Perry Mason (1957) s01e05 Episode Script
The Case of the Sulky Girl
NORTON: It's time you learned I will not change my mind.
FRAN: I've learned more than that.
You're a mean, selfish man.
Trying to make me and everybody as miserable as you are.
Please, Fran, will you stop shrieking long enough to hear what I have to say? I don't care what you say.
I don't care what you think.
Enough.
I will not have a child talk to me like that.
I'm not a child, Uncle Edward.
- I'm 23.
I'm a grown woman.
- Then act like one.
Use your grown-up mentality to understand-- Why don't you use yours? It's not a complicated idea at all.
- Not even for you.
- Now, you listen to me, young-- Miss Fran.
Miss Frances, wait.
[DOORBELL RINGS.]
- Good morning, Graves.
- Mr.
Crinston.
You couldn't have picked a worse time to come, sir.
He said to come right away.
As a matter of fact, I had to get an adjournment on one of my cases.
I'm sorry, but he and Miss Celane, they've been arguing ever since breakfast.
- That'll put him in a good mood.
- Yes.
Well, he's alone now.
- I'll see what I can do, sir.
- Thank you, Graves.
- I can't take it any longer, Clara.
- It'll all come out right.
- Soon he'll lose his hold on you, and-- - Soon? How long do you think I can wait? I want it now, and I'll have it now.
It'll only make things worse.
Miss Fran, you have everything to live for.
If he's bad, let the badness be his own-- Oh, stop preaching, Clara.
I've had enough of that too.
Sorry, Mr.
Crinston.
Just as I told you, he can't see you until tonight.
Tonight? But I have an appointment with Judge Purley through 10:00.
Make it at 11, then.
[SIGHS.]
- All right.
All right, 11:00 it is.
- And Mr.
Crinston.
- Need I remind you? - Yes, I know, I know, 11:00 sharp.
Ah, easy, easy, Fran.
Don't let him throw you.
Maybe you have to take it, Mr.
Crinston, but I'm not his attorney.
[HORN HONKS.]
- I wanna see Mr.
Mason.
Is he in? - I'll get his secretary for you.
Don't bother.
Wait a minute, you can't go in there.
Come back.
Oh, I don't think we should pursue it now, Paul.
No, it's up to Burger and the police to-- What? No, as I said-- I'll call you back, Paul.
- Thank you.
- Mr.
Mason, I'm-- [DOOR OPENS.]
This is all I could find, chief.
If it isn't in those, Della, we'd better drop it.
This is my secretary, Della Street, Miss, um? - Celane.
Frances Celane.
- Hello.
Miss Street likes to maintain an air of formality in the office.
Things like appointments.
I haven't time for appointments, Mr.
Mason.
I need help.
I'm being cheated out of a fortune.
Why don't you sit down? That's fine.
Now, start from the beginning.
Well, I need a lawyer who knows all about wills and trusts.
Well, probate's not my speciality.
I'm a trial lawyer.
- There are people-- - There'll be a trial.
A big one.
High-priced on both sides, name-calling, headlines.
- You're contesting a will? - A trust.
It'll run over a million dollars.
I'm willing to pay a lot to break it.
- Who created the trust? - My father, Carl Celane.
- He died two years ago.
- Oh, yes, I recall.
The property was left to my uncle, Edward Norton, as absolute trustee.
Absolute trustee? And I assume you don't like supervision.
Not when it's unreasonable.
- What are the terms of the trust? - It's a spendthrift trust.
Uncle Edward controls all the money.
My money.
He gives me as little or as much as he wants when he wants it.
- He can go on doing that forever.
- Well, what do you want me to do? - Fix it so I can get married.
- Well, why can't you? Uncle Edward says I cannot.
Not till I'm 25, he says.
By then I should be "emotionally stable enough to enter into marriage.
" - That's quoting him, not me.
- How old are you now? Twenty-three last June.
Why not wait a couple of years? It sounds profitable.
- I said I wanna get married now.
- Why? I suppose you've discussed this with your uncle.
I'm through discussing anything with him.
Look, I'm in a hurry.
I wanna get this settled.
I wanna get it settled now.
Will you help me? I'll have to check a few things first.
May take a day or so.
- Can you wait that long? - Well, I guess so.
I live with my uncle, Edward Norton, at Laurelwood.
Thank you.
- Well, goodbye, Miss Street.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
- Bye.
Forgive me if I acted badly.
I'm a little upset this morning.
Yes, I noticed.
- Gertie.
- Yes, Mr.
Mason? Get hold of Paul Drake, will you please? Yes, sir.
Strong-willed little thing, wasn't she? Yes, and like most headstrong people, she's scared.
Of what? Well, you know, she's scared of losing security or scared of losing someone she loves.
[INTERCOM BUZZES.]
- Yes, Gertie? - Mr.
Drake's on the wire.
Thanks.
Hello, Paul.
What's going on, Perry? Why'd you cut me off? Sorry, I had an unexpected visitor.
I figured, but I didn't know if it was blond or brunette.
What I wanted to tell you was that Burger-- No, no, forget about that.
I've got another job for you.
Miss Frances Celane.
C-E-L-A-N-E.
Background, family history, the works.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Come.
Graves said you wanted to speak to me, Mr.
Norton.
I certainly did, Clara.
It's time we had a clear understanding about your position here.
My position, sir? Ten years ago, you were hired as a housekeeper.
Yes, sir.
Not Miss Celane's personal maid and confidante.
Somebody had to look after the child.
Mr.
Celane was very pleased that I did.
Was he pleased with the way you helped her defy him? I certainly am not.
Miss Fran needs love and understanding.
She needs discipline.
I'm warning you right now, Clara.
I will not have you undermining my authority.
You give her one more word of encouragement and you'll have to leave.
Please, Mr.
Norton, I love Miss Fran.
She's like my own.
I couldn't live without her.
You'll have to, if this insubordination isn't stopped immediately.
- Do you understand? - Yes, Mr.
Norton.
I understand perfectly.
Well, it's pretty fast, Paul.
Where'd you get it? Swiped it out of the morgue at the Chronicle.
If I don't get it back, they'll shoot me.
Here she is at 12 with her mother and father.
- What about the mother? - She died soon after that picture.
The kid was raised by Celane and the housekeeper.
Oh, here's a funny one.
Five years ago, she disappeared for a week and turned up in Miami.
The kid was a bellhop.
- Who was he? - No name.
Blind item in Winchell's column.
"Just good friends.
" I'm quoting Winchell.
Well, you get the idea.
She's a very expensive delinquent.
Maybe she's just taking her time growing up.
Mm.
So did "Two Gun" Crowley.
They caught this at the Assistance League art show last year.
The boy's an artist she's been running around with lately.
His name's Rodney Gleason.
MASON: You keep busy, Mr.
Gleason.
- I'm not fashionable.
When you're not fashionable, you have to keep busy or you starve.
Let's, um Let's get back to Miss Celane.
- What about Fran? - You know her very well? Oh, I see her once in a while.
She, um, wants to get married.
- That's not illegal, is it? - No, it can be expensive.
For her.
- How long have you known her? - Oh, about six months or so.
I met her at a League show last winter.
She was with her uncle.
He picks up a picture every now and then.
Seems like a good idea to cultivate her.
You know, I like this painting.
It looks like Florida.
It is.
It's Biscayne Bay.
Well, business can't be so bad if you can run down to Florida - and do seascapes.
- Ha.
Don't kid yourself.
I did that five years ago in art school.
Scholarship? - Nope.
I worked my way through.
- As a bellhop? You ran away with Fran five years ago.
Her father caught up with you in Miami a week later, took her back to New York, moved her out here to keep you two apart.
You're dreaming.
You know, I have a hunch that during that week, you two got married secretly.
You've tried to stay apart, but it just wouldn't work.
Look, Mr.
Mason, I don't like anybody calling me a liar.
Even when you are? I have another hunch about something else-- All right.
I think you'd better get out of here.
Wait.
Close the door, please, Rod.
I shouldn't have held out on you, Mr.
Mason.
You won't be the first.
You're right about us.
We did get married.
But your father thought it was just another one of your wild escapades.
Yes.
That's when he set up the trust, right after he brought me back from Miami.
And your father is still calling the shots through your Uncle Edward, hmm? - I'm going to fight him for it.
- Oh, all you need is a little patience.
You'll be 25 in another 18 months.
Well, I can't wait, not that long.
You see, you don't quite know everything.
Oh.
That was my second hunch.
I hope it's a boy.
I don't resent my niece hiring legal counsel, Mr.
Mason.
