02x19 - The Case of the Caretaker's Cat

[bunniefuu]

( suspenseful theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( soft theme playing )

( soft piano
music playing )

( meows, telephone ringing )

Miss Devoe.

Miss Devoe!

( ringing continues )

Hello?

Yes, this is
the Baxter residence.

I'll see if
he can talk.

( cat meows )

It's Mr. Hilliard
from the bank.

Peter Baxter
speaking.

I'm sorry to
inconvenience you, Mr. Baxter,

but it is a large
amount of cash,

and I would like
a verification.

Well, yes, sir. It's
James Hing, your caretaker.

Confound it, Hilliard,
can't you follow instructions?

Cash it.

Yes. Give him
the money.

( mysterious theme playing )

Thank you, sir.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( fire crackling )

( ominous theme playing )

"I leave , to the American
Heart Association,

" , to the American
Cancer Society...

"$ , to establish
a trust fund

"to provide
two scholarships yearly

"to the California Institute
of Technology.

"My personal bequests
are as follows:

"to my grandson,

"Kenneth Baxter...

"one dollar.

"To my grandson,
Stuart Baxter...

"one dollar.

"To my granddaughter,
Winifred Oakley...

"one dollar.

"I hereby bequeath and devise

"the rest and remainder
of my estate,

both real and personal,
to James Hing, my caretaker."

Hing?!

Why, the old man must've
been out of his mind!

Now I see why
grandfather and Hing

had their heads together
so much the last few weeks.

STUART:
We're his blood relations!

He's-- He's just
a caretaker!

But a rich caretaker, Stuart.

Three-and-a-half-
million dollars rich.

He told us he was giving
his money to us:

Stuart, Winnie and me.
Didn't he, Mr. Roland?

That was his intention
two weeks ago.

His will bequeathed
one third to each of you.

But then your grandfather
changed it.

Well, we'll
change it back!

Now, just
a minute, Hing.

Do you actually think
you're going to keep

that whole
inheritance?

In all the time I worked
for your grandfather...

I have never contradicted
his wishes.

Would you expect me
to start now?

Thank you,
Mr. Roland.

Good afternoon.

( mysterious theme playing )

You have no idea
why Mr. Baxter

wanted to leave you
all his money?

No, sir.

I noticed that
Kenneth Baxter and...

Stuart Baxter
are the contestants

who wish to keep the will
from being probated.

Are they brothers?

They are
cousins.

You said there
was a granddaughter?

Yes. Winifred Oakley.

She is not contesting
the will.

Not yet, anyway.

But her doctor friend
is not of the same mind.

And what's his name?

Douglas Keene.

Do you think they can
do it, Mr. Mason?

I mean,
break the will?

I'll need time

to appraise the situation
carefully, Mr. Hing.

Thank you,
Mr. Mason.

I am very grateful that
you are representing me.

Oh. I almost forgot.

I would like to pay you
a little something on account.

Well, we'll talk
about it later,

when your funds
aren't all tied up.

Oh, I have money,
Mr. Mason.

Will
be sufficient?

That, uh...
part of the estate?

Oh, no. I saved it.

I have saved
all my life.

I have your receipt here,
Mr. Hing.

There you are.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Mr. Hing.

( door opens )

( door closes )

He seems
a curious mixture.

Of what, Della?

Mm.

Of a man not quite
sure of himself.

Yet knowing exactly
what he wants,

and quietly
getting it.

I wonder what
Peter Baxter was like.

Gertie, see if you
can reach Paul Drake.

( ominous theme playing )

WOMAN ( over P.A. ):
Dr. Jackson.

Calling Dr. Jackson.

( bell dings twice )

Oh, Dr. Keene.

There was a James Hing
here to see you.

Hing?

Uh, what did he want?

I told him you were
out to lunch.

But I guess
he didn't wait.

And then there was
a police detective.

A Lieutenant Tragg.

Oh. Well, did he say
what he wanted?

No, doctor.

I see.
Thank you, nurse.

WOMAN ( over P.A. ):
Dr. Lindley.

Calling Dr. Lindley.

( door closes )

What's the matter, Winnie?

Well, don't you
smell it, Doug?

( sniffs )

Gasoline or something.

Yes.

Hm. Here it is.

"Volatile spirits."

Well, what's that?

A highly inflammable
paint thinner.

Say, this is it.

What?

Well, didn't you know
the arson squad's

been investigating
the fire?

Yes. But what's that
have to do

with volatile spirits?

They think that was the agent
used to start the blaze.

What do you suppose Hing
was doing here?

You think he put that
bottle of volatile spirits

in your closet?

Yes, because he's trying to
throw suspicion on me.

Because he k*lled
your grandfather,

and he's getting
desperate.

I don't believe it.

You're closing
your eyes.

You know your grandfather
would never--

Would never cut you off,
if he was in his right mind.

Winnie...

you're the only person
he ever loved.

And it's a million
dollars, honey.

