The Perry Mason novels of Erle Stanley Gardner

PART ONE; THE FIRST TEN NOVELS

This and related pages copyright © MMV W A Storrer

The novels are cross-linked to the TV episodes made from them.

Click below on the title of the Novel of your choice to go directly to its synopsis.

The Case of the;

Lucky Legs

Counterfeit Eye

Velvet Claws

Caretaker's Cat

Sulky Girl

Sleepwalker's Niece

Howling Dog

Stuttering Bishop

Curious Bride

Dangerous Dowager


First copyrighted (thus, first written), yet third published ©1933;

The Case of the Lucky Legs

Click HERE to go to the TV episode

Della Street

Maude Elton

Thelma Bell

Perry Mason

Deputy D A Carl Manchester

Cop

J R Bradbury

Dr Robert Doray

Sarah Fieldman

Eva Lamont

Mamie

George Sanborne

Frank Patton

Paul Drake

Riker and Johnson

Internal evidence shows this to have been the first written, though third published, Perry Mason novel. Only at the end is a re-written ending pointing to the fourth novel. So I have listed it as 1/3, first-written, third-published.

Here Perry Mason is a regular smoker, Marlboros. There is much socializing over cigarettes and cigars. 'Clue" is spelled "clew." "Airport" is hyphenated. Della Street is over-worried about Mason's active pursuit of the truth.

Usually a time-shift is the basis of Mason's getting it right, others getting it wrong, but here it is a place-shift, namely, how Bradbury was in a different place than was indicated.

I.

J R Bradbury admits that he sent Mason the photo and letter signed "Eva Lamont." He wants mason to help "put Frank Patton behind bars" because he defrauded the Cloverdale C of C in a Lucky Legs contest. Marjorie Clune, the winner, has disappeared.

II.

Mason pumps general secretary Maude Elton for the name of the Deputy D A who muffed the Cloverdale racket investigation. Carl Manchester informs Perry that he's not interested, but won't interfere with Mason pressing Patton for a confession. Dr Robert Doray is not to be told Mason was at the Deputy D A's office. On way to his office, Mason buys a pack of Marlboros from Mamie, tips her a twenty for her 5 1/2 year old girl and luck. Paul Drake and Bradbury join Mason and Mamie. Bradbury asserts that he, not Doray, is to get credit for helping Marjorie. Paul learns that Mason intends to play hard ball with both Patton and Bradbury.

III.

Drake reports that Thelma Bell was the Lucky Legs contest winner in Parker City. Dr. Doray arrives, wants information, gives none. Bradbury calls and is brushed off.

IV.

Mason arrives at his office at 7:50, is surprised by Bradbury's arrival a few minutes later. Drake calls with Patton's location. Bradbury advises Mason that Doray has a violent nature.

V.

Mason preps Drake on his approach to Patton. As Mason enters Patton's apartment building, a woman in white (white fox-trimmed coat) leaves furtively. Mason finds Patton stabbed to death. As he retreats from the room, a cop and neighbor across the hall (Sarah Fieldman) approach, Mason locks the door and fakes attempt to enter. He phones Della, then gets Bradbury, who identifies woman in white as Marjorie Clune.

VI.

At her apartment, Mason confronts Thelma Bell, then Marjorie Clune. Marjorie denies joint into the apartment, but being seen by the cop. Thelma denies going into the apartment. When Thelma accuses Mason of involving Margy in murder, he has her cornered (how did she know it was murder?). The girls still brazen it out. Thelma suggests that she wear the white fox, because George Sanborne will alibi her. Mason agrees, sends Marjorie into seclusion.

VII.

Mason and Bradbury discuss eve's events at a speakeasy. Bradbury describes an alternate interpretation of the events in which Dr Doray could be the intruder (or even Mason).

VIII.

Mason returns to his office after being advised by Della that two cops await him. Riker and Johnson. They ask the usual questions and Mason points them to Dr Doray. He shows them the photo of Clune; they leave. Mason then tells Della the true story of his involvement and how Bradbury could be dangerous. Della reports a phone call from Bostwick 408 (Marjorie); "check that alibi."

IX.

Drake's report to Mason includes the fact that Doray's car was ticketed near Patton's apartment at the time of the murder. Drake implies that he knows Mason was involved. A telegram reminds Mason to "check her alibi" (signed M). Della phones that police are looking for him because someone describing herself as Della Street tipped Doray that he should get out of town for the sake of Marjorie.

X.

Drake, with Mason, in cab confides that a Vera Cutter came to him with knowledge of the murder (how could she have known?), pretty legs, and a story that Dr Doray came to town to kill Patton. Drake then phoned Bradbury and got permission to "help" Cutter. She gave Drake the tip on Doray's car being parked at a hydrant and ticketed near Patton's apartment. Mason leaves Drake, gets Mr Samuels of the Cooperative Investigating Bureau to put a tag on Cutter. Then he goes to the Gilroy Hotel, Room 925, George Sanborne. His alibi is weak, concocted.

XI.

Mason goes to the St. James Apartments, wakes Thelma Bell. The police have seen her, and she knows Marjorie has left town. He accuses her of being the one who tipped Doray. They go for breakfast; Mason leaves her to get his wallet, left in her apartment, but searches and finds the white shoes and other clothes. He sends the taxi to buy a ticket to College City and check the box on that ticket. He rejoins Thelma, sends her away with the ticket. Samuels reports that Cutter has baggage with E.L. on it. Then Drake reports that the police have traced the murder knife purchase to Doray.

XII.

Morning. Mason checks to see if Drake got any messages. No. Della says Bradbury is threatening unless he sees Mason. Della and Bradbury arrive in taxi. Mason is informed that Bradbury wants him to defend Doray and Clune. They spar. Bradbury threatens to reveal the locked door of the apartment situation if Mason doesn't get Doray acquitted. [By now, we must wonder why he is protecting Doray.] Mason makes certain that Bradbury understands that he will defend Clune and Doray {and now we should see what is implied; even if it means convicting Bradbury!].

XIII.

Mason follows Doray to Summerville via rented airplane, traces Doray to the Riverview Hotel. Doray bluffs that Marjorie never communicated, but she arrives. Mason gives Doray orders to not talk, spirits Clune away as Sheriff arrives.

XIV.

Mason grills Marjorie. Doray loves her, she may love him. Bradbury is the one who sent her out of town, we can surmise. She knows Eva Lamont aka Vera Cutter, a candidate for lucky legs who is infatuated with Doray.

XV.

By pretending to be a drunken salesman, Mason gets the hotel porter to bring a salesman's trunk to the room. Woman's clothes are removed, and Marjorie put in.

XVI.

Mason and Clune arrive back at L.A. Mason calls Della who says T.B. is at College City Hotel. Mason instructs her to get in touch with Thelma, and ask her about a phone call to Marjorie. Then he makes arrangements for getting by the two detectives in the office. Bradbury breaks into the line, again threatens Mason demanding Doray plead guilty so Marjorie can go free. Mason says he is defending Doray. Mason checks with Mr Samuels on Vera Cutter's location, then takes Marjorie there to here Eva Lamont's voice. Vera bluffs, calls Mason's office and fakes a conversation with Mason. Marjorie knocks, Vera opens the door and is confronted as Eva. Eva calls police headquarters as Mason and Clune leave quickly. They drive to Bradbury's hotel. Mason pays off his bill, getting list of phone calls.

XVII.

Mason's office. Della is , as usual this early in the series, terribly worried about the trouble her boss is in, especially bringing Marjorie with him. They put Margy to rest. Mason tells Della that Margy was going to give Doray a week, then marry Bradbury! Della has reached Thelma and learned that Margy got a phone call just before she left Thelma's apartment. Bradbury bursts in, not threatens to ruin both Doray and Marjorie. Bradbury again claims to be a fighter, but Mason says that is not so, only a sideliner, never taking risks like he, the attorney, does. Johnson and Riker interrupt, try to get Mason to go to headquarters but he refuses without a warrant. As they start to leave, Bradbury tells them that Clune is in the private office. Mason tells them they have to have a warrant, but Bradbury tackles Mason and the cops break into the office.

XVIII.

With Marjorie Clune in handcuffs, Mason orders Street to call Detective Sergeant O'Malley to come to the office for the inside information on the crime. Mason has Street take down his confession verbatim. Bradbury constantly interrupts even when the cops tell him to shut up. (If by now we aren't so angered with Bradbury's arrogance, we should be, and should finally have an idea of who must be the murderer. This one is a bit obvious.) Mason details, point by point, what we've known bit by bit over the past 250 pages. Eventually he shows how only Bradbury could have known all he does, particularly about the locked door and, when O'Malley arrives, Mason springs the final bit of evidence that Bradbury cannot avoid.

XIX.

Doray and Clune are basking in the limelight as Mason explains to reporters how he came to suspect Bradbury. "Gentlemen," (Mason says) "I always take risks. It's the way I play the game." He shoos the reporters and lovers out, and Della advises him there is a man in the office who wants "to know if a will would stand up when the person who made it had been executed for murder . . . it was a will he was going to make, and that he had to see you about that and the howling dog."

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Second copyrighted (thus, second written), yet first published, © 1933;

The Case of the Velvet Claws

Click HERE to go to the TV episode

Perry Mason

Det Sgt Sidney Drumm

[Pete Mitchell]

Della Street

Digley

Esther Linten [Locke's]

Eva Griffin, aka . .

George C. Belter

Burke's housekeeper

Harrison Burke

Mrs [Eva] Belter

Charlie Dagett

Frank Locke

Crandall

Sol Steinburg

Paul Drake

Carl Griffin

Arthur Atwood

Clerk at hotel desk

Detective Bill Hoffman

Harry Loring

Girl at telephone desk

Mrs Veitch

Process server

Locke's girl aka . .

Norma Veitch

Mason is a big smoker. Gardner describes Mason, Street and Drake, the three principals, thoroughly. This novel is a textbook example of the entire series of novels.

Mason gives "the impression of being a thinker and a fighter, a man who could work with infinite patience to jockey an adversary into just the right position, and then finish him with one terrific punch." When asked "Just what is it that you do, Mr Mason?" He answers, "I fight!" He's a "paid gladiator. I fight for my clients. Most clients aren't square shooters. That's why they're clients. They've got themselves into trouble. It's up to me to get them out. I have to shoot square with them. I can't always expect them to shoot square with me."

As Mason says, "I take people who are in trouble, and I try to get them out of trouble. I'm not presenting the people's side of the case, I'm only presenting the defendant's side. . . . My clients aren't blameless. Many of them are crooks. Probably a lot of them are guilty. That's not for me to determine. That's for the jury to determine.

"Della Street was slim of figure, steady of eye; a young woman of approximately twenty-seven, who gave the impression of watching life with keenly appreciative eyes and seeing far below the surface." She has "had to work for everything [she] got. [She] never got a thing in life that 'she' didn't work for." Della doesn't yet refer to Mason as Perry.

Paul Drake is "a tall man, with drooping shoulders and a head that [is] thrust forward on a long neck . . . with protruding glassy eyes that held a perpetual expression of droll humor."

Erle Stanley Gardner sees no difficulty in calling a Jew a Hebrew and also a kike. He uses the word nigger as well.

I.

Autumn. Della Street announces Eva Griffin who "looks phoney." Eva is "in trouble." She was involved in the hold-up at the Beechwood Inn. She's married, and was with political candidate Harrison Burke. They avoided being listed in the report to the D A. Frank Locke of Spicy Bits knows about Harrison, but not about her, and she wants Mason to pay him off to not print the information. She is trying to save herself, not Burke. Mason suggest that there is something in Locke's past, so this can be settled. Mason writes a note that he passes to Della asking her to have Paul Drake tail Eva. She can only go to nine thousand. She leaves, and Mason explains to Della why he fights for thee likes of Eva Griffin. Della hates Eva. Paul Drake returns from following Eva; she shook him.

II.

Mason confronts Locke. They go by taxi to a hotel. Locke suggests Mason take out advertising, then default. Locke has to consult his boss, leaves the hotel. Mason sees him go to a drug store to make a call. Locke asks for $20,000. Mason threatens to expose the blackmailer.

III.

Mason follows Locke to a hotel. Locke is getting a shave. Mason arranges with the girl at the telephone desk to get the number of the phone Locke calls. He calls Locke with disguised voice and tricks him to call his boss. Locke leaves the hotel with a young twentyish woman, and Mason gets the telephone number.

IV.

Mason pays Detective Sergeant Sidney Drumm $25 to trace the unlisted telephone number. It belongs to George C. Belter. Mason goes to Butler's, is admitted by butler Digley. Mason's confrontation of the owner of Spicy Bits proves fruitless. As Mason leaves, Eva Griffin, Mrs. Belter, appears. Mason does not indicate that he knows her, leaves.

V.

Eva Belter tells Mason that her husband will ruin him. Mason suggests that the high blackmail price suggests something funny and forces Eva to give him information on Locke. Then Mason puts Drake on the trail of Locke.

VI.

Harrison Burke is slow to catch on that Mason knows the whole situation and is trying to help him. Then Burke admits, after Mason asks him to help pay the costs, that Eva had asked him for money. As Mason leaves Burke, Crandall, a reporter for Spicy Bits accosts him; Mason phones Burke to send money in unmarked package.

VII.

Phone call from Eva Belter wakes Mason. In a storm, he meets Eva, drenched, in Carl Griffin's coat. She says that her husband is murdered, and it was the voice of Mason that was arguing with him. She left the front door unlocked, but it is locked, so she enters through the rear door and lets Mason in through the front door.

VIII.

Eva takes two or three minutes to admit Mason. There are three umbrellas as well as coats in the night-light lit hallway, and a trickle of water from the umbrellas. Mason and Eva find the body, and Mason instructs her to tell her story, but with one admission, namely, that she went back up to the room and found the body. He calls the police.

IX.

Detective Bill Hoffman commiserates with Mason. Carl Griffin arrives in car with flat tire, drunk. Hoffman sends Mason to the kitchen to make coffee. He meets Mrs Veitch and her daughter Norma, neither of which knows anything, but mom cuts off daughter sharply when she tries to speak. Mrs Veitch is tight-lipped, doesn't like Mrs Belter. Mason takes coffee to Sgt Hoffman and Carl Griffin who admits "Yes, there's a will." Only $5000 goes to the wife, the remainder to him, because he never licked Belter's boots. Griffin explains how he saw the handwritten will and reveals Belter's comment about "if anything happened to him, his wife wouldn't profit by it." Mason defends Eva, nothing that Carl Griffin is her "reasonable doubt.

X.

3 AM. Mason wakes up Drake to get the owner of the murder weapon. Mason wakes up Della, to get her to the office, where he recaps the events up to now. Drake reports that the gun is licensed to Pete Mitchell. Locke's girl is named Esther Linten. In a Political Letters file, Mason finds a Burke-for-Congress Club letter; in fine print, 15th name, is P J Mitchell. Mason instructs Drake to rouse Mitchell and see if he has the gun or what he did with it. Detective Sergeant Drumm arrives, curious how Mason asked for a phone number, then turns up at the murdered man's house. They spar in friendly fashion.

XI.

Mason asks Della to "hold the fort." He registers at the Hotel Ripley as Fred B Johnson. Eva arrives with the will and suggests that Griffin may have forged it. Mason suggests that she was dolled up to go out; she got a call about shoes (Burke's signal to her). Mason describes how the death penalty is administered. She admits that Burke came to the house and saw her husband before the shot. If Burke didn't do it, as Eva insists, who did, who sounds like Mason?

XII.

Burke's housekeeper admits that he left with a suitcase in the night. Drake reports on phone that Mitchell's wife got a telegram saying "Don't worry." Linten is from Georgia and gets "regular sugar" from Locke. Back at the hotel, Mason is met by Eva and Charlie Dagett, who swears that the will is not in Belter's hand. Mason then orders Eva to put the will back in the house. Della arrives, takes dictation on documents that will get Eva named administratrix. Mason sends Eva home. Della then gives Mason an envelope with $2000 in travelers checks signed by Harrison Burke. Della hates Eva, "all velvet and claws."

XIII.

Mason confronts Linten, leading her to understand that he knows she's blackmailing Locke regarding events in Georgia, but that Locke no longer has a source of funds. Mason calls Drake; Cecil Dawson (aka Locke) killed Linten's roommate and she covered for him. Hung jury, then fugitive. Now Mason confronts Linten and she capitulates, will support his story. Mason drives to Sol Steinberg's Pawnshop and sets up a sting.

XIV.

Mason tells Locke that Eva's running Spicy Bits. He then maneuvers Locke into Steinberg's place, and Sol says Locke is the one who bought the gun. Locke is infuriated but Mason then points out that Locke has embezzled funds and Belter knew about the Georgia misadventure. Locke claims an airtight alibi and takes Mason to Linton who, as Mason has coached her, says she went to sleep by 11:30, thus denying Locke's alibi. Lock is deflated. Mason indicates that he won't press the issue of Georgia if Locke behaves at Spicy Bits.

XV.

Examiner headlines indicate that Griffin and Norma Veitch are engaged and that Eva's told the police it was Mason whom she overheard with Belter. Eva bursts in, holds to the story that it was Mason. The attorney gets Drake to join them, then puts the pressure on Eva, asking her to go over her story point by point as Della writes it down and Paul witnesses. Then Mason redoes the story, identifying Eva as the murderess while Burke waited downstairs. Belter was in a rage because he found in Eva's purse the receipts from Mason and put two and two together. So Eva had to shoot him. Mrs Veitch overheard things, and Mason calls her in from the adjacent room, but turns her back before she can say anything. Eva faints. Awakened, she confesses that she shot her husband and ran out into the rain, grabbing Griffin's coat on the way. Detective Sergeant Sidney Drumm arrives to arrest Mason, but Mason gives him Eva with her confession. Mrs Veitch was simply pressure on Eva, for Mason didn't know what, if anything, she'd say. Drumm notes that it was Eva who'd led them to him.

XVI.

