All language subtitles for Perry Mason s06e28 Witless Witness

Bye. Bye.

Now to the political news.

Attention focused this morning on the
pre -convention caucus meeting in the

Angeles Hotel to select nominees for the
slate of state officers.

Of particular concern is the nominee for
the office of lieutenant governor.

Most experts agreed the shoe -in for the
job was the man who has unsuccessfully

sought it for the past 12 years, Victor
Kendall, publisher of the Clarion. But a

sudden dark horse has loomed into
contention.

The feeling in informed circles is that
the party needs to create a new image.

An image of unshakable integrity.

Will that new image take the form of the
most highly respected judge in the

state, Judge Daniel Redmond of the
District Court of Appeals?

Mr. Mason, I'm sorry your first
experience in my court was a losing one.

You argued well, but unfortunately you
argued the wrong law.

Candidly, Your Honor, I think as little
of the legal precedence you cited as you

did of the one I cited.

If Jones v. Hart was wrong 250 years
ago...

You think Priestley versus Fowler was
just as wrong 126 years ago? Don't you

think so?

It's still the law, Mr. Mason.

Words on paper. The ox cart in an atomic
age.

As you know, the law is more than a
record of upheld decisions. It's a

to the people who created those words.

I like that argument.

Use it when you have your re -hearing
before the state Supreme Court.

The state Supreme Court has never
overruled a decision of yours, not once

years. I doubt if they will in this case
either.

But there's always a first time.

Good luck, Mr. Mason.

Chalk it up to the wrong judge on the
wrong day, Perry.

What do you mean?

If he had even a remote chance for the
nomination as lieutenant governor, he

should have heard about it hours ago.

Pleasant or not, I think that's really
what was on his mind.

No, not Daniel Redman.

Nothing could or would interfere with
his impartial consideration of a case.

take an oath any day on his absolute
integrity and devotion to the bench.

These decisions need your signature
right away.

Well, thank you, Marion. I'll sign them
in a minute.

Law Symposium at the University of San
Fernando Valley.

Write them. I'll be free to attend.

Participate. But you were holding off
until you found out whether you were

to get the nomination.

They can set their own date.

Mary, at best, that nomination was only
a one in a million long shot, but it

didn't come in.

It didn't mean that much to me. Not
really.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Torrey, you've come from the caucus
of the...

Congratulations.

Mr. Nominee for Lieutenant Governor.

Aren't you going to say anything?

Nothing to say. It didn't mean that much
to him, not really.

Mr. Weston, let me commend you on your
conduct as a witness this past week.

The area of military contract
negotiation is a complex one. Your

and cooperation have been of inestimable
help.

Thank you, Senator Deering.

All right, Mr. Wall, suppose you
continue the questioning.

Senator Deering, I ask permission to
deviate from our agenda.

I've obtained some Navy procurement
information dating back to March of

That's of utmost importance.

The four years you spent in Washington
during World War II, you were, Mr.

Weston, employed by the accounting
department of the United States Navy?

Yes, the Navy.

You were employed there during the month
of March 1943, were you not?

That is... Oh, come on now, Mr. Weston,
specifically.

Were you or were you not employed by the
Navy in Washington in March of 1943,

when several million dollars' worth of
marine engines belonging to the Navy

fraudulently appropriated?

I know the Navy had a lot of those
engines, all right.

I don't know.

That is, if necessary to obtain all the
facts, we may be prepared to offer you

personal immunity.

I refuse to answer.

That's right, I take the Fifth
Amendment.

A witness can't select the questions he
will or will not answer.

Once he answers one material question,
he waives the Fifth Amendment.

That's not fair.

You talk about immunity, and then you
say, I can't take the Fifth. What is

Mr. Wall, this line of inquiry is very
promising and must at any cost be

continued, despite the fact that your
witness is obviously startled and

unprepared.

Mr. Weston, I want to give you every
opportunity to refresh your memory.

And if you like, consult an attorney.

This hearing stands adjourned until
tomorrow morning at 10 a .m.

Hello, Victor.

Your Honor.

A little formal, aren't you? It used to
be damned.

