Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine, Vol. 29, No. 4, September 1971

Several hours later, Chief Assistant District Attorney Adolph Alexander arrived from Los Angeles and took over the questioning. John True sang like a hungry canary. He related every incident of the planning and murder of Mrs. Monohan. After his statement had been recorded, Alexander and Coveney knew they had the case in the bag. True’s story exactly matched that given by Baxter Shorter and checked out with the statement made by Upshaw. Alexander and Coveney were jubilant.

“We’ve got an airtight case,” Alexander said. He let out a heavy sigh. “Phew! I never believed we’d solve this one, not with those three cookies. Hard as nails!”

The trial of Perkins, Santo and Barbara Graham got under way late in August. Adolph Alexander and J. Miller Leavy teamed for the prosecution. Judge Charles W. Fricke appointed Jack Hardy, an able attorney, to defend Barbara, and Ward Sullivan to defend Santo and Perkins. John True, the accomplice turned witness, was assigned a deputy public defender.

The intensely dramatic trial began with a packed courtroom, with some score of police officers spread throughout the audience, and it was an audience, one that had come to witness a trial that proved to be more sensational than anything like it presented on stage or screen.

Attorney Jack Hardy protested to the court. “I deem this display a highly irregular procedure. It is an obvious intimidation of the defendants and the jury.”

“Considering the elements of this case, and the character of the defendants I dare say we could not hold this trial in Grauman’s Chinese Theatre,” Judge Fricke replied.

There was an outburst of laughter from the crowd and Judge Fricke rapped his gavel for order. “I want to warn you people that this is a court of law in which three defendants are on trial for their lives. I am mindful of the gravity of the trial despite my last statement and if there are any other outbursts I shall clear the courtroom.”

Attorney Hardy protested Judge Fricke’s reply to him. “I consider the Court’s response highly prejudicial and I want the record to show my objection.”

“So be it,” Judge Fricke replied.

While Barbara was in the county jail she struck up a strong friendship with a girl named Donna Prow, a good-looking young brunette who was serving a year on a charge of manslaughter. Barbara was a bisexual girl with strong sexual needs. When she couldn’t get a man she was able to do a switch and find satisfaction with a woman. She wanted cute Donna Prow and was willing to do anything to get her. Donna saw in this friendship a chance to relieve herself of a prison sentence and return to the free world. She led Barbara on.

At one point in their conversation Barbara said that she needed an alibi for the night of March 9, the night of the murder. “Unless I have an alibi I’m going to wind up in the gas chamber.”

Barbara had forgotten her experience with Mark Monroe and Tom Sittler when she was convicted of perjury for her attempt to establish an alibi for the two men. However, she was desperate at this time, facing the greatest crisis of her life and, like a drowning man, she was grasping at any straw that floated by.

Donna said, “I have a friend of mine coming to visit me in a day or so. I’m sure he’ll be willing to help you. I’ll talk to him.”

“Gee, honey, I’ll really appreciate it. If I get off I’ll see to it that you are handsomely taken care of.”

“Sure, Babs. Anything for a friend.”

Donna Prow was no one’s friend. She was strictly out for herself. She was acquainted with Lieutenant Coveney and sent word to him that she had something important she was sure he’d be interested in. Coveney came immediately. Donna told him of her conversation with Barbara. Lieutenant Coveney nodded.

“I’ll take care of this. Thanks, Donna.”

“What about me, lieutenant? Will you try to get my time cut if this works out? I want to get out of here!”

“I’ll do whatever I can, Donna. I’m sure I can arrange it with the D.A. and the judge.”

Coveney arranged to have an undercover agent pose as Donna’s boyfriend. The man he sent was Samuel Sirianni, a handsome, dark-haired young police officer.

Sirianni visited Barbara at the county jail. He had a small miniphone strapped to his chest and under his coat so that it was invisible to Barbara.

“What can I do for you?” Sirianni asked. “I’m told you need help. I’m here to help you because you’re a friend of Donna’s.”

Barbara was taken by the handsome young man before her and thought of how nice it would be if she were freed and got together with him. She suggested as much and Sirianni smiled a willingness.

“I want you to tell me everything that happened so that when I get on the stand to testify for you I won’t be caught in a lie. Now, from what you’ve said so far, I want to know if this Upshaw guy was with you that night.”

“Oh, no, I don’t know him. Never saw him.”

“What about Baxter Shorter?”

“Don’t worry about him. He won’t be at the trial.”

“Do you know that as a fact that he won’t be there?”