Original subtitles

He was a law clerk?

Terry Lasher. I met him that day at the courthouse. I had no idea that's who I

was talking to.

Makes sense, though. Two of the suspects are judges. The other one's an

attorney. Yeah, I guess he stumbled onto whatever it is they're up to and didn't

know what to do about it.

Should've just turned him in.

Bad career move.

Nobody likes a whistleblower but the press.

Wouldn't have tipped him off.

I think I did.

You did?

I must have shaken them up so bad today they started following me.

I recognized him, figured out what was going on, and shot him.

I just found the slug.

38 caliber.

Lab will know quick enough whether it came from the same gun that killed

Wright.

Did you check up on Tom O 'Hara?

I sent a unit to his house as soon as I got your call.

He was there. Said he had... Come home at 7 and been there ever since.

Alone.

I don't suppose he told you where he was the night Howard Wright was murdered.

Working in his office.

Alone.

So what do we do now?

I'm damn fine though, Conrad. I guess we just keep doing what he said.

Look for the money.

Here's another one.

$370 ,000 was deposited into the Conner Corporation account on 8 -28 -90.

That makes close to $3 million, all coming into the company within the last

three years.

But where's it coming from?

It has to be money they've gotten illegally.

Maybe they're using the Conner Corporation to launder it.

Well, we're talking about judges and attorneys here, not drug dealers.

I mean, what could they be into that involves that kind of money?

Anybody want more coffee?

Yeah, I do. Thanks.

What do you have?

Sam Bergstrom. Who's Sam Bergstrom?

Connor Corporation wrote him a lot of big checks.

Every time Tom O 'Hare and David Bennett got one, he got one too.

Only his were for deposit only into an account at the South Security Bank of

Savannah.

How much gas you got in your car?

Superior Court is now in session.

The Honorable Judge Diana Levin is cited.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?

Yes, Your Honor, we have.

The jury finds for the plaintiff on all causes of action, damages for lost

profits are found in the amount of $2 .2 million, for general damages in the

amount of $5 million, and for punitive damages in the amount of $1 .3 million.

Thank you.

There's been a long, hard case.

We appreciate your performing your civic duties. You are discharged.

This court will stand in recess until 2 o 'clock.

I can't believe it.

I still can't believe it. We did it. We won the case.

You deserve to win, Jim. It's called justice.

You think they'll appeal?

They might, but I doubt it. $8 million for Maxwell Toys is not that much money.

It may be cheaper for them just to pay off.

You know about that letter? No, that doll was your idea.

You sent them a letter, and they stole what was in it, right?

Right. You are entitled to the money, Jim.

So there's no need to talk about that letter now or ever again.

Okay? Okay.

You take care.

Hey,

Mr. O 'Hare.

Congratulations.

Thanks. Yeah.

What's your usual contingency? One -third?

Boy, hell,

you just made nearly $3 million in there.

Is this what a special prosecutor does all day, Mr. Matlock?

Hangs around the courthouse harassing people?

Oh, no, no, no. I never harass people unless I'm thinking of prosecuting them.

Now, I told you before, I barely knew Howard Wright.

Maybe that's why you killed him.

Maybe you weren't sure of how he would react when the police started

him about that evidence that he misplaced in the Jimmy Giles case.

You're out of your mind. I know about the money you've been getting from the

Conner Corporation, you and Judge Bennett.

And when I find out why you've been getting it, I may just come after you

the murder of Terry Lashley. All right, that's it.

I've had it with cops showing up on my doorstep every time somebody dies in

town, and I've had it with you.

If I hear you've repeated this preposterous story to anyone, I'll thaw

defamation suit that will leave you financially crippled for life.

Do you hear me?

I think everybody in the parking lot heard you.

No.

it, please.

I'm too old for this. Will you stop it?

Stop it.

Hey, wait a minute.

Hey, sir.

Is his bark worse than his bite?

Actually, his bite's pretty bad.

Do you take him a walk every night at this time?

Well, it's good to keep a dog on schedule. Makes things more predictable.

7 .53 p .m. every night.

Bethany's lawn, come rain or come shine.

