All language subtitles for Perry Mason s06e07 Unsuitable Uncle

Oh, you've got that look in your eye
again, Dickie. And a taste of salt water

and bilge oil in the mouth. One tanker
of ale, old sport. Then we'll get on

our business, huh?

Well, all right.

One pint.

One peaceful pint. But mind you, no
trouble, Dickie. No scrums, no rides.

Everything nice and civilized and
peaceful, eh?

Give your name and address, please.

Richard W. Durham, 801 Stanhope Road,
Brentwood.

Brentwood? Stanhope Road, milady, your
honor.

An excellent address, Mr.

Durham.

You're charged with being drunk and
disorderly and assaulting a police

How do you plead?

Well, your honor, I wouldn't say I was
sober as a judge, but it actually was

only a bit of a scrum amongst friends.

Guilty or not guilty?

Little of each, I'm afraid.

For being drunk and disorderly, five
days are $50.

Would you accept a check, Your Honor?

We prefer cash, Mr. Durham.

Next case.

Good morning.

I'm Russell Durham.

Oh, aren't you too, sir?

My name is Fothergill, Harry Fothergill,
off the Fraser Umber Bay out of Sydney,

Australia. Well, I'm sure you didn't
come all that way just to see me.

Well, now, that's where you're just
wrong, sir.

You see, the plain and fancy truth of it
is, we done just that.

We? Yes, me and Dickie.

Dickie? Yes, you see, there he was one
fine day sitting in a pub in Sydney, and

all of a sudden he says to me, He says,
Lord Harry Oldsport, that's the way he

talks, you know. Anyway, he says, Lord
Harry, you know, I have a brother in

California I ain't seen in, oh, close to
20 years.

He's here?

Are you saying he's back?

Well, almost, anyway. You see, the truth
of the matter is that he got into a

little bit of a dust -up in a pub down
on the docks. And he's in jail.

Well, Dickie hasn't changed much, has
he?

Why did he come back?

Oh, no.

I'll be telling secrets out of school
now. Now, Dickie will give you the old

drill when he gets out.

Well, just when will that be?

Oh, well, not till after his ship sails,
I'm afraid.

Unless, of course, he can pay his fine.

Oh, then he doesn't intend to stay in
this country?

Oh, Lord love you, no, Governor, no. No
longer than he has to, no.

Oh, Australia now. There is the land of
opportunity.

He can't wait to get back there, you
know.

I'd certainly hate to think of him
missing his ship for lack of a few

If you're sure he's not too proud to
accept help from his brother.

Too proud?

No, no. Gross again, Governor.

Thank you very much.

Mother, can you cope with charm this
morning? There's a man outside.

Well, he was outside.

Start singing, Minstrel.

The bad penny himself, or at least
what's left of him.

Nineteen years.

Not for you, darling. I swear you've
made time stop dead in his tracks.

Not entirely, Dickie.

Paula, this is... Uncle Dickie! What a
dreadful way of putting it.

That's... that's for all the Christmas
presents.

Good heavens, I have lost track of time.

Oh, you've forgotten.

I was a little girl.

Every Christmas there'd always be one
special package from Uncle Dicky.

Ivory rickshaw or Balinese doll.
Something carved out of coral.

I bet you can't remember one present you
sent me.

Yes, of course he does, Missy. One year
it was a boomerang, wasn't it, Dicky?

Hmm? Boomerang?

Oh, remember it like it was yesterday.

Oh, ladies, may I introduce my old
shipmate, Lord Harry Fothergill, Mrs.

and my niece Paula. It's a great
pleasure, I'm sure, later. A great

Are you really a lord?

Oh, no, you of course not. No, that's
just Dickie's little joke.

Well, we're very happy to see you
anyways.

They'll stay a while, won't they,
Mother?

You took the words from my mouth,
Colleen. But don't you trouble yourself,

dear. Old Addie and I can doss down in
any old spare guest room.

Well, Paula, why don't you show Mr...
Father Gill.

Mr. Father Gill where to put his things.
All right.

Excuse me.

Russell knows you're back, doesn't he?
He was quite upset this morning and he

wouldn't say why.

I can imagine it would give the old boy
a nasty turn.

Guilty conscience, I expect, for
marrying my girl.

At least he did it legally.

You mean our interlude in Tijuana?

I had such good intentions to make old
Russell jealous and all that.

Well, he'd been such a clod about you.

But then when I discovered the girl he'd
been ogling from afar was the most...

Beautiful creature in town. The most
wondrous, magical... I was the stupidest

fool in the world.

