erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第21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！


her　car　and　patched　all　of　the　pieces　of　the　glass　together。〃
　〃Do　you　have　that　headlight　with　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Will　you　produce　it；　please？〃
　Auburn　left　the　stand；　picked　up　a　cardboard　carton；　opened　it　and　took　out　an　automobile　headlight。　The　lens　had　been　patched　together。
　〃Will　you　explain　these　different　patchings；　please？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　This　small　piece　around　the　rim　was　the　part　that　was　in　the　headlight　of　the　defendant's　automobile　at　the　time　I　found　it。　I　have　marked　those　two　pieces　number　one　and　number　two　with　pieces　of　adhesive　tape　which　have　been　placed　on　them。
　〃The　pieces　of　glass　I　found　at　the　scene　of　the　accident　at　the　Saint's　Rest　Motel；　I　numbered　number　three　and　number　four；　and　these　three　pieces；　numbers　five；　six　and　seven；　were　picked　up　at　the　scene　of　the　hit…and…run　on　the　coast　road。〃
　〃You　may　inquire；〃　Caswell　said。
　〃No　questions；〃　Mason　said　cheerfully。
　Judge　Grayson　looked　at　him。　〃No　questions；　Mr。　Mason？〃
　〃No　questions；　Your　Honor。〃
　〃Now　then；〃　Caswell　said；　〃I　would　like　to　recall　George　Eagan　to　question　him　on　another　phase　of　the　case。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　Judge　Grayson　said。
　Eagan　approached　the　stand。　〃You're　already　under　oath；〃　Caswell　said。
　Eagan　nodcjed　and　seated　himself。
　〃Did　you　ever　at　any　time　approach　the　defendant　and　ask　her　to　tell　you　about　a　will？〃
　〃I　never　saw　the　defendant　in　my　life　until　I　was　taken　to　see　her　in　the　jail。〃
　〃You　never　gave　her　five　hundred　dollars　or　any　other　sum　to　make　spurious　copies　of　any　wills？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃In　short；　you　had　no　dealings　with　her　whatever？〃
　〃That　is　right。〃
　〃Never　saw　her　in　your　life？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃You　may　cross…examine；〃　Caswell　said。
　Mason　regarded　the　witness　thoughtfully。　〃Did　you；〃　he　asked；　〃know　that　you　were　a　beneficiary　under　Lauretta　Trent's　will？〃
　The　witness　hesitated。
　〃Answer　the　question；〃　Mason　said。　〃Did　you　or　did　you　not　know？〃
　〃I　knew　that　she　had　remembered　me　in　her　will。　I　didn't　know　for　how　much。〃
　〃You　knew；　then；　that　when　she　died　you　would　be　paratively　wealthy。〃
　〃No；　sir。　I　tell　you　I　didn't　know　how　much。〃
　〃How　did　you　know　that　she　had　remembered　you　in　her　will？〃
　〃She　told　me。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃About　three　months　ago；　four　months　ago…well；　maybe　five　months　ago。〃
　〃You　did　a　great　deal　of　cooking；　preparing　foods　that　Lauretta　Trent　ate？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Outdoor　cooking？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃You　used　quite　a　bit　of　garlic？〃
　〃She　liked　garlic。　Yes。〃
　〃Did　you　know　that　garlic　was　a　good　method　of　disguising　the　taste　of　powdered　arsenic？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃Did　you；　at　any　time；　put　arsenic　in　the　food　you　prepared？〃
　〃Oh；　Your　Honor；　if　the　Court　please；〃　Caswell　interposed。　〃This　is　pletely　inpetent；　irrelevant　and　immaterial。　It's　insulting　the　witness　and　it's　calling　for　matters　which　have　not　been　mentioned　on　direct　examination。　It　is　improper　cross…examination。〃
　〃I　think　it　is；〃　Judge　Grayson　ruled；　〃unless　counsel　can　connect　it　up。　It　is　quite　all　right　for　him　to　show　that　the　witness　knew　he　was　a　beneficiary　under　the　will；　but　this　is　an　entirely　different　matter。〃
　Mason　said；　〃I　expect　to　show　that　a　deliberate　attempt　was　made　to　poison　Lauretta　Trent　by　the　use　of　arsenic　on　three　distinct　occasions。　And　on　at　least　one　of　these　occasions；　the　symptoms　followed　the　ingestion　of　food　prepared　by　this　witness。〃
　Judge　Grayson's　eyes　widened。　He　sat　forward　on　the　bench。　〃You　can　prove　that？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　can　prove　it；〃　Mason　said；　〃by　pertinent　evidence。〃
　Judge　Grayson　settled　back。　〃The　objection　is　overruled；〃　he　snapped。　〃Answer　the　question。〃
