erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第18章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Of　course；　you　realize　my　predicament；〃　Mason　said。　〃Once　I　adopt　the　position　that　you're　being　framed；　if　even　the　slightest　part　of　your　story　turns　out　to　be　false；　you'll　be　swept　along　into　the　penitentiary　on　a　tide　of　adverse　public　opinion。　The　slightest　falsehood　will　pletely　ruin　your　chances。〃
　She　nodded。　〃I　can　see　that。〃
　〃Now　then；〃　Mason　said；　〃in　view　of　that　situation　and　in　view　of　that　statement；　do　you　want　to　change　your　story？〃
　〃I　can't　change　it；〃　she　said。
　〃You　mean　because　you're　stuck　with　it？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃I　just　can't　change　it；　Mr。　Mason；　because　it's　the　truth。　That's　all。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃I'll　take　it　from　there　and　do　the　best　I　can　with　it。　Sit　tight。〃
　The　lawyer　walked　out。
　
　CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN
　Jerry　Caswell；　the　deputy　district　attorney　who　had　prosecuted　Virginia　on　the　charge　of　possessing　narcotics　and　apparently　firmly　believed　that　there　had　been　a　miscarriage　of　justice　in　that　case；　had　requested　the　district　attorney's　office　to　be　permitted　to　present　the　People's　case　against　Virginia　Baxter　at　the　preliminary　hearing。
　Now　he　entered　upon　his　duties　with　a　personalized　zest　and　a　grim　determination　that　Perry　Mason　was　not　going　to　get　any　advantage　because　of　ingenuity　or　quick　thinking。
　As　his　first　witness；　he　called　George　Eagan。
　The　chauffeur　took　the　stand；　testified　as　to　his　name；　address　and　occupation。
　〃Could　you　tell　us　what　you　were　doing　on　Wednesday　night？〃　Caswell　asked。
　〃I　was　driving　Lauretta　Trent　in　her　automobile。　We　had　been　to　Ventura　and　were　returning　along　the　coast　highway。〃
　〃Did　you　have　any　fixed　destination　in　mind？〃
　〃Mrs。　Trent　told　me　that　she　intended　to　turn　off　to　go　up　to　a　motel　that　was　up　in　the　hills　near　a　lake。　She　said　she　would　tell　me　what　road　to　take。〃
　〃She　didn't　tell　you　what　road　she　intended　to　take？〃
　〃No；　just　that　she　would　tell　me　when　to　make　the　turn。〃
　〃Now　then；　are　you　familiar　with　the　motel　known　as　the　Saint's　Rest　and　the　road　leading　to　it？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　The　turnoff　is　approximately　three　hundred　yards　to　the　north　of　the　Sea　Crest　Café。〃
　〃When　you　approached　that　turnoff　on　Wednesday　night；　what　happened？〃
　〃Mrs。　Trent　asked　me　to　slow　down　slightly。〃
　〃And　then　what？〃
　〃Well；　I　realized；　of　course；　that　she　was　going　to…〃
　〃Never　mind　what　you　thought；〃　Caswell　interrupted。　〃Just　confine　yourself　to　answering　questions　as　to　facts。　What　happened？〃
　〃Well；　there　were　headlights　ing　behind　and；　since　I…Well；　I　don't　know　how　to　express　it　without　saying　what　I　was　thinking；　but　I　was　preparing　for　a　left　turn　so　I　turned…〃
　〃Never　mind　what　you　were　preparing　for；　state　what　you　did。〃
　〃Well；　I　swung　far　over　to　the　right…hand　side　of　the　road；　just　as　far　as　I　could　get；　and　waited　for　this　car　to　pass。〃
　〃And　did　the　car　pass　you？〃
　〃Not　in　the　normal　manner。〃
　〃What　did　happen？〃
　〃The　car　suddenly　swerved；　its　front　end　hit　the　front　end　of　my　car；　then　the　driver　jerked　the　steering　wheel　so　that　the　hind　end　swung　over　and　crashed　hard　against　the　front　end　of　my　car。　It　knocked　my　front　end　way　over；　and　the　car　went　out　of　control。〃
　〃And　what　happened？〃
　〃I　fought　the　steering　wheel；　trying　to　keep　the　car　from　going　over　the　bank；　but　I　felt　the　car　going。　I　shouted　to　Lauretta　Trent　to　open　the　door　and　jump；　and　I　opened　my　door　and　jumped。〃
　〃Then　what　happened？〃
　〃I　don't　know　what　happened　immediately　after　that。〃
　〃You　were　unconscious？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Do　you　know　when　you　regained　consciousness？〃
