Perry Mason (1957) s01e32 Episode Script
The Case of the Substitute Face
[TYPEWRITER KEYS CLACKING.]
MAN: Really, Carl.
I don't understand you.
I don't understand you at all.
- Well, what is it? - I wanted to get your dictation.
- All right.
Get it and leave us alone.
- Yes, sir.
Now, Carl, put yourself in my shoes.
All of a sudden my best bookkeeper quits.
Just like that.
Now, tell me the truth.
Have you got a better offer? Oh, no, sir.
In heaven's name, what is it? Well, I just thought that I'd like to take a little vacation with my family.
[COUGHS.]
Well, the truth of the matter is, I need a little rest.
Well, if your mind's made up, there's nothing I can do about it.
No, sir.
Have a good time, Houser.
Good luck.
Thank you, sir.
Thanks for everything, sir.
Oh, I heard about your leaving, Mr.
Houser.
I'm really sorry to see you go.
Oh, thank you, Marta.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[LAUGHTER, INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
All I can say is I'm for more contested wills as long as they're contested in British Columbia.
I'll bear that in mind the next time I want you to act as a witness.
Do that.
Are you sorry I talked you into coming back this way instead of flying? Can you keep a secret? You had the same idea.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Oh, here's the girl that has the stateroom next to mine.
DELLA: Laura, do you have a minute? Certainly.
This is Mr.
Perry Mason.
This is Laura Houser.
- How do you do? - I'm glad to meet you, Mr.
Mason.
I've heard a lot about you.
Heh.
Propaganda.
Don't you believe a word of it.
Oh, Mother.
Dad.
This is my family.
This is Miss Della Street and Mr.
Perry Mason.
- How do you do? Mr.
Mason.
- How do you do? If you'll all excuse me now, I must be running along.
I'm meeting Roy.
Have fun, honey.
I will, Daddy.
Bye.
We were going to have an after-dinner drink, - would you care to join us? - Perhaps a little later.
We'll be looking for you.
Good.
[SIGHS.]
Good evening, Miss Whiting.
- Good evening.
- How's the patient? He's doing very well, thank you.
Oh, Mr.
Mason, I hate to impose, but my nephew collects autographs - and, well, I wondered if you would-- - Of course.
- What's his name? - Alan Whiting.
To Alan Whiting.
My best wishes.
There you are.
- Thank you very much.
- Not at all.
- Good night.
- Good night.
Poor man.
He has a broken neck.
He isn't even supposed to talk.
Do you know he has to answer her questions by squeezing her hand once for yes and twice for no? Wonder how long he'll be on that thing.
No telling.
Probably quite a long time.
[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING, LAUGHTER.]
Now, look at me.
Look at me.
Would you believe it that the doctors gave me only six months to live? That was 18 years ago when I first moved to Los Angeles.
Well, I can see why you're so fond of it, Mr.
Carter.
Fond of it? Why, I'm a whole chamber of commerce all rolled into one.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Have you had enough moonlight? For the time being.
Mr.
Mason, Miss Street, this is Mr.
Carter.
How do you do? We're neighbours, aboard ship, that is.
Oh, this is my secretary, Daniel James.
I've read about you, Mason.
I'm in real estate myself.
Carter Realty, Los Angeles.
Glad to meet you.
Well, well, Perry Mason.
Mr.
Mason, could I speak to you? Of course, Mrs.
Houser.
Here, sit down.
Thank you.
[SIGHS.]
I'll, uh I'll get in touch with you later.
I don't want to upset anyone who might be watching.
Well, at your convenience.
ANNA: This is Carl's favourite picture of us.
DELLA: It's very nice.
Yes, it certainly is.
Now, Mrs.
Houser, would you like to tell me what's bothering you? ANNA: My husband has stolen some money.
Quite a lot of it.
In fact, a hundred thousand dollars.
- Are you sure? - He must have.
He couldn't have won it on the sweepstakes, the way he says.
Oh, it has happened.
I know, but it doesn't make any sense.
There wasn't a word about it in the papers.
That doesn't necessarily mean he's stolen the money.
Well, there's no other explanation.
He was an accountant for State-National Savings and Loan in Los Angeles.
He would've had plenty of opportunity.
How long was he employed by State-National? A year.
Ever since we came out from Chicago.
And look here.
He bought that gun before we went on this trip.
He said he might need it for protection, carrying all that money on him.
You mean, he's carrying it in cash? In a money belt.
I want him to return the rest of the money to State-National, if they'll promise not to prosecute.
Well, how much is left? Over $90,000.
I've counted it.
In all fairness to your husband, I think we ought to hear his story.
Oh, he won't listen to you.
He won't talk to you.
Maybe not but I'm not going to assume he's guilty of embezzlement.
Suppose you let me investigate the situation.
Come on, Della.
We'll send a wireless to the Drake Detective Agency in Los Angeles right away.
And if Carl really embezzled the money? Then restitution has to be made.
You'll have to get the money and hand it over to me.
You think you can manage that? I'll manage somehow.
I tell you, Mr.
Drake, this is all my fault.
I knew that fellow Houser was a thief the moment I laid eyes on him.
He had that look.
Now, wait a minute, Mr.
Dale, you're jumping to conclusions.
All I said was that a client of mine is interested in Carl Houser's credit rating.
Why did you make such a point of his quitting without notice? You made the point of it.
I merely asked if he'd given you the two weeks.
Then you wanted to know when was the last time we audited his accounts.
I can't help it if you thought there was a connection.
You're not fooling me, young fellow, not one bit.
When I think of the way I trusted that man, how I let him sign cheques.
And all the time he was robbing me blind.
Well, did you find out how he did it? We can't find anything missing, Mr.
Dale.
What? Everything is in perfect order.
His books balance to the penny.
Thank you, Mr.
Dale.
Good day, sir.
[WIND HOWLING.]
[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE.]
Come out on deck.
Oh, hello, Mason.
James and I were just going in for a drink.
Won't you join us? I was about to take a turn on deck.
Just going for a coat.
Oh, man, you don't wanna go on deck, you'll get washed overboard.
This is no night for a man to be out.
No, it's not healthy.
Come on, this may be our last chance before the boat dock.
Well, I don't know that a brandy will be healthier but it'll certainly be a lot drier.
Ha-ha! Pretty good.
Ha-ha.
[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING.]
Ahh.
You went to Vancouver on a case, I'll bet you.
- That's right.
- Funny.
I didn't see anything in the papers about it.
Who was the victim? I'm sorry to disillusion you, Mr.
Carter, but my practise isn't entirely confined to murder cases.
Sometimes I-- [HORN BLARING.]
MAN [OVER P.
A.
.]
: Your attention, please.
This is Captain Walters.
A man has been reported overboard and we are stopping to investigate.
All passengers will please return to their staterooms so that the roll call can be made.
Do not go on deck.
Excuse me, gentlemen.
I'll see you later.
[WIND HOWLING.]
[HORN BLARING CONTINUES.]
ANNA: Who is it? - Perry Mason.
ANNA: Oh, just a second.
What is it? [PANTING.]
Have they stopped? What are the searchlights for? - A man's been reported overboard.
- Aah! What's the matter, do you think that--? What happened to the picture of you and your daughter? I don't know.
It was here this afternoon.
I don't understand.
Carl wouldn't have-- [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Who is it? CAPTAIN: This is the captain, Mrs.
Houser.
I'd like to talk to you, please.
Come in.
Oh, Mr.
Mason.
MASON: Captain.
You know our purser, Mr.
Buchanan, I think.
Mrs.
Houser, where did you and your husband go when you left the dining room? Why? What is it, captain? What's happened? Where's my husband? I'm afraid your husband's been washed overboard.
[CRYING.]
Oh, no.
Oh, it can't be.
Oh, Carl.
Mrs.
Houser do you recognise this? It's Carl's.
Oh, why did he do it? Mrs.
Houser, I believe you had on a black dress at dinner.
- Will you let me see it, please? - Just a minute, captain.
Aren't we in California territorial waters? I am still the law on this ship, Mr.
Mason.
I'm responsible for my passengers' safety.
I believe one of them has been murdered.
Oh, no.
Now, will you let me see the dress, please? You have no right.
Oh, no.
Oh, gentlemen.
Would you step in here a moment, please? I may require your services as witnesses.
I have asked Mrs.
Houser to show me a certain dress, gentlemen.
Since she has refused, I'm going to have Mr.
Buchanan search for the garment.
Mr.
Mason, are you going to let him do this? Aren't you gonna stop him? I can't.
Now, then, Mrs.
