Original subtitles

Thank you, little lady. I'll be right back.

Ah, here's a beauty.

I could give you a real good deal on it.

Ah, no, no.

That's too rich for my blood.

Say, how much for this little beauty right here, huh? It's a one -owner

Marked down to $225.

I don't have time for horse trading, boy.

There's a hundred bills right here, tax included.

Take it or leave it.

I'll take it.

I'll get the papers for you. Thank you, Tony.

Mr.

Don't say nothing.

Don't even move. Just stand right there and let me look at you.

I didn't believe it was possible, but you are even more prettier than your

pictures. Oh, Millie, I sure am glad to meet you. I'm Luke Tolliver.

I should have known from your letters how you talk.

Oh, I've meant every word I wrote, too, ma 'am. You better believe that.

I believe you, Lucas.

Lucas? Oh, now, doesn't that sound just a little standoffish?

Why don't you call me Lou?

That's more simple, like the kind of man I am. You know, just a simple man with

a simple taste.

Oh, I'm such a boob.

Here I've been thinking about your coming for weeks now, and I let you

the doorway like a stranger.

You know, you...

You sure do have to hand it to modern science, bringing you and me together

this, huh?

That little old computer clicked off our numbers just right, didn't it?

Because you're lonely, I suspect, and I'm lonely, and, well, we're going to

it off.

Thanks very much, ma 'am. I found just what I was looking for.

I do declare, Millie, if you ain't something special, you cook almost as

you look.

I bet you stay awake nights just thinking of things to make me happy.

It pleases me if I please you, because, well, I've been thinking... About?

You and me?

Well, ever since I've been spending these past few days here in this nice

spread of yours, it's all you said it was in your letters.

Well, it isn't anything big or fancy, but my husband did leave it to me free

clear. I suspect he left piles of insurance.

Well, he did the best he could.

Well, you got money and property and...

And you yourself, you're lots more than I ever counted on.

Why, thank you, Lucas.

Millie, I don't want no secrets between us. I don't want you thinking that I'm

something I ain't.

Well, what is it, Lucas?

Well, you don't know nothing about me at all. Like, for instance, that I got

trouble with my liver.

Well, you don't know all about me either.

Like, sometimes I get train sick.

Oh. Oh, well, then it's all right. It's all out in the open. I'll just keep on

taking my calomel and you stay off of them trains.

Now, what else were you going to tell me, Lucas?

Well, the truth is, Millie, that right now I'm down on my luck.

I don't have nothing to offer you at all but a strong back and a loving heart

and a wish to work hard to make you happy.

Aren't those the important things, Lucas?

I mean, I have this place and a little money put away.

But it's no life for me, alone like this.

I ain't got nothing compared to you.

What difference does it make?

I know that...

If you were a rich man, everything you had would be mine.

Well, if you are just about the most... If I ain't the luckiest fella in the

world... Yes, sir, Mr. Mason.

When my old buddy, Buddy Clay, told me that you was just about the best lawyer

in all Los Angeles, I said to myself right flat out, that's the man for me.

Nothing but the best, I always say. You travel first class, you save money in

the long run. Right?

Well... Well, Clay has given to slight exaggeration.

You don't have to tell me nothing about that old kid. You know, him and me was

in the war together.

Did you know that he was one of the nicest, lionest dogfaces in the whole

Pacific?

But you still trust his judgment.

Indeed I do, sir.

Else why would I take the time to drive way over here from the next county just

to talk to you?

Mr. Mason, sir, I want you to draw me up a will.

Pardon me, there's a message from Paul on the Sacramento case and he'd like an

answer. I'm practically leaving now, ma 'am. Oh, Mr. Tolliver?

Mystery.

Happy to make your acquaintance, ma 'am. How do you do?

If you'll pardon me, Mr. Tolliver.

In the meantime, you might give Mystery the list of your relatives and

beneficiaries. Oh, no, it ain't for me. I want the will drawn up, sir. It's for

Millicent Barton Tolliver.