A million dollars.

Why, that'd set us up
for the rest of our lives.

And all you have to do
is go along with your cousins

Stuart and Kenneth.

They need
your help.

The money seems to mean
so much to you.

It does.

More than we mean
to each other?

Well, I, uh...

guess I kind of
wound up, didn't I? Heh.

I'm sorry, honey.

You do what
you think is best.

( mysterious theme playing )

( cat meowing )

( digging, cat meowing )

( phone rings )

Hello. Mr. Mason's office.

Well, I'm sorry,
he's gone for the day.

Who's calling, please?

This is James Hing.

Do you know
where I can reach him?

Oh, I'm afraid that's
impossible, Mr. Hing.

Mr. Mason drove
down to San Diego,

and I don't expect him back
till midnight.

But I must see him
before : .

It is very important,
Miss Street.

Everything depends on it.

Well, I'll see what I can do.

Uh, where can he reach you?

At police headquarters.

They are holding me
for m*rder.

( ominous theme playing )

I know it looks bad, Mr. Mason.

I did get the money
from the bank...

and I did bury it.

And you bought
the volatile spirits?

Yes, sir.

And started the fire?

Yes, sir.

And knew that a helpless
old man, an invalid,

was going to be trapped
in an upstairs bedroom?

You own a cat
named Monsoon?

Yes, sir.

Two hours before
the fire broke out,

you took the cat to a vet.

You picked him up
the following day.

That doesn't mean anything.

It might mean a great deal
to a jury.

There was nothing wrong
with the cat,

yet you removed it
from the premises.

Why?

You must've known
everything

was gonna be destroyed.

I did not m*rder Mr. Baxter.

Then who did?

You're not giving me very much
to work with, Mr. Hing.

I am telling you
everything I can.

What does
that mean?

Why did you go to the hospital
this afternoon?

I went to see Dr. Keene.

What for?

When you found he wasn't there,

why didn't you wait
for his return?

I decided not to.

What made you go
to the hiding place

and dig up
that money tonight?

( swallows )

Why was it so necessary
to see me before : ?

Why was it too late after ?

You...asked me to
represent you, Mr. Hing.

I can't do that without
your complete confidence.

I am sorry, Mr. Mason.

So am I.

Very sorry.

Under the circumstances,

I think perhaps
you'd better find...

other counsel.

( dramatic theme playing )

( door opens )

( door closes )

Well, that's the way
it goes.

Client either lies
to his attorney

or won't talk
at all.

Why was Hing
digging up that money?

Hm. Probably to
make his getaway.

Why did he have to see me
before : last night,

and why was it too late?

Paul, I'm going down
to police headquarters.

( door opens )

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

Mr. Mason.

I didn't expect
to see you again.

Just one more question,
Mr. Hing.

Yes, sir?

The reason you dug up
that money last night.

The reason you had to
see me before : .

You had an appointment
with him, didn't you?

With whom, Mr. Mason?

Peter Baxter...

the man who supposedly
died in the fire.

He's alive,
isn't he?

( dramatic theme playing )

Those are the facts, sir.

The whole truth.

I was supposed to meet
Mr. Peter Baxter

last night at :
out at the palisade

to give him the $ , .

And the fire,
everything else,

was a conspiracy
between you two

to fool everyone
into thinking he was dead?

Yes, sir.
Why?

He wanted to find out...

what his heirs would do

if he cut them off.

Well, what did he
expect them to do?

I don't know.

I just know
he wanted to test them.

What about the body
that was found in the room?

He said it would be burned
beyond recognition.

Where did he get the body?

He didn't tell me that.

I think he had a doctor
helping him.

This doctor was to
arrange everything.

Getting him out of the house,

getting the other body in.

I think also
they were going to put

some kind of chemical
beneath the bed

to help the fire
burn more rapidly.

Do you know
who the doctor was?

No, sir.

All I know is that
if a light was burning

in the bedroom window
at a certain time,

I was to start the fire.

It's incredible that anyone
could conceive

a plot so fantastic,
and further,

that you would be
a party to it.

I have worked for Mr. Baxter
for almost years...

and I would do it
again for him...

out of loyalty, respect...

and out of love.

Where is Mr. Baxter now?

I don't know.

According to the police,
you were alone at the house

on the night of the fire.

That is not true.

That bank manager,
Mr. Hilliard, was there...

for a while, when I took
the cat to the vet's.

Was Mr. Hilliard gone
when you returned?

Yes, sir.

It must have occurred to you
that something might go wrong.

That you...

might be
accused of m*rder.

I know that.

Mr. Baxter
thought of that himself.

There is an envelope
in Mr. Roland's office.

What's in the envelope?

An explanation...

of how everything I did,

I was acting under
Mr. Baxter's instructions.

Mr. Mason...
please don't upset

what Mr. Baxter
is trying to do.

He went to
a lot of trouble.

Oh, I can see that.

How do you know
there is such an envelope?

