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I've got a pair of shoes for you, Marla. How about it?

Please. I told you now.

What's the matter? You think the Duchess will find out and can your mother?

No, it isn't that.

I'm still in a bowl, that's all.

Don't feel wet in mine, dear. Come on, just one line, huh?

Oh, be safe. Why?

Oh, I don't feel well, that's why.

A couple more months like this, we'll be off the hook, Alan.

Bill, she's here again.

She? The girl.

Marla Carroll.

This is the second time. She was in last week, remember?

So what?

So her mother works for the Duchess. Bill, maybe she's only a companion.

we're open for business, Alan.

Everybody's business.

You know how the Duchess feels about us.

About this place.

Why get her any madder?

Sure.

Sure, the old lady's not as important as you think she is.

But why ask for trouble?

Why not just ask the kid to leave?

Why not ask everybody to leave?

That'll take care of the Jarrett brothers and make the Duchess real

Bill, look.

Our door is wide open. It'll stay open.

You hear me?

A public nuisance.

Oh, now, Bonnie Mae, that place is practically out in the country.

They're not harming anybody.

Country or no country, they're technically inside the city limits.

Oh, isn't there a curfew law or something that says young people must be

a certain hour?

There must be something you can do.

But you can't stop a legitimate business from operating.

Just because you don't like the owners?

It's like I told you last week and the week before.

You're still not getting the message, Orson.

I simply won't stand for this.

I refuse to permit a bowling alley in my city.

Bonnie Mae, once a long time ago, this was your father's city.

But times have changed.

And you can't prevent the Jarrett brothers from running a business and

living. And what about your business, Mr. Mayor?

Unless I'm mistaken.

The refinery I own and operate is the principal customer for that little

industry you run, in addition to your duties in office.

Oh, no.

Now, don't talk like that, Bonnie Mae. You know very well that without your

plant, I wouldn't have a business. That would give you plenty of time, wouldn't

it?

To go bowling.

Rose?

Bonnie Mae, for the love of Pete, will you listen to me?

Mrs. Carroll?

Is that telephone call for me, Mr. Stillman? It's about your daughter, Mrs.

Carroll. Marla?

There's something wrong, Orson.

What about my daughter?

She's in the hospital.

Well, Linda, what did you find out? The hospital definitely confirmed the

diagnosis on Marla Carroll.

It's definitely an amoebic infection.

Oh, dear.

That's just what I was afraid of.

But she's perfectly all right. There's no danger.

They're letting her mother take her home today.

That's the third case the hospital has reported in two days, Linda.

Seriously, an epidemic.

You want some more coffee?

Linda, I've always said only one -third of an iceberg is visible above water.

Yes, I've heard you always say it. I'll get you a donut, too. Oh, Linda.

Maybe you'd better start calling the doctors in town. Make me a list of every

related case they've handled this last week. You know, stomachache, gastritis,

suspected appendicitis, and so on.

Y 'all.

Y 'all.

Maybe you and the other health inspectors better go to work on this

dysentery thing. Start talking to the cases.

See if they can remember every place they've been this past week.

Everything they've eaten, and every place they've eaten it.

We've been at the ballpark the day before.

We had hot dogs and popcorn and some soda pop.

A couple of beers at the bowling alley.

I'll call the doctor like you asked.

Rose, hadn't you better look in on your daughter upstairs? Make sure she's

feeling all right. Oh, yes.

Jack, you can wait outside.

Oh. Oh, sure, sure.

Jack Baker.

Casaro's middle -aged LaFario.

I thought he was just the maintenance man at the refinery.

I find him useful for odd jobs.

Is that what hauling me over here is, an odd job?

Well, it's nice to know where a man stands.

Oh, stop it, Mac. Sit down.

I had some sandwiches and coffee made for you.

I'm not really hungry and I have a lot of work to do.

All right.

What do you want?

You should be hungry.

You haven't eaten since breakfast.

You know a good deal.

Don't you touch it. Of course.

I'm an eccentric old biddy who's always sticking her nose where it's not wanted.

Oh, now, now, don't you say a thing like that.

Barney May, you've done too much for this town, you and your father.

Wouldn't it have been a town to begin with without him and the refinery he

built? Or anything left of the town without you?

You don't think I'm an interfering old battle axe who deludes herself playing

lady of the manor? Oh, don't be ridiculous.

