Who could be here
at this hour?
It's bolted.
Open up.
Open up, I say!
Leona, see if you can
find Harvey.
Ask him to bring a crowbar.
Yes, Dr. Barnes.
Mrs. Davis.
Good evening, Dr. Barnes.
Or should I say
good morning?
[EXCLAIMS]
It's gone.
You'll be good enough
to return that book, Mrs. Davis...
Or else you'll call the police?
Now, listen to me...
Yes, Doctor.
You were saying?
You'll pardon me
for seeming melodramatic,
but I have a great horror
of being manhandled.
Now, shall we discuss the situation like
civilized human beings?
You call yourself
a human being?
Oh, please, Miss Walsh.
Now, the situation
as I see it is this.
I have something
you want. A book.
And you have
something I want.
A baby.
I suggest we trade.
Do you think I'd entrust
a baby to your care?
Your action here proves
that you're mentally unstable.
You need psychiatric help...
Shut up!
How dare you speak
to me like that!
Now, my husband thinks
I'm going to have a child.
His child.
So do thousands of other people
throughout the country.
I've told them all about it
in my newspaper column.
The fact that you've deceived your husband
as well as your readers
is no fault of mine.
Who are you
to point fingers?
If you ruin my life,
I'll ruin the lives
of every person in this book.
Now, think it over.
Just a minute, Mrs. Davis.
You have my address.
If you want to talk business,
I'll be free
at 10:00 tomorrow morning.
Remember that, Doctor.
because that's when I begin
dictating my column.
Unless you want this to be the lead story,
you'll be there promptly.
Good night, Miss Walsh.
It was so nice seeing you again.
Would you like to dictate
your column now, Mrs. Davis?
It's only 9:47.
We'll begin at 10:00.
You making coffee?
Yes, it'll be ready
in just a few minutes.
[DOORBELL BUZZING]
See who that is.
I'd like to see
Mary K. Davis, please.
MARY: Come in, Miss Walsh.
Where is the good doctor?
He had to go out
on an emergency.
And he sent you as his ambassador.
How nice.
Won't you sit down?
No, thank you.
This is my secretary,
Miss Connie Cooper.
How do you do?
If you'll excuse me...
Stay right where you are,
Connie.
I think this will
interest you.
You can speak freely,
Miss Walsh.
Mrs. Davis, I'm pleading with you
to return that book.
I'm not asking
for myself or Dr. Barnes.
We knew
what we were doing.
But the lives and happiness
of many innocent people are at stake.
That's very pretty,
Miss Walsh.
But I'm interested
in only one thing.
Will Dr. Barnes
turn over a baby to me?
He can't.
Why can't he?
I can give a child everything.
Money, position.
You know who my husband is?
Yes, I know. He's Ralph Davis
of the State Department.
Well, here's something
you probably don't know.
My husband wants a divorce.
Right now, he thinks
I'm carrying his child.
That's the only thing
that's stopping him.
I'm sorry.
I don't want your sympathy.
I want to know if Dr. Barnes
is prepared to trade.
Mrs. Davis, I beg you.
Please return that book.
There's no use appealing
to my better nature, Miss Walsh.
I don't have one.
I gave Dr. Barnes until 10:00 this morning
to make up his mind.
I'll give him
Goodbye, Miss Cooper.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Connie...
You told them all about me,
didn't you, Connie?
Yes.
Yes, I told them
I didn't think you were fit
to care for a child.
[GASPS]
How do you think
your boyfriend
Bob Shroeder will feel
when I tell the world
what his mother was?
Because I know
what she was, Connie,
and believe me,
it's nothing to be proud of.
Mrs. Davis,
if you dare to print
one word about that, I'll...
Yes?
I'll tell
your husband everything.
I swear I will.
Go ahead.
He's in Washington, DC.
Call Washington
and tell him.
Or better still,
call his girlfriend,
Susan Marshall,
right here in town.
I think she has
a private pipeline to him.
Call her and tell her
that there's no baby.
She'd love to tell Ralph.
Go ahead, tell her!
It's all your fault.
[GLASS SHATTERING]
I was so frightened,
I didn't know what to do.
And then I thought,
I'd come in to see you,
Miss Marshall.
But why me?
Well, I know
how you and Mr. Davis
feel about each other
and I thought if you would
just talk with him...
But don't you understand?
His wife means it.
She'll print that story
in her column.
She doesn't care
who she hurts.
