Original subtitles

The devil's going on here, Franz.

Why aren't you ripping out these trees? What's the holdup?

Holdup's the right word for it, Mr. Thornton. Take a look over there.

Old Gaffer said he'd ventilate both me and the machine. I so much as touch one

of those trees.

We'll see about that.

Mr. Gellert!

Where in that, Mr. Thornton?

This is still my property and you had trespassed it. You and that infernal

snorting contraption of yours.

We're not trespassing, Mr. Keller. Your granddaughter agreed to let us take

possession today.

Trouble is, my grandfather seems to have changed his mind.

You darn tootin' I have.

I decided I'd sooner lose an arm than one of my trees.

What you are about to lose is $10 ,000 unless you're out of here in five

minutes. Then just try and get me out.

Now look, Mr. Keller, your granddaughter agreed.

Stop it, hard tech. Stop it.

Your granddaughter, acting as your agent, accepted a check for $10 ,000

yesterday and agreed to let us take possession today.

Don't you realize I could use the law to move you out?

The lawyer I talked to said this is still my land.

Your land.

Two years' taxes owing and mortgage to the hilt. If I wanted to, I could grab

simply by assuming the obligations.

Jim, not until you answer me.

All right.

Then here's your answer.

Now, Mr. Thornton, you got any more questions you want answered?

I really shouldn't have done that, Grandpa.

I got a right to pick my oranges any way I want to, haven't I?

Stand this gun here handy, in case you come back.

Sure rather than this time, though, didn't it, boy?

It's like it's San Juan Hill.

What's the matter?

Something wrong?

Grandpa, why didn't you tell me you decided not to go after all?

What made you change your mind after it was all decided?

Well, all of a sudden a whole bunch of things got to me.

Them orange trees, for one.

For 40 years we've been old friends, you could almost say.

But what kind of a friend could I call myself to stand by and let them trees

that have supported me all these years be chawed to death by one of them iron

contractions?

We've talked about the trees, Grandpa.

Well, I got to thinking about the Memorial Day Parade, too.

Grand Marshal this year.

The only surviving veteran of the Spanish -American War hereabouts.

Medal of Honor holder.

Well, how's it gonna look if they have to come for me at an old folks' home?

Well, I'd be even too ashamed to ride in a parade.

Oh, that's nonsense.

Nobody would think anything about it.

Well, Hardtack would.

I just learned yesterday they don't allow no dogs at the home.

Jim knows how we feel.

He agreed yesterday that me and Hardtack ought to stay on here just as long as

we could.

And you've been saying all along that you agreed with me Grandpa should sell.

Well, instead of just being Mr. Thornton's tract architect, I was being

loyal little stooge.

Actually, I did think it was the right thing until your grandfather talked with

me yesterday.

Now I'm 100 % on his side.

He even took me to see a lawyer, a fellow named Mason, who's going to try

help. And what do you think's going to happen to you when Mr. Thornton finds

what you've done?

No,

it definitely is not convenient.

Well, of course I'll come. What else can I do with you holding the purse

strings?

Who's he talking to? Yes.

It's old Scrooge at the bank.

Osgood. Of course. Sounds like he's out after his pound of flesh.

All right. I'll be there in 30 minutes. Goodbye.

Doyle, did you say anything to Osgood about the Keller holdup?

Now, why would I do that?

Well, somebody did, and I'd certainly like to know who.

Janice, get out. We've got to talk.

Get out, Janice.

All right, what's this all about?

Well, I thought I'd better relay what Wheeler told me this morning.

He's the one that put old Mr.

Keller up to balking.

Wheeler?

He's working for me.

Why would he do that?

He says he's an architect, not an industrial spy.

Well, how do you like that?

Take him away from a $90 a week job as a draftsman.

Give him more money. Give him a chance to design, to create.

Fire him, Doyle. Tell him he can sue me for his back pay. He says the models are

all he wants.

The models?

They're mine, every one of them.

