The Case of the Capricious Corpse

I agree, a complicated story for its own good, however clever, it makes for a powerful courtroom showdown. The twist -- the fate of a worthy cause hangs in the balance for a change of pace.

Dying millionaire Carleton Cage, who operates a foundation for disabled youths and orphans, is about to re-write his will, aware his son-in-law Ernest and nephew plan to sell the property as soon as he dies. The catch is Ernest is killed, found by Nick Blake (Lee Farr) one of the curators of the foundation. He and his partner Joane (Jan Shepard) concoct a scheme to make it look like Ernest died in car accident, and Joane winds up getting accused of murder. The best laid plans of mice and men, right?

One of those tricky stories where a staged car wreck -- the car rolling off a cliff --- is the hightlight for all us thrill seekers, perhaps something even Erle Stanley Gardner himself wanted added to the script.

It makes for an exciting twist, you have to admit. Nevertheless, two innocent people get themselves in deep (too deep) trouble for an honorable cause.

Other suspects with motives? Most definitely.

Jan Shepard, who passed in 2025, appeared regularly on tv, often in GUNSMOKE and the VIRGINIAN, Lee Farr was co-star in the DETECTIVES, opposite Robert Taylor.

Written by Jonathan Latimer, a favorite writer of Gardner's, who wrote over 30 stories for the show. Famous for film classics like THE GLASS KEY and THE BIG CLOCK.

SEASON 6 episode 2 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. Thanks to METV for running these solid gold mysteries twice daily.

This was an episode where the writers got a little too clever by a half. Maybe it couldn't be helped because Perry Mason's client Jan Shepard was busy trying to put one over on Raymond Burr while he's trying to get her off. It was all for the kids however, she and Lee Farr were trying to save a kid's foundation, the pride and joy of their employer the dying Carleton Gage who sent for Burr to change his will.

But Gage slips into a coma before Perry Mason arrives and later John Morley his second heir is found dead. What to do, but try and jiggle with the times of death so that Morley's wife and Shepard's sister is the beneficiary. I won't go into the details but it's what puts Shepard in the jackpot for murder.

I mean Farr and Shepard should have realized there was a murder afoot when Morley is found dead. Anyone with half a brain would have.

Not my favorite Mason at all.

Viewers have learned that it is never good to be defended by Perry and then lie to him. This is what happens in this complex story about a death that turned into problematic situation when two of the characters try to keep people thinking that a dead man was still alive.

Carleton Gage is a wealthy man that has lived his life funding an orphanage for kids. On his death bed he learns that the two people that he is going to leave his fortune, George Gabe and Ernest Demming, are going to split the orphanage up and sell the property. Now he wants to write a new will. But before he can sign, Carleton falls into a coma.

Now George Gabe, a man that loves playboy life and has a posse of ex-wives, and Earnest Demming, another fun-loving playboy, is set to inherit the kid's school. But a bright spot occurs when Earnest is found dead by Joane Proctor and Nick Blake (both supporters of the school) they want everyone to think Earnest is still alive so that his wife can get the inheritance and keep the support of the school going. But covering up this small detail will land Joane and Nick in some terrible hot water.

This story was more complex than needed. There is much information in this episode that at times makes the storyline complicated. Not to say that the information was not germane to the story but rather there was so much information it seemed to take away from the interesting plot. When the episode finally comes to a conclusion, the viewer has had so much information dished-out that the feeling one gets is of relief. --Relief is not what any writer wants from a script.

A foundation which helps disabled children is in danger when the man who founded it has a stroke and dies. The problem is a will that will end up sending the foundation reeling. So this young couple takes matters into their own hands. They aren't the murderers of one of the heirs, but the young woman is blamed. The problem for me is that they do all kinds of things that would be interfering with the case. So what happens to them? This is the reason for my lower rating.

A witness at trial testifies the car that went over the cliff might have been knocked out of gear by brushing against the gear lever. A '57 Dodge had push-button drive.