Эрл Гарднер - The Case of the Sulky Girl

"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 been?"

"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.