Do you realize that this Wheeler has us in a serious bind, perhaps a fatal bind

if we can't get to Keller Land?

Fatal for you, maybe.

I'm just the project engineer.

I seem to remember you have $10 ,000 invested and Grace the same. Wouldn't it

near $60 ,000 she's given you, Thornton?

Why don't you ask her? She's your wife, not mine.

Maybe I will.

Oh, and Thornton, I'm glad you finally realized Grace is my wife.

Not yours.

Only one thing interests me.

If Gerald Thornton's deal with old Mr. Keller, or rather his daughter, doesn't

stand up, what happens to my $60 ,000?

First, let's find out about the deal, Mrs. Doyle. And then we can go on for...

Is this Perry Mason?

Courtney Osgood at the Pacific National Bank.

Mr. Mason, this is undoubtedly erroneous, but, uh...

It's been reported to us that you're representing a certain indigent orange

grower named Amos Keller.

The report is perfectly true, Mr. Osgood.

I agreed yesterday to represent Mr. Keller.

And I might add, in return for a very handsome retainer.

Oh, in my opinion, Gerald Thornton hasn't a leg to stand on.

Yes, the granddaughter did represent herself as his agent.

And in good faith, I'm sure.

But he gave her no power of attorney.

Now, the check has no bearing, and it's being returned.

Mr. Osgood, if you wish legal advice, I suggest you consult with the bank's

attorneys.

Good day, sir.

No deal, huh?

What's the answer to my $60 ,000 question now?

Quite possibly a roll of ciphers, Mrs. Doyle.

Ciphers? You mean I won't get anything back?

Well, I'm doing my best to make an arrangement whereby the investors will

least partially protected.

Partially? I don't like the sound of that either.

What is so important about the Keller Grove?

It's only a few acres.

Unfortunately, without it, Gerald Thornton can't provide adequate parking

the proposed shopping center.

So? No parking means no commercial lease commitments.

And no commercial lease commitments mean no further loans from the bank.

Yes? Mr. Grimsby is here, and Mr. Thornton's on his way up from

see. Thank you.

Why didn't you tell me Gerald was coming here?

That door leads to the rear corridor, Mrs. Doyle, if you'd like to use it.

You bankers think of everything, don't you, Mr. Osgood?

Come in, Mr. Grimsby.

Osgood?

You got yourself a deal. Yes, sir, a deal.

Then you'll take over Sunrise Hills. Take over the bank's interest?

Oh, that's fine.

But, uh, what about the investors, Mr. Grimsby?

Thornton himself?

Not a dime.

Bank off the hook, and that's just about the size of it. But some of these

people have put in their life savings. Now, isn't this good? Who are you

representing, the investors or the bank?

Why, the bank, of course.

Then what does the bank say? Yes or no? Let's have it.

Well, well, look who's here.

I might have guessed the vultures would be circling. Only your sense of smell's

a little off, Grimsby. I'm a long way from dead yet.

Well, I'm glad, Gerald.

Very glad.

You know why?

Because I'm going to enjoy watching you die here the way you enjoyed watching me

die with the Fresno Land Company.

How much time did the finance committee give me? One week to produce the leases.

You didn't let any grass grow, did you? Cooking up an alternate deal behind my

back? Not behind your back.

I asked you in here to hear Mr. Grimsby's offer.

I know what that is without even hearing it.

Easy money with a little revenge thrown in, huh?

Not a chance.

I'd send this project down the drain before I'd let you grab so much as a

-cent postage stamp out of it.

You better remember that too, Osgood.

Aren't you sort of playing with fire, Jimmy boy?

Mrs. Doyle, I was expecting Mr. Thornton. What are you doing here this

night? Not what you seem to be doing.

Tell me, didn't I hear that you're no longer associated with Sunrise Hills?

These things belong to me, Mrs. Doyle. I made them on my own time.

I'm taking them with me.

Well, fully for you.

I wonder just how far you're going to get with them.

Get out of here!

Get!

Blasted dog, I'll be tied up.

