04x19 - The Case of the Blind Man's Bluff

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( mysterious theme playing )

( man and woman laughing )

( ringing )

Yes?

Karl? Karl, I've been
calling and calling.

Are you all right?

Adele, take it easy.

It went off almost perfectly.
Like a dream.

Another couple of weeks
and I'll be able to do it in--

Mr. Slade is returning
from Europe.

He'll be here
tomorrow afternoon.

We'll have to give it up now,
Karl.

It's just too dangerous.

No, no we've got no choice.

I'll just have to start
the ball rolling tomorrow.

Karl, please.

Tomorrow. We can't wait.

I'll see the doctor
in the morning.

It'll be all right, Adele.
I promise you.

Everything is going
to be all right.

Good night, Adele.

Good night.

( ominous theme playing )

( ominous theme playing )

Everything looks fine,
Mr. Addison.

We'll have no trouble.

You'll want me
in the hospital tonight?

We'll operate first thing
in the morning,

if that's agreeable.

Uh, how long will
I be in the hospital?

Oh, just a couple of days.

After that we'll
let you go home,

take things quietly for a week.

But let me warn you again.

For that first week
you'll have to be bandaged.

You'd be blind, in fact,

even if you removed
the bandages,

completely blind.

But remember.
A vacation.

Six months of rest,
if you can possibly manage.

Yes, I've already made
the arrangements.

A nice long trip.

Just get away from it all.
( ominous theme playing )

Good morning, Mr. Addison.
Oh, morning, Edgar.

Mrs. Farraday phoned
just a few minutes ago

to say that she's most anxious

to see those pearl earrings
you mentioned to her.

I took the liberty of making
an appointment for you

for : this afternoon.

Sorry,
I won't be able to make it.

Oh.
Uh, you take over.

As a matter of fact, you'll have
to take over everything for me.

For about a year or so.

A year?
Yes.

Oh, the operation.

You've decided
to have it done?

And I know that Mr. Slade
will look to you,

as he has to me in the past,
to see that things run smoothly.

Thank you, sir.

Uh, you've heard that
Mr. Slade is coming back?

Yes. Yes, I heard.

Karl.

I go into the hospital
tonight.

Oh, no.

Now, we've been over
it a hundred times.

You know exactly
what you have to do.

It'll be three days
at the most

and I'll let you know
when I feel well enough.

Oh, Karl, please don't make me
do it. I'm scared.

Adele,
you've got to face the truth.

How long do you think
we could go on using the firm

to fence stolen jewelry with
Charles Slade back home again?

We?

Well,
you know what's been going on.

Shutting your eyes
won't keep you out of jail.

Yes, sir? May I help you?

Yes,
I'd like to see Mr. Addison.

My name's Kincannon.

Well, hello there, Jim.
How are you?

I've tried to call you
several times on the phone,

but you always
seem to be busy,

so I thought I'd better
just come down myself.

Well, uh, I have been
pretty busy, Jim.

How's your mother?
Fine.

That isn't what I wanted
to speak about.

Well, I'm pretty busy right now,
as a matter of fact, Jim,

but why don't you give me a call
later in the week?

Because I have
to talk to you now.

It's about our jewelry.

Our necklace out there,
Mr. Addison.

Well, what about it?

( chuckles )

Now, you cannot borrow
against the collection,

if that's your trouble again.

Oh, I suppose I could
manage a personal loan

of a hundred or two,
but, uh, no more than that.

I just want to know if your
company has changed its mind

about selling the collection.

Are you asking on behalf
of your mother, Jim?

I haven't spoken to her, no.

Well, then I'd say, uh,

whether or not
we've changed our mind

happens to be none
of your business, Jim.

Then I'm going to make
it my business!

Really?

Jim. You and your mother
are flat broke.

Now, the Kincannon Jewelry
Collection displayed out there

is your only asset,

outside a once socially
prominent name

which you've managed
to dirty up quite a bit

since your father d*ed.

Mr. Addison,
I'm not concerned with what y--

Now, the jewelry
is displayed out there

because you and your mother
can't even afford the insurance.

But Slade's contract is with
your mother, Jim, not you.

Now, in return for displaying
the collection,

we pay the insurance costs
plus a monthly rental

which helps support your mother.

Also in that contract
is the stipulation

that the collection
stays in our hands

until such time as we, Slade's,

recommend a satisfactory sale.

Now, satisfactory,
Mr. Kincannon,

means for a sum of money
which I deem adequate.

You don't think a third of
a million dollars is adequate?

