02x04 - The Case of the Sardonic Sergeant

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

At ease.

Which one of you men
is William Smith?

I am, sir.

This is Mr. Blake
of the Treasury Department.

Gentlemen.

Ever see this before?

Which one of you men
paid for drinks

at the Savoy Bar
Thursday night at around : ?

I did, sir.

You gave the bartender a .

That .

If this is counterfeit,
captain,

I swear I don't know
anything about it.

I don't know anything
about it either, sir.

Do you remember
where you got this?

No, sir.

You know how money
changes hands

during a little, heh,
friendly recreation.

Who was in the game
with you?

Well, there was
Sergeant Burke here,

and, uh,
Corporal Thomas,

um, Sergeant Wallace,

Corporal Baker, and--

And don't forget
Sergeant Dexter.

Yes, sir.

Sergeant Dexter.

Isn't he in the Finance Office?

Yes, sir.
He's the chief clerk.

That'll be all.

( door closes )

Pardon me, captain.

Is it counterfeit?

It looks good.

It is good.

There's just one thing
wrong with that bill:

It has no business
being in existence.

Well, you see, lieutenant,

just before Corregidor
surrendered,

the Army b*rned
$ million in currency

to prevent it falling
into enemy hands.

That didn't
even get warm.

Well, does
the Treasury Department know

how much was stolen?

Well, judging by
the serial numbers,

I'd say around $ , .

( whistles )

All of it isn't
in circulation,

but every bill
that's shown up

has been traced directly
to this post.

There were eight men detailed
to dispose of that money.

Six of those men are dead.

Of the two remaining,
one is a man named Tony Kusick,

wanted for desertion.

The other is
Major Frank Lessing.

Our finance officer?

Lessing was a lieutenant
on Corregidor at the time,

but he was the officer in charge
of that $ -million bonfire.

( tense theme playing )

I'm sorry, Captain Kennedy,
but Major Lessing isn't home.

No, I'm sorry. I've no idea
where you can reach him.

Yes, of course.
I'll give him your message.

You're quite welcome.

( exhales )

That's the third time
he's called, Frank.

I told you I'd talk to Kennedy
when I was good and ready.

Frank, what's wrong?

I told you, Helen.
There's nothing wrong.

Now don't stand there
looking at me like that.

You make me feel like I--

( sighs )

I'm sorry, Helen.
I didn't mean it, I--

No, darling, you know
I've never interfered,

but if you're in trouble,
I want to know about it.

Helen, th-there's absolutely
nothing wrong. I--

( car horn honks )

Are the children waiting
for you in the car?

Yes, I'm taking them
over to Major Layton's,

and Harry's having
a birthday party.

Tell the little monsters
not to eat too much ice cream.

I won't be long.

Helen...

Do me a favor, will you?

Of course.

Always remember that I love you.

Oh, Frank, what is it?

You know you can tell me
anything.

( car horn honks )

You better go.

( somber theme playing )

( sighs )

( band playing fanfare )

All right, Helen,
he just came in.

Now, don't you worry.
I-I'll talk to him.

Yes. Yes, right away.

Of course.

( phone rings )

About finished
with the payroll, Dexter?

Uh, no, sir.

Should have been
finished an hour ago.

I'm sorry, major,
but Captain Kennedy

and a Treasury agent
held me up.

They were around
asking questions.

They, um-- They wanted
to know if anyone else

had the combination
to the safe.

What'd you tell them?

Well, I told them
you were the only one.

Why did you tell them that?
You know the combination.

Yes, sir,
but I'm not supposed to,

and I felt sure
you wouldn't want me

to open the safe
for them.

You'd, uh--

You'd better explain
that remark, sergeant.

Well,
I took the liberty

of opening the safe
before they got here.

You what?

When I picked up the payroll
money at the bank this morning,

the bank gave me a list
of the serial numbers.

Go on!

Those aren't the same bills
I turned over to you, sir.

The numbers don't match.

I've had enough of your
insubordination, sergeant.

Far too much.

You'd better find another spot.

Not meaning to be
disrespectful, sir,

but I had the same idea.

My request for a transfer
is in your top drawer.

( ominous theme playing )

Consider yourself
relieved of duty, sergeant.

( rings )

Haskell speaking.

I told you never
to call me here!

