Original subtitles

Bye.

Keep your chin down. Nobody's taking you, Fisher.

Did you hear what I said?

Chin down.

Don't you know the difference up from down?

I might have known, a female.

Who let a female in here? Come on, get out of there.

So, um, this is the red -hot newcomer I've heard so much about.

Jimmy, your boy's got a glass jaw.

My boy's nervous.

His first workout's in L .A.

He had six straight KOs in San Diego.

Who'd he fight?

Cub Scott?

Hey, take it easy, kid.

This is George Hale, Evening Star.

You read his column every day.

Oh, sure, yeah, every day.

I suppose you want a statement about the Jackson fight.

Kid's first crack at a real pro.

Jackson is a has -been and that fight's nothing but a preliminary.

No, Jimmy, I'd rather have a statement on Todd Richards.

Richards? Who told you?

Oh, uh...

Get the showers, kid. I'll be with you in a minute. All right, Jimmy.

What'd you hear about Richard?

Only that he wants to buy Davey Carroll.

Why, I don't know, but... Davey ain't for sale.

Davey's my boy.

I'm gonna make a champion out of him someday. You wait and see.

I ought to kick that bum Richard's out of here.

Oh, he's a pretty fast operator, Jimmy.

When Todd Richards wants to buy something, he just takes out his

writes. Not my Davey, he don't.

Unless it's over my dead body.

Jimmy, let me know when it's time for the funeral.

I'll send flowers.

No, thanks.

There you are, Mr. Richards.

Very dry.

That's fine, Max.

Oh, Max, I'm expecting Mr.

Lombard. The minute you see him come in, bring over one of his specials, huh?

Yes, sir, Mr. Richards.

Hey, is that Keith Lombard, the guy who owns this hotel?

Well, at least a dozen more.

Those are the kind of people you're going to be meeting from now on, Davey,

you stick with me.

By the way, I've got a tailor that can ease out those shoulders for you.

Hey, what do you mean? I paid 35 bucks for this coat.

Well, I'm sure you did. But why settle for just one coat?

Shall we drink to a whole closet full of new clothes for daily?

Like I told you, Mr. Richards, I got an agreement with Jimmy.

What kind of an agreement?

Well, a contract, sort of a paper I signed.

My lawyer can take care of that.

Well, it's more than a contract.

Well, it's Jimmy. You see...

He took me out of a garage in San Diego. He taught me everything I know.

Well, of course, Davey. His training is important.

So is loyalty.

Wonderful thing, loyalty.

You only live it once, Davey.

You have to be loyal to yourself, too.

That's right. How many years does a fighter have?

When your break comes, grab it.

I can build you into a champ, Davey.

Well, Jimmy says he can, too.

Ah, but Mr. Richards can really do it, Davey.

Hello there, Richards.

Hello, Bart.

Door man said you wanted to see me. You have a good flight from New York?

Perfect. I'll have to see you sometime later. I haven't had a chance to stop by

the desk yet, and I would like to freshen up. That's the best time for a

isn't it?

There you are, sir.

A special, Mr. Lombard.

Excuse me, sir.

Here's your mail. The manager put your calls on the top. Now take your hat and

coat upstairs now, sir, if you'd like. Well, you've thought of everything,

haven't you?

And in my own house, too. I'd like to have you meet my secretary, Miss Sands,

and the young man you'll be hearing about, Davey Carroll.

Nice to meet you. I didn't expect such a pleasant welcome.

Are you an associate of Mr. Richards, too?

I guess I am. I don't know yet.

You better watch out for him, son.

He's a shrewd dealer.

I remember once he bought a second -rate broken -down ball club.

Everyone thought he was crazy.

Until he fired the entire team and made a fortune on the real estate.

Is it your birthday, Mr. Lombard? They sure sell big cars these days, don't

they?

I really don't have time for the drink just now, Richards.

Sorry.

Hey, can I say something?

Hey, look, Mr. Richards, I'm awful sorry if I said... No, no, Davey. Big men

have big things to think about, that's all.

Where were we?

Oh, yes, loyally.

The loyalty of a would -be fighter.

Who wrote this?

I did.

Well, don't worry, Mr. West.

I believe we can draw up a contract that nobody can break.