How I ever could have lost my head
over... Now, now, now, darling.

I left you quick enough when the tears
began, didn't I?

And you remember how I brought old
Russell running to the rescue?

Can you honestly say that you haven't
been happy these 20 years since?

I've been blissfully happy.

I have my wonderful daughter, a
beautiful home, and a fine husband.

In that order of importance, no doubt.

And I won't let anything destroy that.

Do you understand me, Dickie? Oh, you're
still the one, darling.

Ten thousand women I've known, and none
of them can hold that candle to you.

That coffee needs something to hold it
up, gentlemen.

Brandy.

Brandy, gentlemen.

Dickie, why did you come back?

For the gathering of the clan, of
course.

And for Paula's coming out party.

Nonsense. You didn't know anything about
it until you got here.

That's true.

Otherwise, I'd have brought along proper
dress.

But you seem to have a good tailor, old
man. Suppose I drop in on him, huh?

By all means.

Is there anything else I can do for you?

Well, yes, there is.

Lord Ares got his heart set on being a
pub owner. And I told him you'd very

likely finance it. You what?

They're only asking 18 ,000.

It's in Australia now, Governor.

Of all the incredible... Why don't you
slope off, Old Sport? Maybe I better

the drill to Big Brother in private. Old
family business and all that, huh?

Rog, you are anything you say, Dickie.
Well, peace to you, sir. Here's a cup.

And peace to you too, Dickie, eh?

What happened?

I hit him with a coffee cup. I wish I
had brained him.

He won't be satisfied till he's walked
off with the furniture.

Extortion, that's all it is.

By my own brother. But why do you have
to give him anything?

Crystal, where is he?

Went upstairs to wash my hand, and I had
to call the office.

I'm afraid Dickie's gone to the zebra
club with Paula.

I thought she was going out with Gil
Simpson tonight.

Well, I'm supposed to call Gil and tell
him to join them there. I'm afraid Gil's

going to be hurt.

Crystal, you've got to think of a way to
get Dickie out of here immediately.

Me? How? I was going to ask you.

I don't care how. Just get rid of him.

Because if I have to talk to him once
more, I swear I'll kill him.

We lived in Bakersfield until I was
almost 11.

That old Durham man's on the wrong side
of the tracks.

Well, it wasn't Stan Hope Rowe.

Daddy was still an accountant.

And then came the first gusher, huh?

Oh, Gil.

Is that the boyfriend?

I hope I'm not intruding.

Gil, this is my Uncle Dickie.

I thought you wouldn't mind if you
joined us tonight.

Seems as though I'm joining you.

If Uncle Dicky doesn't mind. No, no, no.
Make yourself at home, sport.

Thank you so much.

He's teasing you.

Matter of fact, I want to have a talk
with all of Paula's boyfriends.

About what?

Well, first thing, what do you do for a
living, young man?

He's an oil man like daddy. I told you
that.

Oh, yes.

And what are your prospects for the
future, my boy?

I think this is hardly the place to
discuss that.

Well, if you're going to be dating my
niece, I want to know your intentions.

Uncle Dickie, Gil's his own boss.

Now stop it.

Yes, but is he serious, or is this just
a business arrangement, a bit of social

climbing?

Listen, Durham, let's get a couple of
things straight.

Number one, my outfits that I own happen
to be bigger than anything your

brother... Indeed.

Those are pretty fancy words for a fly
-by -the -eye speculator.

That's enough, because number two,
Paula's parents fully approve my dating

Paula. Well, you won't object, Mr.
Simpson, if Paula's uncle casts a

vote and backs it up.

Any time you say, any place.

Durham, how would you like it if I
punched you in the mouth right now?

I'd be delighted.

Fort Byron!

No, everybody, now, Dickie, this ain't
no place for a scrum, eh?

Well, it's just a small difference of
opinion between gentlemen, Harry. No,

no, you come along with me. Dickie,
excuse us, won't you? Now, come on,

come on.

Now, listen here to me, Dickie, madam.
You hold your freight out of here right

now, and I ain't gonna tell you twice.

Listen here to me, I'm tired of...

I'm tired and sick of you making a
bloody fool of yourself. I have a good

to bash you right in the head.

Oh, Harry, don't be like that. You're
the finest shipmate on the seven seas.

And you're a leaky tub. Now, I'm pulling
you out of this. You're leaving this

town right now. Have you got me?

All in good time, your lordship. We came
to get money. And money we're going to

get. Yes, well, you're going to get your
ticket punched. That's what you're

going to get. By him?

Listen here to me, Dickie. I'm serious.

I heard your brother talking to his
missus and he said it's how he'd like to

you in.

Well, everybody wants to bash me. It's
high time I made out my last will and

testament.

That's it. That's just what I'll do. My
last will and testament.

Listen here to me. It's not you that I'm
worrying about.

It's just that I'm not going to let you
go on messing up people's lives.

I hereby bequeath.

That's what we're going to do, chummy.
First thing in the morning. Now, let's

have a drink on it. I will.

All right, Mr. Durham.

Tell me, have you ever had a will before
now?

Not that I remember, Counselor. There
was little reason for one. But now that

I've seen the light and remembering that
the days of man are numbered, I want to

provide for those that I leave behind.

Uncle Dickie, what is the point of all
this?

When I called Mr. Mason to get an
appointment for you... You think it's

the man's time, my dear.

She's displeased with me today, that's
all.

Now, what facts do you need to know,
Counselor?

Well, the usual thing is to start with a
list of your heirs, your beneficiaries,

and the amount of each bequest.

Well, let's see.

There's Lord Airy here, best buddy a man
ever had.

Look, I want nothing but our pub in
Melbourne, and you know it, too. Ah, but

shall be no ordinary pub.

You shall have golden spigots gushing
forth pure nectar.

What do you suppose that would cost, Mr.
Mason?

A quarter of a million, would you say?
Put it down.

$250 ,000 for Lord Airy, Father Gill,
gentlemen. Now, is that messing up

anybody's life? Is that wasting time, I
ask you?

All right.

What next?

Well, let's see.

To my niece, my darling niece, for her
to remember me kindly.

A little gift of... Could you make ends
meet on 50 ,000, love?

If I do my own housework.

Please, isn't this sort of ridiculous?

And there it is, sir. That's it.

Very well.

It will take Miss Street a few minutes
to type this for your signature.

Then, Harry, suppose you take my niece
home. You have errands to attend to

anyway. I'll be here to discuss any
further matters with Counselor that may

necessary while I'm waiting to sign.

Uncle Dickie, what about Mr. Mason's
fee?

Fee? Oh, the fee.

I forgot.

It's usually a hundred dollars, Mr.
Durham. Of course, and not unreasonable.

Uh, if you'd be good enough, Sport.

Well, I'll think of it as an advance on
me inheritance.

Mr. Durham!

Mr. Durham!

I say, where are you, mister?

Oh, there you are. I've been looking all
over for you, I have.

Here. I just did a talk with your
missus. And she told me that Dickie had

back to the house, but he's picked up
and left again.

Now, where is he? Where did he go? What
happened to him? I'm afraid I wasn't

there at the time.

My wife had a talk with him. I don't
know what was said.

I wouldn't tell you if I did.

Now, look here. I don't know what's
going on with Dickie. He gets awful

sometimes, he does. But this much I do
know, Mr. Durham.

that his heart is in the right place it
is. Harry, I'll make you a bargain.

If you can find Dickie and get him
aboard that ship tomorrow morning, any

you have to, then you may give him this
check for, uh, what was it?

$18 ,000, Gov.

$18 ,000.

He can use it to buy you a pub or for
any other purpose he wishes.

But if he attempts to cash it in this
country, payment will be stopped.

Is that clearly understood?

Oh, certainly, certainly.

Now, don't you worry, Governor.

I'll see that Dickie don't bother you no
more. I'll do it anyway you have to.

Right. So long.

Dickie, old sport, there you are.

I've been looking all over for you, eh?

Coo, you are a sight, aren't you?

Swell me, I thought maybe you was even
dead.

But here you are, eh, Lenarty, eh?

Oh, well, now, what's up, Joe? Hey, what
happened?

Oh, well, no matter what it is now,
don't take it too hard.

See, I've got a little surprise for you
here, matey.

Something that's going to perk you right
up. Here, take a glim of that, eh?

How about that, Dickie? That's what's
going to put you aboard ship, and then

it's home and mother, Dickie boy.

Oh, Dickie, think of it.

$18 ,000, enough to buy our own puppet
long last time.

No.

What do you mean, no?

Maybe I'm not going back to Australia.

Oh, you knock that off, do you hear me?
You knock it off.

Now, listen, he's fixed it so that no
bank will take it in this country.

Now, we're on our way tomorrow, and this
thing is no good.

Ah, you go at it.

Maybe I'm going to stay here.

You're going to stay here, eh?

Oh, you just listen here to me, Mr.
Dickie Durham.