I'm terribly sorry, Connie.
There's nothing I can do.
I wish there were.
Well, thank you
for seeing me.
I'm-- I'm sorry
if I was any trouble.
That was
no trouble at all.
Goodbye.
Goodbye.
You can come out now.
Leave it to Mary K.
That's the woman
you wanted me to go back to.
You have to, Ralph.
Do you realize
what you're saying?
Do you think
I want to give you up?
You're not making sense!
We can't let her hurt
all those innocent people.
Listen to me, Susan.
I love you.
No, please, Ralph.
I went back to Mary K.
five months ago
because you asked me to.
But what does it take
to convince you
that she's impossible?
She lied to me.
She told me she was
going to have a child.
Well, now I've got my out.
Oh, no, darling,
that isn't the point.
She'll publish
the contents of that book.
Could you stand by
and let her do that?
The Ralph Davis I know,
couldn't.
Dr. Barnes is right.
She is insane.
She isn't fit
to have a child.
She isn't even fit to live.
I think you were
perfectly right in coming
to me, Miss Cooper.
I can't imagine
what possessed Mary K.
to do a thing like that.
I'll have to have a talk
with my favorite client.
[INTERCOM BUZZES]
Oh, excuse me.
Yes?
Well, I can't see him
right now.
Well, all right,
I'll come out.
If you two would be
good enough to excuse me
for a few minutes,
I'll be right back.
I don't trust
the man, Connie.
But he's Mary K.'s lawyer.
All the more reason.
Look, the most important thing
was to keep
this whole business quiet.
Now everybody
knows about it.
[SOBBING]
Well, I just can't seem
to do anything right.
Oh, look, I didn't mean it
that way.
You--You were only
trying to help.
No, I know,
but look what a mess
I've made out of everything.
Oh, I beg your pardon.
Have I interrupted something?
Mr. Jarech, Connie and I
have just been talking
things over,
and we've decided...
And apparently
you've convinced her
that coming here
was a mistake.
Let me tell you something,
Mr. Shroeder.
This was the wisest thing
you could've done.
Come on, Connie.
Leave everything to me.
Miss Kelly,
will you call Mary K. Davis
and ask her if she can
have cocktails with me
at 6:00 at The Mudlark?
[PEOPLE CHATTERING]
So my favorite client
isn't satisfied with just
slander and libel suits.
Now she's stealing books.
Where is it, Mary K.?
Really, Arthur,
I'm beginning to think
that you lured me here
under false pretenses.
I think you're
more interested in that book
than you are in me.
I don't know
where you get your ideas.
I told you Dr. Barnes
agreed to meet us here.
You told me a lot of things
in the last five years.
Any resemblance to the truth
is purely accidental.
Are you questioning
my honesty?
If I didn't question
your honesty,
you wouldn't be
my lawyer.
You're wasting
your time, Arthur.
You can indulge
in any little blackmail
you want to on the side,
but not with that book.
It's buying
my husband back for me.
Well, at least
you will have dinner with me?
Why not? Don't get up.
Just going to the powder room.
Oh, I wonder if you could
do me a favor, dear.
I need to have a pen and ink
and a special-delivery stamp
and an envelope
that's big enough
to mail this.
I'm sure I can get them
from the cashier.
Thank you.
Oh, that's perfect.
I've ruined it.
Think you could
get me another?
Yes, I'm sure I can.
Perry Mason, please.
I'm afraid my name wouldn't
mean anything to him.
It's Leona Walsh.
Well, I'm sorry,
Mr. Mason's busy right now.
Could I help you?
I'm his secretary,
Della Street.
Would it be possible
for Mr. Mason
to see me tonight?
I could be at your office
in--in 20 minutes.
Would you mind telling me
what it is?
Oh, I couldn't possibly
go into it on the phone.
But believe me, Miss Street,
the lives and happiness
of dozens of children
are involved.
All right, Miss Walsh.
Mr. Mason will
see you at 7:00.
Well, Miss Walsh...
Tell me about this book.
Dr. Barnes kept it
as a record
of his patients.
There must be
more to it than that.
A certain type of patient.
Women who wanted
children and couldn't
legally adopt them
and women
who had children and...
And weren't married.
How did it work?
Well, you know
adoption agencies
ask all sorts
of impossible requirements.
Those requirements
are designed
for the protection
of the children.
Are people less fit
to bring up children
because they're, well, old?
I know many families
who'd love to have a baby.
