Original subtitles

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.