Original subtitles

♪

♪

Whoa! Whoa!

I hear ya! And don't do it again!

Take what you want.

Your name Trampas?

Yeah, that's right.

Did you stop over in Redhill?

I was there yesterday.

You got any visible means of support?

$54 US silver certificates.

That's all right, put your money back in your pocket.

If this is not a hold-up,

you mind pointing that somewhere else?

Just as soon as you relieve hold of your sidearm.

You're taking my gun?

That's right.

Slow and easy, let's get that gun belt off.

Mr. Wainwright over to the side's

got a bead on the back of your head.

You mind if I ask why?

I'll do the asking.

You sound like a lawman.

That's right.

Howard Acton, Sheriff of Redhill.

Mr. Wainwright's my deputy.

I'm right with you, Mr. Wainwright.

- No sudden moves. - Slow and easy now.

Slow and easy.

Am I under arrest?

Why, yes, I'd say so.

Any particular charge?

I'll let you know more about that

as soon as we match up a couple of facts.

Come on, let's go.

Come along.

Come on, horse.

♪

You been here 'fore?

Yeah, this morning.

What time?

Uh, 6:30.

Mm-hmm.

Would you please place your foot

next to that boot mark there?

The right or the left?

The right, if you please.

Mm-hmm.

Royal?

You and Ned go in and remove the remains.

Use this army blanket.

Ted, you take this shovel and dig out those exhibits

and place them out in flat boxes.

Be careful not to break the earth

so Judge Carver can't complain about our methods.

Don't have to go to all this trouble.

I'd admit it under oath or not, I was here

with the man that owns this place.

Gerald Bishop?

Yeah, we rode out here just before sunup.

Mm-hmm.

Uh... they carrying a dead man?

Mm-hmm.

Gerald Bishop.

In exactly six days, Marshall Krug and I

intend to complete this session of the court.

At that time, we will travel to Governor Tyndall's ranch

where we will enjoy our first vacation in two years.

Now, if you think you can convince this Trampas

this in six days' time, I'll hear the case.

If not, wait for the next judge.

Your Honor, does that...

Does that six days include Saturdays and Sundays?

We need rest, Sheriff.

We do not intend to hold court seven days a week.

It does not include Saturday and Sunday.

Yes, sir.

That leaves four working days.

Or wait for the next judge.

Your Honor, it ain't easy to get a first-class judge

out here past the territory markers.

Hate to waste your last few days on chicken thieves.

We appreciate the compliment, Sheriff,

- but you have our ruling. - Yes, sir.

Four days.

We'd have to get Abel Hewitt as prosecutor.

If anyone can hang him, Mr. Hewitt can.

Does Trampas have counsel to represent him?

No, sir, Your Honor,

he'd need a court-appointed lawyer.

The fact that Redhill has only one lawyer,

I hereby appoint Mr. Grover... Smith.

Thank you.

With Mr. Smith defending,

it oughtn't take more than four days.

- Mr. Smith? - Sheriff.

Mr. Smith, we're in kind of a hurry.

We're rounding up a jury.

Judge Carver wants to sit in one more trial before he leaves.

I thought he'd finish off on small claims.

No, sir, it's a case for a full jury.

- Felony? - Yes, sir, capital crime.

Murder?

Yep, Gerald Bishop.

Oh, yeah, some vagrant killed and robbed him.

Well, I don't know about robbed,

but the prisoner needs counsel to defend him,

and naturally, Judge Carver appointed you.

Uh, ain't gonna work out.

Tell the judge not to worry.

- Work out, sir? - Yeah, I gotta leave town.

- My mother's ill back in Omaha. - Aw.

But my late partner's cousin is arriving today

from Endicott City to handle the practice in my absence.

That's the Finch part of the firm.

Ah-ha. But we can go ahead with the trial?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Finch's cousin graduated with honors from Lincoln Law

and served as legislative assistant

- to Jennings Colin Brandt. - Mm-hmm.

Tell Judge Carver not to worry about the defense.

No, sir.

Mm-hmm.

Circuit Court 4, trial district 11.

Judge Elmo J. Carver presiding. All rise.

All rise.

His honor Judge Elmo J. Carver.

Court will come to order.

The defendant will approach the bench.

Defendant stands accused of murder in the first degree.

Do you plead guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty.

I see by the deposition before me

you record your occupation as ranch worker.

- Is that correct? - Yes, sir, that's correct.

You'll refer to His Honor as "His Honor."

Yes, sir... Your Honor, sir.

Profession of ranch worker does not render you competent

to act as legal counsel on your own behalf.

In the interest of justice, it is my duty

to appoint legal counsel to defend you.

The counsel I'm about to appoint

is a member in good standing of the Bar Association

and fully accredited.

Do you accept the appointment of Frances B. Finch,

- doctor of law? - Yes, s... yes, Your Honor, I accept.

Frances B. Finch, please step forward.

Your Honor, I am Frances B. Finch.

Miss Finch, the court learned of your gender

only an hour ago, however we have made

the proper extent adjustments and will extend

every courtesy consistent with our standard of ethics.

Your Honor enjoys a reputation for fair-mindedness.

Do I hear any objections?

Me? Uh, no... no... Yes, sir, Your Honor, I...

I never knew there were any, uh, women lawyers.

Would you care to inspect my credentials?

Yeah, uh, no.

But I... think we ought to get acquainted.

Defendant is remanded to the Sheriff's custody.

Miss Finch you have until Friday to prepare your case.

Until then, court is adjourned.

Well, uh, Miss...

Finch.

Would you like to, uh... sit?