To concern yourself about other people's welfare certainly can't be called. Yes,

other people.

Like Marla Carroll, Rose's daughter.

I don't understand.

Max, I know why you're working so hard right now.

And I know you found the source of the infection, too, haven't you?

I really don't know where you get your information.

No. Because you found that several people who became ill have eaten in one

place. Just one common place.

The bowling alley.

No, Bonnie Mae.

I mean, yes.

I grant you certain cases have eaten there.

But the bowling alley is clean. Quite clean.

I have inspection reports.

One of the best kitchens in town.

But the people did get sick there.

I tell you, I don't know yet what the source of the infection is.

What are you going to do about it?

What do you think I should do?

Close that place down.

I'm a help officer.

I can't go jumping to conclusions, putting men out of business because...

Residents of my town have been poisoned, Max.

At the bowling alley.

Marty May, I know how you feel about the Tarras brothers.

If you don't go down and close that place tonight, my attorney will be in

in the morning to demand that it be closed.

As a public nuisance.

I'm sorry.

I have to go.

There are reports I still haven't checked.

When I do have enough data, I'll certainly take whatever steps necessary.

Yes, and you'll take them quickly, so that people won't have to suggest to the

city council that what Tesoro really needs is a better director of city

one with a bit more courage.

I know she gets a little wild sometimes, but she is on the right track, isn't

she? Mr. Baker, if you're going to see her... It would seem if the Duchess had

something to really get mad about, wouldn't it?

What are you talking about?

Peace, that's all.

And what happens when people don't just ride along?

Ah, the better have her way.

boss doesn't pay me anything to take any care from you.

And I don't intend to.

I'm sorry, but that's not the way I see it. Well, now, what's that supposed to

mean? Well, if you and your brother would just close up shop.

Get out of town.

Don't you understand?

Oh, but I love...

police. Why bother?

Maybe I should have called the Duchess Director.

Who did it?

Jack Baker. A couple of his stooges.

You know, she's really got an army.

Yeah.

Well, there you are.

That's pretty, but sterile.

Is this the ladies' shoe department?

Paul. Paul Drake.

Hiya, Bill. Fine, fine.

You got a girl with you tonight?

No, but I got gobs of neophytes down here on vacation.

Paul, you know my brother Alan, don't you?

Hi, Paul.

Hi. What hit you?

Oh, uh, I just fell into a set of brass knuckles, I'll bet.

I've seen the results before.

Excuse me. See you in a minute, Mr. Sheriff?

Of course.

Kind of a busy night for Carl.

Oh, look, Paul, I'll see you down there in a little while, all right?

Which side of the ball is up?

Ask him how we get this thumb out.

No, crack.

This is a game of skill.

I've learned a lot since I last saw you, Joe. Well, don't just talk about it.

Prove it.

Now, it's a matter of form and concentration.

There's a mirror over there you can watch yourself in. I was watching my

the other night. You know what I found out? Sure.

That to love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.

Very funny.

All right, wise guy. I'll see you about this.

Paul, can I see you a minute?

Sure.

This is Bill Jarris. He and his brother Alan own a place on the street.

Mrs. Kelly and Mr. Kelly. How do you do?

Hey, this is a nice place you have here, Mr. Jarris. Now, all you need is

someone to give lessons to guys like Kelly.

I mean, how do you do?

I thought maybe your friend Mason was with you today.

Perry? No, we just put him on a plane for Paris.

Oh, I see.

Well, make yourselves at home and...

I'll see you later, maybe, Paul.

Is something wrong, Mr. Jarvis?

Joe?

Well, I just got this thing and I wanted a lawyer to take a look at it, that's

all. What is it?

We just got here from San Francisco, you know.

Yes, the Kellys are on their vacation.

Later on, we're going to take them to see the Sunset Strip, aren't we, Paul?

sorry, Joe. Would you mind?

I'm a lawyer.

Let's see it.

What would you like to know about this?

Well, the sergeant says it's official, but that looks perfectly legal to me.

Oh, I bet it's legal.

What this paper orders you to do, Mr. Jarrett, I'm afraid you'll have to do.

We can't stop it. You mean stop now?

Yeah, now, tonight.

No. Well, why not?

Well, this document has the weight of a judicial order, and only a competent

court can act on it. You mean dismiss it or affirm it? Either way.

And in the meantime?

