Chief Askew's Diary: July 15, 1930

The Case of the Seven Stolen Dresses cosses his desk; Perry Mason cracks first case

Lately I’ve been reading Erle Stanley Gardner mysteries and watching re-runs of the fabulous “Perry Mason” television series based on his books, so I couldn’t resist giving a Gardner-style title to today’s diary entry.

“Seven Dresses stolen from Annie Belle Pines Home # 8 Pages Alley. Two Brown — One Pink — Two Black and one wine colored — medium size women’s dresses, and one childs dress. Stolen from house about 10 a.m. today. Just after the rain.”

The audacity of this theft! It did not rate coverage in that week’s Newnan Herald, so the pretty dress in the ad above will have to do as a stand-in. I love that the ad mentions that both “Conservative” and “flapper” styles are available. So which style does this dress fall under?

Erle Stanley Gardner’s first Perry Mason mystery was published in 1930. Paid subscribers can read on about the enduring popularity of this writer and his work, plus get a bonus cocktail recipe inspired by the first Perry Mason mystery, The Case of the Velvet Claws.