Original subtitles

The cream of society is here en masse tonight.

The gowns, the jewels, and the beautiful women wearing them. Truly magnificent.

The height of elegance.

A wonderful, wonderful occasion.

Without doubt, this is the supreme highlight of our new social season.

Our artists, our designers, and decorators have outdone themselves

Fine arts, native arts, the art of haute couture, flying good -naturedly with

each other brought the attention of the warm -hearted throng.

There is only one way to describe such a superb occasion.

A triumph.

A triumph for the talented people who planned and presented it, and a triumph

for those fortunate enough to be able to attend.

Truly, this is a memorable event.

One dazzling display after another.

And proceeds from the event have been donated to sweet charity, proving that

high society, too, has a heart.

A great, big, generous heart.

It's her.

It is.

I can't believe it.

Knock it off, Carla.

I tried to tell, but they wouldn't believe me. They thought I was lying.

And there she is. There she is.

Carla.

That's all the TV for tonight.

No, you can't turn it off. I have to know who she is.

She killed him and I'm paying for it. Any more disturbances like this and

there'll be no TV for a week. You get out of my way.

Please give me a chance to save my life. Carla!

Please!

You going to take Carla's case, Mr. Tracy?

As yet, I don't know.

The judge has informed me about the disturbance she started last night and

of the background on the case.

I have agreed to talk with her, that's all.

Why is it taking so long to bring her case to trial?

Well, as the judge explained, the court -appointed attorney was balled out by

Carla when she was bound over.

A second attorney asked the judge to release him, so it's been one

after another.

Poor Carla.

It just seems as if some people were just born into trouble.

Is she difficult to handle?

All her life. From foster homes to juvenile hall to here.

But she never gave us any real trouble, of course, until last night.

What about this morning?

She's under restraint.

Well, here we are.

Carla Cheney?

Who are you?

This is Mr. Mason, Carla. The judge asked him to see you.

Oh, another lawyer. Well, I thought they'd given up on me.

Why? Because the good lawyers work for the rich ones.

For the ones who can pay.

That's why they get off and people like me get the short end.

Justice. Don't be fresh, Carla. Mr. Mason. You, uh, don't believe you'll

fair trial?

Why should it be any different from the preliminary hearing?

Oh, that was a mess. A real mess.

The court gave me a lawyer, a real winner.

And he really loused me up at good.

I hear you've been doing a pretty good job of that for yourself.

Why shouldn't I?

I've been sitting here in my dreams every night for the past four months.

Ever since she killed Jerry.

And then last night, I heard that laugh again.

Just like the first time.

The night that Jerry was killed.

And when I looked...

There she was on TV, just as big as life. There was the woman who really

Gerald Havens. Your missing witness, the one that was never found.

Who looked?

My crummy lawyer?

He was so sure that I was lying and that I'd made her up.

Therefore, I was guilty.

Let's get back to this woman.

What's it to you?

Carla, I'm going to give you just five more minutes of my time.

Your real valuable time. Exactly.

So you can either waste it or tell me your story.

It's entirely up to you.

Help me, Mr. Mason.

Give me a break.

Nobody else has ever in my life before.

She killed Jerry, not me.

Please find her.

All right, Carla.

As long as there are no more outbursts like the one in the lounge last night.

Okay, I won't.

But I'm telling you the truth, Mr. Mason.

Well, I'd say we might remove that restraint now.

Yes. And thank you, Mr. Mason.

Don't ever change the menu, Clay. You couldn't afford to defend all the

cases.

Old customers who drop dead from a shock.

Quite a comedian, your boss, isn't he?

If the law business ever slows down, he could start a whole new career.

Getting laughs.

Della, what do you know about laughs?

They're better than crying.

I'm sorry.

You were thinking about the Carla Cheney case, huh?

Tell me something, Barry.

Who's paying, Paul?

The Drake Detective Agency isn't a philanthropic institution.

