The Case of the Sulky Girl пм-2

by Эрл Стенли Гарднер

  "That is the ruling of the court, Mr. Crinston."

  "Very well. I returned in the automobile, reentered the house, and found Mr. Norton's body as described, whereupon I notified the police."

  "Crossexamine," snapped Claude Drumm unexpectedly, turning to Perry Mason.

  Perry Mason surveyed Arthur Crinston with an expressionless face for a few seconds, then said abruptly: "You had been in conversation with Mr. Norton during the evening?"

  "Yes. I had an appointment and was a few minutes late for that appointment. I arrived there at six minutes past eleven, I think."

  "What," asked Perry Mason, "did you talk with Mr. Norton about?"

  Arthur Crinston made a swift grimace and shook his head at Perry Mason. The gesture seemed to be one of warning.

  Claude Drumm, who had jumped to his feet to object, caught that gesture of warning, and suddenly smiled. He sat down.

  Arthur Crinston looked at Judge Markham.

  "Answer the question," said Perry Mason.

  Arthur Crinston blurted: "You don't want to have me answer that question."

  Judge Markham banged with his gavel on the desk.

  "Is there any objection, Mr. Drumm?" he asked.

  The Deputy District Attorney shook his head smilingly. "None whatever," he said. "Let the witness answer the question."

  "Answer the question," said Judge Markham.

  Crinston fidgeted.

  "Your Honor," he blurted, "it isn't to the advantage of the defendant, Frances Celane, that I should testify to what was said, and Perry Mason has reason to know that. I don't know what his idea is in asking any such question…"

  The gavel of Judge Markham banged upon the desk.

  "The witness," he said, in tones of icy frigidity, "will confine his comments to the answers of such questions as may be asked of him. The witness certainly should know that any such statement coming in court, particularly in a trial of this nature, is a contempt of court. The jury are admonished to disregard that statement, and are admonished to disregard any statements of the witnesses except those which are elicited as a part of the testimony. Mr. Crinston, you will answer that question or be held in contempt of court."

  "We talked," said Crinston in a low voice, "about an attempt that had been made to blackmail Miss Celane."

  A grin of triumph suffused Claude Drumm's face.

  "An attempt at blackmail, made by the housekeeper. Mrs. Mayfield?" asked Perry Mason.

  The grin faded from Claude Drumm's face. He jumped to his feet. "Your Honor," he said, "that is objected to as incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial, leading and suggestive. Counsel well knows that Mrs. Mayfield is an important witness for the prosecution in this case, and this is an attempt to discredit her…"

  "Leading questions are permitted upon crossexamination," said Judge Markham. "You did not object when Counsel asked the witness as to what the conversation consisted of, and since this is crossexamination, I am going to permit the question."

  Claude Drumm slowly sat down.

  Crinston squirmed uncomfortably in the chair.

  "Mrs. Mayfield's name was not mentioned," he said at length, in a low voice.

  "You're certain of that?" asked Perry Mason.

  "Well," said Crinston, "it might have been mentioned as a possibility."

  "Oh," said Perry Mason, "so it was mentioned as a possibility? Is that right?"

  "It might have been," said Crinston.

  Perry Mason abruptly shifted his attack.

  "Edward Norton had secured rather a large sum of money during the day of October twentythird in one thousand dollar bills, had he not, Mr. Crinston?"

  "So I understand," said Crinston, surlily.

  "You didn't secure that money for him?"

  "No, sir."

  "Did you go to any of the banks during that day in which the firm of Crinston & Norton had an account?"

  Arthur Crinston scowled thoughtfully.

  "Yes," he said, "I did."

  "Which bank?"

  "The Wheeler's Trust and Savings Bank."

  "Whom did you talk with there?"

  Suddenly Crinston's face changed color.

  "I would prefer," he said, "not to answer that question." Claude Drumm jumped to his feet.