In the meantime, Mr. Jarvis, it's just like I told you.

Your bowling alley is officially closed.

Equally, we're assigned there Dr.

Max Taylor, the director of city health.

I'm afraid you have no alternative, gentlemen.

Better start getting your customers out right now.

Good morning, Mrs. Willard.

I'm Joe Kelly. This is an old friend of mine, Paul Drake.

Do you want to see me?

Yes.

For the moment, I seem to be representing William and Alan Jarrus.

You mean you represent the country corner's bowling alley.

Is your difficulty with the bowling alley rather than its owners?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Mrs. Wilman, the Jarrus brothers have a considerable investment in their

business. A prolonged delay keeping their place closed could put them in a

difficult financial situation.

Delighted to hear it.

You're very frank, aren't you?

Their place is the source of corruption.

Corruption?

Well, if you mean this so -called epidemic of amoebic infection, I feel

better tell you that we had a couple of experts come in from Los Angeles last

night and go over the bowling alley kitchens.

So far, they haven't even found a dirty plate.

Of course, I haven't talked to Dr. Max Taylor yet. He seems a difficult person

to find.

However, from what I've heard, I thought perhaps if I came to you, you might...

Mr. Kelly, a bowling alley is a focusing point for gambling.

Drinking. An immoral gathering place for disreputable people.

Martin Luther didn't seem to think so when he built the bowling alley for his

young people to use in his own home and bowled with them. I don't care.

I will not permit any festering evil to infect my city.

Mrs. Wilmot, I simply hope that we wouldn't have to go to court to have the

bowling alley reopened. Well, I didn't issue the order to close it.

Now, Mr. Kelly, if you'll excuse me, I'm very busy. Looking for another place to

close down as a menace to the sovereignty of the Duchess of Thessoro?

sorry, Mrs. Wilmott, but after spending a whole night crawling under sinks and

soaring through garbage for bugs that just aren't there... Hold it!

You heard Mrs.

Wilmott. She's busy.

Now, do you walk out of here, or do I have you thrown out?

It's all right, Jack.

I'm sure the gentlemen are leaving.

Rose will show you out.

Good day, Mrs. Willick.

Okay, so I shouldn't have blown my top in there. Well, it didn't make any

difference. It was my mistake suggesting we go in there.

How do you use this thing?

You want to reach your wife at the hotel? I'll do it, Joe.

You know, accusing that bowling alley of serving poison food is a cheap two -bit

frame.

The number is 272 -2199.

Of course, what really makes me mad is the fact that you gave up the first

of your vacation.

Operator, let me have 272 -2199.

That's Perry's number.

Right.

Hello, I'd like to speak to Mr.

Della? Joe Kelly.

Yeah, fine, fine.

Look, which judge does Perry go to when he wants a petition in a hurry?

Yeah, temporary restraining order, ex parte.

Oh, fine.

Fine, then I'll meet you over at the courthouse right away.

Good.

You don't mind driving around that way, do you? I don't. You can have the whole

car.

Now, wait a minute, Paul.

I like trouble as much as you do, but if you stick around here in Cesaro...

Don't worry, Joe. I'm not going to tango with the Duchess again.

I just want to find out if two and two add up to four, that's all.

Which two and two?

Mark's on a face and a set of brass knuckles.

Bill? So that's it.

Who was that?

That's Bill's kid.

Kind of a nervous babysitter, aren't you? Or were you expecting somebody with

brass knuckles?

I'm sorry, Paul.

Well, why didn't you answer the bell?

Well, I was putting the kid to sleep.

I figured it was a nursemaid. She's got a key, but she always rings anyway.

And then you thought it was Jack Baker.

Why him?

I saw the brass knuckles.

Okay.

Yeah.

Baker and his boys.

Another message from the Duchess, maybe.

Get out of town.

Alan, exactly what is this stuff between you two and the Duchess?

Paul, I've tried to keep things peaceful.

And Bill, well, I guess he hasn't wanted to drag out all his troubles, but...

Apparently not.

Of course, I haven't seen much of Bill until recently.

He only saved my life once, but that was a long time ago.

I didn't know he had a child. Didn't even know he had a wife, in fact.

He doesn't.

Anymore.

How does the baby tie in with the Duchess?

She's his grandmother.

Bill married the Duchess' only child.

Oh.

Now I begin to see what we stepped into.