I hope you aren't going to let politics
reduce us to a status of painful

politeness. You expected the gracious
loser to graciously close ranks and beat

drums for the winner?

I would have, Victor. In the past, I
have, too.

When the man who beat me out was, well,
if not the better man, at least a man

fit for the job.

Trying to be both judge and jury, aren't
you?

So I'm not fit, am I? I gather you think
you are? I wouldn't have permitted

myself to be considered for the
nomination.

I thought my past could come back to
haunt me. Now look here, Mr. Kendall,

can't... It's all right, Marion.

What are you talking about, Victor?

The Senate hearing's in town.

One of my reporters dug out the fact
that apparently these hearings are aimed

you.

That's ridiculous.

Would be even more ridiculous to have
the nominee for the second highest

in the state exposed as a crook.

You said something about my past.

What do you mean?

The rock of integrity.

That's what they call you, isn't it?

Well, it's just possible that rock has a
great big crack in it. A crack of

dishonor, Your Honor.

Prosecution for fraud against the
government, for which there's no statute

limitations, would frighten me.

I'm surprised it obviously doesn't seem
to frighten you.

Notice the look of panic on your
friend's face.

My what?

Friend.

Didn't you know him years ago?

Didn't you know him when you were in the
U .S. Attorney General's office in

Washington? A Mr.

Martin Weston?

Weston? You know him?

Washington, 20 years ago.

I don't know. There's something familiar
about the place.

Something...

Marion, Miss Weston, see if you can get
me his address.

I've done nothing wrong, but I do want
to find out what this is all about.

Please, get me his address.

Not fair.

No, sir, it's not fair.

You meet a distinguished friend you
haven't seen in 20 years, and what

He comes in and he drags the gentleman
out of his favorite bar, that's what.

I couldn't talk to you in that bar.

I'm afraid you had more than enough to
drink.

I must protest.

That's what you think, Your Honor.

This is very important to me.

Weston, does our knowing each other
casually in Washington 20 years ago have

anything to do with those Senate
hearings you're involved in?

You mean you don't remember?

That's a shame.

You see, there was a group of us at a
party here. A very nice party here. All

very refined types.

And we cheated little old Uncle Sam out
of a considerable number of Navy

engines.

Of course, you wouldn't know about that,
would you?

Now, look, Weston.

If you please.

Look, please.

Those Navy engines.

Twenty years ago, we were two bright
young men in government with

bright futures.

And brightness went out for me.

That's right.

I envy you.

Respect.

A good man, Judge Redmond.

A man everybody looks up to and trusts.

An honest man.

The biggest crook.

You don't know what you're saying.

Don't know what I'm saying, huh?

That's what you think.

But I know.

Yes, sir. I know.

I got my cut all right.

But so did you.

Weston. Weston?

Weston!

If you're... If you're looking for Mr.

Weston, I'm afraid he's not well at the
moment.

I saw the story in the paper.

Thought I'd talk to him.

He's drunk again, I suppose.

Yes.

It's a shame he doesn't have your
strength, Daniel.

But then few people do.

Madge.

It's Madge, Madge Everly.

It's only 20 years, Dan.

For a moment, I didn't think you wanted
to remember that many years back.

Assistant city attorney to assistant
United States attorney general.

Now a famous judge.

It's been a long run.

And lonely?

I don't know, Madge.

Perhaps at times.

Did you know that I almost proposed to
you in Washington 20 years ago?

Knew it.

Expected it. Was disappointed when it
didn't happen.

Now you know.

Match. I... There was even one night at
a party.

You tried so hard to impress me with
your romantic ardor.

But you spent over an hour discussing
the finer points of, uh... What was it?

Oh, yes.

Statutory fraud.

Wait a minute, Madge.

Weston said something about a party.

I seem to recall a night that you took
me to a party.

At Gus Sawyer's apartment, of course.

That was the night you met Martin Weston
and Gus Sawyer.

Lobbyists are so generous.

Gus gave me a flacon of perfume that
night.

Madge, please.

That night.

It's coming back to me now.

Wasn't I talking about fraud?

Talking about how stupid some people
were in their attempts to cheat the

government?

That's right.

You were explaining it all to Martin
Weston and Gus Sawyer.