Yes, I know.

And for that matter, who's paying you?

You mean, why did I decide to take the case?

Perhaps because of the way the judge talked to me.

Perhaps because of the way she looked under the restraining sheet.

Helpless, alone.

If ever a case were open and shut, why do you want to get involved?

Because among other things, I believe that truth and justice should not be

influenced by monetary gain.

I've always thought that everyone was equal before the law.

For someone in Carla's position, that might not be precisely true.

I'm late, Perry, but it took a little time to get the TV tape of the program

Carla was watching and have it transferred. And then I was buttholed by

friends outside.

And Burger tried to pump me dry.

When may we see the tape?

Just as soon as I have something to eat.

Would you like a quick rundown on the deceased, Gerald Havens?

Well, he was a cut -rate journalist, an art critic for a throwaway weekly, and

he did some catalog copywriting on the side.

Then all of a sudden, he quits his job, moves into a brand -new bachelor

hideaway, and starts living it up.

All play, no work.

And, I suppose, unavailable to his old friends.

Especially his old girlfriends.

Exactly.

So, he ends up on the bedroom floor with a knife in his chest.

Forget it, fellas.

Oh, hello,

Steve. Hello, Perry. Take my advice, Perry.

See? You won't be able to accomplish anything.

I gather you're referring to the Carla Chaney case.

Convicting Carla Chaney is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel.

As a matter of fact, by comparison, the fish has a sporting chance.

And Carla Chaney hasn't.

According to the evidence, Perry, she's right where she belongs.

Excuse me, Mr. Berger.

Judge Penner's waiting for you at the bar.

Take my advice, Perry. Forget it.

Thank you, Clay.

As a matter of fact, why don't you take the case, Perry?

I'd enjoy beating your brains out.

The A's right, Perry.

Sit down, Steve.

Thank you, Paul.

How come you and Berger are so bugged about Perry entering the case? You'll

the girl convicted before she stands trial.

Item one.

Carla Chaney has a juvenile record as long as your arm.

Item two. She was Gerald Haven's girlfriend until he threw her over and

to better things.

Item three.

Her fingerprints were found on the death weapon. An antique melee crease

belonging to the victim. And item four.

Our radio car picked her up running, less than a block away from the scene,

blood on her clothing.

Picked up because of an anonymous telephone tip.

Well, our good citizens don't seem to want to get involved these days.

Must be a trend.

What about the missing witness?

The mysterious woman?

Oh, come on now, Perry.

You don't really believe that, do you?

Fine arts, native arts, the art of haute couture, fine good -naturedly with each

other, but the attention of the warm heart is wrong.

There's only one way to describe such a suburbication, a triumph. A triumph for

the talented people who planned and presented it, and a triumph for those

fortunate enough to be able to attend.

Truly, this is a memorable event.

One dazzling display after another.

and proceeds from the event have been donated to Sweet Charity, proving that

high society, too, has a heart.

Leona DeVore.

She's beautiful.

What did you find out about Leona DeVore?

She runs the DeVore Galleries. Not only here, but San Francisco, Honolulu, and

Hong Kong.

She's got it made.

Looks, money, clothes.

And except for me, there isn't a female alive that wouldn't trade places with

Queen Leona.

That's what they call her, the queen.

This case is shaping up.

May I help you?

I was just admiring this Chinese grouping.

These pieces are not for sale.

They were only borrowed from a private collection.

They're antique and very rare.

You can see the dynasty mark.

How much would it bring if it were to be sold?

Perhaps $2 ,000.

And the cage?

$5 ,000.

May I show you something else?

Oh, actually, I came by to see Miss DeVore. My name is Perry Mason.

I'm sure Madame will be pleased to meet you.

Will you come with me, please?

Please wait here just a moment.

I'm Fiona DeVore, Mr. Mason.

I saw your picture in this morning's paper.

You're defending the woman who killed Gerald Havens.