Houser, you say you did not go out on deck with your husband? Captain Walters, Mrs.
Houser happens to be my client.
I'm afraid I'll have to ask what you're getting at before I allow her to answer any more questions.
Very well, Mr.
Mason, but I-- BUCHANAN: Captain.
I found this hanging in the shower, sir.
It's quite wet.
Is this your dress, Mrs.
Houser? Yes.
I also found this, sir.
It appears to be a money belt.
- Is there money in it? - Oh, yes, sir.
All right, count it.
Gentlemen, will you please watch him and see that the count is correct? - Mr.
Carter.
- Yeah.
Will you make arrangements to keep in touch with the authorities when we dock? I'm sure they'll want to question you.
You and Mr.
James.
Oh, really, captain, I don't wanna get mixed up in this.
I'm so pressed for time and it seems impossible-- I think it could be arranged, sir.
All right, then.
Eighty-nine.
Ninety.
Ninety-one thousand and 500 dollars, sir.
Well, goodbye, Mason.
Don't forget, I'm in realty.
Ha-ha-ha.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Laura, I talked to the police.
They'll let the others go ashore before they take your mother in.
Now, do you intend to stay in Los Angeles? All I know is that I don't wanna go back to our apartment.
Not now.
Couldn't we get her a room at the Greystone? That all right with you? Anything you say, Mr.
Mason.
All right.
You register under the name of Laura Wilson.
I don't want the press to bother you.
- Della, will you take care of it? - Mm-hm.
I forgot something in my stateroom.
Excuse me.
It must be a terrible shock to have your mother accused of your father's murder.
[SIGHS.]
What's the matter with you? Oh, nothing much.
I'd give a lot to know who called the Bridge last night and reported a man overboard.
Miss Street, I just wanna stop by and say goodbye.
- Thanks again, Mr.
Mason.
- Not at all.
DELLA: Goodbye.
- Bye.
How do you feel? All right, I guess.
I had some rest.
Good.
Now, if I'm gonna help you, Mrs.
Houser, I'll have to know exactly what happened.
Why did you go out on deck with your husband? [SIGHS.]
Well, he said he wanted to be alone with me.
And then he took off his money belt and gave it to me.
And then what happened? Well, he seemed so upset and it worried me.
And I followed him.
Up to the boat deck? Yes, that's where I got wet.
I tried to get him to tell me what was wrong, what was going on.
[CRYING.]
And he just got mad and he told me to go away.
And then-- Then what? Then what? Well, he grabbed me and kissed me hard.
[SNIFFLES.]
And then he pushed me away and told me to go back to our stateroom.
You think your husband committed suicide? What else? Everything pointed to it.
I guess he realised that they were bound to find out about the money.
And I think he thought that would make it easier for Laura and me.
Have you returned it? No.
It so happens that State-National can find no funds missing.
But where did the money come from? That's what I'd like to know.
You know, you lived in Chicago before you came out here.
What made you decide to move to Los Angeles? Well, it was the strangest thing.
It was in the wintertime and Carl had been summoned to jury duty.
He felt very strongly about things like that.
How do you mean? Well, when he believed he was right, he wouldn't stop.
I remember this particular case, he believed that the man was innocent and he held out until the rest of the jury agreed with him.
Oh, I'm sorry if I'm digressing.
No, no, it's all right.
Well, anyway, there was a terrible blizzard at that time and I guess that's what made up his mind.
He said it was silly to live in a climate like that and so he brought us all out here.
Anna, has it ever occurred to you your husband might be alive? Oh, that wouldn't make any sense.
Why would he pretend that he was dead? No, there'd be no reason for that.
Apparently, there was no reason for someone substituting a photograph of Carl for the one of you and Laura, yet they did.
Do you suppose Laura might have taken it? Oh, I hadn't thought of that.
I better check with her.
Do you think you can arrange for me to see her? Of course.
I'll look in on you tomorrow.
Thanks.
What's the trouble? I phoned the Greystone.
They claim Laura Houser never arrived at the hotel.
Did you forget I told her to register under the name of Laura Wilson? No, I asked for her under both names.
It just doesn't make sense.
No, it doesn't make sense.
A girl disappears right before her mother goes to trial for the murder of her father, something's wrong somewhere.
That may be the understatement of the year.
Paul, I want you to find her.
I don't care-- [PHONE RINGS.]
Yes, Gertie.
Just a minute.
It's the district attorney's office.
Hamilton Burger.
- Hello? - How are you feeling, Perry? MASON: Fine.
I'm glad to hear it.
Did you enjoy your boat ride down from Canada? - Yes.
- I envy you.
You know, I've been wanting you to a trip like that for ages.
All right, Hamilton, what's on your mind? You can't get me to believe this is just a social call.
Well, as a matter of fact, there's a little problem that's come up.
I have the captain and the purser of the Westminister here in my office now.
You know, they have a very tough schedule and they may not be here for the hearing.
- Really? - I was wondering, under the circumstances, would you consent to my taking a deposition? Now, you know better than that.
The defendant's got the right to face his accusers.
Yes, but that means if I want them to testify, they can't sail.
They'll have to wait over and rejoin their ship in Panama by air.
Well, that's too bad.
But I refuse to waive my client's constitutional rights.
All right, Mr.
Mason, they'll be here.
I'll just have the hearing moved up on the calendar.
[SIGHS.]
I'm afraid I upset Mr.
Burger.
Paul, you've just got to find Laura Houser.
I'll do my best, Perry, but I need time.
I'll try and get time.
- I think I know a way we can stall.
- All right.
Thank you.
People v.
Anna Houser.
Are the people ready? Ready for the people, Your Honour.
Is the defence ready? If the court please, may we approach the bench? Your Honour, I believe the court has no jurisdiction of this case.
Alleged crime was committed on high seas on a vessel owned and operated by a British company.
If a crime was committed on the high seas, then the jurisdiction would be in Great Britain.
If it please the court, Your Honour is aware from our discussion in chambers that I was prepared for Mr.
Mason's delaying tactics.
We have the ship's log which shows clearly that the Westminister was in California territorial waters.
I refer you to the case of People v.
Strala 14, California Section 617.
I have examined Mr.
Burger's authorities and I am satisfied the court does, indeed, have jurisdiction.
Very well, Your Honour, then the defence is ready.
Excuse me.
JUDGE: You may call your first witness.
Thank you, Your Honour.
I call Frank Buchanan to the stand, please.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
And then I discovered the dress.
Mr.
James and Mr.
Carter were present at the time having been summoned by Captain Walters.
Did you discover anything else at this time, Mr.
Buchanan? Yes, sir, as I already told you, I found a money belt.
That would be this money belt, - marked People's Exhibit D? - Yes, sir.
And how much money did this belt contain? Ninety-one thousand five hundred dollars.
Thank you, sir.
Your witness.
Mr.
Buchanan, I shan't take up much of your time.
Now, when was the last time you saw Mr.
Houser alive? At dinner that same evening.
He was seated at my table.
You spoke to him? No, sir, but I gave him a note in passing.
Oh, who was the note from? One of the other passengers, Miss Evelyn Whiting.
Miss Whiting is a nurse, I believe.
Yes, sir.
She tends a patient by the name of Roger Cartman.
Was Miss Whiting in the dining room at the time she gave you the note? No, sir.
I met her and her patient as they were leaving the lift.
By the lift, you mean the elevator? Yes, sir.
The one that goes up to the ship's hospital.
Thank you, Mr.
Buchanan.
That will be all.
JUDGE: You may step down, Mr.
Buchanan.
Della, get ahold of Paul.
I want a complete check on that Whiting girl.
PAUL: Evelyn Whiting's address on the passenger list was a complete phoney.
This is where the ambulance brought her and that guy in the wheelchair.
I haven't able to get a line on Roger B.
Cartman, either.
Here or Vancouver.
- Nobody in the house? - No.
Let's take a look.
MASON: lmpressive looking.
DRAKE: Yeah, these are people with dough, all right.
The wheelchair's inside.
You can see it through the window.
Who owns this place? Mm.
Some character named Morgan Shreves.
Morgan Shreves? Wait a minute.
Wasn't there a Morgan Shreves tried on a big tax-evasion charge about a year ago? Yeah.
He was a big guy on some gambling deal.
Bookies or wire service, that was it.
It looked like they had him cold but he got off.
- It happened some place Back East.
- In Chicago.
That's right.
Paul, I wanna get inside.
Wait a minute.
That's illegal.
Well, I suppose it might be called a misdemeanour.
Misdemeanour? Last time I read up on the subject, it was called a felony.
