[PHONE RINGING]
Hello.
What's the matter with you,
Charlotte?
I asked you
never to call me here.
George, I thought
you were coming over tonight.
GEORGE: I couldn't.
Why not?
I'll tell you
when I see you.
Why can't you tell me now?
Because my wife
is suspicious, that's why.
I think she has
those letters you wrote me.
I can't find them
anywhere.
Oh, you mean
you kept them all?
Oh, George, how sweet.
This is su1c1de, Charlotte.
For all we know,
my wife might be
on the other extension.
Now be a good girl
and hang up.
I'll talk to you later.
CHARLOTTE: When later?
Tomorrow.
You promise?
I promise.
I said, I promise.
I'll call you tomorrow
around 10:00.
[SIGHING]
George.
I'm sorry you had to
find out this way,
Louise.
You mean you're sorry
I had to find out at all.
No, I...
Oh, it would have
been much more fun to go
sneaking around corners,
lying, cheating your wife.
Please, I...
And it's part
of the excitement,
isn't it, George?
Isn't it?
If you'd only just...
I hate you
for what you've done to me.
I hate you. I...
Don't you ever
do that again.
Let me go.
Let me go!
[SCREAMING]
[THUDDING]
Vicky, you must
ask Louise to see me.
Talk to her, will you?
I have, George.
You know that.
But she's been home
from the hospital
a month, a full month,
and she won't let me
anywhere near her.
Be patient.
She's had a rough time.
I know it's my fault
but I've got to see her.
Please, Vicky.
You're the only one
she'll listen to.
I'm sorry.
Well, at least
now I know where I stand.
Excuse me, Miss Braxton,
I was wondering
about the vacuuming.
Oh, you can do it now.
Yes, ma'am.
Don't give up hope.
I'll talk to Louise again.
What do you think
you're doing, Charlotte?
"If the mountain won't
come to Mohammed then..."
And my name's Martha.
How long do you think
you're gonna get away
with this?
I don't care.
Just being around you
is enough.
Are you crazy?
Yes, I'm crazy.
Nora Mae.
Oh, good evening,
Miss Braxton.
Is Mrs. Gordon awake?
Oh, yes indeed.
I just gave her
the 6:00 medicine.
Fine.
I call it the 6:00 medicine.
That way
it's easy to remember.
Of course.
Louise?
Nora Mae said
you were awake.
I couldn't sleep.
If only you'd
let me call Dr. Williams.
He might prescribe
something.
George has been
talking to you,
hasn't he?
Yes.
He wants to see you.
No.
Not as long as he lives.
It's bad enough
I can't divorce him,
but under no circumstances
will I ever see him again.
I don't want anyone coming
in here but you and Nora Mae,
do you understand?
Louise, please.
I know
it's easy for me to talk.
I haven't been hurt
the way you have.
But you act as though
George deliberately
pushed you
down those stairs.
He tried to k*ll me.
And I'll tell you
something else about
my precious husband.
In addition to
all his other virtues,
he's a thief.
He knows I keep
my jewelry in here.
When I got home
from the hospital,
I was too sick
to care about it.
But I just opened it again.
Two of my rings
and my diamond and emerald
bracelet are missing.
You think he...
Oh, yes. Yes.
Gifts for his girlfriend.
Charlotte.
I don't believe it.
Why, it could have been,
well, anybody.
Who? I-If it were
just a burglar,
why isn't
all the jewelry gone?
[SIGHS]
Vicky,
I've made up my mind.
George is only interested
in one thing.
The money he gets from me.
Well, there's to be
no more money.
Not now or ever.
I'm having my attorney
draw up a new will.
Louise...
Don't interrupt.
I'm leaving everything
to the Wayne Medical Center.
Oh, you'll still be
provided for
just as you were
in the old will.
You'll still get
your $350 a month.
Really, dear...
Oh, don't thank me.
It's no more
than you deserve.
But George won't get a penny.
Don't try to make
a decision like that now.
Wait till you feel better.
Maybe sometime
in the future...
Oh, Vicky,
don't lie to me.
Lie to you?
We both know
I have no future.
Well, my dear, checkmate.
I'm so sorry you lost.
Better luck next time,
as they say.
Now, would you
like to play another?
Oh, do you like these?
Well, they were given to me
by a very close,
personal friend.
A very good-looking man.
He was an artist.
GEORGE: Nora Mae?
Just a minute, please.
Oh, is anything wrong
with Mrs. Gordon?