Mason reminds Della that Eva isn't convicted until proven guilty. Griffin, with his lawyer Arthur Atwood, want Mason to act as lawyer to Spicy Bits while Atwood handles the estate. Mason accuses Atwood of being after the property and trying to bribe him. Atwood claims to be in the driving seat, but Mason avers otherwise. As Griffin leaves, he indicates that he has something to say, but doesn't. Della apologizes for having criticized Mason.

XVII.

Mason directs Drake to get "everything [he] can on that Veitch family." Then he instructs Della to get vital statistics on Norma Veitch. Della finds that Norma was married six months ago to Harry Loring. Mason instructs Drake to find Loring. Burke phones to suggest that Mason get Eva to plead to second-degree murder, so that he will be off the hook, and offers Mason $5000. Mason slams the receiver back on the hook. Drake has located Loring, whose wife left him about a week ago.

XVIII.

Drake questions Loring who denies being married. Wasn't he living with a woman who claimed to be his wife? Yes, "Mary Jones." Mason shows him the newspaper photo of Norma Veitch. Loring avoids looking, denies knowing her. Mason and Drake go into corridor, and Mason identifies himself as Loring to a process server. The complaint is for annulment, not divorce, from Norma. They confront Loring, who capitulates; he was never previously married, that was concocted to help Norma get a quick annulment. They spirit him off to the Hotel Ridley. Then Mason calls Drumm and gets him and Hoffman to join them.

XIX.

The four go to Belter's and are admitted by the butler. Mason surveys the murder room, then asks for the Veitches to be brought in. He questions mother and daughter about when she met Griffin, confronts Norma with the summons. Mason then explains that Eva thought she had shot Belter, but had missed. Mrs Veitch heard the shot, then, when Griffin actually shot Belter, she blackmailed him into marrying her daughter. The umbrella and puddle of water, plus locked front door, were the clues to Mason.

XX.

Mason is kibitzing with Drake. Eva's been released and Griffin caved in after Mrs Veitch switched to protecting her daughter when she realized "that Griffin was in a trap." Drake leaves, Burke enters, still believing Spicy Bits can nail him. Mason points out that Eva will inherit as Belter's wife, since will is not applicable since its benefactor is the murderer. Burke leaves message by phone for Eva. He is unctuous to Mason, but is informed that the attorney expects him to pay half of Eva's $5000 fee. She owns Spicy Bits! He leaves, and Della enters; "I'm so sorry . . . I should have known better, chief." [His lips pressed down to hers] (Is this the only time they kiss?) Eva enters; Mason informs her that, like many others, she is just a case. Della interrupts; there is a sulky girl in the office.

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Third copyrighted (thus, third written), yet second published, © 1933;

The Case of the Sulky Girl

Click HERE to go to the TV episode

Fran Celane,"The girl"

Night watchman

Dr Prayton

Della Street ("the secretary")

Taxi driver

Garage mechanic

Perry Mason

Pete Devoe, chauffeur

John Mayfield (gardener)

Frank Everly

Paul Drake

Harry Nevers

Rob Gleason

Judge B C Purley

Detective (at Mason's)

Arthur Crinston

Policeman at house

Assistant D A Claude Drumm

Don Graves, Norton's secretary

Mrs Mayfield, housekeeper

Judge Markham

Edward Norton

George Blackman

Sgt E L Mahoney (desk officer who answered call)

Norton's Butler, Purkett

B W Rayburn (bank VP)

This is the second-published, though third-written, of the Perry Mason novels. The ending of the final chapter, of course, had to be rewritten to lead into the next-published novel (though first-written), The Case of the Lucky Legs.

Here Mason asserts "I specialize in the trial of cases, preferably before juries." Yet of the first three Perry Mason mysteries, this is the only one that goes to court.

It is here that Della asks "Are all your clients innocent?" to which Mason replies "That's what the juries say." So this novel sets the standard formula for the Mason we know from TV.

ESG is particularly good at describing physical characteristics of his people. Consider his description of the minor personage, Mrs Mayfield;

There was a keen concentration in the intentness of her gaze; she might have been a motion picture director, studying a new star for the strong, as we as the weak, points. She was short and broad, but not particularly fat. She seemed heavily muscled and big-boned; a woman of immense strength, capable and self reliant and in her eyes was a glitter of greedy vitality.

Her features were rugged; the chin rounded and heavy, the nose distended at the nostrils. The lips were not thin, but uncurving. The mouth was a straight line, stretching under the nose and calipered at the ends by wrinkles which came from the nostrils. The forehead was rather high, and the eyes black and snapping &emdash; highly polished eyes that glittered as though they had been huge, black glass beads.

Some oddities; tomorrow is spelled to-morrow.

I.

Della Street admits Fran Celane to Perry Mason's inner office. She seats herself and organizes her appearance for best effect. Mason enters, is told she has a question about wills. She wants to get married, now, to Rob Gleason, but her father's will allows her uncle, Edward Norton, to deny her the principle if she marries before twenty-five; she is twenty-three. Mason agrees to get an answer to her dilemma by four. Mason instructs Frank Everly, his law clerk, to get the court records. Della offers that Fran is not trapped or sulky, but both and in a panic.

II.

Rob Gleason is frantic, reports Della. Gleason demands to know if Fran Celane has been to see Mason, and Mason suggests that he ask her. She's being blackmailed. He storms out. Shortly, Fran enters. Mason informs her of Gleason's visit ("You know him then?" Mason asks, even though in her earlier visit she said he was the one she wants to marry - a rare ESG slip-up). Mason says that her only hope is to get her uncle removed as trustee. She suggests he see Norton's partner, Arthur Crinston.

III.

Crinston says neither he nor Fran can change Norton, only Mason. On phone, Fran agrees, and 8 o'clock is set for her to pick Mason up. Crinston will go earlier and soften Norton up. Mason asks Everly to check whether or not Celane and Gleason are already married.

IV.

Fran drives her Packard roadster wildly until Mason shuts off the ignition. Her temper flares, but Mason gets her to settle down. At the mansion, Fran introduces Don Graves, Norton's secretary, then hurries into Norton's office, one minute late. Norton confides that he has cut Fran off entirely for the moment because he believes that she is being blackmailed. Mason wants to discuss the way Norton uses his discretion, not whether he has the right to, but Norton refuses and asks his butler to show Mason out. The attorney insists on choosing himself when to go. Fran rushes in after the butler, and pleads with Mason to leave, which he does.

V.

Everly has left a note that Gleason and Celane were married in Cloverdale (This is not the only time this town appears in the Perry Mason novels, but the real Cloverdale is north of San Francisco). Mason researches wills. At quarter past one the phone rings, incessantly, and it is Fran; "My uncle has been murdered." He rushes down the elevator and takes a speedy cab to Norton's where he is met by Crinston, who informs him that Norton had called the police at 11:15 to pick up the driver of his stolen Buick. The murder was committed by chauffeur Pete Devoe with a club, seen by Don Graves. Crinston explains how he and Purley were in a car when Norton called down to ask if they'd take Graves with them. As the three drove away, Graves saw the murder. Crinston asks Mason to act as Fran's attorney in all matters, and keep her from "too much questioning." They return to the house.

VI.

Mason has Celane tell him her version of the story. She had a big fight with her uncle after Mason left, then went out in the Buick, which was blocking her Packard, at 10:45, got back at 12:15, ten minutes or so after the police got there. Mason hits her with her marriage and blackmail, which she says is irrelevant now that uncle Edward is dead. She writes a promissory note for forty thousand dollars to Mason to protect all her interests. The murder is fixed, she says, because "Graves could look back and see the persons clubbing [her] uncle" at about 11:34." "Persons?" Mason asks.

VII.

Graves recounts how Crinston called up to Norton for permission for him to go with the two already at the car. He saw two people, one of which might have been a woman.

VIII.

Housekeeper Mrs Mayfield approaches Mason for money. From him and Miss Celane. She threatens she gets money or nobody gets money. She knows damaging information such as maybe Gleason was not away as he claims. She strides out to make her point. Judge Purley enters and Mason queries about the timing of events, showing that Devoe would not have had time to quarrel and premeditate a murder. Purley says Norton fell forward on is desk and had the stolen car's insurance policy with him. He never knew Norton. Mason asserts that Norton wasn't killed as the result of a quarrel. So the motive was robbery. Norton had $40,000 on him, and two $1000 bills were found in Devoe's pockets.

IX.

Mason goes over Norton's books, learning that the Crinston-Norton partnership had bad investments, but there was money in the accounts. The trust was over a million dollars net. On the day of the murder, Norton went to the bank. 15,294.3 at start, 15,304.7 at return. Mason departs, slipping into the garage; the Buick odometer reads 15,304.7! Mason returns, encounters the greedy housekeeper, and goes to Fran at breakfast. She gives him ten one thousand dollar bills, but won't say where she got them. He confronts her with the odometer reading. She blanches white, drops her coffee cup and admits she got the money from uncle Edward before his death. The housekeeper knocks, having heard the cup crash (and probably Fran's admission). She goes for another cup and coffee. Fran decides to go out and drive the Buick around. The returning housekeeper probably hears this, too.

X.

George Blackman, representing Devoe, wants Mason to get Fran to accept a plea of manslaughter from his client as sufficient. Mason calls him a "dirty scum" and throws him out of the office. Celane is on the phone saying she must see him at once; the police have sealed the Buick. Mason goes to one of the Crinston-Norton banks where B W Rayburn admits that Norton wanted to catch a blackmailer with numbered bills. Mason returns to the office and tells Della to get Paul Drake into the office as if he were a client.

XI.

Frances Celane knows she's in a mess. She got $48,000 from her uncle, gave all but $10,000 to Mrs Mayfield, then the $10,000 to Mason. She didn't know the bills were consecutively numbered. Mason registers the money to a false address, warns Fran she will be arrested because Devoe didn't do the murder and his attorney wants money. Rob Gleason was at the house with her at the time of the murder, and she went away with him, walked back later. Mason sends her to Dr Prayton's sanatorium.

XII

Paul Drake explains the idea of a "rough shadow" to Mason. The attorney asks for the detective to put a rough shadow on Mrs Mayfield. Crinston suggests that they should play ball with Blackman. Mason explains why not, but Crinston insists, says he'll get his own lawyer and so will Fran when he can find her. Mason calls Crinston a fool and sucker, then gives him Blackman's office address.

XIII.

Mason checks with his garage mechanic on how easy it would be to set a speedometer back. Then he contacts, and meets, John Mayfield, Norton's gardener, and asks about his setting back the speedometer of the Buick. Since the Buick was reported stolen, it had to be out, yet no mileage shows; who set the odometer back? Mason suggests that Mrs Mayfield was the woman in the room at the time of the murder. After reading the latest headlines, Mason spends the night under an alias in a hotel.

XIV.

Mason's office has been rifled over night. The newspapers state the murder club belonged to Rob Gleason, who will be charged with first degree murder. Della wishes Mason wouldn't get so involved in his cases. Mrs Mayfield arrives, says the Buick did not go out or Purkett would have heard the garage door open. She wasn't blackmailing Fran, she just wanted some money and knew Fran would have a lot. She breaks down; she's a poor working woman. Suddenly Mason sees a light, and asks Mrs Mayfield to make certain Puckett will swear the car never left the garage. Finally a detective forces Mason to open his locked door and allow him to take Mrs Mayfield into custody as a material witness.

XV.

Harry Nevers, STAR reporter, tells Mason he expects to see Fran Celane and is willing to trade, but Mason counters that he doesn't know what he wants. He does want to get two or three people back to the scene of the crime and that the Buick never left the garage, and he wanted the newspaper to make this public. Mason has Della get Dr Prayton to release Fran, who then calls him. He instructs her to come to the office to surrender to the authorities. Mason calls Drumm, with Nevers as witness, and tells him Celane is coming to the D A's office to surrender; she will not talk, only he will. Nevers brings in his photographer, asks Mason if he has received any money, a question Mason sidesteps adroitly.

XVI.

With Miss Celane sulking, the photographer gets two good photographs. Then Mason calls Drumm to come and pick her up, then coaches Fran on how to behave. [Here Nevers suggests that Carl Seaward of the Homicide Squad will probably come for Fran; this could be the source idea from which in TV will become Sergeant Tragg.]

XVII.

Drake reports that he's got rough shadows on Mrs Mayfield and Graves, the latter producing results. The police now have a new sworn statement by Graves, and the old one has been lost! Graves identified a woman in pink in the room at the time of the murder, and Fran was wearing pink that night. Mason asks Drake to have his planted operative find out if Mrs Mayfield has a pink dress. Drake explains all the facts that convict Gleason with Fran, and the police know that she had some of the money. Mason's key to the case why Norton reported the Buick stolen. Perhaps the chauffeur drove the Buick and set the speedometer back and was caught by Norton . . .

XVIII.

In jail, Gleason tells Mason he'll repudiate the statement taken down by the court reporter. He wants to plead "guilty," but Mason gives him facts to deter him including the pink negligee. Gleason says he'll confess that it was Mrs Mayfield in the pink negligee and they did Norton in together. Mason says this will get Fran convicted, because only half his story will be believed, orders Gleason to copy his statement over so he can have a copy, and calls him "a rotten liar."

XIX.

Frank Everly is in court with Mason, and is nervous. When Assistant D A Claude Drumm passes on his preemptory, Judge Markham calls on Mason who knows Drumm is expecting to use his option later, so, though Mason has two jurors he'd like to eliminate, he accepts the panel to keep Drumm shut out. Drumm begins his case, calling a surveyor who, when asked if it were possible for someone on the road "to glance back and see into the room," is interrupted by Mason objecting. Sustained. Mason asks the distance from car to crime.

XX.

Drumm calls Judge Purley, instead of Crinston or Graves. Purley testifies as to what he saw, including turning around after Graves indicated what he saw, and driving back, finding Norton dead, and seeing the auto insurance policy. On cross, Mason gets Purley to admit he never spoke to Norton.

XXI.

Sergeant E L Mahoney testifies as to the call from someone who said he was Norton, and that the call was interrupted. Crinston testifies as to the basic facts, then, on cross, has to admit that with Norton the subject of blackmail of Celane had come up with possibility of Mrs Mayfield behind it. Then Mason gets Crinston to admit that he discussed the partnership's indebtedness with Mr Sherman, head of the Wheeler's Trust & Savings Bank. Throughout Crinston tries to avoid answering certain questions because the answer would hurt Miss Celane, but Judge Markham requires answers. Further, Mason doesn't object to certain questions by Drumm, which opens fields of investigation on is part in cross, even when Markham clearly gives Mason the opportunity to object. Don Graves testifies to the basics, and Mason objects when Graves states "he thought he could make the identification." Mason then lets him name Gleason, as well as Celane. Mason then dares Graves to redo the viewing test, such as the police have already conducted, "under the same conditions." Yes. "Will you . . . ?" queries Mason, and Drumm objects. Mason then comments that Drumm is "afraid to have a test made under identical conditions."

XXII.

Mason coaches Nevers to emphasize Drumm's refusal to conduct a test. Nevers says most everyone thinks Mason is conducting a bad defense. Mason hints Gleason may confess. Mason tells Everly that he doesn't just want to clear Fran and Rob, but convict the true murderers. Della says she bet half a month's salary with Drake that Mason would get both clients acquitted, she has so much faith in her boss (note; this conflicts with publication dates of first three novels, for she has doubts in the next novel by publication order, The Case of the Lucky Legs -- it was, however, the first by copyright). Drake reports on Mrs Mayfield; she slept through the murder. Fran had a "stormy interview with Norton and the quarreled bitterly." He was going to terminate the trust and give her only the annuity. Fran gave Mrs Mayfield twenty-eight thousand dollars to keep her quiet. Mrs Mayfield, learning the bills were numbered consecutively, told the police that Fran must have given that money to Mason, and the police are frantic trying to find it. Gleason and Celane plotted the murder when Crinston left. Graves will testify that Norton gave Fran two thousand dollars only, and she planted them on Devoe. She and Gleason came back and took the remainder of the money out of Norton's wallet.

XXIII.

The STAR headlines "WITNESS TO MILLIONAIRE'S MURDER REFUSES TO MAKE TEST." Della has bet the other half of her salary. Drumm phones to say he'll have the test. Mason instructs Everly to represent him in court for the necessary weekend continuance, but to make it necessary for the details of the test to be worked out outside the courtroom. Mason lets Nevers know the test will be held and asks him to detain Graves in the upstairs room as long as he can, until he gets rattled.

XXIV.

Mason argues with Drumm that the test is not fair, as there are only two women, one in black and one in pink, so Graves has a 50-50 chance if he only guesses. There are also only three men. Mason bows to Drumm's take it or leave it. The press will select one woman and one man after the car starts off. In the car Mason suggests Drumm remove his glasses and Purley not turn his head. Both are denied. The signal is given, but Graves doesn't arrive. Eventually Graves appears and Nevers shouts from the window that the test is unfair. Drumm says the conditions are set. The test is performed.

XXV.

The newspapers have reported the results of the test and Graves is vindicated, the accused surely guilty of first-degree murder. Mason resumes with cross of Graves, asking if he has any animus against Celane or Gleason. No. Drumm elicits Graves' description of the identical test. Mason gets Graves to admit the test was not identical, since a reporter, Nevers, held him back until he could call down and get Drumm to insist no changes could be made. Mason examines Crinston regarding the $900,000 owed Wheeler's Trust & Savings Bank. Yet other banks had funds to cover this indebtedness. So, didn't Norton get a letter indicating the loan was coming due? Mason then suggest that Norton confronted him, called the police, and Crinston then clubbed Norton to death. Then, seeing the insurance policy, he called back to the police, identified himself as Norton and reported the theft of the Buick whose information was on the insurance policy. Then, with accomplice Graves, they planted evidence on Devoe, had Graves with light at his back call down to the car as if he were Norton. Judge Purley is recalled, and now he is not so certain it was not Graves who called down both after the murder and at the test. Now it is Crinston upon whom all eyes focus.