No, in order to constitute a felony, there must be an unlawful entry for the purpose of committing unlawful acts.
As, for example, removing something from the premises.
Hmm.
And what did you have in mind? I plan to do just the opposite.
I plan to leave something there.
- What? - My fingerprints.
That is still a misdemeanour and you can go to jail for it.
I know that.
Come on, give me a hand, cellmate.
[INTERCOM BUZZES.]
- Yes? MAN: Sorry to disturb you, Mr.
Burger, there's someone on the phone who claims to have some important information.
He won't give his name.
You give it to Murphy.
He won't speak to anyone but you.
Huh.
All right.
Try to trace the call.
He's on Line 1.
Burger speaking.
MAN: I got a little tip for you, Mr.
Burger.
I happen to know that nurse, Evelyn Whiting and her patient were in the ship's hospital the night Carl Houser was murdered.
- What's that? - You heard me.
I understand they saw everything that went on.
Go on.
When the ship docked, they took an ambulance to 455 Alder Lane in the Palisades.
Are you positive about that? That's where Perry Mason found them.
You mean, Mason bribed them to disappear? Mason's been there and they're gone.
Isn't that enough? Well, how can you prove Mason was there? Look for fingerprints.
Perry, I sure hope you know what you're doing.
Look, Paul, we've got to get the police started looking for Evelyn Whiting and her patient.
But when the police find our fingerprints in that Shreves' house-- That should convince them your tip was up-and-up.
If the police can't find Evelyn Whiting, no one can.
Oh.
What about Laura Houser? I'd just assume the police knew nothing about her disappearance, I want you to find her.
Have you heard from my daughter yet? Not yet, but I'm sure she's all right.
[CROWD CHATTERING.]
JUDGE: Everyone rise.
Please be seated and come to order.
Your Honour, may we approach the bench? You may.
Your Honour, I would like to serve notice on the prosecution that unless the body of Carl Houser is produced, there is no corpus delicti, and consequently no case.
If it please the court, I'm astonished that Mr.
Mason doesn't know that corpus delicti refers not to the body of the victim but the body of the crime.
Nevertheless, there must be evidence of actual death or actual violence in order to support a charge of murder.
And I intend to produce such evidence with my next witness, Your Honour.
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
Thank you, Your Honour.
I call Laura Houser.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
[CLEARS THROAT.]
[EXHALES.]
Your Honour, I'd like to know the meaning of this.
Miss Houser is the daughter of the defendant.
BURGER: Which is exactly why she's being held as a material witness.
This is outrageous.
Arresting this girl when it was completely unnecessary, concealing the fact from me.
Just a moment, Mr.
Mason.
You're out of order.
Didn't you really know where she was? I most certainly did not.
We only picked her up an hour ago ourselves.
At international airport getting off a plane from San Francisco.
JUDGE: I repeat, Mr.
Burger, you may proceed.
[INAUDIBLE.]
Now, Miss Houser, where were you on the Westminister at approximately 9:00 on the night of the 6th of this month? I was out on the A Deck.
That's the one below the one they call the boat deck? - Yes, sir.
- Well, why were you there? I wanted to think.
Was that because your mother and father were constantly quarrelling? Your Honour, I object, the district attorney is leading the witness.
May I remind counsel that Miss Houser is a hostile witness.
I withdraw the objection.
Continue, Mr.
Burger.
It's a fact, isn't it, Miss Houser, your mother and father were constantly quarrelling? - Yes.
- What were they quarrelling about? Money.
I see.
Now, when you were out on A Deck alone, did you see anyone else? - No.
- Did you hear anything? Yes.
I-- I think it was a gunshot.
Where did it come from? From the boat deck above me.
Did you investigate this shot? Well, I went to the rail and looked up.
What exactly did you see? It's very difficult to tell.
I was looking up into the rain and wind.
To the best of your knowledge, what did you see? I saw a man hanging over the rail of the boat deck.
BURGER: Was anyone with him? - Yes.
- Was that your mother? LAURA: I don't know.
I could see only her arms and part of her back.
Well, was she wearing a black, strapless dress? It was dark.
Was there anything distinctive about her arms or hair or anything? There were two bracelets on her left arm.
Miss Houser, had you seen your mother earlier in the evening? Of course.
Was she wearing bracelets then? LAURA: Yes.
BURGER: How many? Two.
When you were out on A Deck, looking up over the rail, what did you see next? I saw the man sort of rise, go over the rail and fall past me into the sea.
As a matter of fact, didn't you see the woman lift or push him overboard? I don't know.
Well, after this happened, what did you do? I called the phone operator from the A Deck to report a man overboard.
Then I went to the boat deck but there wasn't anybody there.
- And you went back to your stateroom? - Yes, sir.
You were the woman who turned in the man-overboard alert, weren't you? Yes.
And didn't you tell the operator that you'd seen a man pushed overboard? I guess I did.
That's all.
Laura, where did you go when you left the Westminister? I took a cab to the Union Station and bought a ticket to San Francisco.
I just wanted to get away.
Because you did not want to be a witness? Yes.
Now, suppose I were to tell you that your father is still alive.
I don't understand.
You do understand there has been no concrete proof of his death.
JUDGE: Just a moment, counsellor.
Mr.
Burger, have you any objection to this line of enquiry? No, Your Honour.
I would never want it said that the district attorney's office would seek to obscure the truth by taking advantage of technicalities.
You may continue, Mr.
Mason.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Now, let's try to examine the reasons behind your behaviour.
First off, you were distressed because your father and mother had quarrelled during the trip.
That's right.
Night of the storm, your father left the dining room - and your mother followed him.
- Yes.
- You decided to go out on the A Deck? - Yes.
Since the decks were otherwise deserted because of the bad weather, you assumed that the couple on the deck above you had to be your parents? That's true.
All right.
Let's go one step further.
As you stood on the below deck, you saw a figure hurtle past you into the water.
Yes.
What then was the first thing you did? I ran to the nearest phone on the A Deck.
You told the operator that you saw a man go overboard? Yes.
- Did you know it was your father? - Yes.
Well, why didn't you say, - "I saw my father go overboard?" - I don't know.
Is it possible that you weren't certain at that moment that the man who went overboard was your father? What do you mean? Laura, I'm only trying to clarify in your mind the true sequence of events.
I was so sure it was father.
I saw his body go past me.
But did you reach the conclusion it was your father simultaneously with the event or in fact, after it? It must have been afterwards.
All right, now, Laura, when did you arrive at the conclusion that the woman involved was your mother? When I saw her on the deck above with my father.
MASON: Which, of course, presumes that the man was your father.
Now, suppose you had later learned that the man who went overboard was, let us say a Mr.
Smith, would you have still believed that the woman responsible was your mother? Let me put it this way, after you heard the report that your father was missing, wasn't it then you concluded that the woman involved was your mother because you had last seen them quarrelling or thought you had seen them quarrelling? I guess I did.
In other words, it's quite possible that all your conclusions have been just the fabric of your imagination? Yes.
[SOBBING.]
What have I done? [SOBBING.]
You made a very human mistake, Laura.
You put two and two together, it just came out five.
Thank you, Mr.
Burger.
Your Honour, I have no further questions of this witness.
The witness is excused.
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
If Your Honour please, I know the court has been perplexed at my lack of objection to Mr.
Mason's cross-examination.
I would like to state that my purpose was simply to give Mr.
Mason enough rope.
JUDGE: Would you please explain that to the court? As I understand Mr.
Mason's theory, it is in effect that Miss Houser did not see her father fall overboard because her father is or may be still alive.
And is that your theory, Mr.
Mason? It is, Your Honour.
We have seen no evidence to contradict it.
Well, if it please the court, the prosecution will be ready at 10:00 tomorrow morning to furnish definite proof of the corpus delicti.
I have been advised that Carl Houser's body has been discovered and taken to the morgue.
[SOBBING.]
Oh, no.
I got the dope on the postmortem.
"Carl Houser's body was found floating about a mile offshore.
He died from a gunshot wound and not from drowning.
It was a .
38 calibre bullet but it was not from the pistol they found onboard ship.
" Anything else on that house on Alder Lane? Well, no, nothing except Morgan Shreves owned it outright.
Oh, Carl Houser was on the Chicago jury that acquitted Shreves of tax evasion.
Perry, that's where Houser got the hundred thousand dollars.
Maybe Shreves bribed him.
How is that nurse, Evelyn Whiting, how is she involved with Shreves? It could have been Shreves in the wheelchair under the name of Roger B.
Cartman.