　Eagan　said　indignantly；　〃I　never　put　any　poison　in　Mrs。　Trent's　food。　I　don't　know　anything　about　any　poison；　I　didn't　know　she　had　been　poisoned。　I　knew　she　had　had　a　couple　of　spells　of　severe　stomach　trouble　and　I　had　been　told　that　they　would　be　aggravated　by　eating　highly　seasoned　foods。　I　had；　therefore；　talked　her　out　of　having　another　outdoor　feed　which　she　wanted。　And　for　your　information；　Mr。　Mason；　I　don't　know　one　single；　solitary　thing　about　arsenic。〃
　〃You　knew　that　you　were　going　to　profit　from　Lauretta　Trent's　death？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Oh；　now；　just　a　minute；〃　Caswell　said。　〃This　is　not　a　proper　interpretation　of　what　the　witness　said。〃
　〃I'm　asking　him；〃　Mason　said；　〃if　he　didn't　know　in　his　own　mind　he　was　going　to　profit　from　Lauretta　Trent's　death。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You　didn't　know　that　you　would　be　better　off　than　your　monthly　salary？〃
　〃Well　。　。　。　well；　yes。　She　as　good　as　told　me　that。〃
　〃Then　you　knew　you　would　profit　from　her　death。〃
　〃Not　necessarily。　I　would　lose　the　job。〃
　〃But　she　had　assured　you　that　she　was　going　to　make　it　up　to　you　so　that　there　wouldn't　be　any　loss？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　you　knew　you　were　going　to　profit　from　her　death。〃
　〃Well；　if　you　want　to　put　it　that　way；　I　knew　I　wouldn't　lose　anything。　Yes。〃
　〃Now　then；〃　Mason　said；　〃how　was　Lauretta　Trent　dressed　on　this　last　ride？〃
　〃How　was　she　dressed？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Why；　she　had　a　hat；　coat　and　shoes。〃
　〃What　else　was　she　wearing？〃
　〃Well；　let's　see。　She　had　a　topcoat　with　some　kind　of　a　fur；　neckpiece　rather；　that　fastened　on　to　the　coat　in　some　way。〃
　〃And　she　was　wearing　that？〃
　〃Yes；　I　remember　she　asked　me　to　cut　down　the　car　heater　because　she　wanted　to　keep　her　coat　on。〃
　〃She　had　been　where？〃
　〃To　Ventura。〃
　〃Do　you　know　what　she　had　been　doing　in　Ventura？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Don't　you　know　that　she　had　been　looking　at　some　property　up　there？〃
　〃Well；　yes。　I　know　that　we　drove　to　a　piece　of　property　she　had　contemplated　purchasing　and　we　looked　it　over。〃
　〃And　she　had　a　handbag？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course；　she　had　a　handbag。〃
　〃Do　you　know　what　was　in　it？〃
　〃No；　sir。　The　ordinary　things；　I　suppose。〃
　〃I'm　not　asking　what　you　suppose。　I'm　asking　what　you　know。〃
　〃How　would　I　know　what　was　in　her　handbag？〃
　〃I　am　asking　you　if　you　know。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You　don't　know　a　single　thing　that　was　in　her　handbag？〃
　〃Well；　I　knew　there　was　a　purse　in　there。　。　。　。　No；　1　don't　know　what　was　in　there。〃
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；〃　Mason　said；　〃don't　you　know　of　your　own　knowledge　that　there　was　the　sum　of　fifty　thousand　dollars　in　cash　in　that　handbag？〃
　The　witness　sat　bolt　upright　in　surprise。　〃What？〃
　〃Fifty　thousand　dollars；〃　Mason　repeated。
　〃Heavens；　no！　She　wasn't　carrying　any　such　sum　in　cash。〃
　〃You　are　positive？〃
　〃Positive。〃
　〃Then　you　know　what　wasn't　in　her　purse。〃
　〃I　know　that　she　would　never　have　carried　any　such　sum　of　money　with　her　without　telling　me。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　〃Just　by　knowing　her。〃
　〃Then　the　only　way　you　know　she　didn't　have　that　money　with　her　is　by　reaching　a　conclusion　based　upon　an　assumption。　Is　that　right？〃
　〃Well；　when　you　e　right　down　to　it；　I　don't　know　she　didn't　have　that　money　with　her；〃　the　witness　admitted。
　〃I　thought　so；〃　Mason　observed。
　〃But　I'm　almost　certain　she　didn't；〃　Eagan　blurted。
　〃Didn't　she　tell　you　that　she　was　going　to　wave　a　sum　of　cash　under　the　nose　of　the　owner　of　this　property？　Or　words　to　that　effect？〃　Mason　asked。
　Eagan　hesitated。
　〃Didn't　she？〃　Mason　insisted。
　〃Well；〃　Eagan　said；　〃she　told　me　she　was　figuring　on　buying　a　piece　of　property　up　there。　And　she　had　told　me　she　felt　the　owner　was　up　against　it　for　cash　and　that　if　she　waved　the　down　payment　under　his　nose；　he　might　accept　it。〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said　triumphantly。　〃And　when　this　automobile　was　fished　out　of　the　water；　you　were　there？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　there　was　no　handbag　in　the　bottom　of　the　car？〃