XXVI.

The STAR extra screams "MURDER CASE DISMISSED." Mason explains how he had to trick opinionated Purley into realizing what the real situation was, and states he "had all the facts in hand at the moment that Arthur Crinson, in telling me about the murder, discussed the telephone call to the police as though he had no knowledge of it, except what he had learned through the police." He then goes over the facts as they actually happened. Fran expresses her gratitude, with tears in her yes. She and Gleason leave, and Della enters with the telegram that leas to The Case of the Lucky Legs.

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Fourth Perry Mason Novel, © 1934;

The Case of the Howling Dog

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Della Street

Elizabeth Walker (deaf)

Sam Marson, cab driver

Perry Mason

Paul Drake

Mae Sibley

Arthur Cartright

Paula Evelyn Cartright

Carl Trask, who drove Benton

Mrs Clinton (Evelyn Foley) aka . . .

Clinton Forbes

. . . aka Agnes

Prince (the dog)

Bessie Forbes

Brownlee

Asst D A Pete Dorcas

Policeman at headquarters

Another taxi driver

Dr Cooper

Det Sgt Holcomb

Alex Bostwick

Taxi driver

Shorthand reporter

Dr Phil Morton

Clinton Foley aka . . .

3 homicide squad men

Judge Markham

Dep Sheriff Bill Pemberton

Ed Wheeler

Claude Drumm

Thelma Benton, housekeeper

George Doake

Frank Everly

Ah Wong, Chinese manservant

. . . aka Mrs C M Dangerfield

Sporting goods store clerk

Three immigration officers

From client Arthur Cartwright's statements about his coming to Mason because of how the attorney handled the case in the courtroom, we know this is, in terms of the order it was written, the direct follow-up to The Case of the Sulky Girl.

Perhaps it is nothing more than "'30s" language, but Gardner uses the term "Chink" to refer to the Chinese cook.

I.

Della Street admits Arthur Cartright to Perry Mason's office. Cartright wants to write a will giving everything, not to his wife, but to the woman living as wife next door with Clinton Foley, who has a howling dog, which suggest a death in the neighborhood. He also wants Mason to prosecute Foley over the dog's howling, and to protect him from malicious prosecution. Mason suggests they go to a deputy D A and tell the story to achieve the latter. Mason arranges with Pete Dorcas for a meeting.

II.

Assistant D A Peter Dorcas and Dr Cooper listen to Mason and Cartright. Dorcas suggests a warning be sent Foley, and Mason suggests it be taken by a deputy sheriff right away. After Cartright leaves, Dr Cooper says the man isn't normal, but not insane.

III.

Della gives Mason the morning mail, and he reads a note from Cartright with a holographic will and ten thousand dollars retainer. The will leaves most of his estate to the legally-married Mrs Foley. Mason is called to Dorcas' office where he meets Clinton Foley. After much argument, Dorcas calls Deputy Sheriff Bill Pemberton to arrange for a visit to Foley's to see if the dog howls. A list of witnesses is stated by Foley when Pemberton arrives.

IV.

Foley instructs Bill Pemberton to go into the driveway as contractors are putting an addition onto his garage. Foley's housekeeper Thelma Benton reports that the dog was poisoned. She give a note to Foley; it indicates that Mrs Foley has run away with Cartright. She states that he is a magnetic personality and she doesn't blame him for what has happened in the house (the hint is clearly re the housekeeper) or that there is no love in the marriage.

V.

Mason phones Della to get Paul Drake waiting for him. He tries to get a photo of Mrs Foley from Miss Benton. Then he goes to Cartright's and rouses Elizabeth Walker. She doesn't give him any help.

VI.

Paul Drake is waiting for Perry, who brings him up-to-date. Mason wants Drake "to find out everything you can about Foley . . . also the same thing about Cartright." He then has Della "cancel every appointment that [he's] got . . . Clear the decks for action."

VII.

Mason calls Dorcas. Foley's wife has sent a telegram from Midwick saying don't "do anything that would bring about a lot of newspaper publicity." Mason sends Dorcas a box of 50¢ cigars. Drake reports that Mrs Foley is Paula Cartright, Foley is Forbes whose real wife is Bessie. The whole thing was a scandal in Santa Barbara. Mason makes an appointment to see Foley, 8:30 by Foley but 9 by Mason.

VIII.

Mason arrives at 8:30, finds the door open, Prince shot twice inside, and Foley lying dead in the library with an automatic nearby. Mason calls Drake to have him sequester the men who've been watching Foley's house, then find Mrs Forbes. He then calls police headquarters and reports the body. Then he cases the house.

IX.

Det Sgt Holcomb, a shorthand reporter and three men from homicide grill Mason under bright lights. Mason continually points out flaws in Holcomb's theories of the murder. Mason gets paid by ability, and Holcomb "might have to go hungry a few months - unless [he] showed more intelligence. . ." Mason gets a headache from the lights.

X.

Ed Wheeler and George Doake tell Mason and Drake what they saw re. Foley's house. At about 6:15 a Chevrolet picked up Thelma Benton. At 7:25 a Checker cab brought a woman, who left at 7:47. She might have rung the bell, or used a key, to enter. Mason arrived at 8:29. The boys are sent to get the Checker driver. A report to Drake indicates that Mrs C M Dangerfield, aka Bessie Forbes, is at the Breedmont Hotel, Room 764.

XI.

Sam Marson gets five dollars plus the meter for telling Mason and Drake about the jane he delivered to Foley's house, her high-pitched voice, her scented handkerchief, which scent Della can identify as Vol de Nuit.

XII.

Mason, with Drake, confronts Bessie Forbes. Her voice and perfume are those indicated by the cabbie. Mason pours her perfume down the drain, has Paul smoke a cigar to cover the odor, tells Bessie to buy cheap perfume and put it all over everything after registering at the Broadway Hotel. She is to answer no questions unless her lawyer is present. Then Mason asks Drake to get a stand-in for Bessie.

XIII.

After Della covers Mae Sibley with the expensive perfume Mason instructs Mae, the stand-in, in what how she must retrieve Bessie's handkerchief. He wants handwriting specimens from four women. Mae reports with the handkerchief; she gave cabbie name of Agnes Brownlie. Mason calls Holcomb, tells him he has a handkerchief that is evidence.

XIV.

Mason catches a cab to the Broadway Hotel. Bessie Forbes says she found the dog and Clint dead. She denies the gun is hers. She expects Arthur Cartright to come over, as she'd asked the taxi driver to phone him. Mason informs her of her lost handkerchief and that he's given it to the police. She's to say she wants to tell her story, cut her lawyer won't let her. Sergeant Holcomb and two men arrive to arrest Bessie.

XV.

Della wants Perry to throw Arthur Cartright to the wolves to get Bessie off quickly. He explains the duty of a lawyer for the defense, and of the prosecutor. Drake reports that he's been unable to locate the taxicab driver who went to Foley's when Mrs Cartright left. Mason wants a quick trial. Ah Wong is to be deported; Mason wants an interpreter to make certain he'll claim the dog howled. Report to Drake indicates the murder weapon was bought by Bessie Forbes two days before her husband ran away with Paula Cartright. Mason tips off Alex Bostwick, city editor of The Chronicle, to talk to Cartright's housekeeper Elizabeth Walker.

XVI.

Bessie says she forgot that she purchased the gun, because her husband took it from her when she first threatened to kill herself. Trask is Benton's alibi, he's a gambler. Her weak spot is 7:30 to 7:50, and her hand is badly mangled (so says Dr Phil Morton)., reports Drake. Mason poses as Chronicle writer, offering money if she has a diary. Handwriting of Paula, Thelma and Elizabeth don't match Paula's note.

XVII.

The jury is chosen, then sworn in by Judge Markham. Claude Drumm, chief trial deputy from the D A's office, gives a strong opening statement. Thelma Benton testifies to finding the bodies of man and dog, that she came from Santa Barbara with man, dog, posing wife and Ah Wong about a year before, and Paula Cartright left the house in the morning. Sam Marson testifies that the accused was the woman he took to the house and who claimed the handkerchief. Mason shows that he's been coached by the D A, then has Mae Sibley stand up. Marson denies this was the woman who picked up the handkerchief "but if [he] was mistaken on one, [he] could be mistaken on the other." Drumm is infuriated and Mason takes him, his two deputies and Mae with himself into Markham's chambers. Mason points out that he cross-examined the taxi driver "by an object lesson, rather than by questions." The judge instructs Drumm to keep hand off Mae, who is quickly surrounded by half a dozen newspaper reporters as they exit back into the courtroom.

XVIII.

Perry explains to Della how all he did was go one step farther than the usual methods of testing the cabbie's identification, capitalizing on his uncertainty, thus beating the authorities to the punch. He dictates a confession to Della who uses a new portable typewriter to conceal the source. Arthur Cartright confesses to killing his wife, but not Forbes! He buried her where the contractors were to pour a cement floor the next day. Mason signs it, imitating the signature on Cartright's will. Mason has figured that Cartright finally figured his wife was already dead, therefore he changed how the will disposed of his estate; he'd "undoubtedly been in touch with Bessie Forbes, and knew that she was in the city, so he left the property to her." Mason mails the confession to The Chronicle and throws the portable typewriter into the reservoir.

XIX.

Mason has Drake send a man to get Thelma Benton's October 18th diary page. Mason explains "We're a dramatic people. We're not like the English. The English want dignity and order." Frank Everly then argues that "Everybody knows that [Bessie's] innocent." So Mason cannot put her on the stand, because he "can't make the jury think she's any more innocent."

XX.

Drumm pounds home the gruesome details of the murder. Over lunch, Mason points out to Everly how the mass mind, the jury in this instance, cannot hold an emotion for more than three minutes. They will want relief, and Mason will give it to them.

XXI.

Drumm has the sporting goods store clerk identify Bessie Forbes as buyer of the murder weapon. Mason gets a ruling from Judge Markham that his cross-examination cannot be interrupted no matter how long. She testifies that the dog was devoted to Paula Cartright and Mrs Forbes and her. She identifies the letter Mrs Cartright left when she rejoined her husband. Mason shows her writing supposedly by Mrs Cartright, but Benton says it is not. Same with a sample of Bessie Forbes. Benton is asked to write, and it is not that of Cartright. At the usual afternoon recess, Everly gets a copy of the Chronicle's extra; the bodies have been found (as expected, the newspaper would break up the concrete when they got the faked confession). When court is resumed, Drumm tries to get a postponement, but Markham is reminded by Mason that his cross is not to be interrupted. Mason asks about Paula Cartright's leaving the morning of the 17th and, when she hesitates, Mason calls attention to her hesitation. Benton backs off; "I can't say that I saw her personally." Mason now makes Benton identify the telegram and the letter by Cartright as the same person. Drumm claims the witnesses ill, the case should be continued and it might be dismissed. Mason states this is not what he wants, he wants the defendant acquitted. Mason asks Benton to explain how Cartright could send the telegram on the 17th when she was murdered the 16th. Mason asks if she didn't send the telegram and write the letter. Her right hand was bandaged because the dog bit it. Her hand was mangled the 17th, 18th, 19th. Yes. Then didn't she keep a diary? He produces the page from the 18th. The handwriting is the same as on the telegram and letter, because Benton is ambidextrous. She screams, then faints. Drumm demands "in the name of common decency, in the name of humanity" a continuation. Benton was his last witness and Mason has finished his cross. Drumm is forces to rest. Mason also rests. Drumm again wants a dismissal, but is forced to give his summation. Mason then explains one possible scenario. The dog was shot attacking the murderer, who couldn't have been Mrs Forbes because Prince liked her. The howling dog was howling at the grave of a loved one! When Paula found Forbes had lost interest in her, for whom she'd sacrificed social position and friends, she had to be silenced. When Cartright investigated, he, too, was silenced. The conspirators then made it look like the two Cartright's had reunited and run away. Benton, against whom Mason is "making no case," returned with her accomplice and the dog attacked him and was shot. In a struggle, Forbes was shot. Mason sits down, and Drumm has "No argument."

XXII.

Mason has brought a police dog to his office, and puts him in a closet. Mason Of course, his scenario was all conjecture. Bessie Forbes arrives, and the police dog forces the closet door open and rushes to Bessie with joyous howls. It is, of course, Prince, whose owner had exchanged it the eve of the 16th at a kennel for a similar police dog. She leaves, at Mason's insistence, with Prince. Mason now explains that, though Bessie could not have been the murderer because the Prince would not have sprung at her, if the dog were not Prince . . . On the other hand, maybe it was Bessie who killed Forbes, but in self-defense. Says Mason, "I feel certain that it was. She had to defend herself against a dog and a man. But I acted only as her lawyer." Since it is an acquittal, not a dismissal, she cannot be tried again. Della says a Curious Bride will be coming back and Mason says "I'll wait for her."

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Fifth Perry Mason Novel, © 1934;

The Case of the Curious Bride

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Crocker, a.k.a. . . .

Benjamin & Ellen Crandall

Fat man in Balboa hall

Perry Mason

Carl W Montaine

Doris (Pender) Freeman

Della Street

Woman neighbor of Moxley

Yet another cab driver

Paul Drake

Safe taxi driver

Oscar Pender

A ladies' man

Two detectives in Ford

Judge Frank Munroe

Taxi driver

Chronicle editor Bostwick

Bailiff

Nell Brinley

Joe of the Chronicle

John C Lucas

Rhoda Montaine aka Rhoda Lorton

Second Chronicle reporter

Bessie Holeman

A Printer

Mabel Strickland, nurse

Judge Markham

Telegraph attendant

Dr Claude Millsap

Court Clerk

Second taxi driver

C Philip Montaine

Mr Simpson

Gregory Moxley, aka Lorton, Carey, Freeman

A messenger

Officer Harry Exeter

Drug store clerk

Bertie, Otis' daughter

Frank Lane

Newsboy

Sidney Otis

A deputy sheriff

Overbearing man in elevator

Danny Spear

Here, as in previous novels, Gardner has different people repeat the basic facts in several different circumstances; the reader is clearly given the info that will break the case long before Mason uses it in the denouement.

Here, also, as he will in the early novels, Gardner has Mason plant fake-evidence to confuse the D A.

I.

Helen Crocker, whom Della Street, at the end of The Case of the Howling Dog believed she was a bride, is nervous. She is calling upon Perry Mason to help her "on behalf of a friend." Her friend's husband died in an air crash over seven years ago. Can her friend re-marry without a divorce? Without the corpus delicti, can one be convicted of murder. Mason wants the "friend" to come to the office. Ms Crocker leaves.

II.

Mason tells Della he failed to help the curious bride. Paul Drake arrives, says he tailed Mason's client, who was being followed by a man "about thirty-two or thirty-three, light hair, brown eyes. . .something of a ladies' man." The lady didn't notice either him or Drake following her.

III.

Della gives Perry Helen's address and phone number. Della tries the number and finds that it was disconnected and the address doesn't exist. Mason finds a brown purse and he empties it as Della records the inventory, which includes a .32 caliber Colt automatic, Ipral, and a telegram to R Montaine at 128 East Pelton Avenue from Gregory. Mason takes a taxi to the address and is met by Nell Brinley, who passed the telegram on to Rhoda Montaine aka Rhoda Lorton. Mason takes the taxi around the corner to a phone and instructs Della to call Nell with a message from Gregory to get back to his office. Then, check marriage licenses to Montaine, bride Lorton. Then find a phone for the man and have Drake put an operative on him. Check the Colt number.

IV.

Mason has a printer make a card with "R W Montaine" on it, uses this to get a telegraph attendant to find who sent the telegram to R Montaine, then addresses a telegram to the sender, Gregory Moxley. With the address now in hand, he goes to Moxley at the Bellaire Apartments, passes himself off as a friend of Rhoda. The fake telegram arrives. Moxley is now worried by Mason, particularly when the lawyer suggests that Rhoda may have been mistaken in thinking she is a widow. A phone call from Rhoda; Moxley mentions Mason's presence and Mason tries to get a message to her, but Moxley hangs up. Della reports on the phone that Rhoda was married to Gregory Lorton who died of pneumonia. Her gun was sold to Dr Claude Millsap, who signed Gregory Lorton's death certificate. Mason tells Della to have Drake get info on Moxley, but not tail him.

V.

A drug store clerk explains that Ipral is a hypnotic, "a species of sedative." Mason returns to the taxi, but sees a car swaying and approaching. Mason steps from the curb, and Rhoda Montaine stops. Mason gets her to tell her story. She married Carl Montaine, son of wealthy C Phillip Montaine who dominates his son and doesn't like her. She can't get a divorce and re-marry Carl. She leaves.

VI.

A newsboy gives Mason a newspaper; the headline reads "MIDNIGHT VISITOR KILLS CROOK" and details the murder of Gregory Carey alias Gregory Lorton early this morning. Neighbors heard it all, including the name "Rhoda," though apparently she was with a man. [On the way up in the elevator, a man asks if Mason's read the paper, boasts of "talking things over with Perry Mason."] Before he finishes the article, Della admits Carl Montaine. He is certain his wife, Rhoda, is shielding Dr Millsap, whom he believes murdered Moxley while his wife was with him. She thought that she put him to sleep with Ipral in chocolate, but he saw her dosing the drink and threw it out. He faked deep sleep, saw her go out, carefully shutting the garage doors as she left (double sliding doors, so only one car can exit at a time); he tried to follow her but was too slow getting dressed. Upon her return, she had to leave the garage open, for she didn't have the strength to lift the door off the other car on which it was caught, and he asked her about this, but she had an excuse. So he didn't confront her on this or why she'd been out, but tried to call Millsap only to get his Japanese servant. Because of the Montaine name, he wants his father protected, but his wife first, and he is going to tell the police what he knows. Mason warns Carl of his jealousy to Millsap, and says that he'll make his overbearing father pay.

VII.

