Perry Mason (1957) s01e39 Episode Script
The Case of the Rolling Bones
Excuse me, please.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Hello? Well, who's calling Mr.
Scott? Oh.
Well, just a moment.
It's for you.
Herb Walker at the bank.
If he wants you to play cards Wednesday night, you can't.
- Yes, Herb? - Listen, Willard.
A woman just walked in the bank with a cheque signed by your Uncle Daniel.
It's payable to M.
Lewis.
It's for $20,000.
Twenty thousand? There's a girl at the bank with a cheque from Uncle Daniel for $20,000.
Mr.
Walker, this is Mrs.
Scott.
Mm-hm.
Don't cash that cheque.
I don't care about your legal obligations.
Just tell her there's no money in the account.
Or, better still, tell her the truth.
Tell her Daniel Reed's as crazy as they come.
Somebody mention my name? Is that for me? Thank you.
Hello? This is Daniel Reed.
Who's talking at your end? I see.
You know something, Mr.
Walker? I don't like the way you run your bank.
Afraid I'll have to move my account elsewhere.
Now, you go ahead and cash that cheque.
I always say it's nice to do business with an old, established firm.
I may be back soon.
What's keeping that girl? Bank closed an hour ago.
Relax, Kemp.
Donna knows what she's doing.
Has she ever have her hooks on $20,000 before? [KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Trouble with you, Kemp, is you've got a suspicious mind.
- Did you have any trouble? - Not a bit.
Ah, did you ever see anything so pretty in all your life? There's $5,000 in each of those packages.
That makes it nice and convenient.
One, two, three, four, five.
- That's for you.
Uh-huh.
- Five hundred bucks? You said we were gonna split 50-50.
I guess I can't be trusted.
- If you're gonna double-cross me-- - I wouldn't do anything foolish, Kemp.
Hey, don't you want this? What's he sore about? - Come here, honey.
- How'd I do? You were magnificent.
You know something, sweetie? We're going to be on easy street.
- Go on.
- Well, that's all there is to it.
I just felt you people ought to know the score before Maury Lewis and his girlfriend take your uncle for every dime they have.
- Willard, sweetie.
- I'm sorry.
And just why was Mr.
Reed paying this blackmail? That I couldn't tell you.
Lewis only hired me to find Mr.
Reed.
Naturally, when I found out they were gonna shake him down, I bowed out.
Well, I certainly appreciate you coming, Mr.
Kemp.
I don't know what we can do about this.
I do.
How is he, doctor? You have no need to disturb yourself, Mr.
Scott.
Your uncle's perfectly all right.
I must say he's rather strong for a man of his age.
And quite obviously suffering from senile dementia.
You said he's been giving money to absolute strangers? - Well, the other day-- MRS.
SCOTT: That's right.
A couple of days ago, he gave away $20,000.
- Well, how did he explain it? - He couldn't.
He became absolutely violent when I asked him.
When did you first notice that Mr.
Reed was behaving, shall we say, childishly? Well, it's been going along for some time now, doctor.
Why, for months he's lost his temper about nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
WOMAN: Daniel Reed is the easiest-going man in the world.
I never saw him lose his temper as long as I know him.
And that's more years than a lady likes to remember.
So when I heard that his nephew, Willard, and that wife of his railroaded Daniel into a sanitarium, I figured it was up to me to do something.
Are you, uh, related to Daniel Reed, Miss Foster? Oh, I'm his, uh, fiancée.
Is that how you say it? Well, anyway, we was planning on getting hitched.
Well, why not? I'm no spring chicken, but Daniel and me got a lot in common.
We can talk together.
- How many young folks can do that? - You got a point there.
Tell me, did you speak to the doctor in charge of the sanitarium? Yeah, but for all the good it did me, I could have been talking to myself.
Oh.
This Dr.
Norris is a real brain.
Any day now, I expect he's gonna write a book.
He kept posing for his picture on the cover.
He even smoked a pipe that would photograph well.
Tell me, what did the doctor say about Mr.
Reed's condition? He said that Daniel had-- Wait a minute.
I've got it written down.
He said Daniel had "senile dementia evidenced by arcus senilis.
" Whatever that means.
Well, what about it, Mr.
Mason? I gotta spring Daniel out of that coop.
Well, Miss Foster, arcus senilis, huh? Della, we'll get out a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
I want to present it to Judge Treadwell.
I'd be interested in His Honour's opinion.
Uh, Mr.
Mason? My name is Lewis, Maury Lewis.
- I'm an old friend of Daniel Reed.
- Oh? If there's anything I can do to spring him, just let me know.
Well, thank you.
Thank you very much.
Hello, Miss Foster.
Now, don't you worry.
Reading the return to the writ of habeas corpus, I understand you were the one who arranged for your uncle, Daniel Reed, to enter Dr.
Norris' sanitarium.
Is that correct? Yes, Your Honour.
You see, he had exhibited certain symptoms that led me to believe-- Are you a doctor, Mr.
Scott? No, sir.
Then let's wait for the experts to testify.
Did you ask your uncle if he wanted to go to a sanitarium? No, sir.
You see, my wife and I thought he was in no condition to give an answer.
JUDGE: Was he conscious? WILLARD: Yes, sir.
Uh, did he make any objections to entering the sanitarium? Well, yes.
And how was that objection overcome? Two male nurses carried him in.
I see.
That's all.
You can step down.
- May it please the court? JUDGE: Yes, Mr.
Metcalf? I can understand Your Honour's desire to question the witness himself.
I certainly don't dispute your right to do so.
Thank you, counsellor.
However, as attorney for Willard Scott, I have a showing I'd like to make.
- I feel entitled at this time to-- - Your opportunity is now at hand.
May I see Daniel Reed? He's not here, sir.
The court order reads that he be produced.
We understand, Your Honour.
Mr.
Reed is physically unable to attend.
We have Dr.
Norris present to testify on that point.
Very well.
Let him testify.
On examination, I found Daniel Reed to be a man of approximately and apparently suffering from senile dementia.
He was incoherent in his speech and, uh, violent in his actions.
Was there anything else you noticed at your examination of the patient? Yes, there was a well-defined arcus senilis on the pupil of the right eye.
And that is due to a hyaline, uh, degeneration of the lamellae and cells of the cornea.
In your experience, doctor, just what does an arcus senilis indicate? In my opinion, it is indicative of the first stages of, uh, senile dementia.
And it was at your suggestion that Mr.
Reed was not brought into court.
It was at my positive order, Mr.
Metcalf.
The patient in his present nervous state would be highly excited and I did not want to be responsible for the results following an appearance here.
Thank you, doctor.
Your witness.
Excuse me, doctor, did I understand you to say the patient was incoherent - when you first saw him? - He was.
- And he was excited and angry? - Violently.
And from that you immediately diagnosed a senile dementia? There were other symptoms as well.
I see.
Uh Isn't there a similar disease, uh, called, uh, dementia praecox? That is hardly the same as senile dementia.
Of course.
Of course, in the cases of dementia praecox, the patient usually seems completely indifferent to his fate.
NORRIS: That is correct.
- All right.
Let's see where that leaves us.
A man, 71, is taken out for a drive by a trusted nephew, suddenly finds himself at your sanitarium, where he is dragged out of the car by two male nurses and taken in hand.
Yet you found him angry and incoherent.
Now, wouldn't that state of mind be perfectly natural? That depends on the circumstances.
Then if he hadn't been angry, you would have found him indifferent and diagnosed his condition as dementia praecox.
You're deliberately distorting my testimony.
- You have no right-- - Now, doctor, don't you get angry.
Mr.
Reed did, and you said he was senile.
I've already testified that there were other symptoms as well.
Arcus senilis, for one.
Yes, of course, you did.
Now, uh, doctor, would you mind describing that particular condition again for the court? An arcus senilis appears as a crescent-shaped ring in the outer periphery of the cornea.
"A crescent-shaped ring.
" You mean, like the ring in Judge Treadwell's eye? NORRIS: Of course, an arcus senilis is not in itself indicative of a psychosis.