They'd give it
all the affection
and care in the world,
and nothing can be done
for them.
I take it your Dr. Barnes
set out to remedy
this situation
single-handedly.
Yes, he did.
He has his own hospital.
He'd have the expectant mother
come there
and be confined
under the name
of the married woman
who wanted the child.
Then when the baby was born,
a regular birth certificate
would be issued.
I just don't believe it.
The whole idea is insane.
Well, it may be insane,
Mr. Mason, but it worked.
And it's been working
for many years.
How much did Dr. Barnes
charge for these services?
Not a penny.
He just wanted
to make sure that these
unfortunate children
would have a chance in life.
He's a great man, Mr. Mason.
He never hurt anyone.
Who stole this book?
A woman named
Mary K. Davis.
The columnist?
Can you get it back for me?
I can't give you
any guarantee, Miss Walsh.
Surely you don't expect me
to go out and steal it back,
do you?
I've tried that already.
I went to her apartment.
It isn't there.
Well, can you think
of anything better?
Well, suppose, uh...
Suppose I have a talk
with Mary K...
Talk, talk, talk.
Don't you understand?
With a woman like that,
words mean nothing.
Just the same, I think...
[SOBBING]
I made a mistake.
I shouldn't have come.
Miss Walsh, wait.
Miss Walsh!
See if you can get a listing
on Mary K. Davis.
Ever hear
of the Seaside Hospital?
No.
Down near Vernon Beach,
run by a Dr. George Barnes.
Check it out for me,
will you?
Sure.
Here it is.
"Mary K. Davis."
On Claymore.
"Norcross 4211."
MAN ON PHONE: Yes?
May I speak
to Mary K. Davis, please?
Who's calling?
Perry Mason.
Not the Perry Mason?
Who is this?
Lieutenant Tragg.
I'm afraid you can't talk
to Mary K. Davis.
Did you talk to Dr. Barnes?
Yes, he claims
he hasn't seen Leona Walsh
since early this afternoon.
But my trip wasn't
a total waste.
Her fingerprints were all over
the Seaside Hospital,
and they match
the ones we found
in Mary K. Davis' apartment.
I see.
[PHONE RINGS]
Yes?
Well, ask her
to come right in.
Good news?
Couldn't be better.
Come in, Miss Walsh.
I, uh...
I came to give myself up.
I k*lled Mary K. Davis.
Won't you sit down?
Thank you.
Miss Leonard,
would you come in?
Bring your book, please.
I want you
to take down a confession.
MASON: We really have
ourselves a client here.
You think she's covering
for somebody? Dr. Barnes?
It's possible.
Hi, Paul.
Hi, Perry.
You got anything
on the dead woman?
Mary K. was married
to Ralph Davis
of the State Department.
Were you able to find out
what Mary K. Davis
did yesterday?
I talked to her secretary,
a Connie Cooper.
I told Miss Cooper
I was working for a lawyer.
She, um,
jumped to the conclusion
it was Arthur Jarech.
I didn't bother
to correct her.
How does Jarech
fit into this?
Well, he was
Mary K.'s attorney.
They had cocktails
yesterday afternoon
at The Mudlark.
She asked
the powder-room attendant
for an envelope.
Wanted to mail a small book,
special delivery.
Mail it? To whom?
MASON: "Mrs. Mary Gunther,
Woolworth Apartments,
"1427 Crane Avenue,
Los Angeles, California,
"apartment 3C."
PAUL: Gunther was
her maiden name.
And she mailed this to herself
at the Crane Avenue address?
Uh-huh. She, uh, ruined
the first envelope
and asked the attendant
for another.
You don't know
what I had to dig through
to come up with that.
But you did come up
with it.
I wonder
what Mary K. was doing
at the Woolworth Apartments.
Obviously using it
for a mailing address.
What kind of a place is it?
Just what you'd expect.
Furnished, rent by the day
or week.
She, uh, took it
nine days ago.
Nine days?
Well, if she missed
paying this week's rent
and that envelope
hasn't been delivered yet,
well, there's just a chance...
That is a lot of ifs.
And the last time I heard,
Uncle Sam takes
a very dim view
of tampering with the mail.
I still think
it's worth the gamble.
Hey, how about this?
Oh, this is fine.
This is just what I wanted.
All right, Mr. Harris,
my sister will take it.
But what do I do
if Mrs. Gunther comes back?
I wouldn't worry.
Well, she left
some stuff here.
