When a woman is found in a house clubbed to death by an African tribal knobkerrie, suspicion falls upon the man who discovered the body and bolted to Spain, yet who was upbraided by a neighbour for parking in front of his drive, leading to his identification.
The suspect- a handsome, wealthy young man called Christopher Jago, voluntarily returns to the UK where after questioning, the Police decide there is insufficient evidence to prosecute.
Alun Lewis as DI Sloggit was quite well known at the time as the jailbird husband to the blonde sister in Birds of a Feather. Quite a turnaround for him.
Rumpole is approached by the woman's family- wealthy estate agent Gregory Fabian (perhaps better known as Mr Wyse in Mapp & Lucia) - to undertake a lucrative private prosecution against Jago.
It isnt really well explained why Rumpole has been sought out for this case, given his almost religious dogma of I only do defence.
However, he accepts it, not least because Hildas old school friend staying with them for Xmas regales Hilda with the virtues of owning a Crock-a-Gleem dishwasher!
The ;Crock-a Gleem; is duly installed, but not before Liz Probert gives Rumpole a sizeable piece of her mind for abandoning his principles for filthy lucre and embracing mammon, She promptly enlists for Jagos defence, which is to be led by Ballard.
Given the tendency for Chambers to house specialists in particular fields guess that its far from unlikely for such intra-chambers contests to occur but the frequency with which it happens in Rumpole probably speaks more of the savings encouraged by a production accountant.
The B-plot concerns poor Erskine Brown, whom Ballard accuses of stealing one of Inchapes briefs by crudely crossing out Inchape's name as assigned by Henry and substituting his own. As this is the theme of the week, Rumpole gets this job of prosecuting Erskine-Brown, too. Uncharacteristically, Rumpole now has two prosecutions!
The Fabians explain that wanting a daughter, they had adopted a girl, the murdered woman in this matter. Like her brother, this scion of the Fabian family had taken up with the family estate agency business.
Going about a prosecution with all his usual thoroughness he gives for a defence, with FIG Newtons help, Rumpole establishes that she was a physically unattractive and lonely woman: there is no sign of any personal attachments beyond frequent entries in her work diary referring to an Arthur Morrison', for whom no details are known. Neither does there seem any connection to Christopher Jago, the accused. All that can be established is that she was a devotee of Victorian English literature.
However Rumpole is something of a literary sage: he recalls that there was a Victorian author called Arthur Morrison, his most famous work being Children of the Jago! Ergo, Morrison was a code word for frequent assignments with Christopher Jago.
When challenged, Jago denies. That there was any relationship. He claims that he didnt find the victim attractive and that he was friendly with lots of much prettier girls. But Ms Fabian was drawn to him, wanting to disclose irregular dealings by her family business and particularly her brother and how to deal with them. He claims that the Fabians undervalued client property, sold to a nominee and split the profits!
In Court, Rumpole has the unusual experience of receiving the warm support of Judge Ollie Olliphant, as prosecutor. Now it is Ballard who gets to experience the reverse. Ballards performance is spineless and inept - one wonders how such a narrowminded, blinkered brian and comically poor Court advocate was ever made a QC!
Rumpole conducts the prosecution with his usual effectiveness and oratory but comically - predictably- he also tries to prompt Ballard as defence counsel into making effective points when the opportunity arises, drawing Judge Olliphants reprimand for trying to do so. It makes little difference to the defence.
Climactically, Rumpole is about to deliver a finisher to the defence by demonstrating how the murder weapon could have been hefted by Jago to kill Ms Fabian - when he has a sudden thought. He requests an adjournment to the scene of the crime.
There, in the low-ceilinged old property, Rumpole demonstrates that Jago is actually much too tall to have inflicted the killer blow with that long-handled weapon in that room. (It is presumably established that the body was not moved from elsewhere and that the angle of the blow was also determined). The case collapses.
Afterwards, a furious Rumpole goes to see the Fabians. He explains what he believes has been going on. News of Ms Fabians approaches to Jago about her brothers misdemeanours had become known to the family. Ms Fabians erstwhile brother murdered her before one of her assignations with Jago, thus killing or discrediting the parties aware of the brothers wrongdoings. In effect, the adopted daughter was sacrificed to save the biological son and Rumpole was engaged to put an innocent man in chokey. Disgusted, Rumpole explains he has ordered the Fabians fee cheque to be returned to them though there is insufficient evidence to prove his claims and Rumpole wont be reporting the matter.
Subsequently, in a post-case New Year Party, Liz Probert is ecstatic at Rumpoles return as the defender of right, even as Rumpole congratulates Ballard on his success (the credit of which is of course, Rumpoles).
Rumpole even saves Erskine-Brown; Liz Probert is living with Dave Inchcape as her partner; and rather than risk Proberts wrath were he to accept a brief to evict a person on benefits, he had crudely attempted to make it over to Erskine-Brown.
Rumpole covers for Ballard when a call for hi,m from Chambers by Henry explains that his wife 'Matey. Wants to join him at the party. Since Ballard is, as ever, Blotto after a few sherries, Rumpole pretends that he is being initiated into a Christian Lawyers chapter and that they have received threats!
When Rumpole gets home, Hilda.'s old school chum is gone, her welcome worn out - and so is the Crock-o-Gleem, which Hilda says was more trouble than it was worth. At least Rumpole shant have to pay for it now his lucrative case has disappeared.
Swansong for. Maureen Darbyshire's Diane, who so far as I can see finished her tv career here too.
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