It's just a symptom to be evaluated with others.
I appreciate that, doctor.
In other words, if I kicked up a row when I was shanghaied and you noticed this thing in my eye, you would have said I was senile.
Are there any more questions, counsellor? No, Your Honour.
I think this examination has gone far enough and I'm not at all impressed with, uh, Dr.
Norris' reasons for Mr.
Reed's not being here as ordered.
The court is forthwith going to Dr.
Norris' sanitarium to examine the patient.
If necessary, we will retain some reputable psychiatrist to pass upon Mr.
Reed's condition.
Court is adjourned till 2:00 this afternoon when we'll reconvene at the sanitarium.
The bailiff will, uh, arrange transportation.
I can't understand what's keeping them unless the patient's being difficult.
He should've been down-- Where is Mr.
Reed? - I don't know.
He escaped.
- He escaped? MAN: He told one of the attendants he had a sick headache at noon.
- It was Walsh.
NORRIS: Go on.
Well, when Walsh arrived with the aspirin, the patient was waiting behind the door and hit him over the head with a sock.
A sock? - It had a large bar of soap in it.
- How did he get out of the building? He switched uniforms with Walsh and he locked Walsh in the room.
- And nobody tried to stop him? - The receptionist tried to.
He said he was the new laundry man.
Couldn't find the service entrance.
He pulled sheets off the bed to make his story look good.
If Your Honour please, call it what they may, no one can say Mr.
Reed was incompetent in managing this affair.
I quite agree with you, counsellor.
Writ of habeas corpus is granted.
- Your Honour-- - Doctor, you'll be ordered to appear and show cause why you should not be found guilty of contempt of court.
- If you will permit me to explain.
- You'll have your chance, doctor.
But, Your Honour, believe me that nothing like this ever happened before.
I think we'd better go.
I don't think you'll make Mrs.
Scott's list of favourite people.
[FOSTER LAUGHS.]
Thank you so much, Mr.
Mason.
Those thanks may be a little premature.
Have you any idea where Daniel Reed will go now? Well? Let me know the minute you hear from him.
Holly 2-6231.
Hello? Hello, is this you, Millie? - Daniel, where are you? - I can't talk now.
But, honey, you have nothing to worry about.
Didn't you see the papers? I hired Perry Mason to spring you out of that squirrel cage.
You don't have to go back.
- Well, that's good to hear.
- You sound strange.
Listen, Daniel, Maury Lewis was in court today.
Well, we can talk about that later.
Meet me at our usual place in-- In 20 minutes.
Are you sure there's nothing wrong? No, everything's fine.
Hello.
I'll have your laundry back on Tuesday, Mr.
Lewis.
MRS.
SCOTT: It's all your fault.
If you hadn't convinced the judge that Uncle Daniel was in his right mind, none of this would have happened.
They would've stopped him before he killed an innocent man.
- Now, honey, I-- - Sweetie.
The man's a maniac.
And you let him go.
Now, what are you going to do about it? I don't know, Mrs.
Scott.
I'll have to talk to my client first.
Have you any idea where I can find Mr.
Reed? Why don't you ask Millie Foster? Well, then, sweetie, let's go.
We've got to find Uncle Daniel a decent lawyer.
Uh, fortunately, this city has many able attorneys.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
I don't think you'll make her list of favourite people, either.
Whatever gave you that idea? You know, I'm surprised Lieutenant Tragg hasn't been hammering on our door, demanding to know where we've hidden Daniel Reed.
He'll be around.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
- Hi.
MASON: No luck? Millie Foster has definitely skipped.
She has not been home all night.
- Then she must have gone with Reed.
- But where? That's the problem.
I got ahold of the teller at Reed's bank.
That $20,000 cheque was made payable to Maury Lewis.
Then there's our motive.
The district attorney will claim that Lewis has been blackmailing Reed.
No getting around a-- [PHONE BUZZES.]
Yes, Gertie.
- Do you wanna talk to a Dave Kemp? - Dave Kemp? He's a private investigator.
At least he used to be.
He lost his licence about six months ago.
Put him on, Gertie.
- Hello? - Mason? I got a little tip for you.
You ought to talk to a girl called Donna Knox.
Donna Knox? Why? She used to be Maury Lewis' girl.
Or so he thought.
Well, do I have to draw you a diagram? Hardly.
You, uh, happen to know her address? Thank you very much.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Come in.
- Miss Knox? - That's right.
My name is Tragg, Lieutenant Tragg.
I'm with the police.
It's all right.
I'd like to talk to you about, uh, Maury Lewis.
- Go ahead and talk.
- How well did you know him? I was his girl.
Would you happen to know why Daniel Reed gave him $20,000? He liked him.
I wish you'd cooperate, Miss Knox.
I understand how you feel.
Do you, lieutenant? You know what it feels like when somebody suddenly cuts out your insides? Well, Maury wasn't the greatest guy in the world.
Far from it.
He was a heel, but he was mine.
Then I'm sure you'd want his murderer to get everything that's coming to him.
Are you kidding? You haven't even found him yet.
Well, I will.
I promise you.
Can you promise me he'll die? No.
Mason claims Reed was crazy when he killed Maury.
We know Reed was perfectly sane and we can prove it, but we need your help.
If Maury Lewis really meant anything to you-- Shut up.
What do you think I've been drinking this stuff for, because I like it? They say it helps you forget.
It doesn't work for me.
Would you talk to Mr.
Burger? I'll talk to the devil if it will put Maury's killer in the gas chamber.
And I wanna be there when they drop the pellets.
- Come in, Perry.
- Hello, lieutenant.
This is Perry Mason, Donna.
If it wasn't for you, Maury would be here now.
They would have caught that lunatic.
You're wrong, Miss Knox.
Get out of here.
Get out.
[KNOX SOBBING.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
How did it go? Or shouldn't I ask? Tragg got there ahead of me.
Heard anything more from Paul? Yes.
He's getting together a complete dossier on Daniel Reed.
He's also waiting for more word from his contact in Fairbanks, Alaska.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Yes, Gertie.
Personally? Long distance, Reno.
Mrs.
Frank Sebastian? I don't know any Mrs.
-- Wait a minute.
Put her through, Gertie.
Hello? Mr.
Mason? You know who this is? Yes, I do.
Where are you? Miramar Hotel? - Is our friend with you? - Yeah.
I convinced him that he ought to talk to you, but he says he won't go back to Los Angeles and he won't give himself up.
Get hold of Paul right away.
Book two tickets on the next flight to Reno.
Mrs.
Sebastian, you stay right where you are.
I'll be up to see you in three or four hours.
Stop gulping your food like that, Daniel.
You know what it does to you.
I always said no one can pour coffee like you, Millie.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Daniel.
I'm not letting anyone sneak up on me.
Mr.
Mason, this is Daniel.
It's about time we met.
You're a hard man to keep up with, Mr.
Reed.
You should have seen me when I was 60.
I'm going to arrange for you to surrender to the authorities.
- What did you say? - I want you to give yourself up.
That's what I thought.
- Coffee, gentlemen? - No, thank you.
Well, looks like I really got myself into a mess, huh? Looks like.
Who do you think killed Maury Lewis? Why did you give him $20,000? He was an old friend and he needed money.
Lewis was in court on the day of the hearing.
He told me he'd do anything to get you out of that sanitarium.
Well, I said he was an old friend.
No, he wanted you out so he could bleed you.
Now, what did he have on you? You've gotta tell him, Daniel.
If you don't, I will.
I mean it.
Well, Lewis knew I was partners with a young fellow named Monty Sewel, up in Fairbanks, Alaska.
That's where I met Millie.
- Go on.
- Well, Sewel and I struck it rich.
When I say rich, I mean we got ourselves a gold mine.
And that's no joke.
But that wasn't enough for Sewel.
He wanted it all.
Well, sir, one night when I was pretending to be asleep, he tried to shoot me.
Obviously, he didn't succeed.
No, I was a little faster than he was.
Now, you know that's how it happened.