Mason goes looking for Rhoda, but she is not home. He questions a neighbor; Rhoda left with a small bag, and sent a large trunk express. Mason figures she's gone to the Municipal Airport, catches a taxi. The taxi driver notices a tail, and Mason has him shake it, but they reappear at the airport. Mason finds Rhoda waiting for a plane, slips her into telephone booth where he warns her that flight is an indication of guilt. He calls Bostwick at the Chronicle to surrender her to the newspaper, telling him the details about Lorton/Carey/Moxley. She tells him her version of the story in detail; She "had done something awful . . . that would put [her] in jail." She was not so much afraid of jail as what it would do to her marriage to Carl. She had thought Gregory had died in a plane crash, but he wasn't on the plane. Gregory was in trouble and had again contacted Nell Brinley. He wanted money from her and Carl. She slipped out, after drugging Carl, to Gregory's place, getting a flat tire on the way; the spare was flat, too, with a nail in it. She refused to pay Gregory. When he got abusive, she tried to phone Mason, then grabbed a fireplace poker and swung, hitting Gregory as the lights went out. Someone else was there, lighting matches, and someone was at the door, ringing the bell, insistently. She left after the bell stopped ringing. She didn't know that she'd dropped her keys until she saw them in the paper. She thought she'd locked the garage, but apparently hadn't, and couldn't close the door after she opened it. She declares that Millsap was not with her. Joe and another Chronicle reporter accept Rhoda's surrender as two detectives rush up to claim her.

VIII.

Mason, Drake and Street plot actions to take. Perry has Della write up a habeas corpus for Rhoda. Drake suggests a routine for finding Carl. Mason is worried the authorities will have Rhoda's marriage to Carl declared void. Mason writes a letter to the Chronicle to shape the discussion about the husband's betrayal of the wife rather than the wife's actions. Looking at photos of the crime scene, Mason notes that Gregory had only ten minutes to get ready for his appointment. He notes that there are no fingerprints on the doorknob. Rhoda was wearing gloves, so someone else wiped the doorknob clean, meaning she did not commit the murder.

IX.

After upsetting Mabel, Dr Millsap's nurse, Mason upsets Millsap with knowledge of the .32 Colt. The doctor tells how he took a charity patient who was dying of pneumonia and got him admitted to the hospital when he agreed to pose as Gregory Lorton. Thus they got a death certificate. Yes, he asked Rhoda to marry him, but at the time she was off men for good. Her maternal instinct came to the fore, however, with Carl, whom she is trying to nurse back to life. Then Moxley showed up wanting money "Because some one was threatening to send him to jail for a swindle he'd worked." He gave Rhoda the gun for protection, suggested she threaten she'd have him arrested for embezzlement. Mason asks where the doctor was at two o'clock, and notes that his Japanese servant answered a call at that hour. Millsap says the caller seemed drunk. He went to Gregory's, rang the bell repeatedly, got no answer, saw Rhoda's car. He drove his own around to another parking spot, came back, and Rhoda's car was gone. Mason suggests that the doctor looks ill and a good trip such as an ocean voyage might do him good. Before Millsap can take action, the two detectives who picked up Rhoda enter and take the doctor into custody.

X.

Della tells Mason that the police have called, gloating, and he can now see Rhoda, since she's confessed. Drake says she claims to have gone to Moxley's, rung the bell, got no answer, and left. Of course, she dropped her keys on an earlier visit. Mason notes, "And all of this time, Carl Montaine is insisting that he locked the door of the garage when he put his car in, and that Rhoda must have had her keys in order to get the garage open; that she herself, told him she had left her purse in the car and that she went out and unlocked the door in order to get the purse just before she went to bed." C Phillip Montaine has arrived, and Paul goes out through the main office to get a look, returns quickly; Montaine was in a car when Drake first noticed Helen/Rhoda being tailed. Montaine enters, clearly with a plan in mind. He's spoken to the D A, in confidence, and so cannot state certain things to Mason, but if Mason already knows them . . . Mason understands the D A will seek an annulment, and Montaine wants this, so he can get rid of Rhoda, as well as easy treatment of his son. Otherwise, no fee. Mason challenges Montaine's motives behind wanting to get rid of Rhoda at any cost, and notes that he must have been in the city long before he claims, gathering, with detectives, information on Rhoda's power over Carl. After Montaine leaves, Mason speaks to Drake, who now notes that Carl and father must have been working together! And father then knew about Moxley and the two o'clock appointment. Della reports that a messenger has brought annulment papers, and Dr Millsap rang up and said he told the police nothing.

XI.

Mason has rented the Colemont Apartments, next the Bellaire Apartments. He goes upstairs to the former Moxley apartment, disconnects the kitchen bell with a buzzer, then does this for the three other apartments. He discovers discarded matches on the floor and discovers how someone could have slipped from downstairs into the upstairs apartment. He finds the match container with "Compliments of the Palace Hotel, the best in Centerville" on it.

XII.

Otis Electrical Company. A young woman, Bertie, greets Mason who identifies himself. Sidney Otis, who was once on a Mason jury, comes running from the back. Mason offers him the use of Moxley's apartment for six months, rent free, if he'll put in a doorbell to replace whatever is there. He should keep the old bell/buzzer, marked for identification. Mason gives him $50 for expenses.

XIII.

Drake and Street greet Mason with the latest D A's announcement; they are going to exhume the body of Gregory Lorton. Drake has discovered that a Gregory Freeman registered at the Palace Hotel in Centerville, and married a Doris Pender. Doris Freeman has recently moved in to the Balboa Apartments, and made a phone call to Moxley early the 16th. A record of the phone call was made by photographer Danny Spear.

XIV.

Mason and Drake tell Spear how to get a look at Doris Freeman at the apartment. They then enter, encounter Mrs Freeman, and catch her off guard with the possibility of using the phone for blackmail, demanding money. "We didn't do that" she states. Mason fakes a call to the "investigations department" and learned she called to murdered Moxley. Drake and Mason then discuss the murder situation and leave Freeman wanting to give them a sob story, but no lead to her accomplice. Spear waits outside in the car to follow her.

XV.

Mason is dictating a divorce decree which he explains to Della is better than an annulment, for then Rhoda can get alimony and her husband cannot testify against her. Rhoda made the worst mistake possible in saying she was at the scene of the crime when it happened, for her falsehood, though more plausible than the truth, will not convince a jury. Danny Spear calls for Mason to come to the Greenwood Hotel. He gets a cab. At the Hotel, Danny, bruised and beat up, tells Mason how he tailed Doris Freeman to the room, then followed her out, doubled back and found Oscar Pender, who beat him up. Oscar phoned his sister Doris at the Balboa Apartments and suggested they leave town together. He's got Drake chasing them.

XVI.

Judge Frank Munroe enters to the intoned formula of the bailiff. Deputy D A John Lucas has Carl Montaine state when he married Rhoda. When Lucas tries to call Rhoda, Mason objects, stipulates as to the marriage, but challenges any entry of evidence of who the man named Gregory Lorton who died in the hospital was, as it is of no consequence, as a Gregory Lorton was alive at the time of Rhoda's marriage to him! Mason calls Mrs Bessie Holeman who says she married Gregory Moxley. She divorced him, but after Rhoda married him. Therefore Rhoda's marriage to him is null and void. Mason takes Rhoda aside and presents the divorce decree he wants her to press. She loves Carl, doesn't believe his father would want her convicted, but signs.

XVII.

Mason explains to Drake why he wants Oscar and Doris on the run, but not caught. He wants to use their flight as proof of guilt. Oscar and one other, plus Rhoda, claim to have rung the bell. One is the murderer. Drake tells Mason that someone has agency detectives looking for Pender. Perry suggests father Montaine. Paul leaves as Della shows a crying Mabel Strickland in. She claims that Millsap has been kidnapped by two men with automatics in a black Buick. Perry finds that her handkerchief is soaked with tear gas. So Millsap went away, but Mabel can reach him.

XVIII.

Judge Markham opens the case and the clerk calls men to the jury box. Markham makes a brief challenge to the jurors. Mason then asks one juror, Mr Simpson, if he could be truly impartial, if he could, were he the defendant, trust the other jurors. He says "Yes." So Mason ask if any other juror "who would not answer that question as Mr Simpson has answered it?" Thus Mason shows he trusts the jurors. This makes Lucas certain Mason has "'planted' some very friendly person on that jury." So he relentlessly examines everyone, thus alienating the jury. Lucas calls Officer Harry Exeter, who found the dead body. He testifies to finding the keys. On cross, Mason asks about the clock, the time to which it was set. Frank Lane, the man who changed Rhoda's tire, testifies he was with him from 1:45 to 2:10. Benjamin Crandall testifies he was in an apartment across from Moxley's room. When Lucas presents a map, Mason raises the issue of elevations regarding actual distance. Since no elevation is available, the jury will go to the site later. Now Crandall testifies to what he heard, the telephone ringing, the phone conversation and mention of "Rhoda," the struggle and ringing of the doorbell. Mason makes him swear that the later ringing was certainly not a telephone. Mason challenges; "it is a physical impossibility for one who in Apartment 269 of the Bellaire Apartments to hear the doorbell ringing in Apartment B in the Colemont Apartments. Crandall insists he heard the doorbell, though he'd never heard it before or since.

XIX.

The jurors are at the murder apartment. A deputy sheriff rings the bell, and Mason asks that the doorbell be removed as evidence. The jurors go to the Crandall apartment, crowd around the open windows, when a "whirring bell exploded the silence." Mason complains this is improper and Lucas feigns innocence when Mason suggests he is an accomplice in the bell being rung. Back at the court Lucas calls Ellen Crandall who testifies exactly as her husband; the court adjourns for the evening. Mason tells the judge that he has to take a deposition in the morning of Carl Montaine in the civil case brought by Rhoda Montaine. Lucas cannot be present at a civil hearing. Mason calls father Montaine and leaves a message to have him meet him at seven-thirty in the eve, then asks Della to follow through. The next day when the court resumes, Mason quotes Benjamin Crandall's description of the whirring bell sound. Then Lucas puts Sidney Otis on the stand to testify to the bell, and learns that it has been changed. Lucas is enraged, dismisses Otis to call another witness, but Mason reminds him that Mrs Crandall was on the stand and he wishes to continue his cross. Mason primes her that she couldn't have heard the doorbell, brings out the photograph showing the alarm clock, and demands that it be brought so he can test its sound on the witness. Over Lucas' objections, the judge notes he opened this line of argument, and the alarm clock is produced. Mason winds it, turns the hands, and it whirrs, stops a while, whirrs again. "Now, Mrs Crandall, since it appears that it couldn't have been the doorbell that you heard, since you are equally positive that it wasn't the telephone bell that you heard, don't you think that the bell you heard must have been that of the alarm clock?" "Yes." Mason recalls Mr Crandall; "Do you desire to contradict your wife's testimony that it was the alarm clock she heard, or . . ." Lucas objects and is sustained, but after a further statement of the question, the witness blurts "If you fellows think I'm going to contradict my wife, you're crazy!" Now Lucas argues that Rhoda Montaine can't possibly have been the murderer because she could not have been at the house when the alarm clock rang, at which time the murder was committed (this is the first of Gardner's time-shift-of-the-murder plots, which are the best of his mystery genre). So he continues that the testimony should be excluded because he couldn't check if the clock had been shut off or run down. The judge says couldn't is didn't; namely, he sat like a sulky child when offered to check the clock. Court is adjourned to the next day.

XX.

Mason tells C Phillip Montaine that it is he who has kept his son sequestered by the D A even though he cannot testify. Mason then has Della read the deposition given by Carl. Carl put the nail in the spare tire. Thus, he was able to slip out to Moxley's while his wife was getting the tires fixed. Mason queries, " Didn't you hear your wife state she was going to telephone me? And then the sounds of struggle? And didn't you, in a sudden panic, lest your name and the name of your family should be dragged into such a mess and bring disgrace or fancied disgrace to your father, pull out the master switch . . ." and enter the apartment, strike a match and then hit Moxley with the poker? Then you met Oscar Pender in the hall, tell him you'd found Moxley dead, wipe finger prints off door knobs and the murder weapon, and turn the lights back on, then return home just before your wife got back. Here you found you'd dropped your keys at Moxley's, so you couldn't lock it, and took your wife's as your own when she returned. Your car now was not fully in the garage, so Rhoda couldn't shut the door after opening it. C P now admits he had detectives following Rhoda, but so did his son. His detective got lost when Rhoda headed to Moxley's. Mason gets money for himself and Rhoda, two signed blank checks.

XXI.

Perry explains to Rhoda that Miss Pender was being helped by her brother to collect from Moxley whom she'd married as Freeman. Della gives Rhoda the deposition to read; she understands that she "wanted to get a man who was weak and mother him . . . wanted a child. A man can't be a child. He can only be weak and selfish." She's cured. She wants Della to get Millsap on the phone. During this, Della has told Perry that a man has been telephoning whose glass eye has been stolen; The Case of the Counterfeit Eye is next.

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Sixth Perry Mason Novel, © 1935;

The Case of the Counterfeit Eye

Click HERE to go to the related TV episode

Perry Mason

Hazel Fenwick, Dick's wife

Two D A officers

Della Street

Police officer

Thelma Bevins

Peter Brunold

Sergeant Holcomb

Judge Kenneth D. Winters

Harry McClane

Policeman in hall

Newspaper reporters

Paul Drake

Hamilton Burger

Dalton C Bates, glass eye specialist

Bertha McClane

[Stephen Chalmers]

Jackson Selbey, Downtown Optical Co

Hartley Basset

Two policemen in police car

[Woman on plane]

Arthur (Colemar), secretary

Maryland Hotel desk clerk

[Bellhop]

Mrs Sylvia Basset

Waitress in hotel dining room

Deputy sheriff

James (Overton), chauffeur

Muldoon, house detective

George Purley, handwriting expert

Richard (Dick) Basset, Sylvia's son

Second waitress

Three newspaper men

Broad-hipped woman, Edith Brite

Cashier

[Carl] Jackson

This novel marks the first appearance of Mason's long-term nemisis, Hamilton Burger.

Mason's aide is called Jackson. Here we learn his first name, Karl.

I.

Perry Mason is convinced by Della Street to see a man with a glass eye, Peter Brunold. Glass eyes can be a work of art, says Brunold, and shows Mason the counterfeit bloodshot eye as well as good eyes. He thinks a murder may be committed and the original stolen eye will be used to convict him. Mason explains how he can avoid this. As Brunold heads out of the office to retrieve his hat, he sees Harry, turns back and is ushered out directly to the corridor. Mason has Della hold Harry McClane and sister Bertha until he can speak to Paul Drake. Mason instructs Drake to go the Hotel Baltimore and register under a false name as a dealer in glass eyes, contact a wholesaler and buy several eyes and ask him to match the bloodshot one he then gives Drake.

II.

The two McLanes enter. Brother has embezzled from Hartley Basset, nearly $4000, on $100 month salary. Sis wants Mason to pay off Bassett on her $40 a week out of which she sends her mother $70 a month. Mason tells her that her brother has $750 a month based on salary and theft, and she must stop supporting the weakling. Mason says he'll do what he can.

III.

Mason arrives at Hartley Basset's office on time, and Basset has his secretary Arthur get the numbers on McLane. Basset wants his money by tomorrow. Mason says he can get $1500 and $30 a month. Basset wants $100 a month. Basset says McLane has an accomplice who is a gambler and wants to keep enough to continue gambling, but he wants the money. Mrs (Sylvia) Basset tries to join the twosome, on the side of Bertha McLane, but Hartley says "no." She leaves, Mason leaves and finds her in his car. She suggests that the sister can make the payment; her mother can get charity, and she's afraid what Hartley would do if not paid. She is afraid to come to Mason's office; Hartley would kill her. She wants to leave Hartley; she already wants to marry someone else, bigamy or no. They are being followed by James, Basset's chauffeur. Mason drops her off at the house-office and Basset and chauffeur confront Mason, who stands them down. Mason calls Bertha McLane and says he won't represent her unless he gets her brother to come clean.

IV.

Mason gets an hysterical call from Sylvia Basset saying that she's leaving her husband who's "been guilty of a brutal attack. . . . [her] son (by a previous marriage) is going to kill him. . . ." A woman has been injured by her husband. He drives to the Basset's, is met by son Dick, who has .38 cartridges in his hand and a gun that had been fired. His wife, Hazel is unconscious, being tended by a broad-hipped woman. Mason calls the police, identifying himself as Richard Basset. Hazel comes to enough to whisper to her husband, who states that it wasn't Hartley who hit her, but a man who was with him in a black mask with but one eye. Mason crosses into the adjacent room, then in to Hartley's inner office, and finds him dead. A suicide note in the portable typewriter states that he is "a failure . . . cannot even hold the respect and love or even the friendship of my own wife . . ." and in his hand is a glass eye. Mason asks if this means anything to Sylvia, and she says "nothing" until he threatens "there's no further need for my services. Hazel Fenwick is now standing; Mason sends her to his office and calls Della to meet her, calls a cab for Della. Mason discovers that Arthur Colemar knew of the attack on Miss Fenwick; Basset is instructed to get his story straight with mom, particularly about the single shot; then he takes Mason to Colemar, who proves uncooperative. In his room< Mason finds the paper he gave Bertha.. An officer begins questioning Mason, then discovers a second gun. "Mason stared at Mrs. Basset. . .She made no answer. Her lips were bloodless, her eyes dark with terror."

V.

Mason asks why Sylvia planted the gun; so it would look like suicide. She seems dumb about fingerprints and identification of bullets. She won't talk with Mason until she's talked again with Dick. He advises her to act crazy with the police. Sergeant Holcomb of the Homicide Squad arrives and is surprised to find Mason, but gets nowhere with questioning. A third gun is found, on the dead man. Mason was there on business, discovered the problem with Miss Fenwick, who is at his office. Holcomb sends police to pick her up, then sends Mason to his office in a police car.

VI.