Bill wasn't exactly the old gal's choice.

He refused to work in a refinery.

That made her mad.

They refused to live in her home, leaving her alone there with just her

companion and her companion's kid.

That made her even madder.

So she got even with Bill.

She disinherited her daughter.

Where is her daughter? Bill's wife.

She's dead.

She was a little doll.

A very little doll.

She and Bill were on their way back into town from out of state.

They only got as far as my place and the baby decided to come a month early.

It was raining and phones were out.

The streets flooded.

I had to grab the closest doctor I could find.

I guess he did the best he could.

The little doll died.

Who was this doctor?

Dr. Taylor.

Dr. Max.

Taylor.

Temporary restraining order?

But this commands the city of Tesoro to allow the country coroner's bowling

alley to remain open, pending a hearing on the granting of a permanent

injunction. Now, good heavens, Mr. Kelly, how long is that going to take?

Five days.

And at the end of those five days, the burden of proof is on the city of Tesoro

to establish, to the satisfaction of the court, that the bowling alley does in

fact constitute a public nuisance.

Now, see here, Mr. Kelly.

Tesoro is in the county of Los Angeles. It's not the city.

And whatever high -handed tactics you can get away with in San Francisco will

not work here.

Seems to me, Mayor, the only high -handed tactics have been those used by

city health office.

Now, is this Dr.

Taylor prepared as an individual as well as a city official to defend himself in

a lawsuit?

What for?

False statements concerning the quality of the services or product of a

business, which are intended to cause that business financial harm, and

in fact, do so.

No, no, they're not false statements, sir. Wait a minute.

It's not false to say my bowling alley is a source of pollution and infection?

Come off it. You've got sanitation reports.

This whole business is no more than a frame -up to close me down, and you know

it, both of you. I resent your implication, young man. I bet you do,

not as much as you'd resent losing the Duchess' business.

Please, please.

The bowling alley simply must be the source of pollution and infection.

You can prove that?

Well... Well, perhaps not like proving it in a court of law. There is

no other source of infection. Oh, no, no, no. I didn't say that. Oh, so you

could be wrong, Max.

Well, it's possible.

Well, this is my opinion.

Supposing we continue this conversation in the city attorney's office, Mr.

Kelly. Perhaps we can have a hearing in two or three days instead of the usual

five. After who knows how many more people get sick, perhaps die.

No.

Gentlemen, we've just had two more new cases. That makes a total of 12.

And all 12 of those cases have just one eating place in common, the country

corner's bowling alley.

Now, I'll admit we don't know the exact source of the pollution there yet.

I'll even admit the place seems clean. I couldn't believe this at first myself.

But give us a chance. Give us time.

Because if you force us to let that place open again, I warn you, this town

face a major epidemic.

Don't listen to him, Mr. Kelly. He and the mayor are in the Duchess' pocket. It

isn't true what he says.

Bill. They couldn't close us down any other way other than pulling this stunt.

I tell you, it isn't true. It's a frame -up. Bill, an entire community could be

affected. I signed a petition for that restraining order. Me.

It's been served. I refuse to withdraw it. If you withdraw it, Bill, and these

fellas are wrong, the law protects you with damages.

The only law here is what the Duchess wants.

She wants my son.

She has to break me through the bowling alley to get him.

She won't get away with it.

I'll do anything.

Do you know what you've been taking?

I have.

For the truth.

Did you find it?

I think so.

I think for once I'm doing the right thing.

Your phone hasn't stopped ringing. The mayor, the city attorney's office, and

course, the duchess.

Which one would you like me to call back first?

None of them.

Get me the chief engineer of the city water department.

What's that?

It's Tesoro's main water line.

It's the smaller one where the county line jogs back and forth to the spur.

Now, that refinery the duchess owns is in the same general area.

But it uses bottled water and water from its own wells for its commercial needs.

In other words, the refinery is outside the county line, so it isn't connected

to the Tesoro system.

I wish I knew what you were talking about.

Della, I thought you said you spoke to Perry today.

Well, I did.

He's leaving Rome and on his way to Lisbon.

Well, what did you talk about?

Well, he said that he's glad that you're using the office.

And that we should be as much help to you as we can.

And... What did you say to him?

Della, this spur line, it only supplies one place.

The bowling alley.

Oh.

Oh.

And I said, Perry, be careful what kind of water you drink.