The woman accused of killing him, Miss DeVore.

You knew Havens?

Slightly. Roan Daniel, the interior designer, brought him in.

Havens wrote some catalog copy for me.

I see you're intrigued by the melee crease.

I'm intrigued by everything I see here.

I wish I could have attended your opening last night.

I almost didn't make it myself.

I've been in the Far East for the past six months.

I was fortunate in catching a last -minute connection out of Honolulu.

Then you wouldn't be able to tell me... Tell you what?

Tell me much about Gerald Havens.

The transcript of the preliminary hearing showed that he was here the day

murder.

I didn't know that.

Come, let me show you my play.

Hey, watch it. It's a museum piece.

You know what it's worth?

I turned down $3 ,000 for it.

You know, since I've been good enough to do this place for next to nothing as a

favor to Leona, and then lend and borrow priceless objects for the opening, the

least you could do would be to have somebody responsible supervise.

Your ears must be burning, Roan.

Why? The way Mr. Mason's been praising your work.

Mr. Mason, Mr. Daniel.

How do you do?

Hello. Roan designed my place.

Beautifully, I think.

Yes, it's extremely well done.

Don't tell me. Tell your friends.

I will.

Leona, how nice to see you.

Peter Stang, Perry Mason.

How do you do?

I suppose you hear about the tickets, Peter.

The tickets?

They're not going too well.

After all, $50 apiece for charity, don't expect standing room only.

What sort of event is it?

Is there a benefit affair tomorrow night at my estate, Mr. Del Pajaro?

Everything will be of the very best, of course.

Everyone who was here at the opening last night promised to attend, did they

not? Perhaps I might help.

I missed the DeVore Gallery's opening.

Very worthy charity.

My dear fellow, you're not obliged to. My pleasure.

And since Miss DeVore will be present, the company will certainly be charming.

Well, it's...

It's very generous of you, Mr. Mason.

You understand, of course, it's the charity that's important.

You're not obligated to attend.

Oh, I'm looking forward to it.

Looking forward to it, Mr. Stanton.

Yes, Della?

Paul just sent these photos over. He said you'd know what they are.

All right.

This is what I've been waiting for.

Della, would you pick these up for me?

You may have to go to the university library.

Mm -hmm.

The Empress Navy by D .P.

Larchmont. That could be D .D. You'll have to check.

And the Boxer Era by Chen Wu.

That's the Fitzpatrick translation.

Where are you off to?

Jail. Oh, you be a good girl and I'll take you to a party tomorrow night.

tie.

I'll get one.

Make another note.

Reminiscences of the horse marines by Mordecai Rappahannock Terwilliger.

Which Mordecai Rappahannock Terwilliger?

My senior.

These are blow -ups of individual frames of the television show you watched the

other night.

Your mysterious woman should be in one of them.

There she is.

The one right there.

You're sure?

You only saw her once, you know, by moonlight.

That was enough.

Oh, wait a minute.

Oh, wait.

That's the one right there.

There she is.

A moment ago, you were just as sure it was this one.

Well, look how much they look alike.

No, it's this one.

It can't be.

Why not?

Because she wasn't here when Havens was killed. Now, if it had been this

woman... But it wasn't. It's this one. I'm sure it was. I'm positive.

I couldn't possibly be wrong.

All right.

All right, let's go over it once more.

Now, you testified that you went to Gerald Havens' bungalow in the hills.

Now, why?

My landlady left me a phone message.

I was supposed to be there at nine o 'clock that night.

You hadn't been in touch with him for months. At the minute you were called,

rushed to see him.

Again, why?

I never did have much sense when it came to men.

Besides, Jerry was kind of special.

So you went there and found him in the bedroom?

With that terrible -looking knife in his chest.

Oh, I was terrified.

I guess I grabbed the knife and I pulled it out.

Then I heard something.

I looked up and there she was outside.

She turned away and I ran to the window.

