The Case of the Duplicate Daughter

Carter Gilman was eating breakfast and reading the newspaper. He asked his daughter Muriell to cook another egg and sausage. When Muriell brought this to the dining room she found Carter had disappeared without a word. But he left a note asking for Perry Mason to be called in case of any emergency. When Muriell finds hundred-dollar bills scattered on the workshop floor, she calls Perry Mason; he arrives as quickly as possible. Later that morning Perry Mason has a new client; Edward Carter (who is Carter Gilman). Edward Carter says he is a friend of the Gilman family and wants to prevent Nancy Gilman, Carter's wife, from being blackmailed by a Las Vegas private detective. Perry Mason assigns Paul Drake to investigate. A few hours later Mason receives a phone call from this Las Vegas detective, Vera Martel, who warns him to stay out of this case. Mason realizes there are a lot of assumptions and coincidences in this case, and he needs to recheck the stories that he is being told. Paul Drake follows a daughter to Las Vegas, and uncovers startling news about a missing heir or heiress. Then they hear more shocking news about Vera Martel: murdered, and made to look like a car accident! The police arrested Carter Gilman on suspicion of murder. Then the police show up to question Carter's wife and daughters. Perry Mason advises them to tell the truth or say nothing, and to not volunteer information. Mason then interviews Hartley Elliott, who was a visitor that morning. The Preliminary Hearing takes up the last third of the book. There is enough evidence to try Carter Gilman. DA Hamilton Burger wants to indict Glamis Barlow, Carter's stepdaughter, as an accessory to murder. Perry has a very difficult situation and little time to solve it. Mason receives a subpoena, and the news that Muriell has told all to DA Burger. Hartley Elliott will also testify. Mason is surprised to learn the source of the found hundred-dollar bills. Paul Drake calls with more information on the activities of the murdered private detective; his man on location will fly in with the results. This newspaper photo of an engagement helps Perry Mason to question a witness and crack this puzzling case. The last chapter gives the hidden history, and why the murder occurred after a double-cross. Like some other stories, this reveals the scandals in the hidden lives of the rich and famous. [Careful consideration of earlier testimony could provide a clue to the false testimony.]

The Case of the Duplicate Daughter, by Erle Stanley Gardner This book is dedicated to Francis Edward Camps, M.D. who has achieved international distinction as a medico-legal expert in the United States and England (the Christie Case). Dr. Camps is the co-author of "Practical Forensic Medicine". Too many murders have been diagnosed as suicides, and suicides as murder, because of a lack of medical knowledge and pathology. Carter Gilman was eating breakfast and reading the newspaper. He asked his daughter Muriell to cook another egg and sausage. When Muriell brought this to the dining room she found Carter had disappeared without a word. But he left a note asking for Perry Mason to be called in case of any emergency. When Muriell finds hundred-dollar bills scattered on the workshop floor, she calls Perry Mason; he arrives as quickly as possible. Later that morning Perry Mason has a new client; Edward Carter (who is Carter Gilman). Edward Carter says he is a friend of the Gilman family and wants to prevent Nancy Gilman, Carter's wife, from being blackmailed by a Las Vegas private detective. Perry Mason assigns Paul Drake to investigate. A few hours later Mason receives a phone call from this Las Vegas detective, Vera Martel, who warns him to stay out of this case. Mason realizes there are a lot of assumptions and coincidences in this case, and he needs to recheck the stories that he is being told. Paul Drake follows a daughter to Las Vegas, and uncovers startling news about a missing heir or heiress. Then they hear more shocking news about Vera Martel: murdered, and made to look like a car accident! The police arrested Carter Gilman on suspicion of murder. Then the police show up to question Carter's wife and daughters. Perry Mason advises them to tell the truth or say nothing, and to not volunteer information. Mason then interviews Hartley Elliott, who was a visitor that morning. The Preliminary Hearing takes up the last third of the book. There is enough evidence to try Carter Gilman. DA Hamilton Burger wants to indict Glamis Barlow, Carter's stepdaughter, as an accessory to murder. Perry has a very difficult situation and little time to solve it. Mason receives a subpoena, and the news that Muriell has told all to DA Burger. Hartley Elliott will also testify. Mason is surprised to learn the source of the found hundred-dollar bills. Paul Drake calls with more information on the activities of the murdered private detective; his man on location will fly in with the results. This newspaper photo of an engagement helps Perry Mason to question a witness and crack this puzzling case. The last chapter gives the hidden history, and why the murder occurred after a double-cross. Like some other stories, this reveals the scandals in the hidden lives of the rich and famous. [Careful consideration of earlier testimony could provide a clue to the false testimony.]