“Notwithstanding the fact that you knew when you entered the pool room that you intended to call Bill Hogarty, or Louie Conway, as the case may be, at ten o’clock, you nevertheless told these men that you were going to place the call at somewhere around ten-thirty?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t you tell the district attorney when you first repeated your story that you had called Conway at ten-thirty?”
“No.”
Kittering said, “Your Honor, I would like to have the decedent referred to as Hogarty rather than Conway. It will keep the record free from confusion, and...”
Judge Knox interrupted. “There is not sufficient proof as yet to warrant the court to require counsel to so frame his questions.”
Mason said, as though the point were of no great importance: “Oh, I guess it’s all right. I’ll stipulate his real name was Hogarty, and so refer to him if counsel wishes.”
“Very well, so stipulated,” Kittering said.
Judge Knox looked sharply at Perry Mason. “That stipulation of identity may be important on the question of motivation, counselor.”
“It’s all right,” Mason said carelessly. “I’ve known he claimed to be Hogarty for some time, and if Kittering has proof of it, I’ll save time by stipulating.”