I've had me heart set on that pub for
too long now to see it suddenly vanish

like that.

Now listen here.

There's the money for the pub right in
front of your eyes. And all you've got

do is to endorse this scrap of paper.
Put your name in it right behind the

hours. Now come on.

Ah, pick me up, that.

No, no, no, please.

It's all right.

It's all right. I'll handle him.

Whatever you say, I'll handle him.

Well, you got it this time.

He's dead.

Open on, we knocked down together for
close to 17 years.

Every port of the Pacific.

Oh, we had good times, Mr. Mason. We had
good times.

Well, you heard himself.

The best shipmate he ever had.

So why would I kill my best chum, Mr.
Mason?

According to the police, that $18 ,000
check they took away from him.

Yes, but the check was no good without a
signature, and he signed it, didn't he?

So why would I need to kill him? Now,
answer me that, Mr. Mason.

The bartender told them that...

Dickie got angry and walked out on you
when you asked him to endorse the check.

Yes, I know, but his signature is on it
right now. You can see it for yourself,

Mr. Mason.

When did he endorse it, Harry? On the
wharf. You see, after he left the pub, I

followed him down the pier a ways.

There he was, sitting all by himself,
kind of lonesome -like.

Well, he cooled down by then, I suppose,
because he says to me, Harry Oldsport,

you're going to get your pub, even if it
won't have no gold spigots.

And then he signed the check, and he
asked me to leave him alone.

And says that he'll see me the next
morning.

I didn't forge his name, Mr. Mason.

Is that what they believe?

Well, I didn't, I tell you.

I witnessed the signing and so did my
secretary, Miss Street.

How do they stack up?

No doubt about it. Both were written by
the same man.

Well, Lieutenant, it does seem to knock
out the motive.

Mind if I have a look at the will?

To my old shipmate, Harry Fothergill,
the sum of $250 ,000.

Now, there's a pretty good motive,
Counselor.

Excellent.

Unfortunately, Durham didn't have enough
money to pay his lawyer's fee.

Then why did he make out a will like
this?

Oh, his idea of a joke. Maybe he was
trying to impress his niece. She's in

will for $50 ,000.

Well, how do you know he doesn't have
any hidden assets?

He borrowed $18 ,000 from his brother.

Borrowed or extorted?

Andy, how does any of this affect my
client's immediate release?

All right, maybe you can have your Lord,
Harry, just as soon as I talk to

Durham's brother.

The police are here again, sir.

Mr. Durham will see them now.

Sorry to cause you so much trouble.

Do you gentlemen know Perry Mason, Mr.
Durham, and... I'm Frank Warden,

Lieutenant. Good morning, Mr. Mason. May
I ask who you're representing?

Harry Fothergill, Mr. Warden.

And you?

Oh, I'm not a lawyer.

Just another oil man.

See you in the morning, Russell.

Don't go, Frank. This is only going to
take a minute.

I'm interested in your brother's
financial status, Mr. Durham.

Well, there.

That ought to give you an idea of it.

Case of whiskey he thoughtfully ordered
for me yesterday.

Socks, shirts he had his friend pick up.

All charged to my accounts, you
understand.

Everything. All on me.

He had no cash, you mean.

Well... Why do you think I gave him the
18 ,000?

He was absolutely penniless, I tell you.

Wasn't there any property of any sort?

Of course.

Some old clothes.

Shoes with holes in them.

I was thinking of inheritance, of family
holdings.

No. No, Lieutenant.

There's nothing like that.

Well, Andy.

I guess you win, Perry.

Thanks, Mr. Durham. I'll see you later.

Gentlemen.

Do you know your biggest trouble,
Russell?

You're a compulsive talker.

Hi, Perry.

Paul.

Congratulations, Harry.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

Now, I ain't forgot what you done for
me.

Of course, I didn't live up to my part
of the bargain with Mr. Durham, so I

can't very well cash his check, but
don't you worry now. As soon as I get me

another berth, I'm going to start paying
you off.

Well, maybe we can find a ship for you.

Yeah, there's no rush, Perry.

Anderson released him in your custody.
He can't leave town.

All right, Paul.

What didn't Andy tell me?

Huh?

Oh, excuse me.

Search me. I haven't turned up anything
new.

What about Dickie's movements yesterday
afternoon?

Well, nothing but a lot more shopping.
He managed to nick the R .W. Durham

charge accounts that's only about $1
,000.

Nice guy.

But they sat still for it.

Perry? Yes, Della?

This just arrived.

Mailed at ten o 'clock last night.

What time was Dickie murdered?

About an hour later.

