The Case of the Hateful Hero

Jimmy Anderson is a rookie cop that just happens to be the cousin of Lt Andy Anderson. Jimmy will be the partner of veteran officer Otto Norden. During the first night on patrol Otto and Jimmy cannot see the night watchman at a plastic company. When they hear a strange noise the two officers enter the property. The next scene we have Lt Tragg telling Lt Anderson that the night watchman had been drugged and Otto has been killed. When Lt Anderson asks about his cousin, Tragg tells him that he was seen running from the scene.

Inside the business a safe had been blasted open with a large amount of nitro. Even though most of the company's books were destroyed about $60,000 was in a strong box and stolen. And it just so happens some of the money will be found in Officer Jimmy Anderson's apartment. Not only that, a few nights later the night watchman was killed and again Jimmy Anderson is involved.

Lt Anderson ask Perry to defend his cousin for murder of the night watchman. However this seemed like a difficult task. There is mounds of evidence against the rookie cop- so much that Perry is unable to produce a defense during the preliminary hearing. Thus having the judge bound Jimmy Anderson over for a jury trial.

With a little trickery, Perry is able to understand why the large amount of nitro was used on the safe. And with that information Jimmy Anderson will be saved from facing a trial by his peers.

A very good script that was interesting the entire 52 minutes. Good Watch!

I really enjoyed this particular episode as they showed a more human, compassionate side of the usually no nonsense, tough as nails, Lieutenant Andy Anderson. With all the hullabaloo over the great character actress, Jeanette Nolan, as a grieving mother of a young police officer, who dies in the line of duty, no one seems to have mentioned Mabel Albertson, who portrays Carrie Wilson, the head of Wilson Plastics. Of course, she is best known in her role as Darrin Stephen's mother, Phyllis, on Bewitched...Perry asks the court to grant a recess because she feels one of her sick headaches coming on and needs to lie down in his office!

Hamilton concludes the hearing prosecution with a line that Perry will present his usual calculated confusion of facts. But Perry presents no defense. The murderer of Ralph Pearce (who is uncredited even though appearing as a corpse) is revealed in a cold room before the actual trial commences. The episode title is of interest, because the viewer does not learn the hateful or hero part until very late. Perry's initial appearance is as corporate attorney for Wilson Plastics, and in this episode that role is important. The set-up places experienced officer Otto Norden (actor Boyett, later a police sergeant in Adam-12) with young officer Jimmy Anderson, the cousin of Lt. Andy Anderson. They drive by Wilson Plastics. Norden immediately notices watchman Ralph Pearce is not outside (pay attention to how Otto speaks of Ralph). There is a robbery. Otto is killed. Jimmy seems to have been derelict. Ralph Pearce later is found dead. Jimmy is found guilty in a Board of Rights hearing under a preponderance of evidence standard. Jimmy is charged with the death of Pearce. Lt. Andy Anderson asks Perry to defend Jimmy. Perry goes to Wilson Plastics and suggests one of them is the killer and is told "you are out of your mind." Perry responds: "That's been said many times." Once we see that the SEC is investigating for insider trading, we know there is more than meets the eye. There are two overlapping schemes (actually 2 and a half), which did make this a tough oone for Perry. It is not common for Perry to get physically involved, but here Mama Norden (Nolan) actually attacks Perry.

The great character actress Jeanette Nolan replete with German accent highlights the Perry Mason episode. Raymond Burr's client here is Dick Davalos playing rookie patrolman James Anderson cousin of series regular Weslay Lau.

A rather wild and unrealistic plot drags Davalos into a jackpot whereby he stands accused of the murder of a night watchman and former LAPD officer. He's further accused of being part of a robbery of the same factory in which Nolan's son who is Wesley Lau's best friend on the force and training officer for Davalos is killed.

The most unrealistic thing about this story is Raymond Burr asking for and getting Nolan's cooperation in apprehending the real perpetrator. Again Perry Mason defends no guilty clients, but Nolan thinks Davalos culpable in her son's murder. A bit much to ask and get in this episode one of the lesser ones in this long series.

I often knock these down for a lack of verisimilitude. This has a couple of weak elements, but with the exception of some time issues in the case, it works. There are enough bad guys to go around. There are guys previously thought to be good who have pass muster in the court. We have a subplot of a company sale which would feather the nests of some of the partners. We have what seems like an open and shut case since two principles have stolen money in their homes. We have the tension between Andy Anderson and his just promoted cousin. It's a good deal of fun.