erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第3章

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nd　his　baggage　was　going　to　be　searched；　so　he　put　the　contraband　in　your　suitcase　and　then　had　an　acplice　telephone　the　police　that　the　stuff　would　be　in　the　suitcase　of　one　Virginia　Baxter。　He　must　have　been　able　to　describe　you；　because　the　officer　who　was　standing　there　waiting　for　you　to　claim　your　baggage　evidently　had　a　good　description　of　you　and　had　you　spotted　from　the　time　he　saw　you　e　down　the　escalator。〃
　Mason　was　thoughtful　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃How　about　your　name？　How　did　you　have　your　suitcase　marked？　Was　there　an　initial　or　a　name　painted　on　it；　or　what？〃
　〃There's　a　leather　baggage　tag；〃　she　said；　〃one　that　straps　around　the　ring　at　the　handle；　and　it　had　my　name　typed　on　it；　my　name　and　address：　422　Eureka　Arms　Apartments。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said；　〃we'll　get　you　out　on　bail。　I'm　going　to　try　and　have　you　brought　up　on　a　preliminary　hearing　just　as　soon　as　possible。　At　least　we'll　make　the　police　show　their　hand。
　〃I'm　satisfied　it's　all　some　sort　of　a　mistake　and　we　may　be　able　to　get　it　cleaned　up　without　much　trouble；　but　you're　going　to　have　to　put　up　with　a　lot　of　things。〃
　〃Tell　me；〃　she　asked　apprehensively；　〃there　was　a　photographer　there。　Will　there　be　anything　in　the　newspapers　about　it？〃
　〃A　photographer？〃　Mason　asked。
　She　nodded。
　Mason　said　grimly；　〃Then　the　thing　is　a　lot　more　sinister　than　I　had　at　first　supposed。　It　isn't　just　a　simple　mistake。　Yes；　it　will　be　in　the　newspapers。〃
　〃My　name；　address；　everything？〃
　〃Name；　address　and　photograph；〃　Mason　said。　〃Prepare　yourself　for　a　picture　showing　the　startled　expression　on　your　face　and　a　caption　such　as：　EX…LEGAL　SECRETARY　ACCUSED　IN　NARCOTICS　CHARGE。〃
　〃But　how　could　the　newspaper　have　had　a　photographer　there？〃
　〃That's　just　the　point；〃　Mason　said。　〃Some　officers　like　publicity。　In　return　for　publicity；　they　give　some　friendly　newspaper　reporter　a　tip　when　they're　going　to　make　an　arrest　of　some　young　woman　who　is　photogenic。
　〃The　newspapers　play　up　the　story；　the　officer　gets　his　name　in　the　paper　with　a　favorable　bit　of　publicity。　Under　these　circumstances；　be　prepared　to　read　that　the　value　of　the　narcotics　in　your　suitcase；　at　current　retail　prices；　amounted　to　several　thousand　dollars。〃
　Her　face　showed　her　dismay。
　〃And　after　I'm　acquitted；〃　she　asked；　〃then　what　will　happen？〃
　〃Probably　nothing；〃　Mason　said。　〃Perhaps　a　few　lines　on　an　inside　page　of　a　newspaper。〃
　〃I　will　be　aquitted；　won't　I？〃　she　asked　hopefully。
　Mason　said；　〃I'm　an　attorney；　not　a　fortuneteller。　We'll　do　our　best　and　you'll　have　to　let　it　go　at　that。〃
　
　CHAPTER　FIVE
　Mason　escorted　Virginia　Baxter　to　a　seat　inside　the　rail　of　the　courtroom。
　〃Now；　don't　be　nervous；〃　he　said　reassuringly。
　She　said；　〃That's　like　telling　a　cold　person　not　to　shiver。　I　can't　help　being　nervous。　I'm　shaking　like　a　leaf　on　the　inside；　if　not　on　the　outside。　I　feel　full　of　butterflies。〃
　Mason　said；　〃This　is　a　preliminary　hearing。　It　is　usually　a　matter　of　routine　for　the　judge　to　bind　a　defendant　over　to　the　higher　court。　When　he　does　that；　he　quite　frequently　increases　the　amount　of　bail。　Sometimes　he　makes　the　bail　almost　prohibitive。　You're　going　to　have　to　face　that　possibility。〃
　〃I　just　can't　raise　any　more　bail；　Mr。　Mason；　that's　all；　unless　I　sell　my　real　property　at　a　loss。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Mason　said。　〃I'm　just　telling　you　what　may　happen。　However；　real　property　in　your　name　will　influence　a　judge　in　fixing　the　amount　of　bail。〃
　〃You　don't　hold　out　much　hope　of　。　。　。　getting　me　out　on　this　preliminary　hearing？〃
　〃Ordinarily；〃　Mason　said；　〃the　judge　binds　the　defendant　over　if　the　prosecutor　wants　to　go　ahead　with　the　case　in　the　higher　court。　Sometimes；　of　course；　we　get　a　break。