Hey.

Last Wednesday night, when you passed the Wright's house over there, did you

or hear anything out of the ordinary?

Last Wednesday night.

The night Howard Wright was killed.

No. No, I'm sorry. You did see something.

Wait a minute.

Who are you?

My name is Ben Matlock. I'm a lawyer.

Well, I don't want to get involved.

If you saw something, you have to get involved.

It's your duty.

I just don't want some killer coming after me next.

That won't happen.

That won't happen. I promise.

Mr.

O 'Hare?

Mr. O 'Hare, you're under arrest for the murder of Howard Wright.

What? We have an eyewitness who saw you leaving the scene of the crime.

That's it, Matlock. You were warned and you're going to pay.

Just come with us, Mr. O 'Hare.

That's it, Mr. O 'Hare. You can't have enough practice insurance to cover the

charges I'm going to bring against you. Your career is over, Mr. Matlock.

You'll never make another mistake.

You're going to die.

You're going to die.

You'll never make another mistake.

You'll get over it.

Wild gets used to sitting over here.

Who's Mr. O 'Hare got defending him?

Chester Gaddis, member of the bar in five states, hasn't lost a murder one

yet.

There's something I want you to find out about him.

How much he charges.

Yeah.

Moving right along to the matter of bail.

Does the, uh...

prosecution have any recommendations?

Ah, yes, sir.

Not only has the defendant been charged with the heinous crime of premeditated

murder, but he is considerably wealthy and has no family to bind him to the

community. The defense prosecution therefore recommends bail be set at one

million dollars.

Defense?

My client has been accused of a heinous crime, yes, but proven guilty, no.

Not only has he been an officer of the court for 15 years, but his

to various philanthropic activities have made him a pillar of the various

community the state would now have you believe he wishes to flee.

I see no risk here, whatever.

I recommend bail not exceed $100 ,000.

I tend to agree, Mr. Ganders.

Bill is set at $100 ,000.

Thank you, Your Honor.

He's good.

Your dress is funny.

Hi.

I'm looking for Sam Bergstrom.

What can I do for you?

You're Sam Bergstrom?

The one that has an account over at the South Security Bank?

Life is too short to be writing Samantha out all the time.

Who are you?

I'm Russell Yeager, ma 'am. I'm from the IRS.

May I come in?

Invite somebody from the biggest group of crooks in the country into my home?

Not in your life.

Well, I need to ask you a few questions, ma 'am.

Go ahead.

We know some rather large checks from the Conner Corporation up in Atlanta

been deposited in your account over the last couple of years. Are you an

employee of theirs?

No. Well, then why are they paying you all that money, ma 'am?

Why do you want to know? Well, there have been some irregularities at the

Corporation.

We're auditing all their expenditures.

You're not auditing me. You? No. No.

That money belongs to my niece.

Your niece?

Yes. Her accountant suggested that she keep it in my name for tax purposes.

I don't understand all the ins and outs, but I'm sure it's quite legitimate in

view of her job and all.

Which is what?

She's a judge.

Judge Diana Levin.

Got your message. What's up?

I'm a bad man, Your Honor.

I'm the one who slipped your clerk that note.

We need to talk.

Yes.

An associate of mine spoke to your aunt down in Savannah today, and you've been

getting payoffs from the Connor Corporation, just like Judge Bennett

Tom O 'Hare.

Those aren't payoffs. Those are consulting fees.

I don't think so.

I think the three of you...

are using the Connor Corporation to hold and distribute money that you've come

by illegally.

You are dead wrong. I know your scheme has something to do with Maxwell Toys.

And when the truth comes out in court, and it will, you'll go down right along

with Mr. O 'Hare. So unless prison is something you're just dying for, if I

you, I'd tell me what's going on right now.

You called this meeting to offer us a deal? One time only.

Oh, and to give you this.

Rapina, you are wasting your time and mine.

Well, I don't have anything more to say to you either.

Okay.

I guess I'll see you both in court.

Joe.

To be honest, I'm not sure why I'm here.

Please.

Some wine? No, thank you.

Michelle.

