erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第20章

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ted　to　make　a　certified　copy　which　will　be　substituted　in　place　of　the　original　will。〃
　〃No　objection；〃　Mason　said。
　Caswell　said；　〃I　will　now　read　the　will　into　the　record；　and　then　it　will　be　filed　until　a　certified　copy　can　be　obtained。〃
　Caswell　read　in　a　tone　of　ponderous　solemnity：　〃'I；　Lauretta　Trent；　being　of　sound　and　disposing　mind　and　memory；　state　that　I　am　a　widow；　that　I　have　no　children；　that　the　only　relatives　I　have　in　the　world　are　two　sisters；　Dianne　Briggs　and　Maxine　Kelvin；　that　my　sister；　Dianne；　is　married　to　Boring　Briggs　and　Maxine　is　married　to　Gordon　Kelvin。
　〃'I　further　state　that　these　four　people　are　living　in　my　house　with　me　and　have　been　for　some　years；　that　I　am　very　much　attached　to　my　two　brothers…in…law；　as　much　so　as　though　they　were　brothers　of　mine；　and；　of　course；　I　have　love　and　affection　for　my　sisters。
　〃'I　further　realize；　however；　that　women…and；　in　particular；　my　two　sisters…do　not　have　the　shrewd；　innate　business　ability　which　would　enable　them　to　handle　the　numerous　problems　of　my　estate。
　〃'I；　therefore；　appoint　and　nominate　Gordon　Kelvin　the　executor　of　this　my　last　will。
　〃'After　the　specific　bequests　herein　mentioned；　I　leave　all　of　the　rest；　residue　and　remainder　of　my　estate　to　be　divided　equally　among　Dianne　and　Boring　Briggs　and　Maxine　and　Gordon　Kelvin。'〃
　Caswell　paused　impressively　as　he　looked　around　the　quiet　courtroom；　then　turned　a　page　of　the　will　and　went　on；　〃'I　give；　devise　and　bequeath　to　my　sister；　Dianne　Briggs；　the　sum　of　fifty　thousand　dollars；　to　my　sister；　Maxine　Kelvin；　a　like　sum　of　fifty　thousand　dollars。
　〃'There　have；　however；'〃　Caswell　read；　and　paused　to　glance　around　the　courtroom　significantly；　〃'been　a　few　people　whose　loyalty　and　devotion　have　been　outstanding。
　〃'First　and　foremost；　there　has　been　Dr。　Ferris　Alton。
　〃'Because　he　has　specialized　in　internal　medicine　and　does　not　do　surgery；　he　has　locked　himself　in　a　branch　of　the　profession　which　is　somewhat　underpaid　as　pared　with　the　relatively　remunerative　practice　of　medicine　in　the　field　of　surgery。'〃
　Virginia　Baxter　gripped　Mason's　leg　just　above　the　knee　with　hard　fingertips。　〃Oh；　it's　so；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　remember　now。　I　remember　typing　that。　I　remember　the　tribute　she　made　to…〃
　〃Hush；〃　Mason　warned。
　Jerry　Caswell　went　on　reading。　〃　'Dr。　Alton　has　given　me　loyal　care　and　is　working　himself　to　death；　yet　has　no　adequate　reserves　for　retirement。
　〃'I；　therefore；　give；　devise　and　bequeath　to　Dr。　Ferris　Alton　the　sum　of　one　hundred　thousand　dollars。
　〃'There　are　two　other　persons　whose　loyalty　and　devotion　have　made　a　great　impression　on　me。　Those　are　George　Eagan；　my　chauffeur；　and　Anna　Fritch；　who　has　nursed　me　whenever　I　have　been　sick。
　〃'I　don't　care　to　have　my　death　an　event　which　will　transform　these　people　from　rags　to　riches　nor；　on　the　other　hand；　do　I　want　their　loyalty　to　pass　unrewarded。
　〃'I；　therefore；　give；　devise　and　bequeath　to　my　chauffeur；　George　Eagan；　the　sum　of　fifty　thousand　dollars；　in　the　hope　that　he　will　open　up　a　business　of　his　own　with　a　part　of　this　money　as　capital　and　save　the　balance　as　a　reserve。　I　also　give；　devise　and　bequeath　a　similar　sum　of　fifty　thousand　dollars　to　Anna　Fritch。'〃
　Here　Caswell　turned　the　page　rather　hurriedly　as　one　does　when　nearing　the　end　of　an　important　document。
　〃'Should　any　person；　corporation；　or　otherwise；　contest　this　will　or　should　any　person　appear　claiming　that　I　have　a　relationship　with　that　person；　that　he　or　she　is　an　heir；　that　I　have　through　inadvertence　or　otherwise　neglected　to　mention　him；　I　give　to　such　person　the　sum　of　one　hundred　dollars。'