Counselor, stand by to draw up a new
will.

I've decided to disinherit poor old
Larry a bit in favor of Paula. Give her

big chunk and him the little.

Please have the lovely Miss Treat type
it up.

I'll be in Brighton early to sign it.

Confusion to our enemies, signed Dickie
Durham.

He certainly had a fixation on wills.

Too bad he didn't live long enough to
make this new one out.

Well, what's the difference, Paul?

This way, Harry wouldn't inherit nearly
as much as Paula.

That's still a lot of nothing and
certainly no motive for murder.

Unless Dickie did have hidden assets.

Dickie Durham.

Richard William Durham, as I remember.

And his brother is R .W.

Yeah, same initials.

Paul, I want some information in a hurry
on Brother Russell's business dealings.

What sort of business dealings?

Oh, anyone he's had a written contract
with or a lease. Yes, check on oil

leases. All right, I'll get right on it.
Oh, what shall I do with his lordship?

I wish I knew.

But if what I suspect is true, it'll be
taken out of our hands.

Well, Mr. Mason, it was quite a surprise
hearing from you so soon.

Surprise? Yes, I suppose it was.

Mr. Warden, is it true that you handled
the leasing of some oil property from

Russell Durham?

Well, not for myself.

I did act as agent for the Rimrock Oil
Company.

My investigator says that Rimrock Oil is
a small out -of -state outfit that

might be a little hard to pin down.

However, the property we're concerned
with is in West Texas, isn't that right?

Miss Burney, is Mr. Durham in yet?

Yes, please.

When you called saying you'd be over, I
thought he'd better be here, too.

When did Russell Durham sign that oil
lease? About eight years ago, I think.

I'll have to look up the exact date.

Eight years is close enough.

But Richard Durham had been out of the
country for more than twice that long.

What does my brother have to do with it?

According to my investigation, your
brother purchased that parcel of land in

Texas some 22 years ago.

And no transfer of title was ever made
prior to the signing of that oil lease.

Mason, are you saying that land is or
was the property of Dickie Durham and

Russell here?

Would that also surprise you, Mr.
Warden? It certainly would.

The name on that deed was R .W. Durham.

And I negotiated the lease with a man by
that name.

Of course, you didn't know that there
were two R .W. Durham's. Absolutely not.

Rimrock may be small, but they've paid
royalties of 16 and two -thirds percent

in good faith to R .W. Durham for the
past eight years.

That good faith must amount to a rather
large sum, every cent of which belongs

and always has belonged to your brother.

Failed to see how that concerns you, Mr.
Mason?

My brother has owed me debts all his
life that are so much larger than money.

I'm not concerned with the implication
of fraud, but I do intend to clear my

client of any suspicion of murder. Well,
it's a little late for that, isn't it,

Mr. Mason?

I certainly didn't kill Dickie.

If you'll recall the will he made out
that day in your office.

Russell, you talk too much.

The will you refer. Paula told me all
about it.

Harry Fothergill gets practically
everything.

That's why he murdered my brother.

But did Lord Harry really know that your
brother had any property to leave him?

Did he?

I think you're in for a surprise, Mason.

Several surprises.

And in court.

Because for your information, the police
just notified me they finally traced

the murder weapon.

That knife was purchased in Sydney,
Australia.

And by Lord Airy.

Of course.

Officer, I show you this knife.

Previously identified as having been
purchased in Australia by the defendant.

Were you present when this knife was
recovered from the water?

Yes, I was, sir.

The men from Homicide found it later at
the same place I found the body.

Cross -examined, Mr. Mason?

No questions, Mr. Berger.

You may stand down, officer.

I suppose I should have told you sooner,
Mr. Mason, but I was going to know

which sticker Dunham in.

They'll prove you always carried that
knife.

Look, I told you, Mr. Mason, I gave it
to Dickie St. Thomas. He was signing the

check, same place.

He sort of had the shakes, like, you
know, sitting all alone in the dark.

And he says to me, hey, let's have your
sticker. Please, I have to fight off

some mermaids, you know. You know how he
talked, don't you, Mr. Mason?

Who do you think he planned to meet
there after you left?

I... I call Mr. Russell Durham to the
stand, please.

We were both born in Bakersfield. My
brother was two years younger. I

practically raised him.

He knocked around in the Texas oil
fields for a few years, then left home

country for good.

After a few years, I heard nothing more
from him.

Until he and the defendant moved into
your home?

Yes. Now, Mr. Durham, in the strictest
sense, it isn't entirely your home, is

it? I suppose you could say it was
partially Dickie's.