All you'll need to do is persuade Davy Carroll to sign it.

Come on, come on.

Get the gloves off. How are you going to sign with the gloves on?

Jimmy, I just thought that... Jimmy thought that you needed protection now

you're coming up in the world as a fighter, Davy.

But I want to explain this contract before you sign it.

Well, anything that's okay with Jimmy is okay with me, only... Well...

It won't make Mr. Richards so, will it? Richards?

What's he got to do with it?

I already signed a contract with him.

You what?

Well, he said... He said?

What did you say?

No. That's the word, Davey. No, that's what you say when somebody's trying to

knife a best friend. Oh, but not you.

I ought to knock your dumb block.

Here, here. Take it easy on our property.

There he is.

There's the crook. Show him, Mr. Mason.

Now, Jimmy, I've got something here that'll make you feel better. What's

It's easy.

I signed the fighter, now I need to sign the trainer. Do what?

I've got a place out in the country ideal for a fighter.

Fresh air, sunshine, everything you'll need to get him in condition.

Why, you cheap... You think I'd be a high stooge for some crook that tried to

steal my only boy?

Hold it, Jimmy, hold it.

He's offering you 50%, and all expenses.

Apparently, Mr. Richards wants you as a partner.

Huh?

I don't believe it.

I'm getting lucky.

Jimmy West is getting lucky.

Well, why didn't you tell me it was parked? Well, give me a pen. Give me a

somebody. I'll do the signing around here.

How's he doing, partner? Oh, great, Mr. Richards, great.

Of course, his head's up in the air right now, but you got nothing to worry

about. By the time the Jackson fight comes along, he'll be great.

With you on the job, I'm not worried about anything, Jimmy.

Here, I bought the rest of that equipment you wanted.

It's in your name, so you'd better sign the shipping receipt.

Sure, step inside.

You know, this whole layout is a little too fancy.

I'm in for training the kid that's practically getting started.

What's that for?

I used to keep rough company, but not anymore.

You've got no idea what a relief it is. You're sure you didn't bring it up here

to keep your partner on it? Oh, Mr.

Richards, how can you say a thing like that? Well, even Mr. Mason says he never

heard of it. Jimmy, I'm just kidding you.

I know what a good deal this is.

For both of us, Jimmy.

Okay, Joe, that's enough. Kid's got to hit the road again.

Hey, you want to wreck everything?

You know who that chick is?

Well, somebody new come up, I guess, huh? It's Mr. Richard's wife. You lay

you understand?

Yeah, sure, I understand.

Joe?

Todd, it's you.

I know you've been too busy to come to the office, but it's been a whole week

now. Last week, only one day.

Don't you think I know that, Joe?

No, I can't see you tonight. I have to run down to San Diego today, then see

Lombard again in the morning.

He doesn't know it yet, but he's going to spend the weekend here.

I'm giving a press party for Davey in the afternoon, so I want you to phone

invitations.

That's right, Saturday. And don't expect me back in town until... Now, that's

not so long, is it?

Todd, at least you can phone more often.

I miss you.

Todd?

Well,

the well -dressed corpse.

What? Wasn't Richards going to get Davy's contract only over your dead

Oh, Jimmy, there you are.

We're all ready over at ringside, Mr. Richards.

Davy's all set. Good.

Okay, everybody, ringside. Grab your cameras and don't forget your drinks.

Me too, impresario.

Why not? You like to have your picture taken, don't you?

Keith, I'm glad you could get here early. I want you to meet my wife.

Laurie, this is the fabulous Keith Lombard.

Your wife? I know what you're going to say. She's much too pretty for me. Every

man thinks that about Laurie.

Oh, stop it, will you, Todd?

All right, everybody, on the brief side for your pictures.

Who is that man?

Miss Borcher?

Yeah. That's Davies' trainer.

Actually, he and I are partners.

What's his name?

West.

The real old -timer, Jimmy, is.

Jimmy West.

Now, let's get you a drink, shall we?

They don't really need us around here. Come on.

I've got some good stuff on the study.

Jimmy, where you been? You big ape, you're going to bed.

Hey, listen, listen. Laurie thinks I'm going to be champ someday. You think I'm

going to be champ? What if Mr. Riches saw you like this? Don't you understand?

If he had any idea... Give it to me.

