Original subtitles

Here's Mrs. Bain is calling you.

Nellie!

What is it, dear?

What is it, Elizabeth?

Is there something I can...

You get away from here, Newton.

Don't you dare come in here.

What is it you want, Elizabeth?

Miss Conway doesn't seem to be... It's none of your business what I want. I

Nellie.

Hey, something I can do?

Elizabeth?

You all right?

James. Fine, Nellie. She's supposed to give Elizabeth some pills tonight.

I am not supposed to have any pills.

The doctor didn't say anything about any pills.

I guess Elizabeth knows best about her own medicine.

Oh, now, look, you've only been here one day. There's a lot you don't

understand. Well, I guess I know my stepsister about as well as you do,

Well, for heaven's sake, will you please just... Nellie, where are you?

Well,

James, I've got this meeting tonight at... His name is Carol. You want to...

doctor might have prescribed... Oh, but he didn't.

Mr. Bain admitted to me himself that it was his own private idea.

I shouldn't tell the doctor, but I should give her the pills, he said.

Now, doesn't that strike you as strange?

Yes, it does.

Miss Conway, you're a registered nurse, I assume, so... I'm just housekeeper

there. You've been with the Bains for some time?

Since before his first wife died, as a matter of fact.

There was a poor, sick little thing.

Mr. Mason, I've been in that household nearly seven years, and I'm just

beginning to realize what kind of a creature he is.

You said his present wife had an accident.

In the car, six months ago.

He, of course, walked away from it. But Elizabeth, oh, Mr. Mason, you've never

seen such a change come over a woman. She used to be so happy and cheerful,

I was so happy. Happy for both of them. You mean you didn't dislike Mr. Bain so

much then?

I felt sorry for him. That's the kind of man he is. He makes everyone feel sorry

for him. Poor Mr. Bain. Being so patient all the time.

Bearing up so bravely under one tragedy after another tragedy.

Did you tell my secretary that Mrs. Bain hasn't allowed him in her room since

the accident?

Oh, she won't even let him talk to her.

Elizabeth knows whose fault it was, all right.

And that money. All their money. That's really hers, you know. But, Miss Conway,

doesn't Mrs. Bain have anyone to whom she can turn?

Who, that James?

That stepbrother?

No, I'm afraid her stepsister, Mary Douglas, is the only one who could

help now.

She lives in Honolulu.

Well, then.

But he didn't go to any business meeting last night. He went to see a girl. Her

name is Carol Moray.

Well, don't you understand? He's already picked his next one. As quick as

someone will take those poison pills into her room so she'll... All right,

Conway.

I'll have someone check these pills.

Then I'll call you.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Mason.

I knew you couldn't bear...

to have a murder on your conscience any more than I can.

Yeah?

Oh, hi, Perry. I'm glad you phoned.

I've been waiting for a call from that lab guy about those pills.

You know, the ones from the Conway woman?

I told him it was urgent, but apparently I'm sure they're going to be nothing

but... Gee, what?

When did he call you?

Only a moment ago.

I just walked in the door. She screamed at me to come to the house, and that's

all I know, except that she was hysterical.

That's happened. Mrs. Bain's been murdered.

Barry, I was sure those pills were nothing but... Meet me there, Paul.

And right away.

I tell you, I didn't. I didn't. I didn't.

Lady, if you'd just stop crying for one minute.

Oh, Mrs. Mason, thank heavens you're here.

Tell him how fond I was of Mrs. Bain. Tell him I wouldn't do anything to hurt

her. Exactly what happened to Mrs. Bain, Harvey. Would you guys keep your voices

down so Elizabeth can get to sleep?

What? James.

It's all right, dear. It's all over.

You can go back to sleep now.

It's all right.

You're Mr. Mason, right?

Well, I'm Sergeant Tolan, robbery detail, and... Robbery?

Listen, Mason, tell them I didn't do it. I never stole anything in my life.

Oh, yes, she did.

Show them your hands under that fluorescent thing.

Elizabeth's jewel box is right up there in the sewing room. Wait a minute.

Sergeant, what's happened here?

Well, Mr. Baines says that things have been missing from the house here for the

past couple of weeks.

Now it looks like they caught Miss Conway in the act.

I found one of Mrs. Baines' bracelets there in her purse myself.

Well, Miss Conway? Mr. Mason, since you and I know what's really going on in

this house... Excuse me a minute, Sergeant.