Well, what have we here?

Mr. Wheeler tells me he's repossessing some of his little trinkets.

Is that so?

It's funny, I thought that they were my little trinkets.

What's the idea?

We'll talk about this later, Mr. Thornton.

Don't you worry, we will.

Good night, Mrs. Doyle.

Goodbye, Jimmy boy.

Put that ugly thing away.

It makes me nervous.

The what?

Grace, I'm not in the mood for drinks or anything else. I told you that on the

phone.

Yes, I remember.

I think it's just been a couple of weeks since you were phoning me for drinks.

Is it me?

Or that sultry secretary, Janice?

Is it because I'm fresh out of money?

Grace, it's none of those things. I've been working.

Worrying. Now this Keller mess.

Grace, I'm still crazy about you. You know that, don't you?

Do I?

All right, darling.

You convinced me.

How would you like it if I help you get the Keller property?

I'd like it fine, but the old man won't sell.

I think he will.

I did some checking today, and I think I found a couple of weaknesses.

One is that Medal of Honor he's so proud of.

That's a weakness?

You'll see.

And there's another.

Heart attack!

Heart attack!

I told you he'd be here.

That's the one? Yeah. Yes, yes. Hi, Jack, you silly, silly dog.

Got picked up once before, two or three years ago.

Afternoon, though.

How come you started dog catchings early in the morning?

Oh, we haven't.

A deputy sheriff brought them.

A deputy, eh?

That mean the fine will be bigger than it was last time?

There's no fine.

You mean we can just take him home?

Well, if I was you folks, I'd get a lawyer. A lawyer?

That is, if you want to try to keep that dog from me and put to death. Put to

death, Hardtack?

Your Honor, the defense moves the complaint be dismissed on the ground

fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a public offense.

The defendant, Amos Keller, is charged with criminal responsibility in

connection with an assault allegedly committed by his dog, Hardtack, upon the

person of one Gerald Thornton.

Yet in support of that charge, the complaint fails to allege science or

knowledge on the part of the defendant that his dog was vicious or even that he

was present at the time.

Present or not, a man is still responsible for what his dog does. Not

criminally, Mr. Rice. That depends upon a number of things.

Perhaps the proper criminal procedure would have been an indictment of the

Counsel was joking, of course. Not at all.

A variety of animals have been accused, legally indicted and tried in the past.

Nearly a hundred in France, for instance, the last being a cow in 1740.

In Switzerland, in 1474, a rooster was tried and sentenced to death for the

crime of laying an egg.

And at Autun, in the same century, the city's rats were charged with being a

public nuisance and won their case.

It isn't often we're honored with a visit from the district attorney.

Are you here on business, Mr. Berger?

No, Your Honor, I...

Just heard a familiar voice and thought I'd drop in.

Counselor, please go on about the rats.

I'm sure we'd all be fascinated, Mr. Mason, but since this is the 20th and

the 15th century, I'm going to rule that the complaint is sufficient.

If you gentlemen are ready, we'll proceed.

About seven in the morning, I got out of my car.

When out of the blue, this dog jumped up and attacked me. That's him over there.

He bit me on the leg and on the arm when I tried to beat him off.

What happened then, Mr. Thornton?

Janice, Miss Carr, my secretary, saw what happened from the trailer.

She phoned the sheriff's substation and two deputies came and took the dog away.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Thornton, after this alleged attack on you by this fearsome beast,

did you contact or cause to be contacted any member of the Keller family?

No, I did not.

Wasn't it at your instigation that Courtney Osgood, representing the bank

has been financing your real estate development, called Miss Sandra Keller

told her you'd go easy on the dog if Mr.

Keller would change his mind about selling his orange grove?

I know of no such call.

How much is involved in your Sunrise Hills project, Mr. Thornton?

Several million dollars.

Isn't it true you're likely to lose your interest without possession of the

Keller Grove?

That has absolutely nothing to do with this. Nothing. Are you sure, Mr.

Thornton?