Michelle, I, uh... I swear to you, I didn't have anything to do with Howard

Wright's murder.

I didn't do it, and I don't know who did.

You've got to tell Ben Matlock to back off before he ruins me.

That's why you asked me to come here?

I meant something to you once, Michelle.

I don't deserve this, and you know it.

Just tell him the truth. Tell him it wasn't me. I can't believe you try to

me like that.

What choice do I have?

My back's against the wall. I can't do anything else.

You can tell it the truth.

I am, I swear.

The money you get from the Connor Corporation.

Where did it come from?

I'm sorry. If you want it to help you, you're going to have to tell it the

truth.

You, uh... You've turned into one tough lady, Michelle.

I'm not sure it becomes you.

David, you're in a great deal of trouble.

I'd like to help you.

Not to you.

What did you see?

When you walked your dog past Howard Wright's house that night, Mr. Spalding,

saw a man rushing out of the garage, jump into his car, and go tearing out of

there. And is the man you saw that night in this courtroom today?

Oh, yeah.

He's sitting right over there.

Let the record show that the witness has pointed to the defendant, Tom O 'Hare.

You remember what time it was you saw him? Around 8 o 'clock.

You sure?

Positive. It's always around that time that Otis and I pass the Wright's house.

It's good to keep a dog on schedule.

Yes, you told me that.

So you're sure the man you saw leaving the scene of the crime at about 8 o

'clock, which the coroner has established to be the approximate time

murder, you're sure that man was the defendant Tom O 'Hare?

Positive.

Thank you.

Cross -examine.

Mr.

Spalding.

Where were you and Otis the night you saw this person leaving

the garage?

At the end of the driveway.

And could you see his face clearly after he entered the car?

No.

So the only time you saw him was after he exited the garage and just

before he entered the car. Is that correct? Right.

And approximately what distance was it from the garage to the car?

Oh, maybe ten feet.

And approximately how long did it take him to cover that distance?

Six, seven seconds.

Six seconds?

To cover ten feet?

I thought you said he was in a hurry.

Well, uh... Maybe three, four seconds.

Three seconds. Tops. I timed it.

I also measured the distance from the end of the driveway to the garage.

That's 38 yards.

Does that sound about right to you?

I guess so.

Can you guess how many lights illuminated the garage door?

Two, three, one.

How's your eyesight, Mr. Spalding? You wear glasses?

Only for reading.

So your vision isn't exactly perfect. No, it's not perfect, but I don't find

Did you happen to catch the license plate on the car that night, Mr.

No. Did you catch the make of the car?

No.

How about the color?

Color?

Beige, yellow, something like that.

How about the man's clothes? What color were they?

Dark.

Dark.

Mr. Spalding, I don't doubt you saw someone that night.

But whoever it was.

You saw him from a distance of 38 yards by the light of a single 40 -watt

bulb for a grand total of maybe three seconds.

He can't remember what his car looked like. He can't remember what his clothes

were like.

Mr. Spalding, you can't say for sure that was my client, can you?

I guess I can't.

Thank you.

I hate him.

I don't.

He reminds me of you.

Michelle, he's sneaky, conniving, deceitful. That's the cruelest thing you

said to me. Oh, Ben, I just meant he's good, that's all. I mean, you gotta give

him that.

Like hell I do.

He's not good.

Okay. He's probably the best beating the devil out of us.

I'm ready to cut a deal.

You've known the defendant for how long?

About ten years.

Friends?

They're not close friends, more like business associates.

What kind of business, Judge Bennett?

A couple of years ago, shortly after I was appointed presiding judge, Tom O

'Hare came to me with a proposition.

He said if I'd assign myself to a multi -million dollar lawsuit that he'd...

just filed and use all my powers as presiding judge to see to it that the

ruled in his client's favor, he would split his one -third of the

judgment with me.

So that's what we did.

Did it work?

So well that we did it again.

Many times.

Do you mean to tell me that a judge can actually fix a trial?

Well, it's a...

Obviously a very subtle thing, but... Yes? Weren't you afraid that somebody

would catch on to your scheme?

Very. That's why we eventually got a second judge involved.

