The Case of the Howling Dog

Millionaire Arthur Cartwright travels to Perry Mason's office in Los Angeles to discuss a will. He explains the howling of the neighboring German Shepherd signals that death is near and wants the fortune left to Evelyn Foley, a woman who pretends to be Foley's wife. Perry agrees to draft the will after receiving a large retainer and gives Cartwright a form to fill out and return.

After the initial meeting, Perry provides Cartwright with the will form and instructions to return it completed. Cartwright pays a hefty retainer and leaves with the paperwork in hand. The arrangement hinges on how the bequest is worded and who is legally recognized as Foley's wife.

Upon receiving the completed form the next day, Cartwright changes the beneficiary to Foley's actual wife, altering the intended bequest. Perry notes the alteration and prepares to defend the real Mrs. Foley in court. This raises the stakes and makes the case far more intricate.

Foley accuses Cartwright of insanity, claiming Cartwright's bizarre behavior proves he is a homicidal maniac. A sheriff's deputy is assigned to investigate the allegation, and Perry prepares to get involved as counsel for the real Mrs. Foley.

Perry and Foley examine the house and notice a garage addition being built for another car despite the chauffeur having quit. The scene hints at hidden motives and a tangle of relationships surrounding the households. Investigators gather early clues about loyalty and deception.

Lucy Benton arrives with a bandaged hand and explains she was bitten by the dog while administering an emetic. She notes that Evelyn Foley has disappeared, leaving a note claiming she loves Cartwright and is going away with him. The personal turmoil behind the household fuels the mystery.

Cartwright vanishes overnight, and a telegram signed by Evelyn arrives from Ventura asking Foley to stop his actions. The disappearance deepens the conspiracy and hints at a planned flight or cover-up. Perry begins connecting the telegram to Cartwright's absence.

Perry's private investigators reveal Evelyn is Cartwright's wife who ran away with Foley, and Lucy was Foley's private secretary. The past in Santa Barbara with Foley and his wife Bessie clarifies the entwined relationships. This background reframes motives and loyalties.

A woman in black arrives at Foley's house, claiming she wants justice. Foley releases the dog to attack her; two shots kill the dog and Foley, and the killer flees as the garden door slams. The confrontation shifts the case from investigation to murder inquiry.

Perry's team tracks down the cab driver and uncovers a perfumed handkerchief linking Bessie to the murder scene. Della Street is sent to impersonate Bessie and claim the handkerchief before it can be turned in. The ploy narrows the suspect pool and pushes the case toward trial.

Perry obtains a page from Lucy's diary written the day after the Cartwrights disappeared, hoping to corroborate handwriting and intent. The diary item becomes a key piece of evidence that ties the notes to specific individuals. This evidence guides the forthcoming courtroom strategy.

During the trial, Perry discredits the cab driver's identification and redirects focus to the crime scene, arguing the dog loved all three women. He demonstrates Lucy's ambidexterity and that she wrote the note, telegram, and diary page with her left hand. As the evidence unfolds, workers excavating the garage foundation discover the bodies of Cartwright and Evelyn, proving Foley's involvement. Bessie is acquitted after Perry's closing argument.