Sure.
Suppose the nurse and Shreves got Houser up on deck, shot him and pushed his body overboard.
What do you think, Perry? Could be.
You're overlooking one thing, Paul.
What does headquarters say? Have they located Evelyn Whiting or the man in the wheelchair? Not as far as I know.
Looks like we left our fingerprints in that house for nothing.
Your Honour, I've been informed of the existence of two other eyewitness to this murder.
My men have a lead on one of them and I expect to have this eyewitness testify.
However, the other one has completely disappeared without a trace and I have substantial evidence to the effect that Mr.
Mason is personally responsible.
Your Honour, as a practising attorney, I-- JUDGE: Just a moment, Mr.
Mason.
Are you prepared to substantiate these charges, Mr.
Burger? At this point, I can't offer all the proof I hope to produce at a later date, when criminal action will be taken against counsel for the defendant.
However, I can certainly produce enough evidence to support my motion for a 48-hour continuance.
I demand such evidence be produced.
And after the district attorney's called his witnesses in support of the motion, I should be allowed the same privilege against the motion.
Of course, the court will at this time entertain proof in support of a motion by the prosecution, in fact, such proof must be advanced in order to justify continuance.
Proceed.
I call Christopher Walsh.
BURGER: Your name is Christopher Walsh, you are now and have been for some years, a criminologist with the police force of this city.
And in particular a specialist on fingerprints? Yes, sir.
I'm so accredited.
Night before last, acting on a certain anonymous tip, received by my office, did you visit a suburban home at 455 Alder Lane? I checked the house for fingerprints and made photographs of them.
- Have you got those photographs? - I have.
Would you please tell this court whose fingerprints they are? Well, there were a woman's fingerprints, they belonged to Evelyn Whiting.
And there were prints on the wheelchair, which we assumed to be those of Roger B.
Cartman, her patient.
And then there were prints of the owner of the house, Morgan Shreves.
And then finally, we found the fingerprints of Perry Mason and Paul Drake, a detective who often woks for him.
May I have those prints, please? If the court please, I would like these fingerprints submitted in evidence.
Since there doesn't seem to be an objection, the photographs will be received in evidence.
Cross-examine.
Mr.
Walsh, how many men have you fingerprinted? Oh, I don't know.
Up in the thousands.
Can you remember the first man you fingerprinted? Oh, I can't remember that far back.
Now, who was the last man you fingerprinted? Carl Houser, at the morgue last night.
Do you have Mr.
Houser's fingerprints? Yes, sir.
Here you are.
They're all marked.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
Now, whose prints are these? WALSH: Oh, Evelyn Whiting, the nurse.
And these? Roger B.
Cartman, her patient.
And these? Those are the fingerprints of Carl Houser, taken from the corpse.
Now, just a moment.
You're making your identification not from the prints but from your writing on the bottom of the photographs.
WALSH: Of course.
That's just to keep the pictures straight.
You can't identify prints from a glance.
You need a magnifying glass and a little time.
Oh, I see.
I don't suppose you could do that in court? Well, of course I could.
You could? Well, let's see.
Now, would you be--? Would you be kind enough to identify these for us, please? These-- These three.
It'll take a little time.
No hurry.
These two prints are the same.
I think they're Roger B.
Cartman's but I'm not sure.
I'd have to check the data in my notebook.
Go right ahead.
These two are both prints of the right index finger of the man we assume is Roger B.
Cartman.
I see.
Mr.
Walsh, do you happen to have a pencil? Yes, sir.
Well, would you put a cross on those two photographs so there would be no mistake? Thank you.
Now Now, Mr.
Walsh, would you kindly explain to the court how you happened to identify as a fingerprint of Roger B.
Cartman, one belonging to Carl Houser? [CROWD MURMURING.]
- What? - Wait a minute.
Mr.
Mason, do I understand that you contend this witness has confused the photographs? Not at all, Your Honour.
I merely contend that Carl Houser, whom the defendant is charged with killing on the night of the 6th, left his fingerprints on the wheelchair and elsewhere in that house on Alder Lane, at sea.
Your Honour, I can't help suspecting trickery here someplace.
May I ask the court for a brief recess to consider this new development? Under the circumstances, I'm certain there would be no objection to a brief continuance, Mr.
Mason.
I'll agree on one condition, Your Honour.
For two days I have had men searching for Evelyn Whiting to subpoena her.
I would like her to testify on the motion before the court, and I gather from Mr.
Burger's remarks and the fact that Mr.
Walsh identified her fingerprints that the district attorney's office has Miss Whiting in custody.
Is this true? It is, Your Honour.
We do have her in custody.
Do you have any objection to counsel examining her on the motion? None whatever.
Much as I resent Mr.
Mason's tactics, I still would welcome anything that'll throw some light on this matter.
Get Miss Whiting.
Miss Whiting, you're acquainted, I believe, with one Morgan Shreves? Yes.
Am I correct in assuming that you have a romantic attachment with Mr.
Shreves? No, you are not correct at all.
Would I be correct in assuming that you have an attachment for someone who is working for Mr.
Shreves? Yes.
What sort of a relationship is this? We're married.
I see.
Now, Miss Whiting, a little more than a year ago, Morgan Shreves stood trial in Chicago for income-tax evasion.
He was acquitted, I believe, by bribing a juror, a juror named Carl Houser.
Now, from your own personal knowledge, can you tell us if this is true? Remember Miss Whiting, you're under oath.
Yes, it's true.
And isn't it also true that when Morgan Shreves learned the authorities were investigating the bribery, he enlisted the aid of you and your husband? Yes.
And of course he knew that Carl Houser would be a key witness for the government.
That's right.
Accordingly, you, your husband and Mr.
Shreves flew to Vancouver, British Columbia where you boarded the Westminster.
- Is that correct? - Yes.
Now, Miss Whiting, on the night of the 6th, did you send a note to Carl Houser asking him to meet you on the boat deck after dinner? - No.
- You did not? What night did you say that was? The night of the 6th.
Oh, I'd forgotten about that.
- You did send Mr.
Houser a note? - Yes.
And you did meet Mr.
Houser on the boat deck? - Yes.
- Whereupon you promptly shot him - and pushed his body overboard.
- That's not true.
Miss Whiting, we've already heard Miss Houser testify that she heard a shot and saw her father pushed overboard.
But you proved it might not have been her father.
I read that.
But we definitely know she saw something or someone.
- If it wasn't Carl Houser, who was it? - It was a dummy.
MASON: A dummy? WHITING: Yes.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
Come now, would you have us believe that you went through this very involved plan - just to push a dummy overboard? - Yes.
Carl and I had this all planned.
It was supposed to look like he'd committed suicide.
How did you hope to get away with this deception? He got in my wheelchair and posed as my patient.
- He posed as Roger B.
Cartman? - Yes.
But who is the man I saw in your wheelchair aboard ship? Was it Morgan Shreves? Yes.
Then you maintain Carl Houser was still alive when the Westminister - docked in Los Angeles harbour? - Yes.
Yes, I took him off the ship in the wheelchair.
But your suicide plan went wrong and Anna Houser was charged with murder.
You realised then that Carl Houser would never let his wife suffer, so you shot him, - took his body offshore-- - No.
No.
I swear, I had no part in that.
Did I, Morgan? [CROWD MURMURING.]
Oh, Morgan, please, you've gotta tell them the truth.
Don't let them do this to me.
[SOBBING.]
Darling, please.
It's all right, Evelyn.
Don't worry.
You want Morgan Shreves? Well, here he is.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
Rain.
I don't know why, but rain always gives me an appetite.
Hmm.
Everything gives you an appetite.
Della, you shouldn't have.
No, but I'll bet you're awfully glad I did.
Ha-ha.
You know what gets me, Perry, the other night, you said I was overlooking something.
For the life of me, I can't figure out what it was.
I told you about the substitution of pictures in Houser's stateroom.
Yeah.
Well, obviously, Houser had to be responsible, no one else had a reason.
And what was his? He wouldn't have substituted the picture if he thought he was gonna be murdered.
Ergo, he planned to disappear and wanted a remembrance of his family.
The case of the substitute face.
Why didn't I think of that? Why didn't I? I was on the boat with him.
I'll bet he used mental telepathy.
- Miss Street, please.
- I'm serious.
I can see how you figured out Carter and James were a couple of fakers.
I can even see how you figured out that one of them had to be Shreves.
But when James turned out to be Shreves, that really floored me.
And just in case you're interested, Della, - Mm-hm.
- it floored me too.
[ALL LAUGH.]
[COUGHS.]