Have you talked
with Mr. Roland?

Why, no.

But eventually, Mr. Baxter
will show up in person

to explain everything.
Suppose he doesn't?

Don't you realize you've put
your life in his hands?

Mr. Mason...

will you change your mind
about representing me?

Have you told me
the truth?

All of it?

Yes, sir.

All right, Mr. Hing.

Yes, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Hing told Perry Mason
about the sealed envelope.

Uh, do you have it?

You can tell Mr. Mason
that if I had such an envelope,

and my instructions were
not to reveal its existence,

I should have to
refuse to answer.

And if you had
such an envelope,

you wouldn't know
what was in it?

If my instructions were
not to open it, how could I?

Suppose...the contents

would supply
vital evidence

in a m*rder trial.

I believe it would take
a judicial order

to force me to admit

the existence
of such an envelope...

or to disclose its contents.

I see. Uh...
thank you, Mr. Roland.

Also, Mr. Drake, uh,

just to, uh,
clarify the matter...

even if I did not have
such an envelope, uh,

I would still have to
refuse to answer.

I understand.
Thank you, sir.

( mysterious theme playing )

Wasn't a ridiculously
large sum of money, Mr. Mason.

But it was large enough to me
to verify it with Mr. Baxter.

And he instructed you
to honor the check?

Yes, he did.

Then what prompted you
to visit him

later that day,
Mr. Hilliard?

Bank business.

You see, since it wasn't
convenient for him

to come to the bank, I made
at least one trip a month

to his home.

What time of day
was this, uh,

last visit?

About in the evening.
Perhaps a little later.

Who else did
you see there?

Oh, no one.

Not even Mr. Hing?

Well, now, I can't swear
that he wasn't there,

but I actually
didn't see him.

And how did you
get into the house?

Oh, Mr. Baxter said
the front door

were to be
left open for me.

I see.

Uh, would you...
happen to know

who is the executor
of the Baxter estate?

Yes, Mr. Mason.

I am.

( phone rings )

Thank you, Mr. Hilliard.

( ominous theme playing )

I was just wondering
how badly the body was burned.

Why do you
ask that, Perry?

Uh, did you have any trouble
with identification?

Well, should we have?

I thought perhaps you might.

Do you have
any reason to believe

that it is not
Peter Baxter?

Yes, I do.

Put your mind at rest.

The corpse is Peter Baxter.

No doubt at all?

It's Peter Baxter
all right, Perry.

( sighs )

And I'm afraid
your client m*rder*d him.

( light, pleasant
music playing )

( people chattering )

We'll have to
find out, Paul.

What if Roland actually
doesn't have an envelope?

He'd better have.

Hing tells us
it wasn't Baxter's body.

We found out it was. Now,
if there's no envelope...

I'm gonna do something,
stir things up a bit.

"Stir things up?"

We're in a bad spot. May
have to prod things along.

Get the principals to thinking
something's in the wind.

Get them to working
at cross-purposes.

How?

Can you plant a story?

Sure. If it's newsworthy...

and true.

Well, this could be true.

In any case, all we need is
a rumor to start things going.

Now, Perry, wait a minute.

Now, look, Paul...
I'm forced to assume

that my client
is telling the truth.

That Baxter and Hing
did cook up a deal.

I must rely on the theory

that someone overheard
their conversation.

Tsk. All right.

I'll go along with you
as long as I can.

But don't be taken in

by your client's
seeming simplicity.

The whole thing
has no corroboration.

However, I'll do my best.

What story do you want planted?

That there's a frantic
investigation going on

regarding a later will...

dated after the one
entered for probate.

I'll tell the press

the rumor comes from
an unimpeachable source.

Thank you.

Can we make
the afternoon edition?

We can try.

( dramatic theme playing )

DELLA:
Mm-hm.

Yes, Mr. Burger.

I'll give him
your message.

Thank you.

Take it that was
the district attorney.

Mm-hm. Second call.

Anybody else? Mr. Roland?

Yes, Mr. Roland said
he'd call back.

Dr. Keene
called twice.

Winifred Oakley called.

And there's someone
waiting to see you:

Stuart Baxter.

Do you want to
see him?

By all means.

Will you come in?

Mr. Stuart Baxter.

How do you do, Mr. Baxter?
( door closes )

Sit down, won't you?
Thank you.

Oh, I, uh...

see you got
the paper.

Rather interesting.

May resolve our conflicts,

if there is a new will.

Have you spoken
to Mr. Roland about it?

No, I...just saw the headline

and came right here.

Now, look...Mr. Mason, uh,

I'm not a gambling man.

And I'm not a pig.

You know, "Live and let live"
is my motto.

Now, If you were to say to me,

"Stuart, let's make a deal."

Uh, new will or no new will, c--
Call off your contest.

Let's split the estate
among the heirs and Hing.

Share and share
alike.

But that might be obviating

your grandfather's
real interests.

Now, you must realize,
if there is a later will,

Hing will probably
be cut out.