You sit down, please, Trampas.

No, I prefer to wander around.

It, uh... helps me get a better fix on you.

Yeah, well, I guess I need fixin'.

Well, one thing you'll have to put up with,

and that's my womanly intuition.

No matter how hard I try to be logical and precise,

I still rely on... emanations.

Em-en-in-ations? What?

Uh... influences.

You know, the invisible aura that surrounds people.

Understand?

Well, yeah, my horse has it.

Trampas, I can't defend you

unless you tell me everything.

Okay, what do you want to know?

I want to know why a competent professional

like Sheriff Acton, a plain, simple-minded man,

thinks that you murdered Gerald Bishop.

I guess because I was the last man to see him alive.

- Wrong. - Why?

I think it's because somebody tipped him off,

and whoever it was,

they didn't want to bring charges,

but they did want you arrested.

How do you know that?

Well... it says here in the, uh...

In the fact sheet prepared by the Sheriff

that... that the body of Gerald Bishop

was found in the west gallery of the Bishop mine.

And here, it asks us to believe

that the sheriff just, well,

happened to be wandering around in a mine,

found a dead man, found some footprints,

and guessed that they belonged to an absolute

and total stranger, you.

Yeah, put it that way, he's a pretty good guesser.

The way I see it at this point,

there's... there's no use in my interviewing you.

I believe you know less about what happened than I do.

Then you believe I'm innocent.

As a newborn babe.

Well, I'm not that innocent.

You're innocent. And helpless.

And you're in danger, Trampas.

I knew that with my own intuition.

Well, we don't have time to prepare a defense.

So we'll prepare an attack.

Just this one minute. Before you go saving my hide.

I'm against a woman getting a vote.

Well... don't worry.

We'll protect you in spite of yourself.

Deputy?

Who found the body of Gerald Bishop?

I did.

In the west gallery of the Bishop mine?

That's right, behind the conveyor cart.

Why did you go there to look?

Why not look down a well or somewhere up a hay loft?

Because the argument took place outside the mine shaft.

What argument?

Between Trampas and Gerald Bishop.

Did you overhear that argument?

No, I did not.

Well?!

I didn't hear it.

Oh, Sheriff, don't make me pull teeth.

Who did hear the argument?

Ellie Bishop, Gerald Bishop's daughter.

Well.

Why has it taken so long to tell me

that it was Gerald Bishop's daughter Ellie

who reported the murder?

She didn't report it.

What? She didn't bring charges?

Ma'am.

She couldn't bring charges for argument,

and she didn't know her father was dead till we told her.

So she reported an argument,

and you came running.

A raw argument with threats of violence,

and it scared her, and when her father

didn't meet her like he said he was going to,

it worse frightened her, and she came to me.

Did she describe Trampas?

Described him and told us she heard her father speak his name.

Well, why isn't this written up in your report?

Miss Finch, Ellie is set to be a witness for the prosecution.

Oh, I see.

No point in warning the defense, huh?

Ma'am, your partner in law, Mr. Smith,

is used to our methods of procedure.

You see, we work out things together ahead of time,

and it saves a lot of long, overdrawn wrangling.

We don't ram heads, and it cuts down on the paperwork.

I see, so the trial is just a sort of, uh, formality.

Well, it's fair, and it's fast, and it gets the job done.

In law practice, we put called out a put-up job.

Now look here, Miss Finch!

Let's both look, Sheriff!

For some reason, you want to railroad this

right to the gallows, why?

Ma'am, uh, your method of provoking people

seems to sort of get them on the run.

But not Howard Acton.

Now I'm trying to hurry things along a little

because Judge Carver wants it all wrapped up neatly

in exactly four days.

Well, he can't have it.

Well, then, I suggest you take it up with him.

Thank you.

I intend to.

I appreciate your finding time for a special consultation,

Your Honor, and I hope you'll forgive the liberty

I've taken in bringing you over a little of my special tea.

Very thoughtful of you, Miss Finch.

The traditional recipe calls for one aromatic,

one alterative, and one demulcent.

So red clover, verbena, and wild cherry.

Do you prefer an infusion or decoction?

Uh... not too strong.

I always add just a touch of fire-weed honey in a cup.

Pussy.

May I offer a cup to your bailiff?

Why, Marshall Krug.

Miss Finch is offering you a cup of her special herb tea.

Well, I, uh... that's very... Very considerate of you.

You know, I had no idea that a judge's chambers

could give one such a feeling of warmth and coziness.

Thanks to you, Judge Carver.

Now, how can we be of service to you, Miss Finch?

Well, really, Your Honor,

it's such a small matter that, well,

I feel reluctant to bother you with it, but you see,

I did promise to get back to Endicott City

as soon as possible, and so I'm trying

to find ways of expediting things the best I can.

Perhaps we can help you.

Oh, why, I really don't see how.

I'm just so unprepared for this case

that I don't know where to begin.

Well, have you examined your client?

Oh, yes, Your Honor, yes, but, uh...

he's not much help.

I wouldn't say he's a clod, but, well,

he's a simple country fellow and quite uneducated.

One can't expect much of itinerant ranch labor.

No, so I was wondering, just because I'm...

I'm having some real trouble in preparing this case,

if it would be possible for me to take him out of his cell

to visit the Social Center...

That's the name of the saloon here...

To observe him in his natural environment.

I can't let him out on bail.

Oh, no, no, of course not.

No, not while he's held for a capital crime.

No, I wasn't thinking of bail, actually.

I was wondering if perhaps in custody.

But it wouldn't be safe.