Judge Diane Eleven?

Yes.

Instead of assigning all these cases to myself, I was able to assign some to

her. That way, I could avert suspicion.

Go ahead.

She had a friend named Glenn Connor who... owned a holding company, the

Corporation.

I'm showing you a ledger which was seized by search warrant from

the Conner Corporation offices and which by stipulation with counsel will be

marked People's Exhibit 37 and entered into evidence.

Now, how was the money laundered?

After winning a judgment, Tom would instruct his client to...

Pay as usual, one -third contingency fee in the form of a cashier's check made

payable to a bank in the Bahamas.

Like these three checks here for $125 ,000 to each of you.

Yes.

And that was ostensibly for consulting work.

That's correct.

But you never did any consulting work for them, did you?

No.

Now this... This check here, I hear, for $75 ,000, made out to

Howard Wright. What was that for? That was his payment for losing a vital piece

of evidence in a case he was prosecuting against Jimmy Giles, the man accused of

breaking into Maxwell Toys.

And who directed the Connor Corporation to make the payment?

Tom O 'Hare.

He was protecting Giles, whom he'd hired to plant evidence for him.

How do you know?

He told me.

Did he tell you anything else?

Yes, he did.

He told me that he was afraid that Howard would break down and confess if

confronted by the police.

Oh.

Oh, and if that had happened, what would have happened to Mr. O 'Hare?

He would have been disbarred and probably gone to prison.

But that never happened, did it?

Instead, Howard Wright was murdered.

Nothing further.

Does defense wish to cross?

I've been sitting here quietly, Judge Bennett, because I've been waiting

for proof.

And the problem is that you don't have any.

I mean, you can't prove...

that my client was involved in this ingenious plan of yours, can you?

Of course I can. Just look at that ledger.

Oh. Well, this doesn't prove that my client never did any consulting work for

the Connard Corporation, does it? Well, I know I didn't.

I don't give a damn if you took money under false pretenses, Judge Bennett.

The question is, can you prove that my client did?

Well, can you prove that he paid Howard Wright to deliberately lose a

piece of evidence?

No, but he... Oh, but can you prove that he told you that he was afraid Howard

Wright was going to get him disbarred? No, but... No, but you cannot prove

a single word of your testimony against my client.

You certainly haven't offered any evidence that would involve him in

Wright's death.

Nor can you offer such evidence, can you?

Judge Bennett.

It's what happened.

Just because I can't prove it doesn't mean it isn't true.

Were you supposed to take your word for it?

Yes.

I think not.

No further questions.

Witness may step down.

Yeah.

Ben, Bob Brooks just got this from the police lab.

This is inexcusable.

Mr. Matlock has had the police department at his full disposal since

For them to produce evidence on his behalf this late in the day, it's

outrageous.

Mr. Gaddis is absolutely correct, Your Honor. The police lab took way too long

to complete this analysis.

I wish we could have gotten it to him much earlier.

Well, I just resent being thrown a curve this halfway through a trial.

You had full disclosure, Mr. Gaddis, and you knew they were running tests.

A half -day recess should give you ample time to work the result into your

defense.

Now, let's get back in there.

We'll put your witness on the stand, Mr. Matlock, and then recess till tomorrow.

I don't like this one bit.

I don't blame you.

Lieutenant Brooks, when the police arrived at Howard Wright's house the

night of the murder, they found a fresh puddle of transmission fluid outside his

garage. Is that correct?

Yes, we did.

Where did it come from?

A comparative analysis performed after the defendant was arrested shows it came

from his car.

Meaning the defendant's car was parked outside his garage that night?

Yes. Doesn't necessarily mean the defendant was in the garage, though,

No, but we also found a varnish on the floor of Howard Wright's workshop that

night. Apparently it had spilled during the shooting.

Forensics has isolated traces of that exact same varnish on the fibers of the

floor mat on the driver's side of the defendant's car.

as well as on the bottoms of his shoes.

In other words, the defendant was in Howard Wright's garage the night of the

murder, wasn't he? Objection.

Calls for a conclusion.

Withdraw the question.