What did you do with Sewel's body? I buried it in the snow and I told folks he had to go to Seattle on business.
And then, a few days later, Millie and I cleared out of Alaska.
And nobody questioned Sewel's disappearance? No.
It was my disappearance that confused them.
You see, I bought a boat ticket in Sewel's name.
I even used his name when I married Millie.
Then, officially, you're Mr.
and Mrs.
Sewel.
Millie walked out on me during the honeymoon.
She got mad at me because I wouldn't let her go to the police.
We didn't see each other again for 30 years.
Well, that explains almost everything.
Except how Maury Lewis fits into the picture.
Lewis bought the old shack that Sewel and I owned up in Alaska.
He found Sewel's body and figured out what happened.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Am I intruding? Ah, it seems I'm running into you wherever I go.
TRAGG: Yeah.
So it would seem.
Now, we realise that this is the state of Nevada, but if you want us to waste time arranging extradition, we That won't be necessary.
Mr.
Reed will cooperate.
Oh, no, I won't.
We have nothing to hide, do we, Mr.
Reed? Nope.
Okay, lieutenant.
I guess that won't be necessary.
Take care of yourself, honey.
Okay.
I'd better get ready.
What do you think? It's amazing.
Tragg showed up right on our heels.
- He also beat me to Donna Knox.
- Maybe he's been reading your mail.
Whatever they're doing, they know exactly what's going on in our office.
And if Burger is in on this pipeline, I'm really gonna confuse him.
Paul, I want you to call your answering service in Los Angeles.
Have them send one of your men out to see Della tonight at her apartment.
- How about Faulkner? - He'll do.
He's to tell her I'll call the office tomorrow morning, 9:30 sharp.
She's not to pay any attention to whatever I say.
- She's just to answer accordingly.
- I got it.
- You gonna wait for Millie? - Yeah, sure.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Yes, Gertie.
Line 1 ? Thank you.
Hello, Perry, how are you? Yes, I heard from Paul.
Well, Tragg took Daniel Reed back to Los Angeles early this morning.
I put Millie on the same plane.
We'll be in on Flight 12.
Uh, Perry, did you find out why Mr.
Reed was being blackmailed by, uh, Maury Lewis? Maury Lewis' real name is Monty Sewel.
Lewis' real name was Monty Sewel? - Doesn't seem possible.
- Well, it's true.
If you'll notice, Lewis spelled backwards is very much like Sewel.
Reed and Sewel were partners in a gold claim near Fairbanks, Alaska.
Sewel was cheated out of his share of the claim by Reed.
What do you know.
Of course, I don't have to tell you not to breathe a word of this to anyone.
If it gets out, Reed will go right to the gas chamber.
Don't worry, Perry, I'll be as silent as the grave.
Good girl.
We'll be in the office around 6:00.
Well, that ought to keep Burger going around in circles.
That was my intention.
Come on.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
DELLA: Perry.
Well, what a nice surprise.
- What's the trouble? - Did you make up that story about Monty Sewel and Maury Lewis being the same person? Why? Because they are.
It's true.
Every last word of it.
Burger checked it out and Sewel is Lewis.
Or was Lewis.
You know what I mean.
The Alaskan police made positive identification from his fingerprints.
He served six months for assault in 1927.
It isn't possible.
I was right there when you made it up.
I know.
I recall one part of my story in particular.
I said, if it ever gets out, Reed will go right to the gas chamber.
Come on.
- Hiya, counsellor.
- How are you, Daniel? - Couldn't be better.
- Sit down.
- Preliminary hearing starts tomorrow.
- Yeah, that's what Millie told me.
Oh, I had lots of company this morning.
First, Millie, and then my nephew, Willard, and his wife.
What did they want? They recommended another lawyer, name of Metcalf.
Mr.
Metcalf thought I could get off by claiming insanity.
I told them the only time my head was addled was when I went to live with them.
Metcalf's a good lawyer.
Well, like the fellow said to the dealer when he got himself a royal flush: "I like what I got now.
" And I like you.
But that doesn't alter the situation.
We're in a jam.
I know.
It's my fault.
Yes, it is.
Why didn't you tell me Lewis and Monty Sewel were one and the same? I just thought it would create problems.
What have we got now? Did you actually think you killed Sewel 30 years ago? I did.
Till three months ago when he and that gal showed up.
- Donna Knox? - Yes.
Monty always did fine with the women folk.
Did--? Did he do fine with Millie? You've got to understand that 30 years ago, Millie was a beautiful young girl.
Lots of fellows were interested in her.
Was Millie present the night you tried to kill Sewel? No.
Did Sewel ever tell you what happened to him after you shot him? Yeah.
Indian trappers found him, nursed him back to health.
He only lost a couple of toes from frostbite.
I know it sounds awful complicated, Mr.
Mason.
Daniel, as far as the district attorney is concerned, our only hope is to make it even more complicated.
The, uh, telephone in the room had been used at 24 minutes after 9.
How do you know that, lieutenant? Well, I talked with the switchboard operator.
And what number was called from Mr.
Lewis' room? Holly 2-6231.
And in whose name is that number listed? Millie Foster.
BURGER: And did you subsequently meet this Millie Foster? TRAGG: Yes, sir, when we arrested the defendant in Reno.
She had rented the hotel room in which Mr.
Reed was hiding.
Thank you, lieutenant.
Cross-examine.
Now, lieutenant, how did you discover that Maury Lewis and Monty Sewel were one and the same person? Well, we had reason to believe that the deceased had at one time been living near Fairbanks, Alaska, and we, uh, checked the police there.
Did you check on Mr.
Sewel's movements after he left Alaska? Yes, I did.
He bought a boat ticket to Seattle where he married, uh, Millie Foster.
Where did Mr.
Sewel go upon leaving Seattle? Oh, well, he, uh, travelled quite a bit.
And his last stop before he came to Los Angeles was Phoenix.
And he lived, uh, at the Waverly, Waverly Hotel there, for about six months.
And knowing how thorough you are, lieutenant, I'm sure you must have talked with the manager at that hotel.
Oh, yes, sir.
Did he describe Mr.
Sewel for you? Yes.
Would you please oblige us with a report of that conversation? Well, I, uh-- I asked him what Mr.
Sewel looked like and he said Mr.
Sewel was a man in his late 60s.
About, uh, 5-feet-5.
Weighed around, uh, 140 pounds.
Yet we know the victim was in his early 50s, almost 6 feet tall and weighed close to 180.
Yes, sir.
Seems to me, lieutenant, that the description you just gave fits the defendant, Mr.
Reed, far better than it does the victim.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, lieutenant, that will be all.
You may stand down.
I call Victor Kowalski to the stand, please.
Well, sir, I was carting away a sand jar on the fifth floor.
Some wise guy broke it.
You see, there's a sand jar on every floor, right near the elevator.
Yes, I'm sure I understand.
We have the picture very clearly, Mr.
Kowalski.
You were carrying a broken sand jar down the corridor of the fifth floor.
What happened then? Well, the door to Mr.
Lewis' room opened and some guy came out in a white uniform, carrying a load of laundry.
Is that man in the courtroom now? Yes, sir.
Him.
Let the record show that the witness is pointing at Daniel Reed, the defendant.
Do you know what time this was? Yes, sir.
It was exactly 26 minutes after 9.
Twenty-six minutes after 9? Didn't you hear the doctor testify that Mr.
Lewis died between 8 and 9:00? Yeah.
Well, I figured out that Mr.
Reed said that about the laundry, you know, to make me think Mr.
Lewis was still alive.
I object, Your Honour.
The answer is not responsive.
The district attorney asked the witness if he heard the doctor's testimony.
The objection is sustained.
The reporter will strike the last response.
Witness will only answer questions asked of him.
- Sorry, judge.
- Thank you, Mr.
Kowalski.
You may cross-examine.
Now, Mr.
Kowalski, are you sure that the defendant is the man you saw coming out of the room that had been occupied by the deceased? Oh, absolutely.
I'd know him anywhere.
- The time was? - Exactly 26 minutes after 9.
