The Case of the Sleepy Slayer

In this episode Raymond Burr gets as a client John Napier who is concerned about his legal position in regard to monies promised him by his employer. He is private secretary to a mean, miserly, millionaire played by Richard Hale. Napier and Hale's nurse Gigi Perreau would like to marry and leave, but Hale's got that whole household jumping at his command including among others his closest living relative Phyllis Hill who is his niece.

As often as not in the television Perry Mason episodes, Burr is sometimes retained as an attorney for other reasons by the one who is eventually accused. It's the case her and after initial suspicion fell on another individual Napier is arrested.

Of course he's innocent Perry Mason just don't defend guilty clients. But the key here is the various medications around and available to the perpetrator. It's a bit tricky and it's William Hopper's detective work that clinches this one.

Formula Perry Mason, but real good.

Take a disgusting old man who manipulates people with his money. Throw in a whiney woman who gives up her life to wait for the old guy to die. Add several sycophants who worship at his feet. And then a surprise or two. Well done episode.

This episode was like a breath of fresh air. After having watched the last few shows it appeared that the writing was getting stale. This show takes us back to why so many people like the 'Perry Mason' series.

We have a sick grumpy old man named Abner Gordon (Richard Hale)that only use in life is to make everyone bow to his needs. He has a good bit of money and threatens to write everyone out of his will, at the slightest whim, if they do not do exactly has in wants.

His niece Rachel Gordon (Phyllis Hill) is living with her Uncle Abner and is the only living relative that is set to inherit nearly all of the old man's money. However she has had enough of the old man's crappy attitude and goes as far as telling people that she wants him dead. And to prove her point she goes out and buys a gun and practices shooting at targets with Uncle Abner's head as the main goal.

There is also a man that lives in the house named Bruce Jay (John Napier). He was in some type of accident, due to Abner's business, and has been living in the house till he fully recovers. He is also to receive a small portion from Uncle Abner's estate. He is ready to move on with his life but cannot get the money till Abner passes.

One evening Rachel goes into a fit and the doctor is called. She is given some sleep medication due to her nerves. That night, in the medicated state, she shoot Uncle Abner three times. Only problem is that Uncle Abner is already dead from a tainted injection that contain medicine that is in possession of Bruce Jay.

Bruce Jay is arrest an on trial for the death of Abner. In comes Perry, with his team of Paul and Della, to defend Mr Jay on the charge.

The rest of the episode is classic Perry. We get to see Hamilton and Perry working together outside the courtroom when they stake-out a street for possible evidence. We also get unusual Perry twist in the plot when finding the true murderer. So it will be a surprise to many who the wanted person is in this episode.

This is a fresh new script to a show that seemed to be getting stale. This is one of the best from season eight.

Wealthy Abner Gordon is difficult with everyone, but he only hurts himself. He has a temper tantrum at the beginning of the episode and has yet another of his mini strokes. His doctor says he could hang on for years like this.

Meanwhile Abner's ill temper and his refusal to let his caretaker niece, Rachel, marry or have any kind of life seperate from caring for him without being disinherited has turned her into an angry husk of a person. She is 35 but looks about ten years older. Her secret boyfriend is a drug addict, and she's been taking cash from her uncle's accounts to him so he can buy drugs. When this is discovered during a random audit, the uncle demands that she return all of the cash by the following Monday or he'll have her arrested. Her boyfriend is unsympathetic and breaks up with her since the cash kitchen is now closed. Later, she spills hot coffee on her arm and is heavily sedated by the household doctor. Later that night, in her medicated sleep, she goes into Abner's bedroom, shoots him repeatedly at point blank range, and collapses. But it turns out Abner was already dead when she shot him! - poisoned by tainted medication. Complications ensue, not the least of which is that the house is full of servants and employees who have sizable bequests in Abner's will.

If you watch and listen closely you can see the clues that lead to Perry finding out who the real killer is. And then there is Richard Hale as the perpetually angry uncle. He has a face that is just unforgettable - If I were casting a film about the humorless Puritans back in the day, he would be at the top of my list! He frequently guest starred on PM, usually playing the same kind of grumpy person, and quite effectively.

Perry is called to help a client injured in a chemical plant accident--owned by the truly disagreeable Abner Gordon, who "is so filled with hate, even death despises him," whereby in 272 episodes--he would have rank in top 10 of most likely to be killed--that he ends up killed multiple times. In comes Perry to see a former client that ends up as the defendant, and Perry is perplexed that all that work in the household are taken in by sorrow they so readily exude for the "Sleepy Slayer." If I were to watch this episode again, I'd count the number of times Rachel has others express sympathy for her--or the number of prescriptions distributed by Dr. Lambert--who is not on drugs of some sort. There is not one small fact that doesn't lead to the final courtroom decision--and it ranks among the best episodes.