On the contrary, I'm delighted.
She refuses to take my word for certain things.
Perhaps you, as a lawyer, can make them clear to her.
Undoubtedly, you have read the terms of the trust.
Yes.
A spendthrift trust.
Her father realised she needed supervision and protection.
She has been impetuous all her life.
I see.
And bright and early on the morning of her 25 birthday, she suddenly attains wisdom.
At 23 or 24, she's incapable of managing her own affairs.
- But at 25 - What are you getting at? I'm talking about Fran's desire to marry at her discretion instead of yours.
As trustee, it is my considered opinion that Fran lacks the emotional stability necessary for a happy marriage.
At least, at this time.
- I think you're wrong.
- You're challenging my authority? Not your authority.
Just your arbitrary use of it.
Under Section 710 of the California Civil Code, - a court might very well find-- - I don't like being threatened.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Come.
It's 3:00, sir.
Mr.
Jenkins of the First National Bank is here.
You're using someone else's time, Mr.
Mason.
Show Mr.
Jenkins in.
You may inform your client that you have been signally unsuccessful.
Good day, sir.
- Did you talk to him? - Yes, I did, without much success.
I hate him.
I hate him! [SOBBING.]
MASON: All right, let's have it, Paul.
Well, Norton's dough is mainly in real estate.
The Celane money is held by the First National Bank.
It's mostly blue-chip stocks and bonds and cash.
What about Norton's reputation? He's crotchety and he's a perfectionist.
He's also fanatically honest.
They can be the worst kind.
He can't be riding herd alone on all that money.
Someone has to be advising him.
Paul, I want you to find out everything you can about him, and all his associates.
Do they go to Las Vegas, have any girlfriends-- - You kidding? - Never mind.
- Check it.
PAUL: All right.
Crinston's late.
Oh, he phoned, sir, right after dinner, and explained that he'd be tied up with Judge Purley.
That's beside the point.
It's 11:00 and Crinston is late.
Yes, sir.
[CAR APPROACHING.]
ANNOUNCER [ON RADIO.]
: A left to the head, a right to the body, on the cheek, but Moreno shakes off the punches, circles around, trying to find an opening for that deadly left.
We're six minutes late, judge.
The old man will be loaded for bear.
- My fault for keeping you, Arthur.
- You sure you won't come in? No, thanks.
I'd like to hear the rest of this fight.
I'll make it as short as I can.
--with the left held high.
Moreno keeps scoring with that left-- Hi, Graves.
You must try to be more prompt, Mr.
Crinston.
One with the X is no sugar.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Get that, will you, Frank? - Laurelwood Precinct.
- This is Edward Norton.
- I want to report a crime.
- Just a second.
Old man Norton again.
Sergeant Wilbur speaking, Mr.
Norton.
What can I do for you? - My life has been threatened.
- Yeah, who by? My niece.
I want protection at once.
[PHONE CLICKS.]
Hello.
Hello.
Hello? What now? He says his life has been threatened by his niece.
Better get Williams and go out there in a prowl car.
[CROWD SHOUTING ON RADIO.]
ANNOUNCER: Time is 11: 15.
Now back to ringside.
In his corner, Moreno sits quietly while his seconds work over him.
- And you get the-- - Thank you for waiting, judge.
--happy with anything less than a clean knockout.
[BELL RINGS ON RADIO.]
- There's the bell, Moreno-- - How's the fight going? Pretty good.
That boy Moreno is a clever fighter.
NORTON: Crinston.
- Tries to slide along the ropes.
- Moreno's all over him.
- Yes? - A hard left to the jaw.
- Yes, Mr.
Norton? How about the corporation papers? - What? - Trying to hang on.
- I'm sorry, judge, would you mind? - Moreno pushes him away.
- There's that left-- - What did you say? Where are the papers for Tamarack and Southern Mining? - Well, they're at my home.
- I want them.
I'm sending Graves to ride in with you and get them.
- Four, five, six-- - All right.
Hope it isn't too much trouble.
--eight, nine and the winner is Moreno by a knockout.
Quite a fight.
- Hope I didn't spoil it for you.
Ha-ha.
- Oh, nonsense.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen.
- I hope this isn't out of your way.
- That's okay, Graves.
- We're all in the same boat.
- Yes.
Judge Purley, this is Donald Graves, Mr.
Norton's secretary.
- How are you? - How do you do? Here, why don't you let me put that in the back for you, Mr.
Crinston? Wait.
Stop the car.
PURLEY: What's the matter? The window.
Mr.
Norton.
There's a man in his room.
I saw him.
He came right up behind Mr.
Norton.
Go back.
Do you hear me? Go back.
[SIREN WAILING.]
And it is my contention that although you have been legally appointed trustee of the estate of Carl Celane, as specifically indicated in the terms of his last will and testament, your exercise of the aforesaid function has been arbitrary and capricious.
I refer you to Section 710 of the California Civil Code, which clearly states that-- Della? Mm.
Hey, come on, girl.
It's midnight.
Time you quit working.
Midnight? Why don't we just stay till tomorrow? Union rules.
Now, come on, rise and shine.
- I just gave up.
- It's your own fault.
You shouldn't be fooling around with wills and sulky heiresses anyway.
- Your speciality is murder.
FRAN: A murder is what you've got.
Mr.
Norton decided that he wanted some papers that had been left in town, and he called out-- You tell Crinston, that housekeeper, I'll be right with him.
I went out to the car-- You can move him out, Tragg.
We're through.
- What did you find? - Never knew what hit him.
Ashtray got him over the left ear.
I'll have the full autopsy report on your desk in the morning.
His briefcase started to fall and I put it in the back seat.
And I was looking through the window back at the house, you see.
And I saw this man come up behind Mr.
Norton.
- And he raised his arms-- - What'd he have in his hand? I don't know exactly, but it seemed to be a very heavy object of some kind.
- And I yelled-- TRAGG: What time was this? - Shortly after 11.
- Eleven-seventeen, almost exactly.
I checked my watch at the radio during the fight broadcast.
Could you recognise this man? You afraid he can? TRAGG: I asked you a question, Mr.
Graves.
Could you recognise the man? He didn't do it.
He couldn't have.
Fran, you're not telling me everything.
Holding out on me before was only annoying.
Now it can be fatal.
You know Rod didn't leave before it happened.
Graves, Purley, Crinston, all of them saw his car out at the gate.
Lying to me isn't gonna help protect him, Fran.
It's only gonna make it harder.
Can't you see that? But you might not defend us.
Try me.
Well, he came up tonight to take my bags to the apartment.
For the first time, we were going to live like husband and wife.
When he got here, he was terribly upset.
He insisted on seeing Uncle Edward.
He wanted to have it out with him.
He actually said that? - I tried to talk him out of it, but he-- - But what? He wouldn't listen to me.
You wanted the truth and that's it.
If he did kill Uncle Edward, he did it for me.
And if he has to die, I wanna die too.
All right, now.
Try and get some sleep.
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
ROD: I've been walking the streets all this time, Mr.
Mason.
Trying to figure out who could've killed Norton.
[SIGHS.]
There isn't anything that-- I can't think of a thing until you tell me what happened after you left Fran's room.
I went downstairs to talk to him, but he was busy.
- How do you know he was busy? - I heard him talking to somebody.
So I went out the back door and waited in the garden.
How long were you out there? I don't know, maybe four or five minutes.
Then? Somebody called out.
I heard a car start up out front.
And you went back in the same door? Yeah.
Straight to the study.
I didn't knock, I just walked in.
At first I thought he was sleeping.
That was before I took a closer look.
Then I just ran.
Then Graves actually did see you in that room.
It must have been me.
Graves said he saw something in your hand.
- Something like a bludgeon.
- That's a lie.
Norton was dead.
- I never touched him.
- Then why did you run? I don't know.
I guess I lost my head.
You think I killed him, don't you? It's what the district attorney thinks that matters.
From here, it looks like Burger's gonna have himself a field day.
All right, Mr.
Burger, the men are ready in the study.
Thank you, Lieutenant Tragg.
You're sure this is where you were when you saw that man in Mr.
Norton's study.
- Yes, sir.
- All right, get in the car, please.
Be sure you take the exact position you were in last night.
Would you gentlemen step a little closer, please? I want you to pay attention to what you're gonna see and what Mr.
Graves says.
You were introduced to three police officers, Mr.
Graves.
- Yes, sir.
- They're up in the study.
They're gonna duplicate the actions that you reported seeing last night.
I want you to identify each of the men by name if you can.
- Do you understand? - Yes, sir.
All right, lieutenant.