　〃Now　then；〃　Jerry　Caswell　said；　〃that　will　contains　the　usual　closing　paragraph　with　the　date。　It　is　signed　by　the　testatrix；　and　it　is　witnessed　by　none　other　than　the　late　Delano　Bannock；　the　attorney；　and　。　。　。〃　And　here　Caswell　turned　impressively　to　the　defendant　。　。　。　〃the　defendant　in　this　case；　Virginia　Baxter。〃
　Virginia　sat　gazing　at　him　openmouthed。
　Mason　squeezed　her　arm　and　brought　her　back　to　reality。
　〃Does　that　conclude　the　testimony　of　this　witness？〃　Judge　Grayson　asked。
　〃It　does；　Your　Honor。〃
　〃Any　cross…examination？〃
　Mason　got　to　his　feet。　〃This　will　was　the　one　you　found　in　the　sealed　envelope？〃
　〃Yes。　The　sealed　envelope　was　in　the　drawer　where　Lauretta　Trent　said　it　would　be。　The　will　was　in　the　sealed　envelope。〃
　〃What　did　you　do　with　it？〃
　〃I　put　it　in　a　safe　and　called　the　district　attorney。〃
　〃Where　was　the　safe？〃
　〃In　my　bedroom。〃
　〃And　your　bedroom　is　in　the　house　owned　and　occupied　by　Lauretta　Trent　during　her　lifetime？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃The　safe　was　already　in　your　bedroom　when　you　moved　in？〃
　〃No；　I　installed　it。〃
　〃Why　did　you　install　it？〃
　〃Because　I　had　certain　valuables　and　I　knew　that　the　house　was　big；　and　the　reputation　of　Lauretta　Trent　for　extreme　wealth　was　well　known；　so　I　wanted　to　have　a　safe　place　where　I　could　keep　my　wife's　jewelry　and　such　cash　as　I　had　in　my　possession。〃
　〃What　has　been　your　occupation？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃I　have　done　several　things；〃　Kelvin　said　with　dignity。
　〃Such　as　what？〃
　〃I　don't　think　I　need　to　enumerate　them。〃
　〃Objected　to　as　inpetent；　irrelevant；　immaterial；　not　proper　cross…examination；〃　Caswell　said。
　〃Oh；　certainly；〃　Judge　Grayson　said；　〃I　think　this　is　background　material　and　cross…examining　counsel　should　be　entitled　to　it；　although　I　can't　see　that　it　will　affect　the　oute　of　the　case　or　materially　affect　the　evaluation　the　Court　is　placing　on　the　testimony　of　the　witness。〃
　〃There's　no　need　of　going　into　his　entire　life；〃　Caswell　snapped　irritably。
　Judge　Grayson　looked　at　Mason　inquiringly。　〃Do　you　have　some　particular　reason　for　this　question？〃
　〃I'll　put　it　this　way；〃　Mason　said；　〃so　I　can　summarize　the　situation。　All　these　various　business　activities；　which　you　yourself　state　have　been　numerous；　were　unprofitable；　were　they　not？〃
　〃That　is　not　true；　no　sir。〃
　〃But　the　net　result　was　that　you　went　to　live　with　Lauretta　Trent？〃
　〃At　her　invitation；　sir！〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said；　〃at　a　time　when　you　were　unable　to　support　yourself。〃
　〃No；　sir。　I　could　have　supported　myself　but　I　had　had　certain　temporary　financial　losses；　certain　business　setbacks。〃
　〃In　other　words；　you　were　virtually　broke？〃
　〃I　had　had　financial　troubles。〃
　〃And　your　sister…in…law　invited　you　to　e　and　live　with　her。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃At　your　instigation？〃
　〃The　other　brother…in…law；　Mr。　Boring　Briggs；　was　living　in　the　house。　It　was　a　large　house　and…Well；　my　wife　and　I　went　there　on　a　visit　and　we　never　moved　out。〃
　〃And　the　same　was　true　of　Boring　Briggs；　to　your　knowledge；　was　it　not？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃What　was　true？〃
　〃That　he　had　met　with　financial　reverses　and　had　e　to　live　with　his　wife's　sister。〃
　〃In　his　case；〃　Kelvin　said；　〃there　were　circumstances　which　made　such　a　course　of　action　。　。　。　well　a…necessity。〃
　〃Financial　circumstances？〃
　〃In　a　way。　Boring　Briggs　had　met　with　several　reverses　and　was　unable　to　give　his　wife　the　monetary　advantages　which　she　subsequently　obtained　through　the　generosity　of　her　sister；　Lauretta　Trent。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Mason　said。　〃That's　all。〃
　Kelvin　left　the　stand。
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　whispered；　turning　to　Virginia　Baxter。　〃Tell　me　about　it。〃
　〃That's　the　will；〃　she　answered。　〃I　remember　now　typing　that　wonderful　tribute　to　her　doctor。〃
