01x39 - The Case of the Rolling Bones

[bunniefuu]

Excuse me, please.

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

Well,
who's calling Mr. Scott?

Oh. Well, just a moment.

It's for you.
Herb Walker at the bank.

Hmm.

If he wants you to play cards
Wednesday night, you can't.

Yes, Herb?

Listen, Willard,

a woman just walked
in the bank

with a check signed
by your Uncle Daniel.

It's payable to M. Lewis.

It's for $20,000.

$20,000?

There's a girl at the bank

with a check from
Uncle Daniel for $20,000.

Mr. Walker,
this is Mrs. Scott.

Mmm-hmm.

Don't cash that check.

I don't care about
your legal obligations.

Just tell her there's
no money in the account.

Or better still,
tell her the truth.

Tell her Daniel Reed's
as crazy as they come.

Somebody mention my name?

Is that for me?

Thank you.

Hello? This is Daniel Reed.

Who's talking at your end?

I see. You know something,
Mr. Walker?

I don't like the way
you run your bank.

I'm afraid I'll have to
move my account elsewhere.

Now, you go ahead
and cash that check.

I always say
it's nice to do business
with an old established firm.

I may be back soon.

What's keeping the girl?

Bank closed an hour ago.

Relax, Kemp.

Donna knows
what she's doing.

Has she ever had her hooks
on $20,000 before?

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Trouble with you, Kemp,
is you've got
a suspicious mind.

Did you have
any trouble?
Not a bit.

[EXCLAIMING]
Did you ever see anything
so pretty in all your life?

There's $5,000
in each of those packages.

Hmm, that makes it
nice and convenient.

One, two, three,
four, five.

That's for you.


Uh-huh.

You said we were gonna
split 50-50.

I guess I can't be trusted.

If you think you're
gonna double-cross me...

I wouldn't do anything
foolish, Mr. Kemp.

Hey, don't you want this?

What's he sore about?

Come here, honey.
How'd I do?

Oh, you were magnificent.

You know something,
sweetie?

We're going to be
on easy street.

Go on.
Well, that's all
there is to it.

I just felt you people
oughta know the score

before Maury Lewis
and his girlfriend

take your uncle
for every dime they have.

Well, it... Sweetie.

Oh, I'm sorry.

And just why was Mr. Reed
paying this blackmail?

That I couldn't tell you.

Lewis only hired me
to find Mr. Reed.

Naturally,
when I found out

they were gonna
shake him down,
I bowed out.

Well, I certainly appreciate
you coming, Mr. Kemp.

I don't know what
we can do about this.

I do.

How is he, Doctor?

You have no need to
disturb yourself, Mr. Scott.

Your uncle's
perfectly all right.

I must say he's rather
strong for a man of his age.

And quite obviously suffering
from senile dementia.

You said he's been giving
money to absolute strangers?

Well, the other day he gave...
ARLENE: That's right.

A couple of days ago
he gave away $20,000.

Well,
how did he explain it?

He couldn't.

He became absolutely
violent when I asked him.

When did you first notice
that Mr. Reed was behaving,

shall we say, childishly?

Well, it's been going along
for some time now, Doctor.

Why, for months he's lost
his temper about nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

FOSTER: Daniel Reed
is the easiest going
man in the world.

I never saw him
lose his temper
as long as I know him.

And that's more years than
a lady likes to remember.

So when I heard
that his nephew,
Willard,

and that wife of his

railroaded Daniel
into a sanitarium,

I figured it was up to me
to do something.

Are you related
to Daniel Reed,
Miss Foster?

Well, I'm his, uh...

Fiancé.
Is that how you say it?

Well, anyway,

we was planning
on getting hitched.

Well, why not?

I'm no spring chicken,

but Daniel and me
got a lot in common.

We can talk together.

How many young folks
can do that?

You got a point there.

Tell me, did you speak
to the doctor in charge
of the sanitarium?

Yeah, but for all
the good it did me,

I could have been
talking to myself.

Oh, this Dr. Norris
is a real brain.

Any day now, I expect
he's gonna write a book.

He kept posing for
his picture on the cover.

He even smoked a pipe
that would photograph well.

Tell me,
what did the doctor say

about Mr. Reed's condition?

He said that Daniel had...

Wait a minute,
I've got it written down.

He said Daniel had
"Senile dementia

"evidenced by arcus senilis,"
whatever that means.

Well, what about it,
Mr. Mason?

I gotta spring Daniel
out of that coop.

All right, Miss Foster,

arcus senilis, huh?

Della, we'll get out
a petition for a writ
of habeas corpus.

I want to present it
to Judge Treadwell.

I'd be interested
in His Honor's opinion.

Uh, Mr. Mason?

My name is Lewis,
Maury Lewis.

I'm an old friend
of Daniel Reed.

Oh?

If there's anything
I can do to spring him,

just let me know.

Well, thank you.
Thank you very much.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

Hello, Miss Foster.

Now, don't you worry.

Reading the return to
the writ of habeas corpus,

I understand
you were the one

who arranged for your uncle,
Daniel Reed,

to enter Dr. Norris'
sanitarium.

Is that correct?

Yes, Your Honor.

You see, he had exhibited
certain symptoms
that led me to believe...

Are you a doctor, Mr. Scott?

No, sir.

Then let's wait for
the experts to testify.

Did you ask your uncle
if he wanted to go to
a sanitarium?

No, sir. You see,
my wife and I thought

he was in no condition
to give an answer.

TREADWELL: Was he conscious?
SCOTT: Yes, sir.

And did he make any objections
to entering the sanitarium?

Well, yes.

And how was
that objection overcome?

Two male nurses
carried him in.

I see.

Well, that's all.
You may step down.

May it please the court...
TREADWELL: Yes, Mr. Metcalf?

I can understand
Your Honor's desire

to question
the witness himself.

I certainly don't dispute
your right to do so.

Thank you, Counselor.

However, as attorney
for Willard Scott,

I have a showing
I'd like to make.

I feel entitled
at this time to...

Your opportunity
is now at hand.

May I see Daniel Reed?

He's not here, sir.

The court order reads
that he be produced.

We understand, Your Honor.

Mr. Reed is physically
unable to attend.

We have Dr. Norris present
to testify on that point.

Very well. Let him testify.

On examination,
I found Daniel Reed

to be a man of approximately


and apparently suffering
from senile dementia.

He was
incoherent in his speech
and violent in his actions.

Was there anything else
you noticed

at the time of your
examination of the patient?

Yes, there was a well-defined
arcus senilis

on the pupil
of the right eye.

That is due to
a higher-line degeneration

of the lamellae
and cells of the cornea.

In your experience, Doctor,

just what does
an arcus senilis indicate?

In my opinion,
it is indicative

of the first stages
of senile dementia.

And it was at your suggestion
that Mr. Reed was not brought
into court?

It was at my positive orders,
Mr. Metcalf.

The patient in his
present nervous state
would be highly excited

and I did not
want to be responsible

for the results following
an appearance here.

Thank you, Doctor.

Your witness.

Excuse me, Doctor.
Did I understand you to say

the patient was incoherent
when you first saw him?

He was.
And he was
excited and angry?

Violently.

And from that you immediately
diagnosed senile dementia?

There were other symptoms
as well.

I see.

Uh,

isn't there a similar
disease called, uh,

dementia praecox?

That is hardly the same
as senile dementia.

Of course.

Of course, in the cases
of dementia praecox,

the patient usually seems
completely indifferent
to his fate.

That is correct.

All right.

Let's see
where that leaves us.

A man, 71,
is taken out for a drive

by a trusted nephew.

He suddenly finds himself
at your sanitarium,

where he is dragged
out of the car

by two male nurses
and taken in hand.

Yet you found him
angry and incoherent.

Now, wouldn't that state
of mind be perfectly natural?

That depends
on the circumstances.

Then if he hadn't been angry,

you would have found him
indifferent

and diagnosed his condition
as dementia praecox.

You're deliberately
distorting my testimony.

You have no right.
Now, now, Doctor,
don't you get angry.

Mr. Reed did
and you said he was senile.

I've already testified that
there were other symptoms
as well.

Arcus senilis, for one.

Yes, of course you did.

Now, uh...

Doctor,
would you mind describing

that particular condition
again for the court?

An arcus senilis appears

as a crescent shaped ring

in the outer periphery
of the cornea.

A crescent shaped ring.

You mean like the ring
in Judge Treadwell's eye?

Of course, an arcus senilis

is not in itself
indicative of a psychosis.

It's just a symptom
to be evaluated with others.

I appreciate that, Doctor.

In other words,

if I kicked up a row
when I was shanghaied

and you noticed
this thing in my eye,

you would have said
I was senile.

Are there any more
questions, Counselor?

No, Your Honor.

I think this examination
has gone far enough

and I'm not at all impressed
with Dr. Norris' reasons

for Mr. Reed's
not being here as ordered.

The court is forthwith going
to Dr. Norris' sanitarium

to examine the patient.

If necessary, we will retain
some reputable psychiatrist

to pass upon
Mr. Reed's condition.

Court is adjourned
until 2:00 this afternoon,

when we will reconvene
at the sanitarium.

The bailiff will arrange
transportation.

I can't understand
what's keeping them,

unless the patient
is being difficult.

He should have been down...

Where is Mr. Reed?

I don't know. He escaped.

He escaped?

He told one of the attendants
he had a sick headache
at noon.

That was Walsh.

Go on.

Well, when Walsh
arrived with the aspirin,

the patient was waiting
behind the door

and he hit him over the head
with a sock.

A sock?

It had a large bar
of soap in it.

Well, how did he get out
of the building?

He switched uniforms with
Walsh and he locked Walsh
in the room.

And nobody tried to stop him
on his way out?

Well,
the receptionist tried to,

but he told her
he was a new laundry man

and couldn't find
the service entrance.

He'd pulled the sheets
off the bed to make
his story look good.

If Your Honor please,
call it what they may,

no one can say
Mr. Reed was incompetent

in managing this affair.

I quite agree with you,
Counselor.

The writ of habeas corpus
is granted.

Your Honor...

As for you, Doctor,
you'll be ordered
to appear and show cause

why you should not be found
guilty of contempt of court.

If Your Honor would
permit me to explain...

You'll have your chance,
Doctor.

But, Your Honor,
believe me when I tell you

that nothing like this
ever happened before.

I think we'd better go.

I don't think
you'll make Mrs. Scott's
list of favorite people.

Thank you so much,
Mr. Mason.

Those thanks may be
a little premature.

Have you any idea where
Daniel Reed will go now?

Well?

Let me know the minute
you hear from him.

Holly 2-6231.

Hello? Hello,
is this you, Millie?

Daniel. Where are you?

DANIEL: I can't talk now.

But, honey, you have
nothing to worry about.

Didn't you see the papers?

I hired Perry Mason
to spring you out
of that squirrel cage.

You don't have to go back.

Well, that's good to hear.

FOSTER: You sound strange.

Listen, Daniel,

Maury Lewis
was in court today.

Oh. We can talk
about that later.

Meet me at our usual place
in 20 minutes.

Are you sure
there's nothing wrong?

Oh, everything's fine.

Hello.

I'll have your laundry
back on Tuesday, Mr. Lewis.

ARLENE: It's all your fault.

If you hadn't convinced
the judge that Uncle Daniel
was in his right mind,

none of this
would have happened.

They would have stopped him
before he k*lled
an innocent man.

Now, honey...
Sweetie.

The man's a maniac.

And you let him go.

Now what are you
going to do about it?

I don't know, Mrs. Scott.

I'll have to talk
to my client first.

Have you any idea
where I can find Mr. Reed?

Why don't you ask
Millie Foster?

Willard, sweetie,
let's go.

We've got to find Uncle Daniel
a decent lawyer.

Fortunately, this city
has many able attorneys.

[DOOR CLOSING]

I don't think you'll make
her list of favorite people,
either.

Whatever gave you
that idea?

You know, I'm surprised
Lieutenant Tragg hasn't
been hammering on our door

demanding to know
where we've hidden
Daniel Reed.

He'll be around.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Hi.

MASON: No luck?

Millie Foster
has definitely skipped.

She has not been home
all night.

Then she must have gone
with Reed.

But where?
That's the problem.

I got hold of the teller
at Reed's bank.

A $20,000 check was made
payable to Maury Lewis.

And there's our motive.

The district attorney
will claim that

Lewis has been
blackmailing Reed.

[INTERCOM BUZZING]
There's no getting around...

Yes, Gertie?

Do you want to
talk to a Dave Kemp?

Dave Kemp?

He's a private investigator.
At least, he used to be.

He lost his license
about six months ago.

Put him on, Gertie.

Hello?

Mason?
Got a little tip for you.

You oughta talk to a girl
called Donna Knox.

Donna Knox? Why?

She used to be
Maury Lewis' girl.

Or so he thought.

Well, do I have to
draw you a diagram?

Hardly.

Do you happen to know
her address?



Thank you very much.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Come in.

Miss Knox?

That's right.

My name is Tragg,
Lieutenant Tragg.
I'm with the police.

It's all right.

I'd like to talk to you
about Maury Lewis.

Go ahead and talk.

How well did you know him?

I was his girl.

Would you happen to know
why Daniel Reed gave him
$20,000?

He liked him.

I wish you'd cooperate,
Miss Knox.

I understand how you feel.

Do you, Lieutenant?

You know what it feels like
when somebody suddenly
cuts out your insides?

Maury wasn't the greatest
guy in the world.

Far from it,
he was a heel,
but he was mine.

Then I'm sure
you'd want his m*rder*r

to get everything
that's coming to him.

Are you kidding?
You haven't even
found him yet.

Well, I will,
I promise you.

Can you promise me
he'll die?

No.

Mason claims Reed was crazy
when he k*lled Maury.

We know Reed
was perfectly sane
and we can prove it,

but we need your help.

If Maury Lewis really
meant anything to you...

Shut up.

What do you think I've been
drinking this stuff for,
'cause I like it?

They say
it helps you forget.

It doesn't work for me.

Would you talk to Mr. Burger?

I'll talk to the devil

if it'll put Maury's k*ller
in the gas chamber.

And I wanna be there
when they drop the pellets.

Come in, Perry.

Hello, Lieutenant.
This is Perry Mason,
Donna.

If it wasn't for you,
Maury would be here now.

They would have
caught that lunatic.

You're wrong, Miss Knox.

Get out of here.

Get out.

How did it go
or shouldn't I ask?

Tragg got there ahead of me.

Heard anything
more from Paul?

Yes, he's getting
together a complete
dossier on Daniel Reed.

He's also waiting
for more word

from his contact
in Fairbanks, Alaska.

[INTERCOM BUZZING]

Yes, Gertie?

Personally?

Long distance, Reno.
Mrs. Frank Sebastian?

I don't know any Mrs...

Wait a minute.

Put her through, Gertie.

Hello?

Mr. Mason?

You know who this is?

Yes, I do.
Where are you?

Miramar Hotel?

MASON: Is our friend with you?

Yeah.

I convinced him that
he oughta talk to you,

but he says he won't
go back to Los Angeles

and he won't
give himself up.

Get hold of Paul right away.

Book two tickets
on the next flight to Reno.

Mrs. Sebastian, you stay
right where you are.

I'll be up to see you
in three or four hours.

Stop gulping your food
like that, Daniel.

You know
what it does to you.

I always said
no one can pour
coffee like you, Millie.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Daniel.

I'm not letting
anyone sneak up on me.

Mr. Mason, this is Daniel.

It's about time we met.

You're a hard man
to keep up with, Mr. Reed.

You should have seen me
when I was 60.

I'm going to arrange
for you to surrender
to the authorities.

What did you say?

MASON: I want you
to give yourself up.

That's what I thought.

Coffee, gentlemen?
No, thank you.

Well.

Looks like I really got
myself into a mess, huh?

Looks like.

Who do you think
k*lled Maury Lewis?

Why did you give him
$20,000?

He's an old friend
and he needed money.

Lewis was in court
on the day of the hearing.

He told me he'd
do anything to get you
out of that sanitarium.

Well, I said
he was an old friend.

No, he wanted you out
so he could bleed you.

Now, what did he have on you?

You've gotta tell him, Daniel.
If you don't, I will.

I mean it.

Well, Lewis knew
that I was partners

with a young fellow
named Monty Sewel


Alaska.

That's where I met Millie.

Go on.

Well, Sewel and I
struck it rich.

And when I say rich,
I mean we got ourselves
a gold mine.

And that's no joke.

But that wasn't enough
for Sewel.

He wanted it all.

Well, sir, one night when
I was pretending to be asleep,

he tried to sh**t me.

Obviously he didn't succeed.

No, I was a little
faster than we was.

Now you know that's
how it happened, Millie.

What did you do
with Sewel's body?

I buried it in the snow
and I told folks that he had
to go to Seattle on business,

and then a few days later,
Millie and I cleared out
of Alaska.

And nobody questioned
Sewel's disappearance?

No.

It was my disappearance
that confused them.

You see, I bought a boat
ticket in Sewel's name.

I even used his name
when I married Millie.

Then officially,
you're Mr. and Mrs. Sewel.

Millie walked out on me
during the honeymoon.

See, she got mad at me
because I wouldn't
let her go to the police.

We didn't see each other
again for 30 years.

Well, that explains
almost everything.

Except how Maury Lewis
fits into the picture.

Lewis bought the old shack
that Sewel and I owned
up in Alaska.

He found Sewel's body and
figured out what happened.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Am I intruding?

Well, it seems I'm running
into you wherever I go.

Yes, so it would seem.

We realize that this
is the state of Nevada,

but if you want us
to waste time
arranging extradition...

That won't be necessary.
Mr. Reed will cooperate.

Oh, no, I won't.

We have nothing to hide.
Do we, Mr. Reed?

Okay, Lieutenant.

I guess
that won't be necessary.

Take care of yourself,
honey.

I'd better get ready.

What do you think?

It's amazing.
Tragg showed up
right on our heels.

He also b*at me
to Donna Knox.

Maybe he's been
reading your mail.

Whatever they're doing,
I have a feeling

they know exactly
what's going on in our office.

And if Burger
is in on this pipeline,

I'm really going to
confuse him.

Paul, I want you to call
your answering service
in Los Angeles.

Have them send one of your men
out to see Della tonight
at her apartment.

How about Faulkner?
He'll do.

He's to tell her
I'll call the office
tomorrow morning, 9:30 sharp.

She's not to pay any
attention to whatever I say,

she's just to answer
accordingly.

I got it.
You're gonna wait for Millie?

Yeah, sure.

[INTERCOM BUZZING]

Yes, Gertie?

Line one? Thank you.

Hello, Perry, how are you?

Yes, I heard from Paul.

Well, Tragg took Daniel Reed
back to Los Angeles

earlier this morning.

I put Millie
on the same plane.

We'll be in on flight 12.

Uh, Perry, did you find out

why Mr. Reed was being
blackmailed by Maury Lewis?

Maury Lewis' real name
is Monty Sewel.

Lewis' real name
was Monty Sewel?

It doesn't seem possible.

Well, it's true.

If you'll notice,
"Lewis" spelled backwards
is very much like "Sewel."

MASON: Reed and Sewel
were partners in a gold claim

near Fairbanks, Alaska.

Sewel was cheated out of his
share of the claim by Reed.

What do you know?

Of course, I don't have
to tell you not to breathe
a word of this to anyone.

If it gets out,

Reed will go right
to the gas chamber.

Don't worry, Perry,
I'll be as silent
as the grave.

Good girl.

We'll be in the office
around 6:00.

Well,

that ought to keep Burger
going around in circles.

That was my intention.
Come on.

Perry.

What a nice surprise.

What's the trouble?

Did you make up that story
about Monty Sewel

and Maury Lewis
being the same person?

Why?

Because they are. It's true.
Every Last word of it.

Burger checked it out
and Sewel is Lewis.

Or was Lewis.
You know what I mean.

The Alaskan police made
positive identification
from his fingerprints.

He served six months
for as*ault in 1927.

It isn't possible.

I was right there
when you made it up.

I recall one part
of my story in particular.

I said,
"If it ever gets out,

"Reed will go right
to the gas chamber."

Come on.

Hiya, Counselor.

How are you, Daniel?

Couldn't be better.
Sit down.

Preliminary hearing
starts tomorrow.

That's what Millie told me.

Oh, I had lots of company
this morning.

First Millie and then my
nephew, Willard and his wife.

What did they want?

They recommended
another lawyer named Metcalf.

Mr. Metcalf thought I could
get off by claiming insanity.

I told them the only time
my head was addled

was when I went
to live with them.

Metcalf's a good lawyer.

Well, like the fellow said to
the dealer when he got himself
a royal flush,

"I like what I got now."

And I like you.

But that doesn't
alter the situation.

We're in a jam.

I know. It's my fault.

Yes, it is.

Why didn't you tell me
Maury Lewis and Monty Sewel

were one and the same?

I just thought
it would create problems.

What have we got now?

Did you actually think
you k*lled Sewel


I did.

Till three months ago,
when he and that gal
showed up.

Donna Knox?

Yes. Monty always
did fine with the womenfolk.

Did...

Did he do fine with Millie?

You've got to understand
that 30 years ago

Millie was a beautiful
young girl.

Lots of fellows
were interested in her.

Was Millie present the night
you tried to k*ll Sewel?

No.

Did Sewel ever tell you
what happened to him
after you sh*t him?

Yeah, some Indian trappers
found him and nursed him
back to health.

He only lost a couple of toes
from frostbite.

I know it sounds
awful complicated,
Mr. Mason.

Daniel.

As far as the district
attorney is concerned,

our only hope is to make it
even more complicated.

The, uh,
telephone in the room

had been used at


How do you know that,
Lieutenant?

Well, I talked to
the switchboard operator.

And what number was called
from Mr. Lewis' room?

Holly 2-6231.

And in whose name
is that number listed?

Millie Foster.

BURGER:
And did you subsequently
meet this Millie Foster?

Yes, sir,
when we arrested
the defendant in Reno.

She had rented the hotel room
in which Mr. Reed was hiding.

Thank you, Lieutenant.
Cross-examine.

Now, Lieutenant,
how did you discover

that Maury Lewis
and Monty Sewel

were one
and the same person?

Well, we had reason
to believe that the deceased

had at one time been living
near Fairbanks, Alaska,

and we checked
with police there.

Did you check on
Mr. Sewel's movements
after he left Alaska?

Yes, I did.

He bought
a boat ticket to Seattle,

where he married
Millie Foster.

Where did Mr. Sewel go
upon leaving Seattle?

Oh, well, he traveled
quite a bit,

and his last stop before
he came to Los Angeles

was Phoenix,
and he lived

at the Waverly.

Waverly Hotel there
for about six months.

And knowing how
thorough you are, Lieutenant,
I'm sure you must have talked

with the manager
at that hotel.

Oh, yes, sir.

Did he describe
Mr. Sewel for you?

Yes.

Would you please
oblige us with a report
of that conversation?

Well, I asked him
what Mr. Sewel looked like

and he said Mr. Sewel
was a man in his late 60s,

about 5'5".

Weighed around 140 pounds.

Yet we know the victim
was in his early 50s,

almost 6 feet tall
and weighed close to 180.

Yes, sir.

Seems to me, Lieutenant,
that the description
you just gave

fits the defendant, Mr. Reed,

far better than
it does the victim.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

That will be all.

You may stand down.

I call Victor Kowalski
to the stand, please.

Well, sir,
I was carting away
a sand jar on the fifth floor.

Some wise guy broke it.

You see,
there's a sand jar

on every floor
right near the elevator.

Yes, I'm sure I understand.

We have the picture
very clearly, Mr. Kowalski.

You were carrying
a broken sand jar

down the corridor
of the fifth floor.

What happened then?

Well, the door to
Mr. Lewis' room opened,

and some guy came out
in a white uniform
carrying a load of laundry.

Is that man
in the courtroom now?

Yes, sir.

Him.

Let the record show
that the witness
is pointing

at Daniel Reed,
the defendant.

Do you know
what time this was?

Yes, sir.
It was exactly


Twenty-six minutes after 9:00?

But didn't you hear
the doctor testify

that Mr. Lewis d*ed
between 8:00 and 9:00?

Yeah. Well, I figured out

that Mr. Reed said that,
about the laundry, you know,

to make me think
Mr. Lewis was still alive.

I object, Your Honor.
The answer is not responsive.

The district attorney
merely asked the witness

if he heard
the doctor's testimony.

The objection is sustained.

The reporter will strike
the last response.

The witness will only answer
questions asked of him.

Sorry, Judge.

Thank you, Mr. Kowalski.

You may cross-examine.

Now, Mr. Kowalski.

Are you sure
that the defendant

is the man you saw
coming out of the room

that had been occupied
by the deceased?

Oh, absolutely.
I'd know him anywhere.

And the time was?

Exactly 26 minutes
after 9:00.

How can you be so positive?

I looked at my watch.

You're certain that no one
refreshed your memory
on that point?

They didn't have to.
I told you,
I looked at my watch.

It keeps perfect time.

What time is it now?



That's right.

And you consulted
this particular watch

right after the defendant
came out of Mr. Lewis' room?

Yeah,
I told you that before.

So you did.

However,
I would like to know

how you got this particular
watch out of your pocket

at a time you were carrying
a broken sand jar

which must have weighed
at least 60 pounds.

Thank you, Mr. Kowalski.

No further questions.

Yes, I knew my uncle
had some trouble
up in Alaska

with a man
named Monty Sewel.

He told me about it once.

Didn't he also tell you
that he thought he had
k*lled Monty Sewel?

Your Honor, I object.
Counsel is leading
the witness.

Your Honor,
this is a hostile witness.

He's the nephew
of the defendant.
He's refused to testify.

The objection is overruled.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Well, Mr. Scott?

Didn't your uncle
tell you that he thought
he'd k*lled Monty Sewel?

Yes, sir.

Did he also tell you
what they quarreled about?

I don't remember.

But you do remember that when
your uncle finally returned
to Los Angeles,

he was a very
wealthy man.
Yes.

And that he had been
partners with Monty Sewel.
Yes.

And that he thought
he had k*lled him.
Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Scott.
Your witness.

No questions.

Witness may stand down.

I tell you, Perry,
they've got to have
this thing bugged.

And if they do, it's illegal.

You don't think that'd
stop Burger, do you?

Of course I think so.

[INTERCOM BUZZING]

Careful.

Hello?

All right, Gertie,
send him in.

There. That wasn't
too incriminating,
was it?

See you later.

Who is it?

Dave Kemp.

This is Miss Street,
my secretary.

Hello.

Can we have
a little privacy?

Confidential secretary.

All right.

I suppose you're wondering
what I'm doing here.

I have a pretty good idea.

You want to
give me some amm*nit*on
to use against Donna Knox

when she gets on
the stand tomorrow.

You're pretty sharp.

No, it's fairly obvious.
What are you after? Revenge?

Never mind what I'm after.

I got some dope that can
blow this case sky-high.

Monty Sewel had $20,000
in cash on him before he d*ed.

They never found it
in his room.

Now, haven't you
asked yourself the question
what happened to that money?

Several times.

I've also asked myself
what you were doing

at the time
of Sewel's m*rder.

Why didn't you ask me?

I was having a couple
of drinks with Mrs. Scott
at the Kelsey club.

It was business.

Nice that you can
alibi each other.

You got your lumps
coming to you, Mason.

You intend giving them to me?
No, not me.

I'm not in your league.

I'm just advising you
to talk to Donna Knox

and find out what she did
with the 20 G's.

Good night, Mr. Kemp.

He has all the warmth
and charm of a cobra.

Did you get any ideas?

Several.

I'm not going to
cross-examine Donna Knox.

I'll wait till Burger
rests his case,

then I'll put Willard Scott
on the stand
as witness for the defense.

He can testify
to his uncle's incompetency.

Are things that bad?

Bad enough.

But by putting
Scott on the stand,

I may catch Burger off-guard.

After all, Scott was
a witness for the state.

All right, Mr. Burger,
you may call
your next witness.

If Your Honor please,

instead of calling
Donna Knox at this time,

I should like to recall
Willard Scott.

If it please the court...

The district attorney
has concluded

his direct examination
of Mr. Scott.

That's true, Your Honor,
but I now know

that Mr. Scott
is in a position to testify

on certain other matters
pertaining to this case.

Your Honor...
Were these facts
in your possession before?

No, Your Honor.
I discovered only
late last night

the importance
of his testimony.

Then I will permit you
to recall this witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Is Willard Scott in court?

Will you please
take the stand?

May I remind Your Honor that
this is a hostile witness.

Now, Mr. Scott,
on July 25th of this year,

did you drive to a sanitarium
run by a Dr. Norris?

Yes, I did.

And was the defendant,
Daniel Reed,
with you at that time?

Yes, sir.
Would you tell us, please,

why you took your uncle
to a sanitarium?

We...

I thought he needed help.

BURGER: What kind of help?

Well, he's not a young man
and he acted very childishly
at times.

So you just decided
to have him committed?

Yes, sir.

Only his attorney,
Perry Mason,

presented a writ
of habeas corpus

to Judge Treadwell,
is that correct?
Yes, sir.

What was Judge Treadwell's
decision?

He granted
the habeas corpus.

Which means
in effect that your uncle

is responsible for
all his acts and knows
exactly what he's doing.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Scott.
Your witness.

Can you tell us, Mr. Scott,

if you believe now
that your uncle

is in complete possession
of his faculties?

No, I don't.

And as his
only living relative,

you felt it your duty
to look after him.

Yes, sir.

Was it your duty to look
after his money as well?

I don't know
what you're talking about.

That never
entered your mind?
No.

Then why did you
have an attorney
named Richard Rice

draw up
the necessary papers?

It was just something
I thought should be done.

Did your wife
know about this?
Of course.

Then tell us, Mr. Scott.

If your wife did know that
you had retained Mr. Rice,

why did you permit her
to retain another attorney

by the name of George Metcalf
to draw up similar papers?

She thought Metcalf
was a better lawyer.

Yet you went to see Mr. Rice

the day after your meeting
with Metcalf,

and whereas
Mr. Metcalf's petition

provided for you
and Mrs. Scott

to be joint guardians
of Daniel Reed,

you asked Mr. Rice
to make you the sole guardian.

Well, isn't that true?

Yes.

I now ask you, Mr. Scott,

what were you doing
between 8:00 and 9:00
on the night of the m*rder?

I resent this.
I'm not on trial here.

Answer the question.

I was at home with my wife.

No, you weren't.
Your wife was at
the Kelsey club

with a man named Dave Kemp
discussing business.

The manager there identified
her from her photograph.

Now, I ask you once again,
Mr. Scott,

what were you
doing between 8:00 to 9:00
on the night of the m*rder?

I don't remember.

Then I'll tell you.

You drove over
to the Quincy Hotel,

where you k*lled a man
by the name of Monty Sewel.

That's ridiculous.
I didn't even know the man.

But you knew your uncle would
be accused of his m*rder.

And you decided
if you couldn't
gain control

of Daniel Reed's money
by having him committed,

you then wanted to see him
go to the gas chamber.

No.

No, I didn't want him
to go to the gas chamber.

I just thought they'd
put him away someplace.

I wanted to get away
from her.

I wanted it so bad.

You don't know
what it's like

to listen to her nagging
day after day,

night after night.

Sixteen years.

Sixteen years,
and never a minute's peace.

I just wanted

to get away from her,
that's all.

I just wanted to get away.

I have no further questions,
Your Honor.

[CLEARING THROAT]

Well, it's not
out on the terrace.

It must be somewhere
in this room.

I didn't wait
to be announced.

Maybe I can help.

This what you were
looking for?

Cute little gadget,
isn't it?

That thing will pick up
both ends of
a telephone conversation,

plus anything else
that's said in the room.

Well, maybe I owe you
an explanation.

Yes, I think you do.

Well, Burger and I knew
nothing about this.

We had no idea
the place was bugged.

Who was it? Dave Kemp?

I got the story


Kemp got in here one night
last week, planted it,

and has been
feeding information

to an eager beaver
in my department

who told me that
it came from a pet stoolie.

Well, you can see
what Kemp was after.

Sure.

He wanted his license back.

Well, I don't have to tell you
that he won't get it back.

I hope you believe me, Perry.

You know I do.

Now I think you owe me
an explanation.

Who put you on
to Willard Scott?

Process of elimination.

Kemp and Mrs. Scott
had alibis for each other,

Donna Knox had no motive.

She could have taken
that 20 grand.

No.

No, she must have turned
that over to the police.

Burger wouldn't have
put her on the stand
if she'd been vulnerable.

You left out Millie Foster.

She had her chance
at Sewel.



You mean she was the one
that sh*t him?

Daniel Reed was just
covering up for her.

And that brought us
to Willard Scott.

When you told Della
you wanted to call Scott
as your own witness,

you were just playing
that scene for Burger.

How did he like
the performance?

Loved it.

But just make sure
that you don't invite him

the next time that
you're doing a benefit.

[ALL LAUGHING]