Go ahead, Mr.
Graves.
Um - That's, uh-- That's Bailey.
- Keep watching the window.
That's, um What's his name, uh? Oh, McClintock.
And who is this third man, Mr.
Graves? Why, that's, uh - That's Mr.
Bailey again.
- Very good, Mr.
Graves.
Thank you.
- Thank you, gentlemen.
- Well, how did it go? Almost as good as an absolute eyewitness.
Wrap this up, will you? See they all get home all right.
And, Tragg, make sure none of this leaks out.
PAUL: And he nailed it down tight, Perry.
An exact-conditions eye test.
Graves identified both men while he sat in the car in the driveway.
One hundred and forty-seven feet away from the window.
Two witnesses saw him do it.
And the minute I try to throw doubt on Graves' testimony, testimony that he could have recognised Gleason at that distance, Burger will put both of those witnesses on the stand.
You're so right.
Well, thanks, Paul.
See you at the preliminary hearing.
- Wouldn't you rather go fishing? - Hmm.
Much.
- You wanted to see me, lieutenant? - Oh, yeah, come on in, Drake.
I'm just indulging in a little target practise.
Um That's Perry Mason.
- Like to try it? - Yeah, thanks.
Good for the eyes.
But there's really nothing wrong with your eyes, is there? - You keep them wide open.
- I try to.
That can be a mistake sometimes.
That investigator's licence of yours means a lot to you, don't it? - I'd sure hate to see you lose it.
- Any reason why I should? Well, we ran an exact-conditions test on Friday on the Norton case.
As far as I recall, no invitations were sent out to the general public.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You own a Thunderbird, licence number LTZ 413.
- That's right.
- What was that doing near the Norton house on Friday? - Look, Tragg-- - Now, strictly between us boys, you were there, weren't you? Mm-hm.
In case you never saw one of these before, that's a subpoena.
What's the idea? Oh, just something that Mr.
Burger and I thought up.
Nobody would ever accuse you of being friendly to the DA's office, so we figured it might be more effective if you appeared as a witness for the state in the exact-conditions test.
After all, you did see the whole thing.
Now, wait a minute, Tragg.
You could testify that Mr.
Graves' eyesight was far above normal.
That would mean a lot, coming from you.
Burger would never call me.
He might, and then again, he might not, but if I were you, I'd get me some good legal advice.
Would you like to have me recommend a good lawyer? Give me the city desk.
Mike, this is Andy.
Rod Gleason was just bound over.
Looks like first degree.
Perry Mason is defending.
- You did great.
- Enjoy it? Burger's footprints are all over your back.
Well, you don't win any marbles at a preliminary hearing.
Not what you said last week.
This one looks bad, Perry.
That's your most endearing quality, Paul, your glorious, shining faith.
- I'd rather have your facts and figures.
- Well, I got those too.
- But nothing showed up that helps.
- So far.
Those financial reports, when are you gonna have them? I'll have them by tomorrow.
Everything seems in order.
At least as far as Norton's concerned.
Whatever else he might have been, Norton was honest.
I know.
Fanatically.
We propose to prove to you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that the defendant, Rodney Gleason, first pleaded and then quarrelled with Edward Norton.
And that at a moment when a witness, Donald Graves, was actually looking through a window of the house, this defendant clubbed Edward Norton over the head, causing his death almost instantly.
Further, that Arthur Crinston, accompanied by the eyewitness Donald Graves and by Judge Purley, rushed to that study, where they found the crumpled body of Edward Norton.
Upon this evidence, we shall expect a verdict of murder in the first degree.
MARKHAM: Does the defence have an opening statement? If the court please, the defence will make no opening statement.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
Call Judge Brian C.
Purley.
Raise your right hand, please.
Do you swear the testimony you're about to give in this court be the truth? - I do.
- State your name.
- Brian C.
Purley.
- Be seated.
Judge Purley, on the night of October 23rd of this year, you had occasion to visit the residence of the deceased Edward Norton? Well, not precisely.
I didn't go into the house.
I simply drove Mr.
Crinston there and waited in the car.
And what time did you arrive? At approximately five minutes after 11.
And at what time did you leave? Precisely at 17 minutes after 11.
How do you happen to know these times so exactly? I checked them with my watch.
PURLEY: Just after Mr.
Crinston got into the car, Mr.
Norton called him from the study window.
He asked Mr.
Crinston about some papers.
Mr.
Crinston said they were at his home.
- And then what? - Then Mr.
Norton asked him to bring Mr.
Graves back with us to pick them up.
Presently, Mr.
Graves came out from the house and we started off.
I see.
Judge Purley, would you examine this chart, please? Would you indicate for us the route followed by your car? Yes, sir.
We started from here and followed the driveway to this point.
BURGER: Judge Purley, did I understand you to say that when you went into the study, you saw Edward Norton's body at this point? You did not.
I stated that I saw the body of a man which was subsequently identified as Edward Norton.
Oh? - I thought you knew Mr.
Norton.
- I didn't say that either.
On how many occasions had you discussed business matters with Mr.
Norton over the telephone? - I never talked to the man in my life.
- I see.
- No further questions.
MARKHAM: You may step down, sir.
- Call Sergeant Wilbur.
CLERK: Sergeant George Wilbur.
No, sir, I remember exactly what he said.
He said, "My life has been threatened.
" I asked, "Who by?" He said, "My niece.
I want protection at once.
" And what did you do then? I ordered the prowl car out, but when they got there, it was too late.
Judge Purley had already notified Homicide.
Your witness.
Sergeant, how many calls do you normally take in the course of an evening's duty? - It varies.
- Well, on the average.
Ten, 12.
You pride yourself on having an excellent memory? I do.
Oh, yes, as a matter of fact, you stated you remembered Mr.
Norton's exact words.
- I did.
- What were they? He said, "My life has been threatened.
" I asked, "Who by?" He said, "My niece.
I want protection at once.
" And that was the entire conversation? It was.
Yes, sir.
Did he by any chance say hello? Not to me, he didn't.
You see, I didn't pick up the phone at first.
- Oh? Who did pick up the phone? - Officer Delaney.
Frank Delaney.
Suppose you tell us exactly what happened when Mr.
Norton's call came in.
Well, when the phone rang, I was busy, so I asked Delaney to answer the phone.
Then Officer Delaney spoke with Mr.
Norton first? - Well, only a few words-- - That will be all, sergeant.
Your Honour, I move that the entire testimony of this witness be stricken and that the jury be instructed to disregard it on the grounds that no proper foundation has been laid.
Do you have anything to say, Mr.
Burger, before I rule on the motion? [CHUCKLING.]
Of course, Your Honour.
The state was not aware that this telephone conversation consisted of two parts.
If the court will hold its ruling in abeyance, I'll be happy to make arrangements to have this other police officer brought here immediately.
Very well, you may step down.
But since the officer is not in court, you'd better call your next witness.
Thank you, Your Honour.
- Call Arthur Crinston.
CLERK: Arthur Crinston to the stand.
[WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY.]
CRINSTON: We returned immediately to the house.
I re-entered the house with Graves and Judge Purley, and we discovered Mr.
Norton's body as was described.
- Judge Purley notified Homicide.
BURGER: Thank you, sir.
Cross-examine.
Mr.
Crinston, you've stated that you had a meeting planned with Mr.
Norton at 11:00.
Yes, I was about five minutes late.
What was the purpose of that meeting? He called me to discuss tax matters.
That was within the scope of your duties as Mr.
Norton's attorney? It was.
I helped him in a great many of his financial affairs.
But certainly you had no authority to act for him in the matter of buying or selling securities.
Oh, but I did.
I had power of attorney.
And the tax matters? You discussed them with Mr.
Norton? - No.
- Why not? He was too distraught to discuss anything.
He'd been having trouble with his niece.
I see.
If the court please, I may wish to recall Mr.
Crinston for further cross-examination.
- No further questions at this time.
- What's he trying to do? Whatever it is, you can be sure there's a good reason.
Della, where are the papers Paul gave you on those financial and banking matters? And when you turned around in the seat, did you have a clear view of the window of Norton's study through the rear window of that car? Yes, sir.
A direct line.
So it was perfectly possible for you to see Rodney Gleason in the study? Absolutely.
- Your witness, Mr.
Mason.
- No questions.
At this time.
[WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY.]
If it please the court, I'm informed that Officer Frank Delaney is now in the courtroom.
I should like to call him to the stand to lay a proper foundation for Sergeant Wilbur's previous testimony.
MARKHAM: Call Frank Delaney.
CLERK: Frank Delaney.