( suspenseful theme playing )

( door opens )

Major Lessing is here.

All right, Della,
show him in.

Come in, major.

( door closes )

Thank you for seeing me
at this hour, Mr. Mason.

Not at all, major.
Sit down.

Thank you.

If you don't mind,
I'd prefer not to have

any notes taken of this meeting
for the records.

Della.

All right, major.
What's on your mind?

Tomorrow morning at :
I intend to disclose

complete details of a crime
to Captain Kennedy.

He's criminal investigator
at Camp Grace.

I see. And you want to retain
counsel before you act?

Yes, I, uh...

I should have done this
a long time ago.

But, uh, would $ ,
be sufficient as a retainer?

If I accept the case.

Can you tell me
the nature of this crime?

Unlawful possession
of money

stolen from
the United States Army.

You said you should have
done this long ago.

Why didn't you?

It's...

It's been a very
difficult decision to make.

I have a wonderful wife
and two lovely daughters.

We've been very happy.

What I intend to do tomorrow
will destroy that happiness.

And I can expect to see you
at my office tomorrow at ?

Yes.

Thank you.

( door opens, closes)

I'm a little surprised.

You don't even
represent the man,

and yet you're willing to drive
all the way out to Camp Grace

in the wee small hours
of the morning to meet the man.

Suppose it isn't as serious
as he thinks it is.

When a finance officer
leaves $ , on my desk

and doesn't ask for a receipt,
it's serious.

I'll see that your car
is ready.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( bugler playing
"Call to Quarters" outside )

( tense theme playing )

Uh, Major Lessing's
office, please.

( line ringing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

( gasps )

Frank. Frank!

Frank...

Oh, Frank.

Oh, Frank!

( crying )

FRANK:
My dearest Helen,

I'm sorry that this
is the way it must end,

but there is
nothing else I can do.

For some time now,
I've used my office

to dispose
of more than $ , ,

which I stole
from the Army at Corregidor.

Kiss the children for me

and try not to judge me
too harshly.

( sighs )

( breathing heavily )

Captain Kennedy, please.

Captain Kennedy,
this is Helen Lessing.

I'm in my husband's office.
He's been m*rder*d!

( suspenseful theme playing )

( man shouting in distance )

( doorbell rings )

Yes?

I wonder if I might see
Mrs. Lessing.

What are you,
another reporter?

No, I'm an attorney.
My name is Perry Mason.

I'm sorry.
Come in, Mr. Mason.

Thank you.

Will you sit down,
please?

Thanks again.

Well, I-- I guess
you've heard the news.

Yes, I saw Captain Kennedy
in Major Lessing's office.

It's terrible.
It's just terrible.

I appreciate it must have been
quite a shock, mister, uh...?

Evans.
Howard Evans.

I'm Major Lessing's
brother-in-law.

Did Frank say anything
to you last night

that might give us a lead
to the k*ller?

How did you know Major Lessing
came to see me last night?

I talked to him
at the office

about minutes
before he left.

I work there
as a civilian employee.

I'm the assistant cashier.

I see.

Well, I won't take up any more
of your time, Mr. Evans.

Would you please give
this to Mrs. Lessing?

Her husband--
HELEN: Who is it, Howard?

I'm sorry to disturb you,
Mrs. Lessing.

This is Perry Mason,
Helen.

Oh.

How do you do?

I saw your husband
last night.

I know.

He gave me this money
as a retainer.

Under the circumstances--

( doorbell rings )

I'll-- I'll get it,
Helen.

Oh, hello, Evans.
Is Mrs. Lessing in?

Come in,
Captain Kennedy.

How are you feeling,
Mrs. Lessing?

I'm all right.
This-- This is Perry Mason.

Yes, we've met.

I, uh...

I wanted to talk to you,
but it can wait.

What is it,
captain?

There's one thing I want you
to know, Mrs. Lessing.

I did your husband
a grave injustice.

What do you mean?

This isn't the time to talk
about it, I know, but...

Well, I was wrong.

I'm ashamed to admit

that it took your husband's
m*rder to convince me.

But if it's any consolation
to you,

we're going all out
on Sergeant Dexter.

What are you saying?

That we found
Major Lessing's k*ller.

Sergeant Dexter?

No. No, you're wrong.

Suppose you leave that
to us, Mrs. Lessing.

No, no, he didn't do it.
You've got to believe me.

Everything points to it.

Now, if you need me
for anything,

please, call me.

Nice to see you, Mason.

Captain.

( door opens )

( door closes )

Sergeant Dexter
didn't k*ll him, Mr. Mason.

According to Captain Kennedy--

I tell you,
he didn't do it!

Look-- Look, this money
my husband left you,

I want you to keep it.

I want you to--
I want you to defend Dexter.

Helen! Do you realize
what you're doing?

Please, Mr. Mason,
I want you to help him.

He didn't k*ll Frank.
I know.

How do you know,
Mrs. Lessing?

I-I just know, that's all.

( sobs )

( somber theme playing )

And I was
the first one to laugh

when anyone yelled
he was being framed.

What do you know about
the so-called Corregidor money?

The what?

The bills that were supposed
to be destroyed during the w*r.

Captain Kennedy says they've
been showing up on this post.

I don't know anything
about it.

They found $ ,
of those bills

in your footlocker.

I never saw them.
Somebody put them there.

More of the frame?

Yes.

How do you explain the $ ,
in Corregidor money

they found
in Major Lessing's safe?

Well, how do
they explain it?

They feel you made
the substitution.

Sure, they do.

Do you think
that Major Lessing

is responsible
for the substitution?

I don't know
what to think anymore.

I told you, I served under
Major Lessing for four years.

I thought he was
the greatest guy in the world.

Apparently,
you changed your mind.

Why?

Well, who else
could have done it?

That's no answer, sergeant.

Now, you men are paid
once a month.

Who picks up the payroll?

Howard Evans
and myself.

Evans, that's
Mrs. Lessing's brother?

That's right.

When was this particular
payroll picked up?

Why, yesterday morning.

We went to the bank
and cashed the payroll check.

Then what did you do
with the money?

We turned it over
to Major Lessing.

The money was never
out of your sight

until Major Lessing
put it in the safe?

Well, practically.

What do you mean,
"practically"?

Well, Mr. Haskell, the head
cashier, had to count it.

Then the money
was out of your sight?

Well, if you put it
that way, yes.

That means Mr. Haskell
could have switched that money.

When you and Evans
picked up the payroll money

at the bank yesterday,

you drove immediately
back to camp?

Well, no.

No, you see,
Major Lessing had asked me

to cash his personal check
for $ , .

It-- It slipped my mind,
and I went back into the bank.

Did you take
the payroll money with you?

No, I left it
with Howard Evans.

Then, on at least
two occasions,

the payroll money
was out of your sight.

That's right.

Tell me something,
sergeant.

Did you k*ll Major Lessing?

On my word of honor,
Mr. Mason, I didn't.

Does that mean
you believe me?

Well, let me
answer you this way.

When I was in the service,

they used to say,
"never volunteer."

But if you'd like me
to represent you...

Oh.

Keep smiling, sergeant, and
I'll be in to see you tomorrow.

Thanks, Mr. Mason.

( man shouting in distance )

Hi.
Hi.

When'd you get here?

About an hour ago.

Here's a list
of all the people

that work
in the Finance Office

who were on the post
last night,

both army
and civilian personnel.

Nice going, Paul.

"Sergeant Dexter,
Walter Haskell."

Haskell is head cashier,
and he is also involved

with a chick young enough
to be his daughter.

Her name's Rikki Stevens,
but don't let the name fool you.

Her father's name
might have been Stevens,

but her mother
must have been an Oriental.

Haskell married?

Married and respectable
on the surface,

but you never know
about these old ducks.

The way I understand it,
he's been slipping her money.

On what he makes
as an Army finance clerk?

He must have an answer.

See if you can
come up with it.

( rock music playing
over speaker )

SMITH:
Take it off.
Take it off!

Take it off.

Take it off.

Take it off.

Smitty, Smitty--
Take it off!

Smitty, Smitty.
Heh, heh.

Are you sure that's her?

Sure I'm sure.

That's Rikki Stevens.

She used to be one of the
strippers at the Royal Palms

when I was in Manila.

You should see her
when she's in action.

( laughing ):
Zowie!

Take it off.

Take it off--

You... You...

Come on.

I'd like to rearrange
your vocal chords anyway.

They're off-key.