　〃No。　I　had　no　way　of　knowing　the　exact　time。　I　know　about　the　time　of　the　accident　but　I　didn't　look　at　my　watch　to　determine　the　time　until　sometime　later。　I　was　upset　and　excited　and　I　was　feeling　bad。　I　had　a　terrific　headache　and　I　was　。　。　。　well；　I　was　groggy。〃
　〃How　long　do　you　think　you　were　unconscious？〃
　〃Objected　to　as　inpetent；　irrelevant　and　immaterial　and　no　proper　foundation　laid；　calling　for　a　conclusion　of　the　witness；〃　Mason　said。
　〃The　objection　is　sustained；〃　Judge　Grayson　ruled。
　〃Oh；　if　the　Court　please；〃　Caswell　said；　〃there　are　certain　ways　by　which　a　person　can　tell　how　long　he　has　been　out…certain　bits　of　circumstantial　evidence。〃
　〃Let　him　give　the　circumstantial　evidence　then　and　not　the　conclusions　he　has　drawn　from　that　evidence。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　Caswell　said。　〃Now；　when　you　regained　consciousness；　what　was　your　position？〃
　〃I　was　sprawled　out　on　the　ground；　face　down。〃
　〃How　near　the　road　were　you？〃
　〃I　don't　know　the　exact　distance；　probably　about　ten　feet；　I　would　estimate。〃
　〃Who　was　there？〃
　〃An　officer　of　the　highway　patrol　was　bending　over　me。〃
　〃Did　he　assist　you　to　your　feet？〃
　〃Not　right　away。　He　turned　me　over。　They　gave　me　some　sort　of　a　stimulant；　then　they　asked　me　if　I　could　move　any　toes。　I　could。　Then　they　asked　me　if　I　could　move　my　fingers。　I　could。　Then　they　had　me　move　my　legs　slowly；　then　my　arms。　Then　they　helped　me　to　a　sitting　position；　then　to　my　feet。〃
　〃Do　you　know　where　they　had　started　from？〃
　〃Only　from　what　they　told　me。〃
　〃How　long　was　it　after　you　regained　consciousness　before　you　were　helped　to　your　feet？〃
　〃A　couple　of　minutes。〃
　〃And　then　you　looked　for　the　Trent　car？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Did　you　see　it？〃
　〃No。　It　was　gone。〃
　〃And　you　told　the　officers　what　had　happened？〃
　〃It　took　me　a　little　while　to　collect　my　senses。　I　was　rambling　a　little　at　first。〃
　〃Then　what　happened？〃
　〃Then　there　was　the　sound　of　sirens；　and　a　wrecking　car　came　up；　and　shortly　after　that　another　car　came；　divers　went　down　into　the　water　and　located　the　Trent　car　in　about　twenty…five　feet　of　water。　The　car　was　lying　on　its　right　side　with　the　front　end　down；　the　left…hand　doors　were　open。　There　was　no　one　in　the　car。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　there　was　no　one　in　the　car？〃
　〃I　was　there　when　the　car　was　brought　to　the　surface。　I　ran　to　it　and　looked　inside。　There　was　no　sign　of　Lauretta　Trent。〃
　〃Now；　if　the　Court　please；〃　Caswell　said；　〃I　would　like　to　withdraw　this　witness　temporarily　in　order　to　ask　questions　of　another　witness。　However；　I　am　aware　of　the　fact　that　when　I　start　to　prove　admissions　made　by　the　defendant；　the　objection　will　probably　he　made　that　no　corpus　delicti　has　been　established。　I　wish　to　state　to　the　court　that　we　are　prepared　to　meet　this　objection　here　and　now；　that　the　corpus　delicti　means　the　body　of　the　crime　and　not　the　body　of　the　victim。
　〃There　are　several　instances　on　record　where　murderers　have　been　successfully　prosecuted；　convicted　and　executed　where　the　body　of　the　victim　was　never　found。　It　is　proper　to　prove　the　corpus　delicti　by　circumstantial　evidence　just　as　any　other　factor　in　the　case　and…〃
　〃You　don't　need　to　try　to　educate　the　court　on　the　elementals　of　criminal　law；〃　Judge　Grayson　said。　〃I　think　under　the　circumstances　a　prima　facie　showing　has　been　made。　If　Mr。　Mason　wishes　to　adopt　the　position　that　no　corpus　delicti　has　been　proven；　I　think　he　has　the　laboring　oar。〃
　Mason　got　to　his　feet　and　smiled。　〃On　the　contrary；　Your　Honor；　the　defense　feels　certain　that　the　evidence　now　introduced　is　sufficient　to　prove　the　death　of　Lauretta　Trent。　We　intend　to　make　no　issue　in　this　case　of　corpus　delicti　as　far　as　the　missing　body　is　concerned。　However；　the　Court　will　bear　in　mind　that　the　corpus　delicti　consists　not　only　of　proof　of　death　but　proof　of　death　by　unlawful　means。
　〃So　far；　it　appears　that　Lauretta　Trent's　death　could　well　have　been　an　accident。〃