Then I heard a car start.

And then the headlights, they flashed on the house.

And then I heard that laugh, that terrible laugh.

The laugh you heard on television.

And there she is.

Right there.

Believe me.

Carla, the way things are, I just can't.

Then get out.

Why bother? What's the point?

I was beginning to think you were a little different from the rest.

But I can see you think I'm lying just like everybody else does.

Reminiscences of a horse marine.

Is it really that good?

Oh, Mordecai Robert Haddock Terwilliger Sr.

is fascinating.

Cheers, Mr. Mason.

America's next great new comedy discovery, my nephew, Lenny Linden.

This is Mr. Street and Mr. Perry Mason.

He'll get you a million laughs.

Laughs? A bit of your material, nephew, just a tiny sample.

Sure, sure.

You know, I got another uncle, too.

He's a geneticist.

A what?

He crossed a bumblebee with a doorbell.

You know what he got?

The hunting.

He has a veritable storehouse like that.

All solid yachts.

Clay, may I have a martini glass, please? Sure.

We're all set.

I'll be out in the panel truck with a recorder, and you are going to have to

stick to martinis. Nothing but martinis.

I must, I must.

This, Elliot, is actually a submicrotransmitter, and the toothpick

pointed toward the one speaking.

Or laughing.

Charmed to have met you, Miss Street.

Hope you have a lovely time.

Thank you.

Thank

you.

Cheers.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

And any of you hear the definition of a pedestrian?

That's a husband who decided the family only needed one car.

This boy's smart.

Wait till I get in with Clay.

Nothing but young.

Mr. Mason, so nice to see you again.

Thank you. Thank you, Miss Joseph.

This is Miss Dulles -Street. How do you do? Hello.

Professor Toby, Miss Street, and Mr. Perry Mason.

I have heard of you, Mr. Mason.

Interesting, the power of speech to move jurors, is it not?

I'd rather depend on evidence.

It's safer and much more sure.

You're interested in speech, Professor?

Oh, more than that. I've dedicated my whole life to it.

Sounds fascinating.

Yes, very.

Shall we find you a drink, Professor?

Why is Miss DeBoer?

You can be very sure she'll be here.

As I say, Miss Street, if you realize that the characteristic modulations of

human voice, no matter what sound it's making, are as distinctive and

as fingerprints.

Acoustics, too, are important in shaping the tone.

You know, today, so few designers of homes or architects worry about them.

When Rone Daniel built his dream house, I prepared a complete acoustical

analysis. Is that the house where Gerald Havens was murdered?

Yes, it is.

It almost puzzled me why Mr. Daniel, after designing and building the perfect

dwelling, should allow somebody else to live in it.

Oh, Rone. Even for a designer, you are something else.

Maybe you better take me seriously.

Is something wrong?

I know. No, it's just...

You

enjoying yourself, Mr. Mason?

That young guest of yours, Lyndon, he's a riot.

Haven't laughed so much in years.

Humdinger, what?

That's it.

You got it, Perry.

That's got to be it.

I heard it on the headset in the truck. I thought we had it made.

So we know whoever laughed was a guest at Stang's party, and that's about all

know.

lost that transmitter.

By the time I found it again, it was too late.

Perry, remember that funny man at the party?

Lenny Linden? Funny? No, no. The speech expert.

Professor, uh... Toby? Toby.

He says he can tell all about a person just by hearing and analyzing the sounds

that they've made.

Recorded sounds, too?

Mm -hmm.

What do you think, Paul?

What can we lose?

All right, then.

Now, the first thing in the morning...

Call the professor and find out when I can see him. Right.

You know, the victim, Gerald Haven, still bothers me.

He came up in the world too fast.

Driving a $5 ,000 car and moving into a fancy new home?

Here, take a look at this.

Do you have any idea what it took me to get my hands on that financial

statement?

This is something.

Fine job, Paul.