　〃No。　I　believe　the　officers　failed　to　find　any　handbag。　The　back　of　the　car　was　pletely　empty。〃
　〃No　fur　neckpiece？　No　coat？　No　handbag？〃
　〃That's　right。　The　officers　made　an　heroic　effort　to　find　the　body　but　the　divers　weren't　risking　their　lives　trying　to　find　little　objects。　As　I　understand　it；　the　floor　of　the　ocean　is　rocky　there。〃
　〃You　don't　know　the　driver　of　the　car　that　hit　you？〃
　〃I　am　told　it　was　the　defendant。〃
　Mason　smiled。　〃You　yourself　don't　know　who　the　driver　of　the　car　was？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You　didn't　recognize　the　defendant。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃It　could　have　been　anyone　else？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Mason　turned　abruptly；　walked　back　to　the　counsel　table　and　sat　down。　〃No　further　questions；〃　he　said。
　Judge　Grayson　said；　〃Gentlemen；　we　got　a　late　start　today　because　of　another　case　which　was　a　carry…over。　I　am　afraid　we're　going　to　have　to　adjourn　for　the　evening。〃
　〃My　case　is　just　about　finished；〃　Caswell　said。　〃I　think　the　Court　can　receive　all　of　the　evidence　and　make　an　order　disposing　of　the　matter　before　adjournment。　This　evidence　certainly　indicates　that　a　crime　has　been　mitted　and　that　there　is　probable　cause　to　connect　the　defendant　with　that　crime。　That　is　all　that　is　necessary　for　us　to　show　in　a　preliminary　examination。　I　would　like　to　have　it　pleted　tonight。　I　have　other　matters　on　my　calendar　tomorrow　morning。〃
　Mason　said；　〃The　assistant　prosecutor　is　making　a　usual　mistake　in　assuming　that　the　case　is　entirely　one…sided。　The　defendant　has　the　right　to　put　on　evidence　on　her　behalf。〃
　〃Do　you　intend　to　put　on　a　defense？〃　Judge　Grayson　asked。
　Mason　smiled；　〃Very　frankly；　Your　Honor；　I　don't　know。　I　want　to　hear　all　the　evidence　of　the　prosecution；　and　then　I　want　to　ask　for　a　recess　so　I　may　have　an　opportunity　to　confer　with　my　client　before　making　up　my　mind　what　to　do。〃
　〃Under　those　circumstances；〃　Judge　Grayson　said；　〃there　is　only　one　course　of　conduct　open　to　the　Court　and　that　is　to　continue　the　matter　until　tomorrow　morning　at　ten　o'clock。
　〃Court's　adjourned。　The　defendant　is　remanded　to　custody；　but　the　officers　are　directed　to　give　Mr。　Mason　a　reasonable　opportunity　to　confer　with　his　client　before　she　is　taken　from　the　courtroom。〃
　Judge　Grayson　left　the　bench。
　Mason；　Della　Street；　Paul　Drake　and　Virginia　Baxter　gathered　for　a　moment　in　a　close　huddle　at　the　corner　of　the　courtroom。
　〃Good　heavens；〃　Virginia　said；　〃who　was　the　person　who　came　to　me　and　wanted　that　forged　will　made？〃
　〃That；〃　Mason　said；　〃is　something　we're　going　to　have　to　find　out。〃
　〃And　how　did　you　know　that　she　had　fifty　thousand　dollars　in　cash　in　her　purse？〃
　〃I　didn't；〃　Mason　said；　grinning。　〃I　didn't　say　she　had　fifty　thousand　dollars　in　her　purse。　I　asked　Eagan　if　he　didn't　know　she　had　fifty　thousand　dollars　in　her　purse。〃
　〃Do　you　think　she　did？〃
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　idea；〃　Mason　said。　〃But　I　wanted　to　make　Eagan　say　she　didn't　have　it。
　〃Now　then；　Virginia；　I　want　you　to　promise　me　faithfully　that　you　won't　talk　with　anyone　about　this　case　before　you　get　into　court　tomorrow　morning。　I　don't　think　they'll　try　to　get　anything　more　out　of　you；　but　if　they　do　I　want　you　to　tell　them　that　you　have　been　instructed　not　to　answer　any　questions；　not　to　say　one　single　word。
　〃Do　you　think　you　can　do　that；　Virginia；　no　matter　how　great　the　temptation　may　be　to　talk？〃
　〃If　you　tell　me　to　keep　quiet；〃　she　said；　〃I　will。〃
　〃I　want　you　to　keep　very；　very　quiet；〃　Mason　told　her。
　〃All　right。　I　promise。〃
　Mason　patted　her　shoulder。　〃Good　girl。〃
　He　stepped　to　the　door　and　signaled　the　policewoman　who　took　Virginia　Baxter　away。
　Mason　returned　to　indicate　chairs　for　the　others。　He　started　pacing　the　floor。
　〃All　right；〃　Paul　Drake　said；　〃give。　What　about　the　fifty　thousand？〃
　Mason　said；　〃I　want　a　search　made　for　that　handbag。　I　want　the　officers　to　m