A woman alone with a suspected murderer?

Oh, oh, no, I...

I wouldn't dare be alone with him,

but I was thinking perhaps with someone strong

and impartial to act as a kind of guardian protector,

you know, someone who knows how to keep order.

Well, perhaps Sheriff Acton would let you have his deputy.

Oh, Mr. Wainwright? Yes, he's a fine man.

Ah, but I believe he's already been requested

by Mr. Abel Hewitt to help him preparing the prosecution.

Hmm. You do need someone impartial.

Marshall Krug, would you consent

to escorting Miss Finch while she prepares her defense?

Oh...

just say the word, Your Honor.

Oh, thank you, Marshall.

We'll write out a court order remanding the prisoner

- in joint custody. - Thank you, Your Honor.

I believe I do have a...

An extra form here, yes.

Custody, joint custody.

Miss... Frances... B... Finch...

and...

Marshall...

Oh, Krug.

Krug.

Henry...

Arlington.

Oh.

All right.

This is where they took his footprints.

Yes, well...

they can prove that you were here.

I don't deny it.

Well, do you deny that you quarreled with Gerald Bishop?

- Nope, he cheated me. - How?

He bet this gold mine against all my money

and my belongings, including my horse.

Well, you won.

Yeah, look what I won. Let's go on inside.

Hup!

Can we go inside, Marshall?

We're going inside. Follow me.

This mine was worthless to begin with,

and even that gave out.

What's that?

That's just dirt, rotten shale, and it's worthless.

It doesn't look as if it's ever been worked.

Oh, say, let's get out of here. This timber's rotten here.

- Come, come, come. - You bet it's rotten.

The whole place is rotten.

Did you threaten Bishop?

I... I called him a couple of names.

Such as?

Well, I'd rather not say.

Oh, come on, you can tell me. I'm your lawyer.

Well, it had to do with livestock.

Well, tell Marshall Krug then.

That's not a threat. That's an accurate description.

When you went away, Trampas, did you leave him here?

- No. - I mean, there, in the west gallery.

- I never went back to the west gallery. - Why not?

I could see it's just more of the same.

Well, you're sure now?

You didn't leave any footprints there?

You couldn't tell anyhow. The ground's made of bedrock.

Well, I... I'm not very keen on this part,

but I suppose I'd better take a look at the spot.

They found him in back of a conveyor cart.

Well, do you know how to use one of these?

I'll show you. It's an overhand clutch.

All five fingers, hold it high and out from you.

No, no, mind your feathers, huh?

Trampas, here.

Are you familiar with expensive hats?

- Well... - Oh! Don't clutch it.

Make a fist. Let it rest on... that's right.

Now, keep it low and watch the plumes.

Thank you.

Watch your step now.

The gouge you feel up against your liver

is the killing end of my Whitney.

You mind keeping it on safety?

I mind to keep it where it'll do the most good.

- Marshall? - What is it?

Better take this.

What's the matter? What is it?

It's a bit oppressive.

I don't know about that, but it sure is stuffy in here.

Better get you to some fresh air.

I'll thank you to take the lady's elbow.

- There we go. - Excuse me.

- I'm sorry. - Oh, for goodness sakes.

- Sorry. - There's water...

A water pump about two miles down the road.

No, thank you, really. I'm all right now.

- You're sure? - Yes, quite.

I don't ordinarily react so strongly

to the sight of blood.

Oh, my gosh, that's right, of course,

he was killed with a pick handle wasn't he?

- Oh, yes. - Let me help you in the buggy.

- No, I'll take that. - Wait, wait, before we go.

Just where exactly was the place where you had your argument?

Right over there.

I see, and you didn't hear anybody else around?

No, no, we were alone.

Well, no, no, because somebody overheard you argue.

Well, how could they?

Unless they were up there

behind those trees or something.

Well, we'd better inspect them.

This grass has been tramped down.

A horse and wagon could have set here, sure enough.

- A wagon? - Yeah.

But I think I would've heard it.

Not if it was here before you got here.

No, now, Bishop's daughter Ellie heard you arguing.

She must've been out here or you'd have seen her.

Yeah.

Why didn't she make herself known?

She said she was frightened.

I was frightened.

Why were you frightened, my dear?

He threatened to kill him.

Objection.

Sustained.

Miss Bishop, what exactly did Trampas say to your father?

What were his... words?

Well, his exact words were,

"You have cheated me, you dirty dog.

I ought to beat your brains out."

That's not what I called him.

What exactly did your father say in reply?

My father said, "You try it,

and you'll get yourself stamped on, Bucky Boy."

What then transpired, Miss Bishop?

What then transpired was cursing and shoving.

- Objection. - Sustained.

The witness has already testified

that she was listening

and not observing by visual contact.

You say... you heard cursing.

Yes.

And what else did you hear?

The sounds of "umph" and "ugh"

and noises of thumping,

like someone was struggling for life.

- Objection. - Sustained.

"Struggling for life" is a conclusion.

Strike it. Proceed.

What did you then do?

Run for the Sheriff.

Thank you, Miss Bishop.

That will be all.

Miss Finch, do you wish to cross-examine?

All right.

Miss Bishop,

what were you doing out at the mineshaft alone?

Listening.

I mean before you were listening.

What brought you out there?

My father told me to meet him out there.

What for?

He told me to bring him a paper.

What kind of paper?

It was sealed in an envelope.

Do you have the envelope with you?

No, Mr. Hewitt has it.

Your Honor, may we have it in evidence?

Mr. Hewitt?

