“Certainly,” Marshall said.
He handed Mason a bloodstained, folded bit of heavy paper, then after Mason had inspected it, showed it to the witness.
The witness said, “That is the passenger’s portion of a ticket. That is what the passenger retains on a one-way ticket.”
“And this ticket has the name ‘Miss N. Allison’ on it?”
“That is correct.”
“And what does that indicate?”
“That the ticket was issued to a Miss N. Allison.”
“That is her signature?”
“No, that name was probably written by the person issuing the ticket. It is not necessarily the signature of the passenger, but this is retained by the passenger as an identification coupon and there’s a memo so that in case of making out expense accounts or deductions for income tax purposes this is a voucher for the passenger.”
“Cross-examine,” Marshall said.
“No questions,” Mason said.
“I would like to call Harry Nelson,” Marshall said.
As Nelson was coming to the witness stand, Mason turned to Norda Allison. “That ticket has bloodstains on it,” he whispered. “It must have been found on the body of Mervin Selkirk. Did you see him that night?”
“Absolutely not.”
“How did he get possession of your ticket?”
“That,” she said, “is more than I can tell you.”
“Where was that ticket?” Mason asked, still whispering.
“In my purse.”
Mason frowned. “If you’re either lying or mistaken, you’re going to get a jolt,” he warned, then turned to face the witness stand.
Nelson was sworn, testified that he was a deputy coroner, that as such he had searched the clothes of the body of Mervin Selkirk when the body had been delivered at the morgue, that the airplane ticket identification cover which had been identified by the previous witness was in the inside right-hand pocket of the coat worn by Mervin Selkirk at the time the body was delivered to the morgue.
“Cross-examine,” Marshall said.
“No questions,” Mason said.
The bailiff approached Judge Kent on the bench and held a whispered conversation with him.
Mason took advantage of the opportunity to turn to Norda Allison.
“Was your purse ever out of your possession that night?”
“Not that I can remember.”
Mason frowned. “You’re going to have to account for that ticket,” he whispered, “and you’re going to have to tell a convincing story. Judge Kent has been with us all the way. He’s ready to dismiss the case on the evidence so far introduced. He’s not impressed by that gun having been found under your pillow. But this is something different.”
Judge Kent looked up and said, “Gentlemen, I am going to ask the deputy district attorney and Mr. Mason to attend a conference in my chambers. A matter has come up in connection with this case which should be discussed in private. I can assure both counsel that the circumstances are very unusual. The Court will take its usual noon recess at this point and court is adjourned until two o’clock this afternoon. Will counsel please meet with me in my chambers?”
A policewoman approached to take Norda Allison into custody.
“You do some thinking about that ticket,” Mason said. “There’s something peculiar here, some explanation that... wait a minute! You had a suitcase with you?”
“Yes.”
“That was checked?”
“Yes.”
“Now then,” Mason said, “the airplane companies sometimes staple the baggage check to the inside of the ticket stub. Was that done in your case?”
“Why... I guess so, yes.”
“And when you arrived in Los Angeles, Lorraine Jennings and her husband met you?”
“Yes.”
“Then,” Mason said, “you would have surrendered your baggage check to Barton Jennings for him to get your suitcase.”
“Not Barton Jennings,” she said. “I think it was Lorraine. As I remember it, Barton went to get the car and Lorraine asked me for my baggage check. I think I tore off the baggage check and gave it to her and she... now wait a minute. She may have had the entire ticket stub.”
“You think it over,” Mason said. “That ticket stub got into the possession of Mervin Selkirk in some way. You’re going to have to get on the stand and tell your story and you’re going to have to tell exactly what happened.”
“I... I just can’t remember, Mr. Mason. It’s my impression that I pulled the baggage check loose and left the stub of the ticket in my purse. I... I’m almost certain that’s what happened.”
“Now look,” Mason said in an angry whisper, “don’t be almost certain. If you just say you can’t remember anything about it, I can probably convince Judge Kent that you handed the ticket stub to Barton Jennings so that he could claim your suitcase, and then we’ll leave it up to Barton Jennings to explain what happened to the ticket; whether he dropped it, threw it away or put it in his pocket. But when you—”
“No,” she said, with conviction. “The more I think of it, the more I’m certain that I tore the stub off and handed it to Lorraine Jennings. Her husband went to get the car while Lorraine took care of the suitcase. I know she was standing there with it and then Barton Jennings drove up in the car. A porter took my suitcase to the car and Jennings gave him a tip. I had put the ticket cover back in my purse.”
“Well,” Mason said, “think it over during the noon recess. I’ve got to go and see what Judge Kent wants. It’s something rather important, otherwise he wouldn’t have called a conference.”
Chapter Fifteen
Mason pushed open the door of Judge Kent’s chambers and entered.
Manley Marshall was standing by the window. Judge Kent was seated at his big desk and seated to the right of the desk was Horace Livermore Selkirk.
Judge Kent said, “Come in, Mr. Mason. Sit down. You too, Mr. Marshal. A matter has been called to my attention which I think merits an off-the-record discussion.”
Mason seated himself and after a moment Manley Marshall also seated himself.
Judge Kent looked at his watch. “I have telephoned the district attorney, Hamilton Burger, and asked him to attend this conference in person if he will. He should be here. He...”
The office door was pushed open and Hamilton Burger, somewhat short of breath, entered the judge’s chambers. “How do you do, Judge Kent,” he said.
“How do you do, Mr. Burger. Are you acquainted with Horace Livermore Selkirk?”
Selkirk got up and extended his hand. “Glad to meet you, Mr. Burger,” he said.
“I have never met Mr. Selkirk personally,” Burger said, beaming as he shook hands. “I have seen him at meetings and have heard him make a talk at a banquet, but have never met him personally. How do you do, Mr. Selkirk. It’s indeed a very great pleasure.”
“Sit down, gentlemen,” Judge Kent said. “Mr. Selkirk has a communication of some importance in connection with a case which is pending before this Court. I felt, under the circumstances, the communication should be made in private, and I think that you gentlemen will agree with me it is not a matter for the press.”
Burger nodded briefly to Perry Mason, seated himself, said, “Very well.”
Horace Selkirk cleared his throat. “I am, of course, the father of Mervin Selkirk, the victim of the shooting in this case. I am the grandfather of Robert Selkirk, the seven-year-old son of Mervin Selkirk. Under the circumstances, Robert is the last of the Selkirk line. Mervin was my only child and Robert is his only child.”
There was a moment of impressive silence.
“Under the circumstances,” Horace Selkirk went on, “Robert is my sole heir.
“Robert’s mother, who has been divorced and is now married to Barton Jennings, is in my opinion a shrewd, unscrupulous, scheming character. She knows that in all probability I will die before Robert attains his majority. She is not at all unaware of the fact that as Robert’s legal guardian she would be entitled to certain perquisites and certain advantages, and, moreover, would be in a position to play upon Robert’s sympathies and his natural affection for a mother so that she would eventually derive certain material advantages no matter how I tried to safeguard my estate — I can, of course, keep her from getting her fingers in most of my fortune, but Robert is impressionable and there is the bond of natural respect and affection.”