There's some
in the bedroom, too.
Well, that's very simple.
You could put it
in the storeroom.
You do have
a storeroom, don't you?
Well, yeah, but...
Well, that's fine.
Then there's no problem.
How much is it,
Mr. Harris?
$30 a week, in advance.
My brother will bring
my things over later.
Here you are.
I'll make out a receipt.
Never mind, Mr. Harris.
You can bring it up later.
Thank you.
Well, we're on our way.
Honey, don't forget, now.
When the letter gets here,
don't open it.
Just put it in
with Mary K.'s things.
And don't tell the mailman
that you're Mrs. Gunther.
Now, I'll be outside
in the car.
Two honks on the horn means
that Tragg's on his way,
so just leave
without the letter.
Mr. Drake, haven't you
forgotten something?
Huh? What?
How do I signal you?
Well, if anything goes wrong,
you can, uh,
just throw your shoes
out the window.
Believe me,
if anything goes wrong,
I'll be wearing them.
[SIGHING]
[BUZZING]
I'm looking
for Constance Cooper.
Could you come back later?
She's not feeling very well.
Who is it, Bob?
Excuse me.
Miss Cooper,
my name is Mason.
I'm an attorney.
I represent Leona Walsh.
Look, can't this wait?
Connie's been through
a great deal
in the past 24 hours.
No, Bob,
it's all right, really.
This is Robert Shroeder,
my fiancé.
How do you do?
Won't you sit down?
No, thank you.
I won't be staying long.
Well, how can I help?
Do you know Leona Walsh?
Yes, we've met.
What about you,
Mr. Shroeder?
What about me?
Do you know Miss Walsh?
Yes.
Did Dr. Barnes
introduce you?
I don't remember
who introduced us.
But you do know Dr. Barnes?
He's an old friend of mine.
I see.
No, you don't see
a thing.
[CHUCKLES]
I might surprise you.
I know about
Dr. Barnes' record book.
Mr. Mason,
do you have it?
No, but I think
I know where it is.
Where?
Are you one of the people
mentioned in that book?
No, no, he isn't.
I think we better tell him
the truth, Connie.
[SIGHS]
It's all my fault, Mr. Mason.
You have to believe that.
If it weren't for me,
Mary K. wouldn't have
known anything
about the book
or the doctor.
Like a fool,
I told her everything.
Did you know about this?
Where were you
around 6:30 last night?
I was at the...
Well, I don't need
an alibi, Mr. Mason.
He was with me.
We had dinner together.
Where?
Someplace off the beach.
I can't remember the name.
[DOORBELL BUZZING]
Bob.
Hello, Robert.
How are you?
Fine, sir.
Mr. Davis,
I'm so glad to see you.
Hello, Connie.
Mr. Davis, Mr. Mason.
He's an attorney.
Yes, I thought
I recognized you.
I can't tell you
how sorry I am.
You're defending
that nurse,
uh, Leona Walsh?
Yes, I am.
Why did she do it, Mason?
I don't think she did.
According to the newspapers,
she's confessed.
Claimed it was self-defense.
And that's good enough
for you?
Yes. Mary K. was
very excitable.
I can understand
how she might have
gone berserk.
Miss Walsh would have had
to defend herself.
You're a very
tolerant man, Mr. Davis.
Most people in your position
would insist
on an eye for an eye.
That wouldn't bring
Mary K. back to life.
You're not thinking
of Mary K. or Leona Walsh.
You're thinking
of yourself.
Am I?
I believe so.
If I'm able to prove
Miss Walsh is innocent,
the police will have
to find themselves
a new suspect.
It might even be you
or Susan Marshall.
I don't understand
what you're talking about.
That's the standard reply.
Good day, Miss Cooper.
Mr. Mason.
Oh, Mr. Shroeder, I'll want
to talk with you again.
Where can I reach you?
At Brownell Junior College.
I'm a teacher.
I'll let myself out.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Yes?
Special delivery
for Mary K. Gunther.
Oh, thank you.
Mrs. Gunther, do you know
anybody in the building
by the name of Sal Antonio?
We, uh, got a wrong address
on him here.
No, I'm sorry, I don't.
I see. Well, thank you.
[CRUNCHING]
[FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]
[DOOR CLOSES]
And you didn't see
this mysterious intruder?
No, and I certainly
didn't want whoever it was
to see me.
Why didn't I leave
that envelope there?
Well, you couldn't drop it
on the floor.