Now, Officer Delaney, I direct your attention to October 23rd last, and I ask if you were at the Laurelwood Precinct at 11:15 p.
m.
I was.
What, if anything, occurred at that time? Well, a phone call came in.
A complaint.
- Who answered that call? - I answered it.
Did the caller say hello? [CROWD LAUGHING.]
No, sir.
He said, "This is Edward Norton.
I wanna report a crime.
" Those were his exact words? - Yes, sir.
- What did you do then? Then I turned the phone over to the sergeant.
Your witness, Mr.
Mason.
When you turned the phone over to the sergeant, did you say anything to him first? - To the sergeant? - To the sergeant.
Well, I guess so.
Don't guess.
Did you say something to him? Yeah, sure.
I said-- I said something about it being old man Norton again.
Then you told him it was Norton.
Well, why not? After all, it was Norton.
Isn't possible that Sergeant Wilbur was led to believe it was Norton on the wire only because you told him so? I object, Your Honour.
Counsel is asking for a conclusion of the witness.
Sustained.
No further questions.
If it please the court, since a proper foundation has now been laid for the previous testimony of Sergeant Wilbur, I trust Mr.
Mason will have no further objection to it remaining in the record.
No objection.
- Call Clara Mayfield.
CLERK: Clara Mayfield to the stand.
You may step down, sir.
BURGER: So you were in the downstairs hall at approximately 11:15.
About that time, yes, sir.
Did you see anyone leaving Mr.
Norton's study? I saw Mr.
Crinston leave.
- Anyone else? - And Mr.
Graves.
What happened after that? Um - Nothing.
- Nothing? Exactly what did you do after Mr.
Crinston and Mr.
Graves left? - I went back to the pantry.
- Did you see anybody else? Did you? - Yes, sir.
- Who? - Rod.
- Who? Mr.
Gleason.
Where was he? He was just coming in from the garden.
Did he see you? No, I was by the pantry door at the foot of the stairs.
And what did Mr.
Gleason do? - He went into Mr.
Norton's study.
- Thank you.
Your witness, Mr.
Mason.
Miss Mayfield, after you saw Mr.
Gleason go into the study, what did you do? I went to the pantry to make myself a cup of tea.
- You weren't worried? - Worried, sir? Well, you knew there was trouble, did you not? You knew that Rod Gleason hated Mr.
Norton.
You knew that Rod Gleason was not supposed to be in that house.
Yet when you saw him at the door to the study, you simply ignored it and went and made yourself a cup of tea? There was nothing I could have done, sir.
Whatever was going to happen, it would be in more divine hands than mine.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
Would you say the murder weapon was held in divine hands? BURGER: Objection.
Your Honour, Mr.
Mason is baiting the witness.
Sustained.
Please confine yourself to your cross-examination, Mr.
Mason.
Yes, Your Honour.
Now, Miss Mayfield, does the figure 67,585 mean something to you? No, sir.
- It does not? - No, sir.
Now, Miss Mayfield, how long have you known Frances Celane? More than ten years.
You took care of her after her mother died? - With her father's permission.
- Of course.
Then I assume you became very attached to the little girl? Yes, sir.
You devoted your life to her, you grew to love her? As though she were my own child.
Then what were your feelings when Mr.
Norton called you into his study just before he was killed and threatened to discharge you unless you stayed away from Frances Celane? How did you feel? I knew the Lord would show me the way.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
No further questions.
If the court please, I should like at this time to recall Arthur Crinston to the stand for further cross-examination.
MARKHAM: You may step down, Miss Mayfield.
Della, give me some blank filing cards.
Paul, when I go back up to the witness stand, I want you to get Judge Purley and tell him you wanna talk to him out in the corridor.
- What about? - About anything.
Just get him out in the corridor.
Have him stand close to the door so he can hear every word of my cross-examination.
- Now, move.
- Right, Perry.
You've already been sworn, Mr.
Crinston.
Yes, I'm aware of that.
Mr.
Crinston, does the figure - Not especially.
- It should.
That's the value in dollars of the securities you've sold for Edward Norton during the past five months.
I've been doing that for years, for much larger sums.
You were in conference with Mr.
Norton on the night of the murder? I was.
Isn't it a fact that that conference was in the nature of a quarrel? Certainly not.
Isn't it a fact that the proceeds from the securities you sold for Edward Norton were used to cover your personal losses in the stock market? That's a lie.
Is it not a fact that on the day of his death, Edward Norton received from his bank a list showing the sale of those securities? Sale of those securities was authorised by Mr.
Norton.
Isn't it true that on the night of his death, Edward Norton informed you that unless you made immediate restitution, he intended to notify the police? Absolutely not.
And when you admitted you could not make restitution, he called the police and said: "This is Edward Norton.
I want to report a crime"? - No, sir.
- And is it not true that when Mr.
Norton said those words, you, in a sudden frenzy, struck him with a heavy object, causing his death? BURGER: Objection.
- There's absolutely no grounds for-- MARKHAM: Overruled.
Answer the question, Mr.
Crinston.
I did nothing of the kind.
And is it not true, Mr.
Crinston, that then you realised the police were on the other end of an open wire, and to cover up Mr.
Norton's statement about a crime, you picked up the phone, pretended to be Norton and said: "My niece has threatened my life"? There's not an ounce of truth in anything you've said.
That's all, Mr.
Crinston.
Do you wish to re-examine, Mr.
Burger? No, Your Honour.
I wanna say we've heard a lot of theories from Mr.
Mason, but no evidence.
This witness has denied every single-- The prosecution will make its argument to the jury at the proper time.
You may step down, sir.
Your Honour, I would like at this time to recall Donald Graves to the stand.
CLERK: Donald Graves to the stand.
Mr.
Graves, I presume the district attorney expects me to question your ability to recognise a person from a distance of 147 feet.
However, I'm not interested in your vision.
I'm interested in the sound of your voice.
With the court's permission, I should like you to read these cards aloud.
One after the other.
- Why? - Never mind why, just read them.
Objection.
Your Honour, once again, Mr.
Mason is demonstrating his characteristic courtroom pyrotechnics and making a mockery of this whole-- Just a minute, Mr.
Burger.
I assume you can show a connection in what you're trying to do, Mr.
Mason.
I believe I can, Your Honour.
Very well, I'll reserve my ruling for the present.
- You may continue.
- Thank you, Your Honour.
Now, Mr.
Graves, we're waiting.
This, uh-- Ahem.
This is ridiculous.
I resent it.
You probably have the right to resent it, but go ahead and do it.
"The quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
" "The early bird catches the worm.
" - Louder, please, Mr.
Graves.
- Ahem.
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
" "In a democracy, all men are created equal.
" Now, what was that? I can't hear you, Mr.
Graves.
"In a democracy, all men are created equal.
" "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.
" Louder, please.
"A stitch in time saves nine.
" - Next card.
- "Crinston--" Go on, Mr.
Graves.
"Crinston, I want Graves to go with you.
" Read it again, Mr.
Graves.
Louder, Mr.
Graves.
Go on! "Crinston, I want Graves to go with you.
" Thank you, Mr.
Graves.
Judge Purley, will you come in, please? Your Honour, I would like to recall Judge Purley to the stand.
CLERK: Judge Brian Purley to the stand.
MARKHAM: You may step down, sir.
Judge Purley, I ask now that you go back to the night of the murder, to the moment when Edward Norton called down to Crinston from his study window.
Is it not true that the voice that came from that window was the same voice that you just heard in this courtroom? Well, it, uh It could have been.
No.
No, I'll make it much stronger than that.
It was Donald Graves' voice.
But I didn't kill him.
I didn't.
Mr.
Crinston killed him.
All I did was call down to the car.
Tell him, Mr.
Crinston.
Please, tell him.
Your Honour, the defence rests.
Graves was the one who surprised me.
He'd been with Mr.
Norton for years.
I can't see why he cooperated with Mr.
Crinston.
Unless he was fed up and Mr.
Crinston offered him a share of his profits in the stock market.
- That was exactly his motive.
- That's exactly what I thought.
DELLA: Now, just a minute here.
You know, Clara, any more of these completely analytical deductions on your part, and I shall be forced to declare you the winner.
In other words, Mr.
Mason will be giving you my job.
[CLARA CHUCKLES.]
You don't need to worry, Miss Street.
Looking after this one is all the job I can handle.
Now, you stop fussing over me.
The doctor said you must keep warm.
Well, he didn't mean for me to roast to death.
I can't do anything with her, Mr.
Mason.
You know what I'm afraid of? I may have to raise another sulky girl.
