All language subtitles for Circumstantial Evidence (1945)

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

[dramatic music]

- Hi, Sam. - Hello, Joe.

- How's the dogs holding up? - Well,

there's no complaints

today, only this one.

Say, what is this you ordered from

Chicago? It weighs like half a ton.

Oh, it's finally got here,

huh? That's for the kid. Pat!

A lot of from New York, too.

Oh, that's the insurance policy. They

okayed it last week.

It's one of those college

education things for Pat.

Oh, that's a swell idea.

Yeah, I'm not taking any chances, Sam.

This kid's gonna get the brakes.

- Hello, Uncle Sam. - Hello, Pat.

- Yes, Pop? - Hey, uh, son.

- For me? - A little

present for Dental Boone.

A present, huh? You

been in trouble again, Pop?

- How do you like this? -

Hey, come on, open it up.

You're keeping Uncle Sam's mails waiting.

Attaboy. It weighs

plenty, whatever it is.

Hey, give me the box.

Ha ha.

- Whoa! - What's my kid?

Don't if they aren't man-sized, too, huh?

Boy, if my beard was a little tougher,

I'd go right in and shave.

Wait till a gang sees this.

- Oh, thanks a million, Pop. - Forget it.

Hey, fellas!

- Pretty good job, huh, Sam? - Yeah.

All boy and perfect, that's it.

I said no, and that's final.

You can say it till you're blue in the

face, but I'm going, too.

Well, we'll just see about that now.

We'll see about that.

You bet we will, of all the idiotic

stunts you ever tried to pull.

Flash.

Last night at 64 Elm Street, the Marty

Hannons had their first

battle royal in years.

- You keep out of this, Joe. - Their

starboarders, Joseph

and Patrick Reynolds,

were asked not to participate. What's

going on here, Agnes?

Marty wants to go on a

fishing trip without me.

And that's final.

- That's what you think. -

What are you, out of your head?

Well, I've got my reasons.

Being perfectly childish.

Oh, you... you gotta go with him, Agnes.

If you know, who's gonna cook for him.

Hey, now, look, Joe, you may be forming

at the plant, but that

don't go in my house.

Well, you big baboon, you

don't know how lucky you are.

Now, if I had a wife like Agnes...

Pat was asking me about his mother today.

He forgot to put the picture back.

Now, whoever heard her going on a

vacation without the wife?

Well, I'll think it over.

Thanks, big-hearted.

Oh, before I forget, this is due today.

- Thanks. - Thank you.

Well, that didn't take long, is it?

Joe, you should have seen

Pat using elbow grease today.

He cleaned your room and

his arm without my asking.

Well, sure. It's his

home. Our home, isn't it?

Oh, Agnes, would Marty and I have time

for the short one

down to the car and a...

Oh, all right, go ahead.

But only one Marty Hannon.

It makes him see double and feel single.

I must say, it gives me

pleasure to see a man reading.

But there are other forms of literature

besides detective magazines.

Like the return addresses on

the letters I deliver, huh?

Why, Sam, Lord, you tell me of your own

free will who's writing to who.

I do not pry into other people's affairs.

Well, maybe so. It's awfully funny how

things start happening to people almost

as soon as you say they will.

Did Mrs. Nugent get that

first alimony check yet?

I don't know. I didn't wait around to

see what was in the letter.

Well, I like that. You had time to waste

with poor little Pat

and his insurance policy.

Yeah. See, that was a swell

hatchet that Joe bought the kid.

Yeah. It's too bad we haven't got a

little son like Pat.

I think there are all the

things I could buy for him.

Like a subscription to Mystery Classic?

No, he's been spared that.

Sam, Lord, I put shoes on you and I

married you, and you'll

please wear them to the table.

Oh, dear.

Such formality. You'd

think this was a Waldorf.

That'll be $6.50 for those boxes.

Right. Here it is.

Hey, that's sick.

Yeah, right.

You little thief.

Give me my hatchet.

I want my hatchet.

I sell this wood. Now go on, beat it.

I've had enough trouble

with you and your old man.

I want my hatchet.

You got a dollar? You've

done that much damage anyway.

When you bring me the money,

you can have your hatchet back.

Now go on, beat it. Go on.

Get out of here.

Gee, that was a neat hatchet.

You can kiss it, good guy.

He had no right to keep it.

Hey, boys.

I'm looking for you, Pat.

Old man Kenny made a complaint.

Let him go. He didn't do nothing.

Old man Kenny's a sourpuss.

Shut up or run you all in.

I'll give him a break. Honestly, he

didn't hurt anything.

Come on, Pat. The

captain wants to talk to you.

Hey, Fleary, what's the matter? You

having trouble with my boys?

Hey, Uncle Sam. Look

what he's doing to Pat.

That looks like a big pinch. You'll

probably get promoted for this.

Don't get sarcastic

with me. What's the charge?

No charge, but Pat's been stealing lumber

from Old Man Kenny's bakery.

Old man Kenny. He hasn't got 10 cents

worth of lumber that's

good enough to steal.

He made the complaint? That's just more

of his picking on Joe.

He never misses a

chance. What goes on here?

Pat and his gang have been

stealing Old Man Kenny's wood.

Look, Cleary, my kid don't steal.

Since when is it a crime

for kids to take an old crate?

We used to do it. So did you, Cleary.

I don't do it now.

Pop? Kenny kept my hatchet.

Oh, he did, did he? Well, I'll get that

hatchet back or I'll

bash his bonehead to a pulp.

Now wait a minute, Joe. Don't

go blowing your top, will you?

Look, Sam, he can have it in for me, but

he don't have to take it out in the kid.

Where does he get off sending Cleary?

Now wait, wait. Will you

let me handle it? Will you?

All right, you are handling it.

Hey, wait a minute.

Listen, listen, Cleary.

Kenny didn't lose anything, did he?

No.

