The Case of the
Singing Skirt – Erle Stanley Gardner
Ellen Robb doubles as the cigarette girl and chanteuse at
The Big Barn, a cabaret and gambling joint that props up the sluggish economy
of the sleepy burg of Rowena. Ellen’s
employer, George Anclitas, has the chief of police and city attorney in his
pocket. Used to getting his own way and dumb like a crook, Anclitas recklessly
cans Ellen when she refuses to help him fleece the sucker Halman Ellis, who has
not only lost heavily at poker but has the hots for Ellen. Both his gambling
losses ($10K in 1959 is $75K now) and his infatuation with the young beauty have
enraged his wife Nadine.
When Ellen brings her wrongful termination complaint to
lawyer Perry Mason, his secretary Della Street smells a rat. But Perry follows
his instinct to help a client who’s not getting any breaks. Later Ellen brings
a gun to Perry’s office. She claims that Anclitas had the gun planted in her
luggage. Perry switches Ellen’s piece with one he has in his office safe, just
in case muddying the waters for the authorities may turn out a useful thing to
do. When Ellen is accused of the murder of Nadine Ellis, Perry ends up defending
her. The ending tests the already strained relationship between Perry and DA Hamilton Burger.
Author Erle Stanley Gardner always kept up on developments
in the law though he spent large parts of his work day dictating his mysteries.
For example, when the Miranda decision came down, he was quick to incorporate
in his novels the changes it ushered in. This novel revolves around two surprising
points of law, one of which I won’t get into as it’s a spoiler. But the other
involves Mrs. Ellis’ rage over her husband’s gambling debts. Perry tells her
about new application of California divorce law in that certain debts, such as
gambling debts, are the separate property of the acquiring spouse, even though
they are incurred during the marriage. Thus, in case of a divorce, the gambling
debt is not a part of community property, but an obligation to be the separate
debt of the gambling spouse. This piece of divorce law still stands in the
Golden State.
Anyway, this is a solid investigation and courtroom
mystery. “The Case of the Singing Skirt,”
wrote well-respected critic Anthony
Boucher in The New York Times Book Review at the time, “is one of the most
elaborate problems of Perry Mason's career...This is as chastely classic a
detective story as you're apt to find in these degenerate days.”
Still enjoying these! Just thought I'd say. I read this one last twenty years ago & remember it vaguely but fondly. Sounds like I could pleasurably reread it.
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