Of course, of course. That's what Weston
was babbling about.

A tempest in a teapot.

Was it, Dan?

Of course. You were there. You know I
was only answering some questions about

case I'd handled in court.

Do I?

What are you trying to say?

The loner.

The man who needed nobody.

Not me, not anybody.

Are you saying how you want help, Dan?
My help?

Sorry, Madge. Perhaps I'd better leave.

Dan, I'm not bitter, really.

As a matter of fact, now that I'm a
California resident, I've even opened up

own business.

A gift shop, Dan, this week.

Now that I can, I'll even vote for you.

Gus Sawyer, the lobbyist.

You know, I've always been dying to ask
you, dear.

How much of a payoff did he arrange for
you?

Evening, Judge.

I heard something out here and thought
it might be you.

Quinn?

That you're Quinn?

Yes, I couldn't locate you at your club.
Figured you might be here. I'm glad we

caught you. Come on in.

We?

That's right.

Gus Sawyer's here with me.

Well, well, well.

Daniel, come to judgment.

Good. Very good to see you, Your Honor.
Get out of my chair.

You afraid I'll contaminate it?

Quinn, you know what this man said about
me once?

He said someday Gus Sawyer is going to
slide into hell in the melted grease of

his own bloated evil.

Thank you, Quinn. You've made my day
complete.

A threatening blackmailer, a hysterical
alcoholic, a vindictive woman.

Now you bring this cheap panderer to
corruption.

Oh, no.

Danny, boy, take it easy.

You know something?

I'll bet they make you captain of the
debating team up at federal prison. Why,

you... Dan!

Quinn, what's going on? What's
happening?

Don't you know anything? I don't know
what I know anymore. The fact that one

night, 20 years ago, I answered a few
simple questions suddenly has become

of a nightmare.

Simple questions, Dan?

Twenty years ago, someone devised a
foolproof scheme to defraud the

of a fortune.

That scheme was put into operation and
succeeded.

Everybody connected with that scheme
profited.

Everybody.

This is what Weston's ready to testify
about?

Yes. How do you plan to stop him?

Why should I? I had nothing to do with
whatever he's involved with.

You and only you are the one he plans to
name publicly tomorrow. Now you better

stop him. You're out of your mind,
Quentin.

Name me for what? Don't play games, Dan,
especially with us. I'm the one that

paid you off, remember?

Judge Daniel Redmond.

Your appointment to the bench.

It was bought and paid for.

I called Quinn, told him your price.

He gave me $10 ,000.

And as you might guess, Judge, I
obviously used it where it did the most

Who told you I wanted you to buy me a
judgeship?

The man that's going to crucify you the
minute he opens his mouth and talks.

Martin Weston.

That was fast.

What is it, Della? Marion Lamont, Judge
Redmond's secretary, is outside.

To see me?

She's on the verge of a collapse, Perry.

She's frightened.

Badly frightened.

Something about Judge Redmond in
trouble.

Well, bring her in.

Mr. Mason, please, I must see you.

Come in, Miss Lamont.

The judge has no family and no one that
you could call a close friend, and I

didn't know who else to turn to, Mr.
Mason.

Won't you please help?

Well, did the judge ask you to come to
see me? No, and he'd be furious if he

knew that I came to see you, but I had
to.

I've been his secretary, Mr. Mason, for
20 years.

20 years with the finest, most unselfish
man that I have ever known.

He should have let me go when I had my
heart attack three years ago, but he

didn't. Even though it meant more work
for him. He insisted upon helping me,

I have got to help him now.

Miss Lamont, there are certain standards
of legal behavior... He's in trouble,

Mr. Mason.

Desperate trouble. He needs help. What
kind of trouble?

I don't know for sure. It has something
to do with that Senate hearing that

they've moved here from Washington.
Whatever it is that they're trying to

uncover, I'm afraid that the judge may
be involved.

I find that difficult to believe, Miss
Lamont. Judge Redmond and scandal.

He canceled his calendar.

and dictated two letters this morning.

The first one was his withdrawal as a
nominee for lieutenant governor.

And the second... The second letter, Mr.
Mason, was his resignation as a judge

of the District Court of Appeals.