I was just tryin'
to make you feel at home.

You crummy yardbird.

When I need mood music,
I'll hire an orchestra.

Smitty, Smitty,
come on.

Come on. Let's go.
Let's get out of here.

PAUL:
Anything I can do?

You can buy me one.

For drinking or throwing?

Mm, that depends.

How's your voice?

I wouldn't
take a chance.

Your criticism's
a little too sharp.

Whiskey and water.
Same, please.

I'm sorry Sergeant Smith
got out of line, miss.

He's really a nice guy
when he's sober.

In his condition
he shouldn't drink.

What's the matter with him?

Malaria.

From what I understand,
he had it pretty bad.

That's why they
transferred him from Manila

about seven months ago.

About the same time
you came here, wasn't it?

What's the matter?

Your voice.

You just hit
a flat note.

Ah. Never mind.

I said this was on me.
Keep your money.

Thanks,
but no, thanks.

I only take gifts
from friends.

That should cover it.
Keep the change.

She only takes gifts
from friends?

You must be
the only enemy she has.

Ah, wait a minute.

I'll, uh... I'll give you
a ten for that .

I have a sentimental feeling
for anything that girl touches.

And I have a sentimental feeling
for a five-dollar profit.

Thank you.

( tense theme playing )

Well,
don't keep him long.

I got dinner waiting.

I won't,
I promise you.

Well, Mr. Mason,
what can I tell you?

Well, suppose we start
with, uh, Rikki Stevens.

Well, what are you
talking about?

Well, you do know
a Rikki Stevens, don't you?

No.

Mr. Haskell,

your personal life
is no concern of mine

except where it involves
my client's welfare.

Now, I have proof
that you and Miss Stevens

are, shall we say,
rather friendly.

Mr. Mason, how can you
possibly suspect

a girl like Rikki
and a man my age?

Four-hundred thousand dollars
is enough to create

all kinds of suspicions.

That money was brought here
from the Philippines

at about the same time
Miss Stevens came here.

One of those scorched bills
has been traced directly to her.

As chief cashier for
the Finance Office, I think--

Never mind what you think.

I've said all I intend to
on this subject.

It may not be quite
that easy, Mr. Haskell.

The, um...

The Army may have
other ideas.

( door closes )
( ominous theme playing )

Manual for Courts-Martial,
United States, .

Oh, a Captain
Ralph Stewart called.

He's the appointed
defense counsel.

Then he'll be associated
with you in defense of Dexter.

Mm-hm.

( rings )

Yes, Gertie?

Howard Evans calling.

All right, Gertie,
put him on.

Hello?

Mr. Mason, my sister
has something

very important
to tell you.

Mr. Mason...

( sighs )

Sergeant Dexter
didn't k*ll my husband.

I can prove it.

My husband wasn't m*rder*d.

He committed su1c1de.

Do you realize
what you're saying?

Yes, Fra--

Frank left a su1c1de note.
I-- I--

I destroyed it the night he--
That he d*ed. I...

I see.

Would you be willing to tell
that story to Captain Kennedy?

Yes.

I'll meet you at his office
in minutes.

Do you remember exactly
what Major Lessing said

in the note he left?

I can't ever forget.

Was this it?

"My dearest Helen,

"I'm sorry that this is the way
it must end for us,

"but there is nothing else
I can do.

"For some time now,
I've used my office

"to dispose
of more than $ , ,

"which I stole
from the Army at Corregidor.

"Kiss the children for me

and try not to judge me
too harshly."

Where did you get that?
I b*rned it.

I know.
This is a copy.

Then why hasn't my client
been released?

Because Major Lessing
didn't compose that note.

Mr. Mason, I think you'll admit
the Army has given you

all the cooperation
in the world.

We've turned over
to you everything

we thought that could possibly
benefit your client.

I'm fully aware of that,
captain.

Who wrote that note?

Sergeant Dexter.

Your husband didn't commit
su1c1de, Mrs. Lessing.

The only mistake he made

was trying to protect the man
who eventually m*rder*d him.

( tense theme playing )

MAN:
"Violation of the Uniform Code
of m*llitary Justice,

"Article . Specification:

"In that Master Sergeant
Joseph Dexter,

"United States Army,
Headquarters Company Camp Grace,

"did at Camp Grace, California,
on or about May,

"with premeditation,
m*rder Major Frank Lessing

by means of sh**ting him
with a p*stol."