Oh, no, I'm holding out for a sulky boy.
FRAN: I've learned more than that.
You're a mean, selfish man.
Trying to make me and everybody as miserable as you are.
Please, Fran, will you stop shrieking long enough to hear what I have to say? I don't care what you say.
I don't care what you think.
Enough.
I will not have a child talk to me like that.
I'm not a child, Uncle Edward.
- I'm 23.
I'm a grown woman.
- Then act like one.
Use your grown-up mentality to understand-- Why don't you use yours? It's not a complicated idea at all.
- Not even for you.
- Now, you listen to me, young-- Miss Fran.
Miss Frances, wait.
[DOORBELL RINGS.]
- Good morning, Graves.
- Mr.
Crinston.
You couldn't have picked a worse time to come, sir.
He said to come right away.
As a matter of fact, I had to get an adjournment on one of my cases.
I'm sorry, but he and Miss Celane, they've been arguing ever since breakfast.
- That'll put him in a good mood.
- Yes.
Well, he's alone now.
- I'll see what I can do, sir.
- Thank you, Graves.
- I can't take it any longer, Clara.
- It'll all come out right.
- Soon he'll lose his hold on you, and-- - Soon? How long do you think I can wait? I want it now, and I'll have it now.
It'll only make things worse.
Miss Fran, you have everything to live for.
If he's bad, let the badness be his own-- Oh, stop preaching, Clara.
I've had enough of that too.
Sorry, Mr.
Crinston.
Just as I told you, he can't see you until tonight.
Tonight? But I have an appointment with Judge Purley through 10:00.
Make it at 11, then.
[SIGHS.]
- All right.
All right, 11:00 it is.
- And Mr.
Crinston.
- Need I remind you? - Yes, I know, I know, 11:00 sharp.
Ah, easy, easy, Fran.
Don't let him throw you.
Maybe you have to take it, Mr.
Crinston, but I'm not his attorney.
[HORN HONKS.]
- I wanna see Mr.
Mason.
Is he in? - I'll get his secretary for you.
Don't bother.
Wait a minute, you can't go in there.
Come back.
Oh, I don't think we should pursue it now, Paul.
No, it's up to Burger and the police to-- What? No, as I said-- I'll call you back, Paul.
- Thank you.
- Mr.
Mason, I'm-- [DOOR OPENS.]
This is all I could find, chief.
If it isn't in those, Della, we'd better drop it.
This is my secretary, Della Street, Miss, um? - Celane.
Frances Celane.
- Hello.
Miss Street likes to maintain an air of formality in the office.
Things like appointments.
I haven't time for appointments, Mr.
Mason.
I need help.
I'm being cheated out of a fortune.
Why don't you sit down? That's fine.
Now, start from the beginning.
Well, I need a lawyer who knows all about wills and trusts.
Well, probate's not my speciality.
I'm a trial lawyer.
- There are people-- - There'll be a trial.
A big one.
High-priced on both sides, name-calling, headlines.
- You're contesting a will? - A trust.
It'll run over a million dollars.
I'm willing to pay a lot to break it.
- Who created the trust? - My father, Carl Celane.
- He died two years ago.
- Oh, yes, I recall.
The property was left to my uncle, Edward Norton, as absolute trustee.
Absolute trustee? And I assume you don't like supervision.
Not when it's unreasonable.
- What are the terms of the trust? - It's a spendthrift trust.
Uncle Edward controls all the money.
My money.
He gives me as little or as much as he wants when he wants it.
- He can go on doing that forever.
- Well, what do you want me to do? - Fix it so I can get married.
- Well, why can't you? Uncle Edward says I cannot.
Not till I'm 25, he says.
By then I should be "emotionally stable enough to enter into marriage.
" - That's quoting him, not me.
- How old are you now? Twenty-three last June.
Why not wait a couple of years? It sounds profitable.
- I said I wanna get married now.
- Why? I suppose you've discussed this with your uncle.
I'm through discussing anything with him.
Look, I'm in a hurry.
I wanna get this settled.
I wanna get it settled now.
Will you help me? I'll have to check a few things first.
May take a day or so.
- Can you wait that long? - Well, I guess so.
I live with my uncle, Edward Norton, at Laurelwood.
Thank you.
- Well, goodbye, Miss Street.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
- Bye.
Forgive me if I acted badly.
I'm a little upset this morning.
Yes, I noticed.
- Gertie.
- Yes, Mr.
Mason? Get hold of Paul Drake, will you please? Yes, sir.
Strong-willed little thing, wasn't she? Yes, and like most headstrong people, she's scared.
Of what? Well, you know, she's scared of losing security or scared of losing someone she loves.
[INTERCOM BUZZES.]
- Yes, Gertie? - Mr.
Drake's on the wire.
Thanks.
Hello, Paul.
What's going on, Perry? Why'd you cut me off? Sorry, I had an unexpected visitor.
I figured, but I didn't know if it was blond or brunette.
What I wanted to tell you was that Burger-- No, no, forget about that.
I've got another job for you.
Miss Frances Celane.
C-E-L-A-N-E.
Background, family history, the works.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Come.
Graves said you wanted to speak to me, Mr.
Norton.
I certainly did, Clara.
It's time we had a clear understanding about your position here.
My position, sir? Ten years ago, you were hired as a housekeeper.
Yes, sir.
Not Miss Celane's personal maid and confidante.
Somebody had to look after the child.
Mr.
Celane was very pleased that I did.
Was he pleased with the way you helped her defy him? I certainly am not.
Miss Fran needs love and understanding.
She needs discipline.
I'm warning you right now, Clara.
I will not have you undermining my authority.
You give her one more word of encouragement and you'll have to leave.
Please, Mr.
Norton, I love Miss Fran.
She's like my own.
I couldn't live without her.
You'll have to, if this insubordination isn't stopped immediately.
- Do you understand? - Yes, Mr.
Norton.
I understand perfectly.
Well, it's pretty fast, Paul.
Where'd you get it? Swiped it out of the morgue at the Chronicle.
If I don't get it back, they'll shoot me.
Here she is at 12 with her mother and father.
- What about the mother? - She died soon after that picture.
The kid was raised by Celane and the housekeeper.
Oh, here's a funny one.
Five years ago, she disappeared for a week and turned up in Miami.
The kid was a bellhop.
- Who was he? - No name.
Blind item in Winchell's column.
"Just good friends.
" I'm quoting Winchell.
Well, you get the idea.
She's a very expensive delinquent.
Maybe she's just taking her time growing up.
Mm.
So did "Two Gun" Crowley.
They caught this at the Assistance League art show last year.
The boy's an artist she's been running around with lately.
His name's Rodney Gleason.
MASON: You keep busy, Mr.
Gleason.
- I'm not fashionable.
When you're not fashionable, you have to keep busy or you starve.
Let's, um Let's get back to Miss Celane.
- What about Fran? - You know her very well? Oh, I see her once in a while.
She, um, wants to get married.
- That's not illegal, is it? - No, it can be expensive.
For her.
- How long have you known her? - Oh, about six months or so.
I met her at a League show last winter.
She was with her uncle.
He picks up a picture every now and then.
Seems like a good idea to cultivate her.
You know, I like this painting.
It looks like Florida.
It is.
It's Biscayne Bay.
Well, business can't be so bad if you can run down to Florida - and do seascapes.
- Ha.
Don't kid yourself.
I did that five years ago in art school.
Scholarship? - Nope.
I worked my way through.
- As a bellhop? You ran away with Fran five years ago.
Her father caught up with you in Miami a week later, took her back to New York, moved her out here to keep you two apart.
You're dreaming.
You know, I have a hunch that during that week, you two got married secretly.
You've tried to stay apart, but it just wouldn't work.
Look, Mr.
Mason, I don't like anybody calling me a liar.
Even when you are? I have another hunch about something else-- All right.
I think you'd better get out of here.
Wait.
Close the door, please, Rod.
I shouldn't have held out on you, Mr.
Mason.
You won't be the first.
You're right about us.
We did get married.
But your father thought it was just another one of your wild escapades.
Yes.
That's when he set up the trust, right after he brought me back from Miami.
And your father is still calling the shots through your Uncle Edward, hmm? - I'm going to fight him for it.
- Oh, all you need is a little patience.
You'll be 25 in another 18 months.
Well, I can't wait, not that long.
You see, you don't quite know everything.
Oh.
That was my second hunch.
I hope it's a boy.
I don't resent my niece hiring legal counsel, Mr.
Mason.
On the contrary, I'm delighted.
She refuses to take my word for certain things.