  "The question is objected to," he said, "as incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial, and not proper crossexamination."

  Perry Mason smiled, a slow, drawling smile.

  "Your Honor," he drawled, "if I may present a brief argument?"

  "Very well," said Judge Markham.

  "This witness has testified on direct examination that he was a surviving partner of Crinston & Norton. I let that question go in, although it probably calls for a conclusion of the witness. But I have the right to crossexamine him as to his activities as a copartner, and the reasons upon which that conclusion was founded."

  "Not at a remote time," said Judge Markham.

  "No, sir," said Perry Mason. "That is why I am confining the question to the date of October twentythird—the day of the death."

  Judge Markham stared at Perry Mason with eyes that were suddenly hard and wary.

  Mason returned the gaze, his eyes wide with candor.

  Claude Drumm was on his feet.

  "The partnership affairs have nothing whatever to do with it," he said.

  "But," said Judge Markham, "you, yourself, qualified him as a member of a partnership."

  "But only for the purpose of showing the intimacy of his acquaintance, Your Honor."

  Judge Markham shook his head.

  "I am not convinced," he said, "that the question is proper crossexamination, but in a case of this nature I am going to err, if at all, on the side of the defendants. The witness will answer the question."

  "Answer the question, Mr. Crinston," said Perry Mason. "Whom did you talk with?"

  "With Mr. Sherman, the president."

  "And what did you talk with him about?"

  "About the partnership business."

  "You talked with him about meeting the indebtedness of approximately nine hundred thousand dollars which the partnership had with that bank, did you not; an indebtedness which, as I understand the facts, was evidenced by notes which had been signed by you as an individual alone, isn't that right?"

  "No sir, that is not right. Those notes were partnership notes, signed by Crinston & Norton."

  "That is, signed by the partnership name of Crinston & Norton, per Arthur Crinston. Isn't that right?"

  "I think that is right," said Arthur Crinston. "The main business of the partnership, as far as banking activities were concerned, was transacted by me; that is, I signed the partnership name to notes, although in a majority of instances the checks were signed by both of us. No, I'll amend that statement. I guess that the Wheeler's Trust and Savings Bank notes were signed with the partnership name per myself, and that checks were drawn out in the same way."

  "You went out to Mr. Norton's house to see him about the maturity of those notes, did you not?"

  "That is correct."

  "Then," said Perry Mason, "how did it happen that you talked about the blackmailing of Frances Celane by the housekeeper?"

  "I didn't say it was by the housekeeper," snapped Arthur Crinston. "I said that her name was mentioned as a possibility."

  "I see," said Perry Mason. "My mistake. Go ahead and answer the question."

  "Because," said Crinston, "the business matter relating to those notes occupied but a few minutes of our discussion. The question of his niece's being blackmailed weighed very heavily on Mr. Norton's mind, and he insisted upon postponing all further business discussion in order to ask my advice about that."

  "And why did he say she was being blackmailed?" asked Perry Mason.

  "He thought that she was being blackmailed over something she had done."

  "Naturally," said Perry Mason. "Did he mention what it was?"

  "No, I don't think he did."

  "Did he mention what it might have bee
n?"

  "He mentioned that she had an ungovernable temper," said Crinston suddenly, and then bit his lip and said: "Wait a minute, I'll withdraw that. I don't think he said that. That was my mistake."

  "Your mistake," asked Mason, "or are you trying to protect the defendant, Frances Celane?"

  Crinston's face purpled.

  "I'm trying to protect her a lot better than you are!" he roared.

  Judge Markham's gavel banged upon his desk.

  "Mr. Crinston," he said, "the court cautioned you once before. The court now pronounces you in contempt of court, and assesses a fine of one hundred dollars for contempt of court."

  Crinston, his face purple, bowed his head.

  "Proceed with the case," said Judge Markham.

  "Was anything else discussed by you and Mr. Norton, save the matter of indebtedness to the bank, the partnership affairs, and the possibility that his niece was being blackmailed?"

