Perry Mason helps a friend by finding out who murdered her
husband, who claimed to be dead and tried to extort money from
her after she married.
After winning an acquittal, Perry Mason (Warren William) buys
crabs and cooks them. Perry's friend Rhoda Montaine (Margaret
Lindsay) from the past asks him to help a bride, and he notes
her new wedding ring. She leaves, and Perry finds her purse. Rhoda
tells her husband Carl Montaine (Donald Woods) she feels ill and
wants to sleep in the other room. Perry goes to the morgue, but
they find a wooden Indian instead of Gregory Moxley. Perry's secretary
Della Street (Claire Dodd) gets him out of bed. Dr. Millbeck (Philip
Reed) arrives, and Perry asks him where Rhoda is. Perry tells
Spudsy Drake (Allen Jenkins) that bride Rhoda is not a widow.
Perry calls on her "late" husband Gregory Moxley; but
the coroner Wilbur Strong (Olin Howlin) says he was murdered.
Della calls to tell Perry Carl's address. Police detective Lucas
(Barton MacLane) comes in.
Spudsy drives Perry to see Carl, who says Rhoda left with her
trunk. Spudsy drives Perry to the airport, followed by the police.
Perry finds Rhoda and has her hide in a phone booth as he calls
a newspaper. She swears she did not kill Gregory, and Perry tells
her to say nothing. Perry has Spudsy start a fight to distract
police while he turns Rhoda over to the newspaper. Perry calls
District Attorney Stacey (Henry Kolker). Philip Montaine (Charles
Richman) offers to pay Perry extra to defend Rhoda if his son
can get out of his marriage to her; but Perry says no. Lucas lets
Carl talk to Rhoda, and Carl suspects her with Dr. Millbeck. Lucas
gets Rhoda to admit she rang the doorbell during the murder. Perry
tells reporters he has a habeus corpus for his client,
but Stacey shows him Rhoda's statement. Rhoda tells Perry she
hit Gregory (Errol Flynn) with a poker, and Perry says her false
statement could hurt her.
Perry tells Spudsy to find another wife of Gregory and sends
him to Florabelle (Mayo Methot). Spudsy tells Perry that burlesque
singer Doris Pender (Wini Shaw) also married Gregory, and they
question her about a call. Spudsy follows her to Oscar Pender
(Warren Hymer), who denies he killed Gregory. Oscar knocks out
Spudsy. Perry learns that Dr. Millbeck was ringing the bell during
the murder. Stacey calls Perry that Florabelle is a fake. Spudsy
tells Perry that Oscar was at the murder. Perry gives a cocktail
party, and Spudsy brings in Oscar, who says the murderer gave
him money. Perry explains why it was Carl, who says that Gregory
was killed by glass during their fight. Perry sends Dr. Millbeck
to treat Rhoda, and Della wishes that Perry couldn't cook.
This murder mystery has a comic flair, enhancing its entertainment
value as Mason puts off a trip to China and cooking to solve the
crime.