It's all right, Jimmy. Give it to me out of his own private stock.

Did I waken you?

I had to call. It's all over, darling.

Went just the way I figured.

I'll be with you in a few hours.

I know it's wonderful.

From now on, you and I... Mr. Richards.

Oh, Jimmy, I'm busy.

Is this your idea of a training quarters for a raw kid?

Parties, drinking, reporters that don't give a darn about Davy yet?

Darling, I'll have to call you back. What's going on here has got to stop,

Richards.

I won't have a fighter, I'll have a gigolo.

With a head ten sizes too big. Jimmy, this is no time or place to talk about

Listen, if you don't care about our fighter, maybe you care about your own

If you just leave Davey alone... Laurie's had hobbies before, and I'll

and... Hobbies?

You mean you know what's going on and you don't care?

No, Jimmy, I don't. And from here on, you can do anything you wish with Davey.

don't want to hear any more about it. You can't do this. You can't do this to

me. You're promoting Davey. What about the Jackson fight? What about the fights

after that?

You are going to make a champion out of him. Mr. Richards, you can't do this to

me.

To the someday champion of the world.

Hey, Jimmy.

Hey,

Jimmy, wake up.

Want to go on a picnic, huh?

Boy, you sure sleep messy, don't you?

Something hit you?

How can anybody be such a dumb sucker? Get out of my way. Now, now, Jimmy,

be sore. Just a little picnic, huh?

Oh, God, drown yourself as far as I'm concerned, you big ape.

I'm leaving you here.

I never want to see you again.

Now, Jimmy, listen to me. Hey.

Hey, Jimmy.

Hey, Jimmy!

Hey!

Hey, Jimmy!

It's right down the mountain.

I didn't know Richards was dead till this morning, Mr. Mason.

I swear I didn't.

Apparently no one else did either.

The body of Todd Richards was not discovered until 5 a .m. It was found

guest cottage occupied by the missing trainer, Jimmy West.

All right, Jimmy.

Tell me again about you and Richards.

Well, he knocked me out, like I said.

Oh, I may have landed one or two, but then the roof fell in.

I don't know how long I must have laid there.

And then Davey...

What about Davey?

Nothing.

I got sore thinking about him.

Richard ruined the kid.

A bum.

That's all Davey is now. Like giving him all that big publicity before he's even

had one big fight.

That certainly isn't logical.

Yeah, but all the real promoting, like lining up fights ahead.

Richard hadn't done any of that.

He admitted it when we got down to the cottage.

Then when I started yelling again, he tells me to get out.

The contract's all through, he says.

Davy's all through.

The whole thing's just a great big joke, he says.

Peculiar sense of humor.

Della, I'm going out to the lake house to see what's happening.

Get a hold of Paul.

He'll find a place to keep Jimmy out of sight for a while.

What are you doing here?

I read the newspapers.

Was, uh, Richards one of your clients, Mr. Mason?

No, he wasn't.

Who shot him, Sergeant, do you know?

Well, the man who lived in that cottage there ran off last night and hasn't come

back.

His name's Jimmy West.

Do you know him?

We've met.

I thought so.

Where's Richard's fighter, Davy Carroll? I'd like to talk to him.

Then you'll have to go down to the village jail.

That's where he spent the night.

Along with Mrs. Richards.

Boom. Where's Jimmy West?

She's in my apartment. Is this the much -touted future champ?

Who, me?

Champ or chump, I'm not quite sure at this point.

Look here, Davey.

When was the last time you saw Jimmy West last night?

Oh, Jimmy? I never saw him anyplace.

He must have been asleep or something.

No, I never saw...

Hey,

Laurie?

Bereaved widow?

He and Davy spent the night in jail after a brawl at a nearby roadhouse.

That's cozy.

But, Perry, I have something I think is more interesting.

I have a contact on the Evening Star, and he tells me that George Hale has a

story about Richards, some big business deal he pulled just before he was

killed. It'll be in the afternoon edition.

George Hale, sports writer? Uh -huh.

While his pugilist protege, Davy Carroll, was posing for board cameramen,

Richard pulled what may be the financial coup of the year.

Purchase of the fabulous Wilshire Lombard Hotel.

And in this writer's opinion, at least Brother Richard swung the deal for

pennies.

