"Gardner, Erle Stanley - Perry Mason 060 - The Case of the Singing Skirt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gardner Earle Stanley)

THE CASE OF THE SINGING SKIRT
by Erle Stanley Gardner

Copyright 1959 by Erle Stanley Gardner



FOREWORD

Gertrude Stein once sagely wrote "A rose is a rose is a rose."
To date no one has ever contradicted this statement.
In the field of legal medicine, however, when someone remarks "A coroner is a coroner is a coroner," there is an immediate chorus of discord.
Actually there are coroners and coroners and it is a far cry from the politically adept mortician in the small community who elects to run for the office of coroner and public administrator to my friend, Dr. Nicholas J. Chetta, the coroner of the Parish of Orleans, who has done such a splendid job of making New Orleans a bright spot in the field of legal medicine.
All of which goes to prove that no matter what title a man may be given, the sort of job he does depends upon his vision, his determination and his capabilities.
Dr. Chetta realizes that the ultimate function of the autopsy is to protect the living. The cause of death in any obscure case may be of the greatest importance not only to surviving relatives but to society.
In New Orleans, due to the fact that Coroner Chetta is ex-officio city physician, he has been able to bring about reforms that have helped legitimate law enforcement and have checked abuses in the field.
For instance, Dr. Chetta has placed a resident doctor on duty at the central police lock-up to examine all persons arrested, establish drunkenness or sobriety when persons are arrested and to supervise the welfare of the jail inmates.
Under Dr. Chetta, the parish has modernized and revitalized the coroner's office. Duly accredited pathologists now perform autopsies, and necessary pathological techniques are used in order to bring the coroner's office up to date as an aid to law-enforcement agencies in determining causes of death.
A photography department has been installed which is equipped for both color and black-and-white slides as well as prints. Autopsy findings are expedited through adequate inquiry by a special investigator.
A coroner's commission composed of doctors, lawyers and medical-school representatives serves in an advisory capacity.
Those who have had experience with law enforcement know the importance of determining with speed and accuracy the real cause of death, and it is my hope that my many millions of readers will come to understand something of the importance of legal medicine. It has a day-to-day impact upon their lives, their safety and the safety of their loved ones.
And so it gives me pleasure to dedicate this book to
My friend,
NICHOLAS M. CHETTA, M.D.
Coroner and ex-officio physician
of the Parish of Orleans
ERLE STANLEY GARDNER



CHAPTER ONE

George Anclitas looked at Ellen Robb with the shrewd appraisal of a cattle buyer inspecting a shipment of beef. "Black stockings," he said.
Ellen nodded.
"Long black stockings, way up," George said, making a gesture which included the hips.
"Leotards," Slim Marcus added parenthetically.
"I don't care what you call 'em," George said. "I want the black shiny ones that are tight and go way, way up."
"That's the stuff," Slim said. "Leotards."
"And the skirt," George went on, eying Ellen appraisingly, "about halfway down to the knees with a little bit of a white apron. You know, that thing about the size of a pocket handkerchief with a lot of lace on it that you tie on."
"Tonight's the night?" Slim asked.
"Tonight we take him," George said.
"All of it?"
"Why stop halfway?"
"Now, he likes you," George went on to Ellen. "He can't take his eyes off you when you're in your working clothes. Every time after you finish a number, grab the tray and come on in. Always walk on the side of the table where he can see you and keep his attention distracted, except when I give you the signal."
"Now, don't forget that signal," Slim said. "George takes his right hand and rubs it along his head, sort of smoothing back his hair."
George raised a well-manicured hand to black, wavy hair and illustrated the signal.
"Now, when you get that signal," Slim explained, "you come right over to the table, but come up behind him. Now, get this. If he's only got two pair or three of a kind, you say, 'You want a cigarette, Mr. Ellis?' Remember, whenever you say 'you,' that means three of a kind or less. Now, if you stand back and say impersonally, 'Cigars, cigarettes,' that means a full house, and if you say 'Cigars or cigarettes' twice, that means the full house is higher than jacks. If you just say it once, it means it's below jacks--three tens and a pair of something, or three nines and a pair of something."
"And," George went on, "if he's got better than a full house, if he's got a straight flush or four of a kind, you reverse the order and say--"
Ellen Robb spoke for the first time. "No," she said.
Both men looked up at her incredulously.