No, she's all right.
May I come in?
Why, of course.
There's something
I want to talk to you about
and I think
we better do it privately.
You're going to fire me.
No, no. We're very happy
with your work.
Nora Mae, I need your help.
I think there's a way that
we can help Mrs. Gordon
in spite of the way
she feels.
Well, good.
I've been talking
to a doctor friend of mine
and he suggests
a new medicine.
Problem is,
how to get her to take it.
Oh, you mustn't
give it to her
unless her doctor says
it's all right.
They taught me that
when I was a nurse's aide
at the hospital.
But I see you giving her
medicine every night.
Well, that's just
a harmless, old tonic.
I just add
hot milk and honey.
Nora Mae, you like
Mrs. Gordon, don't you?
Why, of course.
And you certainly don't
want to see her suffer.
I want you to give
these pills to my wife.
What's this?
Oh, that's just
part of the chess game.
Hmm, interesting.
Good night, Nora Mae.
GERTIE: Perry Mason's office.
No, he isn't.
Yes, I'll see that
he gets the message.
Thank you.
Morning, Gertie.
Oh, good morning,
Mr. Mason.
Is Della in yet?
Yes, she's down the hall
in Mr. Drake's office about
the Tompkins' deposition.
She'll be right back.
Tell her
I'd like to see her
as soon as she comes in.
You're Perry Mason.
Yes.
I recognized you the minute
you came in that door.
I saw your picture
in the paper a few weeks ago.
My, you're a fine-looking man.
Well, thank you.
I think I need advice,
Mr. Mason.
Well, I'm afraid that...
Oh, I'm willing to pay.
I've always said that
when it's something important,
get the best.
Money's no object.
Perhaps I should refer you
to the Legal Aid Society.
They...
All right.
Maybe you'd better
come in to my office.
Thank you very much,
Mr. Mason.
I wouldn't have bothered you
except this man is going to
m*rder his wife,
and it seems to me that it...
What makes you so sure
these tablets are poison,
Miss Quincey?
Well, Mr. Gordon,
he acted so funny.
Well, of course, he could
be telling the truth.
Well, he and Mrs. Gordon
haven't been getting along.
She won't talk to him,
won't even see him.
Isn't that a pity?
Now, Miss Quincey,
if you're honestly convinced
that this man
is trying to k*ll his wife,
you ought to tell the police.
But I have.
What did they say?
Well,
they were awfully busy.
It was one of their rush days,
I guess.
Oh, but I had a very nice chat
with Sergeant Wallace.
And you showed him
the tablets?
No, sir.
I never got a chance.
I see.
All right, Miss Quincey.
There are four tablets
in this bottle.
I want you to leave
one with me.
You keep the other three.
But under no circumstances
are you to give Mrs. Gordon
any of these tablets.
Do you understand? Good.
I know I've taken up
a lot of your time,
Mr. Mason,
and time is money, so...
Oh, my fee?
Well, what would you say
this consultation is worth?
Well, I don't think
a man like you
ought to work for
too little money.
I couldn't agree
with you more.
Would $5 be all right?
Just exactly the figure
I had in mind.
Well, good.
I've got it right here.
One, two, three,
four, five,
there you are.
Well, thank you,
Miss Quincey.
Thank you.
Gracious,
I feel better already
just knowing
that you could be
worrying about this
right along with me.
Goodbye, Mr. Mason.
Goodbye, dear.
DELLA: Bye.
You've been very nice
and quiet.
Oh, and thank you
for the tea.
Oh, not at all.
What is this fatal attraction
you have for nice, little,
old ladies?
Must be my great
capacity for tea.
I suppose she's harmless.
Mmm, I don't know.
There's more to Miss Quincey
than meets the eye.
Those diamonds
she was wearing,
for instance.
I thought
her fingers were on fire.
You know,
she didn't get those
at the five-and-dime.
Mmm-mmm.
Well, maybe I should
have been a practical nurse.
Sometimes you are.
Well, let's see
what we have here.
Paul Drake Detective Agency?
Mmm-hmm.
Give it to Paul.
Tell him I want it analyzed
as soon as possible.
Do you suppose
it could be poison?
Could be.
As I said, there's
more to Miss Quincey
than meets the eye.
Hello, Nora Mae.
Did you enjoy yourself
this afternoon?
Well, I was going to
put it back.
A-And the rings, too.
Your wife wasn't using them
and they were so beautiful,
I couldn't help it.