I don't have
to tell you that
that is dynamite.
I know, but when I have
a client who's in danger,
I think I'm entitled
to use dynamite.
Well, I'd sure hate
to try and convince Burger.
Della.
Mmm-hmm?
Della, you personally know
that Mary K. Davis
no longer is at
the Woolworth Apartments,
right?
Right.
Obviously, there's only
one thing to do.
Just write on the envelope,
"This party no longer here.
Return to sender."
I can't. There's no
return address there.
I know that.
But we do know
that that book belongs
to Dr. Barnes.
Do you, uh, think
it would be all right
if I wrote
Dr. Barnes' name there?
I am getting out of here.
I never thought
Alcatraz was any place
to spend a vacation.
[INTERCOM BUZZES]
Paul, wait.
Yes, Gertie?
Arthur Jarech to see you.
This guy is slick, Perry.
I'll, uh, be in my office
if you need me.
Have him come in.
Send him in, Gertie.
Good afternoon, counselor.
Mr. Jarech.
I thought I'd drop by
for a little chat.
A private chat.
Miss Street always sits in
on my conferences.
I'd prefer no witnesses.
Which only increases
my desire to have one.
All right, I'm not going
to pull any punches.
I want that book.
I talked to
the powder-room attendant
at The Mudlark.
She told me
about the torn envelope
your Mr. Drake made away with.
Need I say more?
Considerably.
All right.
I went
to the Woolworth Apartments.
I spoke to the manager there.
He told me he'd rented
Mary K. Gunther's apartment
to a very attractive
young lady.
May I say, my dear,
he didn't exaggerate one bit.
Go on.
I think the district attorney
would say
I've made out
a prima facie case.
Look, Mason,
that book contains
some very influential names.
Names you propose
to blackmail?
No, not blackmail.
Why, some of the names
in that book
spend thousands a year
for legal work.
All they have to do
is to give us that work,
then we can get out
of this slimy rat race
of criminal law.
The practice
of criminal law isn't slimy
unless you make it that way.
And it isn't the rat race
unless you run with rats.
Save it for a jury.
If you don't give me
that book,
I'll go
to the district attorney,
tell him that it exists
and that you have it.
MASON: Mr. Jarech.
Give the district attorney
my regards.
Della,
see if you can arrange
an appointment
with Dr. Barnes.
So Jarech has attempted
to blackmail you,
you are attempting
to blackmail me.
No, I'm not
blackmailing you, Doctor.
I'm only saying that
when the district attorney
finds out about
your book of names,
Leona stands every chance
of being convicted
of this m*rder.
Mr. Mason,
there's more at stake here
than my life or Leona's.
She knows that.
It's just
that we made the mistake
of keeping records.
But those families
mustn't be made
to suffer for it.
I'm not asking that.
Jarech can only talk
about the book.
He can't produce it.
I promise you,
those names will
be protected.
I wish I could believe that.
Now, you listen
to me carefully, Dr. Barnes.
I have every reason
to believe
that the contents
of this envelope
belong to you.
We even took the chance
of writing in your name
and address as sender.
However, subsequent research
has convinced me that
that action was illegal.
Consequently,
I must turn this envelope
over to the police.
You can't do that.
I'm sorry, Doctor.
I have no other choice.
Is there a water cooler
down the hall?
I'm afraid
you're a little late.
I'm afraid I am.
I don't know how to tell you
how grateful I am.
Listen to me, Dr. Barnes.
I have just one question.
Did you k*ll Mary K. Davis?
No.
I can tell you this.
Leona Walsh was wrong.
Very wrong to do it.
She should have
left that for me.
You mean, if you had done it,
it would have been right?
You--You just don't
understand.
I do understand, Doctor.
I just don't agree.
More trouble?
Mmm-hmm.
Subpoena duces tecum.
They want me
to appear in court
Thursday, February 11th,
with a little book
belonging to Dr. Barnes.
So Jarech did
go to the DA.
Obviously.
How can I produce
something I've never seen
and don't have?
Poses quite a problem,
doesn't it?
You may proceed, Mr. Burger.
Call your next witness.
Your Honor, at this time,
the prosecution
desires to call
Miss Della Street
to the stand.
Miss Street will be
a hostile witness
since he is the secretary
of Perry Mason,
who is representing
the defendant.
Well, you can't
do that, Mr. Burger.
Any communication made
by a client to an attorney
is confidential.