Perry finds only Della at his office. She's had a time wisecracking with the police who didn't find Miss Fenwick at the office. They discuss the case. Mason notes the probable murderer had a carbon paper mask on when he left the murder scene, and the good eye and the socket had holes in the paper. Mason then orders Drake over the phone to get information on Mrs Basset, Dick and Brunold. Brunold arrives and Mason informs him how and where to get his stolen eye. Did Brunold know Mrs Basset? Yes. For a year. He lies about the most recent visit, last night, where he saw her, Dick, Colemar. Holcomb arrests him.

VII.

The police call Mason to inform him that his car has been found in front of the station next a fireplug in a 20 minute zone, getting tickets every 20 minutes. Drake reports his news; a two-eyed Pete Brunold was the beau of Sylvia Berkley until, in a train crash in which he was returning to her urgent call, he lost an eye and his memory. When he regained his memory, Sylvia had disappeared. She had married Basset under the name of Loring, to support her boy, whom Basset adopted so he could inherit.

VIII.

Bertha and Harry arrive and he says he's paid off Basset in cash about 11 pm. Mason shows the two how Harry could be the murderer in the eyes of a jury. Drake reports on the phone, so only Mason hears it, that the police have found that the suicide note was typed on Mrs Basset's portable typewriter by someone with touch system. Harry admits that he's used Mrs Basset's typewriter, with touch system. Drake then reports he's found Sylvia "Lorton" and that detectives are watching her.

IX.

Mason and Drake, posing as window washers, gain access to Sylvia's hideaway apartment at a window. She is hiding from the police, and gasps when Mason tells her there is a policeman in the hall. She says she used hysteria during the police interrogation. She denies knowing Brunold until Mason points out that "he's the father of [her] child." She says "Even Dick doesn't know." She admits that Brunold "left just before [she] discovered Hazel Fenwick unconscious." She had hopes Hazel would make a good impression on Basset; no one knew she was married to Dick. She denies seeing Harry McLane that night. Someone was in Basset's office when Hazel went there, though she thought Basset was alone. The back door could have been used and Brunold and McLane knew of it. Brunold was with her, but left to find Overton, and couldn't. Sergeant Holcomb shows up and Mason and Drake make a quick escape.

X.

Mason signs a habeas corpus on Brunold. Drake enters, suggest Fenwick "was kidnaped, met with an accident, or she skipped out." Mason notes that her fingerprints should be on a mirror at Basset's, and Drake should identify them. Perry asks Della to look up "how easily [glass eyes] can be jarred loose." Hamilton Burger, the new D A is discussed, just before he arrives to see Mason. Burger knows Mason is tricky, but legitimate and, as D A, he can't be unorthodox. Mason tells him "if I should find one of my clients was really guilty of murder and wasn't morally or legally justified, I'd make that client plead guilty. . ." Burger asks Mason to produce Hazel Fenwick, whom he believes may "meet with foul play" if she hasn't already. He give Mason a 48 hour ultimatum.

XI.

Drake reports on Fenwick. She's "a female Bluebeard." Her men die of arsenic poisoning. She got caught once, skipped out and disappeared. A Stephen Chalmers identified her from a photo he sneaked from Basset's watch. Mason suggests he'll provide a free divorce for Chalmers. He then has Drake get a ringer for Fenwick and send her to Nevada. Also, get close-up photos of everyone at Basset's house in his chair. Harry calls from the Maryland Hotel registered as George Purdey.

XII.

Mason finds Harry dead. He places a bloodshot eye in his hand. When he returns to his car, he finds two men in a police car watching, then Sgt Holcomb joins them. Mason slips back into the hotel, asks the desk clerk for Harry McLane. No one registered under that name. Mason goes to the dining room, has a sandwich and bottle of beer, tips the waitress 50¢. In the lobby, Sgt Holcomb is behind a potted palm. Mason phones for Holcomb, leaves a message for him to come to the hotel. He then calls Burger, informs him McLane is supposed to be there with a tip. Burger says he'll send a man. After smoking a cigarette, Mason suggests to the desk clerk that McLane may have registered under a different name. The clerk calls the house detective, Mr. Muldoon. Holcomb interrupts, won't believe Mason tried to reach him, but is finally convinced by the waitress after Mason identifies a wrong waitress and a cashier who heard Mason's phone calls. Mason and Holcomb go to McLane's room; Holcomb enters, then sends Mason away. Back at his office, he finds Brunold (released just before Harry was murdered). Two men from the D A's office enter, arrest Brunold for murder. Mason destroy's the remaining glass eyes.

XIII.

Thelma Bevins is the ringer for Fenwick. Mason sends her to Reno to accept papers which he'll have sent. She exits, then Paul enters. He has the pictures but Colemar caught on he wasn't from the Journal and refused. He notes that Dick Basset "kept letting his gaze wander down to a spot on the floor." Mason sends Drake to Reno. He has Della "Take a divorce complaint" for desertion, defendant Hazel Chalmers, aka Hazel Fenwick, or Mrs Richard Basset.

XIV.

Judge Kenneth D. Winters presides over the preliminary hearing of the two accused murderers. Hamilton Burger calls James Overton, chauffeur and former private detective. Mason stipulates that Overton "was employed to spy upon the wife of Hartley Basset and that he endeavored to ingratiate himself with his master by reporting facts which made such espionage seem necessary." Burger is outraged. He identifies the glass eye found in Basset's hand and is the same one he'd seen 25 hours before, in Mrs Basset's bedroom. He'd gone to her room, heard someone escape through the window before she admitted him, and found the glass eye on the floor. He didn't see any man, and the murderer did not escape in Basset's car, though he didn't check the radiator. The man who escaped was not Richard Basset, but someone who talked "in a quick, excited manner . . ." Dalton C Bates testifies that the glass eye held by Basset "was made by a very expert craftsman" and that "The man who wore it is one who has a very high degree of bodily acidity." The eye found with McLane was "a stock eye." Mason's cross examine leads to the admission that a murderer bending over a man would not have his artificial eye drop out. He would have to deliberately remove it. Jackson Selbey identifies Brunold as someone who ordered a bloodshot eye made for him, on the morning of the 14th, the day after the murder. Brunold's excuse for wanting the eye was that he lost it jumping from a window and he needed it to claim he'd never lost the original or, if necessary, that it had been stolen. Mason asks him to identify the specific eye, but Selbey says he "refused to make the eye."

XV.

During a recess, Paul Drake pushes his way through the crowd into the courtroom and to Perry Mason, whom he tells he's blown it. A woman on the plane was clearly a plant and, while he was showering, a fake bellhop stole the telegram from Della Street telling him where to go. When he got there, the local police and newspaper reporters were waiting. Newspapers arrive with "MYSTERY WITNESS FOUND IN RENO, ADMISSIONS IMPLICATE LOCAL ATTORNEY." Burger wants an immediate adjournment to go to a Brand Jury. He's found Hazel Fenwick in Reno and Mason paid her expenses.

XVI.

Burger nods to a deputy sheriff who heads towards Mason. Burger argues that Mason will be a witness at the Grand Jury. With the subpoena in hand, he winks at Della. Burger calls George Purley, who attests to the typewritten note being from Mrs Basset's typewriter, typed by the touch system. Arthur Colemar then testifies to having discussed Basset's life insurance with Mrs Basset. He says he saw Brunold coming out of the house when he returned. He saw someone on the couch, but was sent to his room. Mason's cross elicits the idea that whomever killed Basset had to be well-known to him and that a man exhibiting an empty eye socket, his most distinctive feature, was improbable. Two men try to bring Thelma Bevins into the room, Burger threatens her, and Mason cautions her to refuse to answer first, because she doesn't have to, then on the grounds that it might tend to incriminate her. He admits having sent the lady to Reno. Mason then explains why all this is so, seeming to convince the lady supposedly aka Hazel Fenwick. Hazel must have seen the murderer's face when she tore off the mask. The crime was premeditated, the escape not. The murderer saw the glass eye in Basset's hand, realized he could stick its owner with the murder. The woman left a set of fingerprints and these showed that she was a female Bluebeard. He gives documents to Burger. Mason says he was protecting not himself but his client. Burger has looked at the photograph among the documents Mason gave him, and it is not of the woman they've brought in!

XVII.

In Judge Winters' chambers, Burger tries to have Sgt Holcomb place Mason in custody. Mason points out that Burger forced Thelma to be brought to court from Nevada. Mason explains only one man fears "Hazel Fenwick more than any other mortal on earth . . . the murderer of Hartley Basset." He resorted to flight when he thought a woman he couldn't recognize but whom the D A had identified as Hazel Fenwich was brought into court. Only Colemar refused to have his photo taken, for a photo of a person "facing a bright light would show pupils of unequal diameter if he had one glass eye." The phone rings; Della says she followed Colemar to the Union airport. Sgt Holcomb is rushed off to the airport. Mason explains that Harry McLane were partners in embezzling Basset, who had begun to suspect Colemar. McLane went to the house to get Colemar to cough up money to pay off Basset. When Bunold escaped from Mrs Basset's room, he dropped a spare eye from his pocket, which Colemar used. McLane was probably killed because he was going to talk. Mason was certain Burger would find a way to get Thelma there, which would trigger flight by the murderer. Three newspaper men burst in; Sgt Holcomb's been wounded and Colemar is dead. Mason lets Burger take the credit.

XVIII.

Mason explains to Della that Thelma couldn't have fouled up, for no matter what she said, Burger would not believe her! Now, to the correspondence; a memorandum from Jackson, "When a man inherits a caretaker, does he inherit the caretaker's cat?"

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Seventh Perry Mason Novel, © 1935;

The Case of the Caretaker's Cat

Click HERE to go to the TV episode

Perry Mason

Nathaniel Shuster

Reverend Milton

Carl Jackson, asst attorney

Paul Drake

Det Sgt Holcomb

Della Street

Winifred Laxter

Newspaper reporters

Ashton, caretaker

Douglas Keene, fiancé

Babson,crutch & cabinetmaker

Peter Laxter

[Taxi driver]

Newsboy

Samuel C Laxter

Hamilton Burger

Bellboy

Frank Oafley

Dr Robert Jason

Biltmore desk clerk

Clinker, the cat

Tom Glassman

Judge Pennymaker

Thelma Pixley, housekeeper

Gravediggers

Deputy D A Dick Truslow

Edith DeVoe, nurse

James Brandon, chauffeur

Autopsy surgeon

Nora Abbington

Mr Hammond

Various other witnesses

Man in Packard

Two other poker players

"There was something suggestive of a huge bear about Hamilton Burger, the district attorney. He was broad of shoulder, thick of neck, and, when he moved, his arms had that peculiar swinging rhythm which speaks for a network of perfectly coördinated muscles rippling under the skin." Hardly the Burger of the TV series.

I.

Carl Jackson, assistant attorney to Mason, is explaining about the will of Peter Laxter and how it affects his heirs, Sam Laxter and Frank Oafley but not Winifred Laxter, and caretaker Ashton. Mason brings up the instance of Fenwick who didn't see a client as an example of why Jackson was wise to bring this to him. [Is there any significance in Gardner's using the name Fenwick here, when that is the female Bluebeard's last name in the previous novel?] Ashton explains that Sam Laxter doesn't like his cat Clinker because he jumps on Ashton's basement apartment bed with dirty feet and Sam has to pay high laundry bills. Peter Laxter originally left Winifred his money, ten dollars to the other two, then two days before he died he changed it and cut her out. She's disappeared. No one can find his money. Ashton has saved money, carries a big sheaf of bills, but refuses to pay $500, then agrees to $250, what is reasonable to protect his cat, but Mason eventually accepts only $10 to write a letter, dictated to Della Street, telling Samuel Laxter he'll lose his inheritance if he hurts the cat. Ashton leaves, but Della notices out the window that he is being followed by a man in a new Packard.

II.

Della tries to get Perry to take a cruise. Jury-briber and pettifogger Nathaniel Shuster, with Sam Laxter and Frank Oafley, wants to settle with Mason if he will give him a release from Winifred Laxter. Mason says he'll deal only regarding the cat, Clinker.

III.

Mason informs Paul Drake that he intends to break the will "over a cat." He asks Drake to find Winifred and get info on Peter Laxter and the two grandsons. Then Jackson and Mason discuss the handwritten will. He then has Della call Paul to add Charles Ashton to his investigations.

IV.

Drake has the "high spots" and invites Mason to have a waffle with him. Winnie's waffles is owned and operated by Winifred Laxter, sole proprietor, waitress, cook. Drake orders waffles for Mason and himself and, when Winnie overhears their discussion of the will, introduces her to Mason. Nat Shuster appears at the window and Winnie reveals she's signed away her right to contest the will. She's happy living and making her own life, for now she's in tough with the real world. Paul doesn't get it, so Mason states "It isn't the future that counts; it's the present. It isn't what you save, it's what you make, and the way you make it." Mason brings up the issue of the cat, who will be poisoned by Sam. Doug Keene arrives, tries to get rid of Mason until Winifred assures him it's all right. Keene mentions Edith DeVoe, and this gives Mason his next move.

V.

In taxi, Drake notes that Ashton, who was in the auto accident with Pete Laxter, tried to collect from the penniless driver of the other car, paid $500 of bills in cash from $400 savings. Laxter was cashing in. Ashton rented two large-size safety deposit boxes, got a signature care, then signature, from half-brother Watson Clammert who was in a coma and never recovered! The two had quarreled years before, over the kitten Clinker. The Koltsdorf diamonds have never been found. Laxter was trying to buy property and Ashton later made an offer which was refused. While Laxter was stingy, he was liberal with his grandchildren. The day before the house fire, there was a hell of a fight. Nurse DeVoe knows about it; she's friendly with Oafley. At the house, they ask DeVoe questions after paying her a day's wages, $10, the same amount Mason took to represent the cat. She explains where everyone was when the fire started, and the bell system by which she communicated with Laxter. She eventually reveals that she found someone, whom she believes was Sam, in the dark garage running the car rapidly with a pipe hooked to the heating pipes, a few hours before the fire. They say they'll call her. Mason sees the situation as "dead open and shut" with Sam poisoning his grandfather with carbon monoxide, so he cannot inherit. Mason goes to a phone and tells Ashton that he doesn't need "to worry anymore about Clinker." Ashton wants to see Mason; he is put off until tomorrow.

VI.

Mason is "anxious to cooperate" with Burger, but Burger was burned in The Case of the Counterfeit Eye so is hesitant. He doesn't want to be made a "cat's-paw." Burger calls Dr Jason and his chief investigator, Tom Glassman. Dr Jason confirms the possibility of monoxide poisoning.

VII.

As they dig for the coffin, it is raining. When the coffin is opened, Dr Jason's best guess is that they should "Go ahead with your investigation." At the house they find a Green Packard, and Sam's car has a vacuum cleaner pipe in it with adjustable bands. On the way to the house, they find Oafley digging in thorne bushes for the Koltsdorf diamonds; he has a telegram suggesting where they and the money might be. In the house, James Brandon, chauffeur and butler, brings whiskey, soda and bourbon. Sam is out. Glassman reports that the telegram was sent from Winnie's Waffle Kitchen. Sam returns, injured in damaged Chevrolet. Shuster is not far behind shouting that they had dug up grandfather's body. He urges Sam and Frank to silence. Mrs Pixley answers the phone and Mason soon is speaking with Winifred, who says she must see him at once. Burger and Glassman now ask Mason if Ashton might know of the diamonds and they go looking for him. He is found, dead, with cat prints on him and the bedspread.

VIII.

Mason finds Winifred crying with a large, purring, Persian cat my her side. They get to talking and she mentions that her having to go to work is good because it freed her of Harry Inman whom she might otherwise have married; he lost interest when she wasn't going to inherit. Doug's in trouble. A murder. He brought the cat. He's gone into hiding where he cannot be found. Mason suggests he take Clinker and she says he can even have the business and she'll work for him if he will exonerate Doug so he can come back. He takes the cat in a hat box, phones Della to wait for him.

IX.

Mason delivers Clinker to Street, then goes to DeVoe's apartment, which he enters with a skeleton key. He finds her, unconscious, on the floor. He calls the police, then sees Burger and Glassman pulling up out front, and joins a poker game as if he were in the apartment next door. Hammond is the tenant and, after the police leave, he and Mason head out for waffles.

X.

Drake reports that Shuster apparently went out regarding a murder, arrived knowing about the body being dug up. Ashton was murdered about 10:30 and both Oafley and young Laxter have alibis. Oafley and DeVoe have a marriage license and may be married. They go to Douglas Keene's place. They drive near Keene's, walk two blocks and pick two locks. In Keene's apartment they find clothes washed to remove blood, not very successfully. Perry calls Della, "How would you like to elope?"

XI.

Perry, Paul and Della confront Reverend Milton regarding his marrying Oafley and DeVoe in her apartment across from the poker game. He performed the ceremony between ten and ten fifteen. After phoning her, the three visit Winifred, who shows Mason the note from Douglas. Mason says this is a note for the public, or he'd have signed it Doug. They find his hiding place in the building, and another note signed Doug. Mason tries to reach Burger, then reaches Sgt Holcomb, and announces he'll surrender Douglas Keene at 5 o'clock.

XII.

Early morning; Mason, Street and Drake in the office. Drake admits he knew that the blood-stained clothing in Keene's apartment did not come from the Ashton murder. He tells Mason about Babson, a cabinetmaker, who made a special crutch for Ashton. A man driving a green Packard with a scar on his face questioned Babson about the crutch. Holcomb arrives, trailed by reporters. He demands Mason tell him where Keene is, and Mason responds that he doesn't know. Holcomb explains why Keene is a fugitive, a murderer, how the cat tracks prove Keene was in Ashton's room at the time of the murder. Keene was at DeVoe's at the time of the murder and in his room were bloodstained clothes. Clinker is in police custody, with a tag around his neck.

XIII.