It's the deed to the Bishop mine,

Homestead tract 321, staked out by Gerald Bishop

and claimed for mineral rights.

Sealed and dated, Your Honor.

Mark it "exhibit A."

Miss Finch.

Miss Bishop, to the best of your knowledge,

why did your father not take the deed with him

when he left home?

It wasn't at home.

- Well, where was it? - In the bank.

Well, why didn't he stop at the bank?

He left too early. The bank was still closed.

What time does it open?

9:00 AM.

And is that when you got the deed?

Well, yes, ma'am.

The bank clerk can tell you I was the first customer.

I see, now, Miss Bishop, did you get the deed

before you heard the argument at the mine or after?

Before.

That's why I went out, to deliver it.

Uh-huh.

What time did you have the argument with Bishop?

Just after sunup.

Did your father leave home before sunrise?

Yes.

How long does it take to ride out to the mine?

Close to an hour.

Objection.

Miss Finch, are you trying to establish

a discrepancy in Miss Bishop's testimony?

Your honor, my client freely admits

to the argument at the mine,

but he places the time at just after sunrise.

Objection sustained.

The jury will disregard the last remark by defense.

Proceed.

No further questions at this time.

Your Honor, may I add one word of explanation?

Proceed.

My father told me he was going to eat breakfast

with Trampas, then go out to the mine.

Did you eat breakfast with Bishop?

Uh, come to think of it, yeah.

Don't help me anymore.

That'll be all, Miss Bishop. You may get down.

Those footprints match the boots of the defendant.

Yes, sir, down to every last hobnail.

No further questions.

Sheriff Acton...

why did you go to so much trouble

spading earth into flat boxes and transporting it

when the defendant from the outset

freely admits that he was there at the time?

Ma'am, that's supportive evidence.

Evidence of what? That he makes footprints?

Well, it's proof that he was there

in case he changes his story.

Now, let us be clear as what it does prove...

That he was present outside of the mine.

And inside ma'am.

There was footprints aplenty inside.

In the west gallery where the body was found?

No, ma'am, that's solid bedrock.

Then you cannot connect these footprints with the body.

Objection.

Sustained. There's a reasonable connection.

Did you confiscate the defendant's gun?

Yes, ma'am.

Was Gerald Bishop killed by the defendant's gun?

Objection.

Sustained.

The murder weapon has already been established.

Oh.

Well, then the defendant did not shoot Gerald Bishop.

Objection!

Sustained.

The fact that the defendant did not avail himself of his gun

does not rule out the possibility

that the assault was committed with the pick handle.

Well, anything's possible.

Miss Finch, you will refrain from comments.

Please forgive me, Your Honor.

It's just that there's so much to do in such a short time.

May the record show that this is now Friday

and court will be closed on Saturday and Sunday?

We keep adequate records, Miss Finch.

Records of preparation time, Your Honor?

This trial will receive appropriate time

in all respects.

Then there is no time limit.

There can be no time limit on justice.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Until Monday morning at 9:00 AM, this trial is adjourned.

All rise.

No offense I hope, Sheriff.

I sure hope you know what you're doing.

We can't let them give you a short trial.

Who cares how short or long it is

as long as it comes out not guilty?

- Look. - Look at what?

Ellie and that young man.

What about him?

She gave him a look. Who is he?

That's Claude Willis. He works in the tannery.

He's a good old boy. Now come on, let's go.

Wait a minute. Trampas is in my custody.

Yeah.

Well, the Sheriff said to collect him, now come on.

Joint custody, signed by Judge Carver.

Well, I'll have to check with the Sheriff.

Now you stick with me. Please, come on.

And I'll expect him back here at this table in 5 minutes.

I do what the Sheriff tells me.

You get the feeling we're getting folks a little upset?

You can't trust 'em! Not for 2 seconds.

You saw her box me into a corner.

No time limit. It's right there on the record.

Well, how long you figure she'll drag it out?

As long as she can squeeze it.

You ain't gonna let her get away with anything.

And she isn't gonna let us get away on vacation.

I'm telling you, Marshall, I've dealt with all kinds

of counsel, but this one's a weasel.

Elmo, they should never have lowered the requirement.

They didn't!

They raised the requirement to keep them out!

But there's no way! They wriggle right in!

Ah, there you are, Marshall. Are you ready?

- Ready? - Our prisoner is waiting.

That was to help you prepare your case for the...

Your Honor, my compliments on a superb day in court.

I don't know when I've seen such dignity in the courtroom.

It was an honor, sir, and a pleasure.

It's no more than usual.

Ah, but that's what makes it so exceptional.

You keep the standards up where they belong

and even higher.

You won't mind if I write about this

for the quarterly law journal?

Well, uh... I have no objection.

I'm sorry to borrow the Marshall again,

but I see now why you allowed Saturday and Sunday

- to complete reparation. - Complete preparation?

Yes, I hope my request to expedite things

hasn't caused too much inconvenience.

No, of course not.

Well, we'll really roll up our sleeves and pitch in,

won't we, Marshall?

Well, as they say in the territory,

uh, okay, pardner, let's get rolling!

Hmm? Well!

It'll help expedite the trial.

No, sir, we do not release them.

That paper applied to pretrial preparation only.

But it was signed by the judge.

It said "joint custody."

That means Miss Finch and Marshall Krug.

I'm too dangerous to leave that alone?

Boy...

boy, she's wrecking your chances.

She's got Judge Carver turning purple

and Marshall Krug?

Well, I can tell you right now, Marshall Krug is going fishing

over this weekend, and there's no power on earth

that's gonna tie him down to riding shotgun on you.