Just pennies.

Who told you this?

I'm a newspaper man, Mr. Mason, not just a sports bum.

And when I saw Lombard up there looking kind of grim, I got curious.

And when he went into the house with Richards, well, it looked like a better

story than the show outside.

You see, there have been rumors in financial circles about those two, so...

I watched.

And just by watching, you got the story of the hotel, sir.

Mr. Mason, I'm not going to quote anybody.

A little while after Lombard left the house last night, I followed.

Richards was still alive then.

And that's all I know.

If it isn't enough, you'll have to ask Lombard.

Oh.

One more question, Mr. Hale.

What is your professional opinion of Davy Carroll?

Well, let's put it this way. If Davy Carroll at his present stage of

was fighting my grandmother, I'd have to put my bankroll on the old lady.

And she's been dead for ten years.

Hello? Hello? No, I'm sorry. I can't connect you with Mr. Lombard.

I'm sorry. I can't connect you with Mr. Lombard.

Well, Paul says George Hale did go to the Lombard Hotel late last night.

But now Lombard barricaded behind a wall of lawyers, so Paul is trying an easier

angle, whatever that means.

What about the background on Richards?

He was only with his wife a couple of nights the past week, according to

office. Oh, and Perry, there's something you might like to know.

Richards' personal secretary is a blonde named Jo Sands.

Unattached, lives in a plush apartment on the strip, and draws $200 a week

salary.

More? and drives a very expensive car, and recently spent $10 ,000 to

her apartment.

Della, you have a dark and suspicious mind.

Where is her apartment?

Oh, it's running all right now, miss. We put in a new fuel pump connector.

Just so it doesn't stall again.

Oh, it won't.

Miss Sands?

I'm Perry Mason. I tried to telephone you, but I couldn't get through.

I've had the phone off the hook all day.

You're the attorney, aren't you?

Yes. As Todd Richards' secretary, you must know something about his deal for

Lombard Hotel.

I placed a few phone calls from Mr. Richards to Mr. Lombard.

That's all I know.

Now, will you please excuse me?

Why weren't you at Richard's party?

I had some work to get out at the office. When I tried to go home, my car

wouldn't start. The garage man picked it up this morning.

You know, I've told all this to the police.

Did you tell them how you met Davy Carroll?

Look, Davy Carroll's woman crazy. Mr. Richards thought perhaps I could help

influence him to sign the contract.

That's all.

Why would Richards want to fight her?

Mr. Mason, I was Mr. Richard's secretary, period.

He didn't tell me why he did anything. Ask his wife. If anybody knows who

him, she does.

I don't know why you're asking me about Todd's affairs.

He never confided in me.

Did you know he was going to buy Lombard's Hotel?

Not until today, Mr. Mason.

Well, after Todd's death.

Who told you about it today?

Well, my lawyers were going through his things.

They seemed very happy about that hotel.

Apparently, he got it at a ridiculously low price. Almost a million dollars less

than what they think it's worth.

I suppose you now inherit that little bargain along with the rest of your

husband's estate.

Yes. Isn't that nice?

Mr. Mason, you don't think I killed my husband for it, do you? Because if you

do, you're wrong.

I'd never have killed Todd.

For a little thing like money.

Excuse me.

This is Mr. Drake, Mrs. Richards. I asked him to meet me here.

He looks friendly enough.

Can I get you a drink?

Some other time, Mrs. Richards. Of course he'll have a drink. He's just

I'll bet.

Well, oh.

Keith Lombard, Lombard Hotel.

What's this?

Lombard has been receiving these regularly ever since he checked in from

York. The girl at the mail desk said each one made him madder and madder

finally he just tossed this one into the wastebasket.

Did she see what was inside?

Yep. Five playing cards.

King of diamonds, king of spades, four tray -induced clubs.

Poker hand?

I'm a type easy girl myself.

I was just about to ask Mr. Drake what he knew of Keith Lombard's background.

Well, I know the legend.

Rags for riches, seven -year wonder.

I mean before the legend.

Well, how much before?

Far enough to find a motive for blackmail.

Lombard started in New York, didn't he, Mrs. Richards?

Well, how on earth would I know?

Well, hi there. Come on down to the party.

I noticed your car out there.

What are you still doing here, Sergeant?

A little matter of the murder weapon.

A small boy fishing in the lake finally spotted it.

You have the gun?

Yes, and it puts the clincher on our case.

A .38 revolver belonging to Jimmy West.

So if you'll oblige me by showing me where he is so I can serve the

I'll show him, Paul.

You're going to New York.

Now, Sergeant Landro, you state that the murder gun was usually kept in a desk

drawer of a cottage occupied by Jimmy West.

But that's just your own conclusion, isn't it?

Based on observations of both the first and second maids.

Well, if a gun inside a desk drawer was so easily seen by the first and second

maids, then anyone might have seen it.

And, of course, anyone might have fired him.

I think that's all, Sergeant.

You may step down, Sergeant Landry.

Well, I couldn't hear much of their row, but I did hear Jimmy yell, you can't do

this, you can't do this to me.

Do you know what he meant?

Jimmy had a fixation about building Davy Carroll into a champion.

And I think Richards had finally seen through him, that's all.

What do you mean, seen through him?

Well, it's easy to set up a few phony knockouts to make a new fighter look

That's a lie.

Davy never had a fixed fight in his life. Wasn't Richard made a bum out of

kid? Jimmy, sit down.

Your Honor, I apologize for the defendant's outburst.

However, I was about to make an objection.

The witness was expressing an opinion.

Sustained.

Confine your questioning to direct evidence, Mr. Berger.

I have no further questions of this witness, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason?

Now, Mr. Hale, from the day after Richard's death, your newspaper column

first printed story of his purchase of a hotel for Mr. Lombard.

Now, you stated to me that you'd observed the two men in the process of

this deal.

That's right.

They were in the study most of the evening going over papers together.

I saw securities changing hands, and I heard them talk about escrows.

And if you did not then get a confirmation of the deal from Mr.

you get one from Mr. Lombard?

No, not there at the house.

But later on my way back to town, I did nail him at his hotel.

Lombard admitted making the sale.

Now, he didn't actually tell me he was unhappy with the deal, but when I kept

asking him the price, he did do a little swearing before he threw me out.

It was a perfectly legitimate sale.

I accepted Richard's terms, that's all.

Both cash and some real estate trading for private financial reasons of my own.

Then there was no bitterness between you.

Certainly not.

What time did you leave the party, Mr. Lombard?

About 11 .30.

Our deal was over.

I don't like big affairs.

And I don't like heavy drinking.

And did you say goodnight to your host before you left?

I wanted to.

I'd seen Richards go off toward the training area with a defendant.

They seemed to be quarreling.

I waited a little while, and after about 20 minutes, I walked down and heard

their voices inside the cottage.

It wasn't my fight, so I left.

I think that'll be all, Mr. Lombard. Thank you, sir.

Counselor?

You heard the defendant talking with Richards in the cottage?

It was Richards' voice I heard. He was speaking rather quietly.

But what about the defendant?

You've just heard a demonstration of how unquiet his voice is.

I don't remember having actually heard the other party speak.

Thank you for correcting your testimony.

Now, Mr. Lombard...

You're a highly successful hotel man.

Do you recall the first hotel you operated?

The Union.

New York City.

What happened to that hotel?

It burned down.

Your Honor, this is an old story and I see no reason to exhume it here.

Your Honor, neither do I.

Mr. Mason, what is your objective in this line of questioning?

I'm trying to set a background for what I believe happened on the Richards

estate the night of the murder, Your Honor.

Very well, Mr. Mason.

Now, Mr. Lombard, you sold a valuable property, apparently at a fantastic

On the advice of counsel, Your Honor, I refuse to answer any question concerning

my personal financial affairs.

But in the past, you did own the Union Hotel, and the Union Hotel did burn

Now, was the hotel insured?

It's a matter of record.

I was paid a quarter of a million dollars by the Eastport Insurance

Thank you again, Mr. Lombard.

I knew that Mr.

Richards was going to have trouble with the defendant if he said that Jimmy, Mr.

West, was getting on his nerves.

Did he say anything to you about canceling the defendant's contract?

No. Not in so many words, he... Mr. Richards had a way of getting bored with

little hobbies.

I guess he got bored with everything.