- How can you be so positive? - I looked at my watch.
You're certain that no one refreshed your memory on that point? KOWALSKl: They didn't have to.
I told you I looked at my watch.
It keeps perfect time.
What time it is now? Twenty-one minutes after 3.
That's right.
And you consulted this particular watch right after the defendant came out of Mr.
Lewis' room? Yeah.
I told you that before.
So you did.
However, I would like to know how you got this particular watch out of your pocket at a time you were carrying a broken sand jar which must have weighed at least 60 pounds.
Thank you, Mr.
Kowalski.
No further questions.
Yes, I knew my uncle had some trouble up in Alaska with a man named Monty Sewel.
He told me about it once.
Didn't he also tell you that he thought he had killed Monty Sewel? Your Honour, I object.
Counsel is leading the witness.
Your Honour, this is a hostile witness.
He's the nephew of the defendant.
He's refused to testify.
The objection is overruled.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Mr.
Scott, didn't your uncle tell you that he thought he'd killed Monty Sewel? Yes, sir.
Did he also tell you what they quarrelled about? - I don't remember.
BURGER: But you do remember that when your uncle returned to Los Angeles, - he was a very wealthy man.
- Yes.
- And he'd been partners with Sewel.
- Yes.
- And he thought he had killed him.
- Yes.
Thank you, Mr.
Scott.
Your witness.
No questions.
Witness may stand down.
I tell you, Perry, they've got to have this thing bugged.
If they do, it's illegal.
You don't think that would stop Burger, do you? Of course I think so.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Careful.
Hello? All right, Gertie, send him in.
There, that wasn't too incriminating, was it? - Paul.
- See you later.
- Who is it? - Dave Kemp.
- This is Miss Street, my secretary.
- Hello.
- Can we have a little privacy? - Confidential secretary.
All right.
I suppose you're wondering what I'm doing here.
Well, I have a pretty good idea.
You wanna give me some ammunition to use against Donna Knox when she gets on the stand tomorrow.
You're pretty sharp.
No, it's fairly obvious.
What are you after, revenge? Never mind what I'm after.
I got some dope that can blow this case sky-high.
Monty Sewel had $20,000 in cash on him before he died.
They never found it in his room.
Now, haven't you asked yourself the question: What happened to that money? Several times.
I've also asked myself what you were doing at the time of Sewel's murder.
Why didn't you ask me? I was having a couple of drinks with Mrs.
Scott at the Kelcy Club.
- It was business.
- Nice that you can alibi each other.
You got your lumps coming to you, Mason.
You intend giving them to me? No, not me.
I'm not in your league.
I'm just advising you to talk to Donna Knox and find out what she did with the 20 G's.
Good night, Mr.
Kemp.
He has all the warmth and charm of a cobra.
Did you get any ideas? Yeah.
Several.
I'm not going to cross-examine Donna Knox.
I'll wait till Burger rests his case, then I'll put Willard Scott on the stand as a witness for the defence.
He can testify to his uncle's incompetency.
- Are things that bad? - Well, bad enough.
But by putting Scott on the stand, I may catch Burger off-guard.
After all, Scott was a witness for the state.
All right, Mr.
Burger, you may call your next witness.
If Your Honour please, instead of calling Donna Knox at this time, I should like to recall Willard Scott.
If it please the court? District attorney has concluded his direct examination of Mr.
Scott.
That's true, Your Honour.
I now know that Mr.
Scott is in a position to testify on certain other matters - pertaining to this case.
- Your Honour-- Were these facts in your possession before? No, Your Honour.
I discovered only late last night the importance of this testimony.
Then I will permit you to recall this witness.
Thank you, Your Honour.
JUDGE: Is Willard Scott in court? Will you please take the stand? May I remind Your Honour that this is a hostile witness.
Now, Mr.
Scott, on July 25th of this year, did you drive to a sanitarium run by a Dr.
Norris? Yes, I did.
And was the defendant, Daniel Reed, with you at that time? - Yes, sir.
- Would you tell us, please, why you took your uncle to a sanitarium? We-- I thought he needed help.
What kind of help? Well, he's not a young man and he acted very childishly at times.
So you just decided to have him committed? Yes, sir.
BURGER: Only, his attorney, Perry Mason, presented a writ of habeas corpus to Judge Treadwell.
- Is that correct? WILLARD: Yes, sir.
What was Judge Treadwell's decision? He granted the habeas corpus.
Which means, in effect, that your uncle is responsible for all his acts and knows exactly what he's doing.
- Yes, sir.
- Thank you, Mr.
Scott.
Your witness.
You tell us, Mr.
Scott, that you believe now that your uncle is in complete possession of his faculties? - No, I don't.
- And, as his only living relative, you felt it's your duty to look after him? Yes, sir.
And was it your duty to look after his money as well? I don't know what you're talking about.
- That never entered your mind? - No.
Then why did you have an attorney named Richard Rice draw up the necessary papers? Oh, it was It was just something I thought should be done.
- Did your wife know about this? WILLARD: Of course.
Then tell us, Mr.
Scott, if your wife did know that you had retained Mr.
Rice, why did you permit her to retain another attorney by the name of George Metcalf to draw up similar papers? She thought Metcalf was a better lawyer.
Yet you went to see Mr.
Rice the day after your meeting with Metcalf.
And whereas Mr.
Metcalf's petition provided for you and Mrs.
Scott to be joint guardians of Daniel Reed, you asked Mr.
Rice to make you the sole guardian.
Well, isn't that true? Yes.
I now ask you, Mr.
Scott, what you were doing between I resent this.
I'm not on trial here.
Answer the question.
- I was at home with my wife.
- No, you weren't.
Your wife was at the Kelcy Club with a man named Dave Kemp, discussing business.
The manager there identified her from her photograph.
Now I ask you once again, Mr.
Scott, what were you doing between - I don't remember.
- Then I'll tell you.
You drove over to the Quincy Hotel, where you killed a man by the name of Monty Sewel.
That's ridiculous.
I didn't even know the man.
But you knew your uncle would be accused of his murder.
And you decided if you couldn't gain control of Daniel Reed's money by having him committed, you wanted to see him go to the gas chamber.
No.
No, I didn't want him to go to the gas chamber.
I just thought they'd put him away some place.
I wanted to get away from her.
I wanted it so bad.
You don't know what it's like to listen to her nagging day after day, night after night.
Sixteen years.
Sixteen years and never a minute's peace.
I just wanted to get away from her, that's all.
Just wanted to get away.
I have no further questions, Your Honour.
[MASON CLEARS THROAT.]
- Well, it's not out on the terrace.
- It must be somewhere in this room.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
I didn't wait to be announced.
Maybe I can help? This what you were looking for? Cute little gadget, isn't it? That thing will pick up both ends of a telephone conversation plus anything else said in the room.
Well, maybe I owe you an explanation.
Yes, I think you do.
Well, uh, Burger and I knew nothing about this.
We had no idea that the place was bugged.
Who was it, uh, Dave Kemp? I got the story 20 minutes ago.
Kemp, uh, got in here one night last week, planted it, and has been feeding information to an eager beaver in my department, who told me that it came from a pet stoolie.
Well, you can see what Kemp was after.
Sure.
He wanted his licence back.
TRAGG: Well, I don't have to tell you that he won't get it back.
I hope you believe me, Perry.
You know I do.
TRAGG: Now I think you owe me an explanation.
Who put you onto Willard Scott? Process of elimination.
Kemp and Mrs.
Scott had alibis for each other, Donna Knox had no motive.
- She could have taken that 20 grand.
- No.
No, she must have turned that over to the police.
Burger wouldn't have put her on the stand if she'd been vulnerable.
You left out Millie Foster? She had her chance at Sewel, You mean, she was the one that shot him? Daniel Reed was just covering up for her.
TRAGG: And that brought us to Willard Scott.
When you told Della you wanted to call Scott as your witness, you were just playing that scene for Burger.
Um How did he like the performance? Loved it.
But just make sure that you don't invite him the next time that you're doing a benefit.