　〃That　is　why　I　wish　to　withdraw　the　witness　at　this　time　and　put　on　another　witness；〃　Caswell　said。　〃By　this　witness　I　can　prove　that　this　was　a　crime。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　Judge　Grayson　said。　〃However；　the　defendant　is　entitled　to　cross…examine　the　witness　on　the　testimony　he　has　given　at　this　time；　if　he　so　desires。〃
　〃We　will　wait　with　our　cross…examination；〃　Mason　said。
　〃Very　well。　Call　your　next　witness；〃　Judge　Grayson　said。
　〃I'll　call　Lieutenant　Tragg　to　the　stand；〃　Caswell　said。
　Tragg　came　forward　and　was　sworn。
　〃Were　you　at　the　jail　when　the　defendant　was　brought　in　and　held　for　investigation？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Did　you　have　any　talk　with　the　defendant？〃
　〃I　did。　Yes；　sir。〃
　〃And　did　you　advise　the　defendant　of　her　constitutional　rights？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　what　did　she　say　by　way　of　explanation？〃
　Tragg　said；　〃She　told　me　that　Lauretta　Trent　had　telephoned　her　and　arranged　a　meeting　at　the　Saint's　Rest。　That　she　went　up　there　and　claimed　she　had　been　there　for　considerably　more　than　an　hour。　That　she　became　nervous　and　telephoned　Perry　Mason。　That　Perry　Mason　went　up　there　to　join　her　at　the　motel。　That　after　he　arrived　he　suggested　that　they　go　out　and　look　at　her　car。〃
　〃And　then　what？〃　Caswell　asked。
　〃Then　they　found　that　her　car　had　been　damaged。　That　a　headlight　had　been　knocked　out　and　a　fender　bent。〃
　〃And　did　Mr。　Mason　make　any　suggestions？〃　Caswell　asked　gloatingly。
　〃She　said　that　Mr。　Mason　told　her　to　get　in　her　car　and　drive　out　of　the　exit；　to　then　turn　around　and　e　right　back　into　the　entrance。　That　when　she　did　this；　Mr。　Mason　jumped　in　his　car　and　ran　into　her　car；　thereby　pounding　the　damage　so　that　it　would　be　impossible…
　〃Just　a　minute；〃　Mason　said；　〃I　object　to　the　witness　giving　conclusions。　Let　him　state　the　facts。〃
　〃I'm　asking　him　what　the　defendant　said；〃　Caswell　said。　〃Did　the　defendant　say　why　this　was　done？〃
　〃Yes；　she　said　it　was　done　so　that　it　would　be　impossible　to　tell　when　her　car　was　first　damaged。〃
　〃What　else　did　she　tell　you？〃
　〃She　said　that　George　Eagan；　Lauretta　Trent's　chauffeur；　had　approached　her　about　forging　a　copy　of　a　will。〃
　〃What　sort　of　a　will？〃
　〃A　will　purported　to　have　been　made　by　Mrs。　Trent。〃
　〃And　did　she　say　what　she　did　in　connection　with　that？〃
　〃She　said　that　she　accepted　five　hundred　dollars；　that　she　forged　two　wills　on　the　stationery　of　Delano　Bannock；　an　attorney　at　law；　now　deceased；　who　had　done　work　for　Mrs。　Trent　and　by　whom　she　had　been　employed。〃
　〃Did　she　offer　any　proof　of　that　statement？〃
　〃She　said　that　she　had　mailed　herself　a　letter　by　registered　mail　containing　the　sheets　of　carbon　which　were　used　in　making　the　forgeries。　She　said　that　following　the　advice　of　Perry　Mason　she　had　used　fresh　carbon　paper　so　that　it　would　be　possible　to　read　the　terms　of　the　forged　will　by　holding　the　carbon　papers　to　the　light。〃
　Judge　Grayson　said；　〃Now；　just　a　minute。　This　is　asking　for　confidential　advice　given　a　client　by　an　attorney？〃
　〃It　is；　Your　Honor；〃　Caswell　said。　〃It　would　be　manifestly　improper　for　me　to　show　this　conversation　except　by　calling　for　what　the　defendant　had　said。　In　other　words；　if　the　defendant　should　be　on　the　stand　and　I　asked　her　what　her　attorney　told　her；　that　would　be　calling　for　a　privileged　munication；　but　with　Lieutenant　Tragg　on　the　stand；　I　may　ask　him　what　the　defendant　said　in　regard　to　her　actions　and　in　regard　to　explanation。　If　at　the　time　of　that　conversation　the　defendant　chose　to　waive　the　privilege　of　the　confidential　munication　and　state　what　her　attorney　has　told　her；　then　the　witness　can　repeat　that　conversation。
　〃That　is　a　chance　an　attorney　has　to　take　when　he　advises　a　client　to　do　things　which　are　for　the　purpose　of　confusing　the　law　enforcement　officers　and；　in　this　instance；　for　the　purpose　of　pounding　a　felony。
　〃We　will　proceed　against　Mr。　Mason　in　the　proper　tr