How about it, Paul? Did you talk to the man at the lab?

The pills were aspirin.

Mr. Mason?

The man in the uniform said that was you.

I mean, I called your office and they told me I'd find you down here.

Anyway, I'm Mary Douglas.

Oh, yes, from Honolulu.

I appreciated your calling me.

I've been intending to fly over here. I guess I should have come a long time

ago, but Elizabeth hardly ever wrote to me.

It's technically none of my business, of course.

But I thought Mrs. Bain would be grateful to see someone she trusts.

That house is rather upset. Oh, yes, I know. The things I've seen in just two

hours.

But what she's really worried about now, Mr. Mason, is that poor housekeeper.

They're taking her into court this afternoon for stealing. And there's no

speak up for her. Well, that is none of my business.

As I told Miss Conway the other night, I'm not her lawyer.

Wouldn't you defend her if Elizabeth asked you to? Or if I asked you to?

Miss Douglas, any woman who goes around telling wild stories about poison... Oh,

I know. She's been pretty horrible, I guess. But don't you see? It's really

Newton's fault.

And if he's allowed to get away with this...

Look, Mr. Mason, I don't know what the truth is yet.

But won't you help me find it?

Help me calm things down?

Please?

May it please the court.

Excuse this interruption, Your Honor. Hello there, Mr. Mason.

I'd like to appear as amicus curiae in this matter.

Oh, a friend of the court, eh?

You don't wish to represent the accused?

No, Your Honor.

My only interest here is in justice and in the truth.

So ordered, then.

This is the jewelry box the items were taken from, yes.

The lock, I'm afraid, can be opened by almost any luggage key.

And this box, you found in its proper place?

Yes, it's been kept in a small private study next to Mrs. Bain's bedroom ever

since her accident.

And now this powder you mentioned, which you found dusted over the box?

Well, it's a neutral colored powder, which will fluoresce to a bright blue

expose to ultraviolet light.

When you arrived that evening and answered to Mr. Bain's call, did you put

box under such a light? We did.

It helped us in getting such clear fingerprints from the box, as a matter

fact. The defendant's fingerprints, that is.

Did you place anything else under the ultraviolet light, Sergeant?

We did.

The defendant's hands.

They showed blue, too.

Every finger covered with the same powder.

Anything else?

Well, her purse over there, the one I found the bracelet in.

Fingerprints in the same blue.

And the bracelet itself.

Same thing.

Same fluorescence, same prints.

Purse. Thank you.

I believe that's all, Sergeant.

Do I understand, Sergeant, that your investigation showed Mr. Bain himself

put this special powder on the jewelry box?

Obviously for the sole purpose of entrapping the defendant?

Your Honor.

Well, I don't think there's any harm in my answering that, sir, because Mr. Bain

didn't do it.

It was Mrs. Bain's stepbrother, Mr. James Douglas.

He's the one who put the powder on the box.

Well, I've had quite a bit of experience, you see, in police matters.

Did a lot of work for the CIC, your honor, back in the Army.

Well, anyway, when Newton told me he was pretty sure Jewelry was disappearing

from that box, and me, well, I could see what sort of person that housekeeper

was. So I suggested we fix it to try to catch the thief.

And we did.

I helped in inventory every item, not two hours before one of them turned up

Miss Conway's purse.

Yes, I think that part's all clear enough. Thank you, Mr. Douglas.

And now to clarify one other little matter.

How did you happen to be living in the house?

Oh, just visiting, that's all. You see, I'm from up in Portland.

But when I stopped by the other day on a business trip... Well, I'll say this,

sir. I always thought Newton was the one to blame for making my stepsister so

unhappy.

But when I got there and saw what a troublemaker he had around the house,

I... Your Honor, I see no reason for this irrelevant... Neither do I, Mr.

Just confine yourself to answering the questions, please.

Mr. Douglas, did you personally observe any behavior on the part of the

defendant that would lead you to suspect Miss Conway might be a troublemaker?

Well, telling everybody.

Even telling me that she was afraid that Newton might try to kill his wife.

I guess that's your troublemaking, isn't it?

Now, I can't blame Miss Conway.

She was loyal for years and years.

Well, it is an upset household.

That's my fault, I suppose, but... Just answer the questions, please.

Mr. Bain, you've identified the items taken from the defendant's possession.

That's all we'll need from you just now, I think.

Mr. Mason?

Why did you do it?