[ALL LAUGH.]
[PHONE RINGS.]
Hello? Well, who's calling Mr.
Scott? Oh.
Well, just a moment.
It's for you.
Herb Walker at the bank.
If he wants you to play cards Wednesday night, you can't.
- Yes, Herb? - Listen, Willard.
A woman just walked in the bank with a cheque signed by your Uncle Daniel.
It's payable to M.
Lewis.
It's for $20,000.
Twenty thousand? There's a girl at the bank with a cheque from Uncle Daniel for $20,000.
Mr.
Walker, this is Mrs.
Scott.
Mm-hm.
Don't cash that cheque.
I don't care about your legal obligations.
Just tell her there's no money in the account.
Or, better still, tell her the truth.
Tell her Daniel Reed's as crazy as they come.
Somebody mention my name? Is that for me? Thank you.
Hello? This is Daniel Reed.
Who's talking at your end? I see.
You know something, Mr.
Walker? I don't like the way you run your bank.
Afraid I'll have to move my account elsewhere.
Now, you go ahead and cash that cheque.
I always say it's nice to do business with an old, established firm.
I may be back soon.
What's keeping that girl? Bank closed an hour ago.
Relax, Kemp.
Donna knows what she's doing.
Has she ever have her hooks on $20,000 before? [KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Trouble with you, Kemp, is you've got a suspicious mind.
- Did you have any trouble? - Not a bit.
Ah, did you ever see anything so pretty in all your life? There's $5,000 in each of those packages.
That makes it nice and convenient.
One, two, three, four, five.
- That's for you.
Uh-huh.
- Five hundred bucks? You said we were gonna split 50-50.
I guess I can't be trusted.
- If you're gonna double-cross me-- - I wouldn't do anything foolish, Kemp.
Hey, don't you want this? What's he sore about? - Come here, honey.
- How'd I do? You were magnificent.
You know something, sweetie? We're going to be on easy street.
- Go on.
- Well, that's all there is to it.
I just felt you people ought to know the score before Maury Lewis and his girlfriend take your uncle for every dime they have.
- Willard, sweetie.
- I'm sorry.
And just why was Mr.
Reed paying this blackmail? That I couldn't tell you.
Lewis only hired me to find Mr.
Reed.
Naturally, when I found out they were gonna shake him down, I bowed out.
Well, I certainly appreciate you coming, Mr.
Kemp.
I don't know what we can do about this.
I do.
How is he, doctor? You have no need to disturb yourself, Mr.
Scott.
Your uncle's perfectly all right.
I must say he's rather strong for a man of his age.
And quite obviously suffering from senile dementia.
You said he's been giving money to absolute strangers? - Well, the other day-- MRS.
SCOTT: That's right.
A couple of days ago, he gave away $20,000.
- Well, how did he explain it? - He couldn't.
He became absolutely violent when I asked him.
When did you first notice that Mr.
Reed was behaving, shall we say, childishly? Well, it's been going along for some time now, doctor.
Why, for months he's lost his temper about nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
WOMAN: Daniel Reed is the easiest-going man in the world.
I never saw him lose his temper as long as I know him.
And that's more years than a lady likes to remember.
So when I heard that his nephew, Willard, and that wife of his railroaded Daniel into a sanitarium, I figured it was up to me to do something.
Are you, uh, related to Daniel Reed, Miss Foster? Oh, I'm his, uh, fiancée.
Is that how you say it? Well, anyway, we was planning on getting hitched.
Well, why not? I'm no spring chicken, but Daniel and me got a lot in common.
We can talk together.
- How many young folks can do that? - You got a point there.
Tell me, did you speak to the doctor in charge of the sanitarium? Yeah, but for all the good it did me, I could have been talking to myself.
Oh.
This Dr.
Norris is a real brain.
Any day now, I expect he's gonna write a book.
He kept posing for his picture on the cover.
He even smoked a pipe that would photograph well.
Tell me, what did the doctor say about Mr.
Reed's condition? He said that Daniel had-- Wait a minute.
I've got it written down.
He said Daniel had "senile dementia evidenced by arcus senilis.
" Whatever that means.
Well, what about it, Mr.
Mason? I gotta spring Daniel out of that coop.
Well, Miss Foster, arcus senilis, huh? Della, we'll get out a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
I want to present it to Judge Treadwell.
I'd be interested in His Honour's opinion.
Uh, Mr.
Mason? My name is Lewis, Maury Lewis.
- I'm an old friend of Daniel Reed.
- Oh? If there's anything I can do to spring him, just let me know.
Well, thank you.
Thank you very much.
Hello, Miss Foster.
Now, don't you worry.
Reading the return to the writ of habeas corpus, I understand you were the one who arranged for your uncle, Daniel Reed, to enter Dr.
Norris' sanitarium.
Is that correct? Yes, Your Honour.
You see, he had exhibited certain symptoms that led me to believe-- Are you a doctor, Mr.
Scott? No, sir.
Then let's wait for the experts to testify.
Did you ask your uncle if he wanted to go to a sanitarium? No, sir.
You see, my wife and I thought he was in no condition to give an answer.
JUDGE: Was he conscious? WILLARD: Yes, sir.
Uh, did he make any objections to entering the sanitarium? Well, yes.
And how was that objection overcome? Two male nurses carried him in.
I see.
That's all.
You can step down.
- May it please the court? JUDGE: Yes, Mr.
Metcalf? I can understand Your Honour's desire to question the witness himself.
I certainly don't dispute your right to do so.
Thank you, counsellor.
However, as attorney for Willard Scott, I have a showing I'd like to make.
- I feel entitled at this time to-- - Your opportunity is now at hand.
May I see Daniel Reed? He's not here, sir.
The court order reads that he be produced.
We understand, Your Honour.
Mr.
Reed is physically unable to attend.
We have Dr.
Norris present to testify on that point.
Very well.
Let him testify.
On examination, I found Daniel Reed to be a man of approximately and apparently suffering from senile dementia.
He was incoherent in his speech and, uh, violent in his actions.
Was there anything else you noticed at your examination of the patient? Yes, there was a well-defined arcus senilis on the pupil of the right eye.
And that is due to a hyaline, uh, degeneration of the lamellae and cells of the cornea.
In your experience, doctor, just what does an arcus senilis indicate? In my opinion, it is indicative of the first stages of, uh, senile dementia.
And it was at your suggestion that Mr.
Reed was not brought into court.
It was at my positive order, Mr.
Metcalf.
The patient in his present nervous state would be highly excited and I did not want to be responsible for the results following an appearance here.
Thank you, doctor.
Your witness.
Excuse me, doctor, did I understand you to say the patient was incoherent - when you first saw him? - He was.
- And he was excited and angry? - Violently.
And from that you immediately diagnosed a senile dementia? There were other symptoms as well.
I see.
Uh Isn't there a similar disease, uh, called, uh, dementia praecox? That is hardly the same as senile dementia.
Of course.
Of course, in the cases of dementia praecox, the patient usually seems completely indifferent to his fate.
NORRIS: That is correct.
- All right.
Let's see where that leaves us.
A man, 71, is taken out for a drive by a trusted nephew, suddenly finds himself at your sanitarium, where he is dragged out of the car by two male nurses and taken in hand.
Yet you found him angry and incoherent.
Now, wouldn't that state of mind be perfectly natural? That depends on the circumstances.
Then if he hadn't been angry, you would have found him indifferent and diagnosed his condition as dementia praecox.
You're deliberately distorting my testimony.
- You have no right-- - Now, doctor, don't you get angry.
Mr.
Reed did, and you said he was senile.
I've already testified that there were other symptoms as well.
Arcus senilis, for one.
Yes, of course, you did.
Now, uh, doctor, would you mind describing that particular condition again for the court? An arcus senilis appears as a crescent-shaped ring in the outer periphery of the cornea.
"A crescent-shaped ring.
" You mean, like the ring in Judge Treadwell's eye? NORRIS: Of course, an arcus senilis is not in itself indicative of a psychosis.