Perhaps you, as a lawyer, can make them clear to her.
Undoubtedly, you have read the terms of the trust.
Yes.
A spendthrift trust.
Her father realised she needed supervision and protection.
She has been impetuous all her life.
I see.
And bright and early on the morning of her 25 birthday, she suddenly attains wisdom.
At 23 or 24, she's incapable of managing her own affairs.
- But at 25 - What are you getting at? I'm talking about Fran's desire to marry at her discretion instead of yours.
As trustee, it is my considered opinion that Fran lacks the emotional stability necessary for a happy marriage.
At least, at this time.
- I think you're wrong.
- You're challenging my authority? Not your authority.
Just your arbitrary use of it.
Under Section 710 of the California Civil Code, - a court might very well find-- - I don't like being threatened.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Come.
It's 3:00, sir.
Mr.
Jenkins of the First National Bank is here.
You're using someone else's time, Mr.
Mason.
Show Mr.
Jenkins in.
You may inform your client that you have been signally unsuccessful.
Good day, sir.
- Did you talk to him? - Yes, I did, without much success.
I hate him.
I hate him! [SOBBING.]
MASON: All right, let's have it, Paul.
Well, Norton's dough is mainly in real estate.
The Celane money is held by the First National Bank.
It's mostly blue-chip stocks and bonds and cash.
What about Norton's reputation? He's crotchety and he's a perfectionist.
He's also fanatically honest.
They can be the worst kind.
He can't be riding herd alone on all that money.
Someone has to be advising him.
Paul, I want you to find out everything you can about him, and all his associates.
Do they go to Las Vegas, have any girlfriends-- - You kidding? - Never mind.
- Check it.
PAUL: All right.
Crinston's late.
Oh, he phoned, sir, right after dinner, and explained that he'd be tied up with Judge Purley.
That's beside the point.
It's 11:00 and Crinston is late.
Yes, sir.
[CAR APPROACHING.]
ANNOUNCER [ON RADIO.]
: A left to the head, a right to the body, on the cheek, but Moreno shakes off the punches, circles around, trying to find an opening for that deadly left.
We're six minutes late, judge.
The old man will be loaded for bear.
- My fault for keeping you, Arthur.
- You sure you won't come in? No, thanks.
I'd like to hear the rest of this fight.
I'll make it as short as I can.
--with the left held high.
Moreno keeps scoring with that left-- Hi, Graves.
You must try to be more prompt, Mr.
Crinston.
One with the X is no sugar.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Get that, will you, Frank? - Laurelwood Precinct.
- This is Edward Norton.
- I want to report a crime.
- Just a second.
Old man Norton again.
Sergeant Wilbur speaking, Mr.
Norton.
What can I do for you? - My life has been threatened.
- Yeah, who by? My niece.
I want protection at once.
[PHONE CLICKS.]
Hello.
Hello.
Hello? What now? He says his life has been threatened by his niece.
Better get Williams and go out there in a prowl car.
[CROWD SHOUTING ON RADIO.]
ANNOUNCER: Time is 11: 15.
Now back to ringside.
In his corner, Moreno sits quietly while his seconds work over him.
- And you get the-- - Thank you for waiting, judge.
--happy with anything less than a clean knockout.
[BELL RINGS ON RADIO.]
- There's the bell, Moreno-- - How's the fight going? Pretty good.
That boy Moreno is a clever fighter.
NORTON: Crinston.
- Tries to slide along the ropes.
- Moreno's all over him.
- Yes? - A hard left to the jaw.
- Yes, Mr.
Norton? How about the corporation papers? - What? - Trying to hang on.
- I'm sorry, judge, would you mind? - Moreno pushes him away.
- There's that left-- - What did you say? Where are the papers for Tamarack and Southern Mining? - Well, they're at my home.
- I want them.
I'm sending Graves to ride in with you and get them.
- Four, five, six-- - All right.
Hope it isn't too much trouble.
--eight, nine and the winner is Moreno by a knockout.
Quite a fight.
- Hope I didn't spoil it for you.
Ha-ha.
- Oh, nonsense.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen.
- I hope this isn't out of your way.
- That's okay, Graves.
- We're all in the same boat.
- Yes.
Judge Purley, this is Donald Graves, Mr.
Norton's secretary.
- How are you? - How do you do? Here, why don't you let me put that in the back for you, Mr.
Crinston? Wait.
Stop the car.
PURLEY: What's the matter? The window.
Mr.
Norton.
There's a man in his room.
I saw him.
He came right up behind Mr.
Norton.
Go back.
Do you hear me? Go back.
[SIREN WAILING.]
And it is my contention that although you have been legally appointed trustee of the estate of Carl Celane, as specifically indicated in the terms of his last will and testament, your exercise of the aforesaid function has been arbitrary and capricious.
I refer you to Section 710 of the California Civil Code, which clearly states that-- Della? Mm.
Hey, come on, girl.
It's midnight.
Time you quit working.
Midnight? Why don't we just stay till tomorrow? Union rules.
Now, come on, rise and shine.
- I just gave up.
- It's your own fault.
You shouldn't be fooling around with wills and sulky heiresses anyway.
- Your speciality is murder.
FRAN: A murder is what you've got.
Mr.
Norton decided that he wanted some papers that had been left in town, and he called out-- You tell Crinston, that housekeeper, I'll be right with him.
I went out to the car-- You can move him out, Tragg.
We're through.
- What did you find? - Never knew what hit him.
Ashtray got him over the left ear.
I'll have the full autopsy report on your desk in the morning.
His briefcase started to fall and I put it in the back seat.
And I was looking through the window back at the house, you see.
And I saw this man come up behind Mr.
Norton.
- And he raised his arms-- - What'd he have in his hand? I don't know exactly, but it seemed to be a very heavy object of some kind.
- And I yelled-- TRAGG: What time was this? - Shortly after 11.
- Eleven-seventeen, almost exactly.
I checked my watch at the radio during the fight broadcast.
Could you recognise this man? You afraid he can? TRAGG: I asked you a question, Mr.
Graves.
Could you recognise the man? He didn't do it.
He couldn't have.
Fran, you're not telling me everything.
Holding out on me before was only annoying.
Now it can be fatal.
You know Rod didn't leave before it happened.
Graves, Purley, Crinston, all of them saw his car out at the gate.
Lying to me isn't gonna help protect him, Fran.
It's only gonna make it harder.
Can't you see that? But you might not defend us.
Try me.
Well, he came up tonight to take my bags to the apartment.
For the first time, we were going to live like husband and wife.
When he got here, he was terribly upset.
He insisted on seeing Uncle Edward.
He wanted to have it out with him.
He actually said that? - I tried to talk him out of it, but he-- - But what? He wouldn't listen to me.
You wanted the truth and that's it.
If he did kill Uncle Edward, he did it for me.
And if he has to die, I wanna die too.
All right, now.
Try and get some sleep.
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
ROD: I've been walking the streets all this time, Mr.
Mason.
Trying to figure out who could've killed Norton.
[SIGHS.]
There isn't anything that-- I can't think of a thing until you tell me what happened after you left Fran's room.
I went downstairs to talk to him, but he was busy.
- How do you know he was busy? - I heard him talking to somebody.
So I went out the back door and waited in the garden.
How long were you out there? I don't know, maybe four or five minutes.
Then? Somebody called out.
I heard a car start up out front.
And you went back in the same door? Yeah.
Straight to the study.
I didn't knock, I just walked in.
At first I thought he was sleeping.
That was before I took a closer look.
Then I just ran.
Then Graves actually did see you in that room.
It must have been me.
Graves said he saw something in your hand.
- Something like a bludgeon.
- That's a lie.
Norton was dead.
- I never touched him.
- Then why did you run? I don't know.
I guess I lost my head.
You think I killed him, don't you? It's what the district attorney thinks that matters.
From here, it looks like Burger's gonna have himself a field day.
All right, Mr.
Burger, the men are ready in the study.
Thank you, Lieutenant Tragg.
You're sure this is where you were when you saw that man in Mr.
Norton's study.
- Yes, sir.
- All right, get in the car, please.
Be sure you take the exact position you were in last night.
Would you gentlemen step a little closer, please? I want you to pay attention to what you're gonna see and what Mr.
Graves says.
You were introduced to three police officers, Mr.
Graves.
- Yes, sir.
- They're up in the study.
They're gonna duplicate the actions that you reported seeing last night.
I want you to identify each of the men by name if you can.
- Do you understand? - Yes, sir.
All right, lieutenant.
Go ahead, Mr.
Graves.