The same holds true
of the confidential secretary
of an attorney.
Your Honor,
I'm not seeking testimony
about any communication
at all.
I'm trying to recover
stolen property.
JUDGE: Stolen property?
Yes, Your Honor.
I intend to prove
that certain personal property
belonging to Dr. Philip Barnes
was stolen from his office,
and that this stolen property
was received
by Miss Della Street.
I have already served
both Mr. Mason and Miss Street
with a subpoena duces tecum.
This is highly unusual.
I agree, Your Honor.
It is most unusual.
I have some authorities here
to the effect
that privileged communication
relates only
to those disclosures
made by a client
to an attorney
when he is seeking advice
as to his legal rights.
It does not stretch so far
as to cover an attorney
who practices
concealment of evidence.
And it certainly does
not stretch far enough
to cover the secretary
of an attorney.
Concealing evidence,
you say, Mr. Prosecutor?
Yes, Your Honor.
Concealing evidence
that is of primary importance
to this case.
Very well.
Is Miss Street in court?
Will she take the stand?
Raise your right hand,
please.
Do you solemnly swear
the testimony
you are about to give
in the cause now pending
in this court
to be the truth.
The whole truth?
I do.
State your name.
Della Street.
Be seated.
Miss Street, you are employed
by Perry Mason
as a confidential secretary?
Yes, sir.
Were you ever
in a furnished apartment
at 1427 Crane Avenue,
an apartment occupied
by Mary K. Davis,
alias Mary K. Gunther?
Yes, sir.
Mr. Mason
took you there?
No, sir.
Well, Mr. Mason
sent you there?
Yes, sir.
And while you were
in that apartment,
did you take
into your possession
a special-delivery letter
or envelope?
Objection, Your Honor!
Miss Street might
well have taken
two, three,
even 10 such deliveries.
Would the district attorney
be more specific?
Be more specific, Mr. Burger.
Uh, Mr. Hill,
would you stand up, please?
Do you
recognize that man?
Yes, sir.
Would you identify him
for us?
He's a mailman.
Thank you, sir.
He's the mailman
who handed you
a special-delivery letter
at the apartment
at 1427 Crane Avenue?
Yes, sir.
And you gave that envelope
to Perry Mason?
Objection, Your Honor.
That question is incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial,
unless the district attorney
first discloses
what was in
such an envelope
and that it has a bearing
on this case.
Objection sustained.
Your Honor, Mr. Mason
is grabbing at straws.
The court has ruled,
Mr. Burger.
The objection is based
on technical grounds,
nevertheless,
the objection is well-taken.
[SIGHS]
Miss Street, did you know
that Mary K. Davis
had stolen a notebook
from the office of Dr. Barnes?
Objected to on the grounds
that the question calls
for hearsay testimony,
that it calls for a conclusion
of the witness,
that it is not
the best evidence,
and furthermore
it is incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.
Sustained.
Miss Street,
did you give
to Mr. Perry Mason
any envelope
that you received
at 1427 Crane Avenue?
Objected to as assuming facts
not in evidence.
The court has already ruled
that any evidence
as to anything Miss Street
might have received
on the day in question,
is incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial,
unless the prosecutor
first has connected it
with this case.
Mr. Prosecutor,
the court is going to
sustain the objection.
If it is your contention
that this witness
received property
stolen from Dr. Barnes,
that is, evidence
connected with this case,
you will first
have to show, in fact,
that such a notebook
was stolen,
that it is pertinent,
then you can ask the witness
questions concerning it.
If the court would just
understand the significance
of what I'm trying to get at,
and the clever way
in which the defense counsel
has been trying to block me,
the court would then realize
that I have to
fight it out on this line
if it takes all day.
Well, that is your privilege,
Mr. District Attorney.
The court has
the afternoon available.
Miss Street,
on the day in question,
you received certain property
which you had
reason to believe was
evidence in this case,
and you concealed
that evidence, didn't you?
Just answer me, yes or no.
Objected to on the ground
that it calls for a conclusion
from the witness.
The defendant in this case
is not bound
by what Miss Street
may have thought
she was receiving
or what Miss Street thought
might have been evidence.
The objection is sustained.
Your Honor, because of the way
the defense counsel
has hedged and dodged
in this ridiculous manner,
it will be necessary
for the prosecution
to prove
that this evidence exists
and to introduce it
to this court
by a series of lengthy
examinations of witnesses.