It's just a symptom to be evaluated with others.
I appreciate that, doctor.
In other words, if I kicked up a row when I was shanghaied and you noticed this thing in my eye, you would have said I was senile.
Are there any more questions, counsellor? No, Your Honour.
I think this examination has gone far enough and I'm not at all impressed with, uh, Dr.
Norris' reasons for Mr.
Reed's not being here as ordered.
The court is forthwith going to Dr.
Norris' sanitarium to examine the patient.
If necessary, we will retain some reputable psychiatrist to pass upon Mr.
Reed's condition.
Court is adjourned till 2:00 this afternoon when we'll reconvene at the sanitarium.
The bailiff will, uh, arrange transportation.
I can't understand what's keeping them unless the patient's being difficult.
He should've been down-- Where is Mr.
Reed? - I don't know.
He escaped.
- He escaped? MAN: He told one of the attendants he had a sick headache at noon.
- It was Walsh.
NORRIS: Go on.
Well, when Walsh arrived with the aspirin, the patient was waiting behind the door and hit him over the head with a sock.
A sock? - It had a large bar of soap in it.
- How did he get out of the building? He switched uniforms with Walsh and he locked Walsh in the room.
- And nobody tried to stop him? - The receptionist tried to.
He said he was the new laundry man.
Couldn't find the service entrance.
He pulled sheets off the bed to make his story look good.
If Your Honour please, call it what they may, no one can say Mr.
Reed was incompetent in managing this affair.
I quite agree with you, counsellor.
Writ of habeas corpus is granted.
- Your Honour-- - Doctor, you'll be ordered to appear and show cause why you should not be found guilty of contempt of court.
- If you will permit me to explain.
- You'll have your chance, doctor.
But, Your Honour, believe me that nothing like this ever happened before.
I think we'd better go.
I don't think you'll make Mrs.
Scott's list of favourite people.
[FOSTER LAUGHS.]
Thank you so much, Mr.
Mason.
Those thanks may be a little premature.
Have you any idea where Daniel Reed will go now? Well? Let me know the minute you hear from him.
Holly 2-6231.
Hello? Hello, is this you, Millie? - Daniel, where are you? - I can't talk now.
But, honey, you have nothing to worry about.
Didn't you see the papers? I hired Perry Mason to spring you out of that squirrel cage.
You don't have to go back.
- Well, that's good to hear.
- You sound strange.
Listen, Daniel, Maury Lewis was in court today.
Well, we can talk about that later.
Meet me at our usual place in-- In 20 minutes.
Are you sure there's nothing wrong? No, everything's fine.
Hello.
I'll have your laundry back on Tuesday, Mr.
Lewis.
MRS.
SCOTT: It's all your fault.
If you hadn't convinced the judge that Uncle Daniel was in his right mind, none of this would have happened.
They would've stopped him before he killed an innocent man.
- Now, honey, I-- - Sweetie.
The man's a maniac.
And you let him go.
Now, what are you going to do about it? I don't know, Mrs.
Scott.
I'll have to talk to my client first.
Have you any idea where I can find Mr.
Reed? Why don't you ask Millie Foster? Well, then, sweetie, let's go.
We've got to find Uncle Daniel a decent lawyer.
Uh, fortunately, this city has many able attorneys.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
I don't think you'll make her list of favourite people, either.
Whatever gave you that idea? You know, I'm surprised Lieutenant Tragg hasn't been hammering on our door, demanding to know where we've hidden Daniel Reed.
He'll be around.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
- Hi.
MASON: No luck? Millie Foster has definitely skipped.
She has not been home all night.
- Then she must have gone with Reed.
- But where? That's the problem.
I got ahold of the teller at Reed's bank.
That $20,000 cheque was made payable to Maury Lewis.
Then there's our motive.
The district attorney will claim that Lewis has been blackmailing Reed.
No getting around a-- [PHONE BUZZES.]
Yes, Gertie.
- Do you wanna talk to a Dave Kemp? - Dave Kemp? He's a private investigator.
At least he used to be.
He lost his licence about six months ago.
Put him on, Gertie.
- Hello? - Mason? I got a little tip for you.
You ought to talk to a girl called Donna Knox.
Donna Knox? Why? She used to be Maury Lewis' girl.
Or so he thought.
Well, do I have to draw you a diagram? Hardly.
You, uh, happen to know her address? Thank you very much.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Come in.
- Miss Knox? - That's right.
My name is Tragg, Lieutenant Tragg.
I'm with the police.
It's all right.
I'd like to talk to you about, uh, Maury Lewis.
- Go ahead and talk.
- How well did you know him? I was his girl.
Would you happen to know why Daniel Reed gave him $20,000? He liked him.
I wish you'd cooperate, Miss Knox.
I understand how you feel.
Do you, lieutenant? You know what it feels like when somebody suddenly cuts out your insides? Well, Maury wasn't the greatest guy in the world.
Far from it.
He was a heel, but he was mine.
Then I'm sure you'd want his murderer to get everything that's coming to him.
Are you kidding? You haven't even found him yet.
Well, I will.
I promise you.
Can you promise me he'll die? No.
Mason claims Reed was crazy when he killed Maury.
We know Reed was perfectly sane and we can prove it, but we need your help.
If Maury Lewis really meant anything to you-- Shut up.
What do you think I've been drinking this stuff for, because I like it? They say it helps you forget.
It doesn't work for me.
Would you talk to Mr.
Burger? I'll talk to the devil if it will put Maury's killer in the gas chamber.
And I wanna be there when they drop the pellets.
- Come in, Perry.
- Hello, lieutenant.
This is Perry Mason, Donna.
If it wasn't for you, Maury would be here now.
They would have caught that lunatic.
You're wrong, Miss Knox.
Get out of here.
Get out.
[KNOX SOBBING.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
How did it go? Or shouldn't I ask? Tragg got there ahead of me.
Heard anything more from Paul? Yes.
He's getting together a complete dossier on Daniel Reed.
He's also waiting for more word from his contact in Fairbanks, Alaska.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Yes, Gertie.
Personally? Long distance, Reno.
Mrs.
Frank Sebastian? I don't know any Mrs.
-- Wait a minute.
Put her through, Gertie.
Hello? Mr.
Mason? You know who this is? Yes, I do.
Where are you? Miramar Hotel? - Is our friend with you? - Yeah.
I convinced him that he ought to talk to you, but he says he won't go back to Los Angeles and he won't give himself up.
Get hold of Paul right away.
Book two tickets on the next flight to Reno.
Mrs.
Sebastian, you stay right where you are.
I'll be up to see you in three or four hours.
Stop gulping your food like that, Daniel.
You know what it does to you.
I always said no one can pour coffee like you, Millie.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Daniel.
I'm not letting anyone sneak up on me.
Mr.
Mason, this is Daniel.
It's about time we met.
You're a hard man to keep up with, Mr.
Reed.
You should have seen me when I was 60.
I'm going to arrange for you to surrender to the authorities.
- What did you say? - I want you to give yourself up.
That's what I thought.
- Coffee, gentlemen? - No, thank you.
Well, looks like I really got myself into a mess, huh? Looks like.
Who do you think killed Maury Lewis? Why did you give him $20,000? He was an old friend and he needed money.
Lewis was in court on the day of the hearing.
He told me he'd do anything to get you out of that sanitarium.
Well, I said he was an old friend.
No, he wanted you out so he could bleed you.
Now, what did he have on you? You've gotta tell him, Daniel.
If you don't, I will.
I mean it.
Well, Lewis knew I was partners with a young fellow named Monty Sewel, up in Fairbanks, Alaska.
That's where I met Millie.
- Go on.
- Well, Sewel and I struck it rich.
When I say rich, I mean we got ourselves a gold mine.
And that's no joke.
But that wasn't enough for Sewel.
He wanted it all.
Well, sir, one night when I was pretending to be asleep, he tried to shoot me.
Obviously, he didn't succeed.
No, I was a little faster than he was.
Now, you know that's how it happened.
What did you do with Sewel's body? I buried it in the snow and I told folks he had to go to Seattle on business.