You mind telling her that, Sheriff?

I'll tell her.

Well, here we are.

Delivered in person by Sheriff Acton.

- Look, Miss Finch... - I'll take over from here.

Thought you were going fishing.

Shall we go?

So long, Sheriff.

Wake up, Trampas.

Tea.

Oh, tea.

Somehow, I don't feel on trial for my life.

Well, we've gotta keep Marshall Krug happy.

I'd be a lot happier if I'd see some progress toward not guilty.

Well, at least we've sown some seeds of reasonable doubt.

Hewitt can't prove that you ever were

in the west gallery of the mine.

Seems pretty slim since I was everywhere else.

Do you know Claude Willis?

I'm not sure it's whether seeing him in the courtroom,

but I do get the feeling I've seen him before.

Here in Redhill?

Yeah, at the saloon.

What they call the Social Center.

That's it, he was leaning up against the wall

when I was playing cards that night

with Bishop and the others.

That's him, he was chewing on a cinnamon bar.

We've got to check him out.

Why?

That look that Ellie gave him in the courtroom,

she's in love with him.

- In love. - Mm-hmm.

How we gonna drag the Marshall away from his catfish?

Leave him to me.

Marshall?

Marshall!

Shh, try... try not to call out.

I got a sun perchie nibbling.

Would it be all right if I take Trampas to go to the tannery?

You could stay here and go on fishing.

You don't wanna mess with the tannery.

Besides, it's closed on Saturdays.

Oh, but we want to interrogate Claude Willis.

Well, shoot, Claude don't know nothing.

Look, just go back and make yourself comfortable,

and when these sun perchies stop nibbling,

we'll go and you can poke around as much as you like.

We would like to go now.

All right, fine, maybe... Maybe toward sundown.

Now.

But look here now. Hush, Miss Finch.

Don't go stomping your foot. You'll lose a shoe in the mud.

Oh, no, no.

Oh, oh. Oh, shoot.

Miss, I wanna tell you something.

I approve, I really do,

of women working the same as men,

and I always try and treat them equal,

but I'm gonna tell you something else.

There is no man alive who would ever cut in

on another man's fishing, it just ain't done.

Now look here, just go back up there

and keep Trampas company, will you?

Well?

He won't budge.

How come?

He's acting like a man.

Well, that's not exactly a fault.

Some people are born that way.

Well, I told him that we had to go

and interrogate potential witnesses.

But he prefers to stay and fiddle about with sun perch.

Oh, well. It's your funeral.

Hmm, maybe I better take a run at him.

Well, you get him?

No. No.

Snapping turtle down under there chasing 'em away.

Maybe you're snagged on a branch.

I could hold your pole for you if you want to go get loose.

No. Swamp grass, probably.

Hey, looky there, see that one?

One just jumped right over there.

See where that dragonfly is jumping?

Oh, yeah.

That gouge you feel next to your liver

is the killing end of your Whitney.

She put you up to it, didn't she?

- Never mind who put who up to what. - Oh, yes.

There's no man alive that would cut in

on another man's fishing.

Yeah, well, our mistake is letting you near this water.

Now we're all going to work at saving my neck, come on.

What, by holding a gun on a Marshall?

No, by interrogating whoever we got to interrogate.

Oh, you're lucky I like you, Trampas, you're really lucky.

Yes, sir, yes, sir, I might take offense,

about anyone picking my holster,

but I know there's a female behind it

pushing you beyond your reason, poor devil.

- Let's get moving. - Well, what about my pole?

- Bring it. - Bring it?!

- Bring it. - Well, for heaven sakes.

There. I got it.

Come on.

All right, all right.

Let's go.

What are you doing?

Getting him away from his catfish.

Are you raving mad?

Not that I know of.

But you can't hold a gun on a Marshall.

- What'd I tell you? - You stay out of this.

He's not about to come without some persuasion.

If you don't give him back his gun this minute,

I resign as your attorney.

Resign? But you started it when you went...

She put it up to you it, didn't she?

I did no such thing.

Are we going to check out Claude Willis or not?

I trust you will overlook this breach of fair play,

Marshall Krug, and I do want you to know

that I am not in any way a party to it,

but in the interests of compromise,

if you will accept our apologies,

then perhaps we can work together,

as Judge Carver expects us to?

Certainly.

Trampas?

Marshall Krug's waiting for your apology.

That's right.

I sure hope you know what you're doing.

All right, I apologize.

Oh, here's your Whitney.

Your apology is accepted. Shall we go, Miss Finch?

Thank you, Marshall.

- Kettle. - Huh?

- Kettle! - Kettle. Excuse me.

Basket.

Blanket.

Here.

I'll carry these.

I'll carry the pole.

♪

Hello, Arnold, how are you?

Marshall, if I was you, I'd have them pull up

a couple of feet and spare your wife

the fragrance of this here hide.

Couple of feet ain't gonna do it.

This ain't my wife. This is a lady lawyer.

- A lady lawyer? - Yes, Miss Frances B. Finch.

- This is Arnold Boyle. - Mr. Boyle, how do you do?

Well, now, a lady lawyer.

I'm a bit of a freethinker myself, yes, sirree.

Supporter of the Owens Valley experiment.

Bigamy, trigamy, you name it, I've tried it.

You got a man working here by the name Claude Willis?

You the husband?

No, no, no, I'm... I'm the prisoner.

I know what you mean.

No, you don't, Arnold.

Is Mr. Willis here?

No, ma'am, Mr. Willis ain't here.

I took the pleasure of firing him as of last Friday.