Mm. Possibly.

And if Hing's found guilty,
he can't inherit either.

That's true.

Well, what do you say?

Well, I'm obligated to convey
your offer to my client...

but I'm not going to
recommend accepting it.

You'll need some help
defending Hing. Uh...

I got some information.

I'll testify for him
in court.

What information?

About my cousin, Kenneth Baxter.

Now, he and that nurse,
Edith Devoe,

have been seeing each other
on the sly.

Now, she must've found out
grandfather was going to

change his will,
told Kenneth about it.

So, uh, to prevent
his being disinherited,

Kenneth k*lled him.

You'd sacrifice
your cousin that way?

We-- Why not, if it's true?

Well...what about it, Mason?

Uh, look what I'm offering
you and Hing.

MASON:
I'll take it
under advisement.

( door
closes )

Would you, um...

care to go out
this way?

Yeah.

Someone else to see you:
Kenneth Baxter.

Show him in.

All right.

Will you come in?

Thank you.

Mr. Kenneth Baxter.

Evening, Mr. Baxter. What can
I do for you?
( door closes )

Mr. Mason.

Oh, I see you
have the paper.

Oh, yes.

Any truth to the rumor
about the new will?

That's what I came here
to ask you.

I suggest you ask
Mr. Roland.

Have you been
in touch with him?

It's occurred to me
that we could get together

with profit on
this whole business,

will or no will,

and come to some mutually
satisfactory arrangement.

You mean split the estate
four ways, no matter what?

( exhales )
Of course, I can't speak

for the others...

but I'd be
perfectly willing

to listen to a proposition
like that.

Nobody gets hurt--

And everybody
makes a profit.

Exactly.

And I might even be able
to help you save Hing.

Oh?

I happen to know
that my cousin, Stuart,

and Edith Devoe,
my grandfather's nurse,

were awfully chummy,
and they--

Were you going to suggest
that you would testify

that your cousin, Stuart Baxter,

had the motive and opportunity
to have k*lled your grandfather?

Well, yes.
He did. He--

He was carrying on
with Miss Devoe and--

( telephone rings )
All right.

Just a moment.

Hello? Yes, Della?

Who?

Hold on, would you?

I'm sorry, Mr. Baxter.

You had no appointment,
but I tried to squeeze you in.

However, now I have an important
telephone conference.

You'll have to excuse me.

Well, looks like
we're making progress.

All right, Della, put him on.

Yes, Mr. Roland?

Mr. Mason. I don't
quite appreciate

this arbitrary announcement
of a later will.

I drew up Mr. Baxter's
last will and testament.

The one now offered in probate.

I'm more concerned with
a sealed envelope, as you know.

I'll tell you the same thing

that I told Stuart
and Kenneth Baxter.

There is no new will.

There is no envelope, no letter.

And there are no instructions,
no explanations.

I don't know what Mr. Hing
hopes to accomplish

by this fabrication
of an envelope.

There's not a word of truth
to his whole story.

That's definite, Mr. Roland?

That's definite.

( hangs up )

( ominous theme playing )

I wasn't exactly
jumping for joy

when Mr. Baxter died.

It was
an excellent job.

Thirty a day,
seven days a week.

Are you, uh...

married,
Miss Devoe?

No.

On the evening of the fire,
you were off duty?

Yes.

On that particular evening,
was Mr. Baxter under sedation?

Now, that's
a strange thing.

He refused to take
his sedative that evening.

Oh, why?

I was leaving
about...

: .

He said if he wanted his pills,
he'd take them later.

He said he was going to
watch television.

Was that customary?

No. He'd never
done it before.

Miss Devoe, I have reason
to believe that Peter Baxter

and James Hing...

conspired to burn
the house down

and make it appear that...

Peter Baxter
died in the fire.

Why would they wanna do
a thing like that?

Mr. Baxter wanted to
test his heirs.

See how they'd behave
after he was dead.

Sounds like Mr. Baxter.

I think someone
in that household

learned about
the plan and...

took advantage of it.

k*lled the old
gentlemen.

Now, uh...

who could have
learned about it?

Why ask me?

You were close to him
all the time.

I'm sorry. I--
I can't help.

Did you know he was
changing his will?

No, Mr. Mason.

Frankly, it didn't
interest me.

And it still doesn't.

Except...

Except what?

The only person who really
cared for him.

Winifred Oakley.

It's a tough break
for her.

( mysterious theme playing )

Thank you,
Miss Devoe.

( dramatic theme playing )

Do you
solemnly swear

that the testimony
you're about to give

is the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth?

I do.
Be seated.

Come on.

Now, doctor, you performed
the autopsy on the body

of the deceased,
is that correct?

Yes, sir, I did.

We were given
a dental chart.

We compared the chart with
the teeth of the deceased.

Uh, we had the assistance
of a dentist

during that examination.

Was there anything
else, doctor?