  "No, sir," said Arthur Crinston, evidently with relief that the question was no more searching as to the possibilities of the blackmail.

  Perry Mason smiled urbanely.

  "I may desire to recall Mr. Crinston for further crossexamination later on, Your Honor," he said, "but I have no more questions at the present time."

  Judge Markham nodded.

  "Any redirect?" he asked.

  "Not at this time," said Claude Drumm, "but if counsel reserves the right to recall the witness for further crossexamination, I would like to reserve the right to recall the witness for further redirect examination."

  "Granted," snapped Judge Markham. "Proceed."

  Claude Drumm raised his voice dramatically.

  "Call Mr. Don Graves," he said.

  Don Graves arose and pushed his way forward, while the spectators turned to exchange swiftly whispered comments. The murder trial was proceeding with a dispatch which was unusual, and the attorney for the defense seemed to be overlooking many opportunities in his crossexamination.

  Yet those who knew Perry Mason knew him as one whose trial technique was a byword among attorneys.

  And it was equally apparent that Judge Markham was mystified, as well as the spectators. From time to time, his eyes dwelt upon the placid face of Perry Mason with thoughtful speculation.

  Don Graves cleared his throat and looked expectantly at Claude Drumm.

  "Your name is Don Graves, and you were employed on the twentythird of October of this year, and had been employed for some time prior thereto, as the confidential secretary of Mr. Edward Norton?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "You were with Mr. Norton on the evening of October twentythird?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "When did you last see him on that evening?"

  "At approximately eleven thirty in the evening."

  "You had seen him before that?"

  "Oh, yes. Mr. Crinston left about eleven twentyseven or eleven twentyeight, and Mr. Norton came out of his private office when Mr. Crinston left. They talked for a minute or two and Mr. Norton asked me to get some papers which Mr. Crinston had at his house."

  "Then what happened?" asked Claude Drumm.

  "Then Mr. Crinston went downstairs, and Mr. Norton told me to call Mr. Peter Devoe, the chauffeur, and get him to drive me to Crinston's residence. Then, just as I was starting for the stairs, he said: 'Wait a minute. I have an other idea, or words to that effect, and went to the window and called down to Mr. Crinston to ask if I could accompany him.

  "Mr. Crinston said that he was with Judge Purley and would have to get Judge Purley's permission, and I, knowing that Judge Purley would give his permission and that time was valuable, ran down the stairs and was just coming out of the front door when Mr. Crinston called up that Judge Purley said he would be glad to accommodate me.

  "I ran across and got in Judge Purley's automobile, getting in the rear seat, and then Judge Purley started the automobile and we drove up the winding road until we came to a spot, the approximate location of which Judge Purley has marked on the map."

  "And then what happened?"

  "At that point," said Don Graves dramatically, "I turned and looked back, and saw through the rear window of the automobile into the study window of Edward Norton."

  "And what did you see?" purred Claude Drumm.

  "I saw a figure raise a club and strike Mr. Norton on the head."

  "Could you recognize who that person was?"

  "I thought I could," he said.

  "Who did you think it was?" asked Drumm.

  "Just a minute," said Perry Mason, "that is objected to as calling for a conclusion of the witness, and as leading and suggestive. The witness has stated that he thought he could make the identification."

  Judge Markham looked at Perry Mason as though expecting to hear an extended argument upon this crucial point. There was no argument.

  He looked at Claude Drumm.

  Claude Drumm shrugged his shoulders.

  "He has stated that in his opinion he could make an identification," he said. "The word 'thought' is merely a colloquial expression."

  "You'd better clear the matter up," said Judge Markham.

  "Very well," said Claude Drumm.

  "Mr. Graves," he said, "you say that you thought you could identify the witness. Just what do you mean by that?"