I just wanted to own them
for a little while.
That's all right, Nora Mae.
I understand perfectly.
Of course,
the police might look
at this thing differently.
Oh, please,
don't tell the police.
Where are those tablets
I gave you for Mrs. Gordon?
Where are they, Nora Mae?
In my purse.
I suggest that now would be
an excellent time for you
to give them to her.
Don't you agree?
But...
But what?
[LOUISE GASPING]
LOUISE: Vicky.
Vicky, help.
What is it, Louise?
[LOUISE GROANING]
[LOUISE COUGHING]
Miss Quincey, I have a syringe
in my bag in a metal case.
It's sterile,
so be careful.
Never mind.
Excuse me, Lieutenant.
I think
this is what you wanted.
Oh, where did you find it?
Just where Mr. Gordon
said it was.
Well, I don't think
we have to keep you people
any longer right now.
Except you, Miss Quincey.
Really, Lieutenant,
I know you have
the wrong idea about this.
I'm sure Nora Mae
can explain everything.
Yes, I'm sure she can, too.
Now, if you'd be good enough
to excuse us.
Now, Miss Quincey,
would you like
to tell me anything
about this, uh, jewelry?
Well, I--I borrowed it.
You borrowed it?
Well, it's funny
that Mrs. Gordon didn't
tell her husband about it
or Miss Braxton.
It's just costume jewelry.
It's really not worth much.
Well, I never claimed
to be much of an appraiser,
but I'd say it's worth
in the neighborhood
of $25,000.
Oh, you must be mistaken.
Did you bring Mrs. Gordon
her milk last night?
Did you put anything in it?
Yes, I did. Some honey.
Mmm-hmm.
What else did you
put in the milk?
Well, just the...
You think I poisoned
Mrs. Gordon for those things?
I'm afraid you'll
have to come with me.
I'll get my things.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
Must be Paul.
Hi, beautiful.
Here it is, Perry.
The analysis on that pill.
The chemist just sent it over.
Have you read this?
Uh-huh.
It's a stiff sedative,
but that is all.
Well, then it isn't poison.
Definitely not.
It would just
put her to sleep.
Yet we can't
get around the fact
that Mrs. Gordon d*ed
of arsenic poisoning.
Paul, see what you can
find out about George Gordon.
Della will give you
the details.
All right.
Anyone calls me,
I'll be down
at headquarters.
Oh, Mr. Mason,
I'm so glad you're here.
Hello, Nora Mae.
Well,
how are they treating you?
Oh, just fine.
Mrs. Carmine,
that's the policewoman,
is just wonderful to me.
Would you believe it?
She's got two
full-grown children.
Of course, there's not much
to do here in the evenings.
They'll never
let me go home,
will they?
Now, look, Nora Mae,
I want to help you.
But you've got to
tell me the truth.
Why, of course, Mr. Mason.
You lied to the police,
that's why you are here now.
Oh, I didn't lie.
I just...
Well, I was frightened.
That Lieutenant Tragg
isn't nice.
But you did ignore
my instructions about
those pills, didn't you?
Why?
Well, Mr. Gordon
made me do it.
I was afraid
he'd call the police.
So you put the pills
into the milk.
What time was that?
It was her 6:00
medicine time.
Did you put something else
into the milk?
Yes.
Some honey and her tonic.
Now listen to me, Nora Mae,
and listen carefully.
The pills Mr. Gordon
gave you,
the pills
you put into the milk,
were just a sedative.
Just a sedative?
That's all.
But there was also arsenic
in that milk.
There couldn't have been.
Why, I didn't even
give her that milk.
I just waited
until I was sure
Mr. Gordon had gone
and then I took that milk
down to the kitchen
and poured it in the sink
and brought her a fresh batch.
You say you did not
give her that milk?
Well, I know
I've been naughty,
but I wouldn't do
a thing like that.
All right, Nora Mae.
All right.
The only question is,
how are we going to
prove that?
You'll find a way.
Well...
Now, try not to worry.
I take it
you and Louise Gordon
were very close.
Yes, we were
practically raised together.
I'm the only family she had,
except for George, of course.
And you took care of her
during her illness?
Mr. Mason,
I--I realize the case against
Nora Mae is very strong,
but I can't believe
she's guilty.
Then who do you think
is guilty?
I understand it was you
who called Dr. Williams
that morning.
Yes.
You see,
there's an intercom setup
between Louise's bedroom
and mine.