The prosecution
therefore requests a recess
until tomorrow,
when we will start
this long
and costly procedure.
Mr. Burger, the court realizes
that these objections
have been highly technical,
and that the rulings
of the court
have been technical,
but technicalities exist
for the express purpose
of protecting
the legal rights of persons
charged with crimes.
The only difference
between a technical
and a constitutional safeguard
is one of degree.
And that degree may
exist solely in the mind
of the prosecutor.
Court stands adjourned
until tomorrow morning
at 10:00.
Well, where do we go
from here?
That depends on Mr. Burger.
If I know
my esteemed colleague,
tomorrow in court,
he'll do it right.
Well, Mr. Burger
will prove that a book
was in existence,
that Mary K. took that book
into her possession.
He'll establish
by proper evidence
that Dr. Barnes' book
could've been the motive
for her m*rder.
And we'll all go to jail.
Why didn't I leave
that envelope in the apartment
like we planned it?
No, Della, you did
the only thing possible.
Now it's up to me
to justify your actions.
Della, could you tell whether
it was a man or a woman
who entered the apartment?
No, I couldn't.
Well, have you any idea
how long this person stayed?
No, I...
I just heard a noise
that sounded like somebody
jumping up and down
on, uh, crockery.
So I figured
I better get out while
the getting out was good.
Wait a minute.
Now all along
we've been assuming
that whoever came
to the apartment
was after that book.
Suppose it was
something else?
What?
Come on, Paul,
let's find out.
Bye, beautiful.
It's over here.
I put her junk
in this box.
Some old
dictating cylinders.
They're all busted up.
Maybe that's the noise
Della heard.
What happened
to the machine?
The what?
The dictating machine.
Mrs. Gunther had one
in her apartment.
Oh, the machine.
I put it in here.
Well, after all, Mrs. Gunther
owed me a couple of days rent.
I figured
I was entitled to it.
I'm not going to question
your claim.
I'd like to, uh, borrow that
for a couple of days.
Sure.
Gee, thanks.
[BUZZING]
That's the desk.
I gotta get upstairs.
You'll turn off the light
when you leave
and slam the door?
Sure.
Dig out the biggest hunk,
will you?
How's this?
All right.
MARY:
The Terrible Hunt.
By Mary K. Davis.
This is probably
the most fantastic story
I've written.
Certainly my biggest.
The story of a human being's
search through the years
for an answer
too horrible to know.
A story...
Play it again?
No.
Well, she must've been
dictating a story.
About whom, I wonder?
Take your pick.
Her husband,
Susan Marshall, Dr. Barnes,
Bob Shroeder...
Could've been anyone.
You know,
I've got a hunch that...
Paul, I want
to find an actress
who can do
voice impersonations.
Well,
I know an actors' agent.
If I can wake him up.
Well, wake him up.
I want to see that actress
in my office
first thing in the morning.
And, Paul...
I know. Bring, uh,
some more cylinders.
Here, I'll carry that.
I'll take it.
All right, you take it.
Slam the door.
CLAY IMITATING MARY:
Perhaps some people may say
that I am needlessly hurting
an innocent person
by this story.
That as a result,
a life may be ruined.
This is a calculated risk,
but the truth must prevail.
Well, that was
a fine performance,
Miss Clay.
Paul, will you see
that Miss Clay gets home?
With pleasure.
Bye, Mr. Mason.
Goodbye.
If ever there's anything else
I can do for you...
Well, I think that...
We'll call you.
See you later.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Do you think it will work?
It has to.
Well, hello, everybody.
Well, lieutenant,
what are you doing here?
Oh, it's a long,
dull story,
but it's just come
to the attention
of the district attorney
that, uh, you people
are withholding evidence.
I believe it's
in the form of broken,
uh, dictating cylinders.
Uh, something like these.
Put that down, Tragg.
Well, here,
this looks like a good one.
Listen, Tragg,
you can't walk off with those.
Well, I wouldn't bet on that
if I were you
and here's
the dictating machine.
Where's your warrant?
Oh, I don't need one.
This is all evidence
in a m*rder trial.
You still need a warrant.
Say, you may be right.
I am.
Wish I could take
your word for that.
Oh, but Mr. Burger
might feel differently.
I'll let him decide.
He'll see you
in court anyway.
Bye.
Your Honor,
may we approach the bench?
Certainly, Mr. Mason.
Your Honor,
less than an hour ago,
Lieutenant Tragg
illegally removed
some property from my office.