A what?

Don't be ridiculous.

We could never get
any amount like that.

We might. Listen,

there's this millionaire
up in San Francisco.

All we have to do
is get him a new appraisal.

Then when he sees
it he'll let us know

whether or not he'd like to see
the collection personally.

We could hear from him
in a day or two.

And if he would pay that much
money, my mother might agree.

KARL:
Jim, that's absolute nonsense.

I've got enough problems
without listening

to your half-baked schemes.

Mr. Addison,
I've got problems too!

You've got to listen to me.

Get out of here. Go on.

Get out of here before
I have you thrown out!

( dramatic theme playing )

( door shuts )

Oh, Karl.

Adele, get hold of yourself.

There's nothing he can do.

It's going to be
all right.

There's nothing
he can do to interfere.

* No time at all *

* For love *

* And no one at all *

* Will do *

* I've no time to spare *

* For another affair *

* With someone new *

* Thanks for it all *

* My darling
Thanks are so small *

* It's true *

* But what can
A poor heart say? *

* Bless you for yesterday *

* Ticktock, ticktock *

* Says the clock to me *

* Your time's marching on *

* Relentlessly *

* Must you live in the past *

* With a love that's over? *

* But I know so well *

* I'm still under your spell *

( crowd chattering )

( sighs )

Been a long time, Jimmy.

Yeah, well, I meant to come
by more than once, but...

Well...

But you can't stand
cheap saloons or women, hm?

Helen.

Oh, that's what my used-to-be
father-in-law called me.

Do you agree with
Mr. Charles Slade? Am I cheap?

Did I ruin him?

Did I destroy the only thing
I ever loved, Jimmy?

Did I, huh?

Harry Slade was k*lled
in an automobile accident.

You had nothing
to do with it, Helen.

It wasn't your fault.

Well, maybe he wasn't
much of a husband...

but I loved him, Jimmy.

I loved him.

I'll have another one.
Make it a double.

I'm sorry, I--

I guess it's-- It's just
seeing an old friend.

Didn't Harry leave you
any insurance,

or anything like that?

You were always
a bad poker player, Jimmy.

How much?

How much
did Harry owe you?

Oh, now, don't be upset.
Harry owed everybody.

Helen, I'm in trouble.

Because of Harry?

Never mind that.
It doesn't matter now,

but I need money
and I need it bad.

Why did you come to me?

I've gone to everyone I know.
You're my last resort.

Harry...

Yeah, he owed me some money.

Harry borrowed on his insurance

until there wasn't
anything left.

He had a passion for racehorses
with three left feet.

And as for Daddy Slade,
he hated me so much,

he wouldn't give me
the fuzz off a peach.

Why don't you try
Harry's father?

Sit down, Jim. Sit down.

Well, I haven't seen you
for some time.

Harry became a stranger
to us too, after he moved away,

married that--

Well, you young people
move in different circles,

you find new friends.

Are you in some sort of trouble?

Money perhaps?

Yes, I've been hearing
disturbing things about you.

Things I don't want to believe.

Also there was that argument
between you and Mr. Addison.

I only wanted to talk to him a--

Mr. Addison and I discussed
the matter

of your mother's necklace
before he entered the hospital.

I'm afraid I'll have
to rely on his judgment.

Perhaps, sir,
you'll change your mind

when you hear
what I have to say.

Well, go ahead.

It concerns Harry.

I guess I should have
come to you sooner about this,

and I meant to right after
Harry was k*lled, but...

Get to the point, Jim.

Harry was in trouble
at the company

where we both worked.

It was a matter of nearly
$ , he couldn't account for.

I covered up for him
on the books.

Well, what was I supposed to do?

Harry was my best friend,
Mr. Slade.

He promised to repay it and--
And he did repay some of it.

But then the accident.
Harry k*lled.

Well, there's no way I can prove
that I didn't take that money.

You're telling me
my son was a thief.

I'm sorry.

Do you recall--

Granted it was some time ago.

--you asked your
mother to dispose

of the Kincannon necklace.

You came up with a story
of being blackmailed,

or some such thing.

And all you wanted was money

to impress some some frowzy
little B girl in San Pedro?

That was over six years ago,
I was a crazy kid--!

It was a cheap trick
you tried to pull then

and it's a cheap trick
you're trying to pull now.

Oh, Mr. Slade--
You're a filthy liar.

Get out.

Get out before
I call the police.

( dramatic theme playing )

MASON:
Tell me, Jim,

why did you wait so long
to contact Mr. Slade Sr.?