- Why'd you fire him? - Because of his lip.

Got to sassing me, come to questioning my judgment.

I warned him about his big mouth, but he didn't take heed.

Got nothing to blame but his lip.

Where can we find him, Mr. Boyle?

Find Ellie Bishop, you'll find him.

Ah. Well, we appreciate your help.

Always glad to help a freethinker.

Thank you, Arnold.

Mind my chickens on your way out.

Don't crush 'em.

Hah!

There it is. Right down there.

Whoa. We better stay back.

I'm not exactly a welcome sight.

Let me give you a hand down.

Watch out for your umbrella there.

Easy does it. Up! There you go.

- All right? - Uh-huh.

Watch your step.

Good afternoon. I'm Francis B. Finch.

Attorney for the defense.

Yes, that's right. You're Mr. Willis.

That's right, Claude Willis.

Is Miss Bishop at home?

- Well... - Who is it, Claude?

Mrs. Finch from the courtroom.

Yes, ma'am?

Oh, good afternoon, Miss Bishop.

May I speak to you for a moment?

Uh, no, that's all right.

Mr. Willis is helping me with the arrangements.

I need a copy of your father's last will and testament.

Um... Ellie's father didn't leave one.

Are you sure?

Quite sure, we looked here and at the bank.

Ellie is the sole surviving kin.

So she inherits everything.

If that's what the law says.

Well, I really was hoping there would be a will

or a letter or something with some mention of the Bishop mine.

What about it?

There's bound to be a question of ownership.

You see, my client won it in a card game.

Well, if you take the word of a murderer.

A man accused of murder.

But even if he's convicted, he still owns the mine,

and his heirs will inherit it.

Provided you believe him.

Oh, it's not up to me, Mr. Willis.

No, it's up to the jury.

I heard him threaten my father.

Yes, I know you did, yes.

You testified under oath.

"You have cheated me, you dirty dog," and so on.

Now that doesn't mean that they were arguing over the mine.

Oh, no, no. No, it doesn't.

Could've been about money or...

Well, it doesn't matter. Ellie holds the title.

And your client will have to go to court to claim it.

If he goes free.

But if he's convicted, then he'll...

- He'll hang. - Yes.

It's ironic, isn't it?

All this suffering over a worthless tunnel of dirt.

Well, thank you, Miss Bishop.

Mr. Willis.

Oh, please be sure and tell Mr. Hewitt

that I was here, will you?

I wouldn't want him to think that I would do

anything unethical behind his back.

Good afternoon.

Well, looks like Willis is taking charge.

Oh, yes, he's making all the arrangements

for everything, including Ellie's inheritance.

Yeah, but her father was broke.

Well, that house is worth something.

Yeah, but it was mortgaged to the bank

or I would've taken it instead of the mine.

Or, poor Ellie, she's in for a surprise.

When Willis discovers that she's inherited her father's debts...

I thought your intuition told you it was love.

Yes, on her side it is,

but he's just out to take advantage of her.

He told you all this?

Mm-hmm, by the way he stands and the way he holds his head,

and the look in his eyes.

Why it's written all over him.

I'll tell you what I see written all over him.

- A man holding a pat hand. - What?

I tell you, a pat hand. A poker term, men.

Men use it when they play poker.

Fella'd put on a face, you know,

so's not to let on that he's a winner.

I wish I knew what he was holding.

Aces back-to-back in the Bishop's mine, I'll bet.

Where's the nearest assay office?

Weighing gold? That's in Fort Comstock.

That's a couple hundred miles from here.

Yes, but people don't just ride over there

if they know they got a real winner, you know,

and they struck it rich, but the fella that tells them

if their goods is worth anything,

he lives in Indian Springs.

A geologist?

I don't know. But he sure knows dirt.

Let's take him a sample.

♪

- Come on. - All right.

Will you lay into it and get out here?

Hurry up!

All right, let's get out of here.

All right.

Go on.

♪

Uh... are you the geologist?

J.D. Drover, paydirt appraiser.

We want your professional advice.

Glad you put it that way.

My services require cash in advance.

- Oh? - How much?

Oh, 2% of your strike

or $3 in silver coin, US mint.

You accept silver certificates?

No, sir, don't deal in paper.

I'm Marshall Krug.

- Marshall. - How are ya?

This official business? Yes, it is.

This is possible evidence in a court case.

This is Miss Finch. She's a lady lawyer.

Mr. Drover.

It's none of my business how people

desert their family and home.

They tried to open a dance hall here in town

with hostess types, drinking, and smoking.

- But we closed 'em down. - Now look here, Drover...

I assure you, Mr. Drover, I neither drink nor smoke.

Moreover, I have three silver dollars,

- US mint. - Keep your money,

I offer my services to the law free of charge.

- Oh. - This come out of a mine?

That's right.

Smell rotten, stuffy?

I nearly fainted.

It's fairly poor.

I know it's not gold-bearing.

The only thing you can do to make that pay off

is process it down.

Couple of tons might yield 50 pounds pure.

Pure? Pure what?

- Sulfur. - Sulfur?

Then it is worth something.

Well, not to a small claim.

One man can't work it enough to pay off.

Takes bulk machines.

The best thing to do is sell it off

to a big company equipped to process it.

Who'd buy it?

Oh, chemical companies, medicinals, explosives.

For how much?

It depends on the extent of the strike.

Now that there is about 31%.

Sells around $40, 100 weight.

You can figure on the average strike to be worth around...

$40 to $60,000 silver, US mint.

60... $60,000?

Why didn't you ask the owner? That's what I told him.

You told the owner?