A break?

According to this report, the DeVore Gallery is a couple of years ago or

anything but a sensational success.

Since then, the queen, the lady tycoon, has been only a figurehead.

The front.

Can we prove that?

I don't know.

Here's a photocopy of Leona's bank statements for the past year.

Regular deposits twice a month.

See if you can find out if she deposited checks or cash, and if checks, who

signed them.

Paul, what's this?

Where?

$10 ,000.

Withdrawn one day and deposited the next.

And notice those dates.

So you were in the house with Gerald Havens at 8 o 'clock shortly before he

killed when the phone rang?

Yes, sir.

Now, do you know who was making that call?

Objection. The district attorney is asking for a conclusion on the part of

witness. Sustained. I'll rephrase the question, Your Honor.

Mr. Daniel...

Did the decedent mention the name of the defendant, Carla Chaney, in connection

with that particular phone call?

Objection. I'm going to allow that, solely for the limited purpose of

the decedent's state of mind.

Answer the question.

Well, I heard him say something like, I'm not afraid of you, and, baby, I

like threats.

He seemed very upset.

Since you told me Carla was bothering him, I figured it was her.

I object, Your Honor.

Sustained.

Right? Mr. Daniel, what happened after that phone call?

Well, then he made out a check for the rent, and I left.

So you left the house about 8 o 'clock, knowing that the decedent Gerald Havens

was expecting trouble from an unknown source, and an hour later he was dead.

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Daniel, would you tell the court what it cost to build your house?

Your Honor.

I'm sure that learned counsel's proposed expedition into real estate prices and

construction costs would prove illuminating, but I'm wondering if it

relevant to the present case.

I've been wondering about that myself, Mr. Mason.

Can you connect it up?

Yes, Your Honor.

Very well.

Mr. Daniel, answer the question.

Well, the house cost $60 ,000, more or less.

And after all your care in designing and building... You let Gerald Havens have

the house instead of taking it yourself. Why, Mr. Daniel?

It was my house. I could do what I liked.

Besides, Gerald was a friend. I did him a favor.

What favor did he do you in return?

Your Honor, I object to this whole line of questions. I withdraw the question.

I'm through with the witness for now.

Allow me to sum up your testimony so far, Mr. O'Sinn.

You stated, I believe, that...

The decedent, Gerald Havens, told you on a number of occasions that he had not

seen the defendant for four months. Is that correct?

That is correct, sir.

And that he was, I believe you used the phrase, through with her?

Yes, sir. And that knowing her violent temper, he was actually physically

of her?

Yes, sir. Did he ever say anything to you to indicate that attitude?

He said, Carla's a tough little cookie.

She'll cut your throat if you cross her. Thank you, Miss Chosin.

Yours, Mr. Mason.

Since he apparently confided in you, Miss Chosin, I assume you and the

were close.

Well, we were acquaintances.

But you did say you saw him on more than one occasion.

More than one occasion.

May I refresh your memory?

Wouldn't it be more accurate to make that several occasions?

Perhaps. Or even frequent occasions?

Yes. And in various places?

Yes. At your apartment, even? At the house in which he was murdered?

Yes, sir.

Objection, Your Honor.

I object to this whole line of questioning on the grounds that the

prosecution... has not yet had an opportunity to examine this exhibit that

counsel apparently intends to introduce.

The mason?

Your Honor, I have no intention of introducing any exhibit at this time.

Now then, Miss Chosin, you testify that you and the defendant were, I believe

you said, acquaintances.

But wouldn't it be more accurate to describe you as the defendant's

the affections of the deceased?

I suppose.

Now, you testified that you last saw Gerald Havens alive the afternoon of the

day he was murdered.

Where was that?

He came to the gallery.

Why? To pick up the Quartin cage.

By pick up, you mean to purchase it?

Um, not exactly.

To borrow it?

No. Then what sort of transaction was it?