And then, a few days later, Millie and I cleared out of Alaska.
And nobody questioned Sewel's disappearance? No.
It was my disappearance that confused them.
You see, I bought a boat ticket in Sewel's name.
I even used his name when I married Millie.
Then, officially, you're Mr.
and Mrs.
Sewel.
Millie walked out on me during the honeymoon.
She got mad at me because I wouldn't let her go to the police.
We didn't see each other again for 30 years.
Well, that explains almost everything.
Except how Maury Lewis fits into the picture.
Lewis bought the old shack that Sewel and I owned up in Alaska.
He found Sewel's body and figured out what happened.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Am I intruding? Ah, it seems I'm running into you wherever I go.
TRAGG: Yeah.
So it would seem.
Now, we realise that this is the state of Nevada, but if you want us to waste time arranging extradition, we That won't be necessary.
Mr.
Reed will cooperate.
Oh, no, I won't.
We have nothing to hide, do we, Mr.
Reed? Nope.
Okay, lieutenant.
I guess that won't be necessary.
Take care of yourself, honey.
Okay.
I'd better get ready.
What do you think? It's amazing.
Tragg showed up right on our heels.
- He also beat me to Donna Knox.
- Maybe he's been reading your mail.
Whatever they're doing, they know exactly what's going on in our office.
And if Burger is in on this pipeline, I'm really gonna confuse him.
Paul, I want you to call your answering service in Los Angeles.
Have them send one of your men out to see Della tonight at her apartment.
- How about Faulkner? - He'll do.
He's to tell her I'll call the office tomorrow morning, 9:30 sharp.
She's not to pay any attention to whatever I say.
- She's just to answer accordingly.
- I got it.
- You gonna wait for Millie? - Yeah, sure.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Yes, Gertie.
Line 1 ? Thank you.
Hello, Perry, how are you? Yes, I heard from Paul.
Well, Tragg took Daniel Reed back to Los Angeles early this morning.
I put Millie on the same plane.
We'll be in on Flight 12.
Uh, Perry, did you find out why Mr.
Reed was being blackmailed by, uh, Maury Lewis? Maury Lewis' real name is Monty Sewel.
Lewis' real name was Monty Sewel? - Doesn't seem possible.
- Well, it's true.
If you'll notice, Lewis spelled backwards is very much like Sewel.
Reed and Sewel were partners in a gold claim near Fairbanks, Alaska.
Sewel was cheated out of his share of the claim by Reed.
What do you know.
Of course, I don't have to tell you not to breathe a word of this to anyone.
If it gets out, Reed will go right to the gas chamber.
Don't worry, Perry, I'll be as silent as the grave.
Good girl.
We'll be in the office around 6:00.
Well, that ought to keep Burger going around in circles.
That was my intention.
Come on.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
DELLA: Perry.
Well, what a nice surprise.
- What's the trouble? - Did you make up that story about Monty Sewel and Maury Lewis being the same person? Why? Because they are.
It's true.
Every last word of it.
Burger checked it out and Sewel is Lewis.
Or was Lewis.
You know what I mean.
The Alaskan police made positive identification from his fingerprints.
He served six months for assault in 1927.
It isn't possible.
I was right there when you made it up.
I know.
I recall one part of my story in particular.
I said, if it ever gets out, Reed will go right to the gas chamber.
Come on.
- Hiya, counsellor.
- How are you, Daniel? - Couldn't be better.
- Sit down.
- Preliminary hearing starts tomorrow.
- Yeah, that's what Millie told me.
Oh, I had lots of company this morning.
First, Millie, and then my nephew, Willard, and his wife.
What did they want? They recommended another lawyer, name of Metcalf.
Mr.
Metcalf thought I could get off by claiming insanity.
I told them the only time my head was addled was when I went to live with them.
Metcalf's a good lawyer.
Well, like the fellow said to the dealer when he got himself a royal flush: "I like what I got now.
" And I like you.
But that doesn't alter the situation.
We're in a jam.
I know.
It's my fault.
Yes, it is.
Why didn't you tell me Lewis and Monty Sewel were one and the same? I just thought it would create problems.
What have we got now? Did you actually think you killed Sewel 30 years ago? I did.
Till three months ago when he and that gal showed up.
- Donna Knox? - Yes.
Monty always did fine with the women folk.
Did--? Did he do fine with Millie? You've got to understand that 30 years ago, Millie was a beautiful young girl.
Lots of fellows were interested in her.
Was Millie present the night you tried to kill Sewel? No.
Did Sewel ever tell you what happened to him after you shot him? Yeah.
Indian trappers found him, nursed him back to health.
He only lost a couple of toes from frostbite.
I know it sounds awful complicated, Mr.
Mason.
Daniel, as far as the district attorney is concerned, our only hope is to make it even more complicated.
The, uh, telephone in the room had been used at 24 minutes after 9.
How do you know that, lieutenant? Well, I talked with the switchboard operator.
And what number was called from Mr.
Lewis' room? Holly 2-6231.
And in whose name is that number listed? Millie Foster.
BURGER: And did you subsequently meet this Millie Foster? TRAGG: Yes, sir, when we arrested the defendant in Reno.
She had rented the hotel room in which Mr.
Reed was hiding.
Thank you, lieutenant.
Cross-examine.
Now, lieutenant, how did you discover that Maury Lewis and Monty Sewel were one and the same person? Well, we had reason to believe that the deceased had at one time been living near Fairbanks, Alaska, and we, uh, checked the police there.
Did you check on Mr.
Sewel's movements after he left Alaska? Yes, I did.
He bought a boat ticket to Seattle where he married, uh, Millie Foster.
Where did Mr.
Sewel go upon leaving Seattle? Oh, well, he, uh, travelled quite a bit.
And his last stop before he came to Los Angeles was Phoenix.
And he lived, uh, at the Waverly, Waverly Hotel there, for about six months.
And knowing how thorough you are, lieutenant, I'm sure you must have talked with the manager at that hotel.
Oh, yes, sir.
Did he describe Mr.
Sewel for you? Yes.
Would you please oblige us with a report of that conversation? Well, I, uh-- I asked him what Mr.
Sewel looked like and he said Mr.
Sewel was a man in his late 60s.
About, uh, 5-feet-5.
Weighed around, uh, 140 pounds.
Yet we know the victim was in his early 50s, almost 6 feet tall and weighed close to 180.
Yes, sir.
Seems to me, lieutenant, that the description you just gave fits the defendant, Mr.
Reed, far better than it does the victim.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, lieutenant, that will be all.
You may stand down.
I call Victor Kowalski to the stand, please.
Well, sir, I was carting away a sand jar on the fifth floor.
Some wise guy broke it.
You see, there's a sand jar on every floor, right near the elevator.
Yes, I'm sure I understand.
We have the picture very clearly, Mr.
Kowalski.
You were carrying a broken sand jar down the corridor of the fifth floor.
What happened then? Well, the door to Mr.
Lewis' room opened and some guy came out in a white uniform, carrying a load of laundry.
Is that man in the courtroom now? Yes, sir.
Him.
Let the record show that the witness is pointing at Daniel Reed, the defendant.
Do you know what time this was? Yes, sir.
It was exactly 26 minutes after 9.
Twenty-six minutes after 9? Didn't you hear the doctor testify that Mr.
Lewis died between 8 and 9:00? Yeah.
Well, I figured out that Mr.
Reed said that about the laundry, you know, to make me think Mr.
Lewis was still alive.
I object, Your Honour.
The answer is not responsive.
The district attorney asked the witness if he heard the doctor's testimony.
The objection is sustained.
The reporter will strike the last response.
Witness will only answer questions asked of him.
- Sorry, judge.
- Thank you, Mr.
Kowalski.
You may cross-examine.
Now, Mr.
Kowalski, are you sure that the defendant is the man you saw coming out of the room that had been occupied by the deceased? Oh, absolutely.
I'd know him anywhere.
- The time was? - Exactly 26 minutes after 9.
- How can you be so positive? - I looked at my watch.