Would you explain that for us, please?

One of my sources of income for the past
eight years has been an oil lease.

Technically, the property belonged to my
brother.

Technically? In one of his rare letters
in those early days, he enclosed the

deed to a parcel of land in West Texas.

Since he had borrowed money from me to
leave home, I assumed the deed was meant

to be a form of repayment.

Anyway, years later, when I discovered
the Rimrock Oil Company was interested

that land, I negotiated a lease myself
in the name of R .W. Durham.

The name on the deed.

But I was really acting as an
involuntary trustee.

In other words, Mr. Durham, Not only
part of your home, but part of your

property and assets actually belong to
the deceased.

Yes, that's right. Would you mind
estimating his estate for us, please?

In the neighborhood of $200 ,000.

Thank you, Mr. Durham. Cross example.

Wasn't the value of the decedent's
estate much more than $200 ,000, Mr.

I've kept a full and complete accounting
of every dollar paid in royalties.

It was available to Dickie at any time.

When he returned after this 19 - or 20
-year period away, how much in cash

was actually turned over to him?

He asked for, and I wrote a check to him
in the amount of $18 ,000.

Isn't it true that he moved out of your
house during the afternoon preceding his

murder?

Yes. I mean, he was leaving with only
$18 ,000 out of an estate of at

least...

$200 ,000.

Now, why?

I really couldn't say, Mr. Mason.

Perhaps my brother was more interested
in just causing trouble than in getting

his money.

And I tried to talk to him about it,
work out some schedule of repayment.

He just laughed at me, made fun of my
embarrassment.

Well, when Uncle Dickie made out his
will that morning, we thought it was a

joke. Lord Harry and I both thought
that, well, he didn't have anything to

leave.

I think you mean, Miss Durham, that you
thought it was a joke.

You can hardly say that you knew what
the defendant was thinking.

Well, no, but... Just answer me this.

Was the defendant mentioned in that
will, and if so, for how much money?

For a quarter of a million dollars.

Thank you, Miss Durham. That'll be all.
Mr. Mason?

Miss Durham, to your knowledge, did
anything occur that might have caused

uncle to feel that his life was in
danger?

No, I don't think so.

Did you at that time know what caused
your uncle's sudden decision to move out

of your house the next day?

No. And he was gone before I had another
chance to talk to him.

Thank you, Miss Durham.

That'll be all.

Mrs. Simpson,

Mr. Durham's decision to leave his
brother's house seems to be troubling

defense counsel.

Can you throw any light on that, sir?

Yes. I made it very clear to Mrs. Durham
that his influence on Paula was an

unhealthy one. And it would be better
all around if he left for good.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson.

Yes, sir.

Are we to assume, Mr. Simpson, that it
was Mrs. Durham who ordered her brother

-in -law out?

I think it's safe to assume she felt
Paula's friendship with me was more

important than Durham's feelings. How
she accomplished his ejection, if she

I couldn't say.

I represented Rimrock Oil in obtaining
the lease from R .W. Durham eight years

ago.

That was the name on the title.

But I had no way of knowing there were
two R .W. Durhams.

When I learned this just a few months
ago, I immediately attempted to

a new lease.

Directly with the decedent? At first,
yes.

But the man had an exaggerated sense of
values.

So I wrote to the buddy he mentioned,
Mr. Fothergill, asking him to use his

offices.

Unsuccessfully, I'm afraid.

But how much of the situation did you
explain in your letter to the defendant?

Enough to suggest the amounts of money
involved.

In other words, Mr. Warden, the
defendant was fully aware that his

Durham, far from being penniless, might
be worth as much as $200 ,000.

Yes, sir.

That'll be all, Mr. Warden. Thank you
very much, sir.

Counselor, to you.

One moment, Your Honor.

Very well, Mr. Mason.

Is that true, Harry?

No, no, Mr. Mason.

No. You know, Dickie tore up that letter
before I barely laid eyes on it.

I suppose I knew there was some money
out to him, but it never occurred to me,

it might be honest.

You've got to understand, Mr. Mason,
every time that Dickie got those happy

giggles, it was like as if he wanted to
hurt somebody, you know?

He'd say, all right, if they want to
pay, let them pay.

But make them pay double.

Me, I was kind of... I'd settle for the
pub, you know?

I'd say...

All right, let's search for the pup and
be happy.

Della, get hold of Paul. I want him to
go to Bakersfield right away.

Right.

Oh, please, Mr. Mason, I ask you now.

Your man's got a friend that ain't no
good.

