Original subtitles

Bye.

21, but mentally you're a child.

I'm not going to argue about it. I've made my decision and the matter is

Tom Bolton is a fortune hunter. You're not to see him again.

Someday you'll thank me for this, Irma.

Mother, you've done it.

That's all there is to it. The matter is closed. You've been dictating to me all

my life and I've had enough of it, you Napoleon.

Irma, dear.

I'm going to marry Tom Bolton and there's nothing you can do to stop me.

What did he say?

Well, we really...

I think a good night's sleep will clear the air.

Oh, Irma, dear, your father has so many business worries right now.

He's not my father.

Yes, I know.

But one of the reasons I married Sumner was so you would have a father.

And I do think you owe him some respect.

He had no right to throw Con out of this house.

I'm going to marry Con.

Irma, I'm sure Con is quite a nice young man, but how can he support you?

Okay. Danny, he's working, isn't he? Until he can get enough money to buy a

of his own.

Besides, when I get the share of my real father's money, you've always promised

me.

But, Irma, suppose your stepfather were to decide that he wasn't going to give

you that money for a while yet.

He can't do that.

He can't stop me from getting... I'm afraid he can, darling.

I'm afraid that's just what Sumner said he wouldn't do if you go against his

wishes.

If he does, I'll kill him.

What's wrong?

Somebody tried to kill your father.

Say that.

Maniac out there. Wait until I get the grave closed.

All right.

Come in now.

Turn on the lights.

Sheldon, are you hurt?

Of course I'm not hurt.

But I don't mind saying it was a near thing I heard the bullet go past my ear.

There was no sense standing around inviting disaster. Up here, a few rooms,

of you. I'll wait for the police.

Police? Of course.

Now, go on up to your rooms where you can stay. Come on.

Come on.

Irma.

Yes?

Your friend, Khan.

When he left here tonight, he seemed so upset and...

Mother, I heard Con leaving here on his motorcycle right after he was thrown out

of this house by your husband.

I didn't mean it. Oh, yes, you did.

Unless you think maybe I fired the shot at him. Oh, no.

Irma.

Irma.

Mr. Hod, Lieutenant Anderson is here.

What

was

that all about?

I don't know.

He's been in the state all morning. He just jumps at every little sound.

Probably a traffic violation.

Oh, no. Lieutenant Anderson's from Homicide.

Say, Mr. Talley, I understand that there's going to be some changes made

here.

In fact, the rumor is you're taking over the company.

Check your sources, Miss Young. The fact is I'm selling out.

The company's getting too big for me, all these expansion plans.

But what are you going to do?

Head for South America with a pocket full of cash and nothing to worry about

myself.

Look, are you really sure?

Homicide? It was a terrifying experience. Nothing like this has ever

me before.

Police protection, Lieutenant. I insist on police protection.

I understand there was a previous attempt a couple of nights ago.

A hit and run.

Well, I'm not really sure, but I was crossing a dark street when a car came

around the corner going much too fast. I jumped back just in time.

Well, where did this happen?

Pioneer Boulevard.

It was too dark for me to get the license number, and of course I don't

know. Pioneer Boulevard is an odd place for a man like you to be, Mr. Hodge.

I went there to see a young fellow that my daughter is infatuated with.

Do you mind if I ask why?

Well, as a matter of fact, to voice my objections.

But I'm sure there's no connection between... This young fellow, you said

name was Con Bolton?

Yes, yes, Con Bolton. The same Con Bolton who was at your house last night

shortly before the shot was fired?

That's right, but... And you'd ordered him out of the house?

Lieutenant, no matter how unpleasant this young man may be... Are you saying

this Bolton traveled around with a pretty rough crowd?

Even if he's unbalanced, I'm not making any accusations.

I just don't want any more attempts on my life, that's all.

I'm a taxpayer, a big taxpayer, and I demand police protection.

Now, where can I find this Bolton?

Oh, he's got a part -time job as an itinerant folk singer, I think. A place

called the Lone Pine Club.

Again.

my love a cherry that has no stone.

I gave my love a chicken that has

no bone.

