook

Batman stops a thief who, oddly, only took six dollars. It turns out the man, Joe Sands, has been unable to hold down a job because of a criminal record--he was framed--and needed the money to pay for medicine for his wife. Batman recognizes Joe's description of the man who framed him as being Matty Link, a member of Smiley Sikes' gang.

After giving Joe some money to tide him over, Batman pays Smiley a visit. He confirms that the frame-up happened as he believed, and leaves after beating up the criminals a bit. Sikes decides to kill Matty to keep him from talking.

Reading of the murder in the paper, Bruce sends Robin to investigate Matty's rooms and himself goes to visit Commissioner Gordon to see if the police have any evidence linking Matty and Sikes to Joe Sands.

Robin isn't the only one looking over Matty's place. Smiley sent some crooks to do the same job, and they notice Robin coming. When Bruce returns home to find Robin still missing, he suits up and goes to search for him. Arriving at Matty's room, he finds Robin, apparently beaten to death.

Upon realizing that Robin is still clinging to life, he rushes to the home of a doctor and threatens to kill the doctor if he doesn't save Robin, then heads off to revenge himself on Sikes. He fights the crooks, receiving several bullets for his trouble, and at last threatens Sikes into providing a written confession.

Batman gives the confession to the police, returns to find Robin recovering, and all's well that ends well.

Character Type
Batman Main
Robin Sub
Name Role
Bill Finger Author
Bob Kane Penciller
George Roussos Inker / Letterer
Jerry Robinson Inker

Relations

Relation Sources
Contained in