I didn't. I didn't. I didn't.

Tell us again, Mr. Bain.

What is the value of that first item introduced, the diamond bracelet?

It's $25.

Isn't that a rather low value for a diamond bracelet?

No, no, that's just imitation.

Stones are paste, of course.

Your wife is a very wealthy woman, I understand.

She prefers paste diamonds?

No. No, we put the real jewelry in the safe deposit vault.

That very same day, that was part of James' plan.

Then actually the value of that and the other items is barely over the limit of

petty theft, correct? I suppose so.

Tell me, weren't you afraid your wife might notice the substitution and

the housekeeper?

No, my wife hasn't looked at her jewelry in months, Mr. Mason.

She's such an invalid, poor thing.

In a way, I guess that's my fault too, but... Who has looked at it then?

Only you? No.

Well, several days ago, I noticed Miss Conway surreptitiously handling the box,

and so I checked its contents.

What else was Miss Conway doing at that time?

Moving furniture, perhaps?

Was she dusting the box?

Yes, I guess she was dusting, actually, but... Let's just talk about the people

who handled the box on the night of the alleged theft.

According to your previous testimony, you asked the police to bring with them

certain ultraviolet light.

Now, did you, for instance, put your hands under that ultraviolet light?

Well, I helped put the dust on the box.

So your hands were blue, of course. Now, how about James Douglas' hands?

Well, yes, naturally. The stuff sticks all over you.

But we had a right to touch that box.

Didn't the defendant have a right to touch her own purse?

I don't understand you. Were you and James Douglas together every second of

time that evening?

No.

But I don't see... Are you prepared to swear that...

He didn't take the jewelry out of the box and put it into Miss Conway's purse.

Can he swear that you didn't do it? But we caught her with the purse as she was

leaving the house. We saw her open the purse.

We saw her open her purse for what?

To find a handkerchief?

To look for her glasses?

To get a comb?

Your Honor, I object to this matter of questioning. I object to this... Mr.

Prosecutor, let me ask you something.

Have you presented the sum total of your factual evidence against Miss Conway?

What? Well, yes, sir, but... I'm going to stop this right now.

I realize that the police can't be blamed.

If someone wants to prosecute, then they must take the necessary action.

But I think this case comes dangerously close to malicious prosecution.

When two amateurs deliberately set out to entrap someone like Miss Conway here,

then... Well, never mind.

Case dismissed.

You're free to go, Miss Conway. Court recessed.

Did you see him, Mr. Mason?

Did you see how Newton Mayne squirmed and perspired?

Why, I could actually sue him, couldn't I?

Malicious prosecution.

Slander isn't nice either, Miss Conway.

You're just sorry for him.

You're sorry for him, too.

He's not the one for whom I'm sorry.

In her own handwriting?

Holographic? Is that what you call it?

Sit down, won't you?

She wants to guarantee her husband inherits none of her money. Is that it?

I know it's a shame, but apparently he's done some pretty horrible things.

She wants to leave her entire estate to you.

You needn't look at me like that, Mr. Mason. It was her idea, not mine.

You'll see there's quite a bit there, too, for my brother, Jim Douglas, and

wife.

The only thing I notice...

I'll leave it to these beloved relatives with the understanding that they will

take my property.

Well?

Look, Mr. Mason, I realize Elizabeth may be terribly neurotic about all this,

but she's afraid something's going to happen to her.

That girl you got here to help, Mary Douglas.

Excuse me.

Phone for you, Mr. Mason.

Thank you, son.

Maiden speaking.

Oh, Paul.

Any luck? Yeah. At first, it didn't make any sense.

Find a lady with maybe her own initials NC on her baggage who maybe left the

airport at 10 o 'clock.

Well, she told Gertie she couldn't telephone after that time.

She left all right. Emily Conway's halfway to New Orleans by now.

So are you.

You, uh, know what I want.

I'll drop by myself as soon as I can.

Drop by? To New Orleans?

To the moon, if necessary.

Welcome to the French Quarter.

Hello, Paul.

Terry, this is Joe Duncan. His men were working ahead of me here.

Oh, well, that's something Mr. Bain gave me.

Well, I could have sued him, you know.

I don't think $3 ,000 was too much to ask for my agreeing not to.

$3 ,000 and a trip to New Orleans.

Well, he's paying for a little cruise that I've always wanted to take to the

West Indies, yes.

What other favors did you do for him?