Around 5:30 in the morning,
I heard her
retching and moaning.
I ran to her room.
She was violently ill.
It was then
you called the doctor?
Who else might have gone
into Mrs. Gordon's room
after Nora Mae left her
that milk?
Louise would never allow
anyone in there except
Nora Mae and myself.
Well, let's assume
for the moment
that Mrs. Gordon had already
had some of that warm milk
and had fallen asleep.
Then someone else could
have come into the room,
put arsenic into the carafe.
Being asleep, she wouldn't
have realized that.
This someone else could
either have left her
another glass of milk
or Mrs. Gordon could have
awakened later
and poured a glass of milk
for herself.
Yes.
Yes, it could have
happened that way.
Do you think...
Do you think
this someone else
might be her husband?
[PHONE RINGING]
How long have you known
George Gordon?
Excuse me, Miss Braxton.
What is it, Martha?
There's a telephone call
for Mr. Mason.
A Mr. Paul Drake.
Uh, thank you.
Will you tell him
I'll see him at my office
in 20 minutes?
I'll tell him.
Where were we?
I was, uh...
I was curious as to
how long you'd known
George Gordon.
Couple of years.
Ever since
he married my cousin.
How did they get along?
Fine. Until a few months
before the accident.
Then something happened.
She thought
he was unfaithful.
Did she consider a divorce?
No, it was
against her belief.
But she did plan
to change her will.
Oh? How?
She was going to cut
George off without a penny.
She wanted to leave everything
to the Wayne Medical Center.
Well, wasn't there
a bequest for you?
$350 a month,
the same as it was before.
And if she'd gone
ahead with her plan,
George would've been
penniless.
That was her intention.
Was George Gordon
faithful to his wife?
Well, Louise told me
he had a girlfriend
named Charlotte.
I never did learn
her last name.
That's what they fought
about originally,
at the time
of the accident.
But, in all fairness
to George,
I'm sure he hasn't
seen this woman in months.
How can you be so sure?
Well, he practically
never left the house.
All right, Miss Braxton.
Thank you.
You've been very helpful.
Perry Mason's office.
I'm sorry, he's not in yet.
Thank you.
[EXCLAIMING]
Gertie.
That is 200 calories.
Mr. Mason in?
No, not yet.
PAUL: Hi, Perry.
Hi, Paul.
Just asking for you.
What's up?
I got a line on
this George Gordon.
It might be something,
it might not.
Seems Mr. Gordon's
been married twice.
His first wife d*ed
three years ago
in Sierra City
where they were living.
Her name was, uh, Grace.
What was the cause
of death?
Well, the newspaper stories
called it a sudden illness.
We haven't gotten around
to the records yet.
Was there an inquest?
No, but she left him
a nice chunk of cash.
$53,000 to be exact.
Does he still have it?
Not a quarter.
Came down here
from Sierra City
and invested
in a produce business.
Only now
he's got no business.
He's been living
on his wife's handouts
for the last year or so,
keeping up a front.
There might be
something in it.
Did you get the name
of the doctor
who attended
the first Mrs. Gordon?
Yeah, it was, uh,
Dr. Walter Fremont.
All right, Paul,
I want you to see
this Dr. Fremont.
Check out that
whole situation
in Sierra City.
You know the kind
of information we need.
Mmm-hmm.
And, Paul, we might be
in big trouble on this one.
I'll do my best, Perry.
Yes, I remember
Mrs. Grace Gordon very well.
What, uh...
What exactly did you
want to know about her?
Specifically,
what caused her death?
Heart failure.
You were, uh, certain
of your diagnosis
at the time?
Well, I signed
the death certificate.
I'd been practicing
for 35 years.
I wasn't suggesting
incompetence, Doctor,
but is it possible
that Grace Gordon
was poisoned?
Of course she was poisoned.
She and her husband
had been down in Mexico.
She'd eaten some seafood
and apparently it was tainted.
George didn't want to
take her to a doctor
down there,
so he raced home.
By the time I got to her,
she was in a pretty bad way.
Was an autopsy performed?
Oh, why should there be?
I knew the patient
and her husband.
I'd been their doctor
for several years.
One more thing.
During the past three years,
has anyone made a move
to have the body exhumed
and an autopsy done?
I've already told you once,
I signed
that death certificate.
She got violently ill
from the food she'd eaten.
It put a severe
strain on her heart,
and that's what k*lled her.
That doesn't
answer my question.
Well, I'm not answering
any more questions.