Thank you, Lieutenant Brooks.

Nothing further.

Mr. Gattis?

No question.

Witness may step down.

This court is in recess until 9 a .m. tomorrow.

You lied to me, Tom.

Chester, I didn't kill him.

You were there.

The jury knows you were there. I was there.

But I swear I didn't kill him. The whole subject of my case was proving that you

weren't there.

I discredited the eyewitnesses. I discredited the police.

And now I look like a fool.

But you, Tom, you look like you're guilty.

What do we do now?

I'm putting you on the stand.

Is that a good idea?

It's the only idea.

I don't want to put any pressure on you, but this better be the greatest

performance of your life.

Because if it's not, you'll spend the rest of your life in prison.

Everything David Bennett said is true.

I conspired with him and Judge Levin to fix the outcome of certain cases.

And I paid Howard Wright to lose the case against someone who was

in my winning a multi -million dollar lawsuit.

But I did not kill him.

What were you doing in his workshop that night?

Well, he was afraid the police were on to him, so he asked me for $100 ,000 to

leave town.

So I got the money, and I stopped by at 8 to deliver it like we'd arranged.

Only when I got there, he was dead.

Somebody else had shot him.

I swear under oath that I did not kill Howard Wright.

Thank you.

Mr. Matlock?

So... So you paid Howard Wright to lose the

evidence in a case against Jimmy Giles. Is that right?

I already said that, yes.

Well, you had a very good reason to kill him. I mean, if he had gone to the

police, why...

You would have been ruined, wouldn't you?

Yes. So you were paying him off.

What would keep him from asking for another $100 ,000?

Nothing. So you couldn't be sure.

I mean, you couldn't be sure he wouldn't ask for more. You couldn't be sure he

wouldn't go to the police. So you did the only thing you could be sure of. You

went to his house that night, didn't you?

Yes or no.

Yes, I went to his house. And you killed him? No.

He was dead when I got there. I swear.

So just like your counselor said to my witness yesterday, we're just supposed

take your word for it. Yes.

I left the money there.

You what?

I was so frightened when I saw him that I ran away without the money.

You left $100 ,000?

The first thing I saw when I went in was him on the floor.

I thought he flipped in the varnish and hit his head.

I put my briefcase down and went over to him.

Then I saw the blood.

All of a sudden, the alarm on his watch went off.

I ran out of there as fast as I could.

I didn't even remember the money till the next morning.

There was no briefcase found, let alone $100 ,000.

Well, that may be.

But I left it there.

Mr. Matlock?

Are you finished?

Your Honor, I'd like to ask for a recess till tomorrow

morning. We just had a recess, Mr. Matlock. Do you have any idea how

this court is?

It's personally a good honor.

I don't feel so good.

It must be something I ate for breakfast.

This court is in recess until 9 .30 a .m. tomorrow.

You all right?

I'm fine.

I just had to make sure he gave me the recess.

But you had that guy. Why'd you stop?

Because he's telling the truth.

The truth?

Ben, that story about the money is crazy.

That's why he's got to be telling the truth.

I don't remember seeing a briefcase.

What did you do after you walked in and found your husband?

I ran into the house, called 911.

And I stayed in the house until the police came.

And you don't remember seeing or picking up a briefcase?

All I remember is seeing my husband lying there, dead.

I'm sorry.

I got it.

I got the money right here.

I just got a call from a man who said he was a special prosecutor or something

up there in Atlanta.

Ben Matlock?

Yes, Ben Matlock.

Anyway, he asked me about the $100 ,000 you just wired to your account down

here.

I mean, you know, our account.

What do you want to know?

Where the money came from.

What did you tell him?

I didn't know.

That's all I could tell him.

Uh, dear.

Is everything all right with you?

Everything's fine, Aunt Sam.

It's nothing.

But thank you for calling. And if he calls you again, you let me know, okay?

All right, dear.

Goodbye, dear.

Bye.

The first -in -hand delivered some documents to Frank Scansley. Where's his

office? They're doing the right.

Be seated.

Well, did breakfast agree with you this morning, Mr. Matlock? Oh, very well,

Your Honor, very well.

Good.

Mr. Gaddis, next witness.

Your Honor, the state would like to reopen its case in order to present an

additional witness. I've already spoken to Mr. Gaddis.

Mr. Gaddis?

I have no objections, Your Honor.

Very well. Call your witness.

The state calls Judge Diane Eleven.

Approximately how much money did this conspiracy between you and Tom O 'Hare

Judge Bennett net you over the years?

What conspiracy is that?

The same conspiracy that Tom O 'Hare and Judge Bennett admitted to in this

courtroom. I don't know anything about it.

Okay.

You have an aunt named...

Samantha Bergstrom down in Savannah, don't you?

Yes, I do.

And there are deposits that you make into her bank account and

she does not. Is that correct?

My aunt is elderly.

I worry about her, so I send money that I earn as a consultant to her bank in

case of emergency.

Come on now, come on.

Sam Bergstrom.

$125 ,000.

Sam Bergstrom, $110 ,000.

Sam Bergstrom, $95 ,000.

That's exactly the same amount of money that Tom O 'Hare and David Bennett got.

And they admitted in this courtroom that they were payoffs. Not consultant fees.

Payoffs. I can only speak for myself, Mr. Matlock.

That money...

was for services I rendered as a legal consultant.

I subpoenaed the records of your aunt's bank

account, and all the deposits that were made match exactly the checks

the Connor Corporation made out to her. All except this last one, this last one

here. $100 ,000.

Deposited. The day after Howard Wright was murdered. Where'd that come from?

That was money I was keeping in a safe deposit box.

Are you sure it wasn't the money Tom O 'Hare left in Howard Wright's workshop?

I'm positive.

What if Howard Wright had told the police about this conspiracy that Tom O

roped him into?

That would have been the end of your career, too, wouldn't it?

Again. I don't know anything about a conspiracy.

Did Tom O 'Hare tell you he was going over to Howard Wright's

house at 8 o 'clock that night?

No.

He told me he did.

Must have lied.

You sure you didn't get there ahead of him and shoot Howard Wright to death?

And then when Tom O 'Hare arrived ahead of schedule...

You hid so he wouldn't see you, didn't you? No.

And then after he went tearing out of there, you thought, well, why waste all

this money on a dead man?

So you took it and deposited it in your aunt's account, didn't you?

No. Bet you wish you hadn't done that.

That's what put us on to you.

Mistake.

She should have kept that cash and bought some new shoes or a robe or

Now, see you watch.

Oh, it's got one of those alarms that goes off every hour.

Another mistake.

You should have left this at home.

Howard Wright didn't have a watch like this.

Neither did Tom O 'Hare. It was your watch that went off that night, wasn't

Thousands of people have a watch like this. That doesn't prove a thing.

But now, a murder weapon.

There would be proof.

There would be proof.

The gun that killed Howard Wright and a law clerk named Terry Lasher. The

riflings on both bullets and both murders match exactly.

Unfortunately, the gun has never been found.

That is, until yesterday.

The police found it in a desk drawer in the defendant's office.

Then why on earth am I up here?

Because you put it there.

I called your aunt down in Savannah about that $100

,000.

She called you, didn't she?

And then you did just what I figured you'd do when you figured I was getting

close.

You killed two birds with one stone.

You got rid of the murder weapon and you did it in such a way as to strengthen

the case against the defendant, didn't you?

No.

You ever see yourself on TV, Judge Levin?

We had TV cameras hidden all over Mr. O 'Hare's office.

But this is my favorite angle right here.

It shows his desk real clearly.

And there you are. See?

Isn't that you?

Hiding that unregistered gun in his desk.

The gun that killed Howard Wright and Terry Lasher.

Why?

So no one would ever know a person

We really killed them.

Was you.

Very nice, Mr. Matlock. Back at you.

Mr. O 'Hare has asked me to inquire.

Whether you would represent him in his forthcoming trial for obstruction of

justice, fraud, and about 12 other felony counts.

Oh. Why don't you do it?

I've had about all I can take of Mr. O 'Hare.

Me too.

Nice suit.

Nice tie.