Well, that creature... When did he give you that money?

It arrived at my hotel in Los Angeles this morning by messenger.

You weren't in the house at all last night?

Oh, well, that's when he fired me. And then when we made our little agreement,

stayed just long enough in the evening to say goodnight to Mrs. Bain and... Oh.

Well, I guess I did do one little thing for him, but it was only because of the

money. Even when he started crying, I didn't feel sorry for him. What was that

one little thing, Nellie?

I gave Elizabeth three of his pills.

You told her to take pills that he gave you?

Well, it isn't as if I didn't know they were just aspirin.

Mr. Mason, what's wrong?

She swallowed them in your presence?

Well, I made certain they were aspirin because after he gave me the pills...

I flushed them down the drain, and then I went out and bought some myself.

Mr. Mason, please tell me, what's wrong?

She died at 11 .30 this morning.

Oh, that poor little thing.

Oh, no, no.

Honey. Sorry, name's Drake.

Get out of here. Mr. Bain may be delayed, but I'm from Los Angeles, too,

Well, I don't care who you are, Mr. J... Oh.

Uh, Bain?

Did you say a Mr.

Bain? Um, no, I don't know anybody named... What's he planning to do? Move

next door when your friend Nellie Conway goes on to the West Indies?

Well, I'm going to call the manager.

Oh, I can't understand the formality.

Now that his wife's dead...

Now that what?

Come on, Miss Murray, it's already been in the local papers.

You must have been reading about it.

I didn't even read the funnies yet.

I understand it kind of hits your friend Nellie Conway, too.

Mr. Drake, that woman in there is not a friend.

She's only stopping over a few hours until her boat sails.

But why here?

Look, Miss Murray, I'm not a police officer, but I'm going to have to tell

police about you.

I've got nothing to hide.

Obviously not.

But what is Miss Conway doing here?

She delivered something for Newton.

That's all.

I told him I didn't want to see him anymore unless he got them back.

Well, you see, it's some letters I wrote that his wife got a hold of.

Well,

you understand.

I guess things are kind of warm between you and Newton.

Oh.

Oh, that crazy, crazy idiot.

Well, I've got my own reputation to think about. I mean, meeting him out of

on business trips is one thing, but I didn't want my name involved in any

divorce action or scandal or... Or murder.

But I didn't do anything.

Maybe just start at the fire.

You mean that they might think that Newton could have killed his own... Oh,

Oh, you don't know him. He may be stupid and bungling, but... I wondered what a

girl like you could say to a guy like that.

Besides his wife's money, that is.

That's not true.

I felt sorry for him.

I've known him for many years. He's had a terrible life.

But I... I guess that's how everybody feels about Newton.

Sorry for him.

You just wait.

You will, too.

Mr. Mason.

Hello there. Good morning.

I'm Georgiana, James's wife.

Well, what did you find in New Orleans?

It seems you were there, too. Oh, no, no. We just got out of Houston.

Georgiana thought we could intercept you, sort of. My office told you I'd be

returning on this plane?

Well, that's all a girl would tell us, though.

She just didn't understand how much we want to help, I guess.

Help whom, Mrs. Douglas?

Just what is it you came to tell me? It's about Newton Bain's first wife.

She was an invalid, too, I believe.

Well, not crippled or anything. She just wasn't so healthy, that's all.

Kidneys, maybe.

I'll tell it if you don't mind.

She left that man over $100 ,000.

A little less, I think. Well, since I already know about that, it really

isn't... Do you know how she died, Mr. Mason?

Natural causes, I understood.

She felt good enough, as I understand it, to leave for a camping trip up in

Northern California.

Only the first night out or so, she... You didn't write to the doctor on

Tuesday. I did.

What doctor, Mrs. Douglas?

The one up there in Susanville.

The doctor who wrote the certificate of death.

Well, do you know what those natural causes were, Mr. Mason?

Food poisoning.

Of course, I don't know how much a thing like that really means.

Mr. Douglas, please let your wife tell the story.

Go on, Mrs. Douglas.

You just saved me ten cents.

I know Paul Drake's been in touch with the police by now. Yes, and I wanted to

thank you for doing our legwork for us.

One of my men's flying back with him now.

I know there are two more people here you want to talk to.

Who? What about?

Newton Bain, of course.

I think it's quite clear now what he did.

Bain? Oh, we cleared him up hours ago, Perry.

Again, thanks to you.

