The Case of the Howling Dog (1934) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Cartwright initially wanted to leave his estate to Evelyn Foley, believing she was the wife of Clinton Foley. However, after consulting with Perry Mason and learning the legal intricacies, Cartwright changed the beneficiary to Foley's actual wife, the real Mrs. Foley. This change meant Perry Mason was now legally obligated to defend the true Mrs. Foley's interests in court, setting the entire mystery in motion.

• Arthur Cartwright
• will
• beneficiary
• Bessie Foley
• Evelyn Foley
• inheritance

Cartwright and Evelyn were both murdered by Clinton Foley and buried beneath the garage foundation of his property. Their bodies were discovered during the trial when construction workers excavated the garage. The revelation proved that Foley had killed them to prevent Cartwright from changing his will and to hide his previous relationship with Evelyn, who was actually Cartwright's wife who had run away with Foley.

• Cartwright
• Evelyn
• bodies
• garage
• Clinton Foley
• murder

Mason demonstrated that Lucy Benton was ambidextrous and had written the mysterious note, the telegram from Ventura, and the diary page using her left hand. By comparing the handwriting and proving she could write with both hands, Mason showed she created the false evidence to frame others. The diary page, written the day after Cartwright disappeared, became crucial proof of her involvement in the conspiracy.

• Lucy Benton
• ambidextrous
• handwriting
• note
• telegram
• diary
• evidence

Perry Mason argued that the dog's loyalty to Bessie proved she could not have been the killer. The German Shepherd would not have attacked someone it loved and trusted. Mason demonstrated that the dog had been devoted to all three women connected to the case, making it impossible for Bessie to be the attacker. Additionally, the defense established that Bessie likely acted in self-defense, and double jeopardy protected her from retrial.

• Bessie Foley
• acquitted
• dog
• loyalty
• self-defense
• double jeopardy

Lucy Benton was Clinton Foley's former private secretary who later became his housekeeper. She had a complicated past with Foley that predated the events of the movie. This close relationship gave Lucy intimate knowledge of Foley's household and finances, allowing her to orchestrate the conspiracy. Her position enabled her to access documents, write forged notes, and manipulate the circumstances surrounding the murders.

• Lucy Benton
• Clinton Foley
• private secretary
• housekeeper
• relationship

The German Shepherd served as both a symbolic warning and physical evidence. The howling initially led Cartwright to believe death was near. Later, the dog's behavior and loyalty helped Mason determine who could and could not have committed the murder. The dog attacked the woman in black, and its death during the confrontation provided crucial timing evidence. Most importantly, the dog's documented love for Bessie became the centerpiece of her defense, proving she was not the killer.

• howling dog
• German Shepherd
• evidence
• loyalty
• attack
• Bessie

Foley murdered Cartwright and Evelyn to prevent Cartwright from changing his will and to conceal his past relationship with Evelyn, who was actually Cartwright's wife who had run away with Foley years earlier. When Cartwright decided to alter his bequest and involve Perry Mason, Foley feared his scheme would be exposed. Killing both would remove the witnesses to their intertwined past and secure Foley's financial interests.

• Clinton Foley
• murder
• motive
• Cartwright
• Evelyn
• will
• cover-up

Lucy Benton exploited her ambidexterity to write different documents with different hands, making it appear as though multiple people had created the false evidence. She wrote the love note claiming Evelyn ran away with Cartwright using her left hand, then used her right hand for other documents. This technique allowed her to create a web of misleading evidence designed to frame others and direct suspicion away from herself.

• Lucy Benton
• ambidextrous
• forged documents
• handwriting
• evidence
• note
• telegram

The woman in black arrived at Foley's house claiming to want justice before releasing the dog to attack her. Perry Mason later proved through handwriting analysis that Lucy wrote the note, telegram, and diary page that had been used as evidence. Her position as housekeeper and knowledge of the household dynamics further confirmed she orchestrated the attack. The bandaged hand she revealed earlier was consistent with having been bitten by the dog she released.

• woman in black
• Lucy Benton
• dog attack
• bandaged hand
• disguise

Mason concluded that Bessie's actions were likely in self-defense rather than premeditated murder. After discovering her husband Clinton had killed two people and buried them, she confronted him and the situation escalated. Additionally, since Bessie had already been acquitted at trial, the principle of double jeopardy prevented her from being retried. Mason believed the truth had been revealed and justice achieved through exposing the real killer, Lucy Benton.

• Perry Mason
• Bessie Foley
• self-defense
• double jeopardy
• charges
• acquittal