Young man, you've had
all the information
you're going to get.
Thank you very much,
Doctor.
It's all there in the file,
Perry.
The first Mrs. Gordon
d*ed of a heart att*ck
induced by food poisoning.
Was it food poisoning or
some other kind of poisoning?
I don't know
but I got my suspicions.
Do you think we're dealing
with a bluebeard?
Della, one thing
about bluebeards,
they generally
have their next wives
picked out
before they put away
their present wives.
Paul, I have another job
for you.
Gordon and his wife
had a battle over
a girl named Charlotte.
Charlotte who?
I don't know,
but I want you
to find her.
Well, it's not gonna be easy,
you know.
I know that,
but I want you
to find her.
"Grace Gordon, deceased."
The facts and circumstances
surrounding the poison m*rder
of Louise Gordon, deceased.
We will prove beyond
any possibility of doubt
that the defendant,
Nora Mae Quincey,
who occupied
a position of trust
in the Gordon home,
willfully
and with premeditation
administered arsenic poison
to Mrs. Louise Bainter Gordon.
Further, ladies and gentlemen,
we will prove
that the defendant
was motivated
by a desire to k*ll
Mrs. Gordon
in order to cover up
her own theft
of $40,000 worth
of Mrs. Gordon's jewelry.
Would you please tell us,
Dr. Williams,
what happened
when you arrived
at the Gordon home
that morning?
Well, it was obvious to me
that Mrs. Gordon
had been poisoned.
So I did what I could,
but she was too far gone.
She d*ed about 20 minutes
after I arrived.
Did you know of your
own knowledge, Doctor,
what the poison was?
Yes, it was arsenic.
I ran a test on the milk
I found in the carafe.
This carafe?
Yes.
Doctor,
just one more question.
You have testified
that Mrs. Gordon
was seriously crippled
as the result of a fall.
Did that mean
she didn't have
long to live?
No. On the contrary,
Mr. Burger,
despite Mrs. Gordon's
accident,
she had a normal
life expectancy.
Then we might say
that if the m*rder
had not happened...
Oh, yes, she could have
lived 30 or 40 years,
all things being equal.
I see.
Thank you, Doctor.
Your witness.
Now, let me understand you,
Doctor.
You say that you yourself
tested the milk
that remained
in that carafe?
Yes, I did.
You ran a Marsh test
for arsenic?
WILLIAMS: Yes.
Did you test the milk
for anything else?
Well, I found
traces of a tonic,
one I'd prescribed
for Mrs. Gordon.
Now was
the arsenic in that milk
a particular kind of arsenic?
Yes, it was
arsenic trioxide.
Arsenic trioxide is similar
in taste and appearance
to powdered sugar,
is it not?
Somewhat, yes.
Now, in your opinion,
Dr. Williams,
if a fatal dose of that
particular kind of arsenic,
say, anywhere from
had been added to a glass
of hot milk, tonic and honey,
would its presence or taste
in that glass of milk
be easily discernible?
Well, I would say
that the honey itself
was enough to cover up
or disguise the taste.
Thank you, Doctor.
That's all.
Is this the bottle
that you removed
from the Gordon home,
Lieutenant Tragg?
Yes, sir, it is.
It was in a cabinet
in the kitchen.
What called your attention
to this particular bottle?
Well, it was pretty hard
to miss, Mr. Burger.
The label says poison
and one of the main
ingredients listed
is arsenic.
I see what you mean.
After you'd removed it
from the home,
what did you
have done to it?
Well, it was tested
for possible fingerprints.
Did you find any prints?
Yes.
We found a clear
thumb and forefinger print.
I ask you now
if those prints
have been identified.
Yes, they have.
And to whom
did they belong?
Miss Nora Mae Quincey,
the defendant.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
Your witness.
Lieutenant Tragg,
what time did you arrive
at the scene of the crime?
Oh, about 25 minutes
after the doctor called us.
I assume you made a search
of Mrs. Gordon's bedroom?
We certainly did.
A thorough search?
A thorough search.
And found nothing to indicate
that Mrs. Gordon might have
taken that arsenic herself?
No, nothing.
All right.
Let's go on to the storage
cabinet in the kitchen
where you found
that bottle of arsenic.
Was the storage cabinet
prominently placed
in the kitchen?
Well, I don't know
what you mean by
prominently placed.
Well, I mean,
was it easy to reach,
or did you have to
use a stepladder
or stand on a chair
to reach it?