Exactly. Now, we know the bowling alley itself is as clean as a whistle.

So, unless Bill is right, unless this whole thing is a big frame -up, what

possible source of infection could there be but the water?

Joe, I thought you persuaded Bill to keep that bowling alley closed.

Persuaded? I practically broke his arm, but he finally agreed to give him a

little more time for investigation. Why?

Well, he changed his mind. He tried to open the place himself.

Oh, of all the stupid things to do.

Don't worry. He didn't do it. They wouldn't let him.

What happened, though?

Doc Taylor had their water supply shut off.

So he's on the same track, huh?

Della, call me if you hear from either Bill or Alan.

Where can I reach you? Dr.

Taylor's office.

Well, I do.

I found him like that just before you got here.

Mr. Kelly, my brother Alan, where is he? We don't know. Paul Drake is out

looking for him now. That means Sadie's alone with the baby.

Sadie? Sadie Neumann, the nursemaid.

She has her own family. She should have been relieved hours ago.

Well, if we don't find Alan soon, I'll send a nurse out there until we can make

other arrangements. Now, let's get to your problem.

That baby is my problem.

The only one that counts.

I'm sure of that, Bill. And I'm equally sure that problem will be compounded if

we don't get you out of here. Now that the Duchess has me in.

I wish us both luck. Relax, you're in the hands of the county, not the city of

Tesoro. Now, tell me, what happened tonight?

Well, nothing happened. That's just it.

I stopped by at the house.

The city told me that Dr. Taylor had called, wanted me to come by the office,

that it was important.

I went, found him dead.

The mayor then, you walked with him before I could do anything about it.

And that's all? So help me, that's all.

Now, look, Bill, if I'm going to help Paul, my brother Alan can find him.

Yep, right here in jail.

Oh, for a paycheck. What for?

Well, he chased down the city's water engineer and fought with him about

the water back on. Then when the boys in blue arrived, he fought with them.

The complaint reads like a one -man insurrection. Mr. Kelly? Yeah, I know.

him out.

All right, Paul, let's go.

Absolutely no consideration for other people. You and your brother ought to be

ashamed of yourself.

Leaving this adorable child with me knowing, knowing full well I had to get

to my family. Well, it's the last time. I tell you that, it's the last time.

What time tomorrow?

I'll call you.

Good night.

Oh, Mrs. Norman.

You're forgetting your gloves.

I didn't wrinkle.

Thank you.

I'll bet when she gets home, she jumps down the throat of the first person who

says hello.

Say, Alan, do you have a shovel and some sort of a crowbar around the house?

Yeah, in the garage. Why?

And a long tape measure?

I guess so. What do you want them for?

I'll tell you later. Would you get them for Paul, please?

Oh, Adela?

Joe Kelly.

Listen, you know those maps I was going over?

Would you take them and grab a cab and meet me over here at the Jarrah's house

just as quick as you can?

Mm -hmm.

Fine.

From this point, where I'm standing, to that property line over there is your

direction, Paul.

Direction for what?

Look for soft earth.

Someplace where somebody might have been digging recently, and then you dig.

You're not looking for a body.

No, no, Della, just the truth.

Paul, you remember Dr. Taylor's money shoes?

Huh?

Well, keep going.

the decedent, Dr.

Max Taylor, phoned the city water engineer and instructed him that the

feeding the Tesoro bowling alley was to be turned off. Is that right?

That's right.

Dr. Taylor explained that the bowling alley was the only place taking water

that spur line and would be the only place affected.

He didn't say why he wanted it turned off.

He just said that he was ordering it turned off.

I see. Now, after this phone call from the decedent, What did Dr. Taylor do?

Well, he turned to me and said, Linda, call Bill Jarrus and get him for me. I

called his house. He wasn't in.

I called the bowling alley, and he wasn't there either.

So Dr.

Taylor told me to call his house back and have Mr. Jarrus call just as soon as

he got in. Did Dr. Taylor tell you anything else?

Well, he told me to leave.

It was late, after working hours.

And did you notice as you were leaving what Dr. Taylor was doing?

Just as I left, I heard him on the telephone.

He was talking to the mayor.

Yes.

Doc Taylor did call me to tell me that he'd ordered the water supply to the

bowling alley turned off.

I must say, it seemed like a pretty drastic step to me.

But Doc just wouldn't elaborate on his reasons.

