04x02 - The Case of the Credulous Quarry

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

Well, I'll tell you
bluntly, d*ck,

you haven't the
ghost of a chance

of getting the estate money
before the three years are up.

I went over
the whole thing again

with the trustees
this morning.

Yeah,
I kind of thought so.

Just how bad is it?

You know how it must
be bad if I come to you.

My mother needs care,
Everett.

She needs that sanitarium
and a series of operations.

It'll cost $ , .

Well...
I wish I'd been able

to get a better settlement
on that accident.

But I did
the best I could.

I know you did.

There was never
any question about that.

Thanks, Ev.

Uh, d*ck.

Things have been pretty
good with me lately.

Nothing sensational, but...

Well, my practice
has been looking up and...

Well, I'm making an
important step soon, so...

That's wonderful, Ev,
I...

Are you suggesting that
you'll lend me the money?

Well, you see,
I'd like to think

that if I ever
got in a jam

someone would come along
and want to help me out.

Thanks, Everett.

Come to the house
tonight.

Fine.

Eight thirty
will be all right?

You better make it .

Nine o'clock. Right.

( intercom buzzes )

( door closes )

Yes, Miss Winslow.

( woman speaking indistinctly )

I told you I do not want
to talk to Miss Austin!

( phone bangs )

( dramatic theme playing )

( ringing )

Hello.

( man speaking indistinctly )

Helen Austin?

No, she's out of her mind.
No, I...

k*ll herself.

All right. All right.
I'll be there in a few minutes.

( dramatic theme playing )

( engine starts)

Everett?
What happened?

It's Helen Austin.
My lights aren't working.

It was an accident!

It's her head.

She's dead.

( dramatic theme playing )

I got this phone call from
the bartender at the Oasis Inn

that she was threatening
to k*ll herself,

and I'd better
get right over there.

Who is she, Everett?

Her name is Austin.
Helen Austin.

I've been going out with
her until just recently.

Oh, d*ck,
I'm in trouble.

Why? It was an accident,
you said.

My fiancée, her family...

I promised them
I wouldn't see Helen anymore

they'll never believe
she wasn't here visiting me.

Oh, what a mess!
My career,

my whole future ruined
by a crazy thing like this.

Ev.
What?

I'll take care
of this for you.

What?
I'll put her in my car.

I'll take her to
a street away from here.

Then I'll call the police and...

I'll tell them I was driving by
and saw her on the pavement.

d*ck:
A hit and run accident.

You'd do that for me?

You were going to give me
$ , just out of friendship.

It won't work, d*ck.
Well, the car...

You know how the police can
prove a car was in an accident.

All right. You put it in your
garage until tomorrow morning.

Then you take it
to the outskirts of town

and you run it into
a telephone pole.

When the garage
fixes it,

there won't be
any evidence left.

But--
Look, I know, legally,

it isn't right.

But nothing
and nobody will be hurt

by doing it this way.

Well, it--
It was an accident.

All right.

I've got your money
here too. In cash.

A-And d*ck...

And look, I want you to know
if anything goes wrong,

when it comes right down to it,
I'll make a clean breast

of the whole thing.
I'll tell what really happened.

Nothing's going to go wrong.

( mysterious theme playing )

( men speaking indistinctly
over radio )

Coming east.

Time, : .

Saw the body lying
in the street?

Yeah.

No other cars
observed on scene.

You immediately
called the precinct.

That's right.

You didn't touch her?
Just to see if she was dead.

Okay, Mr. Hammond.

If we need anything else,
we'll get in touch.

All right, officer.

( sirens approaching )

( car doors closing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Richard Hammond?
Yes.

It's a good thing you put
in the alarm when you did.

( mysterious theme playing )

( garage door opens )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Seems there was
little damage done.

FIREMAN:
Neither one of the cars
was burned.

( woman speaking indistinctly )

Hello,
this is Richard Hammond.

I wanna talk
to Everett Dorrell.

Oh.

Oh, never mind. Tell him
I'll see him in his office.

Is he in?
Good morning, Mr. Hammond.

Do you mean
is Mr. Dorrell in?

No, he isn't.

Uh, may I take
a message?

This is personal.
Now where is he?

Well, I believe
he's in court.

You may wait here
if you'd like.

No, thanks. I'll go
to the Hall of Justice.

What courtroom
is he in?

I'm sorry,

I can't tell you that,
Mr. Hammond.

I do suggest--

Is he avoiding me?

( exhales )

Oh, excuse me.
Just a second.

Mr. Hammond, Mr. Richard
Hammond, isn't it?

Yes?

I'm Clara Thorpe.

I lived with Helen Austin,
I'm her aunt.

I'm glad I caught you.

Oh, excuse me.

Just a second, Mr. Hammond.

How do you know who I am?
Oh.

I know you all right.

What is it?
What do you want?

I want that $ , .

What $ , ?

The money Helen took with her

when she left
the apartment last night.

THORPE:
They say you found her on the
street when that car hit her.

Well, the , was gone.

So I want it back.

How did you know about
the $ , ?

I told you, I'm her aunt.

Oh, no.

I mean the --

Who put you up to this?

What about the money?
Are you going to turn it over?

No.

Okay,

if that's
the way you want it.

What am I to think?

I find Dorrell's car, the
one that was in the accident,

in my garage.

Somebody sets fire
to the place,

they call the fire
department using my name,

and the fire's put out

just in time to call
attention to both cars.

Then there's this
Clara Thorpe woman.

How'd she know
about the $ , ?

The exact amount that
Everett gave me in cash.

Unless he told her
about it and is...

using her
to get the money back?

Then you do believe your lawyer
friend is double-crossing you.

Why can't I reach him?

Why is he avoiding me?

Mr. Hammond,

if the situation
is as you put it,

your position, both
morally and legally,

is indefensible.
Yes, I know.

You understand the authorities

will have to be apprised
of what you've told me?

Yes, I understand that.

Maybe there are no mitigating
circumstances in law,

but there are in my life.

When I looked at Everett, with
the dead woman lying there...

There was just
nothing else to do,

except offer to to do
what I did for him.

If you hadn't offered,
do you think

he would've suggested it?

I don't know.

But he did have
the , in cash

to give you right then?
Yes.

Was your need for the money
vital, Mr. Hammond?

About a year and a half ago
my mother and sister

were in an automobile accident.

My sister was k*lled.

My mother's a hopeless invalid,

in need of constant care.

The accident involving
your mother,

did Dorrell handle
the legal part of it?

Yes.

The other car
was driven by some woman.

Apparently there was
carelessness on both sides.

I always thought that
Everett did the best he could,

but it didn't
have much result.

Mr. Mason,

will you represent me?

Yes.
I'll look into it.

( phone ringing )

Yes, Gertie?

( Gertie speaking indistinctly )

Thank you. She still
can't reach Everett Dorrell.

But she did find out
he is not in court today.

Now you see?

Please keep trying
to reach him, Della.

Get hold of Paul Drake.

I want him to check
on Mr. Everett Dorrell.

He is our new neighbor
down the hall, isn't he?

Mm-hm.

I'd like to know about his
romance with Helen Austin,

or any other
of his romances.

Tell Paul to look into
that telephone call

from the bartender
at the Oasis Inn.

All right.

What do you want me
to do, Mr. Mason?

You have that, uh,
$ , with you?

No sir. It's at home.

Then we'll go
to your home.

What for?
Because you left the money there

and because
you're vulnerable.

( mysterious theme playing )

( car doors close )

MASON:
Lieutenant.

Perry.

You Mr. Hammond?

Yes. I'm Richard Hammond.
Lieutenant Tragg. Homicide.

TRAGG:
I understand you had
a fire here this morning.

Did you say homicide?

Yes, I did.

Uh, personal friend,
Mr. Hammond?

As a matter of fact,
no, lieutenant,

but we're not here on
a matter involving homicide,

at least not
that we know of.

But you suspect.

Can we go in,
Mr. Hammond?

A moment, lieutenant,
what brings you here?

Well, the same thing that
brings you here, Perry.

What's that?
The strange coincidence

of Mr. Hammond reporting
a hit-run accident last night,

his own garage set
on fire this morning,

and a missing $ ,
from the accident victim.

Get an anonymous tip
on the money, lieutenant?

Anonymous? No.

It came from
a Miss Clara Thorpe,

the dead girl's aunt.

Do you have
an autopsy report yet?

I expect it by the time
I get back downtown.

Then you just
suspect m*rder?

I guess
I'm the gloomy type.

Well, let's have a look inside,
eh, Mr. Hammond?

I hate to be technical,
lieutenant,

but you'll need
a search warrant.

Oh, I'm glad
you mentioned that.

Mr. Hammond?

Oh, I understand that the fire
did practically no damage.

Yes.
That's right.

You ever see that, uh,
dead woman before, Hammond?

( phone ringing )
No.

( phone continues ringing )

Hello.

( woman speaking indistinctly )

Yes, he is.

It's your secretary,
Mr. Mason.

Thanks.

Hello.

Uh, Mr. Everett Dorrell
is in his office.

He said it would be
a privilege to talk to you.

No, no we didn't reach him,

he called us.
I had left word.

All right, Della.
Thanks.

Now, Perry, are we going
to have to do it the hard way,

or is Mr. Hammond going
to produce the $ , ?

Why don't you ask
Mr. Hammond, lieutenant?

There's $ ,
in the strong box

in the top
desk drawer.

Take a look
in the garage, sergeant.

Mr. Hammond, you'll have
to come downtown with me.

A tremendous amount
of bad publicity

can come out of this,
Everett.

I think
it's safe to say that

if you are associated
with it in any way,

your career,
at least in our circle,

would be finished before
it really got started.

But Mr. Claridge,
they've arrested Richard.

They haven't arrested him.
They're questioning him.

But I promised to make a clean
breast of the whole thing

if he got into trouble.

What do you mean
a clean breast of it, Ev?

Would you tell
all about Helen Austin?

Well, yes. Of course.

All?

Everett, I don't want to be
oppressive about this.

I believe it's
something you have

to make up your
own mind about.

But you're inviting
Barbara and me along

on your confession with
it's attendant horrors.

Frankly, I don't know
if we'll go along.

An ultimatum,
Mr. Claridge?

I've already called
Perry Mason's office.

Mason
will crucify you.

Barbara, how can I
renege on my word?

Do you think you will solve
this Richard Hammond's problems

by confessing your part?

But I can help him.

Well, anyway, d*ck will talk.
He'll involve me.

You can deny
whatever he says.

It's your word
against his or...

Can he prove anything?

I don't know.

No, I guess not.

I can understand your sense
of honor, Everett,

why you want to
tell the truth now.

It was embarrassing
in the first place.

Now the whole mess
is being compounded.

That's right.

And I can understand
Dad's position.

He has certain standards
to maintain.

Oh, I know it isn't
fashionable to be so concerned

with how things look,
what people think...

Yet scandal to him
isn't fashionable either.

What about you, Barbara?

What do you think?

Everett, I don't think
you and I ought to put

the burden of decision
on Barbara.

CLARIDGE:
I certainly won't.

Barbara
will do as I say,

and I think
you know how I feel.

( intercom buzzes )

Yes?

MISS WINSLOW:
Mr. Perry Mason
to see Mr. Dorrell.

Miss Winslow,

I have nothing
to say to Mr. Mason.

Miss Winslow,

would you please
tell Mr. Dorrell

that he has a choice.
He can talk with me now,

or later from
the witness stand.

( click )

He heard you,
Mr. Mason.

( door opens )

Mr. Mason?

Forgive Everett's
apparent rudeness,

but since he is not involved
in Hammond's difficulties,

there is little to discuss.

Who are you, sir?

I'm Marvin Claridge.

Everett's prospective
father-in-law.

Are you also his advisor?

When necessary, Mr. Mason.

When necessary.

CLARIDGE:
Good day, sir.

( ominous theme playing )

Hm.

( door closes )

So Helen Austin wasn't
at the Oasis Inn last night,

and there was no telephone
call from the bartender.

Nope. Oh, I checked
the romance

between Everett Dorrell
and Helen Austin.

According
to Richard Hammond,

Dorrell had
broken off with her.

He had.

Helen Austin worked
as a receptionist

at the Claridge Land Company's
main office on Wilshire.

Now, apparently Dorrell
met Barbara Claridge

through calling
for Helen at work.

Barbara is the daughter
of Marvin Claridge,

chairman of the board. Very
dignified Brentwood society.

Better check on this
Barbara Claridge, Paul.

All right. Oh,
one other thing.

My man
at headquarters

called not ten minutes
ago with the news

that Dorrell
categorically denies

giving Hammond $ , .
And the car?

The lab boys
are going over it now.

It's Dorrell's car,
he said he loaned it

to Hammond earlier
yesterday.

Find out what happened
to the lights on that car, Paul.

Dig into the dead girl's
past, and dig deep.

Get me all the information
you can on the accident

involving Hammond's mother
and sister

months ago.

As though it were
a m*rder case, Perry?

Just as though.

I'll talk to you later.
Okay.

Clara Thorpe to see you.

Remember?
Helen Austin's aunt.

Bring her in, Della.

Miss Thorpe.

How do you do, Miss Thorpe?

Won't you sit down?
Oh, well.

Thank you.

Now,
how can I help you?

Well, just so's you understand
that I understand,

I know you represent
this Richard Hammond.

It's in the
afternoon papers.

Actually I was
on my way here

when I ran into him
in the hall a while ago.

And I know he's
probably told you

about Helen's $ , ,

and how I wanted him
to hand it back.

Yes, he's told me.

All I want
is my rights.

I'm the last
and only heir

of my late sister's
only child.

I'm referring to Helen.

Her marriage
is all dissolved and all

so I want that money.

THORPE:
So how much will you charge me

to handle it? And how
soon can I get the money?

I'm very ignorant
about these things.

Suppose you tell me about
that money, Miss Thorpe?

Where did Helen get it?

Why, I don't know.

Well, you said
she had it with her

when she left
your apartment last night.

I did?

Did you actually
see the money?

What's that got to do
with what I asked you?

What are after,
Miss Thorpe?

I told you.

You didn't come here
to engage me as your attorney.

I didn't?

Why did I come here, then?

I suspect to find out how much
I know about you, Helen Austin,

and the accident?

Wrong, Mason.

Then it's the money
you're after,

and you wanted
to tell me something.

That's right, Mason.

I already told you half.

I understood the reference
to Helen Austin's divorce.

How long ago was it?

More than a year ago.

After she met Everett Dorrell.

Where is her former
husband living?

South Vermont ,
apartment H.

What's his name?
Hill. Alex Hill.

Now suppose you tell me

where that $ ,
came from.

Mason,
if I knew that

perhaps I could find
another ,

in the same place.

I don't know.

That's why I'm here.

I'm trying to get you
to lead me to it.

( door closes )

Well, Perry?

Well?

What are you
going to do?

I'm going to help her.

( dramatic theme playing )

Hello, Mr. Hill.

Mason, isn't it?
Perry Mason?

Uh, I've been reading.

Uh, times are
a little tough lately.

I haven't worked
for four months.

You got a cigarette?

I'm sorry to hear that.

Thanks.

Thank you. That's
an attractive lighter.

I don't know if I've seen
one like it. May I?

Solid gold. Custom made.

Beautiful.

Perhaps you know
why I'm here, Mr. Hill.

Sure, about Helen.

Tell me about her.

Uh, what do you wanna know?

I know almost
everything about her.

I was married to her
for almost four years.

But the only thing
I didn't know was

who the guys were she
was cheating on me with.

Was one of them
Everett Dorrell?

Who?

Oh, the lawyer
who handled her divorce.

I don't know, probably.

How could Helen
have come by

$ , , Mr. Hill?

I can't imagine how, Mason,

unless one of her men
gave it to her.

Why?

She was said to have had
that much money in cash

on her last night
at the time of the accident.

And she didn't?
No.

How long has it been since
you've seen her, Mr. Hill?

Not since the divorce,
Mason.

I have absolutely
no interest in her

alive or dead.

That's a beautiful shirt.

Oh, you like it?

Silk, isn't it?
And, uh, that neck tie...

The tie cost . .

I like nice things, Mason.

I'll go without lunches

to buy a good pair of shoes.

And without cigarettes
to buy a gold lighter?

( mysterious theme playing )

( door closes )

All right, lieutenant,

do it as a favor for yourself.

If he finds out you're going
to go over that driveway

with a vacuum cleaner,

he may wanna do
something about it.

Mr. Dorrell, didn't Sergeant
Holcomb call you and tell you

that we were going to vacuum
this driveway in the morning

for traces of glass
and blood?

You're Perry Mason.

It was a trap.

It seems to have worked.

Well, I think--

I think we'd be more
comfortable inside.

So it might've
happened right here.

You see d*ck came by
to ask me for a favor.

He needed money.

Also, he wanted
to borrow my car.

What time was this?

About : .

What I figured, after
your sergeant called,

was that Helen
was calling here,

and he might've had
the accident here in my car.

Well, that would've
involved me, so...

Well, I thought it best
to hose down the driveway.

Tampering with evidence.

As an attorney,
you know better than that.

As an attorney, he knows better
than to continue lying too.

I resent that.
You're deliberately

involving a man, a friend, in
a hit and run manslaughter case

of which you're guilty.
That's not true.

Hammond said that--

What did he say,
lieutenant?

Didn't he give you
his story?

He said he came here
to get the $ ,

that Dorrell
promised to lend him.

That he drove up
and found you

right after
you hit the woman.

No!

Not true, Dorrell?

No.

Not true that you told Hammond
you'd got a telephone call,

that the headlights on your car
were suddenly not working,

that you struck Helen Austin

because you couldn't see
as you drove down the driveway?

No. Not true.

Why would Hammond
borrow your car

when he had his own,
Dorrell?

Well, he didn't have
his own.

He said it wasn't working.

Didn't you help him put Helen
Austin's body in his car?

No.

Did you know the police
found bloodstains

on the cushions
of Hammond's car,

bloodstains that match

the dead woman's?
No, I didn't.

Or that they did not find
any bloodstains in your car?

MASON:
When Hammond drove
the body to a deserted street

and called the police,
according to their report,

his car was described

by make and license
on the officer's report.

Now, why would Hammond
borrow your car

and then drive his own car?

All right.

I k*lled her.

But I couldn't see,
the car lights were out.

I did make the deal
with Hammond.

And you gave him
the , in cash?

No. I don't know
why he said that.

I didn't give him any money.
I promised to.

All right, lieutenant.

I expect you'll
drop the charges

against Hammond now.

You mean the charges
now against him?

Oh, probably will, yes.

Since we're going
to prefer others.

What others?
m*rder.

Against Hammond?
That's right. First degree.

You see, the girl wasn't k*lled
on Dorrell's driveway at all.

She had been dead
for at least a half an hour

when Dorrell's car
hit her.

MASON:
How do you connect
Hammond with that?

TRAGG:
Well, take that
telephone call that Dorrell got

from a supposed
bartender.

Now that was a phony,
wasn't it?

Yes.

Well, I figure
Richard Hammond made it.

At five minutes to nine,
Mason.

When he had an appointment
with Dorrell here for : ,

and he knew Dorrell
would be here.

You mean you think
Hammond k*lled the girl,

and then deliberately set
out to make it look like

Dorrell had k*lled
her by accident?

TRAGG:
Why sure.

He tampered with the lights.
Hid behind the bushes,

waited for Dorrell's
car to come along,

threw the body
in front of it,

ran to the street,
got into his own car,

drove up the driveway,

and made out to be shocked
to discover his friend Dorrell

standing over
the dead woman.

MASON:
But why, lieutenant?

Where is the motive
for m*rder?

How do you connect him up
with the dead woman?

That woman was
the driver of the car which,

a year and a half ago,
k*lled his sister

and put his mother
in a sanitarium.

I think
Hamilton Burger

is going to ask
for a quick hearing.

( suspense theme playing )

Counselor.

Death as a result of a
severe blow on the head

by some heavy object.

Some minutes before
the injuries sustained

by the impact
of the car.

I see.

Now, doctor,
I ask you if this stone

used as a w*apon could have
been the cause of death.

Yes sir, it could.

Thank you, doctor.

Your witness.

MASON:
No questions.

Seventy-five feet
from the corner

of Sutton and Windsor
on Windsor.

I took the name
and address of the citizen,

and checked the ownership
and license

of the car he was driving.

And what was
the name of the person

who reported
what he called

quote, "apparently
a hit-run case," unquote?

Richard Hammond.

Do you see Richard Hammond
in this courtroom today?

OFFICER:
Yes, sir. That's him,
the defendant.

Thank you, officer.

Your witness.

No questions.

Eighteen months ago,
I don't know the exact date,

but it was just a few days
after the accident.

I was visiting
with Helen

when this Mr. Richard Hammond
came into the hospital room.

I guess he didn't notice me,

but I noticed him all right.

And did Richard Hammond see
Helen Austin, the deceased?

Yes, he did.

And his attorney.

And they talked with her.

They were trying to find out

whose fault the accident was.

What accident are you
referring to, Miss Thorpe?

The one which k*lled
Mr. Hammond's sister,

seriously injured his mother,

and sent my niece,
Helen Austin,

the driver of the other car,
to the hospital.

So Helen Austin
saw and talked to

the defendant, Richard Hammond?

Yes, sir.

I see.

Now, Miss Thorpe, would
you please tell this court

what took place on the evening
of November th of this year?

That's the night
of the m*rder.

Well, I got home from work
a little late that night.

I had dinner out.

Helen was on the phone.
She hung up when I came in,

took her coat to go out.

I said "Where you going?"
She said,

"Got a date." I said, "Who?"

And she answered,

"Somebody with $ , for me."

Really? What time of the evening
was this, Miss Thorpe?

About : .

I see.

I think that'll be all,
Miss Thorpe.

Thank you very much.
Your witness.

Miss Thorpe,
did you see $ ,

in the possession
of the decedent?

No, sir. But she said
she was going to pick it up.

She left the apartment
at : .

She wasn't k*lled
until ,

so she must have
had it.

Did she usually pick up amounts
like that from her "dates"?

I don't know.

Do you have an inkling
of who the person was

she expected to get
the money from?

No sir. And don't
you misunderstand me.

I didn't say anybody
did give her money.

Was she very secretive
about her "dates"?

Sometimes.
Most of the time, actually.

The only
date I ever knew

was this, uh,
Everett Dorrell.

That was real steady
for a while.

Then it stopped.

Did she ever, uh,
mention anyone else?

Any other men's names?
Like who?

Oh, Alexander Hill,
perhaps?

Oh yeah. Well, yes.

( giggles )

Did she see him
after their divorce?

Not that I know about.

She was married
at the time of the accident,

eighteen months ago,
was she not?

At the time of the ac--?

Yes, she was.

Under what name was she
registered at the hospital?

Mrs. Alexander Hill.

What was
the physical appearance

of the decedent at that time?

Oh, she was all
covered with bandages.

Her face too?
Oh, yes.

So the defendant
then came to the hospital

and talked
with Mrs. Alexander Hill,

a woman whose face
he could not see?

That's all, Miss Thorpe.

BURGER:
I call Lieutenant
Arthur Tragg, please.

And what were
the results of the tests

on the bloodstains,
lieutenant?

The traces on the seat
cushion and the rug

in Mr. Hammond's car

were the same blood type
as the decedent's.

I see.

I show you now
this stone,

which has been identified
as a possible lethal w*apon,

and I ask if
you recognize it.

Yes, sir.
That has my mark on it.

It is
the m*rder w*apon.

Traces of, uh,
blood and hair from decedent

were found on it.

And would you tell
this court, please,

where the m*rder
w*apon was found.

In a vacant lot behind
Mr. Hammond's home.

BURGER:
Now lieutenant, on the
morning after the m*rder,

what did you find
in Mr. Hammond's home?

TRAGG:
In a strong box,
cash in the amount of $ , .

That's interesting.

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

Cross-examine.

Lieutenant,

has it been
established, uh,

or determined where the m*rder
of Helen Austin took place?

No, no sir.

Was the driveway
at Mr. Everett Dorrell's home

examined for evidence
of the m*rder?

I object to that, Your Honor.

That's incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.

It's also improper
cross-examination

in that it deals with matters
not touched on in direct.

Mr. Mason?

Your Honor,

in view of the statement
that the place of the m*rder

has not yet been established,

and knowing
that the police

made a thorough examination
of this driveway,

we want to know whether

has been found and suppressed,

because that would
enable us to show bias

in the part of this witness.

Objection overruled.
Proceed, Mr. Mason.

MASON:
I am not going
to pursue this matter

at the present time,
Your Honor.

It seems clear to me
that the district attorney

has deliberately ignored
certain aspects of the case.

Defense is going to wait
to see what transpires.

Well, counsel won't have
very long to wait, Your Honor.

BURGER:
The prosecution believes
that for purposes

of this preliminary hearing,

it has proved a m*rder,

and overwhelmingly
illustrated the probable

guilt of the defendant.

Therefore Your Honor,
the State rests.

JUDGE:
Mr. Mason,

it seems to the court
that the prosecution

is entitled to an order
binding the defendant

over to trial.
If the court please,

counsel realizes the defense

doesn't usually put on
its case at this time,

but the unusual aspects
of this case

would seem to make it
an advantage

rather than a disadvantage.

JUDGE:
Then you want to put
on a defense, Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

But since we did not anticipate
the State resting so early,

defense asks for an adjournment
until tomorrow morning.

So ordered.

This court will recess
until : tomorrow morning.

I can't understand why
Dorrell wasn't in court.

He should've been a principal
witness for the prosecution.

Della, see that subpoenas
are issued for Dorrell,

Barbara Claridge,

Marvin Claridge,

and Mr. Alexander Hill.

( dramatic theme playing )

You may be seated.

( clears throat )

People v. Hammond.

Are you ready
to present the case

for the defense,
Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

I call Everett Dorrell
to the stand.

Mr. Dorrell, do you know
the defendant in this case,

Richard Hammond?
Yes.

Did you make an arrangement
with Mr. Hammond

on the night
of Wednesday, November th,

the night of the m*rder?

Yes.

What was Mr. Hammond
obligated to do?

He was to remove
the body of Helen Austin

to a side street,

call the police and report
her death as a hit-run accident.

MASON:
Where was the body?

DORRELL:
On the driveway.

MASON:
Please be more explicit.

Under the bumper,

on the pavement near the wheel.

The car had struck her.

Is that what
you want me to say?

I want you to answer
the questions.

Now in return for Mr. Hammond
doing this service for you,

what were you going
to do for him?

Lend him $ , .

But I--
Thank you.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Dorrell, did you give or
lend the defendant $ , ?

No, sir.

And about five minutes to
on the night of the m*rder,

did you receive a phone
call which caused you--

Objection, Your Honor.

Incompetent, irrelevant
and immaterial,

and improper questioning

in that it takes up
matters not part

of the direct examination.
Sustained.

Mr. Dorrell,

did you have
an appointment at :

on the night of the m*rder with
the defendant at your house--

Objection Your Honor,
on the same grounds.

Your Honor,
these questions are certainly

germane to the issues
in this case.

Your Honor, the prosecution
had the opportunity

of bringing out
all these germane issues

when it presented
its case.

The prosecution
chose not to do so.

JUDGE:
Sustained. Mr. Burger,

you will confine yourself
to proper cross-examination.

Very well, I have
no further questions

of the witness
at this time.

I will bring out what I want
to bring out on rebuttal.

That would be when the defense
is finished with its case.

Naturally,
Mr. Mason.

I, uh, call
Mr. Alexander Hill.

MAN:
Alexander Hill take
the stand, please.

JUDGE:
You may step down.

Well, it's been
more than a few months

I've been out of work.

More than a few months.

How long has it been,
Mr. Hill?

A few years.

Do you recall my visit
to your apartment?

Yes, sir.

Will you tell this court

how much your cigarette
lighter cost?

Oh. It was a gift.

Would you tell this court
what you were wearing?

You mean
the silk shirt and tie?

Were they also a gift?

No. I bought them.

I have here a record
of Miss Austin's

bank deposits
and withdrawals.

The items
I am referring to

go back almost
a year and a half.

On or about the
first of each month

there is a bank deposit
of $ .

Can you put any light
on this for the court?

No.

On or about the third
of each month,

there is a record
of a bank withdrawal

of $ . Can you tell the court
anything about this?

No, no.

MASON:
I think we better
examine your position,

Mr. Hill.

You have not been gainfully
employed for several years,

you wear very
expensive clothes,

your former wife had
a secret source of income,

yet you cannot tell this court
anything about any of this?

Your Honor, I object.

Mr. Mason is cross-examining
his own witness.

I've refrained from objecting
up to now,

but I think
this has gone far enough.

Mr. Burger,

the court is interested in
this man's method of support.

He seems to have found
a magic way of life.

If he can tell me the secret,

and it isn't illegal
in some form,

I might like
to try it myself.

JUDGE:
You can answer
that question, Mr. Hill

where do you get
your money?

Helen gave it to me.

I think you'd
better explain that, sir.

I knew that Helen
was seeing other men,

but I never knew who.

She was very tricky
about that.

Now, that accident she had

when her car cracked up
and she k*lled that girl

and hurt the mother?

She wasn't alone
in that car.

I could tell the way
she tried to cover up.

She was covering up for
someone who was with her

in the car at that time?

Sure. That's how she got
the every month.

MASON:
And your one thousand?

She gave it to me
because...

Well,
to keep me quiet.

Who was the man?

I don't know,

but the only man I ever found
out she was seeing was

Mr. Everett Dorrell.

MASON:
Thank you, Mr. Hill.

Cross-examine.

I have no questions of
this witness, Your Honor.

But in view
of his testimony,

if the defense
has no objection,

I would like to interrupt
his case at this time

for the purpose of calling
Mr. Everett Dorrell

as a rebuttal witness.

JUDGE:
No objection.

BURGER:
Very well, Your Honor.
I call Everett Dorrell.

Mr. Dorrell,

were you involved
in an accident

in Helen Austin's car

and were you paying her
to cover up that fact?

No, sir. I was not in the car,
nor in any accident

with the decedent, and I
did not give her any money.

And you did not give the
defendant any money either?

No, sir. I've already told you
the extent of our agreement.

Thank you, Mr. Dorrell.
Your witness.

Mr. Dorrell,

when you made that agreement
with Richard Hammond,

you knew Helen Austin

was the driver of the car
which k*lled his sister,

didn't you?
Yes.

And you knew that
Richard didn't know her

as Helen Austin,
but as Mrs. Alex Hill?

Yes.

And he didn't
recognize her, either.

Well, I can only apologize
for that. I was desperate.

Why were you desperate?

Well, I didn't
want Barbara to know.

I didn't want
her father to find out.

They'd never have believed
I wasn't still seeing Helen.

Yet you told them
both the next morning.

Well, d*ck had gotten
into trouble by that time.

I-- I wanted
to tell the truth.

Yes, I remember.

Then Marvin Claridge
put pressure on you.

MASON:
Marvin Claridge is still

putting pressure on you,
isn't he?

No. No.

MASON:
How did your car
get to Richard's garage?

EVERETT:
I don't know.

Isn't it true that you
did give Richard Hammond

that $ , ?
No.

Then did you give the money
to Helen Austin?

To Helen? No.

She was to pick up $ , .

Wasn't it from you?
No!

Weren't you the one
in her car at the time

of that accident
months ago?

And haven't you
been paying her

a monthly tribute
for her silence?

No!
No?

And who could it be,
Mr. Dorrell?

Who could the mysterious
passenger have been,

the one she's protected
all this time?

Well, I don't know.
It wasn't me.

Then who was paying
Helen Austin

$ a month
for her silence, Mr. Dorrell?

Now from whom was Helen
going to get that $ , ?

All right.

From the only one
it could have been...

Marvin Claridge.

I'm sorry, sir.
I lied for you.

I lied about giving
Richard Hammond the money.

I did give it to him.

I love Barbara,
but...

If this means
I can't have her...

I'm sorry.

Helen worked for him.

EVERETT:
Even when she was
going out with me

she was seeing him.

Thank you,
Mr. Dorrell.

Will Mr. Claridge
please take the stand.

Yes, I gave her $
the first of every month.

Since the accident?
Yes.

Then the money
was blackmail money,

and you were
the mysterious passenger.

Yes.

I don't like
to think of it like that.

She never threatened me
with exposing our...affair.

CLARIDGE:
But perhaps that was
one of the things I found

so fascinating about Helen.

That we understood
each other so well.

I just increased
the regular

amount of money
I was giving her.

So that it became a rather
large regular amount.

Yes.
And then she asked you

for a rather large
lump sum, $ , .

She said she needed it
desperately, she--

Well, she demanded it.

And you gave it to her?

No.

Why not?

Peculiarly enough,
Everett, uh, Mr. Dorrell,

asked to borrow
that exact amount.

In giving it to Everett,

I thought Helen could
wait until the next day.

But she didn't care
to wait?

Well, she was angry.

So you k*lled her then?

No, Mr. Mason.

I didn't k*ll her
then or any time.

When she told you
that she needed

the $ , desperately,
did she tell you why?

Yes. I asked her

what she did with
$ every month,

and she said she was giving
half of it away.

And that now, to keep the man
who was preying on her quiet,

she had to give him
a lump sum.

Did she tell you that the man
who was blackmailing her

was her former husband,
Mr. Alexander Hill?

CLARIDGE: No.
MASON: Then, Mr. Claridge,

it could have been
someone else

who was blackmailing her?

It's not likely.
Why not?

Because Mr. Alexander Hill
approached me himself

the day after
Helen was m*rder*d.

Thank you.

MASON:
That'll be all, Mr. Claridge.

( dramatic theme playing )

Your Honor,
may I continue?

Well, Mr. Hill?

Mr. Hill, you will
please take the stand.

She was a cheat all her life.

Even when it didn't make
any difference

cheating or not cheating,
she'd cheat.

Right at the very end there
I even thought

that maybe she'd got
that grand and was lying.

You'd followed her
to Claridge's?

Yeah.

You finally found out
who she was blackmailing,

and you didn't
need her anymore.

The cheat. The cheat!

You made
a pretty good pair.

( dramatic theme playing )

Why did Helen give
Alex Hill half of the money

that Claridge gave her?

He threatened
to go to Claridge's wife

and blow the whole
affair wide open.

I still can't figure out
why he picked on me.

Unfortunately,
you arrived on time.

On time?

Hill couldn't leave Dorrell's
because your headlights

caught him as you
drove up the driveway.

He had to stay. He was trapped.

Then, of course,
he was glad he did,

because he heard everything
that took place.

And took
advantage of it.

Well, I can't tell you how
glad I am to be out of trouble.

Oh,
you're not out yet.

Both you and Dorrell
will have to face charges

of tampering
with evidence

and obstructing
police procedure.

I'm quite willing to pay
for what I've done.

Can I drop you any place,
Mr. Hammond?

Oh, thank you.

Good night, Mr. Mason.

Night, d*ck.
Miss Street.

Good night.

And now are you quite willing
to pay for what you've done?

What have I done?

You've tampered
with my digestion

and obstructed my feeding
procedure for quite some time.

I plead guilty.
What's the fine?

One dinner.
Mm.

Payable now.

( noirish jazz theme playing )