The Case of the Sulky Girl
Cover Artist: Roswell KellerBy: Gardner, Erle Stanley
Publisher: Pocket Books, Inc. (90)
Place of Publication:New York, NY
Catalog #: Kelley Coll. PS3513 .A6322 C2885 1950
Contributor: D. Harlan
General
Era: 1930sAuthor as on Cover: Erle Stanley Gardner
Publication:1950
Original Date: 1933
Setting: urban; Mason lives in a "bachelor apartment," but spends one night in a "downtown hotel." The house where the murder takes place is a mansion located down a winding driveway from a hill in a "scenic subdivision."
Plot Summary
Fran Celane approaches Perry Mason about the trust (over one million dollars) left her by her father Carl Celane upon his death two years before. His will provides that if she should marry before she turns 25, the trustee has the option to give her $5000 from the trust fund and turn the balance over to charitable institutions. Fran, age 23, wants to get married now, and wants Mason to find a way for her to do so. As Mason learns, she has already been secretly married, and hours after Mason meets with the trustee, Fran's uncle Edward Norton, Norton is murdered. Norton's chauffeur, Pete Devoe, is the first suspect, but he is released when the heavy stick with which Norton was killed is found to belong to Rob Gleason, Fran's fiancé/husband. Both are arrested for murder and are tried together, with Mason representing both. Mason uncovers the real killer at the trial.Major Characters
Perry Mason "Chief," adult male, old enough to have had "thousands of clients," gives the impression of bigness; not the bigness of fat, but the bigness of strength -- broad shoulders, rugged face, steady patient eyes, heavy eyebrows, trial lawyer, preferably before juries ("I don't go in much for wills"), has the reputation of being able to "stampede" every case he triesArthur Crinston adult male, 45 years old, broad-shoulders, affable, booming voice, feels kindly and protective toward Fran Celane; partner of Edward Norton in buying, selling and mortgaging real estate and buying and selling stocks and bonds
Edward Norton adult male, 55 years old, tall, bland, expressionless countenance, bony forefinger, partner of Arthur Crinston in buying, selling, and mortgaging real estate and buying and selling stocks and bonds; trustee of trust fund left to Fran Celane; her uncle and guardian as well
Della Street adult female, "about 27 years old," her manner radiates assurance and efficiency, Mason's combination stenographer and secretary, with whom he discusses the case
Paul Drake adult male, tall, long neck, protruding glassy eyes, perpetual expression of droll humor; sits sideways in chair in Mason's office, legs crossed over the arm of the chair; owner of the Drake Detective Agency
Frances Celane "Fran," adult female, 23 years old, "judged by any standard, she was beautiful," silken hair which gives a spun-gold effect, large dark eyes, high cheekbones, full well-formed lips, small yet perfectly proportioned; heiress, niece of Edward Norton, secretly married to Rob Gleason
Rob Gleason adult male, late 20s or early 30s, thin, very pointed nose, large ears, walks with nervous, jerky steps; secretly married to Fran Celane
Frank Everly adult male, in his 20s, just out of law school, unruly hair, pathetically eager face, young lawyer getting practical experience in Mason's office
Don Graves adult male, slender, well-dressed, yellow hair, brown eyes, a certain alertness about him; Edward Norton's secretary
Edna Mayfield adult female, short, broad, heavily-muscled, big-boned, capable, self-reliant, rugged features, rounded heavy chin, nose distended at the nostrils, high forehead, black snapping eyes; housekeeper