Mason tells Della to listen in on the loud-speaking inter-office telephone. Shuster with Sam Laxter and Frank Oafley confront Mason. Shuster says Burger says Mason accused Sam of murder. Mason says it was only what he was told. Oafley offers that DeVoe wasn't certain the man in the car was Sam. Mason quotes the Probate Code about a murderer not being able to inherit, and a fight ensues between Sam and Frank. Oafley goes to get his own lawyer. Shuster and Laxter storm out. Della says Winifred is here with a Persian cat. Winifred says this is Clinker, but the cat ignores her and Mason tells her to stop trying such stunts. Mason suggest he and Della go on a honeymoon.

XIV.

Mason, at Drake's office, instructs the detective to look for a new car bought by Watson Clammert. Drake says that the lock box shared by Clammert and Ashton is empty. Yes, Laxter did have a car crash, heard but not seen. Mason asks "If . . .Brandon saw Douglas Keene leaving the [Laxter] house carrying the cat, where was Ashton's crutch?" Keene calls in and Mason gives him instructions. Mason walks out and Sgt Holcomb, who was in the office follows him. Keene arrives on a bus, which Mason gets on at the last moment, and Holcomb barely gets on. Della has pulled her convertible along side and Keene jumps in, then Mason. Keene says he never saw Ashton when he got Clinker! They drive to headquarters and surrender just before Holcomb arrives.

XV.

Perry tells Della to prepare for a honeymoon; when they separate she kisses him passionately, and a watching newsboy chuckles. When Mason checks in with Drake he learns that the police have discovered him at the poker game. Sam Laxter was also identified in the building at about eleven fifteen. An old Chevy such as Sam was driving home was parked in front of DeVoe's at eleven. Mason sets up his honeymoon at the Biltmore in Santa Barbara and a telegram calling him east. Then he sends Thelma Pixley a telegram calling her to Hamilton Burger's home. Then he and Della go to a bank, then a Buick dealer and buy a Buick demonstrator in the name of Watson Clammert.

XVI.

Della plays the bride perfectly and chides Perry for poor performance. Mason heads out following the instructions he's sent himself as Clammert.

XVII.

Della then claims her Buick has been stolen, starting a multi-state search. Back at the office Mason tells Street he want's "to get even with Sergeant Holcomb."

XVIII.

Court. Judge Pennymaker and deputy D A Dick Truslow. The preliminary hearing regards only the death of Edith DeVoe. Tom Glassman identifies DeVoe, and the fingerprint on the weapon could not be identified by anybody at the Laxter residence. He found Ashton, with cat tracks made after his strangulation. Mason gets him to state that Sam returned in a damage car with an injured right arm. Oafley was found digging near the house. Other witnesses, then Babson are called. Finally Samuel Laxter who refuses to answer questions. Shuster interjects himself. Truslow give Laxter "immunity from prosecution for any crime other than that of murder." Now Laxter testifies he was in Shuster's office from ten until after eleven, with James Brandon. Mason cross-examines with conjecture that he found DeVoe unconscious, drove to Keene's, cut his arm leaving blood stains on Keene's garments, then phone Shuster and finally deliberately drove the car into a lamp-post. Now, Laxter refuses to answer on the ground it may tend to incriminate him. Oafley admits he was digging because he'd received a telegram suggesting where the Koltsdorf diamonds were hidden. Also, his wife had told him about the garage incident. He was with his wife at the marriage ceremony until shortly before the murder of Ashton. Thelma Pixley testifies to Keene's arrival about ten, going to Ashton's apartment, and leaving just after eleven with Clinker, which she identifies when the big Persian is brought in. Brandon testifies to seeing Keene with Clinker just after eleven. He'd been at Shuster's office from ten to eleven. Mason; "Was the defendant carrying a crutch when you saw him?" "No, sir." Brandon thinks Keene drove away then back, and stayed outside Ashton's cat window long enough to pick up a crutch, but he didn't see the car, only heard it. Mason gets Brandon to admit he had been following Ashton, as instructed by Oafley. Dr Robert Jason testifies to examining the body that was burned in the fire. Mason wants to know if the body had a broken right leg, and is ordered to check this. Della Street whispers that the "police in Sante Fé, New Mexico, have recovered my car. . . .Watson Clammert . . . in a suitcase in the car there was over a million dollars in currency." Winifred Laxter is forced to identify Clinker when the cat jumps into her lap. Clinker was given her by the defendant on the night of the murder. Now Truslow argues that apparently "the murder of Charles Ashton is inseparably connected with the murder of Edith DeVoe." So where the cat was at all times is important. He calls Della Street to the stand. She coyly refuses to admit the cat she had was Clinker, because she doesn't know if the cat she had belonged to the caretaker. Mason is called to testify. He then admits, yes, the cat was Clinker, which he took "so that there would be no chance for the cat to escape and return to the Laxter residence." Now Mason has free reign to explain what really happened. Simply, Peter Laxter is alive, using the alias of the dead man Clammert. Clinker did not make the cat tracks, but another cat after Keene removed him. Ashton didn't see the body, because it was brought there after he left, by Oafley, who brought in another cat to incriminate Keene, and that cat scratched him, so he went digging in the thornes to explain the scratches. Laxter expected the house to be burned, so gave money and diamonds to Ashton for safekeeping, and gave Watson Clammert the best of care knowing he'd die. He claimed the body, which burned in the fire (later confirmed by the lack of a broken right leg in the remains as examined by Dr Jason). DeVoe was killed in self-defense by Peter Laxter when attacked by her. Burger bursts in and announces that Peter Laxter has been found and confessed.

XIX.

Mason explains to Street that Oafley had no need for a secret marriage once he believed Peter Laxter dead, so the reason was so neither husband or wife, co-conspirators, could testify against the other. Ashton had to have been in the DeVoe apartment, for the crutch was sawed apart there. Mason created the stolen Buick ruse to get the police to do quickly what Drake would have had difficulty doing. Jackson then presents the conundrum of whether a sleepwalker can be guilty of murder.

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Eighth Perry Mason Novel, 1936;

The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece

Click HERE to go to the TV episode

Perry Mason

Frank B Maddox, partner

Sam Blaine, deputy D A

Jackson

John J Duncan, lawyer

Various policemen

Della Street

Philip Rease, half brother

Driver of car to airport

[Mr Johnson]

Gerald Harris, Edna's intended

Pilot

[Fletcher]

Helen Warrington

[Sam Hettley, of Hettley and Hettley, attorneys

[Myrna Duchene]

Dr James Kelton

Court clerk

[George Pritchard]

Paul Drake

Judge Markham

Edna Hammer, niece

Arthur Coulter, butler

Hamilton Burger

Miss Smith

[James K Fogg, wife & lawyers]

A draftsman

Peter B Kent, sleepwalker

[Hudson, Reynolds & Hunt]

Coroner

Doris Sully Kent, wife

Bob Peasley

Lucille Mays, nurse

Det Sgt Holcomb

Mason is still smoking, and offering cigarettes to beautiful women. In these earliest Gardner novels, it seems as if there is an attempt to give just a bit of the hard-boiled edge to Mason that is so common of the protagonists in the novels of Dashiel Hammett and Raymond Chandler, as well as novels written under Gardner's own pseudonym, A.A.Fair.

I.

Perry Mason, Jackson and Della Street are awaiting a sleepwalker's niece. They discuss other possible clients; Mr Johnson wants Mason to defend cold-blooded murderer Fletcher and Myrna Duchene wants Mason to collect money from George Pritchard who walked out on her, but Mason passes after commenting on how the cases should be resolved. Edna Hammer is admitted; her mother's brother, Peter B Kent, while sleepwalking, got a carving knife and was found by the police outside the bedroom door, which his wife, Doris Sully Kent, had locked while he was out. She wants big money and might try to put him in a sanatorium. He wants the divorce she once wanted so he can marry a nurse, Lucille Mays, who understands his problem. Miss Smith informs Mason that Kent is outside demanding to come in, and Edna flees so as not to be discovered there.

II.

Peter Kent says his astrologer niece sent him to a lawyer who had something to do with rocks, Stone for instance, so he is at Mason. His wife wanted a divorce, for which interlocutory decree is entered, and now she wants instead more money. His business partner in Chicago, Frank B Maddox, for whom he financed an invention, wants the whole "business now that it's grown profitable" plus additional in settlement; he's in town with his lawyer John J Duncan. He wants to get married, so tells Mason to offer his wife $75,000 to cover everything. His half-brother Philip Rease is to inherit, for Edna is marrying rich, Gerald Harris. Helen Warrington, his secretary, is to get $25,000. His intended, nurse Lucille Mays, will sign an agreement to inherit nothing. He writes a check for $5,000 and walks out. Perry has Della call Dr Kelton, then Paul Drake who is to check on Doris Sully Kent. Using binoculars, he notes a green Cadillac license 9R8397 following his client.

III.

Mason discusses his client with Dr Kelton. He gives instructions regarding Doris Sully Kent and Frank B Maddox to Drake. Della has already sent Jackson to get the documentation on the decree between Mr and Mrs Kent.

IV.

Mason and Kent have been arguing with Maddox and his attorney Duncan. Mason wants a release for all claims, to which Duncan demurs. While Duncan and Maddox confer, Mason gets a telephoned report from Drake; Maddox is being sued by the wife of James K Fogg for stealing his invention. Mason lets Drake give Fogg's lawyers the current location of Maddox so they can take his deposition. The Cadillac belongs to Doris Sully Kent. Jackson then reports the interlocutory decree was entered exactly one year ago. Lawyer Hudson, of Hudson, Reynolds & Hunt, was fired as Mrs Kent's lawyer this morning. She's hired another in Los Angeles. He tells Jackson to tail her. The Chicago litigants return ready to settle, but now Mason says no. The Chicagoans leave and Kent protests that he wants to settle, but Mason tells him that Frank did not invent the machine. He tells Kent to get off to Arizona; after he finalizes the divorce decree he'll phone him and he can get quickly married, for Arizona doesn't have a waiting period for remarrying. That will stop Mrs Kent from nullifying the decree. Kent and his secretary Helen leave to make arrangements. Dr Kelton says that Kent's "shaking business" was an act.

V.

Lucille Mays explains to Mason that Philip Rease is a hypochondriac; Harris has arranged for Maddox and Rease to change rooms because of a draft. Kent introduces Mason to the crowd, including the niece he's supposed to have not yet met. Jerry Harris is making his special drink, K-D-D-O cocktail. Kent announces his intent to get married, tonight or early tomorrow. Someone has to go to Santa Barbara and Harris, Helen Warrington and Edna Hammer volunteer to go. Mason calls Street to have her prepare the affidavit for final divorce; she's already done it. Bob Peasley drops in and the party goes on.

VI.

Mason is looking at the moonlit patio; Kelton wants only to sleep. Edna Hammer has not gone to Santa Barbara; she takes Mason to the sideboard where the carving knife is kept, and locks it. When Mason gets back to his room he finds the door locked; "Perhaps," giggles Edna, "he's afraid that I'll walk in my sleep."

VII.

Perry is awakened by an alarm clock and finds Edna at the door. She wants him to bring her a cup of coffee so no one will know she didn't go to Santa Barbara. Mason drives Kent and Mays to the airport.

VIII.

Mason gives Edna a prosaic account of the honeymooners on their way and they settle in the patio. She opens the top of one of the tiled coffee tables, "it makes a fine place to ditch things." Butler Coulter tells Miss Hammer that he cannot get the sideboard open; she feigns finding the key at the table and opens the drawer to find the knife gone. The quickly go to Kent's bedroom and find the bloodstained carving knife under his pillow.

IX.

They get Kelton and go into Rease's room, but Maddox is alive and angry at the intrusion. Duncan is also okey. Then they find Rease stabbed to death. Duncan bulls his way into the room and disrupts whatever he can. Mason send Kelton away.

X.

Mason reminds Hammer that no one must know "anything about this Santa Barbara angle of the case." The lawyer phones his secretary to get detectives to the house. She reports that Jackson covered the house until midnight when Harris took over. Sgt Holcomb arrives and badgers Mason with little success. Then assistant district attorney Sam Blaine takes charge as everyone in the house assembles; Duncan states that "Quarter after twelve" he say some person in the patio, "fumbled around with one of the coffee tables." Edna says her door was locked all night. Blaine and Holcomb chase everyone out but Mason, who describes events as they happened, sending police to the bedroom for the carving knife. Duncan then leads them to the coffee table, where they find a cup and saucer (the ones Mason took to Edna). Mason admits to drinking from "a" cup, not necessarily this one, when Coulter identifies it.

XI.

Mason consults with Drake, then takes a taxi to his office. Della says Jackson got a judges signature on the final decree of divorce at 8:30. She called Yuma, but Kent was not there. Myrna Duchene has called in "so grateful it was positively pathetic." A phone report says the Kent plane has not arrived. Jackson phones; there has been a "consolidation of forces" between Mrs Kent and Maddox. Mason is driven to the airport. The pilot gets his instructions and takes Mason to Yuma, never seeing Kent's plane, which they find at Yuma; it had motor trouble and had to stop along the way. Mason warns Kent that the police are probably on the way, and his act weaken's his case. Kent admits he was doing it because he was "Afraid [he] was going to do this very thing." He doesn't know if the killed Rease, but, yes, he intended to kill his wife. He knows that Edna locked his door. Now he wishes he'd gone to the police or put himself in a sanitarium. Holcomb arrives by plane and Mason introduces him to Peter B Kent.

XII.

Drake reports that Duncan now swears it was Kent he saw walking, wearing a long, white nightgown. The police are setting the stage for Duncan to say it was 3, not 12:15, and he merely switched the clock hands. Mason tells Drake he wants to know if Duncan goes to an oculist. Jackson reports that Hettley and Hettley, new attorneys for Doris Kent, have filed an action to stop the final decree. At 3 am Harris heard a phone call to Mrs Kent regarding an agreement with Maddox to join forces. Mason notes that "somewhere between the hour of nine-thirty this morning and the time those papers were filed they must have been in touch with Mrs Kent and secured her signature. How does it happen your man on duty hasn't reported that, Paul?" He says "Mrs Kent hadn't been out of the house" up to the most recent report, twenty minutes ago. A phone call reveals that, yes, she did get out and went to Hettley and Hettley where she met Duncan and Maddox.

XIII.

Hammer has arrived at Mason's office half hysterical. She says Harris has walked into a trap, saying "the carving knife wasn't in the sideboard when he went to get a corkscrew a half hour or so before he left for Santa Barbara. Harris bursts in; he's been subpoenaed. Drake warns Mason that Doris Kent is on the way up. She tries to flatter Mason into an agreement but the attorney declines.

XIV.

Drake reports that the call by Maddox was made from a specific pay station. Now Duncan swears that it was 3 o'clock when he saw Kent sleepwalking. Also, Drake thinks he can prove the knife was in the sideboard, despite Harris's statement, and the butler will prove it. Mason suddenly has a theory, but won't say what it is.

XV.

Mason gets Helen Warrington to get a duplicate carving knife. She cannot give him a reason for Edna's putting a spring lock on her door "about a month ago." Perry explains to Della that, like a football player with the ball, he doesn't look back at the chasers but forward to the goal. Drake reports how Duncan and Maddox snuck into Hettley and Hettley's law offices, and says Harris wrote every detail down.

XVI.

Mason explains to Hammer how he wants her to plant the duplicate knife and inform Sgt Holcomb when he is coming to the house. Peasley and Warrington come in after Hammer goes into the library. Peasley brings the duplicate knife. Mason then cross-examines Hammer and discovers she and Jerry are married which is why, she claims, she put the lock on her door. Only she and Jerry have keys.

XVII.

Holcomb is already at Kent's. When they open the sideboard, the knife is not there though Edna claims she put it there. Mason goes to a nearby drugstore and calls Drake's office, orders him to search for the missing knife. Back at the office the boss is told by Della that Mrs Kent has tied up Kent's money. Mason says he'll buy her off (with $150,000, twice what Kent has offered). When Mrs Kent arrives, Mason makes her wait, and when she says how she can help her husband, Mason says no going. He has Della pull a ruse, acting as a client, so he can chase Doris away. She is at the Lafitte Hotel. Mason tells Della to go there and register and become friends with Doris. Get Myrna Duchene to show her George Pritchard, then meet Pritchard and point her to "wealthy widow" Kent.

XVIII.

Mason goes to Peasley Hardware and accuses Peasley of double-crossing him. Peasley admits he told Holcomb when Mason bluffs that he knows about it. Mason orders half a dozen more duplicate carving knives.

XIX.

D A Hamilton Burger explains the prosecution's case. Frank Maddox proves the Corpus Delecti. Maddox testifies on cross that he did not leave the house any time the morning of the murder. Holcomb identifies the knife, but admits he allowed the pillowcase and sheets to be removed and washed. Duncan testifies that he saw Kent at 3 o'clock with the knife. Mason produces a duplicate carving knife and confuses Duncan about identification. Duncan saw the figure go to the coffee table and lift the lid, then leave the patio, possibly leaving the knife in the table. Then Mason goes after his vision, that it has been maybe a decade since he updated his glasses which he did at the insistence of Assistant D A Blaine! Court adjourns overnight.

XX.

Perry is wondering with Della why Doris has not taken the bait. Then she arrives, says she wants to help her husband and will settle for $200,000. Mason gets her down to $25,000. Now she says Maddox called at three and confirms Mason's transcript of the phone call as heard by Harris. She says she got out of the house by walking on the grass so she wouldn't be hear. She admits to following Kent when he came to Mason's office. She got rid of her first lawyers by telling them she'd made perjured statements. Della tells Perry that Doris is crazy over Pritchard, and Mason says he'll get most of her money. He suggests Della have Myrna threaten to have him arrested unless he pays her by the morning.

XXI.