MAN: Really, Carl.
I don't understand you.
I don't understand you at all.
- Well, what is it? - I wanted to get your dictation.
- All right.
Get it and leave us alone.
- Yes, sir.
Now, Carl, put yourself in my shoes.
All of a sudden my best bookkeeper quits.
Just like that.
Now, tell me the truth.
Have you got a better offer? Oh, no, sir.
In heaven's name, what is it? Well, I just thought that I'd like to take a little vacation with my family.
[COUGHS.]
Well, the truth of the matter is, I need a little rest.
Well, if your mind's made up, there's nothing I can do about it.
No, sir.
Have a good time, Houser.
Good luck.
Thank you, sir.
Thanks for everything, sir.
Oh, I heard about your leaving, Mr.
Houser.
I'm really sorry to see you go.
Oh, thank you, Marta.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[LAUGHTER, INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
All I can say is I'm for more contested wills as long as they're contested in British Columbia.
I'll bear that in mind the next time I want you to act as a witness.
Do that.
Are you sorry I talked you into coming back this way instead of flying? Can you keep a secret? You had the same idea.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Oh, here's the girl that has the stateroom next to mine.
DELLA: Laura, do you have a minute? Certainly.
This is Mr.
Perry Mason.
This is Laura Houser.
- How do you do? - I'm glad to meet you, Mr.
Mason.
I've heard a lot about you.
Heh.
Propaganda.
Don't you believe a word of it.
Oh, Mother.
Dad.
This is my family.
This is Miss Della Street and Mr.
Perry Mason.
- How do you do? Mr.
Mason.
- How do you do? If you'll all excuse me now, I must be running along.
I'm meeting Roy.
Have fun, honey.
I will, Daddy.
Bye.
We were going to have an after-dinner drink, - would you care to join us? - Perhaps a little later.
We'll be looking for you.
Good.
[SIGHS.]
Good evening, Miss Whiting.
- Good evening.
- How's the patient? He's doing very well, thank you.
Oh, Mr.
Mason, I hate to impose, but my nephew collects autographs - and, well, I wondered if you would-- - Of course.
- What's his name? - Alan Whiting.
To Alan Whiting.
My best wishes.
There you are.
- Thank you very much.
- Not at all.
- Good night.
- Good night.
Poor man.
He has a broken neck.
He isn't even supposed to talk.
Do you know he has to answer her questions by squeezing her hand once for yes and twice for no? Wonder how long he'll be on that thing.
No telling.
Probably quite a long time.
[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING, LAUGHTER.]
Now, look at me.
Look at me.
Would you believe it that the doctors gave me only six months to live? That was 18 years ago when I first moved to Los Angeles.
Well, I can see why you're so fond of it, Mr.
Carter.
Fond of it? Why, I'm a whole chamber of commerce all rolled into one.
[BOTH LAUGH.]
Have you had enough moonlight? For the time being.
Mr.
Mason, Miss Street, this is Mr.
Carter.
How do you do? We're neighbours, aboard ship, that is.
Oh, this is my secretary, Daniel James.
I've read about you, Mason.
I'm in real estate myself.
Carter Realty, Los Angeles.
Glad to meet you.
Well, well, Perry Mason.
Mr.
Mason, could I speak to you? Of course, Mrs.
Houser.
Here, sit down.
Thank you.
[SIGHS.]
I'll, uh I'll get in touch with you later.
I don't want to upset anyone who might be watching.
Well, at your convenience.
ANNA: This is Carl's favourite picture of us.
DELLA: It's very nice.
Yes, it certainly is.
Now, Mrs.
Houser, would you like to tell me what's bothering you? ANNA: My husband has stolen some money.
Quite a lot of it.
In fact, a hundred thousand dollars.
- Are you sure? - He must have.
He couldn't have won it on the sweepstakes, the way he says.
Oh, it has happened.
I know, but it doesn't make any sense.
There wasn't a word about it in the papers.
That doesn't necessarily mean he's stolen the money.
Well, there's no other explanation.
He was an accountant for State-National Savings and Loan in Los Angeles.
He would've had plenty of opportunity.
How long was he employed by State-National? A year.
Ever since we came out from Chicago.
And look here.
He bought that gun before we went on this trip.
He said he might need it for protection, carrying all that money on him.
You mean, he's carrying it in cash? In a money belt.
I want him to return the rest of the money to State-National, if they'll promise not to prosecute.
Well, how much is left? Over $90,000.
I've counted it.
In all fairness to your husband, I think we ought to hear his story.
Oh, he won't listen to you.
He won't talk to you.
Maybe not but I'm not going to assume he's guilty of embezzlement.
Suppose you let me investigate the situation.
Come on, Della.
We'll send a wireless to the Drake Detective Agency in Los Angeles right away.
And if Carl really embezzled the money? Then restitution has to be made.
You'll have to get the money and hand it over to me.
You think you can manage that? I'll manage somehow.
I tell you, Mr.
Drake, this is all my fault.
I knew that fellow Houser was a thief the moment I laid eyes on him.
He had that look.
Now, wait a minute, Mr.
Dale, you're jumping to conclusions.
All I said was that a client of mine is interested in Carl Houser's credit rating.
Why did you make such a point of his quitting without notice? You made the point of it.
I merely asked if he'd given you the two weeks.
Then you wanted to know when was the last time we audited his accounts.
I can't help it if you thought there was a connection.
You're not fooling me, young fellow, not one bit.
When I think of the way I trusted that man, how I let him sign cheques.
And all the time he was robbing me blind.
Well, did you find out how he did it? We can't find anything missing, Mr.
Dale.
What? Everything is in perfect order.
His books balance to the penny.
Thank you, Mr.
Dale.
Good day, sir.
[WIND HOWLING.]
[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE.]
Come out on deck.
Oh, hello, Mason.
James and I were just going in for a drink.
Won't you join us? I was about to take a turn on deck.
Just going for a coat.
Oh, man, you don't wanna go on deck, you'll get washed overboard.
This is no night for a man to be out.
No, it's not healthy.
Come on, this may be our last chance before the boat dock.
Well, I don't know that a brandy will be healthier but it'll certainly be a lot drier.
Ha-ha! Pretty good.
Ha-ha.
[SLOW MUSIC PLAYING.]
Ahh.
You went to Vancouver on a case, I'll bet you.
- That's right.
- Funny.
I didn't see anything in the papers about it.
Who was the victim? I'm sorry to disillusion you, Mr.
Carter, but my practise isn't entirely confined to murder cases.
Sometimes I-- [HORN BLARING.]
MAN [OVER P.
A.
.]
: Your attention, please.
This is Captain Walters.
A man has been reported overboard and we are stopping to investigate.
All passengers will please return to their staterooms so that the roll call can be made.
Do not go on deck.
Excuse me, gentlemen.
I'll see you later.
[WIND HOWLING.]
[HORN BLARING CONTINUES.]
ANNA: Who is it? - Perry Mason.
ANNA: Oh, just a second.
What is it? [PANTING.]
Have they stopped? What are the searchlights for? - A man's been reported overboard.
- Aah! What's the matter, do you think that--? What happened to the picture of you and your daughter? I don't know.
It was here this afternoon.
I don't understand.
Carl wouldn't have-- [KNOCK ON DOOR.]
Who is it? CAPTAIN: This is the captain, Mrs.
Houser.
I'd like to talk to you, please.
Come in.
Oh, Mr.
Mason.
MASON: Captain.
You know our purser, Mr.
Buchanan, I think.
Mrs.
Houser, where did you and your husband go when you left the dining room? Why? What is it, captain? What's happened? Where's my husband? I'm afraid your husband's been washed overboard.
[CRYING.]
Oh, no.
Oh, it can't be.
Oh, Carl.
Mrs.
Houser do you recognise this? It's Carl's.
Oh, why did he do it? Mrs.
Houser, I believe you had on a black dress at dinner.
- Will you let me see it, please? - Just a minute, captain.
Aren't we in California territorial waters? I am still the law on this ship, Mr.
Mason.
I'm responsible for my passengers' safety.
I believe one of them has been murdered.
Oh, no.
Now, will you let me see the dress, please? You have no right.
Oh, no.
Oh, gentlemen.
Would you step in here a moment, please? I may require your services as witnesses.
I have asked Mrs.
Houser to show me a certain dress, gentlemen.
Since she has refused, I'm going to have Mr.
Buchanan search for the garment.
Mr.
Mason, are you going to let him do this? Aren't you gonna stop him? I can't.
Now, then, Mrs.