Delegate Paul.

Come on, Miss Lamont.

Hi, Perry.

Good morning, Paul.

Miss Lamont, this is Paul Drake, a
private investigator who works with me.

save time if he's with us. He should be
in his chambers. That's where I left

him.

Marion, what are these gentlemen doing
here? I asked them to come.

Why?

I... Dan, please.

Miss Lamont was concerned. She thought
you might need some assistance, Judge

Redmond.

I appreciate her concern and your
response to it, but I'm afraid the

wasted.

Thank you anyway. Good day, Jeff.

I understand you didn't plan an active
political campaign.

You intended to remain on the bench.

I'm sure Marian unburdened herself to
you completely.

I'm tired.

I'm upset.

I'm in no mood to undergo one of your
famous cross -examinations.

Even the devil has his advocate.

I assume your case is better than his.

That assumption is the first step in the
unlawful solicitation of a client.

I suggest you leave, Mr. Mason.

No. So that you can roll over and play
dead?

Is that what you want?

You have no right to meddle.

On the contrary.

Not only a right, but a duty.

A duty to maintain the respect due to
the courts of justice and judicial

officers.

Words on paper.

Isn't that the expression that you used?

Let me read you something.

Part of a decision handed down by a very
famous judge.

Truth is found only where dedicated men
are free to inquire after it.

If we refuse to fight for the dignity of
truth, we have substituted expediency

for justice.

Clemens versus Craig, presiding Judge
Daniel Redmond.

Three witnesses prepared to corroborate
Martin Weston's testimony at this

moment.

The Senate hearing that... That I
planned the fraudulent appropriation of

government property.

That my... My payoff... Is appointment
to the bench as a

judge.

Is it true?

No.

All right, Paul, start digging. Here and
in Washington. Use an army if you have

to. All right, Perry.

The two letters Judge Redmond dictated
this morning, have you mailed them yet?

No. Tear them up.

Yes, sir, Mr. Mason.

I don't understand.

If we refuse to fight for the dignity of
truth, we have substituted expediency

for justice.

Do you mean that?

Of course.

If I'm going to represent you, I'll need
all your trust.

Redmond, if you won't get away with
this, believe me... Get away with what?

Weston. He didn't show up this morning.

As a disinterested publisher of the
news, Mr. Kendall, aren't you jumping to

conclusion that Judge Redmond is
responsible?

You may get away with hiding Weston, but
you won't hide the truth.

Not even the great Perry Mason can help
you with that.

Ladies and gentlemen, these hearings are
temporarily postponed.

Mr. Martin Weston, subcommittee's
principal witness, has just been found

apartment.

Dead.

Weston's death is very convenient for
you.

How did you arrange it?

That's a serious accusation, Mr.
Kendall.

Save it for the courtroom, Mason.

Redmond, I'm going to ride the police on
this until their saddles soar.

And if you had anything to do with
Weston's death, I guarantee if it's the

thing I do, I'll see every last dirty
fact brought to light.

You can take him.

Well, Doc, death by poison.

Possible suicide?

Always possible. My guess is no.

It wasn't the kind of poison most people
would likely have around the house or

have easy access to.

Well, what was it?

Can't tell for sure until I do a post
-mortem, but I'd guess morphine sulfate.

Sounds familiar.

Specific for chest pains related to
heart trouble.

Be very interesting to find out if
Martin Westman was that severe a cardiac

case. Here, take a look at this.

That's all right. We've already lifted
the few prints that were on it.

Hard to tell.

We'll have to run a chemical analysis on
it.

However, it could very easily be
morphine sulfate.

We found it under the bed.

Who is Marion Lamont?

I don't know.

But I'll find out.

I keep thinking about what Kendall said.

Is it possible there was something...
Something unusual about Weston's death?

We'll find out soon enough if there was.

Did Weston say anything to you when you
went back to see him?

Yes, he kept muttering something
about... Immunity.

Yes, immunity.

Then, when the subcommittee counsel
showed up, Mr. Wall, Weston said

about, you'll pay.

You'll pay.

Your earlier visit, after you'd seen
Kendall, Weston intimated that you'd

paid off. Did Madge Eberle make that
same accusation?

