The Case of the Borrowed Baby

Kaye Elhardt is the Perry Mason client for this story, but she only comes in by way of her baby. Unlike other Mason stories where Raymond Burr and his team get called in once we're into the story, this episode starts with them as part of the story.

One night when Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale are working late a small intruder is left in the office. It's a baby with a note saying that his name is Leander and he has a St. Christopher medal. Ace detective William Hopper traces that medal to the wealthy dowager Sara Taft with the thought that it is her grandson. But she says she has no grandson and the mother Elhardt never registered the birth on some bad advice.

Elhardt worked in a sanitarium where she met the baby's father who was being treated for injuries in a plane crash. They married there and he died and he was Taft's son.

As that baby could be the heir to a considerable fortune young Leander is the object of a lot of intrigue by various parties for their own reasons. The worst of all is an orderly played by Corey Allen who is a real bottom feeder and working several angles. One of those angles gets him killed and Elhardt up for murder.

Of course justice is obtained for both Mason clients, mother and baby son. This episode shows Barbara Hale developing quite the maternal instinct. Of course in the over 35 years that Hale played Della Street she never went to the altar much less had a baby. At least in her life as the character.

Perry and Della are returning to the office late one evening and upon opening the door find a baby on Perry's desk. All that is left with the baby is a note asking Perry to keep the baby safe. Other than that the only thing the baby possess is a St Christopher medal with an rare car on the back. Perry finds out that the car on the back of the medal is a electric car owned by the widow Derrick.

As Della is caring for the baby a series of odd events happen. We find out how the baby got to Perry's office, someone else is trying to kidnap the baby, a rich widow feels like she is being blackmailed and we find out that the supposed mother, Ginny Talbot, is accused of murder.

Perry will defend Ms Talbot in court for the murder plus trying to establish the fact she actually is the mother of the baby. Paul gives Perry some information that appears to only hurt his client but Perry finds the information interesting and is ready for cross examination of witnesses.

A very interesting mystery that is entertaining. With some good actors like Hugh Marlowe, Sara Taft and Corey Allen this episode is dramatic. A good watch for any Mason viewer.

An above-average episode, probably more so because it's so different. A tad heavy-handed direction-wise, but not unwatchable. There are some good performances within. The prize, however, goes to Barbara Hale. She gets a good chance to exercise her acting chops as the baby's (temporary) caretaker. The solution was unexpected, which is what makes for a good show in the end...