Is she meeting you here?

No, sir. She was all tied up, so I told her I'd tend to it for her.

You see, I'm leaving everything to her as my wife, and she's leaving everything

to me.

Well, Mr. Tolliver, it will be necessary for her to sign the will in the

presence of witnesses.

Oh, we've got to get a witness. Well, I'll take care of that. If you'll just

up the will now, Millicent Barton Tolliver it'll be, then I'll be back in

with you.

Just as soon as we get married.

Now, wait a minute.

I thought you said the will was for your wife.

She will be.

Any day now.

And you'll be amongst the first to know, sir.

I'm very happy to have made your acquaintance, ma 'am. Thank you.

A will for his wife?

Before they're married?

I think it's time, don't you, Millie?

Time for what, dear?

Well, I've been around here the best part of a week now, and I ain't got a

in my mind, so... So... I, uh...

It ain't much. It ain't nothing like you deserve, but...

Well, if you was to put that on, you'd make me the...

Proudest and happiest fellow in the whole country. Why, I just... And then

on when I had a chance to take over this ranch... Why, Lucas, I think it's just

beautiful.

What?

I've been watching him since I talked to you on the phone.

What's going on?

Well, I...

I don't know, Mrs. Montford, but this Colliver's a whole lot different from

Millicent said he's supposed to be.

Honey drips from his mouth. He don't talk money to her, and you can bet he

didn't talk to her about meeting a good lawyer.

You're sure about that?

That's what prompted me writing to you, ma 'am.

I heard him call this guy in L .A.

Ask about a good lawyer. I hope I did right.

Would I have come here all the way from San Francisco if you hadn't?

Whatever else she is, she's a client.

We can't have her taken in by this Tolliver.

You're a good woman, Mrs. Monfort.

Like the book says, to forgive is the best revenge.

I'm also thinking of what's best for me in the long run.

I'm going to find out exactly what's behind all this.

And I think the place for that is my husband's office.

I'll keep my eyes wide open, ma 'am.

You do that, Hutch.

Why didn't you let me know you were coming down from San Francisco, darling?

I didn't know it myself until I checked your reports this morning.

That's when I found our computer had made a mistake.

That's impossible.

I agree.

I've run these cards through three times, and I've gotten the same answer

times.

Lucas Tolliver should never have been put in touch with Millicent Barton.

In fact, he should have gotten a form letter rejecting his application.

Why? What's wrong with him?

Tell me the truth, Guy.

Have you ever looked at this form he filled out?

Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I've been so darn busy.

The mail's been heavy.

And the women drive me nuts.

I'll bet they do.

Guy, it's our responsibility to watch out for our clients.

One or two more slips like this and...

I'll be back selling cosmetics door to door, and you'll be handing out patent

medicine and ice cream sodas in that all -night drugstore. I don't disagree with

your conclusion that possibly we've made a mistake, but don't you think to a

certain extent we're borrowing trouble?

Are we?

Do you know that all our penniless Oklahoma client has talked about since

arrived was how much the ranch is worth and how much income it brings?

Well, that's a normal concern.

Is it normal, too, for one of our prospective bridegrooms to need a good

attorney?

Who told you that?

Hutch.

Well, we're not letting it go any further.

We've got to protect our position.

Happy Future Association.

Then you brought Lucas Tolliver and Millicent Barton together.

My husband handled their case. I had nothing to do with it.

I was in San Francisco at the time.

What is it exactly that you want from me?

My wife thought that... Mr. Mason, I happen to believe that we run a

and honest business, fulfilling genuine and heartfelt needs, bringing hundreds

of lonely people into contact, filling otherwise empty lives.

I'm sure of that, Mrs. Munford. We take a personal, individual interest in every

client. We're keenly interested in...

In the outcome and in their future lives.

Well, it isn't necessary to tell me what my wife means. We go to greater lengths

than any other agency.