You don't want to shame that kid by

taking him down to the station.

You got kids of your own, Cleary.

Yeah. Well, then it's

all right, isn't it?

I guess so.

What do you mean you guess so?

All right. Sure, that's better.

Where's your boss, Pete?

You got two fine cakes here, Mrs. Simms.

Well, they ought to be Pete

for a dollar and a quarter.

Where's your boss, Pete?

My goodness, Joe

Reynolds, what's the matter?

Can't you see I'm waiting on a lady and

after her comes Mr. Bolge.

I'm very sorry, Mrs. Simms.

My business here is important.

Where's Kenny?

What's going on out here?

Listen, Kenny, my kid just

told me that you hit him.

That's nothing to worry about the next

time I catch him on my property.

Well, don't you ever lay your hand on him

again. I'm warning you.

And I'm warning you. Keep

him away from me. He's a pest.

Oh, is that so?

Yeah, a troublemaker.

Now get out of here.

Look, Kenny, what you think of

me and my kid doesn't matter.

But in the future, don't

you ever lay a hand on him?

Now, come on, give me

his hatchet right now.

Sure. Just as soon as you pay me the

three dollars for the damage he done.

Oh, now it's three dollars. Pat told me

you only wanted a dollar.

It's too much, but I'll pay it just so

there won't be any argument.

Give me the hatchet.

I told him three dollars. If he said

less, he's a dirty little liar.

And I won't... give him a bunch of...

Give me that hatchet.

Not until I get those three dollars.

Give me that hatchet.

For being a hog, you don't get nothing,

but I'm gonna get that kid's hatchet.

I tell you, you can't have it.

Come on, give me that hatchet or I'll

bust this joint wide open.

Stop them. Stop them.

Whoa!

You hit that poor...

No, I didn't touch him. He fell and hit

his head on the stove.

He's dead.

Oh, his blood alacks.

You killed him.

No, I didn't. I swear I didn't.

We all saw you hit him.

Somebody get a cop.

You deliberately hit that poor man.

Call the police.

Murder.

Pete, get the police.

He deliberately hit the police.

We've got to get hold of the police.

Hello, operator.

Quick, give me the police.

I'm gonna get out of town.

What's up, Joe?

Look, you know, we're on a

window watch for the cops.

Joe, you're in trouble.

Please do as I say, will you, Marty?

What is it, Joe?

Magnus, go over with Joe, will you?

What'd you do that for?

Pat, listen, I only got a

minute, then I gotta beat it.

They think I hit him in the head with the hatchet, but I didn't. I didn't touch him. I don't care about the rest. It's only you I'm interested in. Now, look, just remember
this. You're a little bit of a bitch. You're a little bit of a bitch. You're a little bit of a bitch. You're a little bit of a bitch. You're a little bit of a bitch. I'm gonna beat it.

They think I hit him in the head with the

hatchet, but I didn't.

I didn't touch him.

I don't care about the rest. It's only

you I'm interested in.

Now, look, just remember this.

I didn't kill him.

Who?

Old man Kenny.

Well, you know I wouldn't.

Sure, Pop.

And he hung on to the hatchet, and I

tried to get it away from him,

and he slipped and fell and

hit his head on the stove.

You believe me, don't you, Pat?

Yes, Pop.

Now, look, you be good and stay here.

Marty and Magnus will take care of you.

When this thing blows

over, I'll come back, right?

Wait a minute.

Marty, how much can you loan me?

I only got a couple of bucks.

How about you, Magnus?

I banked everything this morning.

Yeah, but I gotta get

some ready cash somewhere.

Joe!

Here they come.

Hey, maybe Sam has got some cash.

He'll be down at that

boy's club of yours.

That's right.

Pop, I'm going with you.

Now, you stay here.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Joe Reynolds here.

No, he isn't here.

Search the place.

Now, listen, go in there

and see if Sam is there.

If he is, tell him I

want to see him right away.

I'll be in Kearney's alley, right?

Okay.

Go ahead.

Keep your left high.

Don't let him get under there.

Sam!

Yeah, yeah.

I want you.

I want you.

Hey, Fatso, come here.

Yeah?

You referee here.

I'll be right back, huh?

Okay.

Come on, Ernie, keep your guard up.

That's it.

Hey, Pat, what's the trouble?

Pop will tell you.

All right, you wait here.

Hey, Joe.

In here, Sam.

What's wrong?

Sam, can you get me some cash quick?

What's wrong?

I had a fight.

Old man Kenny, he slipped and fell.

I swear I hit him.

Well, so, wannabe, as you pinch, they'll

find you five bucks, that's all.

But they think I hit

him with a hatchet, Sam.

They say he's dead.

Dead?

Yeah.

Sam, I got to get out of town.

Look, if you're innocent, all you got to

do is stay here, face

it, and clear yourself.

Look, I know what I got to

do, and that's get out of town.

This blows over.

Now, can you help me or not?

Yeah.

Yeah, sure, I can help you.

But wait for me at my home, huh?

Pop, I'm scared.

Oh, forget it, Pat.

Come on.

See you later, Sam.

All right.

You've got a big angry mouth, Joe.

You'd never kill a man for all of that.

Look, what's keeping Sam?

Will you tell me?

Oh, he'll be here if he said he would.

Look, Pat, I want you to go over to

Marty's and stay there and behave

yourself, understand?

Now, I'll get back just as soon as the

town cools down a bit.

Oh, take me with you,

Pop. I won't be any trouble.

Watch your hurry.

Joe, I want to explain this thing.

You brought the cops here.

Now, look, it's the only way.

You're not guilty.

You got nothing to fear.

You brought the cops here.

Joe, don't you see? Running away with...

Why, you double-dressed...

Joe, it's the only thing to do.

I'll help you fight it out in court.

I don't want your help.

Come on, Reynolds.

Bring them along.

Pop, what are they gonna do?