Yes. Gus Sawyer? Quinn Torrey?

They all made reference to the same
allegation of fraud.

That's all it was?

An allegation?

Don't look here, Mason. Save the fight.

Just remember I'm with you, not against
you.

I'd like to watch you working in court
sometime if I ever... when I get out of

this mess.

Let's go over the facts again.

Twenty years ago, Washington, D .C., you
were an assistant attorney general.

Madge Eberle took you to a party at Gus
Sawyer's house. Start there.

I'd just successfully prosecuted a fraud
case in procurement.

Oh. As I recall, Weston was very curious
about the facts.

Some of the accounting procedures
involved.

Weston was at the party. You explained
to him the mistakes that led to the

discovery and conviction on that fraud.

That's right. And that's all.

I merely pointed out in detail the
stupid mistakes made by this man that I

prosecuted. By getting a recital from
you about what shouldn't be done, they

work out a concept of what could be
done.

Now, you had no idea that there was a
plan for fraud or that it was about to

put into practice?

I never dreamed of it.

Quinn Torrey says there was.

You never personally profited from it?

How could I? I knew nothing about it.
You didn't call Weston? No.

You didn't ask him to call Gus Sawyer
about making you a judge?

No, no, no, no.

Yes, tell him.

Now, bring him in.

Moment of reckoning.

Judge Redmond, this is Lieutenant
Anderson.

Homicide, Los Angeles, please.

I, um, I'm sorry to interrupt.

It's all right, Lieutenant.

Your Honor, I'm afraid I'll have to ask
you to come with me.

I assume you have a warrant.

Yes, Your Honor.

The charge?

Murder.

Wait a minute. What's this about?

The first degree murder of Martin
Weston.

Mr. Kendall, you are the publisher of
the Daily Clarion?

That's right.

Now, on the day before Martin Weston was
discovered in his hotel room murdered,

Did you have occasion to visit the
chambers of the defendant, Judge Daniel

Redmond? I did.

And would you please tell this court,
Mr. Kendall, what you said to the

defendant on that occasion?

I told him that I was aware of what was
to be brought out in the course of the

Senate subcommittee hearings on business
and procedure in Los Angeles.

And that was what?

Your Honor, I object to the question on
the ground it assumes fact, not in

evidence. The witness is just about to
put the facts in evidence, Mr. Mason.

Just hearsay.

The witness has no first -hand knowledge
of the Senate committee's work.

Your Honor, this is nonsense.

The testimony of the witness on this
point, hearsay or not, is a necessary

prelude to his testimony on how the
defendant reacted.

I object to the question further on the
ground that the information to be

revealed was obtained illegally.

Illegally? Come on, Mr. Mason. We're
concerned with the reaction and the

of the defendant after the witness spoke
to him.

I take it then, Mr. Berger, you are
asking the court, in lieu of proper

foundation, to take judicial notice of
the Senate hearings and witnesses'

knowledge of those hearings.

Exactly, Your Honor.

Judicial notice cannot be taken of facts
not common knowledge or easily

verified. However, defense will
stipulate as to the admissibility of the

evidence on one condition.

What's that condition, Mr. Mason?

that the witness swear he was not
politically motivated in illegally

the information, and furthermore, that
it was not obtained in collusion with

Senate committee.

Mason knows full well that's a loaded
question.

I refuse to answer it.

Exercising your privilege as a
journalist?

That's right, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason, I'm going to permit the
witness to answer Mr. Berger's question

without regard to his source of
information.

We are concerned not with what the
committee was going to do.

but only with what defendant may have
believed the committee would do.

Mr. Kendall, I told Dan Redman that the
Senate subcommittee was about to

question him in regard to his
participation in criminal fraud against

States government.

Were you questioned by anyone else
concerning what happened that night in

Washington 20 years ago?

Yes, sir. Counsel for the Senate
committee, Mr. James Wall, also

What did you tell Mr. James Wall?

The truth.

That I was present with Daniel Redmond
while a plan was worked out to defraud

the United States government.

Thank you, Miss Everly.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Miss Everly, you were present and you
heard this plan. Tell me, did you also

profit from it?