We've even pioneered in the computerized data analysis.

So if rarely we make a mistake, you can see that... Mistake?

I gather you're referring to... Lucas Tolliver and Millicent Barton should

have been brought together. We admit that.

But if you're considering any legal action... Legal action against the Happy

Future Association.

You could cause us embarrassment.

Jeopardize our future ability to help lonely people.

Here, Mr. Mason hasn't suggested that he's about to take legal action on

Tolliver's behalf.

Have you? Well, I haven't really made any suggestions.

But you have been retained by Lucas Tolliver.

In a sense.

What for?

Well, it would be a violation of ethics to discuss that.

Mr. Mason, I hope you understand our concern.

We've been very fortunate in Happy Future.

But other agencies such as ours have had cases where they've had, well, tragic

consequences.

And everything about Lucas Tolliver, his attitude, his questions, his actions...

He doesn't measure up to the information he gave us.

What do you want me to do?

Stop this marriage before it's too late. For their sakes and for ours.

Well, if two adults in full possession of their faculties meet and decide

they're soulmates, computer or no computer, whether or not they marry is

decision. But consider the consequences.

If I learn of anything incriminating against either party, I'll take all

the action necessary to protect Millicent Barton, or my client, as the

be.

They're watching.

Put me down.

Oh, well, let them watch. Let them watch. I aim to carry my new bride right

across that threshold.

Here we go.

Scatter, you've got work to do.

Well, all I know, Perry, Luke Tolliver and I were mustered out of the army

together after the war.

That's World War II.

And when he walked in here, I hadn't seen him in 20 years.

But why send him to me?

Because he said he wanted a lawyer to make out his future wife's will, and

you're the first one that popped into my head.

A will for a future wife. That still sounds funny to me.

Sounds like the Luke Tolliver I knew. Never missed a trick.

Great operator.

We had steaks and ice cream, all the other outfits were on K -rations. All

because Luke was a genius at making what he called genuine captured Japanese

flags.

Excuse me.

Well, it looks like your Mr. Colliver isn't quite the Ruby like you'd think he

was. But why did he want to create that impression?

There's Mr. Mason there, please.

Come sit over here, honey.

Well, come on, come on, sit down.

Oh, hello there. Is that you, Mr. Mason, sir?

Miss Della Dunn told me I might catch you over at Clay's.

Mr. Tolliver, we were just talking about you.

You're married?

Surprise,

y 'all bet, huh?

You know, I've been so busy courting, I haven't had a chance to get back to you.

There was a little old favor I wanted to ask you, Mr. Mason.

Just so that everything's hunky -dory before we go on our honeymoon, I was

wondering if you'd had a chance to do Millie's will.

Yes, Mr. Tolliver, we have it ready.

But I expect some straight answers when I see you. Why not tomorrow night?

Millie and me, we're going to have a real old -fashioned Oklahoma wing ding

here on her ranch. And you and me, we could hoist a few and then chew the fat.

Our ranch, Lucas.

We're married, remember?

As if I could ever forget.

Well, what do you say?

We'd sure like to have you folks come down.

There's going to be a whole pass of Millie's friends and old Clay's coming

here, too. I just asked him. We're going to have a ball.

What do you say?

I don't know, Mr. Tolliver.

We won't promise, but we'll do our best.

I sent you the will earlier today, special delivery.

Congratulations, Mr. Tolliver.

Married?

Paul, do you have a contact, a good contact in Tulsa? The best.

Would you call him?

I think we've reached the point where we need to know a little more about Lucas

W. Tolliver.

Thank you, Hutch. Thank you. Oh, no. You better not drink anything so cold while

you're still young.

Oh, well, don't give it any mind. I'll get us another one. Hutch, did you ever

see such a considerate little wife?

Clean it up, Hutch.

You're like that little old dipper when you get through.

Why, you just help yourself, huh?

What did you call me?