Oh, and I also thought you might like to know we just served a warrant on Mary

Douglas.

First degree, he murdered.

I don't know what kind of evidence they have against me, Mr. Mason.

Of course I gave Elizabeth her medicine. Was the capsule you gave her the kind

that can be pulled apart?

I suppose so, but it was left there by the nurse the night before.

Why do they think it has to be me?

Mary. They took the holographic will out of your purse when they arrested you.

Elizabeth's will, yes.

I saw it this morning in Lieutenant Anderson's office.

It now has a period at the end of that last sentence.

Why did you do that, Mary?

I didn't put that period there.

Honestly, I didn't. Elizabeth did that herself.

Now, wait a minute.

When you ran out of my office, she was already dying. The doctor had already

called the police.

Yes, but they let me in to see her.

It was awful.

She told them she had to see me alone.

And then she asked me what you had said about the will.

So when you told her there was no period at the end of that sentence, she calmly

picked up her pen before she died?

No. No, it wasn't that way at all. I even had to hold her hand.

Oh, please, Mr. Mason, you've got to believe me. I was crying so I couldn't

what I was doing, but she... she...

She died at 11 .31 a .m. The police doctor verified her death. Present also

Lieutenant Anderson as well as the defendant.

Tell me this, Dr. Stevenson. Did you notice anything unusual about the

defendant's hands?

Yes, I did.

She'd been crying. I handed her a tissue.

Her right hand. There was an ink stain here as though a pen had leaked.

Cross -examine?

Doctor, in your testimony regarding the results of autopsy...

I believe you neglected to say whether the arsenic which killed Mrs. Bain could

have been administered the night before.

Oh, did I? Well, then I'll say it right now.

No, it could not.

But isn't it possible that pills given to Mrs. Bain the previous evening could

have contained... No, it is not possible.

She injected the fatal poison when she awoke about 8 .30 a .m.

We found nothing else significant, all except very faint traces of what must

have been, in common terminology, simple aspirin.

One thing, though, Doctor. Could the unauthorized administration of aspirin

woman in Mrs. Bain's condition... Mr. Mason, those three aspirin tablets would

only have made Mrs.

Bain sleep more comfortably, that's all.

...was to deliver it on my way through New Orleans to her, that Carol Moray

person.

Do you know what was in the package?

Some letters.

I didn't read them.

And you didn't connect the letters with the fact that Mr. Bain wanted his wife

to sleep soundly for once?

Not then, no, sir.

Now, let's get back to the prescription capsule, which, of course, the

prosecution contends later became a lethal weapon.

Before you left, Miss Conway, did you leave any instructions regarding the

administration of that capsule?

Yes. I told her, the defendant, that is, to be sure to give it to Mrs. Bain

first thing in the morning.

I was only relaying the nurse's regular instructions.

Did you tell Miss Douglas anything else?

Well, I admitted to her what I'd done about the aspirin.

I thought someone responsible should know.

I didn't want her to be alarmed in case Mrs. Bain slept later than usual.

So Mary Douglas knew her stepsister would be sleeping soundly.

Even knew what Newton Bain must be up to. Tell me, was there anything else

you two talked about?

The jewel box.

She wanted to see the jewel box I'd been falsely accused of getting into. Did

either of you actually touch the jewel box?

I didn't.

But while I was leaving, I saw Miss Douglas running her fingers across the

of it. Thank you, Miss Conway.

Mr. Mason.

Yes, I heard the police testimony, and yes, maybe I did use too much of that

dust stuff on the box last week. But my sister wouldn't... Mr. Douglas, were you

present when the police technicians found traces of that powder on the water

glass by Mrs. Bain's bed?

Were you present when they lifted the defendant's fingerprints from that water

glass? Oh, actually, now you've already been declared a hostile witness. Just

answer yes or no.

All right. Yes, I was there. Yes, I saw all that. Did you see them find what

they described as strong traces of fluorescent powder on Mary Douglas'

Yes. Did you see them? But in my own police experience, I never would have

jumped to any conclusions about... Oh, that's right. I'm examining an expert,

I not? An old CIC man and all that.

Whose service record, we just happened to discover, shows that you once

Three weeks assigned to a CIC sergeant as his jeep driver.

Well, I never claimed.

Now, Private Douglas, will you please direct your attention to this

holographic will already entered in evidence in People's Exhibit C?