It's all right, Pat.

You go home and go to bed.

I'll take them home.

I think you've done enough for me, Sam.

Pop!

Oh, Pat, it'll be all right.

You know, Kate, I wish I could convince

Joe that I was still his friend.

I know he didn't kill

Kenny. I know it was an accident.

Of course it was.

If I could only get to see

him and talk to him, you know.

Be better off talking to his lawyer.

You think I did something wrong, too?

No, Sam.

But when things go wrong, people just

don't understand good motives.

Maybe if you hadn't interfered...

All right, all right.

Skip it. Forget about it.

You all ready for church? Yes, I'm ready.

If you think I'm gonna be seen with you

in church without your shoes,

you've got another guest coming.

I coulda sworn I had him on.

(ALL CHEERING)

(ALL CHATTERING)

(ALL CHATTERING)

(ALL CHATTERING)

(ALL CHATTERING)

(ALL CHATTERING)

(ALL CHATTERING)

(ALL CHATTERING) (ALL CHATTERING) (ALL CHATTERING) (ALL CHATTERING) Hello, Pat.

(ALL CHATTERING)

(ALL CHATTERING)

(ALL CHATTERING)

Hey, Sam.

(ALL CHATTERING)

What's the matter?

That lawyer tried to talk

Joe into pleading guilty.

Guilty to manslaughter. 10 years.

Pop didn't do it, did he?

No, but now he's fired the guy.

Gee, Pop hasn't got any friends, has he?

Yeah, sure he has. Sure he has.

Well, we'll find the lawyer who has time

to plead for an acquittal. Come on.

Oh, what the heck, Odell?

Now then, Mrs. M's, you say

you observed Mr. Kenny's death

from your position in the doorway of the

back room of the bakery.

Yes.

Was Joe Reynolds standing

between you and Mr. Kenny?

Yes.

Then, Mrs. Simmons, how

could you see where the axe fell

if Joe Reynolds stood

between you and Mr. Kenny?

You're trying to confuse

me. I did see it fall and...

Just a minute, Mrs. Simmons.

Please, I don't want to hurt

Joe Reynolds or anybody else.

But I did see him raise the

axe and bring it down like that.

How else did Mr.

Kenny's head get split open?

Wait a minute, they're all lying. It was

an accident, I tell you.

You've got to believe me, Judge. He was

an old man. I wouldn't hit him.

The defendant must refrain from any further action.

That will be all, Mrs. Simmons.

I will now call Samuel Lord to the stand.

What's he trying to do?

Samuel Lord.

Uncle Sam, you'll get him off, won't you?

Mr. Lord, how long have

you known Joe Reynolds?

Well, ever since we went overseas in

1917, we were just kids.

And you were buddies, eh? Yes, sir.

I've looked into both your war records.

You both showed great courage over there.

Oh, I don't know. Well, Joe there was a

very good soldier, yes.

Yes, I even see that Reynolds was

decorated for distinguished bravery.

Yes, he was.

Do you recall what that was for?

Well, I'm a pretty good

person to answer that question.

He saved my life.

Well, I can certainly

understand your friendship.

Oh, it wasn't just on account of that, but naturally, I appreciate it.

But Joe's my friend

because I like him, that's all.

Now, Mr. Lord, on the day of the crime,

Joe's son was almost arrested

for stealing Mr. Kenny's wood.

It wasn't that

serious. Pat wouldn't steal.

Suppose you tell us all that was said

when Officer Cleary picked up Pat.

Well, at first I kidded

him about making a big pinch,

and I told him that Kenny didn't have

enough lumber to worth stealing.

Yes, and then?

About that time Joe came running up, and he went running up. And he said, "My son

doesn't steal, Cleary."

Of course, Pat was mainly concerned

because Kenny had kept his hatchet.

Was that all that was said?

Yes, then Joe went in

the house with the boy...

Now think, Mr. Lord.

Are you certain that was

all that Reynolds said?

Yes.

Now take your time.

Well, Pat told Joe that he was not a good person. Well, I'm not a good person. Well, Pat told Joe that

Kenny had kept his hatchet.

Oh, then Joe said, "Oh, is that so?

Well, I'll get it back for you if I have

to bash his bonehead to a pulp."

Of course, he didn't mean that.

Then, Mr. Lord, he actually

did threaten Mr. Kenny's life.

No, no.

He said those words, but if you know Joe,

you're in just a moment.

Now, just a moment.

You prevented him from

evading the police, didn't you?

Yes, but that's all.

Your witness?

No questions of his time.

Thank you, Mr. Lord.

You talk too much.

Believe me, ladies and gentlemen, the

witnesses for the

prosecution were honest,

but mistaken in their

account of Kenny's death.

Seeing the axe in Joe's hand, they

concluded from that

unfortunate circumstance

that he struck at the man.

But Joe never struck a blow.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is no element

of circumstantial evidence in this case.

Three reliable

witnesses saw what happened,

and Sam Lord's testimony is evidence that

Reynolds voiced a murderous intention

hours before the crime was committed.

While the state has presented the direct

or positive evidence of eyewitnesses,

you must carefully consider the

contention of the defense

that such evidence is circumstantial and

incorrectly interpreted.

Has the jury reached the verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Will the defendant please rise?

What is your verdict?

We find the defendant guilty

of murder in the first degree.

Joe.

You could fix everything, huh?

What?

You sure did.

You sold me out again, didn't you?

Come on, Sam!

Come on, stay away from him.

Forget everything good

I ever said about him.

Come on, let's get out.

He turned me over to the cops.

His three months set me up.

Pat, I... I couldn't help it, Pat.

Come on, kid.

I don't suppose that, uh...

Pat's been around here lately, has he?

Not since the trolley, has he?

Yeah.

Well, I guess that's because

of the way he feels about me.

That isn't any reason why he shouldn't

play with you fellows.

