02x30 - The Case of the Lame Canary

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( chirping )

Walter,
please listen to me.

I'm all ears.

I've tried to make a go
of our marriage.

It just hasn't worked.

I'm not complaining, Ruth.

It's been more
than two years.

A long time to pay
for a mistake.

I want a divorce.

I'd have to fight it, Ruth.

I'd have to drag you
through the dirtiest scandal

this town has ever seen.

What are you
talking about?

You were in love
with Jimmy McLain

when you married me.

You're still
in love with him

and seeing him
behind my back.

That's not true.

Just once, when I ran
into him accidentally.

How much money
have you got left?

That's all
you ever wanted from me.

You haven't returned
the $ , .

About , , right?

Now...

how badly
do you want a divorce?

It's all I've got...

All I own.

I won't give it to you.

That's too bad.

But remember
what the man said:

"Till death
do us part."

( dramatic theme playing )

( engine starts )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( crash )

( indistinct chatter )

You fool.
You bungled it.

Let's get him
to a hospital.

Jimmy?
Jimmy, this is Ruth.

Walter tried to k*ll me.

What happened?

He wanted to make it look
like an accident.

He had a truck try
to run me down

right in front of the house.

Now, listen to me, Ruth.

What am I gonna do?

Ruth,
I want you to listen to me.

Ruth?

Honey?

Yes?

I want you to get in a cab
and come right over here.

That'll only make
for more trouble.

Will you please do as I say?

Yes.

Good.

I'll expect you over here

in about minutes, huh?

Goodbye, darling.

( mysterious theme playing )

( sighs )

JIMMY ( reading ):

Walter?

Walter?

Oh.

( dramatic theme playing )

Good afternoon,
Mrs. Prescott.

Forgive my startling you.

The front door was open.

Burning old love letters?

What are you doing here,
Miss Swaine?

Dictation.

Mr. Prescott called
the office and--

Mr. Prescott?

I found him like this.

I just came in.

Well, I did.

Mrs. Prescott,
you don't have to convince me.

You'd better try the police.

Or haven't you
called them yet?

Hello?

Yes, this is Margaret Swaine.

Would you have your truck
pick up my baggage

at the Clairmont Hotel
tonight at : ?

Yes, there will be two trunks
and some hand luggage.

Uh-huh. Thank you.

Good afternoon, Mr. Wray.

Miss Swaine.

What are you doing
in Mr. Prescott's desk?

There may be some papers
the police may misunderstand.

What are you talking about?

Mr. Prescott is dead.
Dead?

I think it was m*rder.
Probably by his wife.

What?

I found her burning
what looked like evidence.

A package of letters.

Ruth?

k*lled Walter?

No. That's impossible.

Calling the Prescott home,

I think you're wasting
your time.

There won't be
any answer.

If she has any sense,
Ruth Prescott is at the airport

waiting for the first plane
out of the country.

( ominous theme playing )

What happened
after you called the police?

RUTH:
I came right here.

I thought
I should see a lawyer.

I thought I needed
someone who--

Someone who specialized
in criminal law.

Were you in love
with your husband?

No.

Are you in love
with Mr. McLain?

Yes.

All right...

tell me once again.

What did you do
when you discovered the body?

I phoned the police.

Nothing else?

You're sure there was
no g*n near the body?

Positive.

( chirping )

Why did you bring this
with you?

RUTH:
Well, I couldn't leave him.

I could see that something
was wrong with his foot.

Your husband was lying there,
apparently m*rder*d,

and yet you were concerned
about a lame canary?

Della, what is the name
of that pet shop

on Mordegan Street?

Mm, Newcome's.
Do you want me to call them?

And get hold of Paul.

I wanna know
all about that accident

with the transfer truck
and the parked car.

Where was it?

Cedar,
near Chestnut.

I wanna know
who the truck driver was

and any possible tie-up
between him and Walter Prescott.

Come on, Mrs. Prescott.
Where?

I'd like to talk to your
Mr. McLain before the police do.

Gertie,
will you get Paul, please?

Yes, right away.

( mysterious theme playing )

He hasn't been dead long.

An hour,
maybe two at the most.

We'll know better
after the postmortem.

Any idea what caused

those scratches and bruises
on his face?

Well, he didn't get 'em
from shaving.

BRICE:
Lieutenant.

Think the crime lab
can do anything with it?

We can try. Williams.

And when Ruth told me

she was almost hit
by that truck,

I told her to grab a cab
and come right over here.

What made you assume

that her husband
was responsible?

I told him so.
That's good enough for me.

But when she arrived here,
you were gone. Where?

I went over
to see Prescott.

What did you hope
to accomplish by that?

I just wanted
to talk to him.

Using that telephone
would have been the easy way.

He could've
hung up on me.

What happened
when you saw him?

I didn't.
He wasn't home.

So you came
right back here?

No...

the door wasn't locked,

so I walked in.

That happens to be
the truth.

Go on.

That's the whole story.

No, not quite.

Where did that come from?

I brought it here.
No. No, she didn't.

Well, I figured she might need
a couple of things,

so I went upstairs to her room
and I packed her bag.

Some people might think
you were being presumptuous.

I don't care
what anyone thinks.

( chuckles )

That's fairly obvious.

Tell me, Mr. McLain,

just what do you do
for a living?

I work
in a liquor store.

Do you own a g*n?

Now, really, Mr. Mason--
Now, look,

he's in love with you.

He knows your husband
won't give you a divorce.

That's true, isn't it?

One hundred percent correct.

Then my question
about your owning a g*n

wasn't entirely out of line.

May I see it?

It's downstairs...

in my car.

( phone ringing )

Excuse me.

Hello?

Just a moment.

It's a Paul Drake
for you.

Thank you.

Hello, Paul?

Perry,
I'm glad I caught you there.

I got the truck driver
identified.

His name's Harry Jonson.

He has a transfer company,

and he's near your section
of town right now.

Carroll Street.

You want me
to meet you there?

Yes, in minutes.

See you, Paul.

There's a motel in the Valley.
It's called The Crestline.

I'd like you to take your
belongings and drive out there.

She can stay here
with me.

I have a friend
down the hall.

I'm happy to know that,
but she can't stay here.

But if she hides--
I don't want her to broadcast

her whereabouts to the world,
and she's not going to hide.

She'll register at the motel
under her own name.

Call me
when you get settled.

( mysterious theme playing )

HARRY:
I was coming down Cedar Avenue
at a slow speed,

and all of a sudden, this
crazy dame crosses the street

just as I'm turning
the corner.

She stopped,
just like she turned to stone.

That crazy dame thinks

you deliberately tried
to run her down.

What? Look, mister, do you know
anything about air brakes?

A little.
There was a break in the line.

I just replaced it.

PAUL:
It looks like
it had been cut with a knife.

You know something?
You're right.

Any idea who might
have done it?

Well, it might have been
one of my competitors.

Mm, which one?

I'd rather not say
till I get some proof.

Did you ever hear
of a Walter Prescott?

Walter Prescott?

Yeah,

I was trying to get the names
of some of the witnesses.

This guy came out and helped me
with some first aid.

He said he didn't
see the accident,

but heard the crash.

Yeah. "Walter Prescott."

What was the name
of the injured man?

Frederick Walden.

What did you do with him
after the accident?

Well, he was
in pretty bad shape.

I thought I'd better
get him to a hospital.

I, uh, thought you said
your brakes were out.

Well, I can see
you've never driven a truck.

All you have to do is use
the gears and hand brake.

What about his car?

Well, it was pretty badly
bunged up but running okay.

I gave a guy bucks
to follow us to the hospital

and take a cab back.

What hospital
did you take him to?

That private emergency one
over on Pine Avenue.

Pine Avenue
to be exact.

Uh, Doc Fowler's place,
wasn't it, Mr. Jonson?

That's right.
Who are you?

This is Lieutenant Tragg
of Homicide.

What's the homicide?
There was nobody k*lled.

The doc said this guy Walden
was all right.

Maybe a little dizzy
but okay.

Then you didn't tell him
about Prescott being m*rder*d?

MASON: No.
Well, you know about it, Perry.

I heard about it.
From whom?

Uh-huh.
Privileged information.

Did Prescott drive
with you

when you went to the emergency
hospital, Mr. Jonson?

No.

When you dropped Walden off
at the hospital,

you returned to Cedar
and Chestnut street, didn't you?

That's right.
I was looking for someone

that might have seen
the accident.

Did you see Mr. Prescott
again at this time?

Yeah, he came out of the house
and asked how the guy was.

Yes, and then what happened,
Mr. Jonson?

Then he went back in the house,
and I left.

Where is she, Perry?

Who?
Mrs. Prescott.

She was seen in her house
at : burning some letters

with Mr. Prescott dead
on the floor.

So it follows that I'd know
her whereabouts?

Well, we find reason to believe
that she'd find it desirable

to consult
an attorney.

There are thousands
of attorneys in the city.

Ha-ha.
But only one Perry Mason.

Come on,
where is she, Perry?

You need a warrant.
I've got it.

Suspicion of m*rder
in the first degree.

Gentlemen.

Naturally, I was shocked.

It isn't every day
you walk into a room

and find a woman standing over
her husband's dead body.

Aren't you being a little
overdramatic, Miss Swaine?

You said you first saw
Mrs. Prescott

at the fireplace.

Yes.

But you didn't see
Mr. Prescott

until you walked
into the room,

so she couldn't have been
standing over his body.

Well, I only meant that--

I know,

but the police aren't apt

to understand
a figure of speech.

I'm sure you wouldn't want
to give them any wrong ideas.

Now, when did you last speak
to Mr. Prescott?

Before lunch.

He told me to have my lunch
and meet him at the house.

Did you often go to his home
to work?

Yes.

Mr. Wray.
Yes?

Do you mind my looking over
your company's books?

I wouldn't mind at all,
and I wish I could oblige,

but I don't happen
to have the books.

Oh, where are they?

Walter took them home
with him one night,

about a week ago.

Would you say your, uh,
business has been flourishing?

( chuckling ):
Oh, well, I can't complain.

We're insurance brokers,
you know.

And as insurance brokers,

did you insure
yourselves?

Yes, Walter and I had a policy
covering each other.

To what extent?

Well, his life was insured
in my favor for $ , ,

and, uh, mine was insured in
his favor for the same amount.

I see.

The articles
of partnership provided

that in the event of the death
of one of the partners,

the wife
of the deceased partner

should receive $ ,
in cash,

uh, relinquishing any interest

in the, uh, partnership.

When you collect that , ,

you're obliged then to turn it

over to Ruth Prescott?

That's right.

How long has that insurance
been in force?

Well, we took it out
about, uh, two years ago,

when Walter
got married.

( mysterious theme playing )

( doorbell buzzes )

Mr. McLain?
Yeah.

Lieutenant Tragg.

Mind if we come in?

Well-- I have to be at work
in ten minutes.

Yeah,
we only need five.

Well, what do you want?

You know a young lady
named, uh, Ruth Prescott?

Yeah.

Any idea where we could
locate her?

No.

When'd you last see her?

I don't remember
exactly.

You remember approximately.

What's in there?

Nothing.

Mind if I go in?
Yeah. Yes, I certainly do.

Look, you guys can't come
in here and search this place.

You need a warrant.

That isn't going to stop us,
Mr. McLain.

Mrs. Prescott?
No. No, she isn't.

It's no use, Jimmy.

I'd like to call my attorney.

TRAGG:
You can do that
from headquarters.

Mrs. Prescott.

I told you to stay
at The Crestline Motel.

Well, Jimmy--

Don't you realize
the construction

the court
will put on this?

The police finding you
in his apartment?

What did Lieutenant Tragg
ask you?

About the business insurance.

The $ , .

What else?

The...g*n.

What g*n?

I didn't have a chance
to hide it, Mr. Mason.

What g*n?

I lied to you.

There was a g*n
near the body.

And the police found it

in your possession
when they searched you?

Yes.

The reason--
I know the reason.

You thought Jimmy shot
your husband.

You wanted
to protect him.

Everything's my fault,
Mr. Mason.

I had no right to assume
that it was Jimmy's g*n.

When he told you
that it was in his car,

I didn't believe him.

I spoke to the truck driver
who almost ran you down.

He had faulty brakes.

His name is Jonson.
Do you recognize it?

No.

Have you ever heard of a man
named Walden?

Walden.

No.

Did you ever have the impression
that the partnership

between your husband and Ernest
Wray was not going so well?

They always seemed to get along.

Did your husband ever bring

the firm's account books home?

When I left him,

they were on his desk.

Very well, Ruth.

You're not to answer
any more questions.

I want you to say
that you're innocent,

that you're perfectly willing to
tell the authorities everything.

But that your attorney simply
will not let you say one word.

All right?

All right, Mr. Mason.

( ominous theme playing )

MAN ( over radio ):
KMA- , KMA- calling.

They discovered the car
about an hour ago.

Who did?
The motorcycle officer.

Walden's car?

Yeah,
what's left of it.

Walden in the car?

His body.

Figure out how it happened,
officer?

What makes any accident?
Carelessness mostly.

It, uh,
was an accident, then?

Sure, what else?

MAN ( over radio ):
Car .

Forty-six at - ...

Paul, how far away
is that emergency hospital?

The one where Walden
was treated after the accident?

Mm, not very far.
Maybe ten minutes.

Those doctors are usually
on -hour-a-day call.

Use any inducement
you have to,

but get the doctor
that treated Walden over here.

I'll meet you down below.
All right, Perry.

( mysterious theme playing )

Dr. Fowler. Perry Mason.

Sorry to have dragged you
out here, doctor.

No more sorry
than I am to be dragged.

Would you take a look
at the dead man, please?

Look at him?
For what?

Identification,
possibly.

He's already
been identified, Perry.

Frederick Walden
from Altaville, California.

What's his line in business?
That I'll have to find out.

Apparently an innocent bystander
involved in that accident

in front
of the Prescott house.

Now he meets
a violent end.

Well, the roads around here
are pretty tricky,

especially at night.

Okay,
what do you wanna know?

Do you recognize him?

No.

You treated him
day before yesterday

at your office
for cuts and abrasions.

Not him, I didn't.
I never saw him before.

( dramatic theme playing )

TRAGG:
The m*rder w*apon was purchased

and registered
to Walter Prescott,

the decedent,
December of last year.

And where was this g*n found,
lieutenant?

In the handbag
of Ruth Prescott,

the defendant
in this case.

BURGER:
I see. Now, in the m*rder room
itself,

did you find anything
of an extraordinary nature?

TRAGG:
In the fireplace
we found the burnt remains

of a packet of letters.

What did you do
with these burnt remains?

They were reconstructed
at the crime lab.

I show you now
these photographs

and ask if you can
identify them.

Yes, sir, these are the pictures
of the burnt letters.

Thank you, lieutenant.
If it please the court,

I should like this g*n
and these photographs

marked for identification.

Thank you.

No objection.
Your witness.

No questions.

I call Margaret Swaine
to the stand, please.

The door was open
about six inches.

I knocked.
There was no answer.

I went into the entry
and looked into the living room.

BURGER:
And what did you see?

I saw the body of Mr. Prescott
lying on the floor

and Mrs. Prescott
at the fireplace,

burning a package
of letters.

What time was this,
Miss Swaine?

It was : .

How can you be so precise
about the time?

I was told to come
to the Prescott home

between and : .

I remember looking
at my watch

and noticing
it was exactly : .

I see.

I ask you now about a visit

to the office
of Prescott and Wray

made by the defendant
two or three weeks

before her husband's m*rder.

Yes, sir.
Would you please tell this court

what happened
on that occasion?

I was alone in the office.

Mrs. Prescott accused me

of seeing her husband
after office hours.

I told her the only thing
her husband and I

had in common was
a business relationship.

BURGER:
What did she say to that?

That she didn't care
what my relationship

with Mr. Prescott was.

All she wanted was
a divorce.

That if I wouldn't help her,
she'd find another way.

That she couldn't go on
living with him.

I see.
Thank you, Miss Swaine.

Your witness.

Miss Swaine,
do you customarily go

into someone's home upon
finding the front door ajar?

No, but since Mr. Prescott
was expecting me,

I thought he left
the door open for me.

Was this visit at :

your first visit to his home
on that day?

Yes, it was.

Had you gone to his home
on other occasions?

Yes, when Mr. Prescott wanted
me to work there with him.

Did you ever work with
Mr. Prescott at your apartment?

No.

I'm not talking about your
Halsted Street apartment,

which you rent
for $ a month.

I'm talking about an apartment
in the Westwood Arms,

which you're leasing

under the name of Maxine Sterit
for $ a month.

Mr. Mason, I don't know where
you got your information,

but that is part
of my private life.

It has nothing to do
with this case or your client.

MASON:
On the afternoon of the m*rder,
Miss Swaine,

did you have your trunks moved
from the Halsted apartment

to your more
expensive apartment?

Again, I say,
that is my private affair.

Not if you were seeing
Walter Prescott

at your expensive apartment

and using the name
Maxine Sterit.

Were you?

No, I was not.

Thank you.
That will be all.

Stand down, please.

You arrived
at the Prescott house

at approximately
ten minutes to .

Was the deceased at home?
No.

And how long did you stay
in the house?

About five or ten minutes.
Ten minutes at the most.

And then?

I left.

What were you doing
while you were in the house?

I was packing
some of Ruth's things.

She was moving out?

Yes.

She was leaving
her husband?

Yes, it was my idea.

I told her
she didn't have to--

I told her
that she didn't have to stay

in his home anymore.

I see.

Mr. McLain, I show you
these photographs of letters

previously marked
for identification,

and I ask if you recognize

the words, phrases
and handwriting.

Yes.

Is it your handwriting
and did you write these letters?

Yes.

I don't think
it will be necessary

to reveal the contents
at this time,

but these are love letters

that you wrote to Ruth Prescott,
isn't that so?

No. Ruth Jiuevnal.
Who?

Ruth Jiuevnal.

I wrote them to Ruth
before she was married.

Oh, of course.

And she kept
and treasured them

during her marriage
to another man.

And only on the day
of his m*rder

did she try
to destroy them.

Now, just a min--
That's all.

Thank you very much.
Your witness.

Mr. McLain,
did you take the time

to determine whether or not
Mr. Prescott was at home?

Yes, sir. He wasn't.

You're positive?

I only wish I had seen him.

Why?

Because I--

Because I just wanted
to talk to him.

Tell me, Mr. McLain,
do you own a g*n?

Well,
you know I do.

Did you happen
to have it with you

on that particular day?

Well,
I always carry it with me.

The place where I work has
been held up several times.

But you weren't going
to work,

you were going
to see the deceased.

I said I carry it
all the time.

Where?

In a shoulder holster.

All right, now, were you wearing
that shoulder holster

when you went
to the Prescott house?

No.

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

Step down.

( sighs )

I call Harry Jonson
to the stand, please.

Well, after leaving Mr. Walden
at the emergency hospital,

I drove back
to see if I could find

any more witnesses in case
there was any trouble.

Mr. Prescott
came out of his house

and asked
how Walden was.

Now, Mr. Jonson,
it's been established

that you left
the hospital at p.m.

Is that correct?
Yes, sir.

Did you,
without detouring,

drive the blocks straight
to Cedar and Chestnut?

Yes, sir.
Did you subsequently,

at the instigation
of the police,

time the duration
of this trip?

Yes, sir, five or six times
to get an average.

And what was the average time
involved?

About eight minutes.

That would put you in front
of the Prescott home

at eight minutes after ,
approximately, is that correct?

I guess that's right.

Now, Mr. Jonson,
this is very important.

It's been established
that the defendant

was in a room with the dead body
of her husband at : .

HARRY:
Yes, sir.

We are now establishing
the fact

that you must have seen
Walter Prescott

between and : .
Yes, sir.

And, therefore,
the decedent was still alive

until at least : .

Decedent?
Oh, yes, sir. He was.

Thank you, Mr. Jonson.
That's all.

Your witness.

JUDGE:
Uh, Mr. Mason, do you expect
your cross-examination

to be relatively lengthy?

Um, Your Honor,
I...

have no questions
for this witness.

Uh, in that case, Mr. Burger,

and before you call
your next witness

and since it is nearing
the noon hour,

the court will adjourn
until : .

That was a nice point
you scored

with the Swaine girl, Perry.

Well, thank you,
lieutenant.

Not that it really has
any relevance to this case.

Then, uh, maybe it's just
a coincidence

that she's planning
on leaving town.

Having her trunks
picked up tonight.

Now you're reaching.

Why shouldn't she,
if she wants to?

Those are the trunks
that she had moved

from the Halsted apartment,
aren't they, Paul?

Mm-hm. I had a man
stationed in the lobby

to see
who called on her.

He overheard
the arrangements being made.

Who did call on her?

You won't believe this.
Ernest Wray?

Uh-huh. I also picked up
something else.

Go on.

The DA's office was
as interested as you

in finding out
Prescott's bank balance.

How much?

Somewhere
in the six-figures.

All right. What else?

Word from Altaville.

Frederick Walden was
a top investigator

for the board
of fire underwriters.

Insurance investigator
Walden...

Prescott and Wray,
insurance brokers...

an accident in front
of the Prescott home,

and then Walden
is found dead

at the bottom
of a ravine.

Suppose we were wrong about
all this from the beginning.

Suppose--

All right,
we'll have to work fast.

Della, I'd like you to buy
a trunk or two,

a few suitcases,
and have them initialed M.S.

M.S.?

They are to be delivered
immediately

to Margaret Swaine's
apartment,

the one she rented under
the name of Maxine Sterit.

Paul, I'd like you to find out
which transfer outfit

Margaret Swaine is using
to move that luggage.

All right.
I'll meet you back here.

Good.

Della, I'll meet you
in front of the Westwood Arms

as soon as you
can make it.

I'll take care
of the papers.

Right.

Westwood Arms.

Just a moment.
I'll connect you.

( man speaking indistinctly )

( chuckles )

Oh, just a second.

Just a second.

Where do you think
you're going?

Apartment .

Who do you want?

Maxine Sterit.

Well, you can't take
that up there.

The police issued strict orders.
Nothing's to be removed.

Who's removing anything?

But I'm sorry,
you can't take it up.

What--?
What's the idea?

Well, I ain't takin'
this stuff back.

You can't leave
it here.

Look, mister,
make up your mind.

Here or upstairs,
it's all the same to me.

B-but...
Well--

Rudy,
let him in .

Make sure
he doesn't touch anything.

Oh, boy.

Lieutenant Arthur Tragg,
please.

Yes, I'll wait.

( ominous theme playing )

( grunts )

Looks like somebody's gonna
do a lot of travelin'.

DELLA:
Excuse me.

Oh, heh, good afternoon.

Did a transfer company
leave some luggage here

about ten minutes ago?

Yes.

Well, I'm afraid there's been
a dreadful mistake.

You see,
that luggage was mine.

Oh, why, the transfer man
put it in Apartment .

Uh, I don't see
how the store

could make an error
like that.

Oh,
I'm terribly sorry,

but I can't let you take it out
until the police arrive.

The police are coming?
They're on their way.

Lieutenant Tragg?

That's right.
Lieutenant Tragg.

Fine. We'll wait.

So, uh, you see, lieutenant,

it was a perfectly
natural mistake.

Oh, of course.

You meant to send
the luggage

to your place,
and it wound up here.

I gave the man
the address.

Yes, Maxine,
uh, Sterit's address.

The man in the luggage shop,
uh, thought it was yours.

All right. Open up.

There they are.

Well, how come they're
all initialed M.S.?

I told the man
my name was Miss Street--

Miss, uh--

And he thought you wanted
them all monogrammed M.S.

Yeah, I guess
I just wasn't thinking.

( chuckles )

All right, Perry.
What are you up to?

I'm just helping Della
claim her luggage.

Well, uh, how can I tell
which are hers?

You can't...
unless you open them all.

Oh, I can't do that. I haven't
got a search warrant.

Della will waive her rights
this one time.

Mm-hm.

Sergeant.

( clears throat )

Uh,
start with those.

TRAGG:
Get robbery detail.

I want to know where each one
of these furs came from.

( dramatic theme playing )

BURGER:
So upon the death
of Walter Prescott,

Mrs. Prescott stood
to gain $ , ?

Is that correct?
That is correct, yes.

Thank you, Mr. Wray.
Your witness.

Mr. Wray,
what would you say

is the value
of the business right now?

Well, it's mostly a matter
of goodwill, you know.

Would you say $ , ?

Well...yes.

Two hundred thousand?

Well...

While you estimated the value
to be , two years ago,

isn't it true that today

it's worth over a quarter
of a million dollars?

Well, everything's gone up,
you know.

So with the death
of Walter Prescott,

you are a sole owner

of a quarter-million-dollar
business.

And the defendant,

far from profiting
by her husband's death,

is actually losing money
by being forced to take ,

for a half interest
in the business.

WRAY:
You understand, our good name

is our biggest asset,
Mr. Mason.

Mr. Wray,

is it true
that in the past several months

some of your accounts have
suffered large losses by fire?

Well, uh, yes.

But as I-- I said,

our-- Our good name
is our biggest asset.

Well, the fact that some of your
accounts have suffered losses...

doesn't dishonor your firm,
does it?

No, but, uh, the insurance
companies don't like

averages that, uh,
don't average.

If you know what I mean.

I ask you now
if a recent great loss by fire

involved expensive furs

on which your company
had written the policies.

Uh, Grant and Robert,
yes.

MASON:
How much was that loss?

WRAY:
It was estimated
at a $ , .

Have you ever been
acquainted with

a man by the name
of Frederick Walden.

Walden?

He was injured in an accident
on Chestnut street

and was later found dead
at the bottom of a ravine

in Sunrise canyon.

He was top investigator for
the board of fire underwriters.

No. I don't know him.

All right.

Three days ago you paid a visit
to the Westwood Arms.

Why?

Well, I-- I wanted
to speak to Miss Swaine.

But Miss Swaine has been staying
at her Halsted apartment.

Now, what did you expect to find
at the Westwood Arms, Mr. Wray?

Not a thing.

Stolen furs,
perhaps?

Well,
certainly not!

Your Honor,
I object.

I object to counsel's
badgering this witness.

His questions are incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.

And pretty far afield.

Uh, Mr. Mason, the questioning
does seem a bit improper.

I, um--

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

At this moment I should like
to recall a previous witness.

Mr. Burger?

Mr. Mason wishes to recall
a previous witness.

I beg the court's pardon.
Which witness?

Margaret Swaine.

I have no objection,
Your Honor.

I think I know
what counsel has on his mind.

JUDGE:
Miss Swaine,
take the stand, please.

Mr. Wray,
you may stand down.

Miss Swaine, I believe
the police have impounded

the trunks at your
Westwoods Arms apartment.

Trunks containing furs
worth thousands of dollars.

I ask you now,
were you not working in concert

with Walter Prescott to defraud
the insurance companies?

I refuse to answer

on the grounds
that it may incriminate me.

Did you not take
the Westwood Arms apartment

to use as a way station
for stolen merchandise?

I refuse to answer

on the grounds
that it may incriminate me.

Did you not have a falling-out
with Walter Prescott?

I refuse to answer

on the grounds
that it may incriminate me.

Which transfer company
did you use

to move your trunks,
Miss Swaine?

Which transfer company to store
that stolen merchandise?

Wasn't it Jonson's
transfer company?

SWAINE:
I refuse to answer

on the grounds
that it may incriminate me.

If the court please,

I would now like
to cross-examine Mr. Jonson.

Any objection,
Mr. Burger?

Counsel had a chance
to cross-examine

this witness before
and waived it.

No, Your Honor.
I have no objection.

Lieutenant Tragg
has just told me

of a new development
in this case,

and I welcome Mr. Mason's
efforts to explore it.

Thank you, Mr. Burger.

Is Harry Jonson
in the courtroom?

Will you take the stand,
Mr. Jonson?

You step down, please,
Miss Swaine.

MASON:
Mr. Jonson,

do you know Margaret Swaine?

Yes, sir. I've had
business dealings with her.

Business of storage?

Yes, sir.

In fact, I've got some of
her stuff in my warehouse now.

Of course,
I don't know what's in it.

I just haul it, store it,
and ship it out on order.

Referring now
to Frederick Walden,

the man you injured--

That was an accident.

To avoid hitting
Mrs. Prescott there.

I think that was
the first puzzling aspect

of this case, Mr. Jonson.

The assumption that perhaps

a truck had been hired
by Walter Prescott

to run down his wife.

But what should have been
examined was the possibility

that the truck's mission
all along had been

to run down
and k*ll Frederick Walden.

What are you talking about?

Isn't it true
that you and Prescott

had planned to k*ll Walden?

No.

But he was k*lled eventually,
wasn't he?

And with all suspicion
far removed.

This time his car was sent
hurtling into a ravine.

Well, he was loopy like
the doc said at the hospital.

Yes, you, uh--

You did take Walden
to the hospital, didn't you?

You and Prescott?

No.

Prescott didn't.

Now...

we have heard testimony here

that Prescott was not
in his house

during the time you took Walden
to the hospital.

If you're going to lie about--
Who's lying?

He drove him
to the hospital.

He didn't go
inside the hospital.

He stayed in the van
when I took Walden in.

But Mr. Walden was never
taken into the hospital.

You're wrong.
Doc Fowler treated him.

No, sir.

Dr. Fowler treated someone else.

Shall we bring Dr. Fowler

into court to so testify?

If Doc Fowler didn't
treat Walden,

then he must have treated--

MASON:
Then he could only
have treated Prescott.

You're not making sense.

Where did Prescott get
those cuts and bruises

if it wasn't
when you hit him?

When would I hit him?

At his house.

After you'd explained
he could pose as Walden

at the emergency hospital.

Later you would put Walden
back into his car

and push the car
over a canyon road.

So it would like a separate
and distinct accident

from the one in front
of the Prescott home.

Why would we do that?!

So that suspicion could never be
directed at either of you.

Only, after you k*lled Walden,
you then double-crossed Prescott

and k*lled him too.

Yes or no, Mr. Jonson?

( sarcastically ):
Oh, he was so smart.

He thought he knew
all the answers.

I was the guy
that was taking the chances.

And he wanted me to be satisfied
with a lousy percent.

Has the fact that
you've committed two murders

satisfied you, Mr. Jonson?

RUTH:
Margaret Swaine was cooperating
with Mr. Jonson all along.

MASON:
They were partners in everything
except the m*rder.

I still don't see what put you
on the right track.

Hm.

I kept wondering
about his condition.

You've got to remember
the accident.

Walden was outside
in his car,

keeping tabs
on your husband.

Only, Prescott knew
that Walden was watching him.

So he and Jonson decided
to put Mr. Walden away for good.

After Jonson crashed
into his car,

they put the injured Walden
into the van of the truck.

That's right.

After the discussion
at Prescott's house,

Prescott agreed to follow Jonson
driving Walden's car.

Hello, Tragg.
How are you, Hamilton?

Fine, Perry.

As a matter of fact
I couldn't be better.

We just got a full confession
from Jonson.

Good.

I believe you know
Lieutenant Tragg and Mr. Burger.

Yeah, we met.

I'm sure we'd both rather forget
the circumstances.

But you were right, Perry.

They went to the hospital
where Prescott posed as Walden.

Then Jonson drove
to the ravine

and Prescott again followed him
driving Walden's car.

When they got there,
they put Walden in his own car

and pushed him
into the ravine.

Then Jonson drove Prescott
to his house.

And the real battle began.

I'd say Prescott put up
quite a battle for his life.

Well,
how do you know that?

That's the only explanation
for that cage falling down.

Besides...

a little bird told me.

( chuckles )

A little bird, huh?

That's the first time
I ever heard

of a lame canary turning out
to be a stool pigeon.

( all laughing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )