All language subtitles for Perry Mason S04E10 The Case of the Loquacious Liar.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS

Mm?

Lester, this is Sam
Crane. Did I wake you?

Mm-hm.

Well, I'm glad I did.

You promised to be
at the office at 10:00.

For crying out loud,
Sam, it's only 9.

Lester, please, just be here.
For your sake as well as mine.

Sam, I'm only 15
minutes from the office.

At 10 sharp, I'll walk in
that door, fully dressed,

and throw mud right
in my stepfather's eye.

Okay?

Okay.

Come on, out of bed, sleepyhead.

W-Who are you? What do you want?

Are you going to steal my car?

You're insured. What
are you worried about?

Come on, let's have breakfast.

Inside.

Come on, move.

Sit down.

Sit down.

Well, what do you like?

Rye? Scotch?

Bourbon? Gin?

Drink it.

Drink.

That's what you get for gulping.

Now, drink it slow,
sonny, but drink.

Look, if... If you're
trying to make me drunk,

I already am.

I think you're faking, sonny.

Drink it.

Please...

Drink.

Lester?

Hello?

Marge? This is Sam Crane.

Where in blazes is
that boyfriend of yours?

I just walked in, Sam.

I don't think he's here.

Is his car still there?

No, his car's gone.

Is something wrong, Sam?

He was due here at a meeting
a few minutes ago, that's all.

No need to worry
if he's on his way.

Goodbye, Marge.

Lester must be almost here.

It's nearly 10:30.

He could have
walked here by now.

Judson.

I don't think the
Martin Boat Company

is going to flounder if we
wait just a few more minutes.

I've been waiting a few
years for that stepson of mine

to decide whether he's a
leech or a human being.

You seem pretty certain
that he's not going to show up.

Sam, your contract as president

is subject to annual
approval by the stockholders.

That's us.

I've got my wife's
proxy in my pocket

and Lois is voting with me.

Lester and I own
the majority of stock.

He's on my side.

Yes, but anytime Lester
doesn't show up, you're finished.

Now, let's face it, Sam.

Sooner or later
he's going to read

one of your antiquated
sales reports.

We're still making
a profit, aren't we?

I know an Indian
who makes a profit

building canoes
out of tree trunks.

If I were running this company

the way it ought to
be run... Now, stop it.

Both of you. Stop it.

Sam, think of all the things
you could do if you retired.

The places you could go.

And I was the one that suggested

a woman head our public
relations department.

Sam, when you and Mr. Martin

gave me the few
little shares that I own,

it was because you
valued my work, my opinion.

Now I'm saying that it's
time for you to step aside

and let somebody else take over.

I don't care if it's
Mr. Bailey here

or the man in the moon.

Judson, you've got to
give me a little more time.

Why should I?

Because there's
such a thing as ethics.

You may be legally
entitled to call a vote

right this very
minute, but if you do,

I'll have corporation
lawyers on your neck forever.

What do you want me to do, Sam?

I want you to
postpone the meeting

until I locate Lester.

He may have had an accident.

All right.

I'll postpone till
8:00 this evening,

if you give me your
absolute assurance

you won't try any
more delaying tactics.

You have my word.

You play rough.

That didn't hurt, did it?

Jud, do you really think
Lester will show up?

Oh, let's not
worry about Lester.

Your last chance,
sonny, still want to argue?

Hello?

Oh, Sam, I'm busy in
the darkroom right now,

can I... What?

He called from where?

From the other side of town.

Somebody filled
him full of liquor,

drove him 20 miles
into the country

and tried to kill him.

Sam, Lester's
all right, isn't he?

Yes, Lester is all right,

but that's why
Bailey was so sure

he wouldn't show up at
the meeting this morning.

Bailey must be behind this.

Now, Marge, Lester wants
you to do him a favor, will you?

Well, yes, of course.

All right, I told Lester
I overheard Bailey

making a date with someone
to meet him at Corelli's Bar.

Now, if that someone
should happen to be the man

who took Lester for a ride,

and you can get a
picture of them together,

we'll nail Judson
Bailey once and for all.

Lester wants you to take
one of your small cameras

to Corelli's Bar,

and if you should see Bailey
talking to a man with a...

with a dark suit
and a light tie...

I guess this is the last
Scotch I'll taste in some time.

They have Scotch in
Mexico City, haven't they?

You ever been in
Mexico City, Mr. Bailey?

A few times.

You'll enjoy the bullfights.

No, thanks.

I tried that once
down in Tijuana.

I don't think they should make
a sport out of killing. Do you?

I really haven't
given it much thought.

No, sir.

Killing's a serious business.

Well, I'm wound up here,
so I guess I better be gone.

Been a pleasure,
Mr. Bailey. Real pleasure.

Hi. Hi.

Who was your friend?

Oh, him? Oh, just a guy.

I better call Emma and tell
her I won't be home to dinner.

What are you looking at?

That girl.

I thought she looked familiar.

Lester's girlfriend.
What's her name?

Oh, Marge Fuller.

She just slipped a
camera into her purse.

Well, she's a
professional photographer.

And are you a
professional model?

She take my picture?

I don't think she was
doing a character study

of the bartender.

Judson, it's just
not fair, that's all.

I was planning on us
going to the theater tonight.

Well, I know you said
there was an 8:00 meeting,

but that can't last more
than a minute or two.

If you don't think Lester is
going to be there anyway...

Judson, I'm not
arguing, I'm just...

All right, Judson. Yes.

Goodbye.

Hello, mother.

Lester, what's happened?

Where on earth have you been?

It's not where I've
been that's important,

it's where I'm going
and you're going with me.

What are you talking about?

Mother, there's going to
be a meeting at the office

tonight at 8:00. I
want you to be there.

But I don't know
anything about business.

Judson has my power of attorney.

I want you to take that power
of attorney away from him.

Do what?

Mother, you've
got to do as I say,

or sooner or later this
man will destroy you,

the way he tried to destroy me.

Destroy?

Why, darling, Judson's
your own stepfather.

Well, he just tried
to have me killed.

I don't believe you.

When I woke up this morning

I found a man pointing
a gun in my face.

Oh, Lester, no...

He drove me to a
place in the sticks.

We fought, and when I
grabbed his gun he ran.

Mother, look at me. Look at me!

It was my stepfather,

your husband,
who hired that man.

Don't you understand?

No. No, that's not true.

Why would Judson
have anything to do with...

Why do you think he
married you in the first place?

Judson Bailey wants our company.

He'll do anything
in the world to get it.

Judson is a fine man.

He loves me.

I know you don't like
him, but it's only natural

when you loved your father so.

Mother.

I'm going to have
the proof of what I say.

I'm sorry if it hurts you.

But please believe me.

Please do as I ask.

It's not true. Not
one single word.

I'll show you
that proof tonight.

I'll show you a picture
of the man who did this.

I'll show it to everyone.

Mother...

The picture's gone, Lester.

How did it happen?

Well, I was just
finishing the print,

when I got a call from
Sam Crane's secretary.

She said he wanted
to see me right away.

But it wasn't his secretary.

She hadn't even
called me at all.

And the picture Miss Fuller took

of this man and
Bailey was stolen?

That's right.

Negative and print.
She only made one.

Did you notify the police?

No. I came directly to you.

Let's get back to this
man who kidnapped you.

What makes you
think Bailey hired him?

Well, who else would
want to see me dead?

You see, Jud conned my mother

into giving him half the stock
my father left her in his will.

He even tried to push Sam
Crane out and take his job.

He's tried every
way he could think of

to cheat me out of my share.

And now this.

If your suspicions
are correct, Lester,

your stepfather could be
charged with attempted murder.

You mean, we ought
to go to the police?

If your suspicions are correct.

Right now they're
only suspicions,

and since it's a
family matter...

If I only had that picture.

We'll see what my
investigator comes up with,

and I'll have him check
the registration of this gun.

What do I do in the meantime?

Well, you have no choice
but to go to that meeting tonight

if you want to protect

Mr. Crane's position
in the company.

I'd feel a whole lot better
if you were there with me.

All right. I'll meet you there.

Emma.

Hello, Sam, Lois.

Hello, Mrs. Bailey.
It's nice to see you.

Where's Judson?

He'll be here any minute.

Please sit down, Emma.

Thank you, Sam.

Yes? What can we do for you?

My name is Mason.

I came here at the
request of Mr. Lester Martin.

He's not here yet.

I'm Sam Crane and this is...

Oh, Lieutenant Tragg. Mason.

Lieutenant?

Police Department.

I take it you're Mrs. Bailey.

I was told at your house
you could be reached here.

Yes. That's right.

There's going to
be a meeting here.

Mrs. Bailey, I've been
on the force for 30 years,

and I've never found an
easy way of saying this.

Your husband has been murdered.

Murdered, oh!

Good morning, Perry.

Good morning, Paul.

Pour him some
coffee, will you, Della?

Thanks. Well, I
see the bloodhounds

are out looking for your client.

If you still want
to call him that.

I can't say I blame them,

since the murder was
committed at Lester's place.

Well, that's where
he was heading

when he left here
last evening, wasn't it?

Mm-hm. Said he was going

to change clothes
for that meeting.

Here you are.

Thanks.

"Blunt instrument,

signs of a struggle that
raged through the house."

Well, he's done
about the worst thing

a man can do under
the circumstances,

but until I find out
why he disappeared...

I know, he gets the
benefit of the doubt.

What have you
found so far, Paul?

I'm afraid it's not gonna
make you very happy.

On that gun he claimed he
took away from a hired killer,

there were no finger
prints except his own,

and as for registration,
it was part of a lot

that was stolen
several years ago.

Mm-hm.

And whoever ransacked
Marge Fuller's studio apartment

and took that
photograph was real lucky.

Didn't leave a trace to go on.

Doesn't Miss Fuller have
any idea where Lester is now?

Nope, and I think
she's telling the truth.

All right, then.

We'll just have to backtrack
from the time of the murder.

How far back?

Well, I want to know what Bailey
was doing at Lester's house,

everything he did last night.

Della, I'm going
to see Mrs. Bailey.

Last night she was too
upset to make any sense.

Right, Perry.

Paul, get me a
list of everything

that was found on the body.

And I'd like to know what
the police found at the house.

All right, Perry.

And Della, get
hold of Marge Fuller.

I'll meet you both at
Corelli's Bar in an hour.

Corelli's Bar?

Ask Miss Fuller to
bring her camera along.

Make sure it's loaded.

Bye, beautiful.

You're going to help my
son, aren't you, Mr. Mason?

You're going to help Lester?

Not unless I can
find him, Mrs. Bailey.

I thought he might be trying

to locate the man
he met yesterday.

I don't know who you mean.

Yes, you do.

Though apparently
you haven't told any of it

to the police yet. Why not?

Told...

Told what, Mr. Mason?

Now, look here.

Your son came to my office
not long after he left you,

yesterday afternoon.

He told me all about the
man who tried to kill him.

No, Mr. Mason, no.

It's been a nightmare.

I'll never wake up from it.

I've done nothing
but harm to Lester,

but if only I'd listened.

Didn't you believe his
story about the killer?

Well, what else could I think?

To say such awful
things about anyone.

Did you tell your
husband about it?

When?

Where did you talk
to your husband?

After Lester left, I
telephoned Judson

at a place called Corelli's Bar.

He was busy with a
client there yesterday.

But not too busy
to listen to the story

of his hiring
someone to kill Lester?

Or someone at least
who was supposed

to get Lester out of the way?

I couldn't help it.

I thought Lester
was out of his mind.

He'd said some
things that... hurt me.

Oh, Mr. Mason, I wish
I could take it all back.

If I'd only kept quiet,

Judson might never
have been killed.

What was your husband's
reaction to all this?

He asked me to repeat it.

To repeat every word.

He was so deadly quiet
that I began to be scared.

And then he hung up.

I tried to call him back
and I couldn't reach him.

Next thing I heard,
two hours later,

he was dead.

Somehow...

I know it's all my fault.

It was just a little
after 5 when I got here.

Mr. Bailey was already
over there at the bar,

talking to the man.

How did you recognize the man?

I was given a
description by Mr. Crane.

He got it on the
phone from Lester.

I'm sure it was the
right man, all right.

Did Mr. Bailey see
you take the picture?

No.

Do you think
anyone else saw you?

I guess that's possible.

Miss Rogers might have.

Miss Lois Rogers?

Yes. I saw her at the
bar on my way out.

Was she with anyone?

Yes, she was with
Mr. Bailey, of course.

Why "of course"?

Lester says they met here
almost every day, Lois and Bailey.

Miss Fuller, Bailey was
about my size, wasn't he?

Yes.

Do you any have pictures of him?

Just something from a
magazine, perhaps a side view?

Well, I did some photo work for
their publicity department once.

Yes, I think I could
come up with something.

Good.

Now pick up someone

who looks like the man
Bailey was talking to.

Oh, well, let's see.

He was a little smaller

than that one.

There.

The one in the dark suit, maybe.

At least, if he'd
keep his back turned,

that's the way he was sitting.

Is this the same table
you were at yesterday?

Yes.

You get the idea, don't you?

Snap it as fast as you can.

Hot enough for you?

It's hot enough.

It just ain't quiet enough.

Miss Rogers?

Oh, Mr. Mason.

May I come in for a
moment? I'd like to talk to you.

Of course.

But I've already told
the police all I know.

You're wasting your time,

unless you enjoy
seeing a woman cry.

I'm sorry.

Last night, I didn't realize
that Mr. Bailey's death

had been such a
great personal loss.

It was a loss to
everyone in the company.

He was a fine man.

But I suppose some
lawyer with a bag of tricks

will get his murderer off
with a slap on the wrist.

So far, Miss Rogers, I
represent only Lester.

Do you have some information

that would suggest
that he's the murderer?

Oh, of course not.

Don't mind me. I'm
just upset, that's all.

Here.

Thank you.

I really came here to ask
about a man in a picture.

A what?

A man in a picture.

This was taken inside,
on high speed film.

At a place called Corelli's Bar.

Where did you get that?

Wait just a minute. It's
the only print we have.

You recognize it?

Well, that's Judson
Bailey, there, isn't it?

It just surprised me
seeing him, that's all.

Actually this is the
man I'm interested in.

Do you know him?

Well, how could I?

In this view, his
face isn't even turned.

"In this view"?

And there's another
picture somewhere?

What difference does it make?

I had no idea I'd
overlooked a picture.

Yes, I stole the other one.

Why?

I don't know why. Judson
asked me to and I did.

Then you did see Marge
Fuller snap Mr. Bailey's picture?

Yes, but he didn't seem
so upset about it then.

It wasn't until his wife
phoned a few minutes later.

When he came back from
the phone booth, he was livid.

Did he tell you why?

Did he tell you what she'd said?

Well, he talked
about the picture.

He said he wanted me to get
it for him. He didn't care how.

And so you impersonated
Mr. Crane's secretary,

to get Marge away
from her apartment?

Yes.

Then about 6:30, I
met Jud back at the bar.

I gave him the
picture and he left.

Did he say where he was going?

He said he was going
to look for his stepson.

For Lester.

But I-I don't know
why he was so upset.

Mr. Mason, who
is that other man?

I have no idea who he is,

but that's not
Mr. Bailey. That's me.

Hello, Perry.
Now, here's the list:

a wallet with 43
dollars in it, car keys,

identification,
and credit cards.

No, the only picture was
on Bailey's driver's license.

I'm positive.

There was no such
picture on the body.

Mr. Crane, I've managed

to reconstruct
Bailey's activities

up to the time he
went to see Lester.

Well, that's very interesting,

but why do you
come to me about it?

Because I think he might
have come to see you.

Don't be ridiculous.

I know what the
penalty is for harboring...

Yesterday, when
Lester wanted help

in trying to prove what
his stepfather was up to,

you were the first one
he got in touch with.

And you want me to tell
him to give himself up,

to explain that he's
making his own case worse,

but I simply don't
know where he is.

I haven't heard one word.

Yesterday you
telephoned Marge Fuller

and suggested that she
try to get a picture of Bailey

talking to the man

who had kidnapped Lester.

What of it?

That picture somehow
got into Bailey's hands.

At least, he had it with him
when he went looking for Lester.

Well?

Well, the picture
has now disappeared.

There are several possibilities.

One is that Lester has it.

Did he show it to you?

Did he do what?

Mr. Crane, I've
had an investigator

watching your house,

but not your beach cabin.

I've stood about enough of this.

If Lester committed murder,
or even came close to it,

he must feel that
finding that kidnapper

is his only hope of
proving self-defense.

Now, for the last
time, Mr. Crane...

You get out of here.

How many times
do I have to say it?

Lester did not
come to me for help,

and I haven't the
faintest idea where...

Sam, I've got to talk to you.

It's all right, Emma.

Mr. Mason was just leaving.

Oh, no, Mr. Mason, please.

That Lieutenant just called me.

They've caught Lester.

They found him.

Where, Mrs. Bailey?

Well, there's a little beach
cabin that Sam owns.

Oh, Sam doesn't
know anything about it.

I'm the one who told
him to go there, to wait.

Well, don't look
like that. Both of you.

Is there anything
wrong with a mother

trying to protect her own son?

Then Bailey accused
you of trying to frame him?

That's right.

He pretended he didn't
know the guy in the picture.

He even claimed he wasn't trying
to get his hands on our company.

And when you argued
about it he hit you?

I tried to hit him back, but
he caught me off balance.

That was it.

How long were you unconscious?

I don't know.

It could have been five
minutes or half an hour.

When I came to, I
went looking for him.

With a metal vase in your hand?

But I never used it.

That's when I saw him lying
there dead in the kitchen.

Please, y-you've
got to believe me.

It would have been a lot easier

if you volunteered this
information 24 hours ago.

Hiding out was mother's idea.

Until she could get
Sam Crane's advice.

You went straight
to your mother,

the night of the murder?

No, of course not.

Not till this morning.

I guess I was just too
scared to turn myself in.

And I had the crazy hope I
could still find that guy someplace.

Mr. Mason,

nobody will believe a thing
I say unless I do find him.

The picture that Bailey
had of himself and that man,

did you take it out
of Bailey's pocket

after you found his
body in the kitchen?

But that's all I took.

I didn't touch anything else.

When the police took
it from you, did they...?

They didn't see it.

I hid it in Sam Crane's
place at the beach.

Well, why didn't you say so?

We'll have to turn
it in, of course,

but at least it'll give
Paul Drake a head start.

If he has a good
photo to go on...

You mean, you'll keep
looking for the guy?

You do believe me?

You'll defend me, in spite
of all the dumb things I've...

Dumb is right, Lester.

We all do dumb things.

That doesn't mean
we're all murderers.

There were multiple
fractures above the right ear,

causing a severe
internal hemorrhage

and almost instant death.

I show you this
metal vase, Dr. Hoxie.

Could such an object cause
the wounds you describe?

Yes, sir, it could.

I ask this weapon to be
entered in evidence as Exhibit A.

We would have to
object to that, Your Honor.

That's a metal
vase, not a weapon.

Sustained.

Is that your only objection
to admitting this exhibit?

Yes, Your Honor.

So ordered.

I have no more
questions, doctor.

Cross-examine.

Doctor Hoxie, could the
butt of a gun, properly applied,

also cause the
damage you described?

Yes, sir.

Could a fireplace poker
cause similar damage?

Yes, indeed.

A hammer?

A human skull can
be cracked open

by any heavy blunt instrument
if the man hits hard enough.

Or a woman?

Or a woman.

Thank you, doctor.

No further questions.

Lieutenant, what fingerprints
did you find on the vase?

Only the defendant's.

Of course, that's natural,
since it was in his house,

or his family's,

but will you explain the
prints a little more fully?

Well, even in your own house

you don't generally
pick up a vase like this.

Would you show the court
exactly where the prints were?

The thumb here and two or
three impressions smeared

where he'd shifted his grip.

And would you say the
prints indicated the firmness

with which he gripped the vase?

Absolutely.

He gripped it with
all his strength.

Your witness.

Lt. Tragg, did
you find any traces

of the victim's hair
or blood on the vase?

No, sir.

Thank you,
lieutenant. That'll be all.

One question, Your
Honor, on redirect.

In all your police
experience, lieutenant,

in cases where a murder
weapon was as slick and hard

as this heavy metal vase,

have you ever known
hair and blood to remain?

To adhere to such
a polished surface?

Very seldom.

Thank you.

Now, Mr. Crane, do you
recall any previous times

when the defendant
quarreled with his stepfather?

Well, there may have been
little arguments, I suppose.

As an unfriendly witness,

will you please answer
just "yes" or "no."

Do you recall, for instance,
having lunch with the defendant

just nine days
before the murder?

I may have, I don't exactly...

Mr. Crane, we're prepared
to subpoena a waiter

and two busboys who
do recall that day very well.

Now. Isn't it true
that at said luncheon,

the defendant threatened
his stepfather, Mr. Bailey,

and in a voice which could be
heard all over the restaurant?

I don't remember
his raising his voice...

Yes or no, Mr. Crane.

Did Lester Martin say he'd
get Mr. Bailey thrown out

of your boat company even if
he had to frame him to do it?

But Lester had
had a drink or two...

"Get him thrown out
of your boat company

even if he had to
frame him to do it?"

Yes.

Yes, Lester said that.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Mr. Crane,

you are fond of the
defendant, are you not?

Of course. I've known
him since he was a boy.

You were also fond

of the position you
hold in the company?

Well, of course.

Did Judson Bailey
threaten that position?

Yes, I suppose he did.

Tell us, Mr. Crane,

how do you feel
about Mrs. Bailey?

The defendant's mother?

Objection, Your Honor.

The witness's private affairs
are immaterial and irrelevant.

Mr. Mason, I'll have
to sustain that objection

unless you can show some
justifiable purpose here.

I hope to show prejudice

on the part of this
witness, Your Honor.

Very well. Overruled. Proceed.

Now, Mr. Crane, after
her first husband died,

did you ask Mrs.
Bailey to marry you?

Yes, many times.

And she turned you down?

Yes, she preferred
to marry a conniving,

thieving...

Well, you're quite
right, Mr. Mason.

If anyone had a reason
to kill the man, it was I.

And then you told your
husband this fantastic story

that the defendant told you,

of a professional gunman
being hired by Bailey to kill him?

Yes or no?

Yes.

And your husband's anger
was so great that he hung up,

and when you
tried to call him back

you were unable to
reach him? Yes or no?

Yes.

And the next you
knew of Judson Bailey,

he'd been murdered?

Yes.

They fought many times,
your husband and your son?

Their apparent
hatred was mutual?

Yes.

Yes, yes...

I realize that stealing
the picture was wrong,

but I had to get
it for Mr. Bailey.

What were his words
when you handed it to him?

Well, he was
bewildered and angry.

He said that Lester
was trying to frame him.

What did Mr. Bailey do then?

Well, he left me.

He said he was going
to look for Lester.

Do you recall the last
words he spoke to you?

Yes, I do.

He said, "Lois, I'm going to
take this phony photograph

and shove it down that
little conniver's throat."

Thank you, Miss Rogers.

That's all for now.

Miss Rogers,

how long does it take to
drive from your apartment

to Lester's house
up in the canyon?

I don't know.

Well, you have been
there, haven't you?

A few times.

Those few times,

were you a guest of
Mr. and Mrs. Bailey's?

I don't know what you mean.

Well, those times
that you did go there,

were you a guest of Mr. Bailey?

Mrs. Bailey? Or both?

Mr. Bailey.

Then you and he were more
than just business associates?

We were good friends.

Did Mrs. Bailey
suspect how good?

We object, Your Honor.

This witness cannot
possibly know what was

in Mrs. Bailey's mind.

Then I withdraw the
question, Your Honor,

and ask in its place,

did Mrs. Bailey ever
say anything to you

which would indicate

that she suspected
you and her husband?

Object, Your Honor.

This question now calls
for hearsay evidence

and is not proper
cross-examination.

I am trying to show the bias
of the witness, Your Honor.

If the court please,

he's trying to show the bias

of a dead man's
widow. Of Mrs. Bailey.

The question is
preliminary, Your Honor.

If the witness admits that
she and Mrs. Bailey conversed,

then I proposed to show
the entire conversation.

Of course we talked.

From the time she accused
me until I admitted that...

The witness will refrain
from volunteering statements.

However, in view
of the circumstances,

I'll overrule the
original objection.

Proceed, Mr. Mason.

Your Honor.

Miss Rogers,

were you and Mr. Bailey lovers?

Yes, we were.

She knew about it too.

Even though she tried to
pretend that it wasn't so.

She thought she could get him
back that way, by pretending,

by always pretending.

Miss Rogers, had Judson
Bailey ever suggested

that you and he be married?

Yes, he had, and
I'd answered yes.

And she knew about that too.

Well, my cottage is just
across from the Martin place.

I went out to the kitchen
for a drink of water,

and I could hear
them just as clear

as if I was in the
room with them.

They were yelling at
the top of their lungs.

And what time was
this again, Mrs. Stone?

It was around
7:30 in the evening.

And you're positive you
recognized the voices?

Absolutely.

It was Lester Martin
and Mr. Judson Bailey.

I've heard them both over
there fighting for years.

Simply years.

Now, how long did you listen
from your kitchen window?

Oh, just a few minutes.

Then I went into the living
room to watch television.

Do you mean you then just
walked back into your living room?

You just stopped
eavesdropping on a fight like that?

Well, it isn't as if I'd heard
screaming or gunshots.

Anyway, it did
begin to bother me.

After a few minutes
I got to thinking,

so I went back out
and had another look.

And what did you see when you
looked out your kitchen window?

I saw Lester Martin
run out the back door,

get in his car, and drive away.

Thank you.

Your witness, counselor.

Gentlemen,

since it is approaching
the noon hour,

and if you have no
objection, Mr. Mason...?

I have no objection, Your Honor.

Court will recess until
1:30 this afternoon.

What's the cast for, Perry?

Oh, no serious injury.

Doctor feels it should be
immobilized for a few weeks.

That's all.

I thought maybe you were
feeling your bruises from the D.A.

Well, I hope it's
nothing serious, Perry.

Things may be more
serious than he knows.

I hope you got a lead
on that man in the picture,

we certainly can use him.

Why, what's the matter?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Except they've shown about
everything that's necessary

to bind Lester over for trial.

Well, in theory,
he should be easy.

Guy with a moustache, the
scar, and of course, by now,

the police are
looking for him too,

but Perry, this
guy'll never show up.

If he can even read he's
halfway to China by this time.

How can he be of any
help to you anyway?

No matter what that
man was hired to do,

it will only confirm
more trouble

between Lester and Bailey.

I wouldn't be too
sure about that, Della.

Paul, I think I
know where to find

a man like that in a hurry.

A man just like that.

Yeah? Where?

Police Call Central
Casting. Come on.

Are you ready for your
cross-examination, Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

Mrs. Stone,

in your position as
an outstanding citizen

of this community, I
know you'll want to give

an absolutely honest and
a very complete picture

of what happened that evening.

Yes, sir.

Now, after you'd heard the fight

and returned to
your living room,

how long would you say
you watched television?

Would you say ten minutes?

Well, six or seven, maybe.

During that time,

did you see anyone
else enter Lester's house?

How could I? I was watching TV.

It's a good point, Mrs. Stone.

So it's quite possible then

that someone else could
have come and gone

without your knowing about it?

Well, yes, if you
put it that way.

But then, I'm a pretty
observant person.

Not snoopy, you understand,

but I do catch most

of the comings and
goings around me.

You do?

Now, would you
tell us, for instance,

whether there were
any comings or goings

on the morning
preceding the murder?

Well, let's see...

There was one man.

Then the girl.

That's all there was.

One man?

And he drove away
with Lester Martin.

That would be about
9:30 or 10 in the morning.

Would you recognize this
man if you saw him again?

Oh, yes, I think so.

He was there just
before the girl came.

That Fuller girl,

Lester's friend.

Thank you, Mrs.
Stone. That'll be all.

The same girl that was
there in the evening.

That's the one I mean.

Which evening, Mrs. Stone?

That same day as the murder.

Around 6:30.

"I was alone in my
house from 6 until 7.

Then I left and I
didn't come back."

Now, this is a
portion of a statement

that the defendant voluntarily

made to the police at
the time of his arrest.

It has already been entered
in evidence as Exhibit D.

Miss Fuller, is this
a true statement?

But he was frightened.
He wanted to protect me.

Did the defendant lie in
his statement to the police,

or did he not?

He lied.

I was there.

I got there about 6:30.

And what time did you leave?

I left at 7:15.

Leaving the defendant still
there? Alone in his house?

Yes.

Thank you. That's all.

What was the
purpose of your visit

to Lester that
evening, Miss Fuller?

Well, to see if
Lester was all right.

He'd been through
a terrible experience.

A man had tried to kidnap him.

Concerning the picture
you took of that same man

talking to Judson
Bailey at Corelli's Bar:

on whose instructions

did you take that picture?

Your Honor,

the deceased is
not on trial here,

and even if he were,

a picture of him talking
to another man at a bar

proves only one thing:

that the person who
snapped that picture

knew how to operate a camera.

I take it you don't
intend to introduce

this particular picture into
evidence, Mr. Prosecutor?

Not until the jury
trial, Your Honor.

We see no reason to
waste the court's time now

with secondary evidence
which only corroborates

another of defendant's
lies about his stepfather.

We're quite willing to
concede that there was a lie

connected with the
photograph in question,

but a lie which the defense
feels should be explored,

because the man who
posed with Judson Bailey

in that photograph
was quite real.

What's he trying to do to me?

Shh.

And since the prosecutor
has repeatedly suggested

that the defendant in some way

attempted to frame the deceased

with said photograph,

I ask that we continue
this line of questioning

until the whole matter
has been clarified.

And to that point, Your Honor,

I would like to
recall a witness.

Which witness?

Mr. Sam Crane.

If you have no
objection, Mr. Prosecutor,

I'd like to understand
this matter

a little more fully myself.

Very well, Your Honor.

Well, Lester phoned
me from what he said

was a service station
on the edge of town.

And that's when you first
heard the defendant's story

of narrowly averting death
at the hands of a hired killer?

Yes, that's right.

Mr. Crane,

did Lester Martin describe
his assailant to you?

Yes, in great detail.

He wanted to find
the man, naturally.

Do you recall any
of that description?

Yes. Lester said the
man was tall, six feet,

had black, curly hair.

He said he wore a
dark shirt with a white tie.

He had bushy eyebrows,

and a scar on his left cheek.

Anything more?

Uh, yes, yes. He
had a black mustache.

That's him!

He's the one who came to
the cottage in the morning.

Order. Order, please.

Your Honor, I wonder if I
might now recall someone.

Your Honor,
there's a proper time

for defense to parade
his witnesses in here.

He certainly can wait a few
minutes to question that man.

I said, recall someone.

One of your witnesses,
Mr. Prosecutor.

Miss Lois Rogers.

You may step down, sir.

Miss Rogers, will you
take the stand, please?

May I remind you, Miss Rogers,
that you are still under oath.

Now, Miss Rogers,

you testified that when you
met Judson Bailey in Corelli's,

he had been talking
to a man at the bar.

That's right.

Do you recall your exact
conversation with Mr. Bailey?

Well, I asked Judson who the
man was and he said, "Just a guy."

But he wasn't just
a guy, of course.

Later on, Judson was very
upset about the same man.

But couldn't he have been
"just a guy," Miss Rogers?

I don't understand.

Couldn't he have
been some stranger

who just struck up a
conversation with Mr. Bailey?

No.

Everyone here has described him.

I mean, Marge
Fuller certainly knew

who she was taking a
picture of, didn't she?

It must have been the same man.

That man could still have
been a stranger to Mr. Bailey.

Well, I guess so.

Someone else could have
hired that man, could they not?

Arranged the picture-taking?

Arranged it all so that Judson
Bailey would be blamed?

Stop it, stop it, stop it.

I hired him.

I did it. He'll tell
you so himself.

I'm sorry, Lester.

The man wouldn't
have killed you,

I told him to let
you talk him out of it.

To frighten you.

To make you believe
Bailey had hired him.

You understand, don't you, Emma?

I had to make you hate Judson.

That's why I
wanted to frame him.

When I got to the
house, he and...

He and Lester had been fighting.

He had the picture
and knew what I'd done.

I had to kill him then.

You understand, don't you Emma?

I had to kill him.

Bailiff, you'll take
Mr. Crane into custody.

Mr. Mason, I'll rule
favorably on a motion

to dismiss the charges
against your client.

Court's adjourned.

My friend,

for an impersonation like that,
you've earned your 100 bucks.

Thank you.

Somehow I never figured
Sam to be the murderer.

Well, if everyone was telling
the truth, it had to be Sam.

What do you mean?

Well, in the first place,
it kept bothering me

that Judson Bailey had
accused you of framing him.

Everybody said he was
so completely outraged,

so angry at the accusations.

So if Bailey had told the truth,

then someone else must
have hired the kidnapper.

That's right. Who told
Marge to take that picture

and exactly where to take it?

And exactly when,
and exactly what

the hired man looked like.

Sam Crane told his
man to go to Corelli's Bar,

strike up a
conversation with Bailey

and leave after you'd had
time to take that picture.

I don't know why I didn't get it

when you did practically

the same thing
right in front of me.

Don't worry, I miss
things like that all the time.

Excuse me,

but didn't you want
your picture taken?