Yeah, he was in here a week ago.

I recognize the goods.

Not much raw sulfur comes across the counter.

Would you recognize the owner?

- Yes, ma'am. - What did he look like?

Oh, young feller, tall, curly hair.

Bishop was about 50, with, gray hair.

You got the wrong man.

We got the right one. Claude Willis.

He didn't give his name, but he paid cash on the barrel.

Well, thank you. Say, can I see you a minute?

Sure.

Here, um... here.

Keep your money, Marshall.

No, no, no, I want that brooch right there.

That blue... Blue brooch right there.

- Oh, that's four and a quarter. - All right, fine, fine.

That's turquoise set in pure silver.

Fine.

You don't have to wrap it.

The, um...

The lady, uh, she's, um...

gonna wear it.

Oh, Marshall, I... I can't...

I mean, you really ought not...

Shoot, it's just turquoise set in silver.

It's nothing.

Oh, I see.

Oh, it... it's lovely.

Oh, well, thank you.

Thank you for your services.

Take your goods.

Oh, yeah.

Thank you, Mr. Drover.

Yeah, yeah...

I'll get the door there.

There you go.

Well, what do we do?

Bring this whole rock fall back to identify Willis?

It won't help.

All it'll do is prove that Willis knew

the mine was valuable, but Bishop didn't know.

He wouldn't have bet it.

He'd have sold it to get out of debt.

At least we know a good reason why Willis wants to marry Ellie.

Yes, and an even better one

why he wants you out of the way.

All he needs is one piece of evidence

to prove that you were there in the west gallery.

Why don't we give it to him?

- Trap him? - Exactly.

How about it, Marshall?

It's... oh. It's like fishing.

If he bites, we've got the murderer

and the judge'll dismiss my case.

Well, you know how I feel about fishing.

You're not afraid of a woman working.

Afraid?

No, no, no, no. I just don't approve.

Oh?

Well, I believe a woman's place is...

Well, it's... It's in a man's pack roll.

Oh.

This jacket belongs to Trampas,

and he asked to have a split in the sleeve repaired.

Split? Which sleeve?

We'll make one.

Huh?

You want to help help a freethinker, now don't you?

By ripping a jacket?

No, by telling Claude Willis that this is Trampas' jacket

and that a piece of fringe from here found

in the west gallery of the mine

would prove that Trampas was there.

I'm afraid I don't follow you, ma'am.

Well, we're trying to set a trap for Claude Willis,

and we need your help.

What'd Willis do?

Looks like he killed Gerald Bishop.

But we want to make quite sure,

and you know him better than anyone.

I just fired him.

Well, go try and hire him back.

He'll think I'm crazy.

No, he won't, no, not if you say

exactly what I tell you to say.

That this buckskin here belongs to Trampas.

And that a piece of fringe from here

found in the west gallery of the mine

would prove that Trampas was there.

You think he'll take a piece of this fringe

and plant it out there in the mine?

He will, especially if you tell him

that you're going to leave this on your workbench all night.

Well, do tell him I want to be paid off?

When he cashes in.

When he cashes in.

He's told Willis.

How do you know?

Well, he knows we're watching.

I told him to signal with his bandanna.

- We may be here all night. - Look.

- Ellie? - Is she in on it?

- Go on. - Wait a minute, now wait, wait.

You can't trail a suspect with a crowd of folks like this.

Well, then, Marshall, why don't you go?

And we'll meet you back at my horse.

You know I can't leave you alone with him.

Don't worry, I'll go straight back to my cell.

He will, he will, Marshall, and we'll meet you there.

Don't worry, I'll go right back to my cell, I promise.

- I give you my word. - Promise you won't tell the judge.

Oh.

All right, goodbye.

Good luck, Henry. Oh.

I need it.

Well...

now's your chance to escape.

Yeah.

Might be a lot safer if I did get out of here.

Well?

I don't know, I guess I feel I have to clear my name.

Supposing it doesn't work.

Supposing they find you guilty and hang you.

Well, one thing for sure,

I'd never trust another lady lawyer.

There you are, prisoner returned at 8:40 PM.

Mm-hmm.

- Will you sign this, please? - What is it?

It's just a receipt to show that he's safe

back in the Sheriff's custody.

Royal...

Wainwright...

- Deputy. - Thank you, Deputy.

Now, may I wait here outside his cell?

Well, visiting hours are over.

I'm not a visitor. I'm his lawyer.

And we're waiting for Marshall Krug.

Well, in that case, permission granted.

Excuse me.

Maybe we made a mistake coming back here.

Marshall said he'd meet us here.

We sent Ned out here to make a last inspection for clues,

Your Honor, and what he found made me think

it was important enough to ask you out to take a look

before court comes to order this morning.

Well, I hope it's important.

I don't like to ride any more than I have to.

Ned? Light a lantern and show us what you found.

There, Your Honor, along here is where

we found Trampas' footprints.

In the west gallery where the body was found,

there weren't any footprints because it's solid bedrock.

Trampas denied ever going into that west gallery.

We had trouble proving him out to be a liar

until Ned here made his final inspection.

Ned?

Excuse me, Your Honor.

Your Honor, here behind this conveyor cart

is where this body was found.

You can still see some of the bloodstains.

And here on the edge of the cart,

you see a rusted strip of metal pulled loose,

and caught under it is a fresh piece of leather,

a strip of fringe torn off a buckskin jacket.

You know who it belongs to?

Yes, sir, the defendant, Trampas.

And his jacket got a piece tore off

that matches this exactly.

Have you notified Mr. Hewitt?