Your Honor, I request that this witness
be advised of her privilege against self

-incrimination. Your Honor, may I ask
the court to clarify for me whether or

the privilege against self
-incrimination can be invoked only for

subject to prosecution in the same
forum?

This is a state court.

Can a witness here rely on a rule that
would make possible subsequent

prosecution in a federal court? Your
Honor, the question the defense counsel

asked the witness goes far beyond the
area of fraud.

It lays the groundwork for malice of
forethought and premeditation in a

charge. Your Honor...

Since the district attorney has
virtually stipulated that the witness

motive for the murder of Martin Weston,
I withdraw the question. And I'm

finished with the witness.

Call your next witness, Mr. Berger.

I found this glass on the night table
beside the bed.

There was what appeared to be the
remnants of a drink still in the glass.

What was done with the glass,
Lieutenant?

Well, the contents were poured and
sealed for toxicological examination.

And the glass itself was dusted with
contrast dusting powder so that possible

fingerprints could be photographed.

Now, what did the toxicological tests
reveal about the contents of that glass?

It contained, besides water, whiskey and
traces of a drug called morphine

sulfate. And what about fingerprints?

Two identifiable sets. The prints of the
decedent, Martin Weston, and the prints

of the defendant, Daniel Redmond.

I show you now this medicine container.

marked for identification People's
Exhibit 2. I ask if you recognize it.

Yes, sir. It was found under the bed on
which the decedent was lying.

I noticed the container had some pills
left in it. Were they checked?

Yes, sir.

Both in our lab and with the druggist
who issued the prescription.

And with what results?

The medicine contained morphine sulfate.

And to whom was it sold?

To a Miss Marion Lamont.

But it was picked up for her at the
druggist by her employer, the defendant.

Daniel Redmond.

Doctor, did you perform a toxicological
examination on the remains of Martin

Weston? Yes.

Prior to his death, Martin Weston
absorbed at least two -tenths of a gram

morphine sulfate. What is morphine
sulfate? An alkaloid frequently

for pain relief and heart conditions.

Would morphine sulfate dissolve in a
drink of, say, whiskey and water?

Yes. Was there anything else in your
examination worthy of note?

Yes, I found a blood alcohol level of 0
.34.

Is that regarded as high? Yes.

Normally, the person would have great
difficulty in walking and talking.

He would probably be nearing the state
of unconsciousness.

Well, doctor, is two -tenths of a gram
of morphine sulfate ordinarily

a fatal dose?

Ordinarily not.

But if a non -fatal dose is absorbed
with a substantial amount of alcohol,

alcohol would accentuate the effects of
the morphine sulfate.

converting a non -fatal dose into a
fatal dose.

Martin Weston was obviously drunk, drunk
almost to the point of unconsciousness.

I stood there in the open doorway
watching for a moment.

I didn't begin to dawn on me then what
he was doing or why.

But I watched Judge Redmond lift Weston
up and force the liquid in his glass

down his throat.

Well, here we go. I'll start with
Sacramento first.

Memo to the state bar.

Forecomment by the governor, February
1943.

Daniel Redmond proposed to fill a
vacancy on the bench.

Here's some capsulized reports on Mr.
Gus Sawyer, one of the busiest men

Sacramento's ever seen.

Item, lobbyist.

Item, fixer.

Item, you name it, you got it.

Brother Gus not only had the weight to
throw around, he threw it.

Did you check out any of his specific
lobbies or job fixing?

I did thoroughly and got nowhere.

Everybody was uncomfortably evasive
about what Gus Sawyer did or did not do

them. Despite the fact that he
registered as their lobbyist, one outfit

ever knowing dear old Gus, much less
hiring him.

All of which adds up to one great big
zero.

No, Della, two zeros, but with a one in
front of them. One hundred percent.

You've spotted something.

Yes, I have.

Washington, Paul. Am I right?

On the nose.

There's no question.

There was absolutely nothing in the Navy
records pointing to fraud in 1943.

What? It's not hard to find fraud if you
know what you're looking for. And

they're really tearing those records
apart back in Washington.

An hour ago, their job was made easier.

What happened an hour ago?

I got a tip that Quinn Torrey and Consul
paid a visit to the local office of the

federal attorney general.

Torrey's attorney must have advised him
that the truth had come out anyway and

he'd be smart to cop some sort of a
plea.

Now, I'm not sure.

But I've been told that Quinn Torrey
made a full confession to that fraud.

Naming? Naming Judge Daniel Redmond.

On the advice of counsel, I make the
following statement.

The night of March 26, 1943, I was
present at the residence of Gus Sawyer

Washington, D .C., when Daniel Redmond
was involved in a discussion of a unique

method of handling marine engine
procurement.

I was not...

I was not aware that the method which I
put into effect involved statutory

fraud. Subsequently, purely as a token
of personal friendship, and in no way

involved with a procurement in question,
I employed Gus Sawyer to represent my

company for a year.

I paid for a mortgage doing the home of
Martin Weston.

And I contributed to a campaign to have
Daniel Redman appointed to the

California bench.

May the record show, please, that on
advice of counsel, the witness has

further to say.

He has said quite enough.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Torrey, did you give Madge Eberle
the money to open the gift shop she now

operates in Los Angeles?

Answer no.

No. In 1943, did Daniel Redmond ever
personally ask for your help in

any way?

No. Then how did you know he wanted, as
a token of friendship, of course, your

help in becoming a judge?

Gus Sawyer told me.

Twenty years ago, a couple of days after
that party in Washington, Marty Weston

called me, all upset, to say that
Redmond hadn't told him the complete

that the procurement deal could
conceivably involve fraud against the

government. Well, not that it did, but
that it could.

And I asked him what Redman planned to
do about it, and Marty told me very

bluntly that Redman had stated he'd do
absolutely nothing if he was appointed a

judge in California.

Did you tell this to Mr.

Quintori? Yes, we talked about it at the
time, and I told him I thought that

Redman was bluffing, but, well, since he
was such a good friend, why not give

him what he wanted? And did you?

Well, through me, Quinn made some
contributions to certain political

everything strictly above board, with
the suggestion that Daniel Redman would

make an excellent judge.

Obviously, these people agreed.

Very well, Mr. Sawyer. Now, just who
were these people?

Well, I never did keep records, Mr.
Berger, and so many years ago, I...

I just don't remember now.

How very convenient.

Cross -examine, Mr. Mason?

As a paid lobbyist, did you report on
your income tax all the monies that were

put into your hands?

Well, of course not. Only part of it
that was mine, personal income.

How much did Quinn Torrey contribute
toward making Daniel Redmond the judge?

Well, that wasn't exactly... How much?

$10 ,000. How much of that $10 ,000 did
you report on your income tax?

Well, none of it. I was under salary to
Mr. Torrey, and all of the money was to

be dispersed.

Was your contract with Quinn Torrey an
exclusive one?

No, I worked for a lot of other
companies.

Including, in 1943, the Arlington
Industries.

I'm looking at a lobbyist registration
report you filed that year.

Yes, I believe I did represent them.

At a retainer of $10 ,000.

That's right.

Is it?

I have here a deposition for Mr.
Arlington, president of the company. He

he never met you, doesn't know you,
never employed you.

Are you sure that was his $10 ,000?

Well, there must be some mistake.

When was Daniel Redmond made a judge?

In April of 1943.

A month after that famous Washington
party.

Yes. According to this notarized and
authenticated statement from Sacramento,

Daniel Redmond's appointment to the
bench was considered and forwarded for

comment to the state bar in February
1943, a month before that party.

What? The decision to appoint him had
already been made a month before the

party. The formal appointment and the
public announcement wasn't made until a

month after the party.

Well, I don't understand.

Could it be the $10 ,000 you reported
getting from Arlington Industries was

actually the $10 ,000 Quinn Torrey gave
you to buy Daniel Redmond a judgeship

he'd already been given? Is it possible
Daniel Redmond never asked Martin Weston

to be made a judge?

Is it possible Martin Weston never
called you and told you he had?

Is it possible you invented the whole
story just to steal $10 ,000 from Quinn

Torrey? I don't remember.

Of course you don't remember.

Of course I offered Weston immunity.

That's a normal procedure.

