Here's a little taste of how Mason routinely and expertly slid out of choke holds. In
The Case of the Haunted Husband, Lt. Tragg thought he'd had something on Mason for certain this time. The feather he'd spotted on the floor in Mason's office was evidence Mason had been at the scene of a locked down crime scene. WARNING:
MAJOR SPOILERS indicating the murderer ahead. Don't read if you intend to read the book or see the TV episode:
Spoiler:
From the book (1941):
Quote:
"When did you first know, Mason?" Tragg asked.
Mason said, "I should have known some time before I did, but when you found that white feather in my hallway, Tragg, I realized at once what had happened. When Mrs. Greeley telephoned about the shirt she wasn't calling from her house. She was telephoning from the Adirondack Hotel or someplace nearby, but said she was at home so that she would have an alibi."
"And she had already committed the murder?"
"Yes. She had followed Tanner ever since he left the courtroom. By that time she was desperate. She had tried to protect Homan and herself and she was going to see it through. She realized Tanner held the whip hand. Remember, when she called she said she couldn't leave right away, so she had time to dash by and pick up the shirt and tuxedo. You should have known as soon as you found that feather, Tragg."
"You mean she was the one who dropped the feather?"
"Of course," Mason said.
"How did you know you didn't?" Tragg asked.
Mason grinned. "I wouldn't want to make any admissions to you in your official capacity, Tragg, but if I had been in that room in the Adirondack Hotel, I certainly hope you don't think I could be so confoundedly negligent as not to look over my shoes very carefully while I was returning to the office in the taxicab. A man of ordinary intelligence would know that loose feathers would stick to wet shoes – and take proper precautions."
And Mason gently slid the receiver onto its hook before Tragg could make any reply — or ask any questions.
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From the TV show adaptation (1958):
Quote:
TRAGG: I can't get over it. Do you realize that when Mrs. Greeley phoned you, saying that she found that shirt, she'd already killed Tanner?
MASON: Of course. She probably called me from the ladies' room at the Adirondack Hotel.
TRAGG: And you thought Heywood killed Tanner to cover up that affair. Lucky for your client that Mrs.
Greeley confessed.
STREET: You're wrong, lieutenant. Perry kept waiting for Burger to introduce the shirt and when he didn't, we knew it wasn't Greeley's.
TRAGG: Oh, so you guessed it was Heywood's shirt?
MASON: Well, sort of.
TRAGG: That's what I said, you were lucky. Lucky that Mrs. Greeley confessed. There was no possible way that you could peg her as the killer.
MASON: How long have we known each other?
TRAGG: Long enough.
MASON: And during that time you've called me everything under the sun.
TRAGG: That still goes. For my dough, you're unscrupulous, - conniving, unprincipled --
MASON: And what about stupid?
TRAGG: No, stupid you're not.
MASON: Well, if I were in a room with a murdered man and I did not check my wet shoes to see if I were tracking feathers back to my office, - what would you call me?
TRAGG; Stupid. Well, who else could have done it? There was only you, me, Mrs. Greeley, and -- Oy gevalt.
MASON: After you, lieutenant.
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