The Case of the Golddigger’s Purse

“If they have a bearing on the question before the Court, I want to hear all of the things which you would refer to as extraneous facts.”

“But the point I am making is that the effect is just the same as though they were brought in at this time.”

“Why object to them then?” Judge Summerville asked urbanely.

Mason said, “I was only calling for a document which is in the possession of the police. I can, if I have to, subsequently put Sergeant Dorset on the stand as my witness and ask that the document be produced.”

“But what earthly bearing does that document have on the murder of Harrington Faulkner?” Medford asked.

Mason smiled. “Perhaps a few more questions to Sergeant Dorset will clear up that part of the case.”

“Ask him the questions,” Medford said. “Ask him if the document has any bearing on the case. I defy you to ask him that question, Mr. Mason.”

Mason said, “I prefer to ask my questions in my own way, Counselor.” He turned to the witness and said, “Sergeant, after you discovered the body of Harrington Faulkner, you proceeded to investigate the murder, did you not?”

“I did.”

“You investigated every angle of it?”

“Naturally.”

“And during the course of the evening you questioned the defendant and also me about an interview we had had with James Staunton, and about whether the fish which Mr. Staunton had in his possession were actually the two fish which had been delivered to him by Mr. Faulkner, and which had been taken from the tank which was in the real estate office, didn’t you?”

“I asked questions, yes.”

“And insisted upon answers?”

“I felt that I was entitled to answers.”

“Because you thought that matter might throw some light upon who murdered Harrington Faulkner?”

“I thought so at the time.”

“What has caused you to change your opinion?”

“I don’t know that I have changed it.”

“Then you still think that the circumstances you investigated in connection with James Staunton had some bearing on the murder of Harrington Faulkner?”

“No.”

“Then you have changed your opinion.”

“Well, I’ve changed my opinion because I know now who committed the murder.”

“You know who you think committed the murder.”

“I know who committed the murder, and if you’ll quit throwing legal monkey wrenches in the machinery, we’ll prove it.”

“That will do,” Judge Summerville ruled. “Counsel is questioning the witness for the purpose, I take it, of showing bias.”

“That is right, your Honor.”

“Proceed with your questioning.”

“You demanded that the defendant accompany you out to the residence of James L. Staunton?”

“I did.”

“At that time you had been advised by both Miss Madison and by me of all the facts which we had learned in connection with the possession of the fish by Staunton?”

“I suppose so. You said they were all the facts you had.”

“Exactly. And, at the time those facts seemed sufficiently significant so you went out to verify them?”

“At the time, yes.”

“What has caused you to change your mind?”

“I haven’t changed my mind.”

“You took from the possession of James L. Staunton a written statement signed by Harrington Faulkner?”

“I did.”

Mason said, “I want that statement introduced in evidence.”

“I object,” Medford said. “It is not proper cross-examination. It’s no part of the case. It’s incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial.”

“It’s not proper cross-examination,” Judge Summerville ruled calmly. “The objection will be sustained on that ground.”

“That is all,” Mason said.

Judge Summerville smiled. “And now, Mr. Mason, do you want Sergeant Dorset to remain in court as a witness on the part of the defense?”

“I do.”

Judge Summerville said, “The witness will remain in court, and if the witness has in his possession any paper which he received from James L. Staunton relating to the fish which had belonged to Harrington Faulkner in his lifetime, the witness will have that statement ready to produce when he is called as a witness by the defense.”

“This is going all the way around our elbow to get to our thumb,” Medford said with some feeling.

“Apparently you object to reaching the thumb by any shorter route,” Judge Summerville pointed out. “The Court doesn’t want to be unduly harsh in its ruling so far as the prosecution is concerned, but it has always been the attitude of this Court that if any defendant in a preliminary hearing has any evidence to introduce which will tend to clarify the issues or throw any light upon a crime which has been committed, this Court wants to hear it. And that is going to continue to be the attitude of the Court. Call your next witness.”

Somewhat sullenly, and with poor grace, Medford called the photographer who had taken the photographs showing the position of the body and the surroundings. One by one, those photographs were introduced, and as they were introduced, they were carefully studied by Judge Summerville.

It was eleven-thirty when Medford said to Mason, “You may cross-examine.”