Besides, his part in the fraud was
minuscule. More that of a spectator

after the fact, rather than that of an
actual participant.

I certainly didn't feel any breach of
public trust was involved.

If his involvement was so minuscule, so
small, so remote from the felony, how

did you plan to induce him to become a
willing witness?

Ah, now, there were the Navy records, of
course.

Of course.

But exactly what Navy records, Mr. Wall?

Oh, now, that, Mr. Mason, I'm afraid.

It's privilege information.

Can't turn around in this case without
stubbing your toe in somebody's

privilege. But I think this is one
privilege too many, Mr. Wall.

It's not for you to decide.

No, but Senator Dering can decide.

I've spoken to him. He's ready to appear
and testify if we need him.

Mm -hmm. I see. Were there any Navy
records?

Records mentioning Martin Weston, Daniel
Redmond, or anybody?

Were there records even indicating that
there had been a fraud?

Not exactly.

What do you mean by not exactly?

I did have, well, a document, a
confidential report based on an

made in Washington.

You still have it?

No. I had to give it back.

That document gave you all the
information you needed to question

No, not all. More or less just a
statement that a fraud had been

that it involved...

Martin Weston, Daniel Redmond, and some
marine engines.

The bulky folder you referred to during
the hearings, the one the newspaper

photos pictured you holding, that was
just window dressing, wasn't it? Yes.

But there was enough truth there to
warrant the questioning. You can't deny

that. And neither could Weston. Weston
didn't deny it at the hearing. Did he

deny it later when you paid him a visit?

Not really. He just... Just what?

He said the document was a complete
forgery and that he could prove it.

He laughed.

He admitted that he had participated in
a fraud back in 1943.

And then he challenged me, dared me, to
produce one single bona fide record to

prove it.

Could you? No.

So you returned the forged document to
the person who had given it to you?

Yes. I told him that we would handle the
investigation ourselves from then on,

fully and completely.

And what did Mr. Kendall say?

Nothing. He just... That's right.

The man who gave you that forged
document, that man was Victor Kendall.

You found out about the fraud when Madge
Eberle told you about it?

Yes.

Told you for a price.

Gift shop for her and for you.

Ammunition that would destroy a
political opponent.

I knew that Redmond was not really
involved in that fraud.

That his appointment was beyond any
shadow of wrongdoing.

I only wanted to force him out of the
race.

Twelve years I worked for that
nomination.

Quinn Torrey came to see me about a
month ago with a deal for the

He warned me then that the party was
considering Redman that he'd throw his

support behind Dan.

I turned him down.

Then that woman, Madge Eberle, gave me a
chance to destroy them both.

But only with that forged report could
you have fooled Wall into questioning

Weston. When Wall showed him the report,
Weston knew he was safe.

And when Madge Eberle later admitted to
him what she'd told you about it, Weston

knew enough to turn the tables.

Then he started blackmailing you.

Yes, he threatened to do to me what I
was trying to do to Redmond. He wanted

destroy my reputation, destroy me.

And so you stole from Daniel Redmond's
chambers a container of pills he'd

up for his secretary.

I knew that Dan knew about Marion's
heart trouble and the medicine she took.

Yes.

Yes, I knew what those pills would do to
a man who drank as much as Weston.

And to destroy Daniel Redmond.

And to save your own neck.

You killed Weston?

Yes.

Defense arrest, Your Honor.

Hi, Miss Lamont.

Oh, hello, Della, Mr.

Drake. Marion, we have a luncheon date
with our esteemed boss. Have you, by

chance, seen the gentleman?

Mr. Mason?

The same.

Of all the antiquated horse and buggy
concepts of law, that one takes the

I tell you, Dan, the fellow servant
doctrine in the age of workman's

compensation law is like Christopher
Columbus piloting a spaceship to Mars.

Responde a superior.

I suppose that makes sense.

Oh, of course.

Harry?

Your syllogistic spaceship just blew a
tire.

Mixed metaphors. You're fumbling, Dan.
Just fumbling.

Oh, fumbling, am I? Here.

Read Holmes.

Cardoza. Meacham. Then tell me that I'm
fumbling.

Well, we're back in business.