Thank you, Miss Sands. Thank you very much.

Cross -examined.

Miss Sands, as Mr. Richards' secretary, do you recognize this envelope?

The stationery, the style of type?

Mr. Keith Lombard, Lombard Hotel, personal.

No.

No, I've never seen it before. Did you know that Keith Lombard was invited to

the press party for Davy Carroll?

No.

I mean, yes.

Mr. Richards did mention it, but I don't know why he was invited.

Or anything about buying hotels, for that matter.

I was his secretary.

Just his secretary.

Well, I hadn't seen my husband at the party for some time, so I went looking

him. The door to the cottage was open.

He, uh, the defendant, was yelling at Todd.

I'll kill you, he said. I'll kill you for this. And then he started hitting my

husband. Well, Todd grabbed his arm and kicked the door shut.

I was afraid that some of the other guests might notice, so I went back to

party to, well, sort of keep everyone busy.

You mean you ran off and left your husband? You didn't even try to help him

he was being attacked?

Well, it never occurred to me that Todd couldn't quite easily have killed him if

he'd wanted to.

After all, I had no idea then that Mr. West had a gun.

So later on, you again looked for your husband and couldn't find him.

And yet you were...

Willing to leave your home and go to a nearby roadhouse for an all -night

Not until after Daisy Carroll had told me he'd seen my husband drive away alone

and healthy.

Mrs. Richards, how long were you married to the deceased?

Six years.

Six happy years?

Not particularly.

As a matter of fact, just lately we've been considering a divorce.

What did you do before you were married, Mrs. Richards?

Do.

Yes, around the time the Union Hotel was destroyed by fire.

Laurie Wilson, switchboard operator, reported the blaze shortly after

Your Honor, would it be asking too much to inquire what counsel is doing?

What is that you're reading, Mr. Mason?

A portion of the police report on the fire that destroyed the Union Hotel in

York City seven years ago. I was about to ask Mrs.

Richards what her maiden name was.

Well, of course I'm Laurie Wilson, but what about it? I only worked for Mr.

Lombard once, that's all.

And I did not know that he was coming to the party that night. I hadn't seen him

since I left New York just years ago.

And I certainly didn't know anything about any business dealings that he

have had with my husband.

Then you admit, Mr. Carroll, that it's quite possible that Mr. Richards and

Jimmy West had quarreled before.

That Jimmy West was already afraid that Richards was losing interest in

promoting him.

Well, I sort of kept my eyes on other things. I mean, I know Jimmy had a

but... Mr. Carroll, I show you this slip of paper.

This was found by the police in Mr. Richards' wallet when they examined his

the morning after his death. Now, this is a typewritten note. Do you think you

could read it for us?

Yeah.

I'm not going to warn you again. You know it'll happen if you back down.

Did you ever see this note before?

No, I never.

Examine it closely. Maybe you'll recognize the signature.

Yeah, yeah, it's Jimmy's handwriting.

It's signed Jimmy West.

Yes, it is, isn't it?

Of course, we'll wait for a handwriting expert to prove that Mr. West actually

signed this, won't we?

I didn't write that note. I never touched a typewriter in my life.

Now, Mr. Carroll, we heard Mrs. Richards testify here that you clearly told her

that you saw her husband drive away from the house...

After the time of his quarrel with the defendant.

Well, like I told you before, Mr. Berger... Davey, I know that you were

trying to help your friend Jimmy West.

But you have to tell this court whether or not what you told Mrs. Richards was

true.

Well, it wasn't exactly true, but... Now, Davey, do you remember what I told

in my office about perjury? Do you remember what I told you about how it

be for you if you were an unfriendly witness here today?

Jimmy, I didn't want to tell him anything.

But we're in a court of law now, aren't we?

And you did lie to Mrs. Richards, didn't you, Dave?

Answer yes or no.

Yeah, but I didn't want anybody going down there, that's all. I seen what a

the cottage was in.

The cottage was a mess, Davey?

Why, the police report indicated it was quite tidy.

Well, I only picked things up a little. It wasn't much of a fight they had, and

Jimmy wouldn't kill anybody.

Look, Mr. Berger, like I told you, I didn't want anybody to think Jimmy had

anything to do with that body on the path.

Big dumb ape.