No, it was easy to reach.
Then it was
prominently placed
and easily accessible
to anyone else in the house?
In those terms, yes.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
Now, uh...
Did the analysis
on the contents
of this bottle
show any particular
kind of arsenic?
Yes.
Yes, arsenic trioxide.
Was, uh,
was this the only bottle
in that cabinet?
No. No, sir.
There were two bottles
of bleach,
a bottle of starch,
and a bottle
of cleaning fluid.
In other words,
what we might call
household chemicals.
Yes. Yes, sir.
Now, Lieutenant,
do you know
what Miss Quincey's job was
in the Gordon household?
Why, of course.
She was a practical nurse
there.
Are you aware of the duties
of a practical nurse?
Well, some of them.
Now, some of these duties,
such as keeping the sickroom
and its environs clean,
might involve the use
of household chemicals,
wouldn't you say?
I suppose so.
And wouldn't you also agree
that in order to do her job
as a practical nurse,
Miss Nora Mae Quincey
had to handle
the contents of that cabinet
almost every day?
Objection, Your Honor.
Calling for a conclusion
of the witness.
Sustained.
The jury will disregard
the question.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
That's all.
I gave Nora Mae
four tablets
and asked her to
give them to my wife
without telling Dr. Williams
or anyone else.
What was in these tablets?
There was a sedative.
Mr. Gordon, would you
explain for us
some of the occurrences
leading up to this action
of yours?
Well...
My wife and I hadn't
been getting along
for quite some time.
And before I knew
what was happening,
I found myself involved
with another woman.
And your wife found out
about this affair of yours?
Yes, she intercepted
some letters
and she overheard
a telephone conversation.
I see.
And, naturally,
she turned against me.
Would you speak up,
please?
I said,
she turned against me,
to the point where
I wasn't permitted
to come anywhere
near her room.
I meant for those tablets
to put her to sleep
so that I could
get into her room
and find those letters.
Were you successful
in this enterprise?
No, sir.
I, uh, looked into her room
several times during
the evening
to see if the sedative
had taken effect,
but it hadn't.
And the last time I looked,
which was rather early
in the morning,
she was terribly sick
and Vicky had already
called the doctor.
Oh, this was the morning
of her death?
GEORGE: Yes.
Mr. Gordon,
when you asked
the defendant
to give the sleeping tablets
to your wife, did she agree?
Yes, she did.
Did you actually see her
put them into the milk?
Yes, sir.
Well, did you
have to thr*aten her
or anything like that
to get her to do this?
Oh, no. Not at all.
That's not true.
As a matter of fact,
Mr. Burger,
she seemed quite
anxious to help.
Naturally, she did,
because that enabled her later
to try to blame it on you.
I object, Your Honor.
Sustained.
Your witness.
Mr. Gordon,
did you ever know
a woman named Charlotte?
No.
Are you sure, Mr. Gordon?
Positive.
Wasn't she the woman
you and your wife
quarreled about?
No.
I'll ask you once again,
Mr. Gordon.
Didn't you and your wife
quarrel over a woman
named Charlotte?
We did not.
What was the name
of the woman involved?
Mary Smith.
It's hardly
an unusual name.
She was hardly
an unusual girl.
Yet you apparently saw
a great deal of her?
No, I only saw her
a few times.
It was a casual thing.
Have you any idea
where we might find
this, uh, Mary Smith?
No, she moved to Texas
a couple of months ago.
We'll let that pass
for the moment.
Now, Mr. Gordon,
after your wife d*ed,
did Dr. Williams tell you
that her symptoms indicated
arsenic poisoning?
Yes, I believe he did.
Of course,
you were familiar
with those symptoms?
No.
You mean, you'd never
seen them before?
Certainly not.
Mr. Gordon,
at the time your first wife,
Grace Gordon,
d*ed in Sierra City,
didn't she have
the same symptoms
as those indicated
in the death
of your second wife, Louise?
Say, w-what is this?
My first wife d*ed as
the result of food poisoning.
Was there an autopsy
at that time?
No. Why should
there have been?
But there was
an autopsy performed
on your second wife,
wasn't there?
For the purpose
of proving that she had
d*ed of arsenic poisoning?
Yes.
How long were you
married to your first wife
before her death?
About two years.
And your second wife?
About the same
length of time.
Mr. Gordon,
did your first wife
leave a will?
Yes.
And who was
chief beneficiary?
I don't see...
Answer the question,
please.
She left her money to me.