Well, he went off
to Europe right away.

I suppose to get over
the shock of his son's death.

Anyway, I kept figuring
that I could get the money,

but I couldn't.

Then last week I found out
that my company

is going to merge
with another one.

Which would of course mean
a thorough audit

of your company's books.

I got pretty frantic,
so I went to see Mr. Addison,

but he refused to approve a sale

of either the necklace
or the whole collection.

He said that according
to the terms of the contract--

Well, you know the terms
of the contract, Mr. Mason.

Yes, I drew it up
for your mother.

Addison isn't the last word.
If, in your mother's opinion--

I haven't discussed this
with her yet.

You may have to.
I can't.

You see,
she hasn't been very well.

Besides, her living
in the memory of the past

is about the only enjoyment
she has left.

And the collection
is her link to it.

Della, get our office copy
of the Kincannon-Slade contract,

and see if you can reach
Mr. Addison on the phone for me,

will you, please?
Right.

Time's running out for you, Jim.

You can't force Addison
or Slade to approve a sale

if they think the offer
is too low,

but we certainly can
investigate it.

If the offer's high enough,
we could force a sale then?

I mean, without getting Mother
too involved or too upset?

I don't know about that,

but I do know we can have
that collection appraised

and there's still time
enough to do that today.

They came in a few minutes ago.

We were just about to close.

So they're appraising it.

Adele, listen.
I'll get out of here right away.

Karl, you're still weak,
it's too risky.

We have no choice.

Oh, Adele, you know
what you have to do.

Karl, I can't.

You have to. I'm blind.

I can't risk touching
those wires again myself.

Karl--

Now.

( ominous theme playing )

( door opens )

You'll find some over there
on that table, Mr. Kincannon.

Thanks.

( door shuts )

( ominous theme playing )

( clatters )

( ominous theme swells )

( dramatic theme playing )

Ah, Mr. Mason,
I sent for you right away

because I know you represent
the Kincannons--

Now, just a moment.

Do I understand you haven't
called the police yet?

Well, perhaps your client
should be grateful I haven't.

I-- Well, I thought you might
help me get the jewelry back

even more quickly.

By pulling it out of my pocket?

Oh, not your pocket.
James Kincannon's.

Why on earth should Jim steal

something that already
belongs to him?

The collection belongs
to his mother, not to him.

He's in some sort of trouble
at his company.

He's desperately and urgently
in need of money.

Now I can't locate him.

Well, even if Kincannon
had the motive, Mr. Slade,

what about opportunity?

Fixing those wires would seem
more like an inside job to me.

James Kincannon was inside.
Yesterday.

He was here with you.

But while the appraisal
was being made,

I understand he made some sort

of excuse to come
into this room,

stayed here
a few moments alone.

The closet with the junction box

opens from this room.

Paul, I want you
to find Kincannon.

And, uh, get the jewels back?

No, Jim may be a little
hot-headed,

but somebody else
fixed those wires.

Somebody really
on the inside most likely.

As for instance an employee
of Slade and Company,

who might have done
the whole job.

Now, gentlemen, see here--

Check them all, Paul, and fast.

All right.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( dialing )

Who you calling?

Mr. Slade,

I can't very well become
an accessory to a felony.

I don't think you should either.

( dramatic theme playing )

Police Department?

Sergeant Ferris, please.

Burglary Division.

You're aware, Mr. Slade,
that these sweepings here,

most of them from your workshop,

are full of mineral particles?

Yes, naturally.

My men do a lot of setting work

on precious
and semi-precious stones,

cutting, grinding, cleaning.

The crime lab boys found traces
of these sweepings on the floor,

but the cleaning woman,
who left this pail here,

swears she didn't spill any,

nor knock the bucket
over last night.

Which means
the burglar must have.

If he got any of these particles
on his shoes, he left a trail.

That's what we're hoping for,
Mr. Mason.

Well, I don't see
any marks on the floor.

Well, they wouldn't
be visible to the naked eye,

but this mineral dust
may fluoresce, glow,

under black ray.

Eddie?

Start about here.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( light turns off )

( light turns on )

That's about it, sergeant.

By the time he came
out on the roof,

just about all the stuff
was gone from his shoes.

All right.

Our guy robs the shop,

takes the stairway
to the roof,

crosses over
it to the next building,

and uses that to get down
to the street again.

That penthouse apartment
on the next building

belongs to the company.

Mr. Addison, our general
manager, is using it.