We noticed, uh, metallic plates
screwed to the right femur, uh,

for purposes of repairing
what was evidently

an old and rather
complicated fracture.

And what were
your conclusions?

That the body burned in
the fire on February st

at the Baxter home
was unquestionably

the body of
Peter Baxter.

Thank you, doctor.
Your witness.

Doctor...

you found evidence
that the deceased

was under heavy sedation
at the time of death?

Yes, sir, I did.

Is it possible that
the heavy sedation itself

may have caused the death
of the decedent?

Yes.

MASON:
Thank you, doctor. That's all.

BURGER:
Now, Mr. Nelson,
I show you this exhibit,

which we found
at the scene of the fire,

and ask if you
can identify it.

I sure can.

Came from my paint store.

See? All my merchandise

is rubber-stamped on the bottom.

So it is.

Now, Mr. Nelson, do you have
any personal recollection

of the sale of this item?

Absolutely.

You see, we don't have much
call for volatile spirits.

So when this fella
came in the store--

Just a second. When--

When you say "this fella,"
to whom are you referring?

Him. The defendant.
Mr. Hing.

All right. Go ahead.

I was about to say,

volatile spirits is
a dangerous combustible.

So I asked him what
he was gonna use it for.

When he said
he wanted a paint thinner,

I tried to recommend
something safer,

but he was kind of...

obstinate,
you might say.

So I gave him
what he wanted.

And what he wanted
was volatile spirits?

That's what
he wanted.

Thank you, Mr. Nelson.

Your witness.

No questions.

Call your next witness,
Mr. Burger.

Mr. John Hilliard, please.

Uh, Mr. Hilliard,
you are the executor

of the estate of
the late Peter Baxter?

I am.

During his lifetime, did you
have any business relationship

with the deceased?

Well, yes.

As vice president
and general manager of the bank,

I handled all his funds there.

Uh, did you, under instructions
from the deceased...

deliver $ , to
the defendant, James Hing?

Yes.

Do you know anything about
a private conversation,

or a series
of private conversations,

between the deceased
and the defendant, James Hing?

Objection, Your Honor.

Incompetent, irrelevant
and immaterial.

Any conversation between
decedent and defendant

overheard by Mr. Hilliard
is not binding on the defendant,

unless it is a part of
the res gestae.

Your Honor...

the conversation I wish to
get into the record

occurred on the day of the fire,

and is indeed, I believe,
part of the res gestae.

Unless you can connect it
more particularly, Mr. Burger,

I will sustain
the objection.

Then if it please the court,

I should like to withdraw
this witness

and call Edith Devoe
to the stand...

in order to lay
a more proper foundation.

Reserving, of course,
the privilege of recalling

this witness later.

Mr. Mason?

If my cross-examination
is also deferred,

I have no objection,
Your Honor.

Call Miss Devoe to the stand.

The witness may stand down.

Miss Devoe...how long
were you employed as a nurse

by the late
Peter Baxter?

Eight months.

Are you acquainted with
the defendant, James Hing?

Yes, I am.

Did he and the deceased
ever have long,

private conversations?
Yes.

Well, did they have a long,
private conversation

on the day
of the fire?

Yes.

Would you please tell this court

what happened prior to
that particular conversation?

Well, Hing came
into Mr. Baxter's room...

and told me he wanted to be
alone with Mr. Baxter.

All right. Go ahead.

I did leave...

but one point, I returned.

I heard Hing say to
Mr. Baxter...

"All right. We'll do it now."

And then he saw
that I was in the room,

and he asked me to leave again.

So I left.

Wasn't Mr. Baxter normally
an aggressive,

domineering sort of man?

Yes.

That time, though,
he seemed...

very submissive.

As if...

As if Hing had some

strange kind of
influence over him.

Objection!

I'll stipulate that
that last remark

may be stricken
from the record

as being a conclusion
of the witness.

Thank you,
Miss Devoe.

Cross-examine,
counselor.

Miss Devoe...
do you recall

a visit I had with you
at your apartment?

Yes.

At that time,
did you not tell me

you knew of no private
conversations

between Peter Baxter
and the defendant?

I told you I didn't know
of any private conversations

that'd been
overheard

by any other member
of the household.

Did you...

personally overhear one?

No. The door was closed.

So that you couldn't have
overheard a thing?

No.

Why did you listen?

To find out if I was right.

I thought Hing had
a mysterious influence

over Mr. Baxter.

But you did not overhear
their conversation?

No.

Then your impression
that the defendant

had some mysterious hold
over the decedent

still remains unverified?

Yes.

Thank you, Miss Devoe.
No further questions.

Gordon T. Roland.

CLERK:
Mr. Gordon T. Roland

to the stand.

Mr. Roland, as attorney
for the late Peter Baxter,

among other services,
you prepared his will.

Is that correct?

I did.

And after his death, you entered
that will for probate?

Yes, sir.

Is the defendant,
James Hing,

a legatee under the terms
of that will?

He is.