Houser, you say you did not go out on deck with your husband? Captain Walters, Mrs.
Houser happens to be my client.
I'm afraid I'll have to ask what you're getting at before I allow her to answer any more questions.
Very well, Mr.
Mason, but I-- BUCHANAN: Captain.
I found this hanging in the shower, sir.
It's quite wet.
Is this your dress, Mrs.
Houser? Yes.
I also found this, sir.
It appears to be a money belt.
- Is there money in it? - Oh, yes, sir.
All right, count it.
Gentlemen, will you please watch him and see that the count is correct? - Mr.
Carter.
- Yeah.
Will you make arrangements to keep in touch with the authorities when we dock? I'm sure they'll want to question you.
You and Mr.
James.
Oh, really, captain, I don't wanna get mixed up in this.
I'm so pressed for time and it seems impossible-- I think it could be arranged, sir.
All right, then.
Eighty-nine.
Ninety.
Ninety-one thousand and 500 dollars, sir.
Well, goodbye, Mason.
Don't forget, I'm in realty.
Ha-ha-ha.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Laura, I talked to the police.
They'll let the others go ashore before they take your mother in.
Now, do you intend to stay in Los Angeles? All I know is that I don't wanna go back to our apartment.
Not now.
Couldn't we get her a room at the Greystone? That all right with you? Anything you say, Mr.
Mason.
All right.
You register under the name of Laura Wilson.
I don't want the press to bother you.
- Della, will you take care of it? - Mm-hm.
I forgot something in my stateroom.
Excuse me.
It must be a terrible shock to have your mother accused of your father's murder.
[SIGHS.]
What's the matter with you? Oh, nothing much.
I'd give a lot to know who called the Bridge last night and reported a man overboard.
Miss Street, I just wanna stop by and say goodbye.
- Thanks again, Mr.
Mason.
- Not at all.
DELLA: Goodbye.
- Bye.
How do you feel? All right, I guess.
I had some rest.
Good.
Now, if I'm gonna help you, Mrs.
Houser, I'll have to know exactly what happened.
Why did you go out on deck with your husband? [SIGHS.]
Well, he said he wanted to be alone with me.
And then he took off his money belt and gave it to me.
And then what happened? Well, he seemed so upset and it worried me.
And I followed him.
Up to the boat deck? Yes, that's where I got wet.
I tried to get him to tell me what was wrong, what was going on.
[CRYING.]
And he just got mad and he told me to go away.
And then-- Then what? Then what? Well, he grabbed me and kissed me hard.
[SNIFFLES.]
And then he pushed me away and told me to go back to our stateroom.
You think your husband committed suicide? What else? Everything pointed to it.
I guess he realised that they were bound to find out about the money.
And I think he thought that would make it easier for Laura and me.
Have you returned it? No.
It so happens that State-National can find no funds missing.
But where did the money come from? That's what I'd like to know.
You know, you lived in Chicago before you came out here.
What made you decide to move to Los Angeles? Well, it was the strangest thing.
It was in the wintertime and Carl had been summoned to jury duty.
He felt very strongly about things like that.
How do you mean? Well, when he believed he was right, he wouldn't stop.
I remember this particular case, he believed that the man was innocent and he held out until the rest of the jury agreed with him.
Oh, I'm sorry if I'm digressing.
No, no, it's all right.
Well, anyway, there was a terrible blizzard at that time and I guess that's what made up his mind.
He said it was silly to live in a climate like that and so he brought us all out here.
Anna, has it ever occurred to you your husband might be alive? Oh, that wouldn't make any sense.
Why would he pretend that he was dead? No, there'd be no reason for that.
Apparently, there was no reason for someone substituting a photograph of Carl for the one of you and Laura, yet they did.
Do you suppose Laura might have taken it? Oh, I hadn't thought of that.
I better check with her.
Do you think you can arrange for me to see her? Of course.
I'll look in on you tomorrow.
Thanks.
What's the trouble? I phoned the Greystone.
They claim Laura Houser never arrived at the hotel.
Did you forget I told her to register under the name of Laura Wilson? No, I asked for her under both names.
It just doesn't make sense.
No, it doesn't make sense.
A girl disappears right before her mother goes to trial for the murder of her father, something's wrong somewhere.
That may be the understatement of the year.
Paul, I want you to find her.
I don't care-- [PHONE RINGS.]
Yes, Gertie.
Just a minute.
It's the district attorney's office.
Hamilton Burger.
- Hello? - How are you feeling, Perry? MASON: Fine.
I'm glad to hear it.
Did you enjoy your boat ride down from Canada? - Yes.
- I envy you.
You know, I've been wanting you to a trip like that for ages.
All right, Hamilton, what's on your mind? You can't get me to believe this is just a social call.
Well, as a matter of fact, there's a little problem that's come up.
I have the captain and the purser of the Westminister here in my office now.
You know, they have a very tough schedule and they may not be here for the hearing.
- Really? - I was wondering, under the circumstances, would you consent to my taking a deposition? Now, you know better than that.
The defendant's got the right to face his accusers.
Yes, but that means if I want them to testify, they can't sail.
They'll have to wait over and rejoin their ship in Panama by air.
Well, that's too bad.
But I refuse to waive my client's constitutional rights.
All right, Mr.
Mason, they'll be here.
I'll just have the hearing moved up on the calendar.
[SIGHS.]
I'm afraid I upset Mr.
Burger.
Paul, you've just got to find Laura Houser.
I'll do my best, Perry, but I need time.
I'll try and get time.
- I think I know a way we can stall.
- All right.
Thank you.
People v.
Anna Houser.
Are the people ready? Ready for the people, Your Honour.
Is the defence ready? If the court please, may we approach the bench? Your Honour, I believe the court has no jurisdiction of this case.
Alleged crime was committed on high seas on a vessel owned and operated by a British company.
If a crime was committed on the high seas, then the jurisdiction would be in Great Britain.
If it please the court, Your Honour is aware from our discussion in chambers that I was prepared for Mr.
Mason's delaying tactics.
We have the ship's log which shows clearly that the Westminister was in California territorial waters.
I refer you to the case of People v.
Strala 14, California Section 617.
I have examined Mr.
Burger's authorities and I am satisfied the court does, indeed, have jurisdiction.
Very well, Your Honour, then the defence is ready.
Excuse me.
JUDGE: You may call your first witness.
Thank you, Your Honour.
I call Frank Buchanan to the stand, please.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
And then I discovered the dress.
Mr.
James and Mr.
Carter were present at the time having been summoned by Captain Walters.
Did you discover anything else at this time, Mr.
Buchanan? Yes, sir, as I already told you, I found a money belt.
That would be this money belt, - marked People's Exhibit D? - Yes, sir.
And how much money did this belt contain? Ninety-one thousand five hundred dollars.
Thank you, sir.
Your witness.
Mr.
Buchanan, I shan't take up much of your time.
Now, when was the last time you saw Mr.
Houser alive? At dinner that same evening.
He was seated at my table.
You spoke to him? No, sir, but I gave him a note in passing.
Oh, who was the note from? One of the other passengers, Miss Evelyn Whiting.
Miss Whiting is a nurse, I believe.
Yes, sir.
She tends a patient by the name of Roger Cartman.
Was Miss Whiting in the dining room at the time she gave you the note? No, sir.
I met her and her patient as they were leaving the lift.
By the lift, you mean the elevator? Yes, sir.
The one that goes up to the ship's hospital.
Thank you, Mr.
Buchanan.
That will be all.
JUDGE: You may step down, Mr.
Buchanan.
Della, get ahold of Paul.
I want a complete check on that Whiting girl.
PAUL: Evelyn Whiting's address on the passenger list was a complete phoney.
This is where the ambulance brought her and that guy in the wheelchair.
I haven't able to get a line on Roger B.
Cartman, either.
Here or Vancouver.
- Nobody in the house? - No.
Let's take a look.
MASON: lmpressive looking.
DRAKE: Yeah, these are people with dough, all right.
The wheelchair's inside.
You can see it through the window.
Who owns this place? Mm.
Some character named Morgan Shreves.
Morgan Shreves? Wait a minute.
Wasn't there a Morgan Shreves tried on a big tax-evasion charge about a year ago? Yeah.
He was a big guy on some gambling deal.
Bookies or wire service, that was it.
It looked like they had him cold but he got off.
- It happened some place Back East.
- In Chicago.
That's right.
Paul, I wanna get inside.
Wait a minute.
That's illegal.
Well, I suppose it might be called a misdemeanour.
Misdemeanour? Last time I read up on the subject, it was called a felony.