Um - That's, uh-- That's Bailey.
- Keep watching the window.
That's, um What's his name, uh? Oh, McClintock.
And who is this third man, Mr.
Graves? Why, that's, uh - That's Mr.
Bailey again.
- Very good, Mr.
Graves.
Thank you.
- Thank you, gentlemen.
- Well, how did it go? Almost as good as an absolute eyewitness.
Wrap this up, will you? See they all get home all right.
And, Tragg, make sure none of this leaks out.
PAUL: And he nailed it down tight, Perry.
An exact-conditions eye test.
Graves identified both men while he sat in the car in the driveway.
One hundred and forty-seven feet away from the window.
Two witnesses saw him do it.
And the minute I try to throw doubt on Graves' testimony, testimony that he could have recognised Gleason at that distance, Burger will put both of those witnesses on the stand.
You're so right.
Well, thanks, Paul.
See you at the preliminary hearing.
- Wouldn't you rather go fishing? - Hmm.
Much.
- You wanted to see me, lieutenant? - Oh, yeah, come on in, Drake.
I'm just indulging in a little target practise.
Um That's Perry Mason.
- Like to try it? - Yeah, thanks.
Good for the eyes.
But there's really nothing wrong with your eyes, is there? - You keep them wide open.
- I try to.
That can be a mistake sometimes.
That investigator's licence of yours means a lot to you, don't it? - I'd sure hate to see you lose it.
- Any reason why I should? Well, we ran an exact-conditions test on Friday on the Norton case.
As far as I recall, no invitations were sent out to the general public.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You own a Thunderbird, licence number LTZ 413.
- That's right.
- What was that doing near the Norton house on Friday? - Look, Tragg-- - Now, strictly between us boys, you were there, weren't you? Mm-hm.
In case you never saw one of these before, that's a subpoena.
What's the idea? Oh, just something that Mr.
Burger and I thought up.
Nobody would ever accuse you of being friendly to the DA's office, so we figured it might be more effective if you appeared as a witness for the state in the exact-conditions test.
After all, you did see the whole thing.
Now, wait a minute, Tragg.
You could testify that Mr.
Graves' eyesight was far above normal.
That would mean a lot, coming from you.
Burger would never call me.
He might, and then again, he might not, but if I were you, I'd get me some good legal advice.
Would you like to have me recommend a good lawyer? Give me the city desk.
Mike, this is Andy.
Rod Gleason was just bound over.
Looks like first degree.
Perry Mason is defending.
- You did great.
- Enjoy it? Burger's footprints are all over your back.
Well, you don't win any marbles at a preliminary hearing.
Not what you said last week.
This one looks bad, Perry.
That's your most endearing quality, Paul, your glorious, shining faith.
- I'd rather have your facts and figures.
- Well, I got those too.
- But nothing showed up that helps.
- So far.
Those financial reports, when are you gonna have them? I'll have them by tomorrow.
Everything seems in order.
At least as far as Norton's concerned.
Whatever else he might have been, Norton was honest.
I know.
Fanatically.
We propose to prove to you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that the defendant, Rodney Gleason, first pleaded and then quarrelled with Edward Norton.
And that at a moment when a witness, Donald Graves, was actually looking through a window of the house, this defendant clubbed Edward Norton over the head, causing his death almost instantly.
Further, that Arthur Crinston, accompanied by the eyewitness Donald Graves and by Judge Purley, rushed to that study, where they found the crumpled body of Edward Norton.
Upon this evidence, we shall expect a verdict of murder in the first degree.
MARKHAM: Does the defence have an opening statement? If the court please, the defence will make no opening statement.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
Call Judge Brian C.
Purley.
Raise your right hand, please.
Do you swear the testimony you're about to give in this court be the truth? - I do.
- State your name.
- Brian C.
Purley.
- Be seated.
Judge Purley, on the night of October 23rd of this year, you had occasion to visit the residence of the deceased Edward Norton? Well, not precisely.
I didn't go into the house.
I simply drove Mr.
Crinston there and waited in the car.
And what time did you arrive? At approximately five minutes after 11.
And at what time did you leave? Precisely at 17 minutes after 11.
How do you happen to know these times so exactly? I checked them with my watch.
PURLEY: Just after Mr.
Crinston got into the car, Mr.
Norton called him from the study window.
He asked Mr.
Crinston about some papers.
Mr.
Crinston said they were at his home.
- And then what? - Then Mr.
Norton asked him to bring Mr.
Graves back with us to pick them up.
Presently, Mr.
Graves came out from the house and we started off.
I see.
Judge Purley, would you examine this chart, please? Would you indicate for us the route followed by your car? Yes, sir.
We started from here and followed the driveway to this point.
BURGER: Judge Purley, did I understand you to say that when you went into the study, you saw Edward Norton's body at this point? You did not.
I stated that I saw the body of a man which was subsequently identified as Edward Norton.
Oh? - I thought you knew Mr.
Norton.
- I didn't say that either.
On how many occasions had you discussed business matters with Mr.
Norton over the telephone? - I never talked to the man in my life.
- I see.
- No further questions.
MARKHAM: You may step down, sir.
- Call Sergeant Wilbur.
CLERK: Sergeant George Wilbur.
No, sir, I remember exactly what he said.
He said, "My life has been threatened.
" I asked, "Who by?" He said, "My niece.
I want protection at once.
" And what did you do then? I ordered the prowl car out, but when they got there, it was too late.
Judge Purley had already notified Homicide.
Your witness.
Sergeant, how many calls do you normally take in the course of an evening's duty? - It varies.
- Well, on the average.
Ten, 12.
You pride yourself on having an excellent memory? I do.
Oh, yes, as a matter of fact, you stated you remembered Mr.
Norton's exact words.
- I did.
- What were they? He said, "My life has been threatened.
" I asked, "Who by?" He said, "My niece.
I want protection at once.
" And that was the entire conversation? It was.
Yes, sir.
Did he by any chance say hello? Not to me, he didn't.
You see, I didn't pick up the phone at first.
- Oh? Who did pick up the phone? - Officer Delaney.
Frank Delaney.
Suppose you tell us exactly what happened when Mr.
Norton's call came in.
Well, when the phone rang, I was busy, so I asked Delaney to answer the phone.
Then Officer Delaney spoke with Mr.
Norton first? - Well, only a few words-- - That will be all, sergeant.
Your Honour, I move that the entire testimony of this witness be stricken and that the jury be instructed to disregard it on the grounds that no proper foundation has been laid.
Do you have anything to say, Mr.
Burger, before I rule on the motion? [CHUCKLING.]
Of course, Your Honour.
The state was not aware that this telephone conversation consisted of two parts.
If the court will hold its ruling in abeyance, I'll be happy to make arrangements to have this other police officer brought here immediately.
Very well, you may step down.
But since the officer is not in court, you'd better call your next witness.
Thank you, Your Honour.
- Call Arthur Crinston.
CLERK: Arthur Crinston to the stand.
[WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY.]
CRINSTON: We returned immediately to the house.
I re-entered the house with Graves and Judge Purley, and we discovered Mr.
Norton's body as was described.
- Judge Purley notified Homicide.
BURGER: Thank you, sir.
Cross-examine.
Mr.
Crinston, you've stated that you had a meeting planned with Mr.
Norton at 11:00.
Yes, I was about five minutes late.
What was the purpose of that meeting? He called me to discuss tax matters.
That was within the scope of your duties as Mr.
Norton's attorney? It was.
I helped him in a great many of his financial affairs.
But certainly you had no authority to act for him in the matter of buying or selling securities.
Oh, but I did.
I had power of attorney.
And the tax matters? You discussed them with Mr.
Norton? - No.
- Why not? He was too distraught to discuss anything.
He'd been having trouble with his niece.
I see.
If the court please, I may wish to recall Mr.
Crinston for further cross-examination.
- No further questions at this time.
- What's he trying to do? Whatever it is, you can be sure there's a good reason.
Della, where are the papers Paul gave you on those financial and banking matters? And when you turned around in the seat, did you have a clear view of the window of Norton's study through the rear window of that car? Yes, sir.
A direct line.
So it was perfectly possible for you to see Rodney Gleason in the study? Absolutely.
- Your witness, Mr.
Mason.
- No questions.
At this time.
[WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY.]
If it please the court, I'm informed that Officer Frank Delaney is now in the courtroom.
I should like to call him to the stand to lay a proper foundation for Sergeant Wilbur's previous testimony.
MARKHAM: Call Frank Delaney.
CLERK: Frank Delaney.
Now, Officer Delaney, I direct your attention to October 23rd last, and I ask if you were at the Laurelwood Precinct at 11:15 p.
m.
I was.
What, if anything, occurred at that time? Well, a phone call came in.
A complaint.
- Who answered that call? - I answered it.
Did the caller say hello? [CROWD LAUGHING.]
No, sir.
He said, "This is Edward Norton.
I wanna report a crime.
" Those were his exact words? - Yes, sir.
- What did you do then? Then I turned the phone over to the sergeant.
Your witness, Mr.
Mason.
When you turned the phone over to the sergeant, did you say anything to him first? - To the sergeant? - To the sergeant.
Well, I guess so.
Don't guess.
Did you say something to him? Yeah, sure.
I said-- I said something about it being old man Norton again.
Then you told him it was Norton.
Well, why not? After all, it was Norton.
Isn't possible that Sergeant Wilbur was led to believe it was Norton on the wire only because you told him so? I object, Your Honour.
Counsel is asking for a conclusion of the witness.
Sustained.
No further questions.
If it please the court, since a proper foundation has now been laid for the previous testimony of Sergeant Wilbur, I trust Mr.
Mason will have no further objection to it remaining in the record.
No objection.
- Call Clara Mayfield.
CLERK: Clara Mayfield to the stand.
You may step down, sir.
BURGER: So you were in the downstairs hall at approximately 11:15.
About that time, yes, sir.
Did you see anyone leaving Mr.
Norton's study? I saw Mr.
Crinston leave.
- Anyone else? - And Mr.
Graves.
What happened after that? Um - Nothing.
- Nothing? Exactly what did you do after Mr.
Crinston and Mr.
Graves left? - I went back to the pantry.
- Did you see anybody else? Did you? - Yes, sir.
- Who? - Rod.
- Who? Mr.
Gleason.
Where was he? He was just coming in from the garden.
Did he see you? No, I was by the pantry door at the foot of the stairs.
And what did Mr.
Gleason do? - He went into Mr.
Norton's study.
- Thank you.
Your witness, Mr.
Mason.
Miss Mayfield, after you saw Mr.
Gleason go into the study, what did you do? I went to the pantry to make myself a cup of tea.
- You weren't worried? - Worried, sir? Well, you knew there was trouble, did you not? You knew that Rod Gleason hated Mr.
Norton.
You knew that Rod Gleason was not supposed to be in that house.
Yet when you saw him at the door to the study, you simply ignored it and went and made yourself a cup of tea? There was nothing I could have done, sir.
Whatever was going to happen, it would be in more divine hands than mine.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
Would you say the murder weapon was held in divine hands? BURGER: Objection.
Your Honour, Mr.
Mason is baiting the witness.
Sustained.
Please confine yourself to your cross-examination, Mr.
Mason.
Yes, Your Honour.
Now, Miss Mayfield, does the figure 67,585 mean something to you? No, sir.
- It does not? - No, sir.
Now, Miss Mayfield, how long have you known Frances Celane? More than ten years.
You took care of her after her mother died? - With her father's permission.
- Of course.
Then I assume you became very attached to the little girl? Yes, sir.
You devoted your life to her, you grew to love her? As though she were my own child.
Then what were your feelings when Mr.
Norton called you into his study just before he was killed and threatened to discharge you unless you stayed away from Frances Celane? How did you feel? I knew the Lord would show me the way.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
No further questions.
If the court please, I should like at this time to recall Arthur Crinston to the stand for further cross-examination.
MARKHAM: You may step down, Miss Mayfield.
Della, give me some blank filing cards.
Paul, when I go back up to the witness stand, I want you to get Judge Purley and tell him you wanna talk to him out in the corridor.
- What about? - About anything.
Just get him out in the corridor.
Have him stand close to the door so he can hear every word of my cross-examination.
- Now, move.
- Right, Perry.
You've already been sworn, Mr.
Crinston.
Yes, I'm aware of that.
Mr.
Crinston, does the figure - Not especially.
- It should.
That's the value in dollars of the securities you've sold for Edward Norton during the past five months.
I've been doing that for years, for much larger sums.
You were in conference with Mr.
Norton on the night of the murder? I was.
Isn't it a fact that that conference was in the nature of a quarrel? Certainly not.
Isn't it a fact that the proceeds from the securities you sold for Edward Norton were used to cover your personal losses in the stock market? That's a lie.
Is it not a fact that on the day of his death, Edward Norton received from his bank a list showing the sale of those securities? Sale of those securities was authorised by Mr.
Norton.
Isn't it true that on the night of his death, Edward Norton informed you that unless you made immediate restitution, he intended to notify the police? Absolutely not.
And when you admitted you could not make restitution, he called the police and said: "This is Edward Norton.
I want to report a crime"? - No, sir.
- And is it not true that when Mr.
Norton said those words, you, in a sudden frenzy, struck him with a heavy object, causing his death? BURGER: Objection.
- There's absolutely no grounds for-- MARKHAM: Overruled.
Answer the question, Mr.
Crinston.
I did nothing of the kind.
And is it not true, Mr.
Crinston, that then you realised the police were on the other end of an open wire, and to cover up Mr.
Norton's statement about a crime, you picked up the phone, pretended to be Norton and said: "My niece has threatened my life"? There's not an ounce of truth in anything you've said.
That's all, Mr.
Crinston.
Do you wish to re-examine, Mr.
Burger? No, Your Honour.
I wanna say we've heard a lot of theories from Mr.
Mason, but no evidence.
This witness has denied every single-- The prosecution will make its argument to the jury at the proper time.
You may step down, sir.
Your Honour, I would like at this time to recall Donald Graves to the stand.
CLERK: Donald Graves to the stand.
Mr.
Graves, I presume the district attorney expects me to question your ability to recognise a person from a distance of 147 feet.
However, I'm not interested in your vision.
I'm interested in the sound of your voice.
With the court's permission, I should like you to read these cards aloud.
One after the other.
- Why? - Never mind why, just read them.
Objection.
Your Honour, once again, Mr.
Mason is demonstrating his characteristic courtroom pyrotechnics and making a mockery of this whole-- Just a minute, Mr.
Burger.
I assume you can show a connection in what you're trying to do, Mr.
Mason.
I believe I can, Your Honour.
Very well, I'll reserve my ruling for the present.
- You may continue.
- Thank you, Your Honour.
Now, Mr.
Graves, we're waiting.
This, uh-- Ahem.
This is ridiculous.
I resent it.
You probably have the right to resent it, but go ahead and do it.
"The quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
" "The early bird catches the worm.
" - Louder, please, Mr.
Graves.
- Ahem.
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
" "In a democracy, all men are created equal.
" Now, what was that? I can't hear you, Mr.
Graves.
"In a democracy, all men are created equal.
" "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.
" Louder, please.
"A stitch in time saves nine.
" - Next card.
- "Crinston--" Go on, Mr.
Graves.
"Crinston, I want Graves to go with you.
" Read it again, Mr.
Graves.
Louder, Mr.
Graves.
Go on! "Crinston, I want Graves to go with you.
" Thank you, Mr.
Graves.
Judge Purley, will you come in, please? Your Honour, I would like to recall Judge Purley to the stand.
CLERK: Judge Brian Purley to the stand.
MARKHAM: You may step down, sir.
Judge Purley, I ask now that you go back to the night of the murder, to the moment when Edward Norton called down to Crinston from his study window.
Is it not true that the voice that came from that window was the same voice that you just heard in this courtroom? Well, it, uh It could have been.
No.
No, I'll make it much stronger than that.
It was Donald Graves' voice.
But I didn't kill him.
I didn't.
Mr.
Crinston killed him.
All I did was call down to the car.
Tell him, Mr.
Crinston.
Please, tell him.
Your Honour, the defence rests.
Graves was the one who surprised me.
He'd been with Mr.
Norton for years.
I can't see why he cooperated with Mr.
Crinston.
Unless he was fed up and Mr.
Crinston offered him a share of his profits in the stock market.
- That was exactly his motive.
- That's exactly what I thought.
DELLA: Now, just a minute here.
You know, Clara, any more of these completely analytical deductions on your part, and I shall be forced to declare you the winner.
In other words, Mr.
Mason will be giving you my job.
[CLARA CHUCKLES.]
You don't need to worry, Miss Street.
Looking after this one is all the job I can handle.
Now, you stop fussing over me.
The doctor said you must keep warm.
Well, he didn't mean for me to roast to death.
I can't do anything with her, Mr.
Mason.
You know what I'm afraid of? I may have to raise another sulky girl.
Oh, no, I'm holding out for a sulky boy.