BURGER:
And what is the amount
of his inheritance?

ROLAND:
More than $ -and-a-half
million.

I see.

Uh, Mr. Roland, there's been...

talk in the newspapers

and rumors about a later will.

What do you know about
any such will?

Nothing.

There's also been talk
about a mysterious envelope.

Do you know anything
about an envelope or a letter

connected in any way
with the deceased?

No. I do not.

Thank you, Mr. Roland.
That'll be all.

Your witness.

I have no questions
of this witness.

Gentlemen...

I'll take
this opportunity

to recess for the lunch hour.

Court is adjourned
till p.m.

( dramatic theme playing )

Mr. Mason,
you were right.

It was unwise for me
to believe

that this plan
could not be upset.

I just don't believe
Hing made up this story.

Paul...

find out who
the insurance carriers are,

and how much of a claim
they paid on the fire damage.

On my way.

( slow, dramatic theme playing )

MASON:
Your Honor,

information of paramount
importance has come to hand.

Before proceeding, I would
like to recall a witness.

Mr. Burger?

Which witness?

Mr. John Hilliard.

No objection,
Your Honor.

Call Mr. John Hilliard
to the stand.

Mr. John Hilliard
to the stand.

You're still under oath,
Mr. Hilliard.

Mr. Hilliard,
you've testified

that you were the executor
of Peter Baxter's estate?

Yes.

I have here a memorandum
from the Norwood Fire/Casualty,

an insurance company.

They report that no claim
has been made

on behalf of the Baxter estate
for fire damage.

That's right.

Why didn't you
enter a claim?

Well, the insurance
had been cancelled

two days
before the fire.

Oh?

Who canceled it?

I did. Acting on Mr. Baxter's
order, of course.

Did you ask him why he canceled
the fire insurance?

Yes. And, as usual,

he said I should just
mind my own business

and follow instructions.

Are you aware
that it's a felony

to set fire
to one's own house

and then
claim insurance?

Yes.

And since Peter Baxter did not
want to commit a felony,

he instructed you to cancel
the fire insurance.

Well, I-- I don't know
his reason, Mr. Mason.

He didn't tell me.
I just followed instructions.

Mr. Hilliard, a man is
on trial for his life.

Now, we believe Peter Baxter
left an envelope

with a letter in it.

We know he didn't leave it
with his attorney.

You are his executor.

You had a visit with him
on the evening of the fire.

Now, he gave you
that envelope, didn't he?

Yes.

What's in it?

I don't know.

Well, what were
his instructions about it?

Not to reveal its existence,
and to keep it sealed

for three months
after his death.

MASON:
And it still remains sealed?

ROLAND:
Yes. There's still
seven weeks left.

Where is
the envelope?

At the bank,
in the vault.

I ask
the court to...

order Mr. Hilliard

to produce and open
this envelope.

Mr. Burger?

If it please the court...

Your Honor...

even if this envelope
contains

the explanation
the defense is hoping for--

namely, a plot to pretend
this m*rder happened

--the state contends this
very letter gives the defendant

the opportunity and the motive
to commit the m*rder,

hoping to be protected by
the explanation in the letter,

and thus able to benefit
from the will leaving him

the decedent's
entire fortune.

Mr. Mason?

Your Honor...

defense does
not know

exactly what is
in that envelope.

However, it may contain
a later will

which contradicts
the provisions

of the present
will.

If this is true...

the defendant's failure
to inherit under a later will

would leave
the prosecution without

a motive for m*rder.

We'd better examine
that envelope, Mr. Hilliard.

You will produce it in court
tomorrow morning at : a.m.

Your Honor, I have no further
questions of the witness.

You may step down.

I was on duty at the desk

when that gentleman came up
and asked to see Dr. Keene.

Let the record show
that the witness

was pointing to the defendant,
James Hing.

Now, Miss Watson,
how long was this

after Dr. Keene
left his room?

About ten minutes.

What did you tell
the defendant?

I told him Dr. Keene
was out to lunch,

and I didn't know
exactly when he'd be back.

And what did
he do then?

Well...

he said he'd wait
for a while anyway.

And he did.

Later when I looked up,
he was gone.

Thank you,
Miss Watson.

Your witness,
counselor.

Miss Watson, when you
saw the defendant,

was he carrying something?

No. Not that I could see.

Thank you, Miss Watson.
No further questions.

One moment.

Your Honor, I have
one question on redirect.

Miss Watson, could you see
both the defendant's hands?

No. I only saw his left hand.

I never did see his right hand
or the right side of his body.

Thank you, Miss Watson.

( sniffs )

Yes. That's the odor.
Volatile spirits.

And I recognize
that bottle.

It's the one I found
in the closet of my room.

Had you ever seen
the bottle before?

No, sir.

Had you ever noticed the odor
of volatile spirits

in your room before?

KEENE:
Well, not before I, uh, left

to take Miss Oakley
to lunch.

So to the best
of your knowledge,

this bottle was planted in
your room during the lunch hour?

Yes, sir.

BURGER:
Now, doctor...

( puts bottle
on table )

where were you
on the night of February st?

That's the night
of the fire.

Well, Miss Oakley and I
went to dinner,

and then to a play.

And where did you get
the tickets for that play?

From the defendant.

When I called
to take Miss Oakley

to dinner that evening,

he gave us the tickets,
and said they were a gift

from her grandfather,
Mr. Peter Baxter.

I think that'll
be all, doctor. Thank you.

Your witness.

Dr. Keene...
how long were you gone

from your room
at the hospital?

When I went to lunch?

Oh, minutes.
Possibly .

Now, you left your door open.
Is that customary?

Oh, yes. I have nothing there
really worth stealing.

So anyone could have
entered your room

during that -
to -minute period?

Well, in a manner
of speaking.

There-- There are nurses
and doctors and orderlies

around all the time.

Doctor, as
a resident physician,

do you have access to
the hospital's drug supply?

Access?

Well, no,
not indiscriminately.

Uh, narcotics and anodynes
have to be signed for.

Where would you
sign for them?

With the nurse on duty
at the dispensary.

It's been established that...

Peter Baxter refused
to take his normal sedative

on the night of the fire.

Yet the autopsy surgeon
testified

he was under heavy sedation
at the time.

Could the heavy
sedation itself

have caused
his death?

Oh, of course.
If it was heavy enough.

Could react
just like poison.

Now, doctor, you testified
that on the night in question...

you went to dinner
and the theater

with Winifred Oakley?

That's right.

Did you miss the first act
of the play?

Wha--
( sighs )

How did you know?

It's customary to...

check on the whereabouts
of principals

at the time of a m*rder.

Well, when, uh...

Winifred and I
arrived at the theater,

there was a message
for me.

It's part of a doctor's
life, Mr. Mason.

He can be called
out of a theater

or off the golf course.

I had to visit
a patient.

Where?

At the hospital.

Now, to get to the hospital
from the theater...

would it be out of your way
to stop at the Baxter home?

No.

Did you stop
at the Baxter home?

I certainly did not.

Now, tell me, doctor...

did you take any narcotics
or sedatives

from the hospital recently,
signed for or not?

I didn't take any narcotics
or sedatives

out of the hospital...

period.

Thank you, doctor.
No further questions.

I call Kenneth Baxter.

CLERK:
Mr. Kenneth Baxter, please.

( man coughs )

BURGER:
Mr. Baxter, on the night
of February st--

that's the night
of the fire

--did you see the defendant,
James Hing?

KENNETH:
I did.

BURGER:
About what time?

KENNETH:
About : .

He said my grandfather
had two tickets

for a play
that night

for Stuart
and myself.

BURGER:
When you say "Stuart,"

you're referring to
your cousin, Stuart Baxter?

KENNETH:
That's right.

BURGER:
Did your grandfather
do things like this very often?

No. I was
rather surprised.

But you did accept
the tickets from the defendant

and go to the theater?

I did.

I think that's all, Mr. Baxter.
Thank you very much.

Your witness.

Mr. Baxter...

why were
you surprised

at getting the tickets
from your grandfather?

Well, we weren't
exactly bosom pals.

He disapproved
of you?

At times.
What times?

I guess whenever
he thought about me.

That's why I wasn't surprised

when I heard
he was going to test us,

and there might be a later will.

Have you seen any such will?

No, I haven't.

Now, on the night in question,

did you and Stuart Baxter
leave the house together?

KENNETH:
I left the house about : .

I met Stuart after dinner
at the theater.

After the theater,
did you and Stuart

return to the house together?

Yes, sir. It was about : .

The fire had
already been put out.

Thank you.

Oh, uh...

by the way.

Did you ask nurse Devoe
to join you that evening?

Um, no.
Why should I?

No reason.

Your Honor...
at this point,

I would like to recall
nurse Watson.

Miss Watson is
a sometime custodian

of the dispensary
at the hospital.

If it please the court,
this is all part

of the defendant's case.

Counsel for the defense
shouldn't be allowed

to prove his case
by cross-examination alone.

Nor should he be allowed
to prove it

by recalling witnesses
for cross-examination.

I think we can
take advantage

of the relative informality
of this hearing

to pursue the evidence
when it leads us on.

The witness
may step down.

Miss Watson, please.

Then it's rather
a routine matter

for a doctor to request
and sign for narcotics?

Yes, sir.

How difficult
would it be

for someone not connected
with the hospital to...

get to the dispensary
and into the narcotics?

Practically
impossible.

There's someone on duty
all the time.

As a matter of fact,
anyone not in uniform

would stick out
like a sore thumb

in the dispensary
or the doctors' quarters.

In other words,
anyone with a uniform

would have escaped
your notice?

That's not true,
Mr. Mason.

It all depends
on the...

Go on, Miss Watson.

Oh, that's funny.
It just came back to me.