Let's check.

Could be he saw
something last night.

Well, I'm afraid that's
impossible, sergeant.

Uh, Mr. Addison
is temporarily blind.

He had an operation yesterday.

Well, he can still hear,
can't he?

( suspenseful theme playing )

Somebody got a little
clumsy around here.

( buzzes )

I have a key.

Karl said they put him under
pretty heavy sedation.

He may be asleep.

Open it.

Karl?

Where's the bedroom?

In there.

Karl?

What in the name of--

His bed hasn't even
been slept in.

Sergeant Ferris.

Yes.

A little rough house here too.

Someone left a souvenir behind.

SLADE:
That's one of our jewelry boxes.

EDDIE:
Hey, sergeant.

( dramatic theme playing )

It's Karl.

It's Karl Addison.

No, Perry, so far not
a sign of Jim Kincannon,

but look,
it's far-fetched enough

to figure the kid would steal
his own family jewelry.

The police can't possibly
be thinking of him for m*rder.

Can't they?

Mr. Slade didn't quite
tell us the truth, Paul.

It seems the reason
he came back from Europe

was because something funny's
been going on with his firm.

Oh, what kind of "funny"?

An insurance company
reported to him

that three separate people

who'd bought jewelry
from his shop

had trouble getting
those items insured.

What kind of trouble?

The items contained gems

which investigators
suspected were stolen.

Of course the people
who bought these items

were perfectly innocent.

But the shop wasn't?

No, nothing's been proved yet,

but in each and every case,

guess who had
recommended Slade's?

Jim Kincannon?

Mm-hm.

Well, maybe he did do it.

I'll still keep all my men
looking for him.

Well, let's wait until
we hear Jim's story, Paul.

What we need right now

is to get more dope on the other
people around Addison.

Well, so far
it's pretty sketchy.

There is one thing:

Addison was a fairly
frequent visitor

to a dive on Washington
called "Gibby's Place."

The main attraction there
is a tired canary

named Helen Slade.

Helen Slade?

Married to the old man's son,

the boy that was k*lled
in the automobile accident.

However this Addison-Helen bit

is only an occasional thing.
Addison's heavy romance

is with a girl right
at the office, Adele Bentley.

You'd better follow
up on her, Paul.

I'll talk with this Slade girl.

You stay with Adele Bentley.

All right, Perry.

After Jimmy left me
the other night,

I got to thinking.

I mean, you didn't have
to be psychic

to know he was in trouble.

It-- It written all over him.

He was in trouble, Mrs. Slade,

trouble your husband
had made for him.

Yeah, but, I don't know
anything about that.

Did you try to help Jim?

Well, not with money.

I-- I couldn't. I--

But something kept
nagging at my mind.

Something about Jimmy
and money and Harry.

And then I remembered Karl.

Karl Addison?

Karl and Harry
were close friends.

Oh, it was at our place,
a month or so before--

Before the accident.

I was bringing ice
in from the kitchen,

and Karl was handing
Harry some money.

What did that have
to do with Jim Kincannon?

I-It was what Karl Addison said.

He said, "Crumbs for
Kincannon the pigeon.

Here's the sucker's payoff."

Then Harry laughed and-and said
something about Vegas.

You told all this to Jim?

Last night.

Well, he got pretty
excited on the phone.

You know, Mr. Mason,

I thought that--

Well, whatever trouble
that Jimmy and Harry

were tied up in, maybe Karl
was tied up in it too.

You see,
Karl's pretty well fixed.

If Jimmy pushes Karl,

he might come through
with some money to help him.

Now, that's all I thought.

I'm afraid somebody's
already pushed Karl.

Too hard.

Well, what do you mean?

Last night he was pushed
off his roof.

He's dead.

( dramatic theme playing )

Oh...

You, uh--

You're a detective?

That's right.

I'm looking
for Miss Adele Bentley.

What makes you think
that she's here?

I don't think she's here,
I know she's here.

We traced the cab that brought
her here from her own place.

Your superintendent says
she's an old friend of yours

who visits here often.

The janitor saw her get out
of the cab and come up here.

Now, will you please,
tell Miss Bentley

I'd like to see her?

She-- She's not here.

Look, Miss Padway, I--

( window opens, shuts )

( dramatic theme playing )

( footsteps approaching )

He practiced every
night for weeks.

He went over and over every move

until he knew how to do
it without using his eyes.

You know something? He would
have gotten away with it.

He couldn't have been accused.

And Miss Bentley had an alibi
all set for herself.

Let me get something straight,
Miss Bentley.

You knew that Addison
was using Slade's

as a front to sell
stolen jewelry,

yet you said nothing about it.

That's right.

Who else was involved
with Addison

in fencing and selling
stolen goods?

I don't know.

Honestly, I don't.

TRAGG:
Oh, I think we can manage

to find that out.

Down at police headquarters,
Miss Bentley.

I'm sorry to inform you,
but you're under arrest,

as an accomplice in the robbery
of Slade and Company.

If you please.

Uh, just a minute, Tragg.

Did you just follow them here?

Oh, no, no, I dropped
over to have a talk

with you about
James Kincannon.

Well, with all the things
Miss Bentley has just told us,

I doubt if you'll still
be so anxious to see our client.

Oh, we're seeing
Kincannon right now.

Down at police headquarters.

( dramatic theme playing )

Well?

That's him.
Number three.

TRAGG ( over PA ):
Kincannon, step forward.

MAN ( over PA ):
He's the one.
I'm positive.

All right, sergeant.

Tragg, what's this all about?

Who is that man?

Jack Shaw.

Address, Las Vegas.

His, uh, profession?
Expert jewelry thief.

That's the man
who supplied Addison

with some of the stolen jewelry
he sold through Slade's.

Then what about Kincannon?

Why are you holding him?

Well, we'll hold up
on the robbery charges,

I suppose,

but what we want him tried for

is the m*rder of his partner.

Partner? You mean Addison?

James Kincannon
knew that Addison

was stealing that jewelry.

They may have planned
it together, who knows?

He must have waited for Addison
to come back with the stuff,

wrestled it away from him
and then k*lled him.

Tragg, of all the wild theories
you've ever had--

That man Shaw is the man

who gave Addison
the stolen jewelry to sell,

but he just identified
your client, James Kincannon,

as the man who paid off
for the stolen jewelry.

Now, uh, what was that about
a "wild theory," counselor?

( dramatic theme swells )

After you purchased
this expensive brooch

at Slade and Company,
Mrs. Cartwright,

what happened when you
tried to have it insured?

The insurance company
informed me

I'd bought some stolen gems,

that had been put in my brooch.

BURGER:
But could you tell us,
Mrs. Cartwright,

what induced you to go
to Slade's in the first place?

Induced?

James Kincannon recommended it.

In fact, he almost pleaded
with me to go there.

That's what induced me.

Thank you, Mrs. Cartwright,
that'll be all.

Your witness, counselor.

Uh, Mrs. Cartwright,

even though the defendant
did recommend Slade's to you,

and Slade's is, after all,

one of the top jewelry
houses in the city,

he never told you
what to buy, did he?

Well, no.

Do you still consider
it wrong of him

to have, uh, picked up
badly needed extra money

by merely suggesting
to his family's friends

that they shop at Slade's?

Yes.

Most decidedly
and emphatically wrong.

MASON:
Thank you, Mrs. Cartwright.

That'll be all.

Well, I guess it was
about seven months ago.

After I deliver this hot
stuff to Addison, he--

He calls me and tells me to meet
this guy in a place in Vegas.

So it was in Las Vegas that
"this guy," as you call him,

met you and paid you
for the stolen jewelry?

Yeah, five grand.

And is "this guy"
in court, Mr. Shaw?

Can you identify him?

That's him, James Kincannon.

That's all. Your witness.

When my client was arrested,

he was returning from Las Vegas.

Now, he'd gone there the night
of the m*rder looking for you,

but you weren't there, were you?

No, I was out of town.

According to my client,

a man named Harry Slade lost

$ to you
in a Las Vegas card game.

Now, that Las Vegas meeting,

seven months ago, Mr. Shaw,

wasn't that when
my client gave you

$ to pay off
Harry Slade's gambling debt?

SHAW:
You're out of your mind.

Gambling debt?

He gave me five grand
to pay off for hot jewelry.

Period.

Well, it was shortly before
: on the evening when--

When Mr. Addison was m*rder*d,

that he phoned me at the shop.

I had not quite
finished cataloging

the new stock that
had arrived that day,

but he suggested that I go home.

And it-- It puzzled me.

BURGER:
Really? Why, Mr. Whitehead?

With all due respect,

Mr. Addison was never
particularly concerned about

the number of hours he requested

the staff to work overtime.

BURGER:
And yet on this one night,

even though you had not
completed your inventory,

on this night he asked
you to leave the shop

and go home at once?
Is that correct?

That's right.

I did so about
five minutes later.

Thank you, Mr. Whitehead.
Your witness.

Mr. Whitehead, you were present
when the defendant,

accompanied
by Mr. Horace Welling

and myself,
visited the shop?

Yes, sir.

Uh, Mr. Welling came to appraise
the Kincannon collection.

MASON:
Isn't it possible that
during that appraisal,

the defendant handled
that particular jewel box?

And in doing so placed
his fingerprints on it?

Well, yes, I'm certain that he--

Oh, no.

No, I-I'm sorry, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Kincannon couldn't have
handled the necklace case.

Why not, Mr. Whitehead?

Because I personally took
the case from the stand

and gave the necklace
to Mr. Welling.

And then I put the case
back on the stand.

Yes. Yes, I'm sure of it.

MASON:
Thank you, Mr. Whitehead.
That's all.

And after you had fixed

the burglar alarm wires
in the afternoon,

and after Mr. Whitehead
had been sent home

so that the store was empty,

it was then
Karl Addison himself,

despite his temporary blindness,

who stole
the Kincannon Collection?

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Ms. Bentley.

Mr. Mason.

When did you last
see Karl Addison?

On the night of his death.

You went to the penthouse?

Yes. Around : .

You had a key,
you let yourself in?

Yes.

Did he have any other visitors
while you were there?

ADELE:
No.

MASON:
Was he expecting anyone?

No.

What time did you leave?

Around .
A few minutes after.

Then you were there
when Addison phoned

Mr. Whitehead at the shop?

ADELE:
Yes.

The day after the robbery
and the m*rder,

you didn't go back
to work after lunch. Why?

I was scared.

Because you had participated
in a robbery?

Yes.

Are you sure you left
Karl Addison's apartment

at : ?

I didn't k*ll him.
I swear it!

I loved him.

No further questions
at this time.

And there was already
a search on

for Kincannon before
Homicide got into it.

Before they called me
to look at the m*rder apartment.

Where was the defendant
apprehended, lieutenant?

The highway patrol stopped him.

He was driving back
from Las Vegas.

Thank you, lieutenant.
Your witness.

Uh, lieutenant, you testified
there was evidence

of a struggle inside
the m*rder apartment.

That's correct.

A chair had been overturned,
a lamp broken.

MASON:
And in your opinion,
the struggle continued

outside onto the roof garden?

Yes, that's right.

Isn't it possible
that during the struggle

the case containing
the Kincannon necklace fell

to the floor of the roof garden,

spilling it's contents?

TRAGG:
Well, I suppose it's possible.

The struggle over, the k*ller
could then have picked up

the necklace and the rest
of the collection and, um,

left the case lying there
on the floor.

Yes, sir. It could have
all happened just that way.

Except, we found
the jewelry case inside

the locked apartment.

Yes, lieutenant.
We did, didn't we.

Mr. Sassano,

you reside in the same apartment
building as the deceased.

Is that correct?
Yes, sir.

Could you tell the court please

what happened to you
when you arrived

at that apartment building
on the night of the m*rder?

As I walked into the lobby,

a man suddenly got out
of the private elevator

from the penthouse.

We-- We almost collided,
as a matter of fact.

He was in sort of a hurry,
I'd say.

The medical examiner
said the time of death

was between and
in the evening.

Now, could you tell us, please,
at exactly what time

you nearly ran into this man?

I was little late getting home

and I happened to look
at my watch.

It was exactly
five minutes of .

Mr. Sassano.
Yes, sir?

Is that man in court today?

Yes, sir.

Right over there.

The defendant.

BURGER:
Thank you, Mr. Sassano.

Your witness.

Now, let's get this straight,
Mr. Slade.

Are we to understand
that you also

were at the Addison apartment
on the night of the m*rder?

Yes.

I don't recall the exact time.

It was around : .

That's very interesting.
Go on.

The apartment was dark.

I rang the bell
a number of times,

but there was no reply.

I was concerned.

Mr. Addison had just returned
from the hospital.

So, what did you do?

I went to a phone booth across
the street and I phoned him.

He said he had been asleep.

I apologized for disturbing him,

but told him I wanted to discuss
some information I'd received

from the insurance company.

Well, he said he
was tired and weak

and couldn't it wait
until morning.

I agreed.
Go on, sir.

I walked back to my car

and was about to drive away

when another car
pulled up in front

of Addison's
apartment house building.

The driver got out.

He went inside.

And did you recognize
the driver of the other car?

Yes.

It was James Kincannon.

And what did you do then,
Mr. Slade?

Well, I was curious.

Besides, I wanted
to talk to Mr. Kincannon,

to discuss this business about
steering customers into my shop.

So I waited for him.

You waited for the defendant.

How long was he inside
the building?

Oh, five minutes or so.

I called to him
when he came out,

but he didn't hear me.

And by the time I had crossed
the street, he had driven off.

Now, let's see.

Addison was k*lled
between : and : .

At : you talked
with Addison on the phone.

At : you saw
the defendant

arrive at the apartment
building and go inside,

and at : you saw him
come out of the building

and drive away.

Is that your testimony, sir?

That is right.

TRAGG:
Thank you, Mr. Slade.

Your witness.

JUDGE:
Gentlemen, it's just about

time for adjournment.

The court will recess
until : tomorrow morning.

( dramatic theme playing )

( dramatic theme swells )

( dramatic theme playing )

How did you time out?

One minute, seconds. You?

Well, that elevator
to Addison's penthouse is slower

than the slow boat
to you know where.

Two minutes, seconds,

street to lobby,
lobby to rooftop.

Overall time, : .

Which is slicing it pretty thin.
I know.

Still, the struggle could
have been over very quickly.

Yeah, but it doesn't
give the k*ller

much time to get away.

Well, suppose he didn't.
At least, not then.

k*ller heard the elevator,
ducked back into penthouse.

Kincannon came along--
Just as he said.

--stumbled over the empty case,
picked it up,

and tossed it in front
of the doors

just before he left.

Well, then you figure
the k*ller had to be there

to see Kincannon
handle the case.

After which the k*ller planted
it inside the apartment.

How else could it have been?

One thing's for sure,
part of Slade's story is true.

( dramatic theme playing )

It happened exactly
as I testified.

I did phone Mr. Addison
from the phone booth

and I did see
James Kincannon go inside.

About, uh, five minutes elapsed

from the moment you completed
your call until the arrival

of James Kincannon
at the apartment house?

If it please the court--

Your Honor, I intend to show

that the m*rder took place

within those five minutes

and that Addison was dead

before my client
arrived on the scene.

Go on, Mr. Mason.

Now, Mr. Slade,

you went up to Addison's,
uh, penthouse

before you made that call?

Yes, around : .

MASON:
When you got to the penthouse,
was there a light inside?

SLADE:
No. The place was dark.

Now, you recall when
we visited the penthouse

the following morning,

we found evidence of a struggle
on the roof garden?

Well, that's right.

I didn't see all of that
when I was up there at : .

You then went downstairs to make
a call from a phone booth.

Now, during the time you
were in the phone booth,

did you see anyone enter
or leave that building?

SLADE:
No.

MASON:
After you had
completed your call,

you then walked
back to your car.

Did you see anyone enter
or leave during that time?

No. It was after I got in my car

and was about to drive away

that I saw Jim Kincannon
come up and go inside.

MASON:
Then aside from Mr. Sassano,
who lives there,

you saw nobody
but James Kincannon

go in or out
of that building?

That's right.

Now, Mr. Slade,

let's consider the facts
as you've related them.

At : , when you called
on Mr. Addison,

you found no signs of a struggle

and the penthouse doors
were locked?

That's right.

About ten minutes later,
you spoke to Mr. Addison.

He must have been alive then

and he must have been inside
the locked penthouse?

Yes, I-- I would assume so.

Now, those penthouse doors
could be locked only

by hand-closing the bolt
from inside the apartment

or by using a key
from the outside.

Is that correct?
Yes.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I--
I know you're right.

Mr. Addison often kept valuable
merchandise in the apartment.

The special lock
was a safety precaution.

On the morning after the m*rder,

I was with you
and Sergeant Ferris

when we found
the empty jewelry case

with Kincannon's
fingerprints on it

inside the apartment.

Now, how did we get into
the apartment, Mr. Slade?

Well, it was locked, and uh--

Well, I unlocked it.

With your key?

Yes.

Your Honor,

I would like to interrupt
the testimony of this witness

to recall Lieutenant Tragg.

Yes. Kincannon left
the building just before .

Our investigation shows that
he drove straight to Las Vegas.

Now, the struggle that started
inside the penthouse

and continued out
onto the roof garden

must have occurred after : .

Is that correct?
Yes.

Not before
James Kincannon's arrival,

not after he departed,

but in what was left
of the five or seven minutes

he was in the building,

not including
the time it took him

to go up and down
in a slow elevator?

That's the way
it must have been.

Lieutenant, did James Kincannon

have a key to that penthouse?

We searched him,
his car and his home,

looking for the jewels.

No, he didn't have such a key.

The dead man, did he have
his key when you found him?

Yes.

Now, if James Kincannon
k*lled Addison,

would you please tell me,
Lieutenant,

how his fingerprints
got on that empty jewel case

found inside
a locked penthouse?

Why would he put it there?

And why--?
Or better still,

how could he have
locked that door?

Well, I, uh--

I guess I don't know.

Addison had a key,
Mr. Slade had a key, and--

TRAGG:
And Adele Bentley had a key.

Yes. When I left at ,

I locked the door behind me.

Now, this is important,
Ms. Bentley.

As one of the three people
who had a key to that apartment,

did you or did you not return
to that apartment?

Your Honor, I must protest
these harassing tactics.

Since when is it harassment
to prove a point?

BURGER:
Well, you've already done that,
Mr. Mason. Beautifully.

You've proved that your client
has to be the m*rder*r.

Would you clarify that,
Mr. Burger?

Certainly, Your Honor.

The simple facts are these:

Adele Bentley left the penthouse
at pm and did not return.

Point number two:

Mr. Slade visited
there at : ,

but saw no signs of a struggle.

Point number three:

Mr. Slade phoned
Mr. Addison at : .

Thus, proving that
at least at :

Mr. Addison was still alive.

Point number four:

Even Mr. Mason admits
that his client

was there between : and : .

And point number five:

Between : and :

Mr. Slade had the front entrance
to the apartment

under constant surveillance.

During that time
only one person

went up to the penthouse
and came down again.

And that one person
was James Kincannon.

Any comment, Mr. Mason?

Your Honor, everything
Mr. Burger says is quite true

with one exception.

There was another way
to reach that penthouse.

( laughs )

Your Honor, even if someone
had landed there by helicopter--

One moment, Mr. Burger.

What other way to the penthouse
were you about to describe?

The way Mr. Addison himself
got to the penthouse

after he had committed
the robbery.

Over the rooftops.

And if a blind man could do it,
why not someone else?

You may go ahead with your
examination, Mr. Mason.

Now, Ms. Bentley,

you and the rest
of the staff at Slade's

took inventory
after the robbery.

What records did you use?

A card index system.

Did those cards include the new
stock received the day before?

Was every item listed?

Why, yes.

But Mr. Whitehead testified

that he did not complete
cataloging the new stock

the night of the m*rder,

that he went home early at :

on Mr. Addison's orders.

That's right. I did

Isn't it possible,
Mr. Whitehead,

that you stayed on that night
to finish the cataloging?

Isn't it possible that you were
an eyewitness when Addison--

Even though he was blind.

--stole the Kincannon
Collection?

Isn't it possible
that you and only you,

got into the penthouse
without being seen by Mr. Slade?

No. No!

You could have done it by
following the blind Addison.

You could have slipped
into the penthouse

when he was on the phone
with Mr. Slade.

A third of a million dollars
in jewelry

already stolen by someone else.

Was the temptation
too much for you?

Didn't you take the jewelry,
k*ll Addison,

then try to frame Kincannon

after he had come up
to the roof garden

after he had handled
the empty jewelry case?

Only one thing I don't
understand, Mr. Whitehead:

Addison was blind.

He couldn't see you.

Why did you have to k*ll him?

He heard me take
the necklace from the case.

He grabbed me.

He recognized my voice
when I cried out.

I had to.

Understand?

I had to k*ll him.

( dramatic theme swells )

Whitehead had just struck
Addison down when Jimmy came up.

He dragged Addison
inside the apartment

and saw you handle
the jewelry case.

In his panic, Whitehead tried
desperately to frame Jimmy.

PAUL:
However, when he locked
the jewelry case inside

the apartment with Addison's key
and then put the key back

in Addison's pocket before
he threw him off the roof,

he made an awful mistake.

Well, I understand that,

but what bothers me
is the testimony

of that man Shaw
from Las Vegas.

But all the things the police
blame you for, Jimmy,

were done or--
Or started by Harry.

MASON:
Yes, I'm afraid it was Harry

who was involved with Addison
in fencing stolen jewelry.

Harry also embezzled
his own company's money.

Jim became involved
only because--

Only because he was a very

good friend to your son.

I'm afraid I have
a lot to make up for.

To both of you.

( noirish jazz theme swells )

( noirish jazz theme playing )