　〃It's　almost　unheard　of　to　put　a　defendant　on　the　stand　at　the　time　of　a　preliminary　examination；　but　if　I　think　there's　even　a　faint　chance　of　getting　the　judge　to　dismiss　the　case；　I'm　going　to　put　you　on　the　stand　so　he　can　take　a　look　at　you　and　see　the　kind　of　a　person　you　really　are。〃
　〃That　horrid　newspaper　story；〃　she　said；　〃…and　that　picture！〃
　〃From　the　city　editor's　standpoint；　it　was　a　wonderful　picture；〃　Mason　said。　〃It　showed　surprise　and　consternation　on　your　face　and；　as　far　as　your　case　is　concerned；　the　picture　may　do　you　some　good。〃
　〃But　it　blasted　my　reputation；〃　she　said。　〃My　friends　are　avoiding　me　in　a　big　way。〃
　Mason　started　to　say　something　but　checked　himself　as　the　door　of　the　judge's　chambers　opened。
　〃Stand　up；〃　Mason　said。
　Every　person　in　the　courtroom　arose　as　Judge　Cortland　Albert　took　his　seat　at　the　bench；　then　glanced　appraisingly　at　the　defendant。
　〃This　is　the　time　heretofore　fixed　for　the　preliminary　hearing　in　the　case　of　the　People　versus　Virginia　Baxter。　Are　you　ready　to　proceed？〃
　〃Ready　for　the　defendant；〃　Mason　said。
　Jerry　Caswell；　one　of　the　younger　trial　deputies　who　was　frequently　sent　in　to　handle　preliminary　hearings　and　who　was　eagerly　trying　to　make　a　record　which　would　attract　the　attention　of　his　superiors；　was　on　his　feet。
　〃The　prosecution；〃　he　announced　dramatically；　〃is　always　ready！〃
　He　waited　a　moment；　then　seated　himself。
　〃Call　your　first　witness；〃　Judge　Albert　said。
　Caswell　called　the　porter　from　the　airport。
　〃Are　you　acquainted　with　the　defendant？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　I　saw　her。〃
　〃On　the　seventeenth　of　this　month？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃You　are　one　of　the　porters　at　the　airport？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃And　you　make　a　living　from　transporting　baggage？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Now；　did　the　defendant；　on　the　seventeenth　of　this　month；　indicate　to　you　a　suitcase？〃
　〃She　did。　Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Would　you　know　that　suitcase　if　you　saw　it　again？〃
　〃I　would。　Yes；　sir。〃
　Caswell　nodded　to　a　police　officer　who　came　forward　with　the　suitcase。
　〃Is　that　the　one？〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　that's　the　one。〃
　〃I　want　that　marked　'People's　Exhibit　A'　for　identification；〃　Caswell　said。
　〃So　ordered；〃　the　judge　ruled。
　〃And　the　defendant　said　that　was　her　suitcase？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Were　you　present　when　the　suitcase　was　opened？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃What　was　in　the　suitcase　when　it　was　opened；　other　than　clothes；　if　anything？〃
　〃There　were　some　packages　done　up　in　plastic。〃
　〃How　many？　Do　you　know？〃
　〃I　didn't　count　them。　There　was　a　goodly　number。〃
　〃That's　all；〃　Caswell　said。　〃Cross…examine。〃
　〃The　defendant　identified　this　suitcase　as　being　hers？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Did　she　give　you　a　baggage　check？〃
　〃She　did。　Yes；　sir。〃
　〃And　you　pared　the　number　on　the　check　given　you　by　the　defendant　with　the　number　on　the　suitcase？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃How　many　checks　did　the　defendant　give　you？〃
　〃Actually；　she　gave　me　two。〃
　〃What　became　of　the　second　check？〃
　〃That　was　for　an　overnight　bag。　I　got　that　for　her；　too。〃
　〃And　was　that　opened？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Now；　directing　your　attention　to　the　suitcase；　just　prior　to　the　time　the　suitcase　was　opened；　was　there　some　conversation　with　a　person　who　identified　himself　as　a　police　officer？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Officer　Jack　Andrews　showed　this　young　woman　his　credentials　and　asked　her　if　that　was　her　suitcase。〃
　〃What　did　she　say？〃
　〃She　said　it　was。〃
　〃And　what　did　Andrews　say？〃
　〃He　asked　her　if　he　could　open　it。〃
　〃No　other　conversation？〃
　〃Well；　that　was　the　substance　of　it。〃　