The charges were served
on the accused

by me on June.

Sergeant Dexter,
how do you plead?

The accused,
Sergeant Joseph Dexter,

pleads to the specification
and charge: not guilty.

Trial counsel may proceed.

Prosecution calls
as a witness

Sergeant First Class
Jean McKnight.

Now, Sergeant McKnight,

you work in the Message Center,
is that correct?

Yes, sir.

On the night
of Major Lessing's m*rder,

what time did
you leave your office?

At : . I stayed late
to finish up some work.

And when you returned to your
office the following morning,

did you find anything
missing from your desk?

Yes, sir. Sergeant Dexter's
request for a transfer.

It had been endorsed
by Major Lessing.

Now, Sergeant McKnight,

what made you remember
this particular paper?

Because I was surprised
when I saw it the night before.

I knew how long
they'd served together,

and I wondered
why Sergeant Dexter

should suddenly want a transfer
from Major Lessing's section.

No further questions.

Why didn't you tell me
about this before?

I was afraid
you would think I was guilty.

And now what do
you suppose they think?

Sergeant McKnight,

if Sergeant Dexter
had changed his mind

and wanted to withdraw
his transfer request

because of his loyalty
to Major Lessing, would--

LEWIS:
Objected to...

...as argumentative.

Sergeant Dexter's motive
in destroying a transfer request

has never been established
as being due to loyalty.

Objection sustained.

No further questions.

Are there any questions
by the court?

Witness is excused.

Captain Kennedy,
on the afternoon of May,

you took the accused
into custody.

What prompted your action?

Initially, the report
of the m*llitary police patrol.

The accused entered
the Finance Office

on the night of the m*rder

within minutes
after Major Lessing.

He was observed leaving
the building minutes later.

What time was that?

About : p.m.

Are you aware
that the m*llitary surgeon

has established
that Major Lessing's death

occurred between : and : ?

Yes, sir.

Captain Kennedy...

can you identify
this typewriter,

prosecution exhibit
number four?

Yes, sir, it was
Sergeant Dexter's typewriter.

I marked it
for identification.

And can you identify
this typewriter ribbon,

prosecution exhibit
number five?

Yes, sir.

I removed that ribbon from
Sergeant Dexter's typewriter

the day after the m*rder.

LEWIS:
Why?

Normal investigative procedure
in a case of this kind.

It's often possible to read
a typewriter ribbon

with the aid of an ordinary
magnifying glass.

And were you able
to do so in this case?

Yes, sir. It was quite simple.

Fortunately, Sergeant Dexter
had put this clean ribbon

in his machine just a few hours
before the m*rder.

Will you tell us exactly
what you read on this ribbon?

Yes, sir.

"My dearest Helen,

"I'm sorry that this
is the way it must end for us,

"but there is nothing else
I can do--"

If the court please.

Defense stipulates
as to the note and its contents,

but the prosecution
has established no connection

between Sergeant Dexter
and the su1c1de note.

The prosecution intends
to establish such a connection.

Prosecution may proceed.

Now, is it possible
that Major Lessing himself

used the defendant's typewriter

to write this
so-called su1c1de note?

No, sir.
Why not?

It had been typed by
an expert: a touch-typist.

How do you know that?

By the evenness and clarity
of each letter

as it appeared on the ribbon.

All the keys had been struck
with equal force,

a characteristic
of the touch system.

If it had been typed by someone
using the hunt-and-peck system,

all the letters on the ribbon
would have appeared unevenly.

Of your own knowledge,

can you say that Major Lessing
was untrained as a touch-typist?

Of my own knowledge, I know
he was not a touch-typist.

Now, Captain Kennedy,
does Sergeant Dexter's Form

indicate that he is
a skilled typist?

Yes, sir. It does.

Where did Sergeant Dexter
keep his typewriter?

In the desk.

And did anyone else
besides Sergeant Dexter

have access to that desk?

No, sir. He kept it locked
at all times.

In fact,
the desk was locked

at the time we seized
the typewriter.

Who gave you the keys
to that desk?

Sergeant Dexter.

No further questions.

Captain Kennedy,
I think we're all agreed

that the crux of this matter is
the so-called Corregidor money.

Yes, sir.

It is the Army's contention that
the accused, Sergeant Dexter,

masterminded the plot
to dispose of that money.

When Major Lessing
discovered it,

Dexter k*lled him.
Yes, sir.

Now, in your investigations,
have you been able to establish

that Sergeant Dexter brought
that money from the Philippines?

No, sir.

Then you have no proof
that Sergeant Dexter

was actually connected in any
way with that stolen money?

Well, as I testified,
we had found

$ , of that money
in Sergeant Dexter's footlocker.

But as a master sergeant,

Dexter is assigned
to his own room,

is that not correct?
Yes, sir.

In other words, that footlocker
was not under observation

while Sergeant Dexter
was out of his room.

No, it was not.

Isn't it possible, then,
that that money

could have been planted there
in Sergeant Dexter's absence?

LEWIS:
Objected to.

Calling for a conclusion
from the witness.

Sustained.

Captain Kennedy,

you testified
that the desk in question

was always locked.

Yes, sir.

Are you aware of
the type lock on that desk?

Yes, sir. I am.

It's manufactured
by Harris and Company.

The model number is--

Oh, may I?

Please do.

C- .

Is it not true that
this is a very simple lock

and can be opened
by virtually anyone

with a nail file
or a Kn*fe?

That's...possible.

Well, haven't there been
complaints on this post

that several desks
with this very same lock

have been rifled?

Yes, sir.

Captain,
you also testified

that Sergeant Dexter
is a skilled typist.

Would you care to estimate
how many other skilled typists

are presently serving
at Camp Grace?

Well, I should say
about .

There are
to be exact.

Thank you, captain.
No further questions.

Witness is excused.

LEWIS:
Now, Sergeant Smith, you were
questioned by Captain Kennedy

about this $ bill which
you spent in the Savoy Cafe.

Yes, sir.

Where did you get
this bill?

In a card game.

And was the accused
a participant in that game?

Yes, sir, he was.

Do you remember who introduced
this $ bill into that game?

Yes, sir. It was
Sergeant Dexter.

LEWIS:
How do you know that?

Well, it was the only
in the game,

and, uh, Sergeant Dexter asked
me if I'd change it for him.

No further questions.
Your witness.

The defense has
no questions at this time,

but reserves the right
to recall this witness

for cross-examination.

JUDGE:
Witness is excused.

( tense theme playing )

Prosecution asks that
Mr. Walter Haskell be called.

When Sergeant Dexter delivered
the payroll money to you

on the day of the m*rder,

did you notice
anything unusual about it?

Yes, sir. Some of the bills
were slightly scorched,

as if they'd been
near a fire.

Sergeant Dexter had sole
possession of that money

for some time before he turned
it over to you, didn't he?

He did.

Thank you, Mr. Haskell.

The prosecution has
no further questions.

Now, Mr. Haskell,
is it possible that someone

other than Sergeant Dexter could
have switched that payroll money

before it was brought to you?

I suppose so.

Well, couldn't you have
switched that money?

Yes, but I didn't.

And how do we know that?

Just have to take
my word for it.

You know a girl
named Rikki Stevens?

Remember, Mr. Haskell,
you're under oath.

Mr. Mason, I don't see how that
has any bearing on this case.

If the court please,
I intend to show the relevancy.

Answer the question.

Yes, I'm acquainted
with Miss Stevens.

Did Rikki Stevens
ever tell you anything

about the money
stolen from Corregidor?

Of course not.

Mr. Haskell, I ask you
to examine this $ bill.

Do you notice anything
unusual about it?

Yes, it's scorched,
like the Corregidor money.

Exactly.

Did you give this $ bill
to Rikki Stevens?

No. Why should I?

I have here
a duplicate of a receipt

for Rikki Stevens' rent
given to me by her landlady,

paid for by you.

Do you pay the rent

for all your acquaintances,
Mr. Haskell?

Can you deny that you have
at various times

given money
to Rikki Stevens?

Remember, Mr. Haskell,
you're sworn to tell the truth.

I violated that oath a long time
before I made it here,

years ago in the Philippines
when Rikki was born.

I swore it to myself then.

But when I returned here
to my wife, I--

I didn't have
the courage to admit

that I had a child in Manila.

It was easier to forget.

In ,

Rikki had to leave Manila
because of illness.

She came to the States.

She tried to see me.

All she wanted was my love.

I gave her
money instead.

It was cheaper than courage.

I didn't hear from Rikki again
until about eight months ago,

when she went back to Manila

to arrange
for her mother's funeral.

Right after that,
she came here looking for me.

And again, I denied
my daughter her birthright.

I didn't give her the $ bill.

I'd have known at a glance

it was part
of the Corregidor money.

Even if I were guilty,

I wouldn't involve
my own daughter.

No further questions.

No. No further questions.

The witness is excused.

Gentlemen, the hour
is growing late.

The court will adjourn
till tomorrow morning.

( somber theme playing )

No, there's something
wrong here, radically wrong.

Do you think Haskell
was lying?

He said Rikki left
the Philippines in .

Doesn't add up.

Where are those records
Paul sent over?

Right here.

I wonder...

Della, I want Paul
to check the FBI.

I want a fast verification
on these fingerprints.

Right.

Hello, Gertie.

I want you to call
Camp Grace.

I want to speak
to the post surgeon there.

I think his name's
Colonel Wilson.

If he's not in his office,
try him at home,

but please get him.

All right.

Now, Mr. Evans,

on the day that
Major Lessing was m*rder*d,

you and Sergeant Dexter
went to the bank

for the payroll money,
did you not?

Yes, sir.

You then returned with it
as usual to the Finance Office?

Is that not correct?

Yes, sir.

Now, was Sergeant Dexter
alone at any time

with that payroll money?

Yes, sir. He was.

For how long?

Well, I couldn't say.
I went back to my work.

When I looked up some time
later, Sergeant Dexter

was just handing the money over
to Mr. Haskell for counting.

Mr. Haskell has testified
that some of the bills

turned over to him
had scorched edges.

Did you notice that
any of the payroll money

was similarly marred
when you and Sergeant Dexter

picked it up at the bank?

No, sir. I did not.

No further questions.

Now, Mr. Evans, you testified
that Sergeant Dexter

was alone
with the payroll money?

Yes, sir.

Now I ask you, were you ever
alone with the payroll money?

No, sir. I was not.

MASON:
Well, let me refresh
your memory.

After you and Sergeant Dexter
picked up the payroll money

at the bank, you both
took it back to the car.

Is that correct?

Yes.

Then Sergeant Dexter remembered

that he had to cash a personal
check for Major Lessing.

He went back into the bank.

Did you accompany him?

No, sir. I, uh...
I waited in the car.

Was the money
in the car with you?

Oh...

Yes, sir. It was.

Then you were alone
with that money?

Yes, sir.

Now perhaps your memory
will be better

regarding other events
on that day.

Why did you try to stop
Major Lessing

from coming to see me?

I was afraid he wanted
to make a confession.

At that time,
I thought he was involved

with the stolen money.

I knew the disgrace would
ruin his wife and children.

Couldn't Major Lessing have
intended to engage my services

to defend you because
you switched that money?

And isn't that
what he meant when he said

it would ruin
the lives of his family

because you were
Mrs. Lessing's brother?

LEWIS:
Objected to

as incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.

The witness is not
on trial here.

If the court please,

defense is trying to show bias
on the part of the witness.

He's attempting
to cover up

his own complicity
in this matter.

The court will withhold its
ruling until we've determined

whether defense counsel's
point is well taken.

This is ridiculous.

I don't know anything
about the Corregidor money,

and I didn't k*ll Frank.

I wasn't even
on the post that night.

Can you prove that?
I certainly can.

I was upset by what had
taken place at the office,

so I decided to hit
some of the bars.

I started making
the rounds at : .

I didn't get home until .

Did you tell all this
to Captain Kennedy?

Yes. He knows all about it.

How were you able
to substantiate this?

Sergeant Smith
was with me all evening.

If the court please, I would
like at this time to interrupt

my cross-examination
and recall Sergeant Smith

for the purpose
of corroborating this testimony.

The witness is excused.

Heh. So when Mr. Evans said
he wanted to tie one on,

I volunteered
to keep him company.

Tell me something,
sergeant,

weren't you transferred
from Manila to this post

seven months ago because
of a malarial condition?

That's right.

And when you were released
from the hospital,

weren't you informed
that drinking

was contraindicated
in your case?