Even though I warned him it could lead to serious trouble.

Now, after this phone call from the decedent, Mayor Stillman, what did you

Well...

I decided to discuss the matter with Mrs. Wilmot.

She's rather concerned about civic matters of this nature.

I see.

Did you call her?

No. I drove out to her place.

And the girl, Marla Carroll, that's Mrs.

Wilmot's companion's daughter.

Marla answered the door. She told me that Mrs. Wilmot had gone to bed for the

night. She wasn't feeling too well.

And that her mother, Mrs. Carroll, had gone to the movies with Jack Baker.

Oh, you didn't speak to Mrs. Wilmot then?

No, I wasn't going to trouble her in bed or sleep.

I drove back to town, to City Hall, and I walked in on Bill

Jarrus standing over the dead body of Dr.

Taylor.

There were signs of a struggle in the decedent's office. A few things

overturned, some of them on the floor.

And as did the defendant, William Jarrus.

Were there any signs either as to his person or to his clothing to indicate

he had been involved in any such struggle?

He had blood on his clothing and some blood in his right hand.

Was it his blood, Sergeant?

No, sir, it was not his own blood. It was blood that matched the type of the

decedent's blood.

And as to the murder weapon used to kill Dr. Taylor, was that examined in your

police laboratory, and if so, at what results?

Yes, sir, it was examined, and there were clearly defined fingerprints on the

handle.

The fingerprints of the defendant, William Jarrus.

Mr. Baker's bringing my daughter down.

She's been very ill, Mr. Kelly.

I hope you won't upset her.

I'll try not to, Mrs. Carroll, but there are a few questions I must ask her.

After that police officer testified, I didn't think there were any questions

left to be asked.

Bill Jarrus didn't know Dr. Taylor was already dead.

He knelt down to see if there was anything he could do for him.

And that, of course, explains the blood and the fingerprints.

In a murder trial, Mrs. Wilmot, the so -called facts are examined in the

of beyond a reasonable doubt.

Very often the truth is no more than a matter of relative believability.

As far as I'm concerned, that does explain the blood and the fingerprints.

You're Marla Carroll?

Yes. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

No.

Why, should I?

Fine. Please sit down.

Now, the night Dr.

Taylor was killed, Mayor Stillman did come out to the house here?

Yes. He was here and then he left right away.

Did he see Mrs.

or speak to Mrs. Wilmot?

No.

Of course.

Mrs. Wilmot was in her room.

Well, I suppose so.

Sleep?

I guess so.

You know that for sure because you went in to look?

I... That's enough, Mr. Kelly.

The child isn't on the witness stand.

No, not yet.

I'm sorry, Marla, but I have a subpoena here ordering you to appear in court

tomorrow. Oh, the dirty... Jack? As a matter of fact, I have subpoenas for all

of you.

Miss Garrow?

Miss Wilmot?

And tomorrow, Mr. Baker, we'll see if you're as quick with your brains as you

are with your fists.

Court reconvenes at 10 in the morning today.

So there can't be any question of it.

Let me ask you again.

Miss Bonnie Mae Wilmett, the night of Dr. Taylor's killing, was at home in her

room? Yes. Asleep?

Yes. And she did not leave the house that evening?

No.

Miss Carroll, at the bowling alley the night you became ill, you were with a

young man, were you not?

Yes? Suppose I were to tell you that the young man has been subpoenaed.

That he is prepared reluctantly to testify that he visited you at Mrs.

house the night of the murder. But he promised... That he visited you at your

suggestion because you said you were alone in the house. Now, Miss Carroll,

actually happened that night?

Well,

she... Mrs. Wilmot told Mother Mr. Baker to go to the movies.

And then she said she was going up to her room.

Well, I saw her go out the side door.

Get in the car and drive away.

All right, so they weren't my gloves you found at the Jarrah's house.

Whose were they?

Mrs. Wilmots.

Well, she was the boy's grandmother, wasn't she?

There wasn't any harm in letting her see the boy, was there?

Your Honor, on the basis of the memorandum submitted to the court, a

which has been furnished to the district attorney, who stipulates there, too, I

repeat for the record.

The witness called by the defense has been judged hostile for purposes of

examination.

So noted, Mr. Kelly. You may proceed.

Mrs. Wilman, you had a daughter, I believe, who died about a year ago. She

in turn, survived after death by an infant son, your grandson?