I told my love a story that

never

And I gave my life for a baby

with no pride.

How can there be a baby without

a soul?

How can there be...

Man said you're a policeman.

Is that right?

I'd like to ask you a few questions.

Please.

I've been talking to Irma Hodge's father.

What's that father?

I understand you two have had some trouble.

Mr. Hodge says he had to ask you to stay away from his daughter.

Well, that old man's really got some influence in this town, getting the

to do his strong -arming for him.

Now, you listen to me, mister. I don't care. You take it easy, son.

Mr. Hodge would have thought I wasn't.

What did he want?

Nothing.

Some personal, that's all.

In my place of business, what's personal with my employees is personal with me.

When I have to protect a license to stay in business... Wait a minute.

It was some kind of mistake, that's all. Just forget it, will you? You forget

it. Coming to work, that is. If that cop or any other cop ever comes around here

looking for you again.

And Con, what I just told you, don't you forget.

Boy, this is my lucky town. This is my lucky day.

What does that man want? Los Angeles. Oh, what a town to mark my name.

Sing for your supper till your great big inheritance comes along.

And then you drive off in your great big car to your great big ranch.

Can't be.

Only know what happens?

My great big inheritance adds up to 1 ,000 lousy bucks.

And the only way I'm going to leave town is with every cop in L .A. shooting at

my tail.

What?

Irma, why didn't you tell me that your man got shot at?

Because I didn't think the police would come to you.

They got me all lined up.

All they had to do was flip in the bathtub and they could have come looking

me. Oh, Con, don't. Just because... Irma.

Irma's no good, don't you understand?

I don't belong with a person like you.

Well, it takes getting out of town before I wreck everything for you.

Con, don't. Please, please don't.

So the little corporal vetoed you, young man. So what?

Under this roof, that is the finest possible recommendation.

You don't like her father either, huh? Does anybody?

Of course, one assumes that Mona has a certain affection for the man because

married him.

But that makes a rather short list, don't you think?

I thought you were his brother.

Yes, that's right.

And I've known Irma here since she was a little baby.

Her father, her real father, was a fine man.

Ten million times finer than the one you introduced Mother to.

Tell him about it, Uncle Adrian. Please help me.

Well, that was many years ago, of course. I had a small job there.

I introduced her mother to my brother so that he could help straighten out the

business.

I was a friend.

Uncle Adrian, the artist.

Well, Napoleon took charge of the business.

And her mother.

And now he's practically taking charge of you, too, hasn't he?

Oh, who's the tactful one, Archie, darling?

You see, Mr. Bolton, my sister -in -law used to have an interest in my business

here. But Sumner made her stop, didn't he? He makes her stop anything that's

nice.

My brother is not only a boor, but he holds a personal

animosity toward me.

Well, I nurture his ill will.

On his last birthday, I gave him a bust of Napoleon.

I've seen it.

Now the bullet smashed it.

What? Last night, somebody tried to shoot him.

The police came to see Con about it.

So that's what you're so upset about?

Con thinks he should leave town.

He thinks staying here will just cause more trouble.

Well, there's nothing to stop you from leaving with him, is there?

Uncle Adrian, I don't intend to leave, and I don't intend for Con to leave.

Please, just talk to my mother and your brother.

Get them to leave us alone.

And tell Semner if he keeps stalling about my inheritance, I'll... I'll sue

Yeah, of course, of course.

Now, why don't I brew up a nice pot of tea...

And we'll discuss how to handle this problem, huh?

Let me speak to Leo, please.

Leo Lazarus.

Respectfully submit that... Hi, Della. Gary.

Mind erupting?

No, it's time for a break anyway.

What have you there?

Support on John Bolton. Current address, 1623 and a half, left in place, Venice,

California. Place of employment, the Lone Pine Club on Pioneer Boulevard,

in Venice.

And your letter of last week was personally delivered to Bolton by his

house manager.

All right.

It's nothing important.

Just wondered why you hadn't contacted me, that's all.

It might depend on what was in the letter.

Notification of an inheritance.

A relative in Kentucky left him $1 ,000.