Are you sure you didn't invent the story of the dog's attack as a lever to force

Mr. Keller to sell in order to save his pet's life?

Well, that's ridiculous.

How could I invent the tears of my clothes and the wounds of my leg and

Oh, yes.

There were bruises, abrasions, and lacerations of Mr. Thornton's leg and

and I treated them that morning, as I have previously stated.

Bruises, abrasions, lacerations caused by a dog's teeth?

Mr. Thornton said that a dog had bitten him, and I saw no reason to doubt him.

But they could have been caused by something other than a dog.

An almost infinite number of things, from tigers to clawhammers.

Tigers and clawhammers, nothing.

It was that dog over there that bit him.

I saw the whole thing out the trailer window.

Wouldn't you say it was rather convenient, Miss Carr, your being there

exactly the right time to look out and witness the so -called attacks?

No. We work lots of odd hours, Mr. Thornton, and I... All right, Miss Carr.

No further questions.

That's our last witness, Your Honor.

You haven't got it quite right, Mr. Mason.

I did telephone Miss Keller, but not at Mr. Thornton's request.

And I merely suggested to her that I might be able to persuade Mr. Thornton

go easy if her grandfather would sell him the Grove.

Why did you do that? You're not a business associate of Mr.

Thornton's, are you? Well, in a way, yes.

Through the bank.

We have an excess of half a million dollars on the Mr. Thornton.

And rather than be forced to make other arrangements, we'd prefer to have him

complete the project.

which he will be unable to do without the Keller property.

Which he will be unable to do without the Keller property.

Thank you, Mr. Osgood.

That'll be all.

And, Mr. Keller, would you give us your full name, address, and occupation,

please? Amos Kennesaw Mountain Keller.

Kennesaw Mountain being the name of a Civil War battle my pappy fit in.

Second Indiana he's with. He fit there. Your address and occupation, Mr. Keller.

1 -1 -2 -3 -1 Citrus Avenue.

Orange grower now, but I guess I've been a little of everything.

Skunk raiser to bee herder.

Uh, bee herder?

Yeah, back in 96, drove the biggest herd of bees ever.

Montana to California.

Started out with the queen in the bottle for the others to follow.

Crossing the Rockies, a big cold snap froze the whole herd.

Had to load them on the wagons and freight them till the sun thought them

And then... Thank you, Mr. Keller.

Thank you.

Now, sir, you are also an Army veteran, are you not?

Yep. Cuba, 98.

Teddy and his Rough Riders. Teddy being Teddy Roosevelt. And you rode with Teddy

Roosevelt at San Juan Hill and won a decoration?

Well, people's always saying San Juan.

Kettle Hill's where the real shooting was.

San Juan Outpost.

And we didn't ride.

Crawled mostly.

Jungle and slime.

But you did win a decoration.

Well, that... Yep.

I guess so. The Medal of Honor, wasn't it?

Yep. My congratulations, Mr. Kelly.

Now, in regard to the dog Hardtack, how long have you owned him?

Well, let's see.

I got him about the time I was working on crossing a skunk with a wildcat. How

long have you owned him, Mr. Keller?

Well, ever since he was a pup.

About nine or ten years.

And in those nine or ten years, has hardtack, to the best of your knowledge,

ever bitten anyone?

No, sir, never.

You may have the witness, Mr. Rice.

No questions.

That's all, Mr. Keller.

That concludes the defense's case, Your Honor.

You've no other character witnesses for the dog except the owner, Mr. Mason?

If the court please, none is needed.

The word of a man of Mr. Keller's attainments is not to be doubted.

Attainments such as a beherder, Mr. Mason?

I was thinking more as a Medal of Honor holder.

The defense holds that his word is the essence of the matter.

Since Mr. Keller believed his dog to be friendly, harmless to humans, and I must

say the animal's demeanor seems to bear him out, how this dog or this man could

be charged with lethal intent or even criminal negligence for an attack which,

if it occurred, must have been deliberately provoked by the

need to hear any arguments, Mr. Mason, because unless there's more convincing

evidence... No, Your Honor.