I hereby make a motion
that that property
be returned to me
immediately.
Your Honor, the property
just happens to be evidence
in this case,
which I intend to present
later in the hearing.
I believe my motion
should take precedence.
The court will now hear
arguments on the motion.
You may proceed, Mr. Burger.
Well, if it please the court,
early this morning,
I received an anonymous
phone call
to the effect that Mr. Mason
had removed certain property
belonging to the deceased
from an apartment building
where the deceased
rented an apartment
under her maiden name.
I therefore phoned
Lieutenant Tragg
and ordered him to go
and reclaim that property.
Without a warrant?
May I remind the court
this was not only
stolen property,
it was stolen evidence,
which the police have a right
to take into their possession
wherever they find it.
Of what exactly did
this property consist?
Put that one on,
Lieutenant.
Mostly of broken
wax cylinders.
Of what possible use are they
to you and your case?
There's one cylinder
which is not broken,
Your Honor.
With the court's permission,
I'd like
to play it for us here
through an amplifier.
I object to this,
Your Honor.
Mr. Burger,
obviously has no idea
what is recorded
on that cylinder.
Mr. Burger, I assure you,
it's irrelevant, incompetent
and immaterial.
Then why are you afraid
for us to hear it?
If it please the court...
I think Mr. Burger's point
is well-taken.
The court will
hear the cylinder.
Thank you, Your Honor.
May I borrow
your microphone?
Surely.
Are you ready, Lieutenant?
Yes, sir.
May I have absolute silence
in the court, please?
Go ahead, Lieutenant.
MARY: The Terrible Hunt
By Mary K. Davis.
This is probably
the most fantastic story
I've ever written.
Certainly my biggest.
It is the story
of a human being's search
through the years,
for an answer
too horrible to know.
A search that never
should have started.
Some people... Some people...
Some people... Some people...
Some people...
The cylinder is stuck.
Some people... Some people...
Your Honor, with your
indulgence, we'll try again.
Some people may say
that I am needlessly hurting
an innocent person
by this story.
That as a result,
a life may be ruined.
[SCREAMING HYSTERICALLY]
BOB: Connie!
No! No!
Please don't play it!
[SCREAMING]
BOB: Connie!
I k*lled her! I k*lled her!
But don't play it!
Connie! Connie!
[SOBBING]
She was going to print
that story about you.
She was the cruelest person
that ever lived.
She didn't care
what she did to you.
Whatever it was,
we could've lived with it.
Don't you understand that?
If it please the court,
I now believe
that Leona Walsh's confession
was designed
to shield someone else,
and I move that the charges
against her be dismissed.
The motion is granted.
The charges
against Leona Walsh
are dismissed.
The court orders
that Miss Cooper be
taken into custody
and that the proper complaint
be lodged against her.
The court is dismissed.
[SOBBING]
Mary K. had a way of trying
to destroy all of us.
I'm sorry, truly sorry.
So am I.
So am I.
Well, I guess
that about finishes it.
Perry, who was
Bob Shroeder's mother?
Do you remember
the drunk murderess,
the one who was hung?
Lita Fisher?
That was about 1930,
wasn't it?
During all those months
they were searching for her,
she had a child.
I feel so sorry for Bob.
Oh, he'll make out
all right.
How about Connie?
What do you suppose
will happen to her?
Uh, Mr. Burger is thinking
of second degree.
Well, after all,
there--there was definitely
a struggle that night.
Uh, incidentally,
Dr. Barnes has decided
that this is the right time
to retire,
and I needn't add
that Mr. Burger agrees
with him 100%.
How is our illustrious
district attorney?
Sore.
He's seriously deliberating
bringing charges against you
for unethical conduct.
Me?
Do you know of anyone
who could've phoned his home
early this morning
with a tip that you had
a wax cylinder
that would solve
the Mary K. Davis m*rder?
Do we, Paul?
I don't know.
Do we?
Well, at least Mr. Burger's
no little annoyed at you
for maneuvering him
into introducing that record
into evidence
when you knew
it was a phony.
Well, I wanted
to help him, Tragg.
I tried to point out
that it was irrelevant,
incompetent and immaterial.
You might tell him that.
Yes, I already have.
That's how this got broken.
You know, uh, he, uh,
never should get mad.
Why, he missed me
by at least two feet.
[ALL LAUGHING]
01x30 - The Case of the Screaming Woman
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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.