Maybe the young man expected more money.

Did you talk to him, Paul?

No, he left the Lone Pine Club half an hour before my man got there. Left with

his girlfriend, Irma Hodge. Oh, here's Ella's.

Here's her phone number. Maybe you'll have better luck than I did.

Is there anything else in that report, Paul?

This Bolton is only somebody I was contacting for a lawyer back east.

Well, young Mr. Bolton had a visit last night from the police.

Police named Lieutenant Anderson.

Any luck, Della?

Miss Hodge has left with her parents for their cottage at Lake Donato.

And the maid isn't permitted to give their number there.

Oh, hi, Mrs. Wheatley.

No, no, they're out on the boat.

About an hour.

I'll tell them you phoned.

Come in!

Good morning, Irma.

Mr. Talley, what are you doing up here?

Well, it took me all morning to locate Sunder.

No way, the plant had any idea where he was.

Him and his protection.

All of a sudden, boom, we have to go to the cottage. No reason, it just has to

be. We can't stay in the city.

You'd think he was a visiting prime minister.

See his little friend out there?

Oh, you mean the deputy?

Yes. Oh, it's all just too ridiculous.

Well, I got these check authorizations the company lawyer wanted in the sign.

I suppose I could just leave them.

Hello? I'm in the village. Can you come on down?

If we're going to do it, we've got to do it now.

Do you really mean it?

Okay.

Now, don't worry, understand?

We'll be in Los Angeles in an hour and a half.

I love you.

I'm going to be down to the village, Mr. Talley.

Oh, you mean you want to lift?

No, no, thank you. I'll take our car.

I won't be here when my parents get back, so if you want to leave those

you better leave them a note.

Buy you a cup of coffee?

Look, Mr. Tyler. Irma.

You're not going to elope with him, are you?

Who? That young fellow your father doesn't like.

Who does he like?

Good question, Irma.

But I do think he's right.

Let's take that coffee.

That's Hallie calling from the village.

Oh? He thinks Irma has eloped.

Devon, give me a ride into town.

Cooper, do me a favor. Call and tell my wife I'm driving into the city. Be glad.

Deputy, tell the L .A. police I'm on my way down.

Harry, can you take a break? There's a distinguished visitor here.

How distinguished?

Lieutenant Anderson.

Come in.

Lieutenant.

I'm looking for a client of yours, Perry.

Con Bolton.

If you know where he is, I think you'd better tell me.

Con Bolton.

Tell her, do we have a client by that name?

Now, never mind that.

I know you wrote him a letter last week.

Here's the envelope.

I write letters to many people.

Where'd you find this?

In his room.

He wasn't there.

To be honest, Andy, I don't know where Bolton is.

I may hear from him, but it's not definite.

Well, I'd better hear from him promptly or there'll be a warrant out for his

arrest.

Andy.

Just out of curiosity.

Murder, Counselor.

Bella, do you have the phone number of Bolton's girlfriend?

She's at Lake Donato, remember? And the maid wouldn't give me the number.

I'll try again.

Hello?

Yes, this is Irma Hodge.

Miss Hodge, this is Perry Mason, the attorney.

It's important that I find Con Bolton immediately.

Oh, well, he just dropped me off to get a few things.

But I'm going to meet him downtown pretty quick.

Well, couldn't it wait?

Well, can't he write to you or something?

Well, all right. If you're sure, it won't take more than a few minutes.

Where's Don meeting you?

Well, that's not far. I can be there in 20 minutes.

Yes. Thank you, Miss Hodge. Thank you.

Get the phone number of the address that Paul can reach me. Tell him to start

digging in a hurry.

Oh, good afternoon. I hope you haven't kept waiting.

I have an appointment with Mr. Irma Hodge.

I see. I'm Irma's uncle, Adrian Hodge. My name is Mason.

Ah, yes. Well, make yourself at home, Mr. Mason.

Excuse me.

Miss Ives? Yes, it must be Mr.

Mason.

I wonder why Conn isn't here yet.

Irma, I... I just had a telephone call from the police.

Sumner's been killed.