I don't presume you're in the habit of allowing people, even intimate friends,

to... Objection.

Sustained. Even good friends to wander in and just pick up $5 ,000 Oriental

relics. He signed a receipt.

What did your employer say to such a transaction?

Miss DeVore was in the Orient. She didn't know.

I'm not referring to Miss DeVore. I said your employer.

She was... Not she, Miss Chosin. He.

The actual power. The owner of DeVore Galleries.

What did Peter Stang say about it?

Your Honor, may we approach the bench?

All right, gentlemen.

Your Honor, the prosecution has been more than patient with Mr.

Mason and in his various excursions into rent collecting, business and finance,

and now corporate ownership.

But I thought we were trying a murder case.

Your Honor...

I believe my reasons will become clear during the presentation of our defense.

There are complexities to this case. Well, I'm not going to allow any more of

this far -ranging cross -examination.

So if that's your intent with this witness... I'll excuse the witness, Your

Honor. Subject to recall.

In that case, Your Honor, the testimony of this witness concludes the case for

the prosecution.

Very well.

I see we have about 45 minutes before recess.

Would you like to call your first witness, Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

The defense will call Miss Leona DeVore.

Yes, Mr. Mason, I understand why you've had me designated as a hostile witness.

So you'll be free to ask leading questions.

Now then, Miss DeVore, you testified that at the time of the murder, you were

thousands of miles away and... Where was it you said?

Honolulu. Oh, yes.

Yes, Honolulu.

Mr. Vore, perjury is an ugly word.

I'm offering you a chance, a last opportunity to correct anything you've

As I told you before, I was doing a great deal of buying in Honolulu.

Is that why you withdrew $10 ,000 from your Honolulu bank on the day Havens was

killed?

I guess so.

Then why did you redeposit the same amount the next day?

I... I don't remember.

Your Honor, there certainly has been no proper foundation for this line of

questioning. Mr. Berger, I can have this photocopy of Miss DeBoer's

bank statement attested to and bring in the bank teller who witnessed her

signature and the bank officer who verified it, identified the customer,

authorized the counter -check withdrawal.

That won't be necessary, Mr. Mason.

We'll stipulate.

Mr. Vore.

Mr. Vore, I'm a patient man.

If you want me to present in evidence a record of your airline reservations from

Hawaii to Los Angeles that day, I'll do so. If you want me to call the

stewardess who talked to you on the flight back to the islands, I'll

you. If you want to see the record showing your three -hour car rental in

Angeles... It's true.

I did fly back from Honolulu that day.

Why did you come back, Miss DeVore?

All the way from the islands without telling anyone?

Not to murder Gerald Havens. But you did go to his home that night to see him.

Now why?

Havens called me that morning.

Gave me no choice.

He said he had proof, evidence.

He said he was going to go to the police.

I begged him to wait to give me a chance to fly back and talk to him.

He agreed to wait until that night.

Well, I had to fly back to plead with him to... Well, to try to pay him to

him quiet so I wouldn't lose everything.

I drew $10 ,000 out of my account.

I flew back here.

I rented a car and drove straight to his home.

And arrived unannounced when, so far as anyone knew, you were thousands of miles

away.

You stood there with motive, opportunity, and an excellent alibi

Your Honor, at this time, I have no further questions.

Well, she's your witness, Mr. Mason.

Let's see, it's almost time for recess.

If it please the court, I should like to start this cross -examination at once.

Very well, Mr. Berger.

All right, Mr. Vore, you now say that you drove to Gerald Haven's house on the

night of the murder.

Did you go in?

No. Why not?

I looked in the window.

I wanted to see if he was alone.

And what did you see through that window?

I saw her.

No, you killed him!

Go on, Miss DeBoer, what did you do then?

I ran back to the car and started off.

And then as the light swept across the house, I heard her laugh.

A mad, hysterical laugh.

I can still hear it. I can still see her on her knees beside the body, holding

the bloody crease in her hand like this.

It's no use.

It's all gone.

Everything I'd worked for, everything I thought I was.

Queen Leona.

You did that to me in court today.

No.

No, you did it to yourself by running away after the murder instead of

it to the police.

All I could think of was to run back to Honolulu before anyone saw me or knew

I'd been back at all.

I'm not proud of what I did.

If they'd arrested anyone else, the wrong person, I would have come forward,

believe me, but they didn't. They arrested that girl.

So you found her guilty without trial before the judge or jury had even heard

her case.

You became her judge and jury.

Now, what do you call that, Mr. Bohr, the divine right of royalty?

I deserve that.

But, Mr. Mason, I was caught.

Caught in a dirty mess I couldn't control or fight.

I thought it might be my chance to get out once and for all.

And then when I found that he'd been murdered, when I realized that I'd

on something far worse than blackmail, I panicked.

Miss DeVore, I think you're basically a decent woman.

A woman admired and respected.

And faced with the prospect of losing that respect and admiration.

But that doesn't excuse your withholding evidence.

It doesn't excuse your not giving that girl the opportunity of a fair trial.

What do you want me to do?

Now, that was the laugh which Mr. Vore and the defendant both claimed to have

heard at the murder scene.

Now, Professor Tobey, would you tell the jury to which of the women that laugh

belongs?

Neither one of them.

That's based on my calculations and spectrometric analysis of the secondary

frequencies. Then there was a third party at the scene of the murder.

It seems so, Mr. Mason.

There's the question, of course, of why such a time at a murder scene.

The pitch of the sound suggests hysteria.

Thank you, Professor.

No further questions at the moment.

It was a simple business transaction. My accountants told me a loss carried

forward might be useful.

And that was your only reason for investing in the near -bankrupt DeVore

Galleries?

Well, no, sir. You see, um...

I have been a collector of art objects for many years, and, well, I felt that

with careful management, the business might be saved.

And that was why you employed Roan Daniel as an art expert and chose him as

manager of the gallery?

Yes, sir.

Your Honor, I beg the indulgence of the court at this time.

The exhibits which you agreed could be brought in have arrived.

This is a melee crease.

Deadly. Very precious.

It was made for the 5th Sultan of Zulu.

You're sure it's authentic?

Oh, absolutely, beyond a doubt.

And that screen?

That's a rare Oriental masterpiece from the Shalimar region. Almost priceless.

You are generally considered an authority on Oriental art and design,

Daniel. Mr. Stang depended on your knowledge?

That's true, yes.

Do you recognize this?

Yes, that's the Quatin cage.

A very rare piece.

According to my authority, Dr. Larchmont, in his book, The Empress

there were three of those cages.

Oh, that's true.

One is in the Summer Palace in Peking, and the other is in the Royal Museum in

London. And the third?

Well, that's the third.

Are you sure, Mr. Daniel?

As a recognized authority, you must have examined the dynasty marks.

The marks on that cage are completely at variance with those described by Dr.

Larchmont.

Well, that doesn't prove anything.

Oh, I think it does, Mr. Daniel.

I think it does.

I ran out of the Empress's palace carrying this fancy cage, one of three

I saw the boxer throw the grenade, so I held up the cage to deflect it and I

dived for cover. The grenade blew the cage all to pieces, but I came out of it

without a scratch.

Mordecai R. Terwilliger, a veteran of the Boxer Rebellion and his book,

Reminiscences of a Horse Marine.

You know what that means, Mr. Daniel?

That cage is not one of the Quatin Trio. It's a counterfeit, a fake.

Your Honor, we have already been subjected to the spectacle of the

attorney badgering and discrediting his own witness. But this is no longer a

simple murder case.

This is turning into a comic opera.

You're perfectly right, Mr. Berger. This is not a simple murder case.

It's a case of elaborate deception and fraud, dealing in counterfeit art

objects, leading to blackmail and only then to murder. I hope you can clarify,

Mr. Mason.

You've completely lost me, and I'm sure the jury is probably even more confused.

I assure you, Your Honor, that I'll connect it all up.

Then you admit the Quartin cage was a fake?

Not a fake, Mr. Mason, a reproduction.

Intended to be sold as a reproduction.

When I heard it had been taken from the galleries by Mr. Havens, I was

determined to get it back.

And you did get it back?

Yes.

When, Mr. Stang?

Oh, in the late afternoon. I'm not quite sure of the time, but it was still

light. Of that I am sure.

Now, what did you do with this spurious masterpiece after taking it from his

house? I took it to my home. You see, I could never return it to the galleries.

It might have been sold again by mistake.

That may have been the way it happened, Mr. Stang.

But suppose it wasn't.

Suppose the shrewd businessman foresaw a huge profit by...

Manufacturing in the Orient quantities of counterfeit art objects.

Ridiculous. Perhaps, Mr. Stang, but suppose he obscured his operation by

such reproductions with a legitimate inventory.

Suppose he enlisted the services of a famous designer and decorator to

authenticate these fakes.

Suppose on the strength of a respected gallery's name he distributed the phony

curios to dozens of outlets throughout the country.

Your Honor, I'll have to object.

Mr. Mason is now engaging in the sheerest speculation by presenting this

of rhetorical and purely hypothetical questions.

Your Honor, I have assured the court that I would be able to connect up the

testimony. I intend to do that now.

Objection overruled.

Mr. Stang...

Did you take over the DeVore Galleries as a front?

I resent your insinuations.

And then did Gerald Havens discover the forgeries, take the counterfeit cage,

and attempt to blackmail you? And did you then call him on the phone and

threaten him? I did not threaten, no.

But you did call him. I simply did. They sang.

The jury has already heard the testimony about the phone call.

Now, isn't it true that Gerald Havens was...

ready to go to the police, and that you went to his home after setting up a

jealous ex -girlfriend as the patsy. So that's how I got the message.

Well, Mr. Stang, it was an almost foolproof plan.

Except that Leona Devorah returned to attempt to pay off Havens before you

get away with the evidence.

As I told you, I went to Mr. Havens' house that afternoon, hours before the

murder, to recover the Quartin cage.

Mr. Mason...

I know it would make it very simple for you if I admitted this fabrication of

yours, but what you suggest is ridiculous.

And without a witness, difficult to prove.

But it so happens there was a witness. A witness whose presence has been

established by both Carla Chaney and Leona DeVore and indicated by

Professor Tobey's testimony.

A witness who can prove you are lying, Mr. Stang.

Now there's our third witness.

He laughed just now because light reached him.

Just as he laughed that night when the headlight struck his cage.

He was outside where you'd left him.

When you heard Leona DeVore's car come in.

That was after you murdered Gerald Haven.

Della, would you bring in the Carla Cheney account, please?

Like I said, I don't want no charity.

I want to pay my way like everybody else does.

Now, the way I worked it out is you probably had some expenses, like for

calls and gasoline.

And Mr. Drake's probably expensive, and then there's odds and ends.

So for expenses, I put down $75.

Now, I know you don't come cheap, so I figure for four days in court, that's

a day, and altogether it comes to $175.

Expense is $100.

Four days in court at $15 a day, that's $160.

Then that'll square us.

That'll square us.

Here's $10 to start.

And as soon as I start working, Mr. Mason, I'll send you $10 every week. You

count on it.

You're the first one ever to help me in my life.

Ever, Mr. Mason.

I... You're okay.

I don't believe it.

I could swear that was Carla Chaney, and there's a possibility there were tears

in her eyes.

I'll deposit this.

Now, Della, just send the money each week to the police juvenile fund, but

in my name.

Whose name?

How about Mordecai Rappahannock Terwilliger, senior.