I'm going to find the defendant not guilty.

However, the dog hard -tagged.

is ordered remanded to his owner's custody with the proviso that he be kept

secured at all times in the future. Court adjourned.

Hard tech. Hard tech. Come on, boy.

Come on. Hard tech. Boy, hard tech. Funny doing that, huh?

Well, Perry, is business really as bad as that?

I mean, chickens and rats and dogs and cats?

Or did I detect an undercurrent here of something else?

There are always undercurrents where large sums of money are involved,

In this case, let's just hope that nobody gets drowned

I figured you'd be here bright and early, knowing the old gent in the grove

a former client of your pal Perry Mason. We just heard about it on the radio.

Oh, sure, sure.

Well, I'll make you a deal.

I'll tell you everything I know up to now if you'll tell Mason to find that

man for us in a hurry.

He's disappeared, and we don't want him harbored from questioning.

Okay?

Okay. All right, here are the highlights.

Body was found lying here by Edward Doyle, the field superintendent and his

wife, when she dropped him off her work.

A little before 8 this morning.

Close a blast from a shotgun in the abdomen.

Best estimate up to now is that it happened around 1 a .m. You found the

shotgun? No, not yet.

Anything that might tell you who used it?

A footprint or two?

Search completed, Lieutenant.

As far as I can see, none of the things have been touched.

Including the safe, Miss Carr?

Score yourself zero there, Lieutenant.

There isn't any safe. We paid by check.

And that's what you and Mr. Thornton were doing here last night?

Writing checks?

What makes you think I was with him?

Lipstick on one of the highball glasses.

Zero again.

I can prove I wasn't here last night. Don't think I can't.

May I go now?

I guess.

You know, if cops were all this good looking, I might take up crime myself.

Double wow.

Thornton's secretary.

You want her full name?

No. Just your phone number. Oh, those footprints you mentioned. Who do they

belong to?

Men, women, and a dog. A dog?

No, I didn't hear a shot or anything, Mr. Mason.

Did your grandfather?

I don't know. I haven't seen him since last evening.

He apparently drove off somewhere very early.

Where's your grandfather's shotgun, Sandra?

Very trouble.

Apparently Thornton was bitten by a dog last night.

Are you sure Hartak was on the porch all of last night?

Why, yes. He was still tied up there this morning.

I wonder if he could have slipped his collar.

What's the matter with him?

What are you doing with that dog?

What's the matter, Lieutenant?

Dog your teeth, suspect. Never mind the jokes. You're going to produce the

suspect, Mr. Mason?

I'll tack him back here.

He's supposed to be tied up anyway.

No, wait. Wait, let him be.

What's all this?

Oh, they're just some cows waiting, waiting to be tucked to the juice

plant.

Be interesting to see what the police processing plant does with this call.

Mr. Mason?

Where in the world have you been? I've been trying to reach you for almost two

hours. With Sandra, trying to find Mr. Keller. What's up?

Well, young Mr. Wheeler's been calling frantically every ten minutes or so. He

said he had to see you. Where?

In Hollywood at Las Dugas and Sunset.

In a parking lot.

Let's go.

Humble, but home.

I told your grandfather if he got tired, he could bunk in the bedroom, which is

where he probably is.

Welcome. What kept you? Mr. Keller and I were beginning to worry. Are you all

right, Grandpa?

Of course I'm all right.

Told my store with the lieutenant.

Any challenge, we took some checkers.

Be a rat good player with a little practice.

How'd you find him?

Legwork, door knocking.

And when you knocked here, Lieutenant, Mr. Keller asked you in?

Oh, I have a warrant, if that's what you're worried about.

One charging first -degree murder, in fact.

Sorry I waited to tell you that, Mr. Keller, but... Andy, before you take Mr.

Keller in, I'd like to talk with him.

Talk all you want.

The person this warrant names is...

Sandra Keller.