I... I didn't get many details.

He was driving into the city and his car missed a turn.

Irma's stepfather, my brother, Summerhut.

I'd better call Mother.

You all right, Miss Fudge?

I wonder what's keeping Colin.

Are you sure he's coming?

Why shouldn't he come?

It's for you, Mr. Mason.

I'll take care of it.

Got some fast action this time.

A man named Sumner Hodge cracked his car up in the mountains.

Yes, I know.

Any reason to think it wasn't an accident?

Well, the state cops had none until they got a tip from the L .A. police.

Andy? Yep.

It seems there were two previous attempts on Hodge's life, so they took a

look at the car.

Perry, a mountain road is no place to drive without brakes.

How did they connect it with Con Bolton? I couldn't find that out. My source

didn't know, and Bolton won't say.

Have you talked to him?

He's in Della's office right now in one big hurry to get his inheritance in

cash. I have a hunch he wants it for traveling money.

Sit on him until I get there.

What's wrong? Why can't I give him $1 ,000?

I didn't tell him, Frank.

You don't know Sumner Hodge is dead?

His car went down a mountainside. The police think the brakes have been

with. Did you take a shot at him a couple of nights ago?

I'd advise you to see the police.

Clear up any connection you may have with the death of Sumner Hodge.

How much is that device going to cost me?

It's free.

For a thousand bucks, what would you advise?

The same thing.

I don't know anything about his death.

I didn't have anything to do with it, whatever happened.

Maybe Leo did it.

Who's Leo?

Leo Lazaroff.

Mr. Hodge stole something from him, an invention or something.

I'm going to think that maybe he's the one who took a shot at him the other

night.

Why do the cops want to push me around? Why don't they go push somebody like him

around? Sumner Hodge is nothing but a crook.

You said he stole a patent from your brother, Mr. Lazaro.

Max, that was my brother, a nut.

Believe me, Mr. Mason, a real nut.

Always monkeying around with chemicals, acids.

Blew himself up a couple of times.

Say, how are your teeth?

Do you have any fillings?

What do they use?

Gold? Silver?

Plastic, that's the thing.

My brother Max, he came up with a new type of gook that was better than

else's. But Hyde, he stole it from him, the crook.

I'd like to talk to your brother.

So would I. He's dead.

He had a seizure a year ago last May.

Didn't leave a thing. No formulas, no patents, nothing.

So, I just got it.

Did you talk to Mr. Hodge about this?

Sure I talked to him. He said he'd look into it. I should come back in a week.

And what happened?

I never saw him again. He gave orders to throw me out.

Say, do you know that somebody knocked him off?

Yes, where did you hear it? On the radio.

No, I could have done it myself.

I hated that man, Mr. Mason.

And I told that daughter of his the same thing when she was here.

Tell me the truth.

Did you ever for one minute think that Kahn might have fired the shot at your

stepfather the other night?

No. No, of course not.

Did you think it might have been this Mr.

Lazaroff then?

No, not really.

But it had to be somebody, didn't it?

Someone did shoot at Sumner and... Drake said you wanted to see me, Mr.

Mason. Oh, yes, Mr. Talley.

Thank you for coming over.

Irma tells me you suggested that she talk to Mr. Leo Lazaroff. Well, Irma was

upset about something her mother said.

Her stepfather might try to interfere with some money Irma would expect her to

get. They promised it to me, both he and mother.

How does that concern Mr. Lazaroff? I heard Adrian talking to him on the

telephone.

My stepfather was a crook, Mr. Mason, and he stole something from Leo

brother. Now, take it easy, honey.

I didn't like Napoleon any more than anybody else did.

I'd given up any hope of staying in business with him, in fact.

But there was never any suggestion of dishonesty on his part that I know of.

That's not what Leo Lazaro says.

Lazaro. A crank with a concocted yarn about his wild -eyed brother and a

the firm had worked on for years.

Mr. Talley, as Sumner Hodge's partner, can you suggest any possible reason why

Sumner was so afraid of Con Bolton?