Yes, Your Honor.

The prosecution is fully prepared.

All right.

Ned, I'm gonna ask you to come into town.

You may be required to take the witness stand.

- Yes, sir. - Go ahead.

This piece of buckskin fringe was found

within inches of the spot where the body was found,

- is that correct? - Yes, sir.

Is this the jacket from which the fringe was torn?

That is correct, sir.

To whom does it belong?

To the defendant, Trampas.

That will be all.

Sheriff Acton, you have testified in good faith

but I regret to inform the court that you were mistaken.

The piece of fringe

found at the scene of the crime so conveniently

is indeed of buckskin, but I am now going to prove

that it was not left there by the defendant.

It was left there by... by...

By someone else.

- Objection. - Sustained.

Miss Finch, do you have witnesses or evidence

unknown to the court?

Not unknown, Your Honor, but, uh...

somewhat unexpected.

Very well, approach the bench and explain yourself.

I wish to call Trampas to the stand.

But we've already heard his testimony.

He admits being everywhere except in the west gallery,

and now we have proof that he has perjured himself.

He has proof to the contrary, Your Honor.

Such as? Oh. Very well.

Objection.

Noted. Proceed.

Sheriff, you may step down.

Trampas, please step to the stand.

Krug keeps shaking his head.

Wonder why he didn't come to meet us.

- You are still under oath. - Yes, your honor.

Now, Trampas, Sheriff Acton has identified

this buckskin jacket as yours.

- Is this your jacket? - No, ma'am.

- Objection. - Sustained.

Denial of ownership does not alter the fact.

Your Honor, as a matter of fact,

the defendant happens to have his own jacket with him

right here in the courtroom.

Where is it, Trampas?

It's on my chair. I was sitting on it.

Please bring it to the bench.

Thank you.

Your Honor...

you will see that this jacket is indeed buckskin

and it is the same color as this other.

But you will note that there is no fringe missing.

Noted.

Objection.

Overruled.

Now, regarding this other jacket,

from which the piece was torn, do you know the owner?

- Yes, ma'am. - Please state his name.

And point him out if present in court.

Mr. Boyle, he's sitting right over there.

That's right.

Mine's cut from horsehide.

Trampas' is cut from buckskin.

Order. Strike that from the record.

Thank you, Trampas, you may step down.

Your Honor, this is highly irregular.

Am I being denied access to the witness?

Your Honor, we have not quite finished.

We have another witness.

I call on Marshall Krug

to give evidence for the defense.

Krug? What's going on here?

I know this is irregular, Your Honor,

but it's a chance to finish this trial in short order.

I object.

Noted.

The court recognizes the irregularity,

but a man of Marshall Krug's integrity

is an unimpeachable witness.

- Short order? - Short order.

Very well, take the stand. We'll continue.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Under protest.

Noted, Hewitt, now sit down.

- I'll swear you in myself. - Yes, Your Honor.

Place your left hand on the... Raise your right hand.

- Oh, right. - Do you solemnly swear the evidence

you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth,

- and nothing but the truth? - I do so swear.

Be seated. Miss Finch.

Marshall Krug, we have had no opportunity

to review the testimony you are about to give,

- is that correct? - That is correct.

You failed to show up for a meeting

to develop this line of questioning.

- That is correct. - Where were you?

I was holding someone under surveillance.

Why?

- Objection. - Sustained.

We like to know who before why.

Who were you keeping under surveillance?

Claude Willis.

Why?

Well, because I expected him to go to Boyle's tannery

and steal a piece of buckskin fringe.

And why did you expect him to do that?

Because he thought it was Trampas' jacket.

Objection.

Sustained. Marshall, you know better than that.

You can't read a man's thoughts.

Well, I stand corrected, I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Well, I repeat the question, Your Honor.

Why did you expect Claude Willis

to steal a piece of buckskin fringe?

Well, because I... I heard him say so in his own words.

Where did he say it and to whom?

I followed him to a house on Will Road,

and I listened close to the window,

and I heard him say... And I'm gonna quote here...

That "Trampas' jacket will be at Boyle's tannery"

all night," end of the quote there.

Did you hear him use the name of the person he was talking to?

No, but he called him, quote, cousin.

And then he said that he needed more help

and that blood kin should stick together,

and they'd come out of it together rich.

And what did the man he called cousin say to that?

Well, he said... And I'm quoting here again...

He said "I'm pushing the Sheriff as hard as I can,"

and then he said that he's going to steal

a piece of the buckskin fringe and plant it

in the west gallery of the mine.

And then he was gonna order out one of the men

to make a final inspection of the conveyor cart

and report back any new developments to the Sheriff.

- That's enough! - Cover the Marshall!

Nobody move! Marshall! Sit tight!

- What are you doing?! - Ellie...

Claude! Please!

Claude! Stop it! Please!

Drop it, son, drop it!

All right, get him, Sheriff.

Thank you, Marshall. All right, Claude.

Let's go, come on, out. Out the door.

Order. Order in the court.

The defendant is found not guilty.

The case is dismissed.

Well! That's one way to end trial.

Trampas.

- Oh... - Aw.

Oh!

Miss Finch, I gotta say this to you.

I hope this shows you that this is simply no life for a woman.

Well, maybe you're right, Marshall.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Well, shoot, Frances,

there's 100 things a woman can do.

She can, well, be a mother and a wife.

- Well? Keep talking. - Well, a wife and a mother.

What's that all about?

Yeah, according to the law, who gets who?

Well, I guess you might call that mutual custody.

Here.

No, no, that's yours.

♪