No, in order to constitute a felony, there must be an unlawful entry for the purpose of committing unlawful acts.
As, for example, removing something from the premises.
Hmm.
And what did you have in mind? I plan to do just the opposite.
I plan to leave something there.
- What? - My fingerprints.
That is still a misdemeanour and you can go to jail for it.
I know that.
Come on, give me a hand, cellmate.
[INTERCOM BUZZES.]
- Yes? MAN: Sorry to disturb you, Mr.
Burger, there's someone on the phone who claims to have some important information.
He won't give his name.
You give it to Murphy.
He won't speak to anyone but you.
Huh.
All right.
Try to trace the call.
He's on Line 1.
Burger speaking.
MAN: I got a little tip for you, Mr.
Burger.
I happen to know that nurse, Evelyn Whiting and her patient were in the ship's hospital the night Carl Houser was murdered.
- What's that? - You heard me.
I understand they saw everything that went on.
Go on.
When the ship docked, they took an ambulance to 455 Alder Lane in the Palisades.
Are you positive about that? That's where Perry Mason found them.
You mean, Mason bribed them to disappear? Mason's been there and they're gone.
Isn't that enough? Well, how can you prove Mason was there? Look for fingerprints.
Perry, I sure hope you know what you're doing.
Look, Paul, we've got to get the police started looking for Evelyn Whiting and her patient.
But when the police find our fingerprints in that Shreves' house-- That should convince them your tip was up-and-up.
If the police can't find Evelyn Whiting, no one can.
Oh.
What about Laura Houser? I'd just assume the police knew nothing about her disappearance, I want you to find her.
Have you heard from my daughter yet? Not yet, but I'm sure she's all right.
[CROWD CHATTERING.]
JUDGE: Everyone rise.
Please be seated and come to order.
Your Honour, may we approach the bench? You may.
Your Honour, I would like to serve notice on the prosecution that unless the body of Carl Houser is produced, there is no corpus delicti, and consequently no case.
If it please the court, I'm astonished that Mr.
Mason doesn't know that corpus delicti refers not to the body of the victim but the body of the crime.
Nevertheless, there must be evidence of actual death or actual violence in order to support a charge of murder.
And I intend to produce such evidence with my next witness, Your Honour.
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
Thank you, Your Honour.
I call Laura Houser.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
[CLEARS THROAT.]
[EXHALES.]
Your Honour, I'd like to know the meaning of this.
Miss Houser is the daughter of the defendant.
BURGER: Which is exactly why she's being held as a material witness.
This is outrageous.
Arresting this girl when it was completely unnecessary, concealing the fact from me.
Just a moment, Mr.
Mason.
You're out of order.
Didn't you really know where she was? I most certainly did not.
We only picked her up an hour ago ourselves.
At international airport getting off a plane from San Francisco.
JUDGE: I repeat, Mr.
Burger, you may proceed.
[INAUDIBLE.]
Now, Miss Houser, where were you on the Westminister at approximately 9:00 on the night of the 6th of this month? I was out on the A Deck.
That's the one below the one they call the boat deck? - Yes, sir.
- Well, why were you there? I wanted to think.
Was that because your mother and father were constantly quarrelling? Your Honour, I object, the district attorney is leading the witness.
May I remind counsel that Miss Houser is a hostile witness.
I withdraw the objection.
Continue, Mr.
Burger.
It's a fact, isn't it, Miss Houser, your mother and father were constantly quarrelling? - Yes.
- What were they quarrelling about? Money.
I see.
Now, when you were out on A Deck alone, did you see anyone else? - No.
- Did you hear anything? Yes.
I-- I think it was a gunshot.
Where did it come from? From the boat deck above me.
Did you investigate this shot? Well, I went to the rail and looked up.
What exactly did you see? It's very difficult to tell.
I was looking up into the rain and wind.
To the best of your knowledge, what did you see? I saw a man hanging over the rail of the boat deck.
BURGER: Was anyone with him? - Yes.
- Was that your mother? LAURA: I don't know.
I could see only her arms and part of her back.
Well, was she wearing a black, strapless dress? It was dark.
Was there anything distinctive about her arms or hair or anything? There were two bracelets on her left arm.
Miss Houser, had you seen your mother earlier in the evening? Of course.
Was she wearing bracelets then? LAURA: Yes.
BURGER: How many? Two.
When you were out on A Deck, looking up over the rail, what did you see next? I saw the man sort of rise, go over the rail and fall past me into the sea.
As a matter of fact, didn't you see the woman lift or push him overboard? I don't know.
Well, after this happened, what did you do? I called the phone operator from the A Deck to report a man overboard.
Then I went to the boat deck but there wasn't anybody there.
- And you went back to your stateroom? - Yes, sir.
You were the woman who turned in the man-overboard alert, weren't you? Yes.
And didn't you tell the operator that you'd seen a man pushed overboard? I guess I did.
That's all.
Laura, where did you go when you left the Westminister? I took a cab to the Union Station and bought a ticket to San Francisco.
I just wanted to get away.
Because you did not want to be a witness? Yes.
Now, suppose I were to tell you that your father is still alive.
I don't understand.
You do understand there has been no concrete proof of his death.
JUDGE: Just a moment, counsellor.
Mr.
Burger, have you any objection to this line of enquiry? No, Your Honour.
I would never want it said that the district attorney's office would seek to obscure the truth by taking advantage of technicalities.
You may continue, Mr.
Mason.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Now, let's try to examine the reasons behind your behaviour.
First off, you were distressed because your father and mother had quarrelled during the trip.
That's right.
Night of the storm, your father left the dining room - and your mother followed him.
- Yes.
- You decided to go out on the A Deck? - Yes.
Since the decks were otherwise deserted because of the bad weather, you assumed that the couple on the deck above you had to be your parents? That's true.
All right.
Let's go one step further.
As you stood on the below deck, you saw a figure hurtle past you into the water.
Yes.
What then was the first thing you did? I ran to the nearest phone on the A Deck.
You told the operator that you saw a man go overboard? Yes.
- Did you know it was your father? - Yes.
Well, why didn't you say, - "I saw my father go overboard?" - I don't know.
Is it possible that you weren't certain at that moment that the man who went overboard was your father? What do you mean? Laura, I'm only trying to clarify in your mind the true sequence of events.
I was so sure it was father.
I saw his body go past me.
But did you reach the conclusion it was your father simultaneously with the event or in fact, after it? It must have been afterwards.
All right, now, Laura, when did you arrive at the conclusion that the woman involved was your mother? When I saw her on the deck above with my father.
MASON: Which, of course, presumes that the man was your father.
Now, suppose you had later learned that the man who went overboard was, let us say a Mr.
Smith, would you have still believed that the woman responsible was your mother? Let me put it this way, after you heard the report that your father was missing, wasn't it then you concluded that the woman involved was your mother because you had last seen them quarrelling or thought you had seen them quarrelling? I guess I did.
In other words, it's quite possible that all your conclusions have been just the fabric of your imagination? Yes.
[SOBBING.]
What have I done? [SOBBING.]
You made a very human mistake, Laura.
You put two and two together, it just came out five.
Thank you, Mr.
Burger.
Your Honour, I have no further questions of this witness.
The witness is excused.
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
If Your Honour please, I know the court has been perplexed at my lack of objection to Mr.
Mason's cross-examination.
I would like to state that my purpose was simply to give Mr.
Mason enough rope.
JUDGE: Would you please explain that to the court? As I understand Mr.
Mason's theory, it is in effect that Miss Houser did not see her father fall overboard because her father is or may be still alive.
And is that your theory, Mr.
Mason? It is, Your Honour.
We have seen no evidence to contradict it.
Well, if it please the court, the prosecution will be ready at 10:00 tomorrow morning to furnish definite proof of the corpus delicti.
I have been advised that Carl Houser's body has been discovered and taken to the morgue.
[SOBBING.]
Oh, no.
I got the dope on the postmortem.
"Carl Houser's body was found floating about a mile offshore.
He died from a gunshot wound and not from drowning.
It was a .
38 calibre bullet but it was not from the pistol they found onboard ship.
" Anything else on that house on Alder Lane? Well, no, nothing except Morgan Shreves owned it outright.
Oh, Carl Houser was on the Chicago jury that acquitted Shreves of tax evasion.
Perry, that's where Houser got the hundred thousand dollars.
Maybe Shreves bribed him.
How is that nurse, Evelyn Whiting, how is she involved with Shreves? It could have been Shreves in the wheelchair under the name of Roger B.
Cartman.
Sure.
