Phil Schuyler is a songwriter who's deep in debt. After he forges his brother-in-law's signature on a check for $3000, the brother-in-law pays Phil a visit and demands that Phil pay him the money by the end of the day; Otherwise, he'll go to the police. That shouldn't be a problem for Phil since he's also a blackmailer who's planning to get the money from Damion White. Damion's wife Mona is approached by Jerry Janda who wants to use a new song, "Pearls and Jade" that he says was written by Alex Chase. However, Mona recognizes it as a song that she believes was written by Damion, so she confronts Alex. Phil contacts Damion demanding $50,000, but Damion refuses to pay. When Phil is found dead and White is charged with the crime, Perry Mason defends him. Perry discovers that several people had motives, including a spurned girlfriend and another songwriter whose most recent hit may not have been his own. The fact that Phil was killed on Halloween is the vital clue that leads to a solution.
—garykmcd / edited by Hans Delbruck