Now, you mustn't let what happened to his

father make any difference to you.

No, it isn't because of that, but...

But nothing.

You've all been his pal, haven't you?

You're right, Sam. He'll come back.

Pat's a great guy.

Say, maybe we'll even

make him like you again.

Yeah.

They're moving me today.

No luck?

They're moving me to the birdcage.

They're moving you?

You mean your appeal didn't come through?

Take it easy, kid.

Mike.

So long, fellas.

Say, Mike, what's in

there, what day you took Tommy?

The birdcage?

Yeah.

It's the last stop before you get it.

Just a couple of cells fixed up where

they keep an eye on you

every second day and night.

Yeah, but Tommy don't go for a week yet.

Sure.

But if he breaks up, they don't want him

driving the rest of his nuts.

Some of us still have a long wait.

Months.

Lock 49.

Yes, sir.

Very good, sir.

Good little boy around.

Hey, kid?

Yeah.

How are you, Pat?

Hello, Pop.

Gee, you're looking lots better.

Oh, thanks.

Thanks for coming over again.

Well, how are the kids treating you?

Okay.

I don't see them so much anymore.

Oh.

They're too busy staying away, huh?

Yeah.

Too busy is because their

fathers told them to stay away.

Oh, no, Pop.

It isn't that.

Gosh.

Guess I'm getting the cold.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, how are you doing in school?

Swell. I'm doing fine.

Did you bring me a report card?

So you don't trust me, huh?

Oh, sure. I trust you, but...

Well, I have to sign it.

Don't I?

Gee, Pop.

Isn't there some way we

can get you out of here?

My pal Sam thought of

everything when he nailed me in here.

Yeah.

Pop.

Uh, uh, uh, uh, none of that.

Don't you worry about me.

My lawyer's gonna appeal for a new trial.

A new trial? Can you get it?

Why, sure.

You see, those witnesses

didn't actually see me hit Kenny.

Pop, why did they lie like that?

Well, I've been giving

it a lot of thought, too.

You see, they got excited, and they

figured I hit him, so they said I did.

But my lawyer says that if he can get

just one of those witnesses

to change their testimony,

we're a cinch for a new trial.

Even if only one of

them takes back the lie?

That's right.

Gee, that oughtn't to be so hard.

But, Pop...

Hmm?

Just in case things don't go fast enough,

can I bring your file?

In case your Pop needs a manicure, we'll

see that he gets one.

Time's up. Come on, Reynolds.

Okay. I'll be back, Pop.

Okay.

And, Son, instead of the file, bring me a

good report card, huh?

Bye.

Bye.

Good-bye, Sonny.

Hello, Mrs. Sims.

Hello, Pat.

I want to speak to you about my father.

I'm awfully sorry, Pat, but there's

nothing I can do about it.

You see, I had to tell the court all

those things about your father.

I'm caught in this awful

nightmare just as much as you are.

Oh, you poor boy.

I wish this had never happened.

Couldn't you go back and tell them you

just remembered it

wasn't exactly like you said?

That would be telling a lie, Pat.

But Pop says he didn't hit Mr. Kenny.

Oh, I wish I could

save you all this pain.

I'll save one spade.

Double.

Pass.

Two no.

Excuse me. I'll see who that is.

Oh, Pat, what is it?

I want to speak to you about my Pop. What? What? I want you to take back those things you

said in court about my father.

Why, how dare you come here and ask me to

change my testimony.

Go on away. Run away from here.

Just a minute, Mr. Bocher. I got to speak

to you. Open the door.

If you don't go away from there, I'll call the police.

If you don't go away from

there, I'll call the police.

The whole trouble is Pat

isn't getting the proper care.

Let's get on with the

game. May I review the bidding?

It's mine.

I'm sure I heard

something in the kitchen.

Mr. Bocher, I want you to

tell the truth about my father.

The idea of breaking into my house and

insulting us, I won't stand for it.

You've got to tell him it

wasn't exactly like you said.

My father wouldn't lie to me,

and he told me he didn't do it.

You get out of here.

Not till you tell the truth.

I'm taking you to the

police station right now.

Oh, look what you did.

- Oh! - Oh!

- Behave yourself! -

Louis, hold him for me!

- You can arrest me! -

You'll be okay for this.

- I want to offer you. -

Give me police headquarters.

- What's to do with that? - No!

- Give me police

headquarters. - Get him! Get him!

Hello, police headquarters.

I want to report Joe Reynolds' son.

He broke into my house

and destroyed my property.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Sorry, Mrs. Lloyd, but is

Joe Reynolds' boy around here?

No, he isn't.

Well, isn't he over at Marty Hannon's?

Where he's supposed to be?

- No, I've been

there. - What's the matter?

He caused a lot of trouble over at the

Bulger place, saying the

Bulger lied at the trial.

We're going to have to take him down the

station house this time.

- Well, that's ridiculous. - Well, he's a

wild kid. Something's got to be done.

- That's no problem for

the police. - Certainly not.

Well, I got my orders to

pick him up. Good night.

That mustn't happen. I'm

going to find that kid.

Sam Lord.

- Hello, Sam. - Hi, Agnes.

Say, is Pataron, I'd like to see him.

No, he isn't.

And when he does come home, I'm afraid

I'm going to have to

give him a good talking to.

Yeah, I know. Pat can be quite a handful.

He wouldn't be a real boy if he wasn't.

Say, you know, I was thinking that don't

you think under the circumstances

you ought to start to

take things a little easy?

Hey, what's this all about?

Why, Marty Hannon, you've been boasting.

Well, why not? A guy doesn't

get to be a father every day.

Of course. I can just see Marty when the

big day arrives.

There'll be no holding him.

Say, you know, it occurred to me that it

might be a good idea

if Kate and I took Pat.

But we don't want to give him up.

Well, I'll say we don't.

Well, now, now, just

wait a minute. Just be fair.

When this new little baby comes along,

you two are going to

have your hands full.

Kate and I are all alone, and we've

talked it over at

length. We want the boy.

Joe would never stand for it.

Joe doesn't have to

know anything about it.

But this is Pat's home.

I appreciate how you feel, but Pat's just

going to be more and more of a problem to

you two from now on.

Well, I hate to say yes, but

it might be best for everybody.

What do you think, Agnes?

All right, but I feel awful about it.

Then it's agreed.

You're going to let Pat go.

Hey, Pat!

I'll handle this, Marty.

Hey, Pat!

Pat!

Hey, Pat! It's Sam.

Hey, Pat, where are you?

Come on, Pat. I've got to talk to you.

Get away from me.

Hello, Pat.

Stay away.

Come on, put that wrench down.

I bet you told the cops

about me, too. Where are they?

I'm here to help you from the cops, Pat.

Like you helped my father?

Come on, put that

wrench down and listen to me.

Go away. You've caused enough trouble for

us. You even think the

Hanons ought to throw me out.

Oh, Pat.

I'll find a place to live.

I'm going to help my father.

You hear that? That's fine.

That's for you.

Now, alone against them,

you don't stand a chance.

But I think I can figure a way to fix it.

Just let me help you long enough so as we

can get our heads together.

I think that between the two of us, we

can figure out a way to help Joe.

What do you want me to do?

Just come along with me. Here.

Atta boy.

Come on.

(Birds chirping)

Nothing like a piece of pie

to put new life into a boy.

Sam, let him get some

sleep. Good night, Pat.

Good night, Aunt Kate.

Well, don't you worry

about anything, Pat.

Everything's going to be

under control from here on in.

Good night, son.

- Sam! - Yeah?

Remember one thing. I'm only

going to be working with you.

Don't mean I have to like you.

That's all right.

You can hate me every

day, including Sundays.

Okay.

Check.

They'll see you now, Mr. Lord.

- Come in, Mr. Lord. - Thanks.

- Have a chair. - Thank you.

- Yes. - A piece of your time, gentlemen.

Frankly, Mr. Lord, this

isn't our usual procedure.

We assume you told all you know about the

case as a trial witness.

Yes, sir, I did.

We'd be happy to listen to any

information that might

throw new light in the case.

But you must confine

yourself to pertinent facts.

Facts?

Well, there's only one fact that I know,

and that is that Joe Reynolds is going to

the electric chair next Thursday night.

And that would be a mistake. A

very great mistake, gentlemen.

Mr. Lord, your letter to this Board of

Appeals indicated no new evidence

which might justify a recommendation to

the governor for a stay of execution.

But we will move by its tone.

Well, it's a funny thing, sir, but a lot

of times people don't really see what

they think they see.

I beg your pardon, Mr. Lord,

just what are you getting at?

When you know a fellow as

well as I know Joe Reynolds,

you'd swear he just couldn't do the thing

that they said he did.

His trial testimony

showed he was a troublemaker.

Well, I can explain

that in a very short while.

Oh, thanks, Mr. Lord. We'd

appreciate it if you'd be brief.

All right.

Do you mind if I smoke my pipe?

No, go right ahead.

Thanks.

Oh, hello, Mr. Lord.

I'm sorry. It was no.

No, thanks.

Yes, sir?

Okay.

So bring in Reynolds in

now. Get ready for him.

So this is it for the final week, huh?

So that's where it is in there, huh?

How do you feel, Joe?

How do you think?

Can I get you anything? Say, Mike, I heard about your good luck.

Yeah, they give me a new trial.

They'll be moving me out of

this place any minute now.

Oh, good for you.

Cheer up, Joe. You'll

get a break just like mine.

I hope you're right.

Your case is different.

They never had anything on you.

You don't belong in here.

Well, maybe I don't belong in here, but,

brother, I ain't here for my health.

Uh, you ready?

Yeah, go ahead.

Brace yourself.

Three jumps, seven, 16, and 24.

Uh-oh.

You better keep your

mind in the game, Mike.

Joe, it's all sad for me to make the

break Tuesday night,

but I won't need it now because they're

giving me a new trial.

You're gonna move your king, Mike?

Don't be a sap. Take

the chance I'm giving you.

I've got the whole layout.

All you've got to do is to

get in the hospital room.

If you can reach the old coal cell,

you're as good as hell.

A friend of mine in here copied the key

and fixed the coal shield.

There'll be a car waiting outside.

No, my appeal will come through.

Don't be a sucker.

Besides, you gotta be half

dead to get into that hospital.

A pal of mine is fixing something for me.

Al Edwards on Cary Street.

It'll be in a bag of

cigarettes with a torn wrapper.

The stuff is safe, but it'll put you in

the hospital just long enough.

Let me slip you the key and the layout

from the hospital to the coal cellar.

It can't pass.

No. Our minister, my

appeal, will prove it.

Thanks. Just the same, Mike.

Okay. But I sure hate to see a soft touch

like this break go to waste.

Four to five.

Hello, boss.

Bizder outside to see you, Joe.

The kid?

No, Marty Hannan.

I could see the kid

again, can't I, Warden?

Sure. But you oughtn't to

let him come up anymore.

Hiya, Marty.

Hello, Joe.

How's tricks, Marty?

Fine, Joe.

How's the kid behaving himself?

Great. He's just fine, Joe.

When are you gonna bring him up again?

Soon. He'll be able to see you soon, Joe.

He ain't sick, is he?

No, no, no. It's just like I tell ya. He'll be able to see you soon, Joe. He ain't sick, is he? No, no, no. It's just like I tell ya.

He'll be able to see you soon.

Well, what is it,

Marty? Come on, spill it.

Oh, I get it.

They denied the appeal, huh?

Yeah.

I can't believe it.

Well, I guess that's that.

I want to do a favor for a fella in here.

He can't sleep, and they

won't give him anything.

Now, listen.

Go to Al Edwards on Carey Street.

He knows what this fella needs.

Get it, bring it here to me.

Look, will I get in any trouble?

Not if you're careful.

Tell him it's for Mike Mulvey.

He'll understand.

Speak up, Reynolds.

Yeah, yeah. I'm not gonna lie. I'm not gonna lie. I'm not gonna lie. I'm not gonna lie. I'm not gonna lie. I'm not gonna lie because well, I spent a lot of my time thinking

for this. Yeah.

Well, Marty.

Thanks for coming up.

Bring the the kid

with you next time, huh?

Sure, Joe.

And listen, don't give up hope.

I don't intend to.

All right, Reynolds.

Take him back for it.

So long, Marty.

So long, Joe.

(door opens)

- Say Tom, can I talk to Mike?

- Sure, go ahead.

- Say Mike.

- Yeah.

- I've been thinking that ball team

might make the grade at that.

- Huh?

Oh, they're a cinch for the pennant.

- I'll take you up on

that bet for Tuesday's game.

- Okay, you wanna pay me now?

- No, and I'm getting my advice from Al.

- Oh, from Al?

Well, he sure knows his stuff,

but it's a bet just the same.

- I think any ball game's a good gamble.

Say Tom, I've been

telling Joe about this book.

Can he read it?

- All right.

- Yeah, thanks.

- It's one swell book.

(footsteps)

(yelling)

- Come on in, Judge Point.

- Morning, Sam.

Anything for me?

- Yeah, just a couple of ads, that's all.

- That boy of mine.

- What'd you say he went?

- You heard that?

- Oh, here we go.

- Sure has the lungs for a good lawyer.

- Yeah, runs in the family, huh?

(chuckles)

- Come on, there he is.

- Come on, that's pretty, that'll work.

- Keep it quiet, that'll work.

- Come on, here, explain it later.

- That'll work.

- That's it.

- I hear one on the back.

- Let's go.

- Keep your left, come on.

- Ready?

- Keep your left on that little boy.

Come on, now give him a good one.

- Look right over here.

- Come on, look at my back.

Come on, look at my back.

- Hey, hold it, hold it, Murray.

- Oh, hey, you guys are

pretty good, aren't you?

- I'm captain of our team.

- That's because he owns the gloves.

- Is that right?

Freddie, how's Governor Hanlon?

- Oh, he's swell, thanks.

- Does he know you

got a wicked left hook?

- Oh, sure, dad got

Judge White to show it to me.

- Yeah.

- That's my time from the gloves.

- It's my next.

- I'll bet your

father's it'd be mighty proud

if you boys ever won a tournament.

- I'll say.

- You know, I think that maybe you kids

are good enough to meet my team.

- Where do you get that good ass cheese?

- Sam, we beat the pants off.

- All right, we'll fix up a tournament.

- You've got a match right now.

- We'll slaughter you.

- Say, do you think that your fathers

would come to see the bouts?

- Couldn't keep them away.

- Mine neither.

- Oh, that's perfect.

- Say, Sam, you seem

awful anxious to get a match.

- Oh, sure I am, why not?

All right, I tell you, you

fellas come over to my place

a little later on.

We'll talk it all over, huh?

- We'll be there, Sam.

- We're out of trouble.

- Before you get it.

- Hey, this is what we'll give them.

Come on, come on.

- Come on, boys, calm down.

- Huh?

- Come on over here.

- Well, I got something for you

that you've been yelling

for for quite some time.

Outside competition, these

fellas have a boxing team.

- Holy smokes, we didn't

ask to murder little kids.

We won competition.

- Don't worry, you'll get it.

My name's Hanlon, Freddie Hanlon,

and this is Murray White, our captain.

- Did you say Mary White?

- That's the fella I want to tangle with.

- All right, all right.

You're both about the

same weight, just save it.

- That'll cut him to ribbons.

- Who's gonna take on the

silent horsemen over there?

- Sorry, but I've quit boxing.

- We haven't got a chance without you.

- Don't you want them to win?

- And they were the ones who

were yelling for competition.

- Yeah, I spotted that

yellow streak a mile away.

- Shut up, you.

That's Pat Reynolds.

- Oh, I didn't know.

- Listen, Pat.

This'll be a lot more than a

boxing match if it works out.

A lot more.

It's for Joe.

- I'm taking Reynolds

to the visitor's room.

- Hi, Warden.

- Hello, Joe.

The boy's here.

I'll take him down.

- Yes, sir.

- I'm going to ask you

not to have him up again.

It'll be hard on him and on you, too.

- Okay, Warden.

Look, could I stay out of the cage today?

I wouldn't like him to

remember his last time with me

like that, you know?

- All right, Joe.

- I'm going to ask you to stay out of the cage today. - Thank you, Joe.

- Thank you, sir.

- That's a pretty good punch, huh?

- Yeah.

One of the fellas showed me.

He had come in awful handy.

- You said it.

Say, you haven't told me

how things are at home.

How's Agnes?

- Ah, she's fine, Joe.

Everything's swell.

- That's good.

Well, if anything happens,

Marty and Agnes will take care of you.

Well, don't look so worried.

Nothing's going to happen to me.

While we're at the new trial,

I'll be out of here in no time.

- Sure.

- Marty tells me you're

playing with the kids again.

That's fine.

That's great.

Oh, have you seen our

pal, the cigar man again?

- Yeah.

Yeah, he said hello, and good luck.

- Time's up, Reynolds.

- Pop!

- Yeah?

- Can I come up again Saturday?

Visiting hours are longer on Saturdays.

- Oh, sure.

I'll fix it with the warden.

In the meantime, take

care of yourself, huh?

Now beat it.

- So long, Joe.

- What is this Joe stuff?

- Well, everybody calls you that.

I want to.

- Okay, Pat.

- Oh, I almost forgot.

I got a little present for you.

- Oh, cigarettes, huh?

Thanks, Marty.

That's just what I needed.

- Oh, Fred, is it all right if I pass out

some of the cigarettes to the boy?

The warden said it was okay.

- Mind if I borrow your pack, Joe?

- Uh, no, no.

Help yourself. - Oh, I'll help you. - No, no, help yourself.

- Hey.

- Thanks, Joe.

- Hey.

- Yeah.

- Oh, he sure is a bad guy.

- Yeah, you're a right guy, Joe.

- Thanks, pal.

- Hey, this is okay.

Thanks.

- Go get him, Cap.

- Get that right hook,

that right hook, Freddy.

- I said.

- A winner!

- That, ladies and gentlemen, that,

ladies and gentlemen,

concludes our evening of boxing.

Now, the decision of the judges is that

because each team has

received an equal number of points,

the tournament is a draw.

Now, I hope that our honored guests will

join us for some refreshments.

- Sorry, Sam.

I'm afraid I'll have to run along, the

early court in the morning.

- Good night, Sam.

I think I'll skip the lemonade myself.

- The government couldn't shoot you.

- If they leave now,

everything will be ruined.

Red isn't here.

He had to practice his music lessons.

- This is Eddie Murphy, Governor.

Glad to know you, Mr. Murphy.

- We gotta hold him.

- Yeah, this is working out

the way it hoped it would.

- So long, Sam.

Your boys are all right.

- Thanks.

You got a good team.

- Say, you're the one

that called me yellow.

Well, I'll take you up on that right now.

- Forget it, Pat.

I didn't mean that.

- Now, Pat, that

wouldn't be a good match.

- He's too little.

- All right, go on, Pat.

- Where are you?

I came off the door.

- Oh, look out.

I don't want to hurt him.

- You're too small.

- I don't want to hurt him.

- Look out.

- You can't touch a little, boy.

Someone just stop him.

- Why should he fight a boy like me?

- Come on.

- Come on.

- Come on.

- Come on.

- Come on.

- One, two, three, four.

That it is.

- All right.

- Come on.

- Come on.

- Come on.

- Come on.

- Come on.

- This is my job.

- Not anymore.

- Hey, let go of that hammer.

Let go of it.

- Come on.

- All right, stop it.

Stop.

Hurry, wait.

Stop fighting that boy.

Go to your corners.

Murray, let that boy alone.

- Give me that hammer.

That's my hammer.

- Murray.

Have you gone crazy?

Why did you hit him with that hammer?

- I didn't.

Dad, he fell when I

pulled back like this.

- But I saw you hit him.

You heard the boy.

He said he didn't do it.

He certainly did hit him.

- Yes, he did.

- I'm not blind.

- Now, just a minute.

I want you to listen.

Judge, did you see Murray

hit Red with that hammer?

- I tell you, I didn't do it.

- Of course he didn't.

It was an accident.

- All right, that's fine, Judge.

I want you to remember what

you said, and you, Mrs. Simms,

and you, and you.

- Okay, Red.

Come on, get up.

- See?

It's nothing but tomato ketchup.

- That's good work.

Here.

Now, not one of you actually

saw what happened right now,

and yet you said you

did, and you were wrong.

- Why, that's exactly the way

it happened in Kenny's bakery.

- Well, sure, that's the

way Joe said it happened.

It was just like my shoes.

I wear them so hard all day

that when I take them off,

I think I've still got them on.

You thought you saw

something that you didn't see at all.

- I resent your using the

boys for a thing like this.

- Dad, we did it ourselves

because Pat's our friend.

- Reynolds had a fair trial.

But suppose you were supposed to testify

about what happened here tonight.

- Please, Mr. Governor, you've got to do

something before it's too late.

- I like Mrs. Simms, you,

Mr. Bolger, and Pete Horton

to come over to my house right away.

- Well, I'll bring them over, Judge.

- Oh, no, Sam.

No more of your tricks.

You stay here.

You come home.

- Tomato Joe.

- Hey, I'm going to pass out.

- Emergency, emergency.

- He's out cold.

- Hit the doctor.

- Tell her Wharton, the man was just sick. - When a group of facts or circumstances

are of such a conclusive nature as to

justify a definite belief,

that is called circumstantial evidence.

- Like Rockins and Crusoe, he found

footprints on his desert island.

- From that circumstance, he knew that

there was somebody else on the island.

- Quite right, Freddie.

- If it were always necessary to have

positive or eyewitness evidence,

many criminal acts would go unpunished.

But in the case of Joe Reynolds,

several circumstances might have been

accepted and

misinterpreted as positive evidence.

- That's what you're trying to

determine in this discussion.

Did you see a murder committed,

or actually,

circumstances that resembled a murder?

Governor Hanlon, are you trying to tell

me I didn't see Reynolds

hit that man with an axe?

- No, but--

- No one doubts your honesty, Mr. Bulger.

But you were mistaken

tonight when the boys fooled you.

- And so was I.

- Mr. Bulger, did you see the hatchet

actually connect with Kenny's skull?

- I saw it come down at his

head. What more do you want?

- Did you see it hit his head?

- Well, when a man raises an axe to

strike another man--

- Answer yes or no.

That's what they made my father do.

Come on in, Pat.

- Where's Pat?

- What's Pat doing here?

- Go on, Mr. Bulger. Answer yes or no.

Did you see the

hatchet hit Mr. Kenny's head?

- I will not be

heckled by these children.

It's a pertinent question.

We're waiting for

your answer, Mr. Bulger.

- No.

I didn't see it

actually hit Kenny's skull.

Oh, but it must have.

The coroner said it was an axe wound.

- No, that was not his testimony.

- He said it came

from a sharp metal edge.

- Medical legal guff.

There ought to be a law against it.

- That's enough, Murray.

- Mr. Kenny hit his

head against his own skull.

And you, Mrs. Sims,

you only saw what Mr.

Bulger saw, didn't you?

- Well, you got me so mixed up by now, I

don't know what I saw.

No, I didn't actually see the

hatchet hit Mr. Kenny's head.

- How about you, Pete?

You never make a mistake.

- Well, I saw Joe swing the

hatchet up to strike Kenny.

When Mrs. Sims said you hit him, that's

what I thought I saw.

- But none of you saw Kenny after Mr.

Reynolds pulled the axe away from him.

- You couldn't see him fall against the

stove because my father was in the way.

- None of you saw Red fall tonight, and

he fell before I lowered the hammer.

- Isn't that right?

- Pete, this is very serious.

- Honest, Judge White,

I thought Joe did it.

- If I hadn't seen the

fight at the boys' club,

I'd never have realized

that I might be mistaken.

- Then like the hammer

in Murray's hand tonight,

the motion to the hatchet in Joe

Reynolds' hand comes

to us as circumstantial,

not as positive evidence.

- You assumed that it did something that

it might not have done.

- You were all very

positive at the trial.

- Yes, because I thought I saw something.

But now I realize that I didn't see it.

- Thank you, Mr. Bolger.

- The district

attorney must look into this.

- I'm going to give

Reynolds a stay of execution.

- Gee, Mr. Governor, I'm

glad my father voted for you.

- I had a hook and a

rope in case we needed it.

But we don't want it found on us now.

[door opens]

- I should have my head examined, you

know that, don't you?

- Why? - Why?

Doing a thing like this

for a guy I don't even know.

But Mike Mulvey says you're

okay, so here's your setup.

It's a sealed freight car and you'll be

safe when you get to New York.

The tanker sails third at night and you

can board her when you get in.

Here's your papers.

The Mac Gordon, able-bodied seaman.

- That was a lovely picture. - Yeah.

- Something's wrong with the light.

This one doesn't work, either.

- Oh, it must be the

fuse if they're all out.

- Put out that match, Marty. - Joe!

- Where's Pat? I got

to talk to him. - Pat?

- Yeah, Pat, Marty. Where

is he? He isn't in his room.

- He must be at some pal's house. - Yeah,

hey, Joe, how did you get off?

- Look, will you find him for me, Marty?

I haven't got much time and

I gotta tell him something.

- Sure, sure. - Come

on, hurry it up, will you?

- It's pretty late for

the kid to be out, Agnes.

- Oh, he's all right.

Nothing to worry about.

[knocking]

- Pop. Pop.

- Hello, son. Marty, is that door locked?

- Yeah. - Get out of

the window, will you?

- You shouldn't have gotten away. - Look,

kid, in six months or a

year, I'll be sending it for you.

- But they're gonna give you a new trial.

- New trial? What are you talking about?

- Oh, that's a lot of

who Sam's been feeding him.

- It isn't. We did it tonight.

- Hey, wait a minute. Have

you been seeing Sam again?

- It's the truth. The

governor said he'd help.

- Answer me, you've been

hanging out with that guy again?

- We fixed a new trial for you. The

witness is back down. We made him.

- So you're Sam's pal again, huh? I

should have stayed in jail.

- Pop, have I ever lied to you? Have I?

- He's right, Joe. You

gotta check back into that jail.

- This I've been

waiting-- - Stand back, Joe.

I figured it'd take nothing less than a

cannon to make you

listen to reason for a change.

- You needed that, didn't you, Sam?

- I told him he was gonna get a new

trial, Sam. Tell him it's so.

- That's telling the truth, Joe. We

convinced him you're innocent.

Pat and I have spent a lot of time over

you. I don't know

whether you're worth it or not.

- I'm not saying that

you didn't get a bad break.

- Do what Sam says, Pop.

You can't run away now.

- If you want to beat this

rap, you gotta go back now.

Well, taking it back at the point of a

gun isn't gonna cure what ails you.

Here, you take it. Make up your own mind.

- Oh, Pop, you gotta

believe me. You mustn't--

- That kid took a beating getting that

break for you with the governor?

- Please, Pop.

- The next jail counts at 11. Maybe I can

beat the count in, huh, Sam?

- Joe, listen. They'll shoot you down.

- Marty, will you stop

worrying? Come on, drive me back.

Be good, kid.

(footsteps)

- Listen, Marty, I got one

more chance to beat the count in.

Now, when I go up to those crates, you

pull the car on in front of me, right?

And get out of here

fast. Thanks for everything.

- Okay.

(car door closes)

(car door closes)

(somber music)

(somber music)

- Hello, tower 12 reporting. Two lights

out on the south wall.

Right.

(somber music)

(somber music)

(somber music)

(somber music)

- Well, what's on your mind?

- I'm going to take

another look at Joe Reynolds.

You know that was an

awfully quick fever he developed.

- Yeah. All right, let's go over.

If his fever is gone, I'll have him put

back in his cell again.

- Good.

(somber music)

(somber music)

(somber music)

- Yes, that's cold. - It's very cold.

- It's very cold.

- Well, there he is.

He's all ready for you.

This looks like one of

our boxes. - No, this is it.

- Oh. - He's all yours.

- Really?

- I can't understand why the family wants

that laugher's body back.

Disgrecing for 17 years.

(somber music)

(somber music)

(somber music)

- Hey. - It's all right, boss.

- Nice try, Joe.

- Well, you got me wrong, Warden.

See, I was feeling

better and I was thirsty,

so I got up to get a

drink. - And got dressed?

- Oh, that, well, it was cold in here,

and I was freezing to

death in this snuggler, Jane.

- Well, no harm done.

- Joe, don't ever

scare me like that again.

- I'm sorry, Lou. Never again.

(somber music)

(somber music)

- Howdy, stranger.

- Pa! Pa! Pa!

- Mm-hmm.

- Hey, mister.