  "I believe," said Don Graves, "that I know who that man was. I think that I recognized him. I did not see his face clearly, but I think that I could recognize him by the manner in which he held his head, from his shoulders and the general outline of his body."

  "That is sufficient, if the court please," said Claude Drumm. "A man doesn't need to see the facial characteristics of another in order to make an identification. The objection goes to the weight, rather than the admissibility of the evidence."

  Judge Markham looked expectantly at Perry Mason.

  Perry Mason said nothing.

  "I will overrule the objection," said Judge Markham. "Answer the question, young man."

  "That man was Robert Gleason," said Don Graves in a low voice.

  "Was there anyone else in the room?" asked Claude Drumm.

  "Yes, sir."

  "Who was that other person?"

  "A woman, sir, who was attired in a pink garment of some sort."

  "Could you see that woman?"

  "I saw part of her shoulder, just a bit of her hair, and her arm."

  "Could you recognize that woman from what you saw of her?"

  Judge Markham interrupted.

  "I think, counselor," he said, "that while I permitted the first identification upon the ground that the objection went to the weight rather than the admissibility of the evidence, that where a witness can see only a relatively small portion of a woman's figure at the distance which was shown upon this map, the objection really should go to the weight as well as the admissibility of the evidence, and I will sustain the objection as to the identity of the woman."

  "Your Honor," said Perry Mason softly, "there was no objection made as to the identity of the woman."

  "No objection?" said Judge Markham.

  "None, Your Honor," said Perry Mason.

  "Very well," said Judge Markham, "I shall sustain an objection if one is made."

  "There will be none made," said Perry Mason.

  A rustle sounded throughout the courtroom.

  "Very well," snapped Judge Markham, his face purpling, "answer the question."

  "Yes, sir," said Don Graves. "I think that that woman was Frances Celane. I am not as certain in her case as I was in the case of the man, but I think it was Frances Celane. She was dressed like Frances Celane, and the color of her hair, and the contour of her shoulder made me think it was Frances Celane."

  "How long have you known Frances Celane?" asked Claude Drumm.

  "For more than three years."

  "You have lived in the same house with her?

  "Yes sir."

  "Did she, at that time, to your knowledge, have a dress or some garment of the color which you saw upo
n the woman who was standing in that room?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Very well," said Claude Drumm. "What did you do, if anything?"

  "I told the other gentlemen what I had seen, and asked them to turn the car around."

  "I will strike that out on my own motion," said Judge Markham. "It is incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial. The question is what the witness did next, with reference to what had taken place in this room. Conversations between parties outside of the presence of the defendant which are not part of the res gestae will not be permitted."

  "Very well," said Claude Drumm. "Then what happened? What did you do with reference to Mr. Edward Norton?"

  "I returned to the house, climbed the stairs to his study, and found his body slumped across the desk, with the top of his head beaten in," said Don Graves.

  "Crossexamine," snapped Claude Drumm.

  Perry Mason got to his feet and stared slowly and fixedly at Don Graves. An electric tension ran around the courtroom. The spectators sensed that this was to be the crucial part of the trial.

  "Your eyes are in good condition?" asked Perry Mason.

  "Yes."

  "You think that you were able to sit in a speeding automobile at this point on the road, and, in the momentary glance which you had through the rear of the automobile, recognize the occupants of the room in that study?"

  "Yes, sir. I know I could."

  "How do you know it?"

  "Because I saw them at that time, and because in order to test my own ability, I have made subsequent tests."

  "The last part of that answer may go out," snapped Judge Markham.

  "There was no motion to strike it out," said Perry Mason. "If the court please, I would like to follow that point up."

  "Very well," said Judge Markham.

  "You say you have made subsequent tests?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "In an automobile?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "With occupants in the room?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Who were the occupants in the room?"

  "Mr. Drumm, the Deputy District Attorney, and two people from his office."

  "You were able to recognize those people?"

  "Yes, sir. You see, sir, the windows are very wide, and the lighting in that study or office is very good."