You are my father, you know.

That is my stepfather.

Come on down here a minute, would you? Excuse us, folks.

Who are you, anyway?

Larry Dunlap's my name.

Cora was my mother.

Oh, Cora had a son. She'd have told me.

You didn't give her much of a chance, did you?

What are you doing here?

I'm here to get what's coming to me.

You took Ma's estate, everything.

Oh, you even took her jewelry. Now that's gone, too.

Cora's will was probated all legal and proper, like.

If she had a son, Cora cut you out of the will, not me.

Well, sir, I'm cutting myself back in.

Right now.

Because I know what you're up to.

I know how you operate.

Listen, sonny.

I feel like having myself another dance.

I get through.

You better be ten miles away from here.

Because as far as I'm concerned, Cora Dunlap's son just doesn't exist.

I just got a report from Tulsa. There's a lot of oil there, and guess who owns a

healthy share of it?

Lucas W. Tolliver.

So he wasn't a poor boy.

He was married once before to a Cora Dunlap. Six months after their marriage,

Cora died from...

eating wild greens. Her death was ruled accidental.

And right after she died, Lucas just happened to find oil on the farm she

him. There are ten rigs pumping it right now.

Here's a full report.

Della, wasn't the Tolliver party supposed to have been tonight?

Yes, but you said you didn't want to go.

Well, I've changed my mind.

I'm making a phone call.

What have you done to me? What have you both done to me?

God, I know.

I know about Lucas, and you've known all along.

I'm married to a murderer, and I've got to get out of it right now.

He's just right for you, you said. Nothing wrong with him but a little

trouble, you said. Perfect match, you said. Millicent, please, listen. We can

work this thing out. Oh, no.

I'm through. Finished right now. Millicent, please, listen.

Wait. Millie, honey.

Where you off at?

Come on, let's show these folks how to really dance. Oh, no.

Millie. Come on, let's dance.

They are, honey.

That ought to make you feel better.

I think that dance took too much of a storm, eh, Clay?

All right, let's get this party rolling now.

the doctor.

Harry, I think she's dying.

You ain't a running out on me, Mr. Mason.

Not now when they got me charged with a murder I never done.

You need a lawyer, certainly.

But as I told Clay when he asked me to see you, I'm not that lawyer.

Why not?

That jalopy of yours.

The Hick movie clothes. Even that corn pone accent is phony.

I can't defend a man I can't trust.

And who apparently doesn't trust me.

All right, Mr. Mason.

I have been playing a part.

But I had my reasons. Good reasons.

And they were honest.

Honest?

Posing as a simpleton and a poor man?

Well... I'm not rich.

Not real rich, anyway. Not yet.

Well, how did I know that some woman wouldn't want to marry me just for my

and not for love?

Did you tell Millicent that you'd been married before?

Oh, you found out about Cora.

Well, the circumstances were... I didn't want to upset Millicent.

You didn't tell Millicent that you had a stepson?

I never knew that. She never told me.

You show up here posing as a poor man.

You insist I draw up a will immediately to marry a wealthy widow.

The ink is hardly dry on that will when she dies of mercuric chloride poisoning.

Dies after drinking a glass of lemonade you gave her at your wedding party.

I know. I know.

You also know that you stand to inherit everything she had.

A ranch worth perhaps $200 ,000.

I didn't kill her, Mr. Mason.

I didn't know Millicent very long, but...

Well, I grew very fond of her.

I didn't kill her, and that's the truth.

Look, I'm in the worst spot I've ever been in in my life. I need a good

I need him bad. You know that.

Now, please, don't let me down.

Don't let you down?

All right, Lucas.

Just one thing.

Don't let me down.

Well, they finished dancing and they came off the dance floor and it was a

night. Mr. Clay, what did the decedent and the defendant do then?

Well, then she had the lemonade.

Oh, I see. She went to the bar and she ordered a lemonade. Not a beer or liquor

or a soft drink, but lemonade.

