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Perry Mason Solves the Case of the Irate Witness and Other Stories

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The Case of the Irate Witness

The title refers to the only short story of a Perry Mason case. Three of Gardner's short stories are included to fill out the book, samples of his short stories for magazines.

Starting this story you realize that Gardner has eliminated much of the descriptive prose in his usual stories. The obsolete safe was broken into and the payroll stolen. Harvey L. Corbin, who has a record, was told to leave this company town. Corbin gave money to his wife that was said to be part of the loot. Jebson City is a company town, no small businesses. How could Corbin have bills whose serial numbers are on the list of newly delivered funds? Perry figures it out and subpoenas an irascible old timer. This explains the care needed for circumstantial evidence.

"The Jewelled Butterfly" concerns an insurance business, and its company newsletter. Peggy Castle is looking into a rumored romance at a night club. When Don Kimberly's date doesn't show up, they go looking for her, and find out what happened. A jewelled butterfly that had been stolen was on Stella Lynn's leg. The police investigate. We learn about Peggy's background, and her Uncle Benedict. The story is like a snapshot of people's lives that remind you of other Gardner stories. [The prose tells about society in those days, just fifty years ago.]

"Something Like a Pelican" is from the "Lester Leith" series. A beautiful young woman purchases a fur cape, throws it out the window, pays for it, and leaves! Across the street secret plans disappeared from a vault. An editor has brought his shotgun to work. (This was a time when people could freely keep and bear arms.) This implausible story is amusing and entertaining.

"A Man is Missing" is set in rural Idaho. Frank Adrian has gone missing, but sent a picture postcard to his wife Corliss by her maiden name and address. Frank hurt his head after an auto accident, and this is his second disappearance. Sheriff Bill Catlin shows the photo to Hank Lucas, who draws the obvious conclusions from the details in the picture. Hank will work as a guide for Corliss Adrian and her detective James Dewitt. Gardner develops the colorful characters through their comments on this case. A Marion Chandler arrives, and she asks Hank Lucas if she can join his expedition. The following pages describe what this ride into the country is like. Marion and Hank find that cabin, but its empty. They find a hidden envelope with a message. Then the others arrive. A search confirms their worst fears. When they return to town Sheriff Bill Catlin listens to the detective and then points out what he overlooked in this case. There is a surprise ending to this story whose moral is to not overlook the experience and wisdom of country folk.