Well, I was told it
wouldn't do me any good.

Nevertheless,
you did drink?

How can defense counsel justify
this line of questioning?

I assure the court,
defense will connect this up.

Witness will answer
the question.

Well...
Yeah, I-- I drank.

Despite the fact
that you were told

that the consumption
of any alcoholic beverage

might mean an acute
recurrence of malaria?

Heh. It never did me
any harm.

No, I'm sure it didn't.

Thank you, captain.

I would like this copy of
Sergeant Smith's medical record

marked for identification.

This medical record contains
an entry of hospitalization

for Plasmodium falciparum,

one of the most severe types
of malaria affecting man.

It is chronic
and incurable.

However, the post surgeon
informs me

that a recent test
made here at Camp Grace, uh,

on this witness for
that disease proved negative.

It's not the first time
the Army's made a mistake.

The witness will confine
his remarks to the questions.

( door opens )

Do you still say
you're suffering from malaria?

Can counsel now tell
the court what he hopes

to accomplish by
this line of questioning?

Yes, I intend to prove that
this witness never had malaria.

Furthermore, that he was
on Corregidor in ,

that he stole
the Corregidor money.

With his accomplice,
Howard Evans,

he was responsible for switching
that money with the payroll.

LEWIS:
Objection.

The defense counsel
is engaging in pure theory.

The record clearly shows
that Sergeant Smith had malaria

and did not even arrive
in the Philippines until .

If the court please,
the defense is aware

that Sergeant Smith
did not arrive

in the Philippines
until .

However, these fingerprints
from the FBI files

indicate that this witness
is not Sergeant Smith,

but Private Anthony Kusick,

the last surviving member
of the eight-man detail

to dispose of that money
on Corregidor.

Now, you buried that money
that night on Corregidor,

just as you buried
the real Smith years later.

You k*lled him
for his identification

and for his orders of transfer
back to this country.

No. No, I didn't.

You knew he'd been
ordered back to the States

because he developed malaria.

It was a perfect setup for you.

Who would dream of looking for
a deserter right in the Army?

No, no, look at the record.

I didn't get to the Philippines
till .

Then how did you meet
Rikki Stevens there?

She left the Philippines
in .

I tell you,
you've got this all wrong.

Show me where, Kusick.

You planned to have
Major Lessing's death

look like su1c1de,

but when Mrs. Lessing
destroyed that note

and told her brother about it,
you had to improvise.

You realized
it would look like m*rder,

and you had to have
a fall guy.

That's why you planted
that $ ,

in Sergeant Dexter's
footlocker.

All right.

But I didn't k*ll
Major Lessing!

It was Evans, Major Lessing's
brother-in-law.

He was the one
who gave me the idea

about switching the money.

He was the one who told me that
Major Lessing was getting wise.

MASON:
But you were the one
who was on the post that night.

The records indicate
that it must have been you

who typed
that phony su1c1de note.

You're wrong.
I don't even know how to type.

You mean, Sergeant Smith
didn't know how to type.

But what was your job
while you were in the service

still using
the name Kusick?

I'll tell you what it was:
you were a clerk typist.

( dramatic theme playing )

( mellow theme playing )

The thing that gets me
is that $ , .

After all,
it isn't something

you can tuck
into an overnight bag.

How did Kusick get
his hands on it?

Well, we've got
to remember, Paul,

it wasn't business as usual
on Corregidor that night.

The island was being bombed.

Kusick was probably
the only man there

paying attention to that
$ -million bonfire.

Then after the w*r,
Kusick deserted

and stayed in the Philippines
using another phony name.

That's when he met
the real Willie Smith.

The rest, as they say,
is history.

Well, he's awful lucky.

What if he'd run into

one of the real Willie Smith's
buddies over here?

Well, he could always claim
he was a different Willie Smith.

Must be hundreds in the Army.

I suppose so.
Well, I'd better shove off.

I don't want to keep
the little lady waiting.

What's the matter, Paul?

Your money burning
a hole in your pocket?

( sighs )

Where did you get that?

Don't worry.

It isn't Corregidor money.

I put a cigarette down
on my money clip this morning.

So I figured
it was just the thing

to spend on a hot date.

( chuckles )

( upbeat theme playing )

Ho, ho.

( noirish jazz theme playing )