　〃I'm　not　asking　you　about　the　substance；〃　Mason　said。　〃I'm　asking　you　about　the　conversation　itself。　Didn't　he　ask　her　if　she　was　positive　that　was　her　suitcase；　and　if　she　could　identify　the　suitcase　by　describing　the　articles　that　were　in　it？〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　that's　right。〃
　〃And　then　he　asked　her　to　open　the　suitcase　so　he　could　inspect　those　articles？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃And　what　about　the　overnight　bag？　Did　he　ask　her　to　identify　that？〃
　〃He　just　asked　her　if　it　was　hers。〃
　〃And　she　said　it　was？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　then　what　happened？〃
　〃He　opened　it。〃
　〃That's　all？〃
　〃Well；　of　course；　afterwards　they　took　her　away　with　them。〃
　〃Now；　I　call　your　attention　to　a　photograph　in　an　evening　edition　of　the　newspaper　published　on　the　seventeenth；　and　call　your　attention　to　this　picture　of　the　defendant　and　the　suitcase。〃
　〃Objected　to　as　inpetent；　irrelevant　and　immaterial　and　not　proper　cross…examination；〃　Caswell　said。
　〃It　is　preliminary　only　and　for　the　purpose　of　bringing　out　part　of　the　res　gestae；〃　Mason　said。
　〃Overruled。　I'll　hear　it；〃　Judge　Albert　announced。
　〃Were　you　present　when　this　picture　was　taken？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Did　you　see　the　photographer？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Where　did　he　e　from？〃
　〃He　was　hiding　behind　one　of　the　pillars。〃
　〃And　when　the　suitcase　was　opened；　he　came　out　with　his　camera？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　He　darted　out　from　behind　that　pillar　with　his　cameras　all　ready；　and　boom…boom…boom　he　took　three　pictures。〃
　〃And　then　what？〃
　〃Then　he　ran　away。〃
　〃If　the　Court　please；〃　Caswell　said；　〃we　move　to　strike　out　all　this　testimony　about　the　photographer。　Not　only　is　it　improper　cross…examination　but　it　is　inpetent；　irrelevant　and　immaterial。　It　serves　no　useful　purpose。〃
　〃It　serves　a　very　useful　purpose；　if　the　Court　please；〃　Mason　rejoined。　〃It　shows　that　this　was　no　mere　casual　search。　It　shows　that　the　officer　had　planned　the　search　and　anticipated　what　he　was　going　to　find。　He　had　tipped　off　a　friendly　newspaper　reporter　and；　if　the　Court　will　read　the　article　in　this　newspaper；　it　will　be　seen　that　the　reporter　endeavored　to　reciprocate　by　seeing　that　the　officer　had　proper　publicity　in　return　for　the　favor　extended。〃
　Judge　Albert　smiled　very　slightly。
　〃Your　Honor；　I　object。　I　object　to　any　such　statement；〃　Caswell　said。
　〃It　is　merely　by　way　of　argument；〃　Mason　said。
　〃An　argument　for　what　purpose？〃　Caswell　asked。
　〃To　show　the　relevancy　of　the　testimony；〃　Mason　said。　〃To　show　that　the　officer　was　acting　under　some　specific　tip；　some　bit　of　information　which　had　been　given　to　him；　and　the　defense　proposes　to　find　out　what　that　information　was　and　who　gave　it　to　him。〃
　A　look　of　fleeting　dismay　appeared　on　Caswell's　features。
　Judge　Albert　smiled　and　said；　〃I　thought　I　appreciated　the　underlying　purpose　of　the　cross…examination　when　counsel　started　asking　the　questions。　The　motion　to　strike　is　denied。
　〃Do　you　have　any　further　cross…examination；　Mr。　Mason？〃
　〃No；　Your　Honor。〃
　〃Redirect？〃
　〃No；　Your　Honor；〃　Jerry　Caswell　said。
　〃Call　your　next　witness。〃
　Caswell　said；　〃I　call　Detective　Jack　Andrews。
　〃What　is　your　name？〃　Caswell　asked　after　Andrews　had　been　sworn。
　〃Jackman；　J…A…C…K…M…A…N；　Andrews。　I　am　known　generally　as　Jack　Andrews；　but　Jackman　is　my　name。〃
　〃Directing　your　attention　to　the　suitcase　which　has　been　marked　for　identification　as　People's　Exhibit　A；　when　did　you　first　see　that　suitcase？〃
　〃When　the　defendant　pointed　it　out　to　the　porter　who　has　just　testified。〃
　〃And　what　did　you　do？〃
　〃I　approached　her　and　asked　her　if　that　was　her　suitcase。〃
　〃And　then　what？〃
　〃I　asked　her　if　she　had　any　objection　to　my　looking　in　the　suitcase　and　she　said　she　did　not。〃
　〃And　then　what　happened？〃
　〃I　opened　the　suitcase。〃
　〃And　what　did　you　find？〃
　〃I　found　fifty　packages　of…〃
　〃Now；　just　a　moment；〃　Mason　interrupted。　〃I　submit；　if　the　Court　please；　this　particular　question　has　now　been　asked　and　fully　answered。　The　witness　sai