And the state will show that Sandra Keller killed in part to extricate

from a financial agreement she had made with the deceased, in part to save the

family pet from being killed for twice attacking the deceased.

And finally, to save her grandfather from disgrace and possible prosecution.

A skein of tangled motives growing out of a conflict over the possession of a

grove so valuable that its oranges can literally be described as golden.

Now, doctor, before you perform the autopsy on the decedent, the results of

which you have described, did you examine the clothes on the body?

Yes. We always do that before turning them over to the police technicians.

And what was their condition?

Naturally, shirt and undershirt were shredded, practically obliterated in the

area struck by the shotgun pellets.

And did you note anything else unusual?

Yes. There was a jagged tear on the trousers just above the left knee.

Was that also caused by the shotgun?

No, by some other agent.

A dog's teeth, perhaps?

Perhaps.

Mr. Mason?

Perhaps, but also perhaps not, Doctor.

I don't quite follow.

Tiger's teeth or a claw hammer, couldn't they have torn the trousers?

I see what you mean.

Yes, it could have been caused by any object with sharp jagged edges.

Thank you.

Now, after the family pet had so obligingly shown you where this gun was

Lieutenant Anderson, what did you do with it? I took it down to the crime lab

and ran a series of tests on it. And what did you find?

That it had been fired quite recently.

that the expended shell in it called for the size and type of pellets found in

the body, and on the metal parts of the gun, several fingerprints, which we

subsequently established as those of the defendant, Sandra Keller.

Now, these slippers have already been identified as having been found in the

defendant's bedroom.

Did you subject them to tests in the police lab?

Yes, there were stains on the slippers.

Our test determined them to be bloodstains of type AB, according to our

absorption test.

You also typed the decedent's blood, of course?

Yes, it was the same type as on the slippers, type AB.

And what did your lab examination reveal about this lipstick -stained highball

glass from the Sunrise Hills trailer?

Well, there were a number of well -defined fingerprints, all belonging to

defendant.

I'm positive of it.

That and all the other glasses were clean when I left that night.

I always make sure before I go.

Then the lipstick and the fingerprints, the defendant's fingerprints, must have

been placed on the glass after you left.

Objection. The question is argumentative and calls for a conclusion on the part

of the witness.

Objection sustained.

All right.

What time was it when you left that night after making sure the glasses were

clean?

Eight o 'clock.

I saw there was somebody in the trailer with him, so I waited in the car.

It was about ten o 'clock.

Then your business with Thornton was private. Very private.

I was going to give him the needle the way he gave it to me when I was broke in

Fresno, and I didn't want any kibitzers.

And the visitor finally left?

In about ten minutes.

A woman, mad as a hornet.

I didn't see her, but I sure heard her.

She yelled, If you do a despicable thing like that to my grandfather, Mr.

Thornton, he'll take his shotgun to you. And if he doesn't, I will.

And then she headed off toward the Keller place.

If I had you in the rough, Ryder, you young whippersnapper, you wouldn't dare

speak to me like that.

Your Honor.

Mr. Keller, the prosecutor is only doing his duty.

You must answer his questions, no matter how they strike you.

Well,

Sandra did come to me about 10 .30.

So is all get out on account of what Thornton had told her he was going to do

me if I didn't let him have McGroves.

And what did she say Thornton told her he was going to do to you?

Judge.

A defendant don't have to answer things he don't want to, does he? Well, a

defendant can't be forced to incriminate himself.

All right, then I ain't gonna answer him.

Because I'm the real defendant here, on account I'm the one that killed Gerald

Thornton. Grandpa!

Really, Mr. Keller? Why don't you tell us about it?

Well, hardtack woke me leaving the porch.

So I went down and saw he was heading for the trailer.

And I picked up the shotgun and followed.

Knowing that if he bit Thornton, again, he's done for.

Well, he already had when he got there.

So I killed Thornton to keep Hardtack from getting killed.

And what about these bloodstained slippers, Mr. Keller?