Well, maybe it was because of his threats to withhold money from Irma

You see, Sumner may have exaggerated his fear of Con original.

You're suggesting that he wanted an excuse to keep the money from Irma?

Well, maybe he wanted to stall her.

You see, Sumner was buying my partnership in the business.

With cash?

$200 ,000.

You see, when I didn't get as excited about the new process as he did, he

exploded. As only he could do.

And insisted the company buy me out.

And he couldn't do that without tying up every asset in the family.

You didn't know Sumner.

When he made up his mind, it had to be now.

He knew I was interested in the South American investment that needed cash.

Well, look here, Mason. I don't know what was driving Sumner, but he was

certainly under some kind of pressure.

Of course, now that he's dead, you won't get the cash, will you?

The deal was never closed.

So, the money stays right where it is.

For the widow.

And daughter. A pretty fair assumption, Paul.

An assumption Sumner Hodges' killer must have made.

Mother.

It's all right, Daddy. It's all right.

I'd like to know who you're representing here, Perry.

Me? He's my lawyer.

Well, then you'd better advise him of his rights.

Because I have a warrant here for his arrest.

For murder.

Irma was only nine when her father died.

His financial affairs were in such disorder, I was unable to make any sense

of them.

And that was when Sumner came to the rescue.

In what way did he do that, Mrs. Hodge?

Well, first by straightening out the business, taking over the company

and then offering to look after us.

Irma and me.

I see.

Now, Mrs. Hodge, would you describe for us, please, the unusual incident that

occurred on the evening of April 29th? Do you mean...

About the shot that was fired through the window of Sumner's study?

Yes, that's what I mean.

Really? Smashed and busted Napoleon Bonaparte.

Now, Mrs. Hodge, was the defendant, Con Bolton, at your house any time that

evening? Yes, but he left about an hour before that.

Sumner objected to him being there.

And when did you next see the defendant?

Two days later, just before we left for Lake Ganado.

And would you tell us what happened that time?

They had a violent quarrel.

It ended when...

When Sumner... Well, he knocked Con down the front steps.

All I know is my father, my real father, had quite a lot of money once.

And it was always understood that when I came of age, I'd be given a share.

That's what my mother always said he'd planned.

But your real father, of course, made no specific provision for you in a will or

anything like that.

No. And since that time, it's been your stepfather who controlled the family

money. He controlled the family business. It was a partnership.

But what possible legal claim could you have to any such share of the money?

There wasn't anything legal.

But it wasn't begging either or trying to be greedy.

My stepfather and mother always promised it to me, that's all.

Miss Hodge, when was the last time you heard that promise?

Well, before I... Before you started dating the defendant, Tom Bolton, is

right? Wasn't it after that Sumner Hodge told you he might change his mind?

And wouldn't arrange your inheritance?

I don't remember.

After you told your friend, the defendant, what your stepfather

course of action did Con Bolden suggest?

Nothing. Con was just angry because he'd lost an inheritance, too, and... Well,

I mean, nothing. Nothing.

He didn't suggest anything.

All right, here. The master cylinder had been freshly punctured.

What would be the effect, Lieutenant Anderson, of driving a car whose master

cylinder had been punctured in this fashion?

Well, after a while of continuing to use the car's brake, the brake would no

longer have hydraulic pressure.

They wouldn't be able to stop the car.

Was a test made to determine how long that would take?

For someone driving a car like the Decedens, under the same conditions,

that is, from the village down to Los Angeles?

Yes, our tests show that the car would have gone out of control at

the same place where Sumner Hodge drove off the road.

And down the canyon to his death.

He ran out to Sumner's car and drove down to the village.

And what did you do then?

Well, first I tried to signal to Sumner. He and Mona were out on the lake in the

boat. But they didn't see me, so I followed Irma.

And continued your discussion with her in the village, is that correct?

Just for a moment.

Then he showed up, Mr. Bolton.

And they left.

Short of physical intervention, there was no way I could stop them.

Mr. Talley, would you describe for us the defendant's appearance at that time?

Well, I noticed his hands were dirty, and in addition to a bruise, there

to be a smear of oil or grease on his forehead.

