A farmhand at the Madson ranch in Porter, Jerry was sweet on the owner's daughter, Pearl. However, she was drawn to a drummer, Manny Brock. When Brock refused to take Pearl with him, she fell into tears and admitted to Jerry that she wanted to kill the drummer, but couldn't bring herself to do it.
Jerry, who had studied hypnotism from a self-taught manual, hypnotized Pearl into doing it even though he didn't think it would. He first tried to get her away from Brock by making her laugh every time she heard Brock's name. Pearl went to Brock's room and shot him in the heart with her father's gun.
Hoby eventually discovered Pearl's connection to Brock and prepared to arrest her. Jerry eventually confessed to keep her from going to jail and was charged and convicted of manslaughter.