Already identified as belonging to your granddaughter.

How do you account for these?

Well, I wore them.

You wore these slippers?

Aren't you stretching the truth here a little, Mr. Keller?

Just as you've stretched the truth all these years about this medal of honor

you're supposed to have? I do have one.

Look. Got it right here.

Always carry it with me.

Where did you buy this, Mr. Keller? In a pawn shop someplace?

Pawn shop?

I won that at Kettle Hill.

All right, Mr. Keller.

Only we haven't a check with the War Department.

There's no record of any Amos Keller receiving any kind of a medal at the

of San Juan Hill.

Only there was an Amos Keller in the Rough Riders.

He was a company clerk, and he was sitting safe at camp when that hill was

stolen.

What do you have to say about that, Mr. Keller?

Well,

the Pentagon confirms Berger.

The only Medal of Honor award in that particular unit at San Juan Hill was to

Private Charles Fellows of Cody, Wyoming.

When you get a chance, call Cody.

Maybe the newspaper editor there can get some details out of his files.

Now, what do you have on the people who invested with Thornton?

Funny thing.

He was real secretive about that. The only large investor I found so far was

Edward Doyle, the field superintendent.

$10 ,000.

I'll run a check on all the others, Paul.

Try every corporate record, proxy file, any lead you can find.

And what about the police inventory on the contents of the trailer?

Andy, let me have a look at it.

No reports on Mr. Keller, no check for $10 ,000, no list of investors, no

private records, nothing.

I wonder if somebody could have been there ahead of the police.

I heard Janice Carr, the secretary, tell Andy that morning that nothing had been

touched. Janice Carr.

What do you know?

I'm glad to think you missed my message that day at the train.

I got it, Earl.

Put your clothes on.

Just a minute.

Miss Carr, I'm asking you to come downtown with me.

So it isn't my personal charm after all.

You got a warrant?

Then you're taking me nowhere.

You so much as lay a finger on me asking for help.

Maybe you need some help getting dressed.

You even brought the female Gestapo.

All right.

You win.

But why can't we talk here?

We can.

You'll tell me what you did with Thornton's private records.

I never touched them.

They were gone that morning when... All right.

So I lied to the lieutenant.

Why?

Young Wheeler's model houses and sketches were gone.

So I figured he took the records too.

Sure, I was going to suggest he give me something for keeping quiet, but... What

is this?

You're Mason's secretary.

That's right.

I brought her along to take some notes.

But I thought you were a cop.

I'll give you that idea.

I'm Mason's private detective.

What in the world is that?

Let me out of here.

Somebody? Somebody out there?

Who put you in there?

I don't know.

I heard the buzzer sound and I looked out and... Jim,

did you take your models and sketches from the trailer the night Thornton was

killed?

Yes, they're in the garage.

But Thornton was dead when I got there.

I took the things anyway.

You also took Thornton's private file?

Well, yes. The papers exposing Mr. Keller were in it.

What else?

Only a handwritten list of the Sunrise Hills investors.

The funny thing about that, all the small investors were listed by name.

But the biggest ones, the ones for $60 ,000 and $90 ,000, were called X and Y.

The file's gone.

Yes, I thought it might be.

Paul, I have an idea now who the killer might be, but I don't need help in

proving it. I'd like you to get hold of the best throat specialist in town.

Throat specialist? For you?

No. For a hard time.

No, sir.

I'm not either X or Y on that list the Wheeler testified about.

I put in $10 ,000 and that's all.

Which sum of money was it that your wife, Grace, put in, Mr. Doyle? The $60

or the $90 ,000? The $60 ,000.

That was every penny that she... Yes, I knew, Grace.

About the money.

And about Thornton.

Yes, I gave him the idea of trying to put the screws on the old man through

dog and his fake decoration.

What made you suspect the decoration was a fake, Mrs. Doyle?

I was an army brat.

And I know how many phonies go around passing themselves off as heroes.

So I checked, and I hit the jackpot.