Yes. Who I gather stands to inherit the oil refinery.

No.

My will specifically disinherits my late daughter and her descendants.

May I ask the name or names of those who are designated as your beneficiaries?

Your Honor, I object to this line of questioning in that it's completely

immaterial to the crime's charge of the information. I submit, Your Honor, the

evidence is admissible to establish the witness's bias.

Bias? Counselor, that would be for purposes of impeaching the witness.

And hostile or not, she's your witness.

So far, you haven't let her produce any testimony about the defendant at all,

let alone any testimony damaging to the defendant.

Why is Mr. Berger not necessarily toward the defendant, but toward the murdered

man, Dr.

Max Taylor, who attended the witness's daughter when she died in childbirth?

The witness's daughter, Mr.

Kelly, happened to be the defendant's wife.

Exactly, Mr. Berger. In which case, the evidence is neither collateral nor

immaterial, but goes to the heart of the question of motivation.

Your Honor, I'll stand on my original objection.

I shall permit you to proceed, Mr. Kelly, subject to a later decision by

court to strike if the evidence is not connected up.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Now then, Mrs. Wilmott, the name or names of those designated testamentarily

as your beneficiaries.

A trusted employee and a devoted friend.

My sole heir is Rose Carroll.

Why did you disinherit your daughter?

She'd made a wrong marriage.

I was only trying to bring her to her senses, that's all.

And you disapproved of Bill Jarrus as your son -in -law?

I certainly did.

And then after her death, you approved of him even less.

Would you blame me?

It was his fault that she died.

He kept her gallivanting around the country.

I wasn't even there.

I wasn't even called.

Mrs. Wilmot.

I can certainly understand the bitterness of your sorrow, even your

hatred of Bill.

But I gather from Mrs. Carroll, Mrs. Neumann, and others that your hatred has

steadily increased since that time. Why?

Bill Jarris is a murderer.

He killed my daughter just as surely as he killed Dr. Taylor.

No. No!

Order. Order in the court.

I didn't know it at first.

He kept her traveling around the country when she was already sick,

undernourished, burning up at the monument.

That's a lie.

Bill, stop it. But you mustn't say that.

I said stop it.

Mrs. Wilmot, is that what your daughter's regular doctor told you about

physical condition?

Doctor?

The way they were living?

Parties, travel.

No time to get a decent night's sleep, let alone... Mrs. Wilmot, would you be

interested in a statement given by a doctor in Arizona who examined your

daughter not two days before her death?

whose records show that she was in perfect health, she didn't even have a

was in good condition to make that trip back to Los Angeles?

No. No, that couldn't be possible.

Who used the word undernourished, pneumonia?

Dr. Max Taylor.

He delivered the baby.

He... He...

Mrs. Wilmot, whatever stories Dr.

Taylor told you in private, it didn't occur to you that they might not have

true? There might have only been desperate fiction to hide his own

guilt.

I... I don't know.

But of course, whatever happened that tragic night, whatever bungling accident

took the life of your daughter, lies buried with her, doesn't it? And Dr. Max

Taylor. So now tell us.

Why did you go recently, secretly, to visit your baby grandson?

I...

I just had to look at it.

That's all.

Was that your first visit that night?

No.

I'd been there once before.

I couldn't help it.

Now then, Mrs. Wilmoth, will you tell us this?

Did you order Jack Baker and two of his men to beat up the defendant's brother?

What?

What are you talking about?

I see.

And one final thing, Mrs. Wilmoth. Obviously you have sources within the

hall that keep you well informed.

Yes. So did you know of Max Taylor's decision to shut off the water, for

instance? Did you know what prompted that decision?

No.

These sources have failed to tell you, Mrs. Wilmot. Who?

Who were they?

A friend of Jack's.

She... She worked in Max's office.

And then there was Austin, of course.

Austin still... It, uh, the pollution, uh, wasn't in the bowling alley at

all. No.

Apparently the pollution occurred where the city's spur water line passes close

to the oil refinery's sewage facilities. Is that right?

Well, that doesn't necessarily mean that there's anything wrong with the city's

water lines.

As I understand it, it's possible for seepage to occur into perfectly sound

pipe. But the refinery is about 25 years old and underground.