Suppose the nurse and Shreves got Houser up on deck, shot him and pushed his body overboard.
What do you think, Perry? Could be.
You're overlooking one thing, Paul.
What does headquarters say? Have they located Evelyn Whiting or the man in the wheelchair? Not as far as I know.
Looks like we left our fingerprints in that house for nothing.
Your Honour, I've been informed of the existence of two other eyewitness to this murder.
My men have a lead on one of them and I expect to have this eyewitness testify.
However, the other one has completely disappeared without a trace and I have substantial evidence to the effect that Mr.
Mason is personally responsible.
Your Honour, as a practising attorney, I-- JUDGE: Just a moment, Mr.
Mason.
Are you prepared to substantiate these charges, Mr.
Burger? At this point, I can't offer all the proof I hope to produce at a later date, when criminal action will be taken against counsel for the defendant.
However, I can certainly produce enough evidence to support my motion for a 48-hour continuance.
I demand such evidence be produced.
And after the district attorney's called his witnesses in support of the motion, I should be allowed the same privilege against the motion.
Of course, the court will at this time entertain proof in support of a motion by the prosecution, in fact, such proof must be advanced in order to justify continuance.
Proceed.
I call Christopher Walsh.
BURGER: Your name is Christopher Walsh, you are now and have been for some years, a criminologist with the police force of this city.
And in particular a specialist on fingerprints? Yes, sir.
I'm so accredited.
Night before last, acting on a certain anonymous tip, received by my office, did you visit a suburban home at 455 Alder Lane? I checked the house for fingerprints and made photographs of them.
- Have you got those photographs? - I have.
Would you please tell this court whose fingerprints they are? Well, there were a woman's fingerprints, they belonged to Evelyn Whiting.
And there were prints on the wheelchair, which we assumed to be those of Roger B.
Cartman, her patient.
And then there were prints of the owner of the house, Morgan Shreves.
And then finally, we found the fingerprints of Perry Mason and Paul Drake, a detective who often woks for him.
May I have those prints, please? If the court please, I would like these fingerprints submitted in evidence.
Since there doesn't seem to be an objection, the photographs will be received in evidence.
Cross-examine.
Mr.
Walsh, how many men have you fingerprinted? Oh, I don't know.
Up in the thousands.
Can you remember the first man you fingerprinted? Oh, I can't remember that far back.
Now, who was the last man you fingerprinted? Carl Houser, at the morgue last night.
Do you have Mr.
Houser's fingerprints? Yes, sir.
Here you are.
They're all marked.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
Now, whose prints are these? WALSH: Oh, Evelyn Whiting, the nurse.
And these? Roger B.
Cartman, her patient.
And these? Those are the fingerprints of Carl Houser, taken from the corpse.
Now, just a moment.
You're making your identification not from the prints but from your writing on the bottom of the photographs.
WALSH: Of course.
That's just to keep the pictures straight.
You can't identify prints from a glance.
You need a magnifying glass and a little time.
Oh, I see.
I don't suppose you could do that in court? Well, of course I could.
You could? Well, let's see.
Now, would you be--? Would you be kind enough to identify these for us, please? These-- These three.
It'll take a little time.
No hurry.
These two prints are the same.
I think they're Roger B.
Cartman's but I'm not sure.
I'd have to check the data in my notebook.
Go right ahead.
These two are both prints of the right index finger of the man we assume is Roger B.
Cartman.
I see.
Mr.
Walsh, do you happen to have a pencil? Yes, sir.
Well, would you put a cross on those two photographs so there would be no mistake? Thank you.
Now Now, Mr.
Walsh, would you kindly explain to the court how you happened to identify as a fingerprint of Roger B.
Cartman, one belonging to Carl Houser? [CROWD MURMURING.]
- What? - Wait a minute.
Mr.
Mason, do I understand that you contend this witness has confused the photographs? Not at all, Your Honour.
I merely contend that Carl Houser, whom the defendant is charged with killing on the night of the 6th, left his fingerprints on the wheelchair and elsewhere in that house on Alder Lane, at sea.
Your Honour, I can't help suspecting trickery here someplace.
May I ask the court for a brief recess to consider this new development? Under the circumstances, I'm certain there would be no objection to a brief continuance, Mr.
Mason.
I'll agree on one condition, Your Honour.
For two days I have had men searching for Evelyn Whiting to subpoena her.
I would like her to testify on the motion before the court, and I gather from Mr.
Burger's remarks and the fact that Mr.
Walsh identified her fingerprints that the district attorney's office has Miss Whiting in custody.
Is this true? It is, Your Honour.
We do have her in custody.
Do you have any objection to counsel examining her on the motion? None whatever.
Much as I resent Mr.
Mason's tactics, I still would welcome anything that'll throw some light on this matter.
Get Miss Whiting.
Miss Whiting, you're acquainted, I believe, with one Morgan Shreves? Yes.
Am I correct in assuming that you have a romantic attachment with Mr.
Shreves? No, you are not correct at all.
Would I be correct in assuming that you have an attachment for someone who is working for Mr.
Shreves? Yes.
What sort of a relationship is this? We're married.
I see.
Now, Miss Whiting, a little more than a year ago, Morgan Shreves stood trial in Chicago for income-tax evasion.
He was acquitted, I believe, by bribing a juror, a juror named Carl Houser.
Now, from your own personal knowledge, can you tell us if this is true? Remember Miss Whiting, you're under oath.
Yes, it's true.
And isn't it also true that when Morgan Shreves learned the authorities were investigating the bribery, he enlisted the aid of you and your husband? Yes.
And of course he knew that Carl Houser would be a key witness for the government.
That's right.
Accordingly, you, your husband and Mr.
Shreves flew to Vancouver, British Columbia where you boarded the Westminster.
- Is that correct? - Yes.
Now, Miss Whiting, on the night of the 6th, did you send a note to Carl Houser asking him to meet you on the boat deck after dinner? - No.
- You did not? What night did you say that was? The night of the 6th.
Oh, I'd forgotten about that.
- You did send Mr.
Houser a note? - Yes.
And you did meet Mr.
Houser on the boat deck? - Yes.
- Whereupon you promptly shot him - and pushed his body overboard.
- That's not true.
Miss Whiting, we've already heard Miss Houser testify that she heard a shot and saw her father pushed overboard.
But you proved it might not have been her father.
I read that.
But we definitely know she saw something or someone.
- If it wasn't Carl Houser, who was it? - It was a dummy.
MASON: A dummy? WHITING: Yes.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
Come now, would you have us believe that you went through this very involved plan - just to push a dummy overboard? - Yes.
Carl and I had this all planned.
It was supposed to look like he'd committed suicide.
How did you hope to get away with this deception? He got in my wheelchair and posed as my patient.
- He posed as Roger B.
Cartman? - Yes.
But who is the man I saw in your wheelchair aboard ship? Was it Morgan Shreves? Yes.
Then you maintain Carl Houser was still alive when the Westminister - docked in Los Angeles harbour? - Yes.
Yes, I took him off the ship in the wheelchair.
But your suicide plan went wrong and Anna Houser was charged with murder.
You realised then that Carl Houser would never let his wife suffer, so you shot him, - took his body offshore-- - No.
No.
I swear, I had no part in that.
Did I, Morgan? [CROWD MURMURING.]
Oh, Morgan, please, you've gotta tell them the truth.
Don't let them do this to me.
[SOBBING.]
Darling, please.
It's all right, Evelyn.
Don't worry.
You want Morgan Shreves? Well, here he is.
[CROWD MURMURING.]
Rain.
I don't know why, but rain always gives me an appetite.
Hmm.
Everything gives you an appetite.
Della, you shouldn't have.
No, but I'll bet you're awfully glad I did.
Ha-ha.
You know what gets me, Perry, the other night, you said I was overlooking something.
For the life of me, I can't figure out what it was.
I told you about the substitution of pictures in Houser's stateroom.
Yeah.
Well, obviously, Houser had to be responsible, no one else had a reason.
And what was his? He wouldn't have substituted the picture if he thought he was gonna be murdered.
Ergo, he planned to disappear and wanted a remembrance of his family.
The case of the substitute face.
Why didn't I think of that? Why didn't I? I was on the boat with him.
I'll bet he used mental telepathy.
- Miss Street, please.
- I'm serious.
I can see how you figured out Carter and James were a couple of fakers.
I can even see how you figured out that one of them had to be Shreves.
But when James turned out to be Shreves, that really floored me.
And just in case you're interested, Della, - Mm-hm.
- it floored me too.
[ALL LAUGH.]
[COUGHS.]