Perry Mason seeks indictment against dog

This gem from the annals of television criminal litigation has defence lawyer Perry Mason suggesting that a dog, known by the moniker "Hardtack." should be indicted for assault. While arguing a motion to dismiss a complaint against Hardtack`s owner for not taking reasonable steps to prevent the dog from biting the complainant, Mason contends that criminal intent was not set out in the complaint and "perhaps, the proper criminal procedure would have been the indictment of the dog." When the prosecutor states that he assumes that Mason must be joking, Mason alludes to the indictments and prosecutions of a cow in France in 1740, a rooster in Switzerland in 1474 and rats in the 15th century. Apparently, the rats won their case but Mason lost his motion. I suspect Perry deliberately lost the motion so that he could proceed with the trial as he was confident that somebody was going to get slain before the hour was up and he knew he could use the dog bite trial to help dig up information for use in the upcoming murder case. (Perry secured the dog owner an acquittal in the dog bite case but the dog was placed on probation.) Sure enough, somebody was murdered later in the episode. During the preliminary inquiry, Perry allows the dog to cross-examine the real killer who confesses to the crime under the pressure of Hardtack`s withering and persistent questioning. This clip is excerpted from "The Case of the Golden Oranges" which originally aired on March 7, 1963.

[@WAT-RecordsProducing-zz5wx]

"counselor please, go on about the rats"😂

[@flower24587]

ADORABLE DOGGIE

[@BloodylocksBathory]

This episode had an interesting role for Lee Van Cleef. He was NOT a villain as he often played and they sort of hinted he would be a good guy when the first time he's shown he's cuddling a dog (not Hardtack, but showing he's nice to animals nonetheless).

[@gildaafonso989]

Obrigada🙏💚🍀🇵🇹

[@mtsflorida]

Hardtack was so vicious that he caused a murderer to confess. Amos whose credibility took a nose dive when it is reported stolen valor by the D.A. A witness came forward that said Amos was the biggest story teller ever. Perry contacted a General that admitted he received the Medal of Honor only because Amos traded places with him a company clerk while the boy was too afraid of battle. The boy promoted up to General from the valor of Amos taking his place. The record finally set straight allowing Amos to wear his medal and be in the parade 50 yrs. later.

[@irishdogclock]

Lee van Cleef lays an egg at the 00:57 mark. Funny, purposely edited and written in. The writers pulled a lot of stuff in this series and I applaud them for it. Don't get me wrong, I like Lee. I would have also have loved to see the look on his face when he watched this episode on television.

[@burtshoobs1033]

From The Case of The Golden Oranges. Also with legendary character Arthur Hunnicutt at the defense table is PM veteran Natalie Trundy. The camera gives a pair of shots to another pair of PM veterans Arch Johnson and Erin O'Brien sitting together, and a quick pan to the very familiar Lee Van Cleef. The Prosecuting Attorney is of course none other than Vic Perrin. Johnson's character would later be murdered and the dog Hardtack would have a hand, or rather say, in revealing the killer

[@cwill1098]

Haider Simpson from "The Hunt", let RIP go.

[@VILJL]

I came here from watching the new "Perry Mason" on HBO 2020

[@Mamalion730]

Me too, now I have been binge watching the Old Perry Masons from MeTv and SundanceTV.

[@mtsflorida]

Why isn't there the full episode of this?

[@AlexNevsky144]

I will try and find it.

[@9johnpaul]

Had a good ending

[@cwill1098]

Haider Simpson from "The Hunt".

[@remyhocage9854]

Ha ! Call Caesar Milan for some Dog Psychological therapy. Cheers!

[@gregorymckinney1574]

0:50 Young Jeff Sessions