Back at court. Mason resumes cross of Duncan and, after a variety of objections, gets him to admit he made a phone call from a drug store at 5 to 11. Edna Hammer is asked about the carving knife but now knows to answer that she saw a knife that resembled the murder weapon. She locked the carving knife in the sideboard, but doesn't know when she saw that specific knife next. Yes, Mason's knife is similar to the murder weapon. Mason asks her why she was worried about her uncle's sleepwalking. It was the full moon. She'd studied this in books for six weeks or two months. Mason notes that he gave her the knife and asked her to plant it so he could "confuse the issues and make it increasingly difficult for the district attorney to get witnesses to identify the murder knife as the one which had been in the sideboard drawer." Blaine tries to object, warning that "such unprofessional conduct (by Mason) is . . ." at which point Burger grabs him and pulls him to his chair; he's understood what this is leading to. Mason continues; she locked the knife in the drawer, but it wasn't there the next morning, "So you've known you were walking in your sleep for about six weeks or two months, Edna?" Her "Yes, sir" is unheard by Burger and Blaine who are in "whispered consultation." Then she admits she used the coffee table to hide things. Now, did she, fearing her uncle would walk in his sleep, walk in her sleep and move the knife from sideboard to coffee table. Since she was sleepwalking, all she can answer is "I don't know." On re-direct, Burger finds that she got books in an attempt to cure herself. Now Gerald Harris is called. He testifies that on the eve of the murder he saw the knife already missing. The butler was at the sideboard five minutes earlier. On cross Mason elicits that he was in Santa Barbara sent there by the attorney. He is married to Edna Hammer. He was at Doris Kent's house from midnight until eight in the morning. At three in the morning he overheard a telephone conversation. Mason interrupts to note that a final divorce decree between Doris and Peter Kent has been given, so Doris can testify, and Mason wants a subpoena served. During the necessary short recess, Burger in chambers suggests Mason is in contempt for planting the duplicate knife. Mason explains this was only a test to find if Edna Hammer was herself a sleepwalker. Back in court, Harris is not found, nor is Maddox. Court recesses.

XXII.

The case is over and Perry is back in his office with Della. He clarifies the issues. Maddox stated he hadn't called Mrs Kent at three and he wouldn't perjure himself on something that could be checked. This pointed to Harris, who actually made the Maddox call. He lied about the knife not being in the drawer, since he wanted Kent to be convicted, so Edna would inherit, Rease being dead. Though Edna said she'd told no one about the duplicate knife, Mason assumed she'd told her husband Harris who, as he'd done on other things, tipped off Holcomb. Since Harris had been surreptitiously living with Hammer for a month, he knew of her sleepwalking and her hiding place. Of course, Duncan saw the sleepwalking Edna at 12:15, not Kent at 3 am. Harris skipped when he knew Doris would testify and expose his duplicity and murder, and Maddox skipped to avoid a fraud charge. Burger was so flabbergasted that he "stuck his cigar back in his mouth wrong end to, and burnt his mouth out of shape."

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Ninth Perry Mason Novel, © 1936;

The Case of the Stuttering Bishop

Click HERE to go to the TV episode

Perry Mason

Brownley's butler

(Jasper Pelton)

Bishop William Mallory

Stella Kenwood

(Mrs Seaton)

Della Street

Drake's operative, Harry Coulter

Switchboard girl

Renwold C. Brownley

Taxi driver (later, Carl Smith)

(Mrs Stockton)

Jilted taxi driver

Gordon Bixler

(Notary public, Paul Montrose)

Jackson

Various people at the Yacht Club dock

(Edgar Cassidy)

Another taxi driver

Photographer at dock

Hamilton Burger

Jim Pauley, hotel house dick

Police officer at dock

Judge Knox

Charlie Downes, operative

(C Woodward Warren)

Trial deputy George Shoemaker

Janice Seaton

(Jaxon Eaves)

Ballistics expert

Philip Brownley

Apartment hotel porter

Hardware dealer

Janice Alma Brownley

Peter Sacks

Salt Lake City police officer

("Alva" 5 pages later)

(Charles W Seaton )

Finger-print expert

Julia Branner

Photographers at the harbor

Paul Drake is still described as with "protruding, somewhat glassy eyes . . . rather florid face . . . so utterly unlike a detective . . ."

Mason still paces "thumbs hooked in the armholes of his vest."

Though the word is used in earlier novels, here it seems to be used every chapter and then some; "swell."

This is one of the most complex plots ever devised by Erle Stanley Gardner, and the following plot synopsis cannot match page-long descriptions by the author of what happens. By the anti-penultimate chapter, the reader should be able to guess who did what to whom, more or less, but only in the last chapter do all problems get resolved and I doubt the reader should be expected to have figured out all Perry Mason explains to Della and Paul.

I.

Mason welcomes Bishop William Mallory of Sydney, Australia, who wants to know about the statute of limitations on manslaughter, caused by drunken driving; time out of California is not counted. A district attorney would not likely prosecute a manslaughter 22 years old. The bishop says Mason will be "consulted about a case against Renwold Brownley." There will be a very large fee, but only if Mason wins. He will call the attorney to arrange a meeting, and leaves. Perry tells Della that "Bishops don't stutter."

II.

Mason informs Drake about the stuttering bishop and asks him to check even in Australia about him. A taxi driver calls up; he's been jilted. Mason pays him after learning where the driver picked up the bishop. Mason informs Drake, consults with Jackson. Paul calls in from the Regal Hotel and Mason quickly joins him. House detective Jim Pauley tells them that Mallory gave a high sign to a red-head on his way in, she joined him shortly thereafter, then rushed out. He found Mallory unconscious and called an ambulance, but two arrived. The three go to the room, find items marked "WANTED IN CABIN S.S. 'MONTEREY'" and notice signs of theft. Mallory says he has to make an inventory, if only to prevent Mallory overclaiming on the theft. Drake's agent Charlie Downes has found the read-head; Janice Seaton. Drake and Mason accost her. While Drake wants to bamboozle her, Mason takes a lighter approach. She claims to have answered an ad for a trained nurse, and was hired by Mallory. Today she found him unconscious in his unlocked room. She is packing to go on the Monterey.

III.

Perry explains to Della what has happened and they look through the want ads with no luck. Drake reports; a woman and man were driving from Santa Ana where they got married back to Los Angeles. She ran into a car driven by "a chap who was in the late seventies." Nothing happened even though the man died a few days later. Four months later manslaughter charges were filed against her; she was Julia Branner aka Mrs Oscar Brownley, and there was a fight between them and Renwold Brownley and they disappeared. Oscar returned about a year later and he died two or three years ago. He left a daughter whom Renwold recognized only after Oscar died. This granddaughter now lives with him. When Drake leaves, Della reports she's found the ad, in the personals!

IV.

Perry and Della enjoy dinner and dancing as he ruminates about the case. There are two grandchildren of Renwold Brownley, Philip and Janice Alma, who was, so Della remembers, a passenger on the Monterey from Australia. Back at the office, Drake reports that the Bishop is out of the hospital and his head is heavily bandaged. Mason suggests this is all a build-up - but to what? They go to Seaton's apartment, but no one answers. Drake checks with his two operatives; she's not gone out. So they enter, and the room is unchanged from their previous visit. Mason thinks she skipped out just before Drake's back-door operative got there. They go to Mallory's hotel and find a letter awaiting Mason from Mallory repaying him the $5 taxi fare. Drakes operatives report they followed Mallory to the Monterey which has sailed for Australia.

V.

Julia Branner, staying with a friend she's "known for some time," has come in from Salt Lake City. Mason was recommended by Bishop Mallory. To prove her relationship with Mallory, she gives Mason a telegram from the bishop to her. She identifies herself as Mrs Oscar Brownley. Twenty-two years ago when she was "plenty wild" she and Oscar fell in love and got married. "The old man was furious." While driving, she hit a man who died a few days later. They went on a honeymoon to Australia. One day Oscar was gone, back to dad. Then she had her child without Oscar knowing. Her daughter, Janice, was placed with a well-off family by Bishop Mallory. Eventually she returned to America and contacted Oscar, who'd gotten a divorce, hoping for something for her daughter, whose foster parents she thinks have died. Renwold hired detectives and now has, according to Mallory, a false Janice living with him as his granddaughter. Mason notices that Julia is carrying a gun; she says to protect herself at night. He mentions that Bishop Mallory has sailed very suddenly, leaving his baggage behind. She wants Mason to locate her daughter and discredit Renwold Brownley.

VI.

It is raining heavily when Mason enters Brownley's house and the butler took him to Brownley without taking his wet hat or coat. Brownley thinks he's got Mason check-mated since he's had his detectives do all the searching he needs and tomorrow he's going to give 3/4 of his money to the girl living with him as his granddaughter, so even if a real Janice should show up it would do her no good. Even when Brownley shows Mason a letter saying an attempt will be made to discredit the real Janice Brownley the attorney considers it irrelevant as the heading and signature have been torn off. As he drives away, he is stopped by Philip Brownley who explains that the people who found the current Janice were paid a bonus of $25,000. He thinks it unfair she should get "the bulk of the property" and wants Mason to stop it. He refuses to come to Mason's office. At Western Union Mason cables Mallory aboard the Monterey for proof of who Julia Branner is. Then he calls Branner's number and gets her friend Stella Kenwood, who brings Branner to the phone. Mason tells her about Brownley's plan to give his money to his Janice in the morning.

VII.

Mason is awakened in his apartment by phone from Drake. His operative followed Brownley, lost him, then met a man saying he'd been murdered by some woman in a white rain coat climbing on to his runningboard and firing 5 or 6 shots. Even the police can't find the body. The getaway car was a Chevrolet. Drake has a telegram from Australia describing the bishop correctly. They meet operative Harry who describes the coming to Brownley's of the taxicab and of his following Brownley. After loosing Brownley, he encounters Gordon Bixler, yachtsman, who says his Filipino boy didn't "meet him with a car," So he went walking to get a cab, saw a woman in white rain coat climb on the runningboard of a car, then jump off and go into the shadows. The car did a roundabout U-turn. As he headed to flag down the car, the woman in white ran out, jumped on the runningboard and shot the driver. He thinks it was the same woman who drove away in a Chevrolet. He went to the car, found Brownley whom he knew at the Yacht Club, slumped over the steering wheel. Then he went running looking for help, and Harry picked him up. Harry, Mason and Drake now go down to the dock where a wrecking car is pulling a car out of the water. A .32 automatic is found but no body. The gun number can be traced.

VIII.

Mason goes to Branner's apartment and accosts Stella Kenwood. He asks about Julia; she went out about 1:15 in Stella's Chevrolet. She gasps when asked if Julia had her gun. She admits living with Julia in Salt Lake City and learning about Oscar Brownley and how she fixed it "so the old man could never steal her daughter." She sympathizes because she had a daughter at about the same time, whom she could still "see her once in a while" while Julia "didn't even know whether her daughter was alive . . . ." Branner returns "in an awful jam." Mason picks up her handbag and asks where the gun is. She admits meeting Brownley; she was bargaining with Oscar's watch, which she had kept. She was going to show him her Janice, who was "the dead image of her father" and ask him for "a square deal for Oscar's child." Her gun was missing early in the evening. After Brownley did the U-turn, she saw a woman in a yellow rain coat get to the car before she could, and shoot Brownley. As he leaves the two women, a police car arrives at the apartment.

IX.

Della informs Perry that Julia Branner has been arrested and says Mason is going to defend her. Branner refused to make a statement, but Stella Kenwood did. Drake has reported the wireless he sent to the Monterey was returned; there is no Bishop Mallory on board. She interrupts with the case of C Woodward Warren but Mason rejects the case of a "spoiled, pampered child of a millionaire." Drake's office reports that Bishop William Mallory was on the Monterey from Sydney and the description fits. Mason notes that Mallory in Los Angeles "went aboard in a disguise." He was "evidently hit with a blackjack - something which usually bruises but doesn't break the skin. Now then, why should the bishop have wrapped his head in bandages which all but concealed his features?" (Without the bandages, he could have walked off the ship unnoticed.) Drake and Harry Coulter report; the Seaton girl has disappeared and "two other shadows" are "covering the Seaton House," private dicks. Mason tests Coulter's recollection; yes, a big yellow coupe passed him on the way to the beach, possibly a Cadillac. Later at the dock, he may have seen the same Cadillac. Drake tells Mason the police can trace his telegram and that he called Stella Kenwood's apartment where Julia Branner was staying. After this, she sent the note via cab to Brownley. They have Julia's fingerprint on the window and have identified her gun. Now Drake explains about Jaxon Eaves (deceased) who originally was offered the $25,000 bonus for finding Brownley's granddaughter. Eaves got to Australia and hit a brick wall, so found an imposter. Mason tells Della to dye her hair. The dicks watching Seaton's place will think she is Seaton.

X.

Mason watches as Della enters the apartment hotel with the luggage she picked up from Seaton's apartment carried by a porter. Mason waits across from her room. "The engineer to inspect your light connections" arrives, enters, and five minutes later Mason hears a thud, so breaks down the door and finds someone trying to smother Della. After a fight, he smashes the nose of Peter Sacks and takes his gun from him and a telegram addressed to Bishop Mallory stating that Charles W Seaton was killed six months ago; Jasper Pelton is settling the estate. A letter states to the bishop that Mrs Seaton died two years ago leaving Charles and daughter Janice. Seaton had bad luck and leaves little property for his daughter. He suggests the bishop find Janice in Los Angeles since she's a registered nurse. Victor Stockton now arrives, says he'll turn the tables on Mason and gets Sacks to escape, then leaves. Mason now sees that Janice Seaton is the real Brownley granddaughter.

XI.

Mason gets the switchboard girl at the Santa Del Rios Hotel to get Janice Brownley on the phone and by this he gets to her room. Before he can learn anything, Victor Stockton interrupts them. Stockton and Janice give each other alibis. "The key" is made an issue by Stockton, the key to the room. Stockton admits he got "a line into Julia Brownley before she even came to California. She figured Pete was a torpedo who was willing to bump anyone off . . . to kill Brownley before he could make another will . . . she "promised him twenty-five percent of whatever she and Janice Seaton got out of the deal. . . . She was going to make a settlement with him and leave you out in the cold." When Mason leaves, he finds Philip Brownley outside. Brownley says he took the note to his grandfather who said that he was going to his yacht. He told Janice, who was wearing a sport outfit, but she snuck out in a light yellow raincoat and drove a light yellow Cadillac coupe down to Figueroa and Fifty-second Street. She walked four blocks to the apartment of Victor Stockton, where she stayed until after daylight (though he could only see the front of the building). In the morning she and a short, chunky fellow came out and drove directly to the hotel. Mason tells Brownley to tell this to the D A.

XII.

At the jail, Mason shows Julia the key. Is it to her apartment? No. It is not the key to the apartment with Stella Kenwood. Nor did she send Renwold Brownley a note. When Mason suggests there is a real Bishop Mallory and a real Julia Branner and that Janice Seaton may or may not be her daughter, Julia interrupts him with a half scream and she gets away from prying Mason. Back at the office, Drake reports that the DA believes Julia couldn't find the real Janice any more than Eaves. She waited until Bishop Mallory had a sabbatical year and substituted a ringer. Sacks came in with Stockton, after Eaves died, acting as a torpedo who'd bump anyone off and Julia bought it. Mason cannot afford to have Sacks testify. Stockton had his wife and a notary public present with Julia all night. A wireless says there are "suitcases labeled William Mallory, Stateroom 211" on board. "The suitcases contain several yards of bandage and a suit of black broadcloth, an ecclesiastical collar, and black shoes." Drake then notes that an Edgar Cassidy visited Mallory before Drake's men came on site. He's a yacht owner. Mason gives the key to Drake and asks him to check if it fits Julia Branner's apartment.

XIII.

Mason asks Hamilton Burger where he stands in the Branner case. Mason explains the truth about how he discovered two men not his nor the DA's were following Janice Seaton and how he discovered who they were, and how Sacks tried to smother Della Street. Burger knows that Branner offered Sacks a big reward to kill Brownley and the key was evidence. Mason offers to give him the key, but Burger wonders "if it isn't the right one" he won't have anything but Mason's word that it is the one he took from Sacks. By taking the key from Sacks, Mason has made it important! Mason leaves Burger, checks with Drake; the key fit.

XIV.

Judge Knox tells George Shoemaker, trial DA, that he may proceed. Carl Smith testifies that, as a taxi driver, he took a letter from Julia Branner addressed to Renwold C Brownley and delivered it to Philip Borwnley. Young Brownley testifies to taking the note to grandfather, his reaction. Mason gets him to admit he was outside in the rain listening to him and grandfather, thus knew he was being disinherited in the morning and if grandfather died before then he'd get half or, if Janice Brownley was not the real daughter, all of the estate. Gordon Bixler testifies that he saw a woman in a white rain coat come out to Renwold's car, then leave, and return when the car came back and shot the driver. A Chevrolet parked in the shadows drove away. He went to the car found a dead Brownley. He became confused before encountering Harry Coulter. Mason tricks him into admitting that the rain coat might have been light yellow and maybe Brownley was dying, not dead. Police officers who went to the harbor testify as to the car going exactly 12.8 miles per hour into the water and the finding of the gun. Over lunch, Perry explains to Paul and Della how the prosecution can be "crucified by their own proof." Whomever shot Brownley drove away, so couldn't have sent the car into the bay. Maybe he dies of drowning. It is clear that Sacks can crucify if he gets on the stand.

XV.

Several witnesses testify to various aspects of the case; a ballistic expert, a hardware dealer from whom Julia bought the automatic, a Salt Lake City police officer, a finger-print expert. Carl Sacks is called. He admits he posed as a murderer to Branner. Mason challenges further testimony because no murder has yet been proved. Shoemaker gets frustrated and slips,saying he is "particularly anxious at this time to get the evidence of these witnesses before the public . . . that is, before the Court." Knox decides to adjourn, admonishing Shoemaker, would he be willing to "bind over the defendant only on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to commit murder and release her from a murder charge?"

XVI.