You're certain that no one refreshed your memory on that point? KOWALSKl: They didn't have to.
I told you I looked at my watch.
It keeps perfect time.
What time it is now? Twenty-one minutes after 3.
That's right.
And you consulted this particular watch right after the defendant came out of Mr.
Lewis' room? Yeah.
I told you that before.
So you did.
However, I would like to know how you got this particular watch out of your pocket at a time you were carrying a broken sand jar which must have weighed at least 60 pounds.
Thank you, Mr.
Kowalski.
No further questions.
Yes, I knew my uncle had some trouble up in Alaska with a man named Monty Sewel.
He told me about it once.
Didn't he also tell you that he thought he had killed Monty Sewel? Your Honour, I object.
Counsel is leading the witness.
Your Honour, this is a hostile witness.
He's the nephew of the defendant.
He's refused to testify.
The objection is overruled.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Mr.
Scott, didn't your uncle tell you that he thought he'd killed Monty Sewel? Yes, sir.
Did he also tell you what they quarrelled about? - I don't remember.
BURGER: But you do remember that when your uncle returned to Los Angeles, - he was a very wealthy man.
- Yes.
- And he'd been partners with Sewel.
- Yes.
- And he thought he had killed him.
- Yes.
Thank you, Mr.
Scott.
Your witness.
No questions.
Witness may stand down.
I tell you, Perry, they've got to have this thing bugged.
If they do, it's illegal.
You don't think that would stop Burger, do you? Of course I think so.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Careful.
Hello? All right, Gertie, send him in.
There, that wasn't too incriminating, was it? - Paul.
- See you later.
- Who is it? - Dave Kemp.
- This is Miss Street, my secretary.
- Hello.
- Can we have a little privacy? - Confidential secretary.
All right.
I suppose you're wondering what I'm doing here.
Well, I have a pretty good idea.
You wanna give me some ammunition to use against Donna Knox when she gets on the stand tomorrow.
You're pretty sharp.
No, it's fairly obvious.
What are you after, revenge? Never mind what I'm after.
I got some dope that can blow this case sky-high.
Monty Sewel had $20,000 in cash on him before he died.
They never found it in his room.
Now, haven't you asked yourself the question: What happened to that money? Several times.
I've also asked myself what you were doing at the time of Sewel's murder.
Why didn't you ask me? I was having a couple of drinks with Mrs.
Scott at the Kelcy Club.
- It was business.
- Nice that you can alibi each other.
You got your lumps coming to you, Mason.
You intend giving them to me? No, not me.
I'm not in your league.
I'm just advising you to talk to Donna Knox and find out what she did with the 20 G's.
Good night, Mr.
Kemp.
He has all the warmth and charm of a cobra.
Did you get any ideas? Yeah.
Several.
I'm not going to cross-examine Donna Knox.
I'll wait till Burger rests his case, then I'll put Willard Scott on the stand as a witness for the defence.
He can testify to his uncle's incompetency.
- Are things that bad? - Well, bad enough.
But by putting Scott on the stand, I may catch Burger off-guard.
After all, Scott was a witness for the state.
All right, Mr.
Burger, you may call your next witness.
If Your Honour please, instead of calling Donna Knox at this time, I should like to recall Willard Scott.
If it please the court? District attorney has concluded his direct examination of Mr.
Scott.
That's true, Your Honour.
I now know that Mr.
Scott is in a position to testify on certain other matters - pertaining to this case.
- Your Honour-- Were these facts in your possession before? No, Your Honour.
I discovered only late last night the importance of this testimony.
Then I will permit you to recall this witness.
Thank you, Your Honour.
JUDGE: Is Willard Scott in court? Will you please take the stand? May I remind Your Honour that this is a hostile witness.
Now, Mr.
Scott, on July 25th of this year, did you drive to a sanitarium run by a Dr.
Norris? Yes, I did.
And was the defendant, Daniel Reed, with you at that time? - Yes, sir.
- Would you tell us, please, why you took your uncle to a sanitarium? We-- I thought he needed help.
What kind of help? Well, he's not a young man and he acted very childishly at times.
So you just decided to have him committed? Yes, sir.
BURGER: Only, his attorney, Perry Mason, presented a writ of habeas corpus to Judge Treadwell.
- Is that correct? WILLARD: Yes, sir.
What was Judge Treadwell's decision? He granted the habeas corpus.
Which means, in effect, that your uncle is responsible for all his acts and knows exactly what he's doing.
- Yes, sir.
- Thank you, Mr.
Scott.
Your witness.
You tell us, Mr.
Scott, that you believe now that your uncle is in complete possession of his faculties? - No, I don't.
- And, as his only living relative, you felt it's your duty to look after him? Yes, sir.
And was it your duty to look after his money as well? I don't know what you're talking about.
- That never entered your mind? - No.
Then why did you have an attorney named Richard Rice draw up the necessary papers? Oh, it was It was just something I thought should be done.
- Did your wife know about this? WILLARD: Of course.
Then tell us, Mr.
Scott, if your wife did know that you had retained Mr.
Rice, why did you permit her to retain another attorney by the name of George Metcalf to draw up similar papers? She thought Metcalf was a better lawyer.
Yet you went to see Mr.
Rice the day after your meeting with Metcalf.
And whereas Mr.
Metcalf's petition provided for you and Mrs.
Scott to be joint guardians of Daniel Reed, you asked Mr.
Rice to make you the sole guardian.
Well, isn't that true? Yes.
I now ask you, Mr.
Scott, what you were doing between I resent this.
I'm not on trial here.
Answer the question.
- I was at home with my wife.
- No, you weren't.
Your wife was at the Kelcy Club with a man named Dave Kemp, discussing business.
The manager there identified her from her photograph.
Now I ask you once again, Mr.
Scott, what were you doing between - I don't remember.
- Then I'll tell you.
You drove over to the Quincy Hotel, where you killed a man by the name of Monty Sewel.
That's ridiculous.
I didn't even know the man.
But you knew your uncle would be accused of his murder.
And you decided if you couldn't gain control of Daniel Reed's money by having him committed, you wanted to see him go to the gas chamber.
No.
No, I didn't want him to go to the gas chamber.
I just thought they'd put him away some place.
I wanted to get away from her.
I wanted it so bad.
You don't know what it's like to listen to her nagging day after day, night after night.
Sixteen years.
Sixteen years and never a minute's peace.
I just wanted to get away from her, that's all.
Just wanted to get away.
I have no further questions, Your Honour.
[MASON CLEARS THROAT.]
- Well, it's not out on the terrace.
- It must be somewhere in this room.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
I didn't wait to be announced.
Maybe I can help? This what you were looking for? Cute little gadget, isn't it? That thing will pick up both ends of a telephone conversation plus anything else said in the room.
Well, maybe I owe you an explanation.
Yes, I think you do.
Well, uh, Burger and I knew nothing about this.
We had no idea that the place was bugged.
Who was it, uh, Dave Kemp? I got the story 20 minutes ago.
Kemp, uh, got in here one night last week, planted it, and has been feeding information to an eager beaver in my department, who told me that it came from a pet stoolie.
Well, you can see what Kemp was after.
Sure.
He wanted his licence back.
TRAGG: Well, I don't have to tell you that he won't get it back.
I hope you believe me, Perry.
You know I do.
TRAGG: Now I think you owe me an explanation.
Who put you onto Willard Scott? Process of elimination.
Kemp and Mrs.
Scott had alibis for each other, Donna Knox had no motive.
- She could have taken that 20 grand.
- No.
No, she must have turned that over to the police.
Burger wouldn't have put her on the stand if she'd been vulnerable.
You left out Millie Foster? She had her chance at Sewel, You mean, she was the one that shot him? Daniel Reed was just covering up for her.
TRAGG: And that brought us to Willard Scott.
When you told Della you wanted to call Scott as your witness, you were just playing that scene for Burger.
Um How did he like the performance? Loved it.
But just make sure that you don't invite him the next time that you're doing a benefit.
[ALL LAUGH.]