Oh, you saw Richard's body, too.

Well, that's why I got everybody going down that roadhouse. That's why I got

them out of there.

Why, Davey? Why was that?

Well, look, some people add two and two and they get four. And just because

there's a gun lying around, and I happen to know it's Jimmy's... Oh, you saw the

gun.

Now, look, I didn't touch it. There's no fingerprints and there weren't none

because I used a handkerchief. You hear me? I used a handkerchief.

A handkerchief, Davey?

When I threw it in the lake.

Oh, of course. That's how it got in the lake, isn't it?

And why did you do all this, Davey?

Come on now, tell the court. Why did you do it?

Well, to help him.

Hey, now listen, Judge.

Honest, I wasn't trying to hurt any evidence. To help your friend Jimmy West

escape. Isn't that what you mean, Davey? You wanted to give your friend time to

get away because you knew he'd just committed a murder.

No, I just thought he had. I mean, I just thought he had. Now, Davey, why

you tell us your story right from the beginning?

Just start at the beginning and tell us your whole story.

That's my signature, all right. But I didn't sign that note.

I didn't write Richards any notes.

You must have signed something, Jimmy.

No, nothing.

Except those receipts.

Receipts? Richards bought Jim equipment in my name. I kept signing for all kinds

of stuff like that.

Pressure had to be put on Lombard in some way, but why from you, Jimmy?

I don't know what you're talking about, but I know that guy Lombard.

Why didn't you tell me that before?

Because I didn't remember him until he got talking about that old Union Hotel.

That's where I stayed in that Buddy Chance stage. You know, the fighter I

you I got bumped?

Buddy died in that fire.

Huh. Is that important?

How can anything I say be important after that big... Now, look, you hold

Paul, in New York.

I believe I know how this worked, but I can't rely on Jimmy's memory to prove

it.

Before I start my defense, we'll have to check again with the telephone company.

I also want a book on guns and a pair of gloves.

In the course of your investigation, Sergeant Landreau, did you find that the

defendant had a police record?

No, not exactly.

I did find he'd been subpoenaed once as a witness in a New York boxing scandal.

He was training for Doc Morgan, a hoodlum who owned a string of fighters.

Was the defendant personally involved in the scandal, Sergeant?

Apparently not.

Anyway, the investigation was dropped when the chief witness, a fighter named

Buddy Chance, died.

You might have added that he died in the Union Hotel fire.

Oh, uh, one more question.

Did you check, uh, as to whether this Doc Morgan had a police record?

Morgan had been brought to trial three times in years past.

No convictions.

He left the country for good six years ago to dodge a tax rap.

What other crimes had Morgan been accused of, Sergeant?

Armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, arson.

I didn't know anything about that fire.

Mrs. Richards, I remind you that you're under oath. Now, you were on duty the

night of the fire, were you not?

Yes, I was in the office going over some unpaid bills.

I was helping the bookkeeper.

But I didn't see anything that had to do with anything.

Were there many unpaid bills?

Yes, I guess so.

Isn't it true that Mr. Lombard was very near bankruptcy at that time?

Well, I'd heard stories, but I didn't know anything about his affairs.

Your Honor.

This hearing concerns the present -day murder of Todd Richards.

Not... I can relate this evidence to the present crime, Your Honor, with just

one more question.

Since defense hopes to prove that Jimmy West has been an innocent pawn in a

blackmail scheme that succeeded... Never mind the argument, Mr. Mason. Ask your

one question.

Oh, Mrs. Richards.

Did you tell your husband all these things you knew about Keith Lombard?

Well, I...

I guess so.

A long time ago.

But if Todd used anything I told him to put pressure on Mr. Lombardo, I didn't

know anything about it.

All right. All right, yes.

They were playing cards in those envelopes I received.

It was a poker hand.

And what did the card signify to you?

More of the old hotel slander.

Then I started getting notes from Jimmy West, or at least I thought they were

from him.

I knew he was there in New York at the time, but I didn't think he knew that...

They were threatening notes.

With what, Mr. Lombard?

Did the notes threaten to link you with both arson and murder which followed a

poker game one night?

There was no claim of arson, and you can't implicate me in Chance's death.

I didn't even know he was still in the hotel when it burned.

