**SPOILERS** What's most good about this episode is not that Perry wins vindication for his client. Nope. It's the way that a crummy, mean, little bully was exposed, and then asked to leave town by his own parents. After two run-ins with Paul, ersatz biker Pat Mangan was shown to be a weak, scared little puppy. Now, the idiots that were riding them, all had pretty nice scooters; I'm pretty sure that Mangan's was about a 1960 Triumph Bonneville. I've owned two myself, and they are sweet.
A classroom of smart mouthed little punks in 1962? I don't think so. The idea that a principle of a high school not walking into a classroom to straighten out such clowns is ludicrous. The idea that a "Judge" would NOT put a stop to any of the outrageous behavior exhibited by the so-called "Board of Education" says volumes about small town politics and silliness. Really, all Perry had to do was say he'd call up the STATE board of education, and all the little witches running their little soap operas would immediately be put in their place. Trouble was....the murder of Kenneth Sterling.
Apparently, after Mangan took a small spill on his scoot, Paul finally put the fear of God into him, so he confessed some of his sins. Next, one of the idiots he had for associates (now, trying to look like a good boy), says in an open hearing what it was that got Jane Wardman into trouble, in the first place.
Perry plays everyone at their own game. Out-thinking them by miles, and showing them all what was what. He even showed how the judge himself could be a likely suspect. One thing I really liked was Jane's kid, Terry. He told her that they HAD to fight for themselves. That's when she hired Perry. After the fallout finished hitting the fan, Jane said (after the apology from the board of fools), she was going to stay, and make her home right there. Good for her. IF their parents have any brains, they'll ground the punks off their bikes until after they graduate. It's the right thing, too, because I'll bet they have a lot of homework, and tests to make up after they get back in school after their disciplinary suspensions; don't you think?
Like in so many cases, when the smart guy who was behind it all should have kept his mouth shut and hired a lawyer, he started blabbing about how it was self defense, and how he had to protect himself. This actually works. I know that people don't wanna believe it, but any good cop will tell you that they will just let a suspect keep right on talking until they slam the cell door shut. Further, since they were not in a court of law, and two years before Miranda, his confession would hold up. Two homicides? Second degree, but life in San Quentin, I'll bet.
One question was HOW he and Gus got the bike and Kenneth away from the Summit Inn, and over into the next county. Moving a motorcycle seems simple, but it really isn't, I've done it myself many times. I've never had to dispose of a body, but I'll bet THAT can be just as complicated. A good question for younger people is "How could they do it without being seen?". Here it is. Back in 1962, and for years later, there was nowhere near the traffic on the public roads late at night. It's true. Very few businesses stayed open late (except bars), most people worked during the day. Many times in the late 1960s, I could ride for many many miles without encountering any other traffic, late at night and early morning. NOW, it seems like no matter where you are there is always traffic. The energy bill for lighting our roadways has to be staggering. That is all.
A classroom of smart mouthed little punks in 1962? I don't think so. The idea that a principle of a high school not walking into a classroom to straighten out such clowns is ludicrous. The idea that a "Judge" would NOT put a stop to any of the outrageous behavior exhibited by the so-called "Board of Education" says volumes about small town politics and silliness. Really, all Perry had to do was say he'd call up the STATE board of education, and all the little witches running their little soap operas would immediately be put in their place. Trouble was....the murder of Kenneth Sterling.
Apparently, after Mangan took a small spill on his scoot, Paul finally put the fear of God into him, so he confessed some of his sins. Next, one of the idiots he had for associates (now, trying to look like a good boy), says in an open hearing what it was that got Jane Wardman into trouble, in the first place.
Perry plays everyone at their own game. Out-thinking them by miles, and showing them all what was what. He even showed how the judge himself could be a likely suspect. One thing I really liked was Jane's kid, Terry. He told her that they HAD to fight for themselves. That's when she hired Perry. After the fallout finished hitting the fan, Jane said (after the apology from the board of fools), she was going to stay, and make her home right there. Good for her. IF their parents have any brains, they'll ground the punks off their bikes until after they graduate. It's the right thing, too, because I'll bet they have a lot of homework, and tests to make up after they get back in school after their disciplinary suspensions; don't you think?
Like in so many cases, when the smart guy who was behind it all should have kept his mouth shut and hired a lawyer, he started blabbing about how it was self defense, and how he had to protect himself. This actually works. I know that people don't wanna believe it, but any good cop will tell you that they will just let a suspect keep right on talking until they slam the cell door shut. Further, since they were not in a court of law, and two years before Miranda, his confession would hold up. Two homicides? Second degree, but life in San Quentin, I'll bet.
One question was HOW he and Gus got the bike and Kenneth away from the Summit Inn, and over into the next county. Moving a motorcycle seems simple, but it really isn't, I've done it myself many times. I've never had to dispose of a body, but I'll bet THAT can be just as complicated. A good question for younger people is "How could they do it without being seen?". Here it is. Back in 1962, and for years later, there was nowhere near the traffic on the public roads late at night. It's true. Very few businesses stayed open late (except bars), most people worked during the day. Many times in the late 1960s, I could ride for many many miles without encountering any other traffic, late at night and early morning. NOW, it seems like no matter where you are there is always traffic. The energy bill for lighting our roadways has to be staggering. That is all.