All language subtitles for Perry Mason s06e20 Golden Oranges

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.