Didn't you know that you'd hired an arsonist, that he in turn had used the

for his own purpose to cover the murder of a troublesome witness?

Is that what Richards bluffed you into believing that Jimmy West could prove?

On advice of counsel, I refuse to answer on the grounds it may incriminate me.

But you will admit that Richards did force you to sell your hotel at his

And after saying goodbye to everyone else that night, you followed him down

his cottage.

Yes, yes, yes, but I didn't talk to him again. I swear I didn't.

He was still alive when I left the premises.

Yes, you heard him, you said, speaking to someone else.

But you didn't hear the other person's voice.

So isn't it possible that what you really heard was Todd Richard speaking

telephone?

Your Honor, Mr. Mason is asking the witness to guess what happened.

Your Honor, we are prepared to prove that a phone call was made from the

that night.

Mr. Mason, that's completely irrelevant.

Your Honor, the prosecution is perfectly well aware that several phone calls may

have been made from that cottage that night. And that's equally irrelevant.

prosecution may not be aware that the last number called, a San Diego number,

had also been called 37 times during the past two months from the Richards'

house. The number called was the residence of a Miss Kay McKenzie.

I should have come forward, but Todd was dead. I couldn't bring him back.

How long had you known the decedent, Miss McKenzie?

Three months.

We wanted to marry.

But Todd kept saying, let's wait.

He didn't want to leave his wife until he completed a business thing, buying

that hotel.

And when he completed the hotel deal, he called you? Yes.

He was very happy.

He said he'd see me within just a few hours.

And then something interrupted, and he had to call me back from the cottage.

About a quarter to twelve.

When Richards talked to you that second time, did you hear anything unusual?

Any sound, any other voice?

No. We talked for some time.

Todd sounded rather breathless. He said he just had a fight with somebody, but

that I shouldn't worry.

And that he loved me.

And... Well, there was one strange thing.

He hung up suddenly. He didn't even say goodnight.

As if someone had entered the room?

Your Honor, I object to that.

That's a leading question.

Yes, it is.

Your Honor...

I earlier read part of the police laboratory report on the murder weapon.

A .38 caliber revolver, one shot fired, powder marks indicate range under 12

inches. Now, as the court may be aware, no gun of this type has a slight

tendency to leak around the breech, to backfire.

Therefore, anyone firing it would probably receive a scattering of minute

particles on the hand.

These would soon disappear, of course, or be washed off.

But if the murderer happened to be wearing a glove... Now, see here, Mr.

Mason... One moment, Mr. Mason.

Is it your intention to link that particular glove with the witness on the

stand? Since the glove is monogrammed with initials not those of the witness,

no, Your Honor.

But I will ask that the glove be tested by the police laboratory for traces of

gunpowder. But whose glove is that, Mr. Mason?

It belongs to the woman who helped Todd Richards execute every step of his

blackmail purchase of the Lombard Hotel, hopeful that he would divorce his wife

and marry her. That is, until she walked into the cottage that night and caught

him at the telephone telling still another woman... Where did you get that

glove?

Todd lied to me.

He said that if I helped him marry me...

Then I caught him talking to that woman, telling her that he loved her.

his opinion of Davy as a fighter, I was pretty sure he had to have ulterior

reasons for wanting Davy's contract in such a hurry.

It was a good idea. It worked.

Correction. It would have worked if Joe Sands hadn't gotten a strong case of

feminine suspicion and gone to the party without an invitation.

Yep. Richards wasn't paying enough attention to her, yet Paul said he

spending his time at home either.

Since the motive for Richard's murder was obviously something that happened

after his deal with Lombard, somebody either had to have been cut out or hurt.

That's right.

Lady walked in on Richards, made a big scene. Richards told her to go jump on

the leg and walked out.

Unfortunately for him, she spotted the gun in the open drawer and went after

him. What's that glove of hers? They found them powder burns, did they?

Search me.

We had to buy it in the store. I figured if Richards could run a bluff, why

couldn't I?

Hey, you know something, Jimmy? I didn't keep my chin down.

He learned it. Come on, kid. Come on, kid. Get to the showers. You know, Mr.

Mason, you were wrong about only one thing.

Davey, you wait and see.

Now that he's tasted canvas, I'll make a real fighter out of him.

I'm sure you will.