　Mason　said；　〃I'm　going　up　to　get　that　will　and　take　a　good　look　at　it。　I　don't　want　you　to　seem　to　be　paying　any　great　attention　to　what　I'm　doing；　but　look　over　my　shoulder；　particularly　at　the　attestation　clause　and　the　witness　clause　and　see　if　that　really　is　your　signature。〃
　Mason　walked　up　to　the　clerk's　desk。　〃May　I　see　the　will；　please？〃　he　said。　〃I'd　like　to　examine　it　in　some　detail。〃
　The　clerk　handed　Mason　the　will　while　Caswell　said；　〃My　next　witness　will　be　a　member　of　the　California　highway　patrol；　Harry　Auburn。〃
　Auburn；　in　uniform；　advanced　to　the　witness　stand。　He　proved　to　be　the　officer　who　had　inspected　the　scene　of　the　collision　at　the　Saint's　Rest　Motel。
　Mason；　turning　the　pages　of　the　will；　casually　paused　to　examine　the　signatures。
　Virginia　Baxter　said　in　some　dismay；　〃That's　my　signature　and　that's　Mr。　Bannock's　signature。　Oh；　Mr。　Mason；　I　remember　it　all　now。　This　is　the　will　all　right。　I　remember　several　things　about　it。　There's　a　little　ink　smudge　at　the　bottom　of　the　page。　I　remember　it　happened　when　we　were　signing　it。　I　wanted　to　type　the　last　page　over　but　Mr。　Bannock　said　to　let　it　go。〃
　〃There　seems　to　be　a　fingerprint　there；〃　Mason　said；　〃a　fingerprint　in　the　ink。〃
　〃I　don't　see　it。〃
　〃Over　here；〃　Mason　said。　〃Just　a　few　ridges；　but　enough；　I　would　say；　to　make　an　identifiable　fingerprint。〃
　〃Heavens；〃　she　said；　〃that　will　be　mine…unless　it　should　be　Lauretta　Trent's。〃
　〃Leave　it　to　Caswell；〃　Mason　said；　〃he'll　have　found　it　out。〃
　The　lawyer　flipped　over　the　remaining　pages　of　the　will；　folded　it；　replaced　it　in　the　envelope；　went　up　and　tossed　it　casually　on　the　clerk's　desk；　as　though　not　greatly　interested　in　it；　and　turned　his　attention　to　the　witness　on　the　stand。
　As　Mason　walked　back　and　sat　down　beside　Virginia　Baxter；　she　whispered　to　him；　〃But　why　in　the　world　would　anyone　want　all　this　fuss　about　forging　two　wills　when　there　already　was　this　will？　It　must　have　been　that　they　didn't　know　of　its　existence。〃
　〃Perhaps　someone　wanted　to　find　out；〃　Mason　said。　〃We'll　talk　it　over　later；　Virginia。〃
　Harry　Auburn　gave　his　testimony　in　a　voice　without　expression；　simply　relating　what　had　happened；　and　apparently　with　every　attempt　to　be　impartial　but；　at　the　same　time；　to　be　one　hundred　percent　accurate。
　He　testified　that　he　had　been　directed　by　radio　to　go　to　the　Saint's　Rest　Motel　to　investigate　an　automobile　accident；　that　this　had　been　a　routine　call；　that　he　had　gone　up　the　road　to　the　Saint's　Rest　and　found　that　an　automobile　belonging　to　the　defendant　and　one　belonging　to　Perry　Mason　had　been　in　a　collision；　that　while　he　was　investigating　the　facts　of　the　collision　he　asked　for　a　check　on　the　cars；　and　he　was　called　back　on　the　radio　of　his　car。
　〃Now；　you　can't　tell　us　what　anyone　told　you　on　the　radio；〃　Caswell　said。　〃That　would　be　hearsay；　but　you　can　tell　us　what　you　did　with　reference　to　that　call。〃
　〃Well；　after　receiving　that　call；　I　interrogated　the　defendant　as　to　whether　she　had　been　using　the　car；　whether　she　had　been　in　another　collision；　and　where　she　had　been　in　the　last　hour。〃
　〃What　did　she　say？〃
　〃She　denied　using　the　car　except　to　make　that　one　loop　in　the　motel　grounds。　She　said　that　she　had　been　in　her　room　in　the　motel　for　some　two　hours。　She　emphatically　denied　having　been　in　any　other　collision。〃
　〃Then　what　happened？〃
　〃I　checked　the　license　number　of　her　car；　I　found　two　significant　figures；　I　checked　the　make　of　the　car；　I　found　enough　evidence　to　take　her　into　custody。
　〃Later　on；　I　returned　to　the　scene　of　the　accident。　I　picked　up　pieces　of　broken　headlight　which　had　e　from　her　car；　that　is；　they　matched　the　broken　lens　on　the　righthand　headlight。
　〃I　then　went　to　the　scene　of　the　accident　on　the　coast　road　and　picked　up　a　bit　of　glass　there　which　had　e　from　a　broken　headlight；　then　I　removed　the　headlight　from　her　car　and　patched　all　of　the　pieces　of　the　glass　together。〃
　〃Do　you　have　that　headlight　with　you