STEWART G. BEDFORD—a staid businessman, he was embarrassed to be locked up in a motel with a not-so-dumb blonde. He was more than embarrassed when this tête-à-tête resulted in murder
ELSA GRIFFIN—Bedford’s too-zealous secretary, her misplaced devotion inspired her to take the evidence on a silver tray to court
BINNEY DENHAM—The con man de luxe had Bedford strapped over a barrel—of money: $20,000 worth, with much more to come
ANN ROANN BEDFORD—Bedford’s lovely young wife had a blackmailable past. If she had just kept her hands off that silver tray—
GERALDINE CORNING—The blonde’s efforts to “entertain” Bedford almost proved disastrous for her, too
MORRISON BREMS—The motel manager made his money by rifling suitcases and other interesting side lines. His perfect memory proved to be one of Perry’s best clues
PERRY MASON—The illustrious lawyer-sleuth was well aware his reputation was at stake as he pulled a fast courtroom switch in one of his smoothest displays of legal legerdemain
DELLA STREET—Perry’s amiable amanuensis wasn’t too amicable when she found herself in the middle of Perry’s switch
PAUL DRAKE—The tireless guiding spirit of the Drake Detective Agency didn’t stint of his all-night services to Perry, though his tongue was fuzz-coated and his stomach felt like a jar of old library paste
LIEUTENANT TRAGG—The homicide officer’s friendly tip about hamburgers taught Perry a lesson he’d never forget
SERGEANT HOLCOMB—In his eagerness to put Perry on the spot, he unwittingly abetted what might well have been collusion, had not Perry—also unwittingly—extricated him
JUDGE HARMON STROUSE—He gave the defense the widest possible latitude, only to wind up with a weeping woman on his hands
HAMILTON BURGER—The D.A. made an unprecedented move when he attempted to prosecute Perry as well as the clever lawyer’s client—but he should have known better