All of it. $53,000.
Thank you, Mr. Gordon.
Oh, how much
will you profit
by the death
of your second wife?
I hear that she left
around a million dollars.
[PEOPLE MURMURING]
[GAVEL BANGS]
There'll be order
in the court.
Your Honor,
on the basis of testimony
given by this witness,
I ask that this trial
stand in recess
until such time as the body
of Mr. Gordon's first wife,
Grace Gordon,
can be exhumed
and an autopsy performed.
If Your Honor please.
Yes, Mr. Burger?
Apparently, defense counsel
takes a very dim view
of the efficiency
of the district attorney's
office.
If we may be allowed
to call our next witness,
I'm sure we can
settle this matter
to the court's
entire satisfaction.
All right, Mr. Burger.
The witness will stand down.
Very well, Mr. Burger.
I call James Meecham
to the stand, please.
BAILIFF:
James Meecham, to the stand.
Raise your right hand,
please.
Do you solemnly
swear the testimony
you're about to give
in the cause now
pending in this court
to be the truth,
the whole truth?
I do.
State your name.
James Meecham.
Be seated.
James Meecham,
where do you reside?
It's Dr. James Meecham.
I reside in Sierra City,
California.
And what, if any,
is your official
position there?
I'm the coroner
for the county.
Did you recently exhume
the body of Mrs. Grace Gordon
and perform
an autopsy on it?
I did. At the request
of the Los Angeles police.
And what were your findings?
Chemical and other tests
revealed
that the subject d*ed
of natural causes.
Were there traces of arsenic
or of any other poison
found in those remains?
None whatsoever.
Thank you very much, Doctor.
That's all.
Your witness.
Doctor,
you said that in your autopsy
of Mrs. Grace Gordon,
you found
no traces of arsenic...
That is correct.
Just a moment, Doctor.
I was about to say
that in your autopsy
of Grace Gordon,
you said you found
no trace of arsenic
or other poisons?
That is also correct.
Did you test the body
for cyanide?
We couldn't.
Couldn't, Doctor?
The, uh, the body
was embalmed, you see,
and the process destroys
all trace of cyanide.
So when you said
you found no trace
of arsenic or other poisons,
that was incorrect?
No, that was correct.
I simply wasn't asked
if we could have
found other poison.
But you have been asked now,
haven't you, Doctor?
Yes, I have been asked
and I have answered.
Thank you, Doctor.
That's all.
The witness may stand down.
Call your next witness,
Mr. Burger.
I call Vicky Braxton
to the stand, please.
BAILIFF:
Miss Vicky Braxton, please.
Your Honor,
it's almost 5:00.
While I don't know
how long Mr. Burger
will take on direct,
I know my cross-examination
will be quite lengthy.
May I suggest we adjourn?
Mr. Mason knows
that I'm always willing
to give him
all the time he requires.
I have no objection,
Your Honor.
Court stands adjourned
till 10:00 tomorrow morning.
Mr. Mason,
may I talk to Nora Mae?
Why, yes, I think so.
How do you feel, Nora Mae?
Just fine.
Did you see my picture
in the paper today?
Yes. It was very nice.
Mrs. Carmine,
the police matron,
rounded up a dozen copies
for me.
You'll have to come along
with me, Miss Quincey.
See you all tomorrow.
Mr. Mason, if there's
anything I can do...
As a matter of fact,
there is.
You heard
Mr. Gordon's testimony
about those love letters?
Well, he claims
he never got them
from his wife's room.
The police didn't find them,
either.
You think they might
still be there?
Well, they must be.
Can you think of any place
your cousin might have
hidden them?
A secret hiding place
of some sort?
Perhaps if you were
in the room itself?
All I can tell you
is I'll try.
That's all I ask.
All I can say, it wasn't
very smart of Mr. Gordon
to save letters like these.
Well, people in love
aren't usually noted
for using their brains.
Where'd you find them,
Miss Braxton?
Taped to
the back of the mirror
in Louise's bedroom.
Did you run across
anything else?
Yes. This photograph
was with the letters.
Isn't that the maid,
Martha Baker?
But shouldn't Mrs. Gordon
have recognized her?
Louise never saw her.
No one was allowed in the room
but Nora Mae and myself.
Della,
Mmm-hmm.
I want this Charlotte,
alias Martha Baker,
in court tomorrow morning.
Tell Paul to get a subpoena.
Right.
