Mason nodded and said, “That’s what I wanted to see you about, Paul. I want you to dig into their records. I want you to uncover everything you can which has been suspected but hasn’t been Proven. And I want them to know you’re doing it. In other words, don’t be too secretive about it. Be just a little crude. Let word get back to them of what’s happening.”
Drake nodded and said, “O.K. You want to frighten them so they’ll skip out, Perry. Is that the idea?”
Mason said, “I’d hardly want them to disobey a subpoena which had been served on them. Of course, if they get frightened and pull Out their own accord, that’s something else again. Now that their statement has been played up in the newspapers and in interviews, issued by the district attorney’s office, it’s going to look like the devil if they don’t show up at the time of trial.”
“You mean you’d make them the goats?”
“I’d insinuate they committed the murder, yes,” Mason said.
“And planted the gun?”
“Naturally.”
“I’m afraid,” Drake warned, “you’re underestimating the sincerity and ability of this chap Diggers. Personally, I think the D.A. has hypnotized him into thinking a lot of things happened which just didn’t happen. You know how it is on something like that. A person runs directly in front of an automobile. The automobile comes to a stop very shortly after the impact. The driver’s naturally pretty much excited. I’ve seen quite a few of them so jittery they couldn’t write their own names at the bottom of a traffic ticket. Naturally, a person has a confused recollection of what happened. Usually, if you get the straight of it, it’s a series of images which are burnt in on the brain. Later on, as a man tells the story over and over, those images gradually assume sharper details — but those details are usually supplied by some clever lawyer... It’s not perjury, it’s simply a question of exerting legitimate influence... Incidentally, Perry, I don’t think you’ll get anywhere arguing with Diggers on the witness stand. He’s so absolutely sincere.”
Mason said, “The D.A., by the way, is rushing through an indictment, and wants to try Mrs. Breel while public emotion is at its height.”
“Why?” Drake asked.