Yes, sir. As I'm sure you heard, the intent of this will is that you and your

wife were to get some money.

Although the major part of the estate, of course, was to go to the defendant.

Have you ever seen this will before?

No, sir. You mean the defendant didn't even tell you, a beneficiary, about the

existence of this will?

No, sir. There was no time, no chance to.

Well, can you explain then why this will should have given her the lion's share?

No, sir.

Weren't you both equally related to Elizabeth Bain?

Yes, sir.

Equally loved by Elizabeth Bain? Yes.

Well, then what is this?

Mary Douglas' idea?

Something she told Elizabeth Bain to write?

Yes. Yes, of course. Thank you.

Mr. Mason, my husband is a fool.

Because he knows very well Mary needs the money, we don't.

He also knows he's very happy Elizabeth thought first of Mary.

We both are.

Thank you, Mrs. Douglas.

Now, tell me, if you will, when you first arrived at the house.

Well, I was there that night, of course.

James had been staying in the back downstairs bedroom, doing nothing to

things easier for poor Elizabeth.

So I joined him to help Mary take charge.

But if you were in the house that night, didn't you see Elizabeth again?

Talk to her?

Well, yes, I talked to her. It was about nine o 'clock, I guess. Just before she

went to sleep.

Now, can you please tell us what you and Elizabeth talked about?

Mopping.

Just mopping.

Mopping? Mm -hmm.

You see, Mr. Mason, that house was and still is a frightful mess.

And it wasn't the poor housekeeper's fault either.

The way Newton Bain kept her upset all the time. He wouldn't hire another maid.

He didn't want people in the house.

He didn't even want us in the house.

So if you'd like to know who could have put the poison in the capsule, why don't

you ask Newton Bain?

Don't ask me.

I spent all my time in the kitchen that night mopping floor.

I liked Elizabeth.

I was good to her, I think. I tried to like the things that she liked.

I know I'm not young or attractive or maybe not very entertaining, but I tried

to understand her coldness.

Anyway, when I ran into Carol Moray on a business trip, it

was all so different.

She laughed with me and she understood my problems.

And she wrote you letters, is that correct?

Yes, sir.

Several months ago, Elizabeth found the letters and she told me about it one

night in the car.

She started a fight.

She grabbed at the wheel.

I'm sorry.

I understand, sir.

Now, after the accident, Mr. Bain, what happened to those letters?

Well, she'd hidden them.

She took them in her room.

She kept them by a bed. They were tucked into the mattress cover.

And when did you next see the letters again?

Well, she wouldn't let me into the room.

But I figured it out. I understood where they were, but...

Even at night, a pin drop would wake her up. I asked you, sir, when you saw the

letters again.

The night before she died.

That's when I went in there and I got them.

That was the reason for the aspirin.

There, I think we've cleared that subject up sufficiently.

Now, Mr. Bain, would you tell me, please, if you recognize this cardboard

carton? Yes, sir, I do.

That's a mark that I made on it right there.

Really? When did you do that?

When the homicide lieutenant brought me out to the garage and showed me the

carton shortly after... shortly after Elizabeth's death.

Now, Mr. Vane, would you explain to the court, please, exactly what this

cardboard carton is?

The day before, I had received a telephone call from Mary Douglas at the

She asked me to go by the grocery store and bring home some things that she'd

ordered.

Things like, uh... well, cleaning things, mostly.

I know I saw...

And dusting cloths and dish mop and cleaning fluid, things like that.

Did you particularly notice this small can?

No, sir. Not until the lieutenant pointed it out to me the next day.

I just left the carton in the garage where Mary told me I left it with her.

Really? Then you didn't have a chance to read the label which says rat poison.

No, sir.

Nor read the other words on the label which so clearly say contains arsenic?

No, sir. Mr. Bain.

Tell me this. Was this box open when the lieutenant first pointed it out to you?

The next day, yes, sir. It was.

Did the lieutenant point out anything else to you? Well, they had it under

violet -gray thing.

I could see the blue smudges on it.

They told me that they had identified Mary Douglas's fingerprints on it.

But, of course, we'll have to hear the police say that for themselves, won't

Your Honor, I should like these exhibits marked, and I'm finishing this witness.

Mr. Mason. Mary.

Did you open that can?

Yes.

I even used some of it.

That place was in such a horrible mess.

I saw a rat in the basement. If there's anything, I can't stand it. Well, Mr.

Mason.

Your Honor, since it's rather late, my cross -examination of this witness may

extensive, but... Oh, excuse me a moment.

If the court please, perhaps I can now dispose of this witness rapidly.

Very well.

Mr. Bain, how much do you earn?

About $9 ,000 a year in salary.

Almost enough to pay for the gardening at that house of yours?

I have other income.

Yes, of course.

The money you inherited from your first wife.

I never claimed to be... Never claimed to be self -supporting?

I see no reason. All right, Mr. Bain.

Just tell us about the death of your first wife.

Oh, look here.

Your Honor, I object to... You open the door yourself, Mr. Berger, when you let

the witness tell his sad life story.

Now, was it your intention to make us all feel sorry for a poor fellow who

can't understand women?

Well, it's my contention that he understands them only too well, one

another. All right, Mr. Mason, never mind.

But I'll overrule the objection.

I want to hear this, too.

Well, Mr. Bain, tell us about the death of your first wife.

Well, my wife was taken ill on a camping trip.

I rushed her to the nearest doctor, Susanville. From what was she taken ill?

doctor said it could have been something that she ate.

However, her stomach was bad anyway.

And who did the cooking on that camping trip?

Your wife, of course, needed a great deal of rest.

We ate canned food, food that we brought from home. The doctor said it could

have been anything. Food poisoning was what the doctor wrote on the death

certificate.

But here's what that doctor says now.

If I made a mistake, Mr. Mason, if the poisoning of Mrs. Bain was not

accidental, then I pray you will be able to uncover my mistake.

I didn't kill her. I didn't kill Elizabeth either. I didn't kill anybody.

But it was only you who gave information to that doctor in Susanville.

Of course, the doctor did say that there is someone else we might check with. A

woman who helped you in your time of sorrow.

A secretary in the local funeral parlor who later left town for a better job.

A Miss Carol Morey.

Your Honor, I'm going to ask for a reset to these proceedings until we hear the

autopsy findings as a result of my petition to the Superior Court in

for an exhumation of the body of the first Mrs.

Newton Bain.

All

right,

he's going to make a run for it. He sure is slow in getting started.

And then what? Are you really going to get that exhumation order?

Lab boys say the chances of finding anything now are about one in 10 ,000. I

know, I know.

That's what I tried to tell the judge in chambers.

He probably realized I'm mostly bluffing.

Yeah? Uh -huh.

How about James Douglas?

Okay, I'll wait.

Nobody else moved?

Where's Nellie Conway?

Still downtown, according to the last report.

Now, look, Perry, I can't let the department get along forever without

Where?

Got it.

Car stopping in front of the Bain house.

Who? Carol Moray.

Yo, outside.

He was going to kill me.

He was going to kill me. It's all right now. Take it easy. Take it easy. He told

me to come out here. He said I was to sneak in the back way.

Why did you do it, Natalie?

For the money he promised to pay me.

He knew I knew more things I could tell about him.

I don't mean why did you come here. I mean, why did you kill Elizabeth?

What? Isn't that why he was attacking you? Or was it that I convinced him that

his first wife could also have been murdered?

No. No.

And of course, who could have done that but you?

I won't listen to you.

What was it?

Poison in the special food she took camping?

Food you must have prepared?

Stop it.

All right, let's talk about Elizabeth then.

You could have easily known or seen what Mary Douglas was doing about the rats

in the basement.

You already knew what would happen if she handled the jewel box.

And certainly you'd know how to place arsenic in a capsule Elizabeth wouldn't

take until after you were gone. You're lying. You're lying.

Lucario.

You stupid little Romeo.

One... After another, after another.

And all of the things I did to keep you when I... When

Newton really didn't know, he never kissed?

Why would he?

As far as he was concerned, Nellie was just an albatross around his neck. No

matter what he tried, he couldn't rid himself of her. Never kiss your

housekeeper.

She successfully blamed her last murder on you, Mary, knowing that Newton would

eventually learn the truth.

But she'd have him so heavily involved, he couldn't leave her.

But isn't that what he was going to do with Carol Moray?

Believe it or not, the guy was going to head to Susanville with Carol to

authorize the exhumation.

Only Nellie showed up on his doorstep first, and, well, that's where we came

And I got out, thanks to you.

It's too bad Bain has to stand trial for assaulting Nellie.

You know, in some ways, you've got to feel sorry for a guy like that.

Do what?

Okay, okay, I'll take it back.