What's he going to do?

I mean, ditch him or stay with him and
try and keep him from being so bad?

I mean, there ain't none of us perfect
now, is there, Mr. Mason?

Mr. Mason, I'm not sure that it's
ethical for me to talk to you.

Is the district attorney going to call
you as a witness?

I don't think so. He hasn't subpoenaed
me.

Then there is no ethical or legal reason
why you shouldn't tell me how you

persuaded Dickie to leave your house.

I simply told him it was best for all
concerned.

But why would he walk out on all that
money?

He never liked involved situations.

I think he was happy to escape.

From what was he escaping when he left
20 years ago?

I don't know.

He was always footloose.

You were in love with him then, weren't
you?

Mr. Mason, I don't wish to discuss this
any further.

Did you stay in love with him?

No. No, I didn't.

Oh, before he came back, I suppose I had
a few middle -aged memories.

But after I saw him again, he was so
obviously dishonest.

But Paula was very fond of him, wasn't
she?

She was too young to know.

Oh, she remembered the Christmas
presents he'd sent her.

And you know something?

Dickie never picked out one of them. It
was Lord Harry who sent them.

I made Harry admit it.

You know, I keep finding that Harry is
much more of a person than... Oh, I

care what he is.

Was it because of Paula that you sent
Dickie away?

Please, Mr. Mason, I don't want to talk
about it.

No, I don't believe that Harry killed
him.

I don't think you do either.

Would you want to see an innocent man
convicted?

I don't want to see an innocent girl
convicted by public opinion for

that I did. Something that was my fault.

Mrs. Durham, was Dickie Paula's father?

Yes.

About a month before Dickie left
Bakersfield, we were married in Tijuana.

At least we went through a ceremony. It
wasn't recorded right or something.

At any rate, when Dickie found out,
he... he disappeared.

And just after that, you married
Russell?

He'd been in love with me for a long
time.

Does Russell know?

Of course he knows.

But not anybody else. Not until I told
Dickie.

After that, he... well, he just went
away quietly.

I guess I hoped that for once he was
going to do something decent.

Oh, Mr. Mason, does all of this have to
become public now?

Well, try to prevent it.

Thank you very much for trusting me,
Mrs. Durham.

If Paula found out, I don't know what
she'd do.

You see, she loves Russell so, as her
father.

Do you know whether Dickie spoke to
Russell about this?

Did he perhaps threaten to tell Paula,
unless he was given what he'd come here

for? Oh, no.

No, I'm sure he didn't.

Are you ready to proceed, Mr. Mason?

Your Honor, defense requests the right
to withhold cross -examination of this

witness until a later time.

I suppose that'll be all right, Your
Honor.

Call your next witness.

I call Mr. George Coleman.

Well, all I know is they seem to be in a
beef over some money.

The next thing I know, the thin one,
Durham, that is, was stalking out.

And the other guy, him, he was lying on
the floor.

Well, right away I said to myself, here
we go again, and I reached for the

phone. Only then the liney, uh, him,
says not to call the police.

He'd handle him good.

He'd handle him good, eh?

Now let's go back for a moment to the
time when the decedent Dickie Durham was

sitting by himself drinking.

Did anything unusual occur?

Well, he, uh, tapped me for some paper
in an envelope to write a letter.

Do you happen to know to whom that
letter was addressed?

Yeah, he gave it to me to mail for him.

It was to Mr. Perry Mason.

Do you wish to cross -examine,
Counselor?

No questions.

I call Miss Della Street to the stand.

You may step down, Mr. Coleman.

I'll be in Brighton early to sign the
new will.

Confusion to our enemies.

Signed, Vicki Durham.

Thank you for reading the letter, Miss
Street.

Now, this part about Paula getting the
big chunk, exactly what does that mean

you?

That he wanted Paula Durham to receive
$250 ,000.

Instead of the defendant?

Yes. But somebody conveniently murdered
Dickie Durham before he could make such

a change in his will.

Before he could manage to disinherit his
erstwhile friend, Harry Fothergill.

Isn't that correct, Miss Street?

Yes, but he still wanted to leave $50
,000. I think we understand the

implications here, Miss Street.

Do you wish to... Do you wish to cross
-examine him, Mr. Mason?

Uh, no questions.

Your Honor, with the court's indulgence,
I would now like to recall Mr. Frank

Warden for cross -examination.

Very well, Mr. Mason.

You realize, of course, that you're
still under oath.

I know.

Would you care to correct any of your
previous testimony at this time?

No. At any rate, let's review part of
your testimony.

