The Perry Mason Method: Difference between revisions

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* On the other hand, in a [[Reality Is Unrealistic]] twist, juries from the '60s had trouble convicting someone if he didn't specifically confess, as a result of the show's success and their idea that things had to happen like on TV.

* During his 1983 trial for the murder of a Maryland police officer, Harlow Brian Sails broke down on the witness stand during cross-examination and confessed to the killing. News reports at the time called it a "Perry Mason moment."

* G.K. Chesterton ~~remembered~~ a subversion when he visited the United States. A customs official asked if he had ever conspired to overthrow the US government. In this case (obviously) the intention was not to get a confession ~~for~~ someone involved in such a thing would simply lie. The real point was probably to be able to make sure they could nab him on obstruction if he lied to the law.

* [[G. K. Chesterton]] once cites a subversion he encountered when he visited the United States. A customs official asked if he had ever conspired to overthrow the US government. In this case (obviously) the intention was not to get a confession, because someone involved in such a thing would simply lie. The real point was probably to be able to make sure they could nab him on obstruction if he lied to the law.

**This troper remembers from ~~Lit~~ class an immigrant telling how he was asked if he had ever killed anyone. The immigrant was rather perplexed because he had been a sniper in [[World War I]] and had killed quite a few people. Of course the guard was not looking for veterans, nor was he looking even for murderers who of course would just lie; he was looking for liars.

**This troper remembers from Literature class an immigrant telling how he was asked if he had ever killed anyone. The immigrant was rather perplexed because he had been a sniper in [[World War I]] and had killed quite a few people. Of course the guard was not looking for veterans, nor was he looking even for murderers who of course would just lie; he was looking for liars.