Della offers to go to the DA but Perry says it's no use. Mason doesn't believe Julia went out to kill Renwold. What of Stella Kenwood, staying up all night knowing Julia was going to do something bad. This triggers Mason into a new line of thought which he believes is "so damned wild that it doesn't sound logical, but it's absolutely the only thing which will explain the facts." He takes Della to Kenwood and announces that Stella's daughter is dying from an automobile accident. Stella denies it until she realizes Mason has caught her. Ever since Julia told her about her daughter, she realized there was a chance for some girl, and got in touch with Sacks who worked through Jaxon Eaves. He has Della call Burger and takes Stella to a hospital where, when Burger arrives, explains how Stella got her daughter accepted as Janice Brownley. Then she went to Sydney and returned on the Monterey where Bishop Mallory discovered she was not the real daughter. Mallory sent a wireless to Julia. The real Janice was found as the Seaton's daughter, though Seaton was at the time too far gone to make clear what he wanted, but Mallory knew. Stella was frantic when Julia showed up and got in touch with Sacks who knew the real granddaughter had to be gotten rid of. Stella was thrown into a panic when Julia announced she was going to ask Brownley to come to the harbor where he could see Janice Seaton who "had grown to look very much like her father." Stella didn't care for herself but knew this would mean jail for her daughter. She gave Julia her Chevrolet, got another. Julia wearing a white raincoat went to Renwold's car. On the return it was Stella who went to the car, in a white raincoat. Stella got home before Julia. Stella admits all this is right; she couldn't see her daughter go to jail, hadn't intended to frame Julia, and took the gun out of Julia's purse. At this time Mason reveals that her daughter is not in the hospital! Stella knows it would all have come out in time. A phone call informs Burger that the body has been found.

XVII.

On the way to the harbor Mason notes he wants to look over Janice's yellow Cadillac. They find it with a dented left front fender and reddish-brown stains on the leather. The body has been found and Burger says Branner is no longer charged. Coulter is nearly positive the yellow Cadillac is the one he saw headed to the harbor. Mason sees Cassidy's yacht, and insists Drake go aboard. Mason has Della check receiving hospitals and they find one person who remains unidentified. They go to the hospital and Mason identifies the man as Bishop Mallory.

XVIII.

Mason explains all to Della. "Julia didn't intend to kill Brownley, but she did want him to go down to the beach. It was to show him his real granddaughter who looked like her father. Mallory brought mother and child together before Branner came to the law office. Mallory knew he was being followed and used the Monterey to disappear, then hid on Cassidy's boat, where he and Janice awaited Julia and Renwold. Kenwood, in killing Renwold Brownley, was making a mother's sacrifice. Philip Brownley didn't hear that granddad was going to "a" yacht but thought this meant granddad's yacht. Meanwhile Stockton had arranged an alibi for Janice because he knew she'd need one. Sacks picked up Janice's car which Stockton had made her leave four blocks away. He waited at Brownley's yacht. Sacks and Mallory heard the shots. Sacks got there first, and sent the car into the harbor. Sacks then drove Janice's car, saw and hit Mallory, then drove him to Los Angeles' outskirts and dumped him without any identification. Drake bursts in; he found Janice Seaton on the yacht.

XIX.

Mason hangs up the phone and tells Della that Brownley met his death by drowning. This makes Stella Kenwood guilty of assault and Sacks and Stockton guilty of first degree murder. Mallory's revived and remembers the yellow car hitting him. Jackson enters to say a woman who smokes cigars wants to see him.

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Tenth Perry Mason Novel, © 1937;

The Case of the Dangerous Dowager

Click HERE to go to the TV episode

Perry Mason

Jimmy, bartender

Night janitor, Mason's building

Matilda Benson

Man with irritable voice

Sylvia's maid

Sylvia Oxman, aka Nell Yardley

Man with irritable voice

George Belgrade, a Drake operative*

Frank Oxman

Chorus of laughers

Staples, another Drake operative

Sam Grieb

Young bartender

[Taxi driver]

Charlie Duncan

Crowd at bar

[P C Worsham of Worsham & Weaver]

Paul Drake

Man watching Frank

[Stenographer]

[Ticket salesman]

Man warning Sylvia

Two detectives

[Speed boat driver]

Checkroom girl

Christy Hotel bellboy

Gambling people

Man in rubber rain coat

*[Heavy man in blue serge suit]

Croupier

Police officers

Mrs Flo Belgrade

Man in dinner jacket

Interrogating sergeant

[Carter Squires]

Special officer Arthur Manning

Bert Custer

Three [police] men

[Virginia Oxman]

Marilyn Smith

Basil Wilson, Federal D A

Paul Drake's phone operator

Jerry, a traffic officer

Two deputy U S marshals

Process server (Dick) Perkins

U S Marshal

1.

Cigar-smoking dowager Matilda Benson wants Perry Mason to get IOU's that her granddaughter Sylvia signed, and her husband Frank wants, back from gambler Sam Grieb aboard The Horn of Plenty which is beyond the 12 mile limit at sea. Frank wants the IOUs as evidence that Sylvia is a chronic gambler. She wants to scare her granddaughter. She gives Mason cash, refuses a receipt.

2.

Perry and Della Street commiserate until Paul Drake arrives. Mason instructs him to open a bank account in the name of Frank Oxman with $1000 and then go aboard the gambling ship where he will write a check for $500.

3.

Mason and Drake in formal wear take the speed boat out to the gambling ship. Drake wins for a while, then loses sporadically, finally writes the check. The croupier turns the check over to a man in a dinner jacket, who returns with Special Officer Manning. They are taken to Sam Grieb in his inner, inner office. After much bantering and dodging of direct answers, Grieb asks Charlie Duncan be brought in. While waiting, Grieb explains the security and how impossible it is for someone to get in to this office or the vault unless specifically admitted. On the way from the vault back to the office, a departing speed boat drowns out their voices. Charlie Duncan now takes charge until he and Grieb get into an argument on how low they'll go to settle to give up the IOU's which Mason and Drake have inspected. Mason points out he can "serve a subpoena duces tecum" to force the information he needs so he won't have to pay anything. Finally Duncan asks Mason to "Pay over the cash" but a "woman in her middle twenties, her trim figure . . ." comes by (we learn shortly she is Sylvia Oxman), doesn't recognize Drake as her husband, so Duncan sends them away, having recognized their scheme.

4.

Benson asks about Mason's meeting with Grieb. Then she reveals that there is a trust fund for Sylvia and her daughter, Virginia, to be split 50-50 unless Sylvia is unfit to have custody of the daughter, in which instance Virginia gets it all, half a million, with Frank as administrator. Frank would even go to "a ring that will put up money for things like that. . .Frank is able to fix a prize fight or a horse race. . ." Mason suggests he can get the gambling partners into a fight so they break up and the IOU debts wouldn't be assets. Charlie Duncan arrives, Benson is moved to the law library. But she leaves her cigar case on Mason's desk, so Duncan knows she's probably Mason's client. Duncan suggests to Mason that he act as his lawyer in breaking up the gambling business and he'll give the IOU's as payment. Mason declines the offer and Duncan stomps out. Mason tells Benson that Duncan is breaking up the partnership and he'll be there when the papers are served so as to get the IOU's.

5.

Perry's phone operator reaches him for Paul, who says Duncan's filed the lawsuit. Frank Oxman is headed for the beach and Sylvia Oxman has disappeared. Mason goes out to the boat, then to Grieb's outer office where he finds Sylvia Oxman. The door to the inner office "isn't even latched," and Mason finds Sam Grieb's dead body, shows Sylvia. She was waiting to pay off her debt. Then, over her protests about the IOU's, he chases her out. Mason puts $7500 cash into Grieb's desk, finds the IOU's and burns them up. Duncan arrives, with the process server, Perkins, and he argues with Mason about the IOU's, then opens the door with his key and finds the dead Grieb. Perkins and Duncan look for a gun, find none. Perkins takes Mason to another room for a strip search. Perkins tells Jimmy, the bartender, that Sam has been murdered. It is decided to stop passengers from leaving by claiming the landing-stage needs emergency repairs. Perkins has "been searching guys for years" and found $2500 in fifties and hundreds on Mason. Perkins tells Mason he was with Duncan since ten of five and that he's a deputy U S marshal.

6.

Mason looks for Sylvia, then goes out on the deck where one man with an irritable voice wants to know how much longer, a heckler suggests he go to the bar, and the group laughs. Mason goes into the bar where Matilda is seated. A young man had replaced Jimmy and was serving at the bar, so Mason takes Matilda to a distant table. She has seen Frank Oxman, but lies about seeing Sylvia. Frank came, watched by a man who might have been a detective, and left perhaps ten minutes before Mason arrived. Sylvia came out of the office maybe fifteen minutes later and was told by a man "Frank's aboard, Beat it." She went to the rail, "fumbled with her handbag" and then she heard a splash. A necking couple may have seen this. Mason goes to the check room and claims Matilda's coat, so Matilda can claim Sylvia's. He gives the coat to Matilda just before a man in a rubber rain coat tells everybody they can't leave.

7.

Mason looks for Matilda, without luck. Then an officer takes him into the office and he is asked questions by a sergeant who soon turns to Duncan. Then Manning says he entered the office only seconds after Mason and Perkins left, and found Duncan looking under a chair cushion. Duncan is worried that Grieb's heirs will show up; and he believes Grieb has stolen $9500. Manning reports he has two people who saw a woman throw a gun overboard. Bert Custer and Marilyn Smith argue over whether they saw one woman in a silver dress or a white-haired woman throw a gun or something with Mason helping to confuse the issue. The sergeant orders a traffic officer to find the "woman in the silver dress." Duncan demands the vault be opened because he expects to find $9500. Aside, Bert thinks it was a .38 gun, but a .45, .32 or even large .22 is possible. Mason sidles up to Manning; now he'll lose his job with Duncan in charge but maybe he'd like to work for Paul Drake and this could be arranged if he'd drop by tomorrow morning. The vault is closed and sealed and it had too much junk for an immediate inventory. The sergeant then finds $7500 in Grieb's desk drawer and, eventually he thinks Mason may have put it there. Mason dodges and shows how this proves he wouldn't have committed the murder. The traffic officer returns; the woman in the silver dress must be hiding. But she was seen talking to Mason!

8.

Mason admits he "was talking with a woman who answered that description." He answers nothing else, and is locked up for three hours. A U S Marshal releases him. At his office building the night janitor takes him up to his office where Della is awaiting him. A news flash on the radio about Grieb's murder brought her there. She takes him to an empty room next her apartment as a hideaway.

9.

Paul comes to Della for instructions and to report. She tells him about Manning. He says Sylvia went to the ship a short time before her husband. The tail he had on Frank lost him at the dock when Oxman was last on the speed boat. When he did get to the ship he searched twenty minutes before he saw Oxman getting on to a return boat. At a hotel, Oxman deposited $9500. Following Sylvia was a bit trickier, but they found her by following her maid who had a fur coat. Sylvia gave her fur coat to the coat check girl and finally went to Sam Grieb's office. Then Frank entered two or three minutes later. Then came out, and Perry went in. He followed her to the deck when Duncan came out following her, and she went then to the speed launches. At the dock, her shadow Belgrade gave her over to another, Staples, who followed her to Ventura where she found a hotel room as Nell Yardley. He is instructed to keep watching Sylvia and Frank, and find Matilda Benson.

10.

Perry is awakened by Della, who has prepared a breakfast The newspapers have bought Belgrade's exclusive story - he knew Duncan. Mason is now implicated. She heads to the office and Mason washes and starts reading while boiling his eggs. At fifteen minutes he remembers them, throws them out, then burns the toast. Finally he goes out to a pay station telephone. Drake apologizes for Belgrade and Mason brushes it off. Mason takes a taxi to a meeting with Drake and Manning. Drake reports something is in the wind for Oxman went to Worsham & Weaver who brought in a stenographer. Two detectives took Oxman away. Now Manning is examined by Drake. He got his original contract with Duncan but as time went on he was more involved with Grieb. He thinks nobody murdered Grieb, but that it was a suicide. He saw three people go into the office after he left, and none of them had a reason to kill Grieb. Further, Grieb was killed with his own gun, which he knows is true because Grieb bet Duncan he was a better marksman and they had a test, each with one shot, below decks, which Grieb won because it was his gun and he knew better how to use it. The two had insurance policies against the other, and it pays double in murder, not at all in suicide. Drake has an exploded shell Manning gave him, and it matches the murder weapon.

11.

At the Christy Hotel, Mason sees headlines;

LAWYER WANTED

IN CONNECTION WITH

GAMBLING SHIP MURDER

Sylvia comes in to the lobby, goes to the phones and calls Mason's office as Miss I O Yew. Mason then taps on the phone booth and they talk. She admits that she lied to him. She found Grieb dead. As she was looking for the IOU's on the desk, she heard the electric signal that indicated someone was in the hallway on the way in. She quickly went into the outer office, sat down to read a magazine, then "after a while" Mason came in. She didn't want him to look in her bag as she had a .32 Smith and Wesson in it, which she threw overboard. Mason accuses her of lying, for he came into the office seconds after tripping the alarm. She insists. She left the ship because a man told her to. "He wore a blue serge suit, black shoes with thick soles, a blue-and-black striped tie with an opal pin. He was about fifty years old, with thick black hair and a stubby black mustache. He wasn't particularly tall, but he was quite heavy" and apparently knew her husband. Another newspaper;

OXMAN ACCUSES WIFE IN

GAMBLING SHIP MURDER

PROMINENT ATTORNEY SHIELDS WIFE,

BROKER CLAIMS.

The article explains how Oxman sees the situation. He went to the ship with exactly $7500 and paid off the IOU's. He went out, had a steak sandwich, returned to the outer office, where he saw his wife in the inner office with an automatic in her hand, Grieb with a "gaping wound in the left-hand side of his head." He left, saw Mason go to the office. On page three there are facsimiles of the three IOU's. Sylvia says that he didn't see her and his IOU's are forged. Mason conjectures that Oxman came down the corridor while she was in the outer office and couldn't hear the buzzer, she was in the inner office when he left so heard him leaving to thought it was someone coming, and was back in the outer office when Mason came down the corridor so again didn't hear the buzzer of is arrival.

12.

Mason gets Drakes report over the phone. Oxman is registered at the Christy Hotel, and probably does not know his wife is there. The meet at Belgrade's. Mrs Belgrade justifies her husband's taking money when he can only earn $8 an hour as a detective. When her husband arrives, Mason plays good cop to win his help. Belgrade says that, after being relieved by Staples, he went back to the ship to help Mason, but by then the ship was shut down. He reports the order of events. Sylvia went into the office, then Frank, then Perry. Then Sylvia left, and Duncan and the deputy marshal went in. Then Mason came out with the marshal. He followed Sylvia when Duncan came out. He then is forced to admit he worked for Frank Oxman, following Sylvia for sixteen days. He did not see Sylvia toss a gun overboard.

13.

Mason accosts Oxman, but Oxman responds with charges against Mason, belittles each bit of evidence Mason give him until Mason shows he was one step ahead, with a man inside the hotel so the one obviously following him could leave. He brought $9500 to the hotel. Mason can go to Carter Squires who has been bankrolling Oxman over fixed races and such and inform him of how Oxman is cheating on him. This rattles Oxman. Mason now points out that Sylvia can positively identify his fake IOU's as real, which will put her out $7500 but have him hung for murder. The attorney then goes to Sylvia's room, tells her that Frank will be no more trouble. Maybe it was a suicide, or Frank murdered Grieb. She tells him to defend grandmother.

14.

Mason calls Drake to put a really distant shadow on Oxman. Then he goes to the secret apartment and finds Della and Matilda Benson there. She explains that at least twelve people went down a rope ladder to a speed boat to get off the ship and she was one. She tossed her coat overboard but it caught on the anchor line, or the police would never have known that she was on board. A phone call comes; someone's thrown a .38 automatic in through her window. Mason says the police will arrive "within a matter of seconds" even as there is knocking at her door. Mason starts to pack and Matilda takes over. Mason and Street are in her apartment when the police arrive. Mason says he just dropped by to give "last-minute instructions" to Della. They break down the door to the adjacent apartment and find Matilda, "her clothes draped over the back of a chair" on the bed. She claims this to be her apartment.

15.

Basil Wilson calls the names of those present and finds Frank Oxman absent. The inquiry begins. Manning is the first to tell his story. He claims that, due to the insurance policy, Duncan wanted it to be murder not suicide so got Mason and the deputy marshal out of the office long enough to pitch the gun overboard. Duncan blazes that he didn't and that he gave the signal for Manning to come while Mason was still in the room. He took long enough to get to the office for the gun to go overboard and the gun was Sammy's. Duncan points out that the insurance policies were never approved, so it makes no difference to Duncan whether suicide or murder. Then Belgrade testifies, repeating what he's told Mason about the order of in and outs to the office. Mason now interjects how he went in to the office, found Sylvia and the door to the inner office ajar. When she was gone, he paid the $7500 and took the IOU's and burned them. Then Duncan and Perkins came in. Now Mason springs the solution on them. Didn't Duncan say "he was going to open the vault door . . .As a matter of fact, the vault door was unlocked. What he was doing it was locking it." Then he points to Manning as accomplice, who was in the vault, hiding, after shooting "Grieb just as the exhaust of a speed boat drowned the noise of the shot. But the roar of that exhaust also drowned out the sound the buzzer made when Sylvia Oxman came walking down the corridor." When Sylvia called at the door, Manning had no choice but to hide in the vault. The proof; neither Belgrade nor anyone else saw Manning go in. To a stunned audience, Matilda now says she came in and saw Duncan opening the vault; she'd followed him in to kill him and Grieb! Now Duncan fabricates covering for Manning but is trapped when Manning points out that Belgrade didn't see her coming in!

16.

Perry asks Matilda how she concocted "such a beautiful lie on the spur of the moment?" She replies "I lived my girlhood in an age of universal Hypocrisy. I found it was necessary for me to lie. I've had exactly fifty years of practice in extemporaneous prevarication." Mason says Sylvia can get her divorce because of her husband's "false statement to the officers . . ." As she leaves, a woman bursts through the private entrance with a canary in a cage who "has a sore foot!"

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