Miss Braxton,
you were the one
who called Dr. Williams
on the night your cousin,
Louise Gordon, was poisoned.
Is that correct?
Yes, I did.
And you were the one
to whom...
[CHATTERING]
And you were the one
to whom she confided
the loss of her jewelry?
Yes, sir.
What was her general reaction
to losing the jewelry?
Well, naturally,
she was upset, very upset
about that
and other things.
What do you mean,
other things?
She was going to
change her will.
I see.
But she was disturbed
about the loss
of the jewelry?
Yes.
And she intended to
report it to the police?
Your Honor, I object.
Mr. Burger wants
the witness
to tell us what was
in Mrs. Gordon's mind.
Sustained.
I have no further questions
at this time.
Miss Braxton,
did you visit
my office last night?
I did.
For what purpose?
I wanted to turn over
some letters to you
and a photograph.
Are these the letters?
Yes, sir.
And is this the photograph?
Yes.
Thank you.
Your Honor,
I should like these
marked for identification.
Thank you.
Miss Braxton,
would you read
the inscription
on this photograph?
It says, "George,
with all my love.
Charlotte."
Do you recognize
this woman?
I do.
Under what name
do you know her?
Martha Baker.
And how was
Miss Baker employed?
As a maid
in my cousin's home.
Who did the actual
hiring of Miss Baker?
I don't know
what you mean.
Well, did Mrs. Gordon
do the hiring?
No, she left that to me.
Obviously, you didn't check
Miss Baker's references.
I'm afraid
I was careless there,
but, you see, we were
so desperate for help...
Of course.
Now, Miss Braxton,
would you please
tell the court
where you found these letters
and this photograph?
Taped to
the back of a mirror
in Louise's bedroom.
Well, if you did, you must
have put them there yourself
after the m*rder.
What are you talking about?
Well, I suggest
you had them all along.
I suggest you deliberately
hired Martha Baker,
knowing full well
she was George Gordon's
girlfriend, Charlotte Lynch.
Why should I do that?
Because more than
anything else,
you wanted to involve
George Gordon.
You wanted
to see him convicted
of his wife's m*rder.
That's a lie.
I had absolutely
nothing to gain.
All she left me was
my regular allowance,
the same I'd been
getting all along.
Even that worked out for you,
didn't it?
If you had been
chief beneficiary,
the police would have
investigated you immediately.
This way they felt
you had no motive.
I didn't.
But you did.
You knew if George Gordon
was convicted
of his wife's m*rder,
everything would
go to you
as Mrs. Gordon's
only living relative.
I tell you, you're wrong.
I could have waited.
Waited for what?
You must've known
that despite the fact
your cousin was crippled,
she could've lived
another 30 or 40 years.
You must have known that.
But you felt you were
just a poor relative.
You couldn't
wait that long.
Isn't that
the way you felt?
Until the day she d*ed,
I was nothing
but a poor relative.
She wore her money
like some kind of a badge.
A badge I could never have.
It was my one chance
to be free,
don't you understand?
To be paid back
for the years I'd given her.
I should've known
it wouldn't work out.
Not for a poor relative.
NORA MAE: Oh, dear.
This is so difficult.
I'll have that.
Oh, and one
of those, too.
You wouldn't think so,
but I have a sweet tooth.
I never would've guessed it.
You know, Mr. Mason,
one thing still puzzles me.
Oh? Only one?
How did you know
that poor Miss Braxton
was lying about
those letters?
Well, you heard
Lieutenant Tragg's
testimony.
He said that he'd given
Mrs. Gordon's bedroom
a thorough search
and found nothing.
And when Tragg says
he's given something
a thorough search,
why, I'll take
his word anytime.
You'll find that out
when you know
Lieutenant Tragg better.
Well,
I have no desire to.
Do you know
what that man did?
He had the nerve...
Nora Mae.
I'm sorry.
Actually, I wasn't worried
for a minute.
Except for one thing.
Uh, my fee?
Well, uh,
what do you think is fair?
Well, I paid you
$5 the first day.
It was high,
but it was worth it.
What do you think now?
Well, I want to do
the right thing.
After all, I could've
gone to prison,
or even worse.
Would $25
be all right?
Just exactly the figure
I had in mind.
Well, good.
I've got it right here.
One, two...
01x31 - The Case of the Fiery Fingers
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Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.
Defense attorney Perry Mason defends dozens of falsely accused people during courtroom drama, and he manages to clear all of them, usually by drawing out the real criminal on the witness stand.