And now, Mr. Talley, would you describe for us the condition of the road from

the cottage to the village?

Well, it's just a short distance, but it's winding and has a lot of curves.

Then it's very much like the road from the village on down to the city.

Yes, the same steep, winding road.

And now, did Miss Hodge appear to be having any trouble of any kind as she

the decedent's car from the lake to the village?

Well, none that I noticed.

She was going by the faff. I couldn't see her at all times.

But as far as you could tell, the brakes were in good working order at that

time. As far as I could tell? Yes, sir.

The Hodges have been coming up to their cottage for years.

Of course, I knew him well.

Well, would you recognize his car when you saw it?

I'm neither blind or stupid, Mr. Berger.

Anyway, I saw him drive off in it, asked me to phone his wife, and told the

deputy sheriff to let the Los Angeles police know he was on his way.

Now, how long was it after you saw the deceased drive away that you first

observed his car?

Seen it for a few minutes.

About a half hour earlier.

Then didn't see it till Mr.

Hodge drove off.

Now, did you notice anyone approach that car on that first occasion, half an

hour before the decedent drove away in it?

I sure did.

Him, that young idler. He was underneath the car doing something to it. That's

how he got grease on his hands and face.

Doing something to that car.

I was trying to fix the brakes.

Irma told me that they were pulling a little bit to one side while she was

coming down on the cottage.

Did you test the master cylinder? No, absolutely not.

If you were fixing the car, why did the two of you leave on your motorcycle?

Well, even after I adjusted the brakes, I still didn't like the way they worked.

I never even looked at the master cylinder.

I told Irma to forget about the car.

I told her to leave a note for Hodge, telling him to take it easy until he got

the brakes fixed.

Did you see the note, Con?

Oh, no. She said that she... No, I didn't.

According to his wife, Hodge merely went to the village to bring back the car.

Now, why did he decide to drive on to Los Angeles?

Stop us from getting married.

You're both of age, Con.

Hodge knew there was no way he could stop you.

He must have read something in the note that made him start for Los Angeles.

Why would Irma write anything like that?

I don't know.

Mr. Cooper, isn't it true that before he drove away, the deceased found a note

in his car?

I don't know where he found it. But there was a note.

Yes. He tore it up like he was pretty mad about it.

That's all. Thank you.

Your Honor, the prosecution feels that it has presented a sufficiently

conclusive case to move at this time that the defendant, Conn Bolton, be

over for trial in Superior Court on a charge of murder.

Mr. Mason, before the court rules on a motion presented by the prosecution, may

I ask, is it your intent at this preliminary hearing to present a

It is, Your Honor.

Very well. You may proceed, Mr. Mason. The defense calls as its first witness,

Mr. Leo Lazaroff.

You see, dentists have been using plastic fillings for a long time, only

sides of teeth, like a gumline cavity.

You see, it wasn't hard enough to bite with.

But that's what Max, my late brother Max Lazaroff, that's what he figured out.

Were you familiar with his process, Mr. Lazaroff?

Well, I'm not a chemist, but yeah, he explained it to me.

You know that new kind of glue that they use on spaceships instead of rivets?

Epoxy. He mixed that with the plastic.

It wouldn't expand or contract like metal.

And he could make it the same color as your own teeth.

But epoxy is toxic in the human system, isn't it? Sure.

Besides, it's poisonous.

But Max fixed that.

You see, that was his real gimmick. He should have made millions out of it. Do

you have Max's formula or any of his notes to substantiate this?

Nothing. He told me just before he died he turned it all over to this guy,

Sumner Hodge.

To Sumner Hodge or to the company?

What's the difference? It was the same thing.

But did he tell you specifically to whom they were given?

I'm not sure.

But like I said, so what?

Tell us what happened when you presented your claim in behalf of your late

brother.

Well, I went over to this dental supply place, and Mr. Hodge's brother arranged

me to get in and see him. Are you referring to Adrian Hodge? That's right.

was working there then, kind of his brother's assistant.

But he got fired, and Hodge wouldn't even see me.

Mr. Lazaroff, did you attempt to recover Max's notes on this process?

Look, and I couldn't even get past that secretary.

Let me rephrase the question.

Did you make any arrangements?

Or a deal with someone to obtain those notes.

Deal? Me?

Did I make a deal?

I see no reason for hiding it. Yes, there was a deal between Leo and myself.

Quite true, Mr. Mason.

And may I add, I felt no compulsions about it.

How did you happen to know Leo Lazaroff?

Well, I worked for the company at one time. I'm still in and out of there

occasionally. I even was the one who introduced Mona to Sumner Hodge.

He ended up running the company, of course, and married two as well.

Will you explain your efforts on behalf of Mr. Lazaroff, please?

Well, since I was, so to speak, responsible for Sumner's presence there,

a moral obligation to Leo.

Felt that he deserved some restitution.

And how did you accomplish this moral restitution?

Well, for one thing, I helped him try to find his brother Max's notes.

I was sure that Sumner kept them in a metal box that I'd seen in his office

once. Once? Yes, when I went back to try to find it again, it was gone.

That's when Sumner caught me.

Guess what I was up to, maybe. Anyway, that's when he told me not to come

there anymore.

In this search to prove your brother a thief, had you given him any reason by

word or act to fear for his life at your hands?

Oh, come now, Mr. Mason.

Me, a threat to Sumner?

You didn't say or do anything that would force him to...

Seek police protection?

Sumner was never afraid of me.

Did you ever hear him identify the person of whom he was afraid?

No, no, I didn't, Mr. Mason. Was it consistent with your brother's

and fearless character to seek police protection?

Well, he pulled a stunt like that once when we were kids.

Not with the police, though.

A stunt?

Teacher gave him a licking. Not a bad one. He deserved it.

But he added a few bruises of his own, some tears and a little blood, and the

poor teacher nearly got fired.

And for your brother, what were the results of that stunt?

Got an A on the course.

Fixed it so that every other teacher in the school either felt sorry for him or

was afraid to raise a voice against him.

But in school, he complained of make -believe injuries.

In this case, there were attempts on his life.

Well, that's what he said.

He said somebody tried to run him down, but that doesn't prove that anybody

actually did.

Well, there's certainly nothing imaginary about the shot that broke a

smashed the bust of Napoleon.

Look, there's nothing to prove that Sumner didn't fire that shot himself.

To make the police think that he was in danger. To make them give him

protection. Protection from a boy who was only trying to marry his

Well... Of course, it's only your opinion, not proper testimony. So, let's

about that metal box.

The what?

The one you didn't find in Sumner's office.

Now, where else did you go looking for it?

Well, I looked all over the building, many places, but it wasn't there.

Well, Sumner went up to the lake.

Did he keep the box there at his cottage, perhaps?

No. You mean you also searched the cottage?

No.

Mona told me. You discussed all of this with Sumner's wife?

She was helping you in search?

It was Mona that needed help. The way Sumner was acting, I had to try to do

everything I could to find out what was going on, to try to make things a little

happier. Precisely when did you and Mona talk about this?

It was that same day, the day Sumner died.

But she was at the lake that day.

So was I. I was at the village.

I met Mona in the village.

The district attorney has kindly turned over to us this metal box found in your

Los Angeles home, Mrs. Hodge.

Do you recognize it?

Yes. It belonged to my husband.

I saw him putting money into it on several occasions.

As you can see, it appears to have been forced open quite recently.

It contains no money, but there is a sheaf of papers.

Would you examine them, please?

I've never seen these before.

Is that your late husband's handwriting?

No, it isn't.

Would you turn to the last page, please?

The notation on the bottom.

Is that your late husband's handwriting?

Yes, yes, I'm sure this is.

Would you read the notation, please? And don't forget the list of agencies,

Sally.

Do you have any idea, Mrs. Hodge, who Sally is?

Why, yes.

My husband's secretary, Sally Young.

I don't have to look at them, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Hodge asked me to type a copy of those notes and give them to our head

chemist for further testing.

And Mr. Hodge's handwritten notation to you.

Agencies. What kind of agencies did he want listed?

Private detective agencies.

What was the report of the head chemist after further testing?

He said the process was perfect.

Do you know why Sumner Hodge was looking for a private detective?

No, I don't know. I'm only a secretary, Mr. Mason.

Maybe his partner, Jack Talley, knows.

I'm afraid I can't tell you much more than this, young.

For some time, I hadn't been active in the company.

Because you were selling your interest?

Yes, back to the company. At the insistence of Sumner Hodge, the papers

have been signed the day after the murder.

Thank you, Mr. Talley. Oh, before you leave the stand, there is something you

could clarify.

Certainly.

I believe you testified that when you observed Irma Hodge drive from the lake

cottage to the village...

She appeared to be having no trouble at all with the car.

That's right. Based on that observation, you concluded the car's brakes, at

least at that time, were functioning properly.

The speed she was going at?

I would say so, yes.

If it becomes necessary, Mr. Talley, the defendant and Irma Hodge are both

prepared to offer testimony that she did have trouble, that the brakes were

defective, and that Irma left a note in the car to that effect.

Then Sunder drove it off anyway?

Well, that doesn't make sense, Mr. Mason.

He was no fool.

Unless he never saw the note.

But you asked Mr. Cooper about that.

He saw the defendant working on the car, and then he saw Sumner tear up a note.

But Mr.

Cooper saw those two actions one half hour apart.

During that half hour, someone else could have slipped under the car,

with the master brake cylinder, and left a different note.

A note calculated to impel Sumner Hodge to drive back to Los Angeles.

A drive calculated with premeditated malice to kill him.

Yes.

Yes, I guess someone could have.

Now, about the contract Hod had prepared to buy you out, Mr. Talley.

Payment was to be cash, you said. The bank informed me this cash was to be in

the form of five separate $40 ,000 checks made out to bearer. Is that

Yes.

But I don't understand what... In other words, checks which could be cashed not

only by you, but by anyone presenting them.

Tell me, how many of those checks were really intended for you, and how many

does Sumner Hodge plan to keep for himself, plan to steal from his own

in other words? Oh, no, no. Look here.

Why would I let Hodge keep any money that... Because you, not Hodge, stole

Lazaroff's formula, and Sumner could prove it. How on earth could he prove

a ridiculous... Aren't you forgetting the private detective Sumner Hodge

The detective he undoubtedly hired to investigate the formula you said you had

developed? I...

I didn't forget.

So Hodge offered to buy you out using the company's money. But he also

blackmailed you into promising to kick back most of that money. Kick it back

into his own private pocket.

The moment those contracts were signed and the checks received, it would have

been all over for you, wouldn't it?

Unless, of course, Sumner Hodge happened to die first.

That's why he engineered an attempt on his own life, isn't it?

Why he used Con Bolton as an excuse to get police protection.

He was afraid of you.

Defeat with police protection?

Sure, I fixed the brakes.

I left them an ode, all right, from Irma, saying she was taking any money

was in his strong box, that same box he kept the formula I stole, that he was

stealing from me.

Hearing dismissed.

Deputy, take this man into custody.

Court adjourned.

What is the name of that private detective agency Hodge hired?

I haven't the faintest idea.

You don't know?

You don't expect me to do all your work for you, do you?

This train don't carry no gamblers, this train.

This train don't care, no gamblers This train This train don't care, no

gamblers No crapshooters, no midnight ramblers This train don't care, no

gamblers This train This train don't care, no jokers Well, this train

This train don't care, no jokers Well, this train

This train don't care, no jokers, no high -toned women, no cigar smokers.

this train don't care, no jokers. Well, this train.

Adrian.

Now, where have you been? I haven't seen you. Busy, and I wasn't sure I'd be

welcome. You know better than that.

Mona, would you let me try to make up for some of the trouble I caused?

It wasn't your fault, Adrian.

I brought you a peace offering.

For me?

They decided improvement.

They say that two is company and three is a crowd.

I'm not quite sure we're forfeiting, but it can't be here.

Say goodnight to Herman Kahn for me, will you?