Well, no.

A tray was passed with lemonade and she selected a glass?

No. She called the waiter and asked for it? No, it wasn't. Mr. Clay, where did

she get this poisoned lemonade, the fatal potion?

He handed it to her. Who, Mr. Clay?

Point him out to us.

The defendant?

Well, she was thirsty, I guess. No further questions.

Mr. Clay, you testified you saw the defendant and lemonade to the victim.

Yes, sir.

Now, where did he get it?

Did he go to the bar and ask for lemonade?

Not beer, nor liquor, nor a soft drink, but lemonade.

No, sir. A tray was passed with lemonade and he selected a glass?

No, sir.

He called the waiter and asked for it? No, sir.

Then, Mr. Clay, where did he get it?

Where did he get this poisoned lemonade, this fatal potion?

Well, he went over and picked it up and he handed it to her.

Picked it up?

Where? Well, it was on the bench right next to the record player.

And this was immediately after they finished dancing?

Yes, sir. So that while they were dancing, someone else could have filled

glass or replaced it or added something to it?

Yes, sir. They said they could have, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Clay. That's all.

Just a moment, Mr. Clay.

You say you didn't actually see who filled the glass.

That's right, sir.

Well, then it could have been almost anyone at the party, including the

defendant.

Yes, sir.

But you did see who gave her the lemonade, and it was the defendant.

Yes, sir. It couldn't have been anyone else but the defendant.

No, sir.

Yes, when the defendant contacted Happy Future about six months ago, he wrote

that he was a lonely widower in search of an attractive wife.

Attractive? Did he stipulate any other qualifications?

Yes, he said she had to be at least well -to -do.

And so the computer ground out Millicent Barton.

And then the defendant arrived in the community and they were married shortly

thereafter.

Tell me, when did you first begin to suspect that things weren't altogether

right with that marriage?

Objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Snell is leading the witness.

Sustained?

I'll approach it another way.

Now, you testified earlier that your wife arrived unexpectedly from your San

Francisco office.

Now, what brought her here?

She had discovered something alarming about the Barton -Pulliver match.

And what was that?

Their punch cards were not compatible.

If there is another outburst of this nature, I'll clear the court.

A man's life is at stake here.

What did you do when she made this discovery?

My wife and I voiced our concern to Mr. Tolliver's lawyer and asked him if there

was any information he could give us on Tolliver.

And who was Mr. Tolliver's attorney at that time?

Mr. Perry Mason.

And what did he tell you?

Objection. He said that if Mrs. Tolliver were in any danger, he would take steps

to protect her. Your Honor, objected to as irrelevant.

Sustained. Strike the question and the response.

Mr. Munford.

If the punch cards were not compatible, why did you bring Millicent Barton and

Lucas Tolliver together?

Machine error, Mr. Mason. My wife didn't discover it until after Mr. Tolliver

arrived here.

Still, you took no action.

Instead, you stood by while she signed a will at the behest of the defendant.

A will leaving everything she had to him.

Isn't that correct?

Well, I didn't know anything about the will until Millicent told me. The night

of the party. Did you advise Millicent Barton of your mistake?

No. Why not?

Well, our detailed investigation of Mr. Tolliver's background didn't show

anything wrong.

Did not your detailed investigation show that Mr. Tolliver, far from being a

poor man, was a moderately wealthy one?

Objection.

No further questions.

Now, while you were overseas serving your country, your mother met and

Lucas W. Tolliver?

Yes, sir. That's right, sir.

Then I got a letter that said Ma was dead.

Poison meeting wild green, it said.

Objection. The testimony is immaterial and irrelevant.

Your Honor, I intend to show by this testimony and other evidence that the

defendant's behavior in this case is part of a pattern indicating

Your Honor, the district attorney's intentions are clear.

But that does not excuse his attempt without proper foundation to lead a

to produce gossip, hearsay, