All language subtitles for Perry Mason s01e31 Fiery Fingers.e

[PHONE RINGS]

Hello?

What's the matter with you, Charlotte?
I asked you never to call me here.

George, I thought
you were coming over tonight.

I couldn't.

Why not?

I'll tell you when I see you.

Why can't you tell me now?

Because my wife is suspicious,
that's why.

I think she has those letters you
wrote me. I can't find them anywhere.

You mean, you kept them all?

Oh, George, how sweet.

This is suicide, Charlotte.

For all we know, my wife might be
on the other extension.

Now, be a good girl and hang up.
I'll talk to you later.

CHARLOTTE:
When later?

GEORGE: Tomorrow.
CHARLOTTE: You promise?

GEORGE:
I promise.

I said, I promise.

I'll call you tomorrow around 10.

George.

I'm sorry you had
to find out this way, Louise.

You mean, you're sorry
I had to find out at all.

- No. I--
- It would have been more fun

to go sneaking around corners,

lying, cheating your wife.

- Please, I--
- It was part of the excitement, isn't it?

- Isn't it?
- If you'd only just--

I hate you for what you've done to me.
I hate you!

- Don't you ever do that again.
- Let me go.

Let me go!

[SCREAMS]

[THUDDING]

Vicky, you must ask Louise
to see me.

Talk to her, will you?

I have, George. You know that.

She's been home from the hospital
a month.

A full month and she won't let me
anywhere near her.

Be patient. She's had a rough time.

I know it's my fault.
But I've got to see her. Please, Vicky.

You're the only one she'll listen to.

I'm sorry.

At least now I know where I stand.

Excuse me, Miss Braxton.
I was wondering about vacuuming.

VICKY:
Well, you can do it now.

Yes, ma'am.

Don't give up hope.

I'll talk to Louise again.

What do you think you're doing,
Charlotte?

If the mountain won't come
to Muhammad--

- And my name is Martha.
- How long do you think

you're gonna
get away with this?

I don't care.
Just being around you is enough.

Are you crazy?

Yes, I'm crazy.

Nora Mae.

Oh, good evening, Miss Braxton.

- Is Mrs. Gordon awake?
- Oh, yes, indeed.

I just gave her the 6:00 medicine.

- Fine.
NORA MAE: I call it

the 6:00 medicine.
That way it's easy to remember.

Of course.

Louise?

Nora Mae said you were awake.

I couldn't sleep.

If only you'd let me call Dr. Williams,
he might prescribe something.

George has been talking to you,
hasn't he?

Yes.

He wants to see you.

No!

Not as long as he lives.

It's bad enough I can't divorce him.

But under no circumstances
will I ever see him again.

I don't want anyone coming in here
but you and Nora Mae.

Do you understand?

Louise, please.

I know it's easy for me to talk.

I haven't been hurt the way
you have.

You act as though George deliberately
pushed you down those stairs.

He tried to kill me.

And I'll tell you something else
about my precious husband.

In addition to all his other virtues,
he's a thief.

He knows I keep my jewellery
in here.

When I got home from the hospital
I was too sick to care about it.

I just opened it again.

Two of my rings and my diamond
and emerald bracelet are missing.

- You think he--?
- Oh, yes. Yes.

Gifts for his girlfriend, Charlotte.

I don't believe it.

Well, it could've been,
well, anybody.

Who? If it were just a burglar
why isn't all the jewellery gone?

Vicky, I've made up my mind.

George is only interested in one thing,
the money he gets from me.

Well, there's to be no more money.

Not now or ever.

I'm having my attorney
draw up a new will.

Louise--

Don't interrupt.

I'm leaving everything
to the Wayne Medical Centre.

Oh, you'll still be provided for
just as you were in the old will.

You'll still get your $350 a month.

Really, dear--

Oh, don't thank me.

It's no more than you deserve.

But George won't get a penny.

Don't try to make
a decision like that now.

Wait until you feel better.

- Maybe sometime in the future, you--
- Oh, Vicky, don't lie to me.

Lie to you?

We both know I have no future.

Well, my dear.

Checkmate.

I'm so sorry you lost.

Better luck next time, as they say.

Now, would you like
to play another?

Oh.

Do you like these?

Well, they were given to me
by a very close personal friend.

A very good-looking man.

He was an artist.

GEORGE:
Nora Mae.

Just a minute, please.

Oh. Is anything wrong
with Mrs. Gordon?

No, she's all right. May I come in?

Why, of course.

There's something
I wanna talk to you about.

And I think we better do it privately.

You're going to fire me.

No, no.
We're very happy with your work.

Nora Mae, I need your help.

I think there's a way
that we can help Mrs. Gordon

in spite of the way she feels.

Well, good.

I've been talking to a doctor friend of
mine and he suggests a new medicine.

Problem is how to get her to take it.

Oh...

You mustn't give it to her
unless her doctor says it's all right.

They taught me that

when I was a nurse's aide
at the hospital.

But I see you, uh,
giving her medicine every night.

Oh, that's just a harmless old tonic.

I just add hot milk and honey.

- You like Mrs. Gordon, don't you?
- Why, of course.

And you certainly
don't wanna see her suffer.

I want you to give these pills
to my wife.

What's this?

- Oh, that's just part of a chess game.
- Hmm, interesting.

Good night, Nora Mae.

GERTIE:
Perry Mason's office.

No, he isn't.

Yes, I'll see
that he gets the message.

1-4-5-9-2.

Thank you.

- Good morning, Gertie.
- Good morning, Mr. Mason.

Della in yet?

Yes, she's down the hall in Mr. Drake's
office about the Tompkins deposition.

She'll be right back.

Tell her I'd like to see her
as soon as she comes in.

- You're Perry Mason.
- Yes.

I recognised you the minute
you came in that door.

I saw your picture in the paper
a few weeks ago.

My, you're a fine-looking man.

Well, thank you.

I think I need advice, Mr. Mason.

- Well, I'm afraid that--
- Oh, I'm willing to pay.

I've always said that when it's
something important, get the best.

Money is no object.

Perhaps I should refer you
to the Legal Aid Society. They--

All right.

Maybe you'd better come
into my office.

Thank you very much, Mr. Mason.

I wouldn't have bothered you except
this man is going to murder his wife.

And it seems to me that it...

What makes you so sure these tablets
are poison, Miss Quincey?

Well, Mr. Gordon,
he acted so funny.

Well, he could be telling the truth.

Well, he and Mrs. Gordon
haven't been getting along.

She won't talk to him,
won't even see him.

Isn't that a pity?

Miss Quincey,
if you're honestly convinced

that this man is trying to kill his wife,
you ought to tell the police.

But I have.

What did they say?

Well, they were awfully busy.

It was one of their rush days,
I guess.

Oh, but I had a very nice chat
with Sergeant Wallace.

And you showed him the tablets?

No, sir. I never got a chance.

MASON:
Hmm.

All right, Miss Quincey.

There are four tablets in this bottle.

I want you to leave one with me.

You keep the other three.

But under no circumstances are you to
give Mrs. Gordon any of these tablets.

You understand?

Good.

I know I've taken up a lot of your time,
Mr. Mason.

- And time is money. So--
- Oh, uh, my fee?

Well, uh, what would you say
this consultation is worth?

Well, I don't think a man like you
ought to work for too little money.

I couldn't agree with you more.

Would, uh, $5 be all right?

Just exactly the figure I had in mind.

NORA MAE:
Well, good. I've got it right here.

One,

two, three, four, five.

- There you are.
- Well, thank you, Miss Quincey.

Thank you.

Gracious, I feel better already

just knowing that you'll be worrying
about this right along with me.

Goodbye, Mr. Mason.

- Goodbye, dear.
DELLA: Goodbye.

You've been very nice and quiet.

Oh, and thank you for the tea.

Oh, not at all.

What is this fatal attraction you have
for nice little old ladies?

Must be my great capacity for tea.

I suppose she's harmless.

Mm, I don't know.

There's more to Miss Quincey
than meets the eye.

Those diamonds she was wearing,
for instance.

I thought her fingers were on fire.

You know, she didn't get those
at the five-and-dime.

MASON:
Mm-mm.

Maybe I should have been
a practical nurse.

Sometimes you are.

Well, let's see what we have here.

Paul Drake Detective Agency?

Mm-hm. Give it to Paul. Tell him
I want it analysed as soon as possible.

Do you suppose it could be poison?

Could be.

As I said, there's more
to Miss Quincey than meets the eye.

Hello, Nora Mae.

Did you enjoy yourself
this afternoon?

I was going to put it back.

And the rings too.

Your wife wasn't using them.

They were so beautiful,
I couldn't help it.

I just wanted to own them
for a little while.

That's all right, Nora Mae.
I understand perfectly.

Of course, the police might look
at this thing differently.

Oh, please, don't tell the police.

Where are those tablets I gave you
for Mrs. Gordon?

Where are they, Nora Mae?

In my purse.

I suggest that now
would be an excellent time

for you to give them to her.

Don't you agree?

But--

But what?

[LOUISE BREATHING HEAVILY
OVER INTERCOM]

LOUISE [OVER INTERCOM]:
Vicky.

Vicky, help.

What is it, Louise?

[LOUISE MOANING
OVER INTERCOM]

Miss Quincey, I have a syringe
in my bag in a metal case.

It's sterile, so be careful.

Never mind.

MAN:
Excuse me, lieutenant.

I think this is what you wanted.

Where did you find it?

Just where Mr. Gordon said it was.

Well, I don't think we have
to keep you people any longer.

Right now.

Except you, Miss Quincey.

Really, lieutenant, I know you have
the wrong idea about this.

I'm sure Nora Mae
can explain everything.

Yes, I'm sure she can too.

Now, if you'll be good enough
to excuse us.

Miss Quincey, would you like to tell me
anything about this jewellery?

Well, I--

I borrowed it.

You borrowed it?

It's funny that Mrs. Gordon
didn't tell her husband about it

or Miss Braxton.

It's just costume jewellery.

It's really not worth much.

Well, I never claimed
to be much of an appraiser,

but I'd say it's worth
in the neighbourhood of

$25,000.

Well, you must be mistaken.

Did, um, you bring Mrs. Gordon
her milk last night?

Did you put anything in it?

Yes, I did. Some honey.

Mm-hm.

What else did you put in the milk?

Well, just that--

You think I poisoned Mrs. Gordon
for those things?

I'm afraid
you'll have to come with me.

I'll get my things.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

It must be Paul.

Hi, beautiful.

Here it is, Perry.
The analysis on that pill.

The chemist just sent it over.

- Have you read this?
- Uh-huh.

It's a stiff sedative, but that is all.

Oh, then, it isn't poison?

Definitely not.
It would just put her to sleep.

Yet we can't get around the fact that
Mrs. Gordon died of arsenic poisoning.

Paul, see what you can find out
about George Gordon.

Della will give you the details.

All right.

If anyone calls me,
I'll be down at headquarters.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

I'm so glad you're here.

Hello, Nora Mae.

Well.

How are they treating you?

Oh, just fine.

Mrs. Carmine, that's the policewoman,
is just wonderful to me.

Would you believe it?
She's got two full-grown children.

Of course, there's not much
to do here in the evenings.

They'll never let me go home,
will they?

Now, look, Nora Mae,

I wanna help you,
but you've got to tell me the truth.

Why, of course, Mr. Mason.

You lied to the police,
that's why you're here now.

Oh, I didn't lie.

I just--

Well, I was frightened.

That Lieutenant Tragg isn't nice.

But you did ignore my instructions
about those pills, didn't you?

Why?

Well, Mr. Gordon made me do it.

I was afraid he'd call the police.

So you put the pills into the milk.

What time was that?

It was her 6:00 medicine time.

Did you put something else
into the milk?

Yes. Some honey and her tonic.

Now, listen to me, Nora Mae,
and listen carefully.

The pills Mr. Gordon gave you,

the pills you put into the milk,
were just a sedative.

Just a sedative?

That's all.

But there was also arsenic
in that milk.

There couldn't have been.

Why I didn't even give her that milk.

I just waited until I was sure
Mr. Gordon had gone

and then I took that milk down
to the kitchen

and poured it in the sink
and brought her a fresh batch.

You say you did not give her
that milk?

Oh, I know I've been naughty,
but I wouldn't do a thing like that.

All right, Nora Mae.

All right.

The only question is:

How are we going to prove that?

You'll find a way.

Well...

Now, try not to worry.

I take it...

...you and Louise Gordon
were very close.

Yes. We were practically raised
together.

I'm the only family she had.
Except for George, of course.

And you took care of her
during her illness?

Mr. Mason, I realise the case
against Nora Mae is very strong,

but I can't believe she's guilty.

And who do you think is guilty?

I understand it was you who called
Dr. Williams that morning.

Yes. See, there's an intercom set up
between Louise's bedroom and mine.

Around 5:30 in the morning,
I heard her retching and moaning.

I ran to her room.
She was violently ill.

It was then you called the doctor.

Who else might have gone
into Mrs. Gordon's room

after Nora Mae left her that milk?

Louise would never allow
anyone in there

except Nora Mae and myself.

Let's assume for the moment that

Mrs. Gordon had already had some of
that warm milk and had fallen asleep.

Then someone else could have come
into the room,

put arsenic into the carafe.

Being asleep,
she wouldn't have realised that.

This someone else could either
have left her another glass of milk

or Mrs. Gordon could have awakened
later and poured the milk for herself.

Yes.

Yes, it could have happened
that way.

MASON:
Do you think--?

Do you think this someone else
might be her husband?

[PHONE RINGS]

How long have you known
George Gordon?

Excuse me, Miss Braxton.

VICKY: What is it, Martha?
- There's a phone call for Mr. Mason.

A Mr. Paul Drake.

Oh, thank you. Will you tell him
I'll see him at my office in 20 minutes?

I'll tell him.

Where were we?

I was, uh--

I was curious as to how long
you've known George Gordon.

A couple of years,
ever since he married my cousin.

How did they get along?

Fine, until a few months
before the accident.

Then something happened.

She thought he was unfaithful.

Did she consider a divorce?

No, it was against her belief.

- She did plan to change her will.
- Oh?

How?

She was gonna cut George off
without a penny.

She wanted to leave everything
to the Wayne Medical Centre.

Wasn't there a bequest for you?

Three hundred and fifty dollars
a month.

Same as it was before.

If she'd gone ahead with her plan,
George would have been penniless.

That was her intention.

Was George Gordon faithful
to his wife?

Well,

Louise told me he had a girlfriend
named Charlotte.

I never did learn her last name.

That's what they fought about originally
at the time of the accident.

But in all fairness to George,

I'm sure he hasn't seen this woman
in months.

How can you be so sure?

Well, he practically
never left the house.

All right, Miss Braxton. Thank you.

You've been very helpful.

Perry Mason's office.

I'm sorry, he's not in yet.

Thank you.

Uh-uh, uh-uh, Gertie.

That is 200 calories.

Mr. Mason in?

No-- No, not yet.

- Hi, Perry.
- Hi, Paul.

PAUL: Just asking for you.
- What's up?

I got a line on this George Gordon.
It might be something, might not.

Seems Mr. Gordon
has been married twice.

His first wife died three years ago
in Sierra City, where they were living.

Her name was, uh, Grace.

What was the cause of death?

The newspaper stories
told of a sudden illness.

We haven't gotten
to the records yet.

- An inquest?
- No.

But she left him
a nice chunk of cash.

Fifty-three thousand dollars,
to be exact.

- Does he still have it?
- Not a quarter.

Came down from Sierra City,
invested in a produce business.

Only now, he's got no business.

Been living on his wife's handouts for
the last year or so, keeping up a front.

There might be something in it.

Did you get the name of the doctor
who attended the first Mrs. Gordon?

Yeah.
It was, uh, Dr. Walter Fremont.

All right, Paul. I want you
to see this Dr. Fremont.

Check out that whole situation
in Sierra City.

- You know the information we need.
- Mm-hm.

And Paul, we might be in big trouble
in this one.

I'll do my best, Perry.

Yes, I remember Mrs. Grace Gordon
very well.

What, uh, exactly did you wanna
know about her?

Specifically, what caused her death.

Heart failure.

You were certain of your diagnosis
at the time?

Well, I signed the death certificate.
I've been practising for 35 years.

I wasn't suggesting incompetence,
doctor.

But is it possible
that Grace Gordon was poisoned?

Of course she was poisoned.

She and her husband
had been down in Mexico.

She had eaten some seafood
and apparently it was tainted.

George didn't wanna take her to a
doctor down there. So he raced home.

By the time I got to her,
she was in a pretty bad way.

Was an autopsy performed?

No. Why should there be?

I knew the patient and her husband.

I'd been their doctor
for several years.

One more thing.

During the past three years,

has anyone made a move to have the
body exhumed and an autopsy done?

I've already told you once.
I signed that death certificate.

She got violently ill
from the food she had eaten.

It put a severe strain on her heart
and that's what killed her.

That doesn't answer my question.

Well, I'm not answering
any more questions.

Young man, you've had
all the information you're going to get.

Thank you very much, doctor.

It's all there in the file, Perry.

The first Mrs. Gordon
died of a heart attack

induced by food poisoning.

Was it food poisoning
or some other kind of poison?

I don't know,
but I got my suspicions.

You think we're dealing
with a bluebeard?

Della, one thing about bluebeards,

they generally have
their next wives picked out

before they put away
their present wives.

Paul, I have another job for you.

Gordon and his wife had a battle
over a girl named Charlotte.

- Charlotte who?
- I don't know. I want you to find her.

It's not gonna be easy, you know.

I know that,
but I want you to find her.

"Grace Gordon, deceased."

The facts and circumstances
surrounding the poison murder

of Louise Gordon, deceased.

We will prove,
beyond any possibility of doubt,

that the defendant,
Nora Mae Quincey,

who occupied a position of trust
in the Gordon home,

wilfully and with premeditation
administered arsenic poison

to Mrs. Louise Bainter Gordon.

Further, ladies and gentlemen,
we will prove

that the defendant was motivated
by a desire to kill Mrs. Gordon

in order to cover up her own theft

of $40,000 worth
of Mrs. Gordon's jewellery.

Would you please tell us,
Dr. Williams,

what happened when you arrived
at the Gordon home that morning.

Well, it was obvious to me
that Mrs. Gordon had been poisoned.

I did what I could,
but she was too far gone.

She died about 20 minutes
after I arrived.

Did you know of your own knowledge,
doctor, what the poison was?

Yes, it was arsenic.

I ran a test on the milk I found
in the carafe.

- This carafe?
- Yes.

Doctor, just one more question.

You have testified that
Mrs. Gordon was seriously crippled

as the result of a fall.

Did that mean
she didn't have long to live?

No. On the contrary, Mr. Burger,
despite Mrs. Gordon's accident,

she had a normal life expectancy.

BURGER: We might say that
if the murder had not happened--

WILLIAMS: Oh, yes,
she could have lived 30 or 40 years.

- All things being equal.
- I see.

Thank you, doctor.

Your witness.

Now, let me understand you, doctor.

You say that you, yourself, tested
the milk that remained in that carafe.

Yes, I did.

- You ran a Marsh test for it?
- Yes.

Did you test the milk
for anything else?

Well, I found traces of a tonic,
one I prescribed for Mrs. Gordon.

Now, was the arsenic in that milk
a particular kind of arsenic?

Yes, it was arsenic trioxide.

Arsenic trioxide is similar in taste
and appearance

to powdered sugar, is it not?

Somewhat, yes.

Now, in your opinion, Dr. Williams,

if a fatal dose of that particular
kind of arsenic,

say, anywhere
from five to 50 milligrams,

had been added to a glass
of hot milk, tonic and honey,

would its presence or taste in that
glass of milk be easily discernible?

Well, I would say that the honey itself
was enough to cover up

or disguise the taste.

Thank you, doctor. That's all.

Is this the bottle that you removed from
the Gordon home, Lieutenant Tragg?

Yes, sir, it is.
It was in a cabinet in the kitchen.

What called your attention
to this particular bottle?

Well, it was pretty hard to miss,
Mr. Burger.

The label says, "Poison," and one of
the main ingredients listed is arsenic.

I see what you mean.

After you'd removed it from the home,
what did you have done to it?

Well, it was tested for possible
fingerprints.

- Did you find any prints?
- Yes.

We found a clear thumb
and forefinger print.

I ask you now if those prints

- have been identified?
- Yes, they have.

And to whom did they belong?

Miss Nora Mae Quincey,
the defendant.

Thank you, lieutenant. Your witness.

MASON:
Lieutenant Tragg,

what time did you arrive
at the scene of the crime?

Oh, about, uh, 25 minutes
after the doctor called us.

I assume you made a search
of Mrs. Gordon's bedroom.

- We certainly did.
- A thorough search?

A thorough search.

And found nothing to indicate

that Mrs. Gordon might have taken
that arsenic herself?

No, nothing.

All right.

Let's go on to the storage cabinet
in the kitchen

where you found that bottle
of arsenic.

Was the storage cabinet prominently
placed in the kitchen?

Well, I don't know what you mean
by prominently placed.

Well, I mean, was it easy to reach

or did you have to use a stepladder
or stand on a chair to reach it?

Well, it was easy to reach.

Then it was prominently placed

and easily accessible to anyone else
in the house.

In those terms, yes.

Thank you, lieutenant.

Now, uh...

...did the analysis on the contents
of this bottle

show any particular kind of arsenic?

Yes.

That's arsenic trioxide.

MASON:
Was, uh...?

Was this the only bottle
in that cabinet?

No. No, sir.

There were two bottles of bleach,

a bottle of starch,
and a bottle of cleaning fluid.

In other words, what we might call
household chemicals.

Yes. Yes, sir.

Now, lieutenant,

do you know what Miss Quincey's
job was in the Gordon household?

Why, of course.
She was a practical nurse there.

Are you aware of the duties
of a practical nurse?

Well, some of them.

Now, some of these duties,

such as keeping the sickroom
and its environs clean,

might involve the use
of household chemicals.

Wouldn't you say?

Well, I suppose so.

And wouldn't you also agree

that in order to do her job
as a practical nurse,

Miss Nora Mae Quincey had to handle
the contents of that cabinet

almost every day?

Objection, Your Honour.

He's calling for a conclusion
of the witness.

Sustained.

The jury will disregard the question.

Thank you, lieutenant. That's all.

I gave Nora Mae four tablets
and asked her to give them to my wife

without telling Dr. Williams
or anyone else.

What was in these tablets?

It was a sedative.

Mr. Gordon,
would you explain for us

some of the occurrences leading up
to this action of yours?

Well...

...my wife and I hadn't been
getting along for quite some time.

And before I knew
what was happening,

I found myself involved
with another woman.

And your wife found out
about this affair of yours?

Yes, she intercepted some letters

and she overheard
a telephone conversation.

I see.

GEORGE: And, uh, naturally
she turned against me.

BURGER:
Would you speak up, please?

I said she turned against me

to the point where I wasn't permitted
to come anywhere near her room.

I meant for those tablets
to put her to sleep,

so that I could get into her room
and find those letters.

Were you successful
in this enterprise?

No, sir.

I, uh, looked into her room
several times during the evening

to see if the sedative
had taken effect.

But it hadn't.

And the last time I looked, which was
rather early in the morning,

she was terribly sick.

And Vicky had already called
the doctor.

Oh, this was the morning
of her death?

Yes.

Mr. Gordon,

when you asked the defendant
to give the sleeping tablets

to your wife, did she agree?

Yes, she did.

Did you actually see her put them
into the milk?

Yes, sir.

Well, did you have to threaten her
or anything like that

to get her to do this?

Oh, no. Not at all.

That's not true.

As a matter of fact, Mr. Burger,
she seemed quite anxious to help.

Naturally, she did,

because that enabled her later
to try to blame it on you.

I object, Your Honour.

- Sustained.
- Your witness.

Mr. Gordon...

...did you ever know a woman
named Charlotte?

No.

- Are you sure, Mr. Gordon?
- Positive.

Wasn't she the woman you
and your wife quarrelled about?

No.

MASON:
I'll ask you once again, Mr. Gordon.

Didn't you and your wife quarrel
over a woman named Charlotte?

We did not.

What was the name
of the woman involved?

Mary Smith.

Hardly an unusual name.

She was hardly an unusual girl.

Yet you apparently saw
a great deal of her?

No, I only saw her a few times.
It was a casual thing.

Have you any idea where we might
find this, uh, Mary Smith?

No. She moved to Texas
a couple of months ago.

We'll let that pass for the moment.

Now, Mr. Gordon, after your wife
died, did Dr. Williams tell you

that her symptoms indicated
arsenic poisoning?

Yes, I believe he did.

Of course, you were familiar
with those symptoms.

No.

You mean, you'd never
seen them before?

Certainly not.

Mr. Gordon, at the time your first wife,
Grace Gordon, died in Sierra City,

didn't she have the same symptoms
as those indicated

in the death of your second wife,
Louise?

Say, what is this?

My first wife died as a result
of food poisoning.

Was there an autopsy at that time?

No. Why should there have been?

But there was an autopsy performed
on your second wife, wasn't there?

For the purpose of proving that she
had died of arsenic poisoning?

Yes.

How long were you married
to your first wife before her death?

About two years.

And your second wife?

About the same length of time.

Mr. Gordon, did your first wife
leave a will?

Yes.

Who was chief beneficiary?

- I don't see why this has anything--
- Answer the question, please.

She left her money to me.

All of it, $53,000.

Thank you, Mr. Gordon.

Oh, how much will you profit
by the death of your second wife?

I hear that she left around
a million dollars.

[MURMURING]

[BANGS GAVEL]

There will be order in the court.

Your Honour, on the basis
of testimony given by this witness,

I ask that this trial stand in recess

until such time as the body of
Mr. Gordon's first wife, Grace Gordon,

can be exhumed
and an autopsy performed.

If Your Honour please.

Yes, Mr. Burger?

Apparently defence counsel
takes a very dim view

of the efficiency
of the district attorney's office.

If we may be allowed to call
our next witness,

I'm sure we can settle this matter
to the court's entire satisfaction.

All right, Mr. Burger.

The, uh, witness will stand down.

Very well, Mr. Burger.

I call James Meecham
to the stand, please.

CLERK:
James Meecham to the stand.

Raise your right hand, please.

Do you solemnly swear the testimony
you are about to give

to be the whole truth?

- I do.
- State your name.

- James Meecham.
- Be seated.

James Meecham,
where do you reside?

It's Dr. James Meecham.
I reside in Sierra City, California.

And what, if any,
is your official position there?

I am the coroner for the county.

Did you recently exhume the body
of Mrs. Grace Gordon

and perform an autopsy on her?

I did. At the request
of the Los Angeles police.

And what were your findings?

Chemical and other tests revealed
that the subject died of natural causes.

Were there traces of arsenic or of any
other poison found in those remains?

None whatsoever.

Thank you very much, doctor.
That's all.

Your witness.

Doctor,

you said that in your autopsy
of Mrs. Grace Gordon,

- you found no traces of arsenic--
- That is correct.

Just a moment, doctor.

I was about to say that in your autopsy
of Grace Gordon,

you said you found no trace of arsenic
or other poison.

- That is also correct.
- Did you test the body for cyanide?

We couldn't.

Couldn't, doctor?

The body was embalmed, you see,

and the process destroys
all trace of cyanide.

So when you said you found no trace
of arsenic or other poisons,

that was incorrect?

No, that was correct.

I simply wasn't asked if we could
have found other poison.

You have been asked now,
haven't you, doctor?

Yes, I've been asked
and I've answered.

Thank you, doctor. That's all.

The witness may stand down.

Call your next witness, Mr. Burger.

I call Vicky Braxton to the stand,
please.

CLERK:
Miss Vicky Braxton, please.

Your Honour,

it is almost 5:00.

While I don't know how long
Mr. Burger will take on direct,

I know my cross-examination
will be quite lengthy.

May I suggest we adjourn?

Mr. Mason knows
that I'm always willing to give him

all the time he requires.
I have no objection, Your Honour.

Court stands adjourned until 10:00
tomorrow morning.

Mr. Mason, may I talk to Nora Mae?

Why, yes, I think so.

How do you feel, Nora Mae?

Just fine.

Did you see my picture
in the paper today?

Yes, it was very nice.

Mrs. Carmen, the police matron,
rounded up a dozen copies for me.

You'll have to come along with me,
Miss Quincey.

I'll see you all tomorrow.

Mr. Mason, if there's anything
I can do--

As a matter of fact, there is.

You heard Mr. Gordon's testimony
about those love letters?

He claims he never got them
from his wife's room,

and the police didn't find them
either.

- You think they might still be there?
- They must be.

Can you think of any place your cousin
might have hidden them?

A secret hiding place of some sort?

Perhaps if you were in the room
itself.

All I can tell you is I'll try.

That's all I ask.

All I can say, it wasn't very smart of
Mr. Gordon to save letters like these.

People in love aren't usually
noted for using their brains.

Where did you find them?

Taped to the back of the mirror
in Louise's bedroom.

Did you run across anything else?

Yes, this photograph
was with the letters.

Isn't that the maid, Martha Baker?

But shouldn't Mrs. Gordon
have recognised her?

Louise never saw her.

No one was allowed in the room
but Nora Mae and myself.

- Della,
- Mm-hm.

I want this Charlotte,
alias Martha Baker,

in court tomorrow morning.
Tell Paul to get a subpoena.

Right.

Miss Braxton, you were the one
who called Dr. Williams

on the night your cousin,
Louise Gordon, was poisoned,

- is that correct?
- Yes, I did.

And you were the one to whom--

And you were the one to whom
she confided the loss of her jewellery.

Yes, sir.

What was her general reaction
to losing the jewellery?

Well, naturally, she was upset,
very upset.

About that and other things.

What do you mean, other things?

- She was going to change her will.
- I see.

But she was disturbed
about the loss of the jewellery?

Yes.

And she intended to report it
to the police?

Your Honour, I object.

Mr. Burger wants the witness to tell us
what was in Mrs. Gordon's mind.

Sustained.

I have no further questions
at this time.

Miss Braxton,
did you visit my office last night?

- I did.
- For what purpose?

I wanted to turn over some letters
to you, and a photograph.

- Are these the letters?
- Yes, sir.

- And is this the photograph?
- Yes.

Thank you.

Your Honour, I should like these
marked for identification.

Thank you.

Miss Braxton...

...would you read the inscription
on this photograph?

It says, "George, with all my love,
Charlotte."

- Do you recognise this woman?
- I do.

Under what name do you know her?

Martha Baker.

And how was Miss Baker
employed?

As a maid in my cousin's home.

Who did the actual hiring
of Miss Baker?

I don't know what you mean.

Did Mrs. Gordon do the hiring?

No, she left that to me.

Obviously, you didn't check
Miss Baker's references.

I'm afraid I was careless there.

You see,
we were so desperate for help--

Of course.

Now, Miss Braxton,

would you please tell the court

where you found these letters
and this photograph?

Taped to the back of a mirror
in Louise's bedroom.

If you did, you must have put them
there yourself after the murder.

What are you talking about?

Well, I suggest you had them
all along.

I suggest you deliberately hired
Martha Baker,

knowing full well she was George
Gordon's girlfriend, Charlotte Lynch.

Why should I do that?

More than anything else, you wanted
to involve George Gordon.

You want to see him convicted
of his wife's murder.

That's a lie.

I had absolutely nothing to gain.

All she left me
was my regular allowance.

The same I've been getting all along.

Even that worked out for you,
didn't it?

If you had been chief beneficiary,

the police would have investigated you
immediately.

This way, they felt you had
no motive.

- I didn't.
- But you did.

You knew if George Gordon
was convicted of his wife's murder,

everything would go to you
as Mrs. Gordon's only living relative.

- You're wrong. I could have waited.
- Waited for what?

You must've known that despite
the fact your cousin was crippled,

she could have lived another 30 or 40
years. You must have known that.

But you felt you were just
a poor relative.

You couldn't wait that long.

Isn't that the way you felt?

Until the day she died,
I was nothing but a poor relative.

She wore her money
like some kind of a badge.

A badge I could never have.

It was my one chance to be free,
don't you understand?

To be paid back for the years
I'd given her.

I should have known
it wouldn't work out.

Not for a poor relative.

[VICKY CRYING]

[MUSIC PLAYS]

NORMA MAE:
Oh, dear, this is so difficult.

I'll have that.

Oh, and one of those too.

You wouldn't think so,
but I have a sweet tooth.

I never would have guessed.

You know, Mr. Mason...

...one thing still puzzles me.

Mm? Only one?

Uh, how did you know
that poor Miss Braxton

was lying about those letters?

Well, you heard Lieutenant Tragg's
testimony.

He said that he'd given Mrs. Gordon's
bedroom a thorough search

and found nothing.

And when Tragg says he's given
something a thorough search,

why, I'll take his word anytime.

You'll find that out when you know
Lieutenant Tragg better.

Well, I have no desire to.

You know what that man did?

- He had the nerve--
- Nora Mae.

I'm sorry.

Actually, I wasn't worried
for a minute, except for one thing.

Uh, my fee?

Well, what do you think is fair?

Well, I paid you $5 the first day.

It was high, but it was worth it.

What do you think now?

Well, I wanna do the right thing.

After all, I could have gone to prison
or even worse.

Would $25 be all right?

Just exactly the figure I had in mind.

Well, good. I've got it right here.

One, two,

three, four, five...

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