The Case of the Witless Witness

Middleton built a career out of playing brutes, long sought after by producers, even Hitchcock. Best remembered opposite Bogey in the DESPERATE HOURS, the meanest of mean. You know it.

Here, Robert Middleton gets a more respectable role -- with questions. He plays a judge running for the post of lieutenant governor of California, though there's charges of dirty politics, fraud and eventually murder, bringing Perry into the wicked case. One of those familiar tales of a client having a checkered past, however not a killer. Writer Samuel Newman, senior consultant for the show, was good at creating smoke and mirrors.

The accusing finger of fate, played by Vaughn Taylor, turns up dead. He seemed to be destined for roles of scowling older gentlemen with an axe to grind, much like Will Wright.

Here's the thing. Newman likely borrowed a "catch" from the famous CHARLIE CHAN mysteries where the killer laid out TOO much evidence, red flags for any able detective. Heart medicine, used by a woman (Florida Friebus) connected to the judge just happens to be "under" the victim's bed? How convenient, and to neatly tie her to the judge. As Charlie would say to the killer, "You're clever, but not clever enough." COLUMBO, without fail, also ran with this.

What a case, and Middleton the center of attention, which is ideal. A wonderful supporting cast of suspects, including Jackie Coogan as Gus, David White (BEWITCHED) as Kendall and Steve Brodie, generally the sly type, playing Quinn. Florida Friebus, a hero to all us kids for playing mom on DOBIE GILLIS, has a very good dramatic part. She also co-starred on PEYTON PLACE.

Proceed with the courtroom showdown. Thank you.

SEASON 6 EPISODE 28 remastered CBS dvd box set. Volumes 1 and 2. Thanks much to METV for running these whodunits twice daily.

Even without the murder, this would have been great courtroom drama. It involves a judge whose career is above reproach. He is a friend of Perry's and they often clashing over legal philosophy. He has been accused of collusion over defense contracts the first year as a judge, and there seems to be a coup to get him thrown off the bench and removing him from a political position. It is well done with some great character actors.

In this fine episode, Perry defends a respected Judge on murder charges after his named is linked to an Federal Investigation involving fraud that happened some twenty years ago.

The Judge, Daniel Redmond, is a man with high integrity for the law. He has just beaten Victor Kendall for nomination for Lt Governor of California, when he gets word that his name has been mentioned in a Federal Investigation for fraud. When he starts asking questions about the investigation it seems that many people believe that Judge Redmond has connections to the fraud and may have even bought the Judge's seat.

The Judge's old friend, Martin Weston, is set to appear before the committee the next day. However Mr Weston is found dead and the evidence points to Judge Redmond as the main suspect. Perry is asked to defend his friend on the charges brought by Hamilton Burger's office.

This episode was a pleasant change of pace from the norm. There are some great courtroom scenes that haven't been witnessed since season one. Perry is at the top of his game as he questions each witness to finally get to the truth. Even with many people taking the 5th amendment during cross-examination - enough of the story comes to light to provide Perry with a satisfactory ending. Great watch.

For a late-season entry, this is a well-crafted episode. There is more than enough intrigue, double-dealing and suspicion even without the added circumstances of the inevitable murder. The cast of familiar and unfamiliar character actors here is more than competent, and if I may say so, Vaughn Taylor is very believable as a sloppy drunk. Direction is pointed and adequate but not overbearing. Perry works through and peels back the many layers of the case, finally tripping up one of the witnesses in court and uncovering the real murderer. I guess even in the waning seasons, the writers could still pull a rabbit out of a hat occasionally. This is one of those occasions.

As this open we see the multi-legal faceted Perry Mason lose in appellate division a civil case. But the well respected judge Robert Middleton who has just been nominated for Lieutenant Governor of California will have need for Raymond Burr's services soon.

A traveling US Senate investigating committee has heard testimony from Vaughn Taylor that Middleton was a beneficiary of insider knowledge while working at the War Department during World War II. Also that he received his first appointment to the bench as a result of his illegal activities.

But then Taylor winds up dead, poisoned with the heart medicine that Middleton's secretary Florida Freibus has, but would be fatal to a heavy drinker like Taylor.

With the help of the Paul Drake Detective Agency for whom Raymond Burr says to William Hopper 'put on an army of operatives' the mystery is solved and the guilty party of both murder and slander is exposed. That last word should tell you who the guilty part is if you watch this good episode.