I'd say you hit three lemons, Mrs. Doyle.

Your Honor, may I recall Amos Keller a moment?

Not so much for the furtherance of this case as in the interest of justice.

Mr. Keller, do you remember a certain Mr. Charles Fellows of Cody, Wyoming?

Sure. He was in my company in Cuba.

Big shot politician now.

You didn't know that he died last week?

Charlie? Dead?

Yes, and it seems that you were mentioned in his will, from which I now

And finally, to the finest liar I've ever known.

Amos Kennesaw Mountain Keller, whose talents reached a peak the night he, the

company clerk, took the place of a frightened 16 -year -old boy in the

San Juan Hill, and through his bravery won a medal.

To Amos, to whom long ago I gave the medal, I now bequeath my sword, my dress

uniform, and my eternal thanks for keeping secret something which would

certainly have destroyed a boy's family as well as his future.

That was all in Charlie's will?

Does that mean I can really wear this now?

Yes, Mr. Keller.

For the rest of your life.

Mrs. Doyle, this is a medical report on hardtack's throat and neck.

It shows bruises, external chafing, and a certain amount of hair removed.

All of which could only have been caused by his having been jerked or lifted,

perhaps dragged a considerable distance by means of a choked collar.

What's that supposed to mean to me?

Well, since you're the dog expert, since you put Gerald Thornton up to the fake

bike plot with Hardtack, let me ask you this.

Wouldn't it have been possible for you or someone to whom you gave the idea to

have hauled Hardtack over to the trailer that night, pretending to further that

same plot, and then to have killed Thornton with the shotgun you found on

Keller porch?

Why would I want to kill him?

Perhaps because of Janice Carr?

Good enough reason.

But I never dragged that dog anywhere. I'm scared to death of dogs.

Anyone can tell you.

Why should I invest $90 ,000 with him when I could get the whole project for

nothing? The same goes for killing him. What's the point?

Yes, the bank was prepared to deal with Mr. Grimsby in the event that Gerald

Thornton couldn't get to Keller Land.

And the investors were also prepared to deal with Mr. Grimsby?

Well, uh... Well, they... They were to be frozen out, I'm afraid.

But with the life insurance the bank required that Thornton carry, they'll be

protected now?

Oh, yes. Yes, I believe so. Then you'll get your $90 ,000 back, won't you?

Mr. Mason, officers of the bank are not permitted to invest where a conflict of

interest might arise.

Oh, I see.

Your Honor, in regard to this dog... You may step down, Mr. Osgood.

Oh, a moment, Your Honor.

I do have some withdrawal notations I'd like to go over with you.

Would you mind holding them while I get them?

Those withdrawal notations, Mr. Osgood, show $50 ,000 of your own money. Now,

where did the remaining $40 ,000 come from, the $40 ,000 you invested with

Haunted? Was it embezzlement?

Did you embezzle from the bank, Mr. Osgood?

No, no. It was my money. Every penny of it. So you will get it back.

With the life insurance on Thornton.

Yes.

Take him away.

Somebody please take him.

Just hold his head up. Then he can't reach you.

That's how you held him that night, wasn't it?

That's how you hurt his neck.

He remembers you, doesn't he, Mr. Osgood?

All right.

Why did you kill Thornton?

All my life, I invested big sums for the bank.

I was never allowed to invest for myself.

This time I did.

Secretly. He threatened to expose me to the bank.

Unless I'd get the dog.

Help him fake the second attack.

I saw the shotgun on the porch.

Saw it was the way out.

No exposure.

My life savings back.

Yes!

Yes.

I shall taunt them.

Hurry up, Grandpa. The parade's gonna start without you.

Oh, it's the greatest day of his life.

He's a real legitimate hero now, thanks to you, Mr. Mason.

No, Sandra, thanks to a certain charge up a certain hill.

I gotta rush the whole parade's depending on me.

Hold it, hold it, hold it.

Hardback.

Hardback. Where are you, boy?

Come on, Hardback.