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#163: The Case of the
Lurid Letter
Original Airdate: 12/06/62

Summary Edit

From The Perry Mason TV Show Book
This is one of the few Perry Mason episodes that doesn't involve a murder trial per se. Perry is on vacation in Placer Hill, but any hopes of relaxing are quickly ended when he becomes involved in a local scandal.

A local teacher is the target of a whispering campaign. Her supposed romantic antics with some of her young male students cause quite a stir among the locals.

Perry takes up her cause and gets her a public hearing. But when a local innkeeper is killed, the situation takes a more ominous turn and all eyes are on the teacher.

The scene is not a courtroom, but a board meeting in a high school gym. The testimony revolves around the death of a student some months before. Perry's client is involved because she took an interest in the boy before his death.

Edgar Buchanan, Uncle Joe of "Petticoat junction" fame, is featured as the homespun judge.

Credits Edit

Cast

Mona Freeman as Jane Wardman
Edgar Buchanan as Judge Edward Daley
Robert Rockwell as Everett Rixby
Kaye Elhardt as Doris Wilson
Ann Doran as Mrs. Cornelia Slater
John Durren as Pat Mangan
Thomas Lowell as Bobby Slater
Noah Keen as Dr. Stephen Grant
Mark Murray as Terry Wardman
Kelly Thordsen as Sheriff Watson
Chris Alcaide as Gus Wiler
Elizabeth Harrower as Mrs. Mangan
Cheryl Miller as First Girl
Judee Morton as Second Girl
Nancy Lee as Third Girl
Greta Granstadt as Mrs. Sommers
Harry Travis as Mr. Mangan

Trivia Edit

Anomaly: Edgar Buchanan is listed as Judge Edward Daley but the sign on his office window spells his name as Daily. [Mitch English]

+Thomas Lowell makes his first of two appearances on Perry here playing Bobby Slater. Thomas Lowell was born in 1941 with the birth name of Lowell Thomas. But of course once he became an actor, he would not use the same name as the famous newsman. Thomas Lowell had a minor career, his most famous role being Billy Nelson in the 60's action series "Combat". Submitted by PaulDrake 33. 2 September 2009.

Comments Edit

The closing credits state that this episode was based on the story "The Man with Half a Face" by Hugh Penetcost (a pen name for Judson Philips). The story appeared in the December 1958 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. Are there other Perry episodes based on previous writings by other authors? Submitted by Ed Zoerner, 5/5/2009.

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