What do you mean?

The cap I saw.

What cap?

Well...I'd never seen one
like it before.

I remember when I saw it,
I thought to myself,

"Hey. That's kind of...

"cute.

I wonder where it's from."

Don't all nurses wear caps?

Yes, sir.

But each school of nursing
has its own distinctive cap.

And a nurse graduating
from an institution

will wear its cap for the rest
of her professional life...

no matter
where she may work.

I see.

And this was a strange cap?

Yes, sir. I was gonna ask
the nurse who was wearing it

where it was from.

Why didn't you?
Before I had a chance,

she turned a corner
and disappeared.

Well, what corner
was this?

Leading to
the doctors' quarters.

When did all this
take place?

The same day
the defendant, Mr. Hing,

came up and asked
to see Dr. Keene.

Do you recall
the time?

Around noon.

I ask you now to look
around this courtroom

and see if you can
identify this nurse.

Yes, sir.
I have looked around.

There she is.

MASON:
Let the record show the witness

is pointing to
a previous witness

named Edith Devoe.

Thank you, Miss Watson.
That's all.

Mr. Burger?

BURGER:
No questions.

Miss Devoe, will you
step forward, please?

The witness may step down.

( people clear throats )

JUDGE:
I've anticipated you,
Mr. Mason.

Do you have some questions
to ask Miss Devoe?

Thank you.
Yes, I do, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
You may take the stand.

You're still under oath,
Miss Devoe.

( man
clears throat )

Now, Miss Devoe...

did you enter
the hospital

and deposit a bottle
of volatile spirits

in Dr. Keene's room

in order to throw
suspicion on him?

I was in the hospital.

You kept a supply of sedatives
in the Baxter home?

Yes.

You left the Baxter home
around : .

Did you return later?

Not that night.

Then perhaps you worked
with an accomplice.

Someone for whom
a motive existed.

Because there was no motive
for you to k*ll Peter Baxter,

was there?

Who put you up to it,
Miss Devoe?

Would you have us believe
you k*lled Peter Baxter

for no reason at all?

I didn't k*ll Mr. Baxter.

You prepared the sedative.

But I didn't k*ll him.

Then who did?

Stuart.

Stuart Baxter.

Well, she's lying!

It's no use, Stu.

He came back to the house

at theater-intermission time,
Mr. Mason.

He gave the old man
the extra sedative.

Not me.

We checked on Stuart Baxter.

He did not leave the theater
during intermission.

Now, Miss Devoe...

you've shifted all over
the place,

trying to plant suspicion
anywhere and everywhere.

On Stuart Baxter,
Dr. Keene, James Hing.

( panicky ):
That's not so.

The afternoon I spoke with you,

I told you about a test will

and the plot between Hing
and Peter Baxter.

Now, you were the only one

I told about
this so-called test.

Yet, when Kenneth Baxter
appeared on the stand,

he knew all about it.

How, Miss Devoe?

How would
he know about it

if you hadn't
told him?

It's Kenneth Baxter
you've been in love with,

is it not?

And it was Kenneth Baxter
who left the theater that night

during
intermission.

( crying ):
That's not so!

It wasn't Kenneth.
I had nothing to do with him!

( sobbing )

( tense theme playing )

It's all right, Edie.

Don't worry.

I knew I'd be caught.

I knew it from the beginning.

I never got away with
anything in my whole life.

All right, thank you,
Hamilton.

Goodbye.

Mr. Burger have any more
information?

Mm-hm.

Miss Devoe admitted that
she tricked Peter Baxter

into taking a sedative
in his chocolate,

even though he had
before refused it.

So at the time
he was supposed to be calling

his doctor friend
for the substitute corpse,

actually, he was
sound asleep.

Well, then that's when Kenneth
came back from the theater...

and gave him the overdose
that k*lled him.

But if Mr. Kenneth
overheard everything

Mr. Baxter and I were--

MASON:
Not everything.

He only heard that Mr. Baxter
was changing his will.

He knew nothing about the test.

A man knows so little.

Sometimes a man knows
more than he admits.

Why did you say you did not know
what was in the envelope?

I was not at liberty
to do so, Mr. Mason.

In other words, Peter Baxter
didn't want his heirs to know

that if anyone contested
the will, they'd be cut off.

Yes. It was a test
of loyalty.

What about your own loyalty?

Didn't you go to the hospital

planning to tell Winifred
the truth?

I did not, Mr. Mason.

I went to tell Dr. Keene
not to force Miss Winifred...

to join Stuart and Kenneth
in contesting the will.

But you couldn't tell him?

No, I couldn't.

So you were loyal to
Peter Baxter too, Mr. Hing.

All along, all the way.

At the end,
he was like a sick eagle.

He was strong and fierce
all his life.

And yet,
through this whole thing...

I felt like
I was protecting him.

Strange,
isn't it?

( cat meowing )

Goodbye, Mr. Mason.

( dramatic theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )