My mission is to find the dialogue gem in the nightly episode of "Perry Mason." Tonight I didn't hear one. I did see Bethel Leslie in a hotel maid's civilian clothes, with a lot of kohl on her eyelids.
For a change of pace Perry was the one to object to a question as "incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial." Usually Hamilton Burger is the one who jumps to his feet with that trio. The irrelevant and immaterial I can understand, but what's with the incompetent?
For a change of pace Perry was the one to object to a question as "incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial." Usually Hamilton Burger is the one who jumps to his feet with that trio. The irrelevant and immaterial I can understand, but what's with the incompetent?
incompetent ... 3) a generalized reference to evidence which cannot be introduced because it violates various rules against being allowed, particularly because it has no bearing on the case. It may be irrelevant (not sufficiently significant) or immaterial (does not matter to the issues).
-- The Free Dictionary
Here's another interpretation.