To wit.

I had no way of knowing there were two R
.W. Durhams.

When I learned this just a few months
ago, I attempted to negotiate a new

I see nothing wrong with that.

Don't you?

Isn't it true that eight years ago,
prior to accepting Russell Durham's

signature on that lease, you made a long
and extensive search for Richard

Durham? Well, no, that's not... Mr.
Warden, would you please examine these?

There are records of a missing persons
agency in Bakersfield.

You will find there a detailed report of
the agency's effort to locate a Mr.

Richard Durham.

Also, the original letter requesting
that that search be made.

Yes.

I guess I hired these people, but I...
And then rather abruptly called off

search. But they've been so
unsuccessful.

Didn't you call it off because you
managed to find Richard Durham yourself?

No.

No, I didn't. It was his brother who
heard from him. It was Russell.

Your Honor, may I interrupt the
questionable testimony of this witness

these same questions of Mr. Russell
Durham?

Well, I have no objection to that, Your
Honor.

All right. Yes, I did hear from Dickie
eight years ago.

He was in Spain at the time, and one of
my cables caught up with him.

I'd asked if he'd be willing to put a
small lease on his land.

And what was your brother's answer, Mr.
General?

Don't bother me with songs from peanut
vendors, you said.

When John D. himself sends a million,
I'll sign.

So you then went ahead with the deal
yourself?

Yes. And you signed your own name to
those leases, making it look like

signature, so that no title search could
or would disclose your fraud?

Yes, sir.

I had to.

Why did you have to?

Because I was broke.

Because I owed money to Frank Warden.

We only thought it was a short -term
thing.

Rimrock's a speculative outfit.

We knew Russell was prepared to
reimburse Dickie if there was oil, and

ever discovered that... The fact remains
that you prevailed upon Russell Durham

to sign a fraudulent lease.

The fact remains that it was your idea,
not his.

No, it wasn't my idea.

It... It came from the head office.

The head office of a company who
participates in fraud?

Of a company whose officers I find are
all conveniently located in Texas or are

out of the country? But I tried to
negotiate with Dickie just several

when he wrote that he... You mean he
contacted you this time instead of vice

versa? And once more, I suppose you told
his brother that matters had to be

handled in a certain way. If I hadn't
handled it, I would have lost my job.

They were making me the fall guy.

Dickie kept holding out.

He'd found out somehow that Rimrock was
in trouble if he pulled away those

leases. So he wanted double value.

Isn't that why he made out a will for
more than his estate was actually worth,

because he figured he'd be paid that
much more?

He wanted half a million.

That's why he wouldn't talk to his
brother about the money.

He knew Russell couldn't pay that much,
but we couldn't pay it either.

So the only way that Rimrock Oil could
be sure of retaining the very lucrative

rights to that property was for Richard
Durham to die.

No! I had nothing to do with his death.

I wasn't Rimrock Oil. I told him so.

Everything had been taken out of my
hands.

Taken out of your hands by whom?

The guy behind Rimrock.

The guy who calls all their shots.

You said you'd take care of this thing,
Mr. Simpson.

You said I was getting too old.

Okay, it's all yours now.

Let's see you take care of it!

I already did, Mr. Warden.

I already did.

You know, when I dated Gil, he'd never
quite say where his holdings were.

My daddy didn't even know.

But Dickie knew.

Because Warden finally had to tell him
that Gil Simpson was the man he had to

deal with.

Your uncle was putting on all sorts of
pressure, I guess.

Even to his coming up here so they'd
know he was talking to a lawyer.

But Gil was just a little bit too tough
for Dickie. When they met on the pier

that night to talk settlement...

Dickie made the big mistake of
threatening Gil with a knife. They got

fight, and that was that.

Uncle Dickie really was a horrible man,
wasn't he?

Well, now, I don't think I'd quite say
that, Missy.

I mean, people are a lot of things, you
know.

And after all, he did leave you all his
money, didn't he?

You mean the first will wasn't legal?

Of course it was.

Completely valid.

So, Harry, as soon as the will can be
probated, it's you to whom the bulk of

estate will go.

What? Oh,

no, you don't. No, you don't, sir. Now,
Dickie ain't going to leave me with no

pack of troubles. That's all I wanted
was me pub. Now, it's your money, missy.

You take it. I certainly will not.

Thank you for being so nice. And thank
you very much, too. Suppose we argue

about this later.

Oh, that reminds me, Mr. Mason.

My mother sends her thanks.

I don't know exactly what for, though.

I can't imagine either.

But my thanks for her then.