There's a crazy quilt of gas lines and feeder lines and runoffs, so that

out exactly where the trouble is and fixing it could mean that the plant

have to be closed down for weeks or even for months, depending on the extent of

the repairs.

That plant, I understand, barely operates in the black. I suppose an

might think that any shutdown could lead to the plant being closed permanently,

in which case, of course, you'd lose your best customer.

Is that why you went running straight to Mrs. Wilmot? I am not an alarmist, Mr.

Kelly. But Doc Taylor did say that the plant would have to be closed down.

Yes, closed.

As mayor, there is something you could have done to somehow cover up the whole

matter. Oh, no, not even if I wanted to.

The refinery is outside the city. It's outside the county, Mr. Kelly.

And that report was for the state. They had to be informed.

And Doc Taylor told me that even as he was talking to me, Miss Terry was typing

the report. I could hear her.

It was late. After working hours, just as I was going out the door, I heard him

talking to the mayor.

Now, you weren't actually going out the door, were you? You were actually still

in the office typing that report.

Yes, I did type the report.

I finished it, he signed it, and I left.

But I checked.

The state never received such a report. The police didn't find it, and it's not

in your office.

I had nothing to do with Dr. Taylor's death.

Please believe me. He was alive and well when I left him.

Alive and well with that report on his desk.

You can ask... Yes, Miss Terry.

Yes, I can ask the person you always contacted with news like that. The same

person you must have called that night right after you left the office.

Mr. Jack Baker.

Sure, she called me. So what? She was a friend of mine and Mrs. Wilmots.

Linda was always calling with information.

Such things, for instance, as the truth about the death of Mrs. Wilmots'

daughter? No.

Shall we recall Linda Terry to the stand and ask her whether or not Dr.

Taylor ever let the truth slip out and whether she ever told you about the

tragic happenings of that night?

Well, she might have mentioned it to me, but so what? There was nothing anybody

could do about it. Oh, but there was.

Didn't you use the information to force Dr. Taylor to close the bowling alley

before he actually was ready to?

Well, he didn't need to be blackmailed, did he?

And there was a reason for closing the place. And for closing the refinery?

Oh, look, I don't know what you're getting at. The night the doc was

was in a movie sitting next to Rose Carroll.

Yes, in a movie theater just around the corner from the city hall.

Oh, what are you trying to say?

That you could have slipped out of the theater, around the corner to the city

hall, up to Max Taylor's office.

And destroyed the report which condemns a total closure of the refinery.

After you fought with and killed Dr.

Taylor. It's a dirty lie. I was with Rose. I couldn't.

Ask her.

Yes. Yes, he was in the theater with me.

Mrs. Carroll, is there a Mr.

Carroll? No.

I'm a widow.

Like Mrs. Wilmott.

You were aware, were you not, that you were the sole beneficiary of the oil

refinery and Mrs. Wilmott's will?

Yes. She made no secret of that.

This date with Jack Baker, was it the first time you went out with him?

No.

Jack and I, we've been seeing quite a good deal of one another.

Then I assume you were aware about two weeks ago he bought a ring.

What the jewelry refers to as an engagement ring.

Of course I was aware of it.

It was for me.

We're engaged.

No. No, it's a lie.

Linda, no. Please.

He can't be engaged to you.

It's impossible.

Not two weeks, but over three months ago, he gave me a ring.

I know. I promised to keep it a secret.

But you've got to tell.

You've got to.

Her date with Jack Baker, was it before or after he found out you were going to

inherit the refinery?

It was after.

Through you, he hoped to end up owning that refinery, but a panicky, greedy man

might think there'd be nothing to own if Dr.

Taylor's report were sent out and the state closed that refinery. Isn't that

right?

I... Mrs. Carroll, Jack Baker, was he with you in the next seat all through

movie? He's sad to say if I were asked.

Come on, Mark.

Never have another chance like it.

All right, we can just stay here in our own private bowling alley.

You'd better pack in plenty of supplies.

How long will it take to run in that new water line, Bill?

Well, Del, we figure about two months longer than our second mortgage will

up. Well, stop figuring so much.

The Dutchess and I have just been down to the bank, and she seems to think that

you and the refinery might as well sink or swim together.

I'd like to help, if you don't mind, Bill.

or he was a grandmother.

I think this is about where we came in, darling.

With a bowling lesson.

Hey, I know you.

You're my wife.

Well, I certainly don't see what's so hard about that.