Famous Ferguson Case, The (1932)

[bunniefuu]

Hi, Elmer.
- How's it going, Bruce?

Three and a half minutes
and I ain't heard a whistle yet.

Hey, Foster.

There is some news for you.

Thank you very much, Mrs Ferguson.

You are very welcome, Mr Brooks.

And I wish you'd hurry back, Mr Brooks.

You sit on your left foot
for about 3 minutes ..

While I run down to the express car and
get the payroll for overall factory.

Oh, you bankers.
All you ever think of is money.

Hmm?
- Yes, and you know it.

You're almost as bad as my husband.

Let him print that in his paper.

I wish I could be somewhere where
there isn't any such thing as money.

How do you do, Mrs Ferguson.
- Hello, Bruce.

Is Mr Ferguson coming
up from New York today?

Why, I don't know.

I hope so. He's been working very hard.

Hello, Bill.
- Hello, Judd.

You got that express package for me?
- You bet I have.

Well here you are, boy.

Thanks, Jimmy.
- Be seeing you.

Well, well. Mr Ferguson.

Well this is news.

A visit from you in
the middle of the week.

Good afternoon, Foster.
No. Nothing of importance.

Just saw a chance to
take a couple of days rest.

We3ll my dear, this
is a pleasant surprise.

Why George, what ..

I'm awfully glad to see you.

Yes, but it seems I
failed to surprise you.

Oh, I was just driving around and I ..

I thought I'd stop by and
see who was on the train.

I'm glad you did. How is junior?

Why, he's fine.

All aboard!

I bet it ain't much fun Mrs Ferguson
being married to that old ..

Compound interest buzzard.

Oh, hello dad.

Been fishing?
- Uhuh.

How is your dear little wife?

She is pretty well, considering.

When is the baby expected?

Not for four months yet.

Well, so long. I've got
to get over to the bank.

You do want to go to
the city don't you, Toni?

Of course. Don't you? Really?

Look. These people
getting out of the car.

Couldn't that be you and I?
You in the high hat and the shirt front.

And I in those furs.

Going there, where
there is something doing.

Real music. Important people.

And the Lord know what all.

But where could we get that in Cornwall?

Or this.

Or this.

Now tell me, where could a
girl get anything like that here?

I suppose there are people
who have such things.

Or else they couldn't
afford to advertise them.

I suppose there are.

They're people who went out and got them
and just didn't sit and wish for them.

I guess you're right, Toni.

I'll make a try for it.

The only thing that bothers me is how.

Well, a lot of them have got there
from smaller towns than this.

Look 'em up in Who's Who.

Most of the star reporters in New York
broke out in little towns like this.

Old MacIntyre had a list of them
in his column the other day.

Warren Bennett of The Mail came
from somewhere out in Wyoming.

Bob Parks of the New York
Globe started in Binghamton.

Lindsay Jameson of The Despatch broke
in on some little sheet out in Iowa.

Willard Keith.

Floyd Bolton. Claude Buchanan. Gee, all
of them got their start in the sticks.

But how did they get to New York?
- You'll get your chance.

A big story will break someday.

And then you can show those
city editors what you can do.

Yeah.

The story will probably
be about my own funeral.

Come on, let's go out
and get a bite to eat.

Oh, I've got to finish this story about
the Women's Relief Corps meeting.

Joe Hamilton is bringing me
in some coffee and sandwiches.

You'd better run along.

Alright. I'll go out and sh**t the mayor
or somebody and make a story.

Oh say Toni, can you spare that
magazine for a little while?

Why, yes.

Thanks.

Bruce.

Bruce dear.
- Yes, honey?

You know, I was just thinking.

When you do get to the big city.

You won't forget all
about poor little Toni?

Don't be silly.

What else would I be going for?

[ 2x g*nshots! ]

Charlie, what was that?

Ah, just a flivver backfiring
on Ferguson's Hill.

[ g*nsh*t! ]

That was no backfiring.

That was a shot.

Isn't that old Jenny Gibbs on the mule?

Say, let's get out of here.

Oh, nothing ever happens
in a town like this.

We were just saying Bruce
ought to go to New York.

Where he'd get a chance.

He ought to get clean out
of the newspaper business.

Ain't any money in it anymore.

As far as I can see.
- No money?

Why, do you know much some
of those reporters in New York get?

200 dollars a week.

That's money, isn't it.

Well, that's a whole
lot of money alright.

For snooping around
in other folk's business.

It isn't snooping.

Why, telling people what's
going on in the world ..

Is one of the highest
forms of public service.

Why, it's ..
- Hello, Joe.

Hello Bruce.

Here's your magazine, Toni.

I guess I won't try to read it tonight.

[ Telephone ]

Hello?

Bruce? Bruce?

Jess Haynes just phone
the Sheriff's office.

That there has been a sh**ting
at the Ferguson place.

Oh boy!

What is it?

A sh**ting up at the Fergusons.

This sounds like a real story.

Tell Tom to keep everybody
on until I get back.

Oh Bruce! But it's almost quitting time.

I don't care. I'm going to
give this town its first extra.

Joe, tell the boys.

What's happened, Sheriff?
- Don't know yet, Bruce.

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Don't seem to be nobody around.
- Come on, let's try and get in.

Pat, run that way to the servants.
They don't seem to have heard nothing.

Alright.

Funny. Lights ain't on.

Turn on the switch.

The wires must be cut.

Come on. We're going upstairs.

Hey Vic.

Where are all them servants?

Bring them lights in here.

Somebody has shot him plenty.

Is he dead?

Well if he ain't, we're going to
have to get a new word for it.

Bring them lights a little closer.

[ Moaning noises ]

Why, she's all tied.

There, there. You'll be
alright in just a jiffy.

Now tell us. What happened?

They k*lled him. They k*lled him.

Who k*lled him?
- I don't know.

They came in and shot him.
- Who shot him?

I Don't know.
- Were they burglars?

Yes. Burglars.

Now, what did these burglars look like?

One was big and had black hair.

The other was little and freckle faced.

I think his hair was sort of sandy.

And he had a big scar on his chin.

Now tell us just how
everything happened.

We were asleep.

I heard the window open and ..

Woke up and told Mr Ferguson.

He got up and put on the lights and ..

And then they jumped at him.

Oh, it was terrible.

He .. he hit the big man.

And the red-haired man shot him.

And then they grabbed me.

Did these burglars steal anything?

I guess I must have fainted.

That's all I remember.

Oh .. my ring has gone.

It was a 6-carat blue diamond.

Mr Ferguson gave it to me.

When Junior ..

You here all evening?

Yes, sir.

Did you hear anything?

Well.

Yes.
- Oh.

Come outside a minute.

I want to talk to you.

"Less than 2 hours after a bitter
quarrel with his beautiful young wife."

"Over an asserted indiscretion
with a small town Romeo."

"George M Ferguson, millionaire chairman
of the Tradesman Bank of New York."

"Was found m*rder*d last night in the
bedroom of his summer residence here."

Copy.

But you just now sent
the same thing, Bruce.

Yes, but that was for The Despatch.

This goes to the New York American.

You want to keep me here all night?
- I can't tell.

We're in the big-time
newspaper game now, Pete.

Mr Ferguson was one of the most
important bankers in America.

Why, this story is international.

So this is Cornwall.

City of opportunity.

Cornwall.

Sleeping peacefully beside
your winding overall factory.

We bring you fame.

Your name is destined to
shine in 72-point Gothic ..

On the front page of
the metropolitan press.

Not only mine .. but the lesser sheets.

Represented by my lowly confr?res.

Who are even now
approaching your fair borders.

I thank you.

Got anything left in that jug, Jim?
- Very little.

"Cornwall. Where we halt."

"Cornwall. Where we halt."

Let me have a little water, will you.
- Some water? - Yeah.

Say, how far is it to Cornwall?

Seventeen miles.

Gee, I wish we'd get some coffee.
I'm cold and hungry.

Well you can't do it, Maizie.

You can probably get some at the
jail while you're talking to her.

Oh, I sometime wonder why I
ever got myself into a job like this.

Think of all the interesting
people you meet, my dear?

Yeah. Like you and Eddie.

And that fascinating personality
out there with a boil on his nose.

Now is that nice? I ask you.

Hey punk. Wake up.

Hey .. come alive.

Where can I find this guy Foster?

I'm Foster.

Why, how do you do, Mr Foster.

I'm Robert Parks of The Globe.

And this is Jim Perrin, my associate.

How are you?

I hope you'll pardon my mistake.

I was expecting to find a much older
man after reading that story you filed.

Was it alright?
- Alright?

Why it was a great job, Mr Foster.

I suppose you can direct us
to one of the better hotels.

Well, there is only one in town.

I'd be glad to take you there myself.
- Good.

You can give us the
low-down on the way over.

Here.

Oh, thanks.

Oh Bruce, I couldn't sleep any longer.

Is there anything new?

Oh, excuse me.

This is Mr Parks and Mr Perrin
of the New York Globe.

Miss Antoinette Martin of The courier.
- Charmed.

Oh Mr Parks, I'm very glad to ..

So they raise orchids up here too, eh?

Look after things for
a while, will you Toni.

I'll take the boys over to the hotel.

Why sure she will. And we're
the thing she'll look after.

We're just going over to a sip
little breakfast, Miss Martin.

And all members of
the press are invited.

Oh, I couldn't.

She's probably eaten
at this hotel before.

Surely Miss Martin, you'll help a couple
of out-of-town boys get on to the ropes?

Sure, come on along, Toni.

You can help me tell them the details.

Alright.

I want a nice sunny room with
a southern exposure and a bed.

Yes, sir.

Hello Perrin.
- Hi, fellah.

How about this fellow Judd Brooks?

Is he married?
- Yeah.

Got a wife and kid.

He works in our bank.

Oh, plays around, eh?

Oh no. Folks in a small
town to a lot of talking.

Yeah, well married men who play around
don't usually find much except trouble.

And that's what we
call "expert opinion".

Hello Ken.

Allow me to present the
eminent Mr Jigger Bolton.

Of The New York Bulletin.

Miss Martin, the local talent and ..

Mr Foster, her city editor.

You know Miss Martin, we must depend
on you a lot to can show us the ropes.

I'll be glad to do all I can.

Now, don't promise anything
until you've known him better.

Look out, here comes Maizie.

Hello Maizie.
- Hello Maizie.

Hello, boys.

Well, I didn't know you were
going to be on this job.

So I see.

You know if I didn't know you as
well as I do, Maizie, I might ..

Suspect that was a crack.

Meet the local press.

Miss Martin and Mr Foster
of The Courier.

Miss Dickson and Mr Works of The Star.

How do you do.
- How do you do.

You have been in town at least
an hour, haven't you, bob.

Say, better give us a whole floor. There
is a g*ng coming from town. - Yes, sir.

I'll let you do the outside work, Toni.

You tag along with them while
I'm busy. If they'll let you.

Alright.

I guess we're all set here.

The next thing is a little work
on that Ferguson dame.

She? She's in jail.

Well then, that means a
little work on the Sheriff.

Of course you know him don't you?
Well you can help us. Come on.

Let's go.

Front. Front. Front.

Front. Front.

Front? What do you mean "Front"?

Quiet, will you.

Front.

Did you call me, sir?

Yes, take those bags upstairs, boy.

Yes, sir.

Mrs Ferguson, did you and
your husband fight much?

We almost never quarrelled.

We were very happy.

But you did have a row with
him last night, didn't you?

Yes. We disagreed about something.

Something called Judd Brooks?

Not at all. Mr Brooks name just
happened to come into it.

In what way?
- That's not your business.

No. That's monkey business.

Wasn't Brooks the man your husband
had the row with after dinner?

No.
- Who was it then?

I can't tell you.

Couldn't we make it a bit
later when she's not so upset?

You keep out of this.
I know what I'm doing.

Come on lady, who was the man
and what was the fight about?

I can't tell you.

It was about Mr Ferguson's
business affairs.

You sure it wasn't about
Mrs Ferguson's love affairs?

That's enough of that, Parks. Stop it.

I wish you to go over your
story again, Mrs Ferguson.

Mr Middleton, can't you make them stop?

Well, they're only doing
what I'd have to do.

If they didn't.

I assure you.

My friendship with Mrs Ferguson
had nothing to do with this.

We're merely old friends.

Mr Ferguson knew that.

Knew it so well he made an extra trip up
here to see how the friendship was going?

No, no, no. Nothing of the kind.
- Then why did they quarrel about you?

They couldn't have been.
- The maid said differently.

You mustn't pay any attention to that.

Oh no, of course we won't.

We're just simple newspaper
people who like to hear folks talk.

Yeah. Whatever we hear
just goes in one ear and ..

Comes out through the typewriter.

Oh you mustn't.
You can't print anything like that.

You don't realise the position I'm in.

Of course we do. Why do you think we're
letting you waste your time like this?

But there is nothing I can tell you.
- Maybe his wife can tell us something?

No, no, no. Please, please.
- Oh, it's like that, is it?

I trust you will be very careful about
what you allow to be published.

You mean, be sure and
get the names spelled right?

But we must protect the bank.

Any adverse publicity for Mr Brooks ..

Might react disastrously
with our depositors.

May we quote you to that effect?

I don't see how that will
interest your readers.

But it will interest this whole town.

Our only industry is the overall factory
and that depends upon the bank.

Any lack of confidence
would be disastrous.

Disastrous.

Well, let's hope Mr Brooks
has kept his nose clean.

Hold it, Bob.

Well, what do you think?

Listen, any time they start with
someone bound and gagged.

I'll lay 10-1 it's a phony
without hearing another crack.

Sure. Think Brooks did it?
- Who else?

He had every reason to.

That's our line for keeping the story
alive isn't it? - Okay with me.

And if she and Brooks didn't do it,
well the facts are bound to come out.

That will be another story.
- Sure.

There is only one thing.

I didn't like the way old Collins
of The American butted in.

Did you notice him? Just
as I had her going good.

Did I? "I wish you'd just go over
your story again, Mrs Ferguson".

I could have clipped him
right on the snozzle.

We got to watch him.

And that long-faced goat from
The Times. What's his name?

Frowdy, Frank Frowdy.

And Joe Blakely and Claude Wright.

Those old fluffs are a million
years behind the times.

They are still writing with quill pens.
- Well, we can't get rid of them.

But we mustn't let them gum us up,
either. Just watch them. That's all.

Come on.

I never saw anything like it.

The nerve of a guy like that.

Well, is this a dump.
- Hi there. - Hello.

You never can tell with
these small Burghs.

How goes it, Marty?

Old Parks tried to take it over again.
- Take it over?

Yep. He pushed the Sheriff
out of the way and started in.

He's got Perrin with him and of course
Jigger Bolton and all that crew.

What, after the mess they
made of the Marks poison case?

Sure, those guys will never learn.

Yeah, well I'm off them.

I strung along with that scandal
sheet crowd the last time.

Nearly got me into a libel suit.

I had to be beg like
a dog to keep my job.

Never again.

Right, kid.

I'm going to get enough
oil on board someday ..

And knock that guy Park's
ears off, just for luck.

But listen boys. It's serious.

We knew Parks, Perrin and Jigger Bolton
were high-siding us from the word go.

They'd lie and steal and crucify their
own grandmothers to make a story.

But just the same, in this
case they might be right.

Yeah?

Well right or wrong they can get us into
plenty of hot water. With our bosses.

Now look. We'll handle this
case as news. Straight news.

But I'll trail Parks and his crowd
to see what they're doing.

Then we'll meet here every night
to see what's what. Is it agreed?

Sure.
- Fine.

Well I'd better make it earlier.
- Right. I go to press at 8 o'clock.

You see that pig woman, kid.
You've got an honest face.

She may talk for you.

George. Old sheriff square-jaw
probably never heard of fingerprints.

Couldn't you get Inspector
Dougherty to run up here?

On the QT, and do a good
job on that jimmied window?

That's an idea.

Hanley, you're a golfer.

You get a car to the
Cornwall Country Club.

If there is any gossip,
you'll get it there.

And you, Lane.

Run around to that place they were
talking about earlier in the day.

Wait a second. Hold it.

Let's get a good pose now.

No, that's no good.

See if you can't get something
with a lot of action in it.

Now, I know.

The charge to the jury.

That's great. Wait a minute.

Let's fix your tie.

Alright, Mike. sh**t it.

Fine.
- That was swell.

Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.

But I can't have Judd Brooks arrested.

Why not?

You are the County Attorney
around here, aren't you?

But what for?
- What for?

Must we come all the way from New York
to show you how to run your tiny office?

Sure we do.

They haven't heard
about legal procedure yet.

But what charge can I make?
- Now look here, Jeffries.

That fellow Brooks is
in this up to his neck.

Are you sure of that?
- We know it.

And the least you can do is
hold him as a material witness.

He won't run away.
- Oh no?

Suppose we told you we have information
that he plans to elope to South America.

With Mrs Ferguson.

You're going to print that?

We can't print it if you stop it.
- But it's nonsense.

He's not that kind.
- Yeah.

Does it take any particular "kind"
to go daffy over a prettier woman?

And he's a poor man.
- Poor?

With his fingers in that bank vault?

Good heavens, man. You're not going to
start a scandal about the bank? Why ..

No, we don't start things.

We only report them after they happen.

And things are going to happen
plenty around the Burgh.

But if I arrest him the depositors
will think .. they will ..

You represent the people,
not the bank, don't you?

You think a New York district attorney
would let a valuable witness get away?

Just because some bank
didn't want him pinched.

No, I ..

I suppose not.

I guess you gentlemen are right.

I'll get hold of the Sheriff.

Now you're talking.
- That's fine.

There's the story, boss.

That'll give us a lead ..
- Tomorrow's story.

Find out where Judd Brooks' wife
lives and meet me at the hotel.

You want us to go after the
District Attorney? - No thanks.

Find out where Mrs Brooks
lives and meet her at the hotel.

Where is Toni?
- Why, she ought to be in pretty soon.

Well.

Maybe I'd better read copy
for you for a while, eh?

Alright, fine Dad.

You know, I couldn't get any
real booze in this little town.

So I had to take the stuff I
could get from the drugstore.

Come and get it.

I don't know whether
that will be any good.

It's hard to get the right ingredients
in a little town like this.

Hmm. I think it's lovely.
- Yeah, that's his one real talent.

He can make a Martini out of
c*ck paste and turpentine.

No, that's a Manhattan.

A Martini is boiled cigar
butts and sheep dip.

[ Door knocks ]

Who's that?
- Brother Perrin.

In what is laughingly
known as the flesh.

Are the Perrin dues all paid up?

Paid up as a life member, sir.
- What's the password, brother?

Well, the password Parks is this.
The Brooks family have been found ..

Ensconced in a bungalow four vacant lots
south of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

And when can we find the lady at home?
- She's there practically all the time.

Hey, Works. - Yeah?
- You'd better hold that story.

As we've new lead for tomorrow's story.
- Oh yeah?

Yeah. Young Brooks over at the
bank will be arrested late tonight.

But early enough for the late edition.

Judd Brooks arrested?
- Uhuh.

Did you ask the Sheriff
when he'll pull it?

Can't get a thing out of him.
He needs softening up.

I fear your local officials
haven't been properly trained.

What do you mean?
We print all the news he give us.

Yes, but you don't inform him
of what news to give you.

Did you try giving him a
couple of lumps of sugar?

I tried, but he seems to be one limb of
the law that's not susceptible to sugar.

Jesus, this is as good as the
school of journalism for me.

Better.

No school of journalism ever taught you
to put your foot in the crack of a door.

Oh, are you sending me home?
- No.

I see that you're hungry.
- Oh no. - Oh yes.

I just sent downstairs
for some sandwiches.

Miss Martin is my guest.
She does not eat sandwiches.

Oh, you mean you are
taking me out to dinner?

I crave that honor, my lady.
- Well.

Well, goodbye all.
- Goodbye.

Goodbye.

I will .. see you later gentlemen.

You know, Toni. I like you. Lots.

You are a pretty swell person. You're ..

Well, you are genuine.
That's why I want us to be friends.

That's rather rare between
men and women.

Friendship.

Toni, there is only
real basis for friendship.

So before you even decide whether
or not you want me for a friend.

I want you to know just exactly
what kind of a mug I am.

Well, I'm hardly qualified to
criticise an absent brother.

But this is one time when Mr Parks
ought to be ashamed of himself.

Why, she's just a punk kid.
- Yeah.

Hello Maizie.
- Hi, beautiful.

Beautiful is looking for Bob Parks and
Beautiful is getting a trifle annoyed.

Bob just went out to get a bite to eat.

Yeah, just a little while ago.

Would it be any violation of
your professional ethics ..

To tell me whether or not that
"bite to eat" looked appetising?

Sure-shot Maizie, they calls her.

Well, if you ask me I wouldn't
mind sitting down to a ..

Dish of it.

In the first place I'm what's laughingly
known as a chronic alcoholic.

Oh, I seldom develop the
yellow-spotted staggers.

And I can talk at all times but ..

I do get awfully drunk now and then.

And it is more often now than then.

Well you have to drink to keep
up such a terrific pace, I guess.

No, it's more than that.

A drunkard never gets a day off.

He's up for life.

And in the second place,
I'm pretty moody.

Sometimes, I'm way up high.

And on others I'm so low that I have
stand on tiptoe to reach bottom.

When I'm like that I'm
bad news for my friends.

They take an awful
beating then because ..

Well, I say a lot of
biting, nasty things.

Things that I don't mean but ..

That sound good while I'm saying them.

Well, a real friend would understand.

And in the third place.

I have a very definite weakness
for your charming sex.

Some of them have made an
awful chump out of me and ..

Some of them I've treated pretty badly.

It might have been different if
I'd met the one right one but ..

But there isn't very much
I could do about it if did.

You see Toni, I'm married.

I have been ever since
I was a kid of twenty.

Oh we keep a pretence of
marriage, but that's about all.

She in pretty much of an invalid.

It would be like hitting her with
an ax to ask her to divorce me.

Oh, hello Maizie.
- Hello, Bob.

Sit down, Maizie. We were just ..

Hmm. Be nonchalant. Light up.

You know Miss Martin of The Courier?

Yes, I know Miss Martin of The Courier.

And I also know Anna Resnick
and Helen Ward of The Despatch.

In fact I know quite a number
of your friends, Bob.

Well, I was just telling Miss Martin ..

Well, don't let me interrupt the ritual.

Bob seems to be choking
on a piece of steak.

If you want to know the rest of that,
let me tell you. I know it from memory.

Let me see. Where were you?

Oh yeah, I know.

"It would be like hitting her on the
head with an ax to ask for a divorce."

Will you please excuse me?

It's getting close to my deadline
and I think I'd better run along.

Feel kind of cheap?

What do you think?

Well if you don't,
you're going to, Mr Parks.

I'm sick of having you shove me around.

And I'm going to give you a
man-sized earful right now.

Hello, Toni.

Hello.

What's new, sweetheart?
Got a good lead for tomorrow?

Not yet.

No?

Parks said there would be something
sensational later tonight.

Anyhow, cheer up.

Well, if you want something sensational.

Why don't you do like they do?

Go out and get it.

What's the matter, Toni?

Oh, noting.

I'm tired.

I'm sorry, sweetheart.

I shouldn't be making you
do all this running around.

Oh, please.

The office isn't the place
for that kind of stuff.

No .. I guess not.

Only.

The office is the only place
I seem to see you nowadays.

Here is something I promised the
Sheriff I'd print with the main story.

Thanks, Bruce.

That was nice of you.

Someday I'll run into the old monger and
say: Mr Whiteside, here's my resignation.

And smack him right where
he parks his whiskers.

Hit him again for me, Mike.

He fired me off The Mail for yelling
"Hey you" at the Prince of Wales.

He said it wasn't dignified. Ha.

A paper can't have
dignity and pictures both.

Is this the dame?

Oh, good afternoon.

Good afternoon.
- Are you Mrs Brooks?

Yes.

Is your husband at home?
- No. He's still at the bank.

Oh.

Well, there are a few things
that we want to ask you about.

I'm Mr Parks of The New York Globe.

And this is Mr Perrin, my associate.

How are you.
- How do you do.

Well, couldn't you see my
husband down at the bank?

No, not at the bank.

I wish you would. You see ..

I'm not very well just now.

We won't bother you
more than a few minutes.

Look, Mrs Brooks. All we want to know
is what time your husband got home ..

On the night Ferguson was m*rder*d.

Why.

I don't remember.
- Was he home at all?

Oh of course.
He worked a while at the bank.

How do you know he was at the bank?

Why, he got a telephone call and said
he had to go down there for a while.

Yeah, but how do you know
that's where he went?

Where else would he be?

That's what we're trying to find out.

He doesn't seem very sure
where he was himself.

Are you quite sure he didn't
go up to the Ferguson place?

What do you mean?

Didn't you know that Mr and Mrs Ferguson
had quarrelled about your husband ..

Before he was m*rder*d?

No.

No, that's not true.

We don't blame you for defending him.
You got to do it to clear your own face.

You come clean with us and
give us the low-down and ..

Well, we'll make it as
easy for you as we can.

Well, I don't know what you mean.

Were you thinking of divorcing Brooks?
- Divorcing him?

Why, no!

You might as well tell us
everything, Mrs Brooks.

But there is nothing to tell. Why, my
husband and Mrs Ferguson were just ..

Well.

Anybody in this town will tell you
the kind of a man Judd Brooks is.

Yeah .. that's probably the
reason they arrested him.

Arrested him?

Arrested him?
- Half an hour ago.

Now maybe you'll tell us
what we want to know.

Look out.

She's fainted.

Run in and call an ambulance.
- There's no ambulance in this town.

Then get a doctor, quick.
- Right.

What have you been doing to her?

What's the matter? What's the matter?
- She's fainted. She must be sick.

Sick? She is going to have a baby.

I still think you're getting too
much ink on your rollers, Joe.

A nice looking job for
the plant you got here.

Thanks, Mr Collins.

Why, this is practically a masterpiece.

Compared to some of the
messes I used to commit.

Say, how did you get your
first job in New York?

Luck.

I happened to get inside the Old World
city room just as a fellow was quitting.

I don't know whether
that was good luck or bad.

Why?

Did you ever wish you
weren't a newspaperman?

Every now and then.

Particularly after a shabby
piece of business ..

Like that interview with
Mrs Brooks this afternoon.

No.

I suppose I never have
really wanted to get out.

I had chances, too.

You see Bruce, this newspapering
is a strange business.

Grocers for instance, sell dried apples.
And dry goods merchants sell gingham.

But we are selling two
intangible commodities.

One is news and the
other is public service.

It's pretty hard sometimes to
tell whether a story is news ..

Or just plain snooping into
people's private affairs.

That's when you get disgusted.

Then you go out and do something
that you know is a public service.

You dig up some story
about a ship sinking ..

Because her owners sent
her to sea without repairs.

And you put the guilty men in jail.

Or write of conditions in the coalfields
and force Congress to investigate.

Somehow.

It happens that every time
the spell wears a bit thin.

We get a fresh injection
of public service.

And then we carry on.

And after this.

I need a mighty big shot.

Yeah, hello?

Well Jeffries, you sent for us.

Yes, I have a bit of news for you.

Attaboy, Jeffries.

I am going to release Mrs Ferguson.

Release her?

What for?

Why not?

I am reasonably certain
that she is innocent.

And you call that news?

Why yes.
- Well this is a surprise.

You could knock me
over with a locomotive.

I thought you'd be surprised.

Are you kidding us?

No, not at all.

Then let me give you some news.

The story my paper will print ..

Is that Cornwall County's Prosecutor is
afraid to act against wealthy criminals.

What's that? She's no criminal.

No?

You mean to say you're daft
enough to swallow that baloney ..

About a burglar coming in,
tying her and stealing her ring?

But she was tied up.

She couldn't have done that herself.

Somebody else was there.
- Of course somebody else was there.

She had help.

And you know who it was
just as well as we do.

But I don't.

I got no proof.

No proof?

Listen, Jeffries.

We've been here before.

Seen timid officials try to crawl out
of their duty like this too many times.

But ..

You are going to let
this murderess go free.

Just because she happens to be
a big frog in this little puddle.

You are giving us news.

More news than you think.

Yeah. And we'll print it.

In the morning.

And don't say you haven't got proof.

There's a smart dame.

She thinks you're a hick lawyer she can
play leapfrog with and make you like it.

She and her boyfriend Brooks are
giving you the horse-laugh right now.

Very soon we'll get tired of showing you
what you should have learned in school.

But I will do you this one favor.

Now here is your case.

One that a jury of girl
scouts could understand.

Brooks and the dame are set to beat it.

The old man gets suspicious.

And comes back from New York
when he's not expected.

After dinner, he blows up.
Let's her have it.

Tells her he knows all about it.

Annie Murphin, the housemaid,
said she heard the row.

Heard Brooks' name mentioned.

Naturally Mrs Ferguson denies it.

So they fight a while longer.

And then they phone Brooks to come
out to the house and face a showdown.

But we don't know that.

We know he got a call at home, told his
wife he must go to the bank for a while.

Isn't that so?

Yes.

But ..
- Alright then.

So Brooks goes to the Fergusons.

There is a fight between the two men.

In the excitement, Ferguson is shot.

They wonder what to do.

But they are both smart.

They had to be smart to get away with an
affair so long in this one-horse town.

They decide the only out is to
try to make it look like a robbery.

So, they smash a few things,
hide Mrs Ferguson's jewellery.

Oh, by the way.

You ought to search Brooks'
house for that stuff.

Finally, Brooks cuts the
wires and ties her up.

Then he scrams through the windows
and runs across the fields to the lane.

You got that pair of lovers and the
pig woman to back you up on that.

But they only saw a man.

They can't swear that
it was Judd Brooks.

They said he looked
like Brooks, didn't they?

They said he was Brooks'
size and build, didn't they?

They said he wore a brown hat like
Brooks always wore, didn't they?

Well, then?

Well then, ain't that
enough for anybody?

Well.

Oh, it could have been done that way.

Could have been?

I've known Judd Brooks for years.

And I suppose you're
going to let him off?

Alright. Do it.

It'll make good enough news.
- Sure.

Come on, boys.

Now wait a minute. Now wait
a minute, boys. Wait. Now boys ..

Now I haven't said that I won't try her.

Maybe I can make out a case.

But if I do.

You boys have got to stick to me.

Chief, we're with you. We're with you.

Well, what do you want?

I want you and Mrs Ferguson to tell me
everything that happened that night.

Every little detail.

Do I have to go over it all again?

Hasn't there been enough
about us in the newspapers?

This isn't for publication.

See, Mr Collins of the New York American
had an idea for a new angle on the case.

And I'm advising you, ma'am.

Do as Bruce asks you.

Mrs Ferguson.

You said something about two men
climbing in through a back window.

Can you describe them in detail?

Yes, I saw them plainly.

I went into the bedroom downstairs.

Order in the court.

Now Mrs Ferguson, how long
have you known Judd Brooks?

All my life. Practically.

It's true isn't it ..

That you were engaged to him
before you married Mr Ferguson?

Objection!

Objection overruled.
- Exception!

Exception noted.

Come no Mrs Ferguson. The court rules
that you must answer the question.

Yes or no?

No.

But it is true isn't it, that
you had some sort of a ..

Understanding between you?

Our families thought ..

Oh, your families thought you
that were engaged? Is that it?

Not exactly.

That is ..
- Your Honor.

I object to the manner in which the
Prosecutor is badgering this witness.

The court sees nothing
objectionable about it.

The witness is quite obviously evasive.

Oh, hello Maizie. Come in.

Try and keep me out.

Good afternoon, Miss Dickson.

Who says it's a good afternoon.

I guess you people know there is
a m*rder trial going on in town?

You ever stop to figure how many stories
Jim Perrin has written with your byline?

Jim has only written three
or four hundred for me.

Tommy Crandall has written
a lot more than that.

I guess you see having those slugs write
your stories is not doing you any good?

You'll get canned and no
decent newspaper will hire you.

I remember saying that to you before.

Only for the last three or four years.

To be exact.

Four years and three months.

Really?

I didn't realize it was so long.

Yeah. It was just before
I bobbed my hair.

Are these yours?

No.

Oh no?

Well alright then. Yes.

Tuck in your hair and get
out of here and stay out!

I won't and you can't make me.

Now look here, Maizie.
What's the use of making a scene?

You and I have known for months
that we might as well saw it off.

Surely, you have enough pride not to ..

So he wants to take
you to New York, huh?

Why, you sit down and listen to me.

Suppose he does take you to Broadway.

You'd have a swell time.
For a while anyway.

He's a good teacher.

One of the very best.

He'll teach you how to
breathe nightclub air.

How to drink neat Rye
without making a face.

How to mix 18 different c*ck
and take care of crying drunks.

You'll learn to let the
men do the work for you.

And find out some of them
won't do it for nothing.

He'll teach how to steal pictures and
how to chisel on your expense account.

He'll introduce you to all the hot-spot
hostesses and speakeasy junkies.

You'll learn how to stall
off bills for the clothes ..

That looked so swell before
drinks got spilled on them.

Then one morning you'll wake up with
a hangover six times bigger than Texas.

And you'll wonder if there is one good
reason why you should go on living.

Then you take three drinks
and you don't give a hoot.

For the first few months you'll
be that cute little Martin kid.

After that you'll be known to
the trade as "good old Toni".

From then on you're the tough girl from
The Globe or the speakeasy sob-sister.

And when you add it all up it's
got a minus sign in front of it.

And bears a close
resemblance to Bob Parks.

Broadway's buddy.

The nice thing is you have so many
things to repent when you're older.

And time grows heavy.

Oh, it's just sour grapes with
you because I'm younger.

Tell her how much younger, Bob.

Maizie is only 20.

And you're 21 or 22 right now.

Think about what 5 or 6 years
in this racket will do to your face.

Then tell me I'm lying to you.

It wouldn't do that to me.

Why, I'd have more
strength of character.

Okay. You win.

Welcome to the sobbing sisterhood. I'll
send your membership card in the mail.

Try to treat this one a
little straighter, Bob.

She seems like a nice kid.

Come in.

Oh, hello kid.

Park yourself somewhere.

Say, I found this outside your door.

Oh, well.

I don't think the bootlegger dropped it
and he's been my only visitor so far.

I thought maybe you were sick so I came
to tell you the line-up for tomorrow.

Oh, thanks.

I've had a touch of grippe and ..

I played hooky.

Say, you ought to take care of yourself.

There is a lot of it around.
- Yeah.

Yeah. Toni phoned me this morning and
said she wasn't feeling well either.

That's too bad.

Well, how was the trial today?

The defence rested.

I guess it goes to jury
tomorrow afternoon.

Do you think they'll
convict her of first degree?

Looks that way.

[ Door knocks ]

Come in.

Hello Parky.

Hello you unwashed hyenas.
- Hello Parksy, old boy.

How was the hunting today?

Not bad. Jeffries got her crying.

That guy has got a talent
for being nasty, the little runt.

I'd liked to have socked
him right square on the nose.

Oh no.

It's against the rules to hit
a guy on your own team.

There you go, Parks.

There you are, kid.
- Thanks.

That county attorney buzzard asked me
to write his speech to the jury for him.

Yeah. I bet that will be
a bloodthirsty masterpiece.

You're going to him howling like a wolf.

Well, I guess I'd better be going.

I'll see you later maybe, huh?
- Sure. Drop in.

Since the trial is almost over
I think I'll throw a little party.

Alright.

So long, Kid.

Here kid, your ..

Thanks.

Oh.

Hello, Mr Foster.

Hello, Miss Dickson.

I wonder if you'd lend me a typewriter
for some last minute work? - Sure.

That madhouse up at the hotel is no
place for a working newspaperwoman.

That is, if she wants to work.
- I wondered how you got anything done.

Take that one.

Thanks.

Ah, this is Miss Martin's isn't it.

Uhuh.

Won't she be needing it?

Well, not for a while anyway.

You see.

Miss Martin isn't doing much
work in the office just now.

No? Where is she doing her
best work at the moment?

Well, I let her do most of the outside
work while you folks are in town.

Sort-of taking care of
the writing end myself.

You see, Toni is a pretty good mixer.

She gets around.

Makes a lot of friends.

Yeah, that does brighten
things up a lot, doesn't it?

Those girls with that friendly feeling.

So I've heard.

Are you trying to make a crack?
- No, no, no.

Well, I was.

I thought you might need it.

Oh, is that a hint?

Have I been neglecting myself?

Not that.

I .. well, I mean.

Well I thought someone in the rest
of the crowd might recognise it.

Well, it's yours, isn't it?
- Nope.

Mine all bear the mark of
the Bellevue Laundry.

Which is three oval
holes with a 2-inch tear.

Besides.

I never use Ybry.

You never use .. what?

Ybry. It's a perfume from Paris.

I'm surprised they have it here. I did
not know they sold it north of Albany.

Ybry.

Are you sure of that?
- Sure I'm sure.

No. Toni is .. she's not at home.

I guess she must be working.
Anyhow, she's not here.

Thanks.

Bruce.

Bruce.

Is there anybody knows
about it except Mr Collins?

Not a soul.

Then I tell you what we'll do.

Yes?

No, no. Buy at 6-7 thousand.

Yes.

The New York Express.

Come on.
Make it snappy, will you please.

Hey, Joe.
- Joe.

Copy.

Good work, boy.

Good work.

"Ah dear Juliet, why
art thou yet so fair?"

"Shall I believe that unsubstantial
death is amorous .."

"And the lean abhorred monster keeps
thee here in dark to be his paramour?"

"For fear of that I still
will stay with thee .."

"And never from this palace of
dim night depart again."

"Here, here will I remain."

Will those hyenas ever stop howling?

He howls best who howls last.

Well, I think I'll go
over and see the fun.

Okay.

Give me a break will you.
Pipe down, fellahs.

I got to work.

Light a little cigarette.

[ Singing: ]
"When Irish eyes are smiling."

"Sure, it's like a morning spring."

"In the lilt of Irish laughter."

"You can hear the angels sing."

"When Irish hearts are happy."

"All the world is bright and g*y."

"For when Irish eyes are smiling."

"Sure, they steal your heart .."

"Away."

All you got to do is give it to them
right and that jury will swoon.

I bet I never heard an
oratorio like that before.

Just get right up in front of them.

Face them.
Say: "Gentlemen, I promise you".

"The state shall not be satisfied
with punishing this woman."

"If you do your duty as
you have sworn to do."

"The state shall proceed at once
to exact the full penalty of the law."

"From her paramour."

"Her partner and fellow in
this hideous and revolting crime."

Boy, that will smack them over, huh?

You should be a lawyer.

And when you hit that high
spot at the end, you know ..

Where you say to the jury ..

"The state does not ask you .."

"To condemn this woman to be ex*cuted
for the m*rder of her husband."

"The state demands it."

When you hit that spot, you grab your
collar, see, and rip it off like that.

Don't have it buttoned at the
back so you can get it off, see.

With the collar in your hand, smack the
table and yell as loud as you can:

"As ye live."

"So shall ye die!"

What will I do with the tie?

Forget it. Blood has been shed.

Innocent blood. A life has been taken.

And the penalty must equal the crime.

Perrin is right, Jeffries.
The jury won't be out 15 minutes.

Say, how long since a woman
was ex*cuted in this state?

The last one was in .. 1897.

Get a story on it and I'll use it as a
shirttail with my story of the verdict.

You're a lucky little stiff.

If this thing hadn't burst
right under your nose ..

And we hadn't come up here
to show you what to do with it.

You wouldn't have any more
chance of being re-elected ..

Than I have of being
President of the WCCU.

Extra! Extra!

Extra paper! Extra!

Extra. Extra paper!

Extra paper. Extra.

Extra.

Extra.

Extra paper.

What's all this about?
- I don't know.

This is no time for kidding. Have you
and that young Foster cooked up some ..

[ Door knocks ]

Come in.

Mr Foster says you can have
those with his compliments.

Did you know about this?
- No.

Honestly I didn't.

All I knew was Bruce was writing to
police departments all over the country.

But he wouldn't tell me why.
- That double-crossing little squirt.

Well, why didn't you find
out what he was doing?

I thought it was just
some of his silliness.

He probably went behind our back to sell
this story to every paper in New York.

I hope he has.

He certainly has made monkeys out of
this collection of brains and beauty.

I hope he soaked them
plenty for the story too.

How come you didn't put out a nationwide
police alarm about that missing ring?

Why, you ..

Why, you all said that she and ..

Who is County Attorney
around here? You or us?

We didn't arrest her.

We didn't indict her.
We didn't try her for m*rder.

Do you realise how close you've come to
taking the life of an innocent woman?

[ Telephone ]

Hello.

Yeah.

Hey, Perrin.

Hello?

Yeah, boss?

Well, we just didn't, that's all.

Okay, I'll tell him.

Okay.

Well, that lousy little ..

You know what Foster's done?

He's called all our papers and
gave them the story for nothing.

And that's what's known in the old
country as adding insult to injury.

[ Telephone ]

Hello.

Yes. Bolton speaking.

Ah gee, that's tough.

Well, thanks for calling anyway.

That was the hospital.

Mrs Brooks died half an hour ago.

Giving birth to a child.

Well.

Now that that's happened.

I'm going to say a few
well-chosen words.

Oh, you are in a daze, naturally.

But you're not so groggy
you can't get this.

This thing that's knocked the props out
under you and set you down with a bump.

Is nothing, more or less, than a bit
of good, honest newspaper work.

Yes. And done by a good,
honest newspaperman.

That kid on that little one-horse paper.

Wasn't content to sit
around and make news.

He went out and got it.

That is known as "reporting".

Which you've grown too
rotten and lazy to do.

You don't know how to get news.

If you can't buy it or steal
it you have to make it up.

I've known all evening
that young Foster ..

Was going to pop this story.
I've known for three weeks.

That he was after it.

I sent the news to my paper.
So did Joe Blakely.

Claude Wright.

And very other decent
newspaperman in town.

You may remember, Parks.

I told you the story might
not be in this town.

And you said:

"If it wasn't you'd be hanged
if you'd go looking for it."

I'm glad he had the guts to
shove it down your throat.

You know.

You've not only smashed the
lives of several innocent people.

And wrecked a whole community.

You've come close to wrecking the
profession that gives you your living.

Don't worry. You can't do it.

Crooked bankers haven't
wrecked the banking business.

And crooked politicians haven't
torn down the government.

There aren't enough of them
and there aren't enough of you.

The newspaper business got along
honorably without you for years.

And it's going to get along
without you from now on.

Why, you've completely forgotten that a
newspaper just mirrors public events.

The press is no more
responsible for what happens ..

Than the mirror is responsible
for Mrs McGuinness's pug nose.

What you've been doing is to add a
few warts to Mrs McGuinness's nose.

So she'll get mad and smash the mirror.

I'll see this through if I have to go to
every newspaper publisher in New York.

And tell him the truth about you.

Here .. paste that story
in your clipping books.

And hope to heaven you'll
do as good a job someday.

I think .. you are the man I want.

You're Parks, aren't you?

Yeah.

Parks of The Globe.

I want to talk to you a moment.

Why .. certainly.

Go ahead.

Outside.

Okay.

Well, what is it? I haven't much time.

I want to talk to you downstairs.
- Yes.

Oh, now look here.

We've heard about your wife.
- Downstairs.

Out back.

Through that door.

Hey, Parks.

Parks!

He's not there. He's gone.

Do you suppose that mug ..?
- I don't like the way he acted.

Now don't get excited.

Well, he did get a rough deal.

And you can't tell what
a guy like that will do.

Now look here.

This has gone far enough.
- Go on.

But what's it all about?

You k*lled my wife.
- What?

Why that's absurd. I only
asked her a few questions.

You k*lled my wife.
- Stop it.

Take your hands out of your pockets.
- You ..

Hey!

Hey, you seen anything of
Mr Parks and that guy Brooks?

No. Ain't they upstairs?
- Up?

What's coming off here?
- That's what we want to know.

Brooks came, took Parks. Looks like he
had a g*n. We don't know what happened.

Say, Brooks' car is still outside.

If you want me for this.

I'll be home.

Bob.
- Bob, you alright?

Hello, kid.
- Hi.

Good morning, Mr Collins.

Hello Bruce. How are you?

Hello kid.

Congratulations.

Oh, thanks.

I mean that.

That hand tossed the brick that knocked
Jigger Bolton off The Bulletin payroll.

When I get back to the office
I expect to find that I've ..

"Resigned", too.

You may change your mind.

If you do, just send me a
wire and the job is yours.

No thanks.

I'm staying here.

For keeps, I guess.
- For heaven's sake, why?

You'd go big in New York once
you've learned your way around.

No.

I guess there's some
things I never could learn.

No .. don't give up.

Look at me.

I'm still learning.

Hi.
- Hello, Maizie.

After you, Maizie.

Lots of luck, Bob.

What are you talking about?
- I'm pulling out.

I haven't got what it takes, I guess.
- You mean ..?

You mean you're going to stay here?

Well, I'm going to stay somewhere.

It's not going to be New York, I know.

Well, that will be a terrible
blow to Park Row.

You boys try and bear up now, won't you.

And think of me kindly.

If you're not too busy
looking for new jobs.

Uhuh.

Afraid to face your city editor, huh?
- No. My conscience is clear.

Let them understand that little
Maizie died with her boots on.

"All aboard!"

"All aboard!"

So long, Ma?zie.
- So long.

Good luck.

Goodbye, kid.

Bye, Maizie.
- Bye.

Oh Bob. Save a place for me.

Save a place for me.

Hurry up.

Make them wait!

Jump on that car.

You don't want to leave that behind.

And don't tell me there isn't a
vacancy on The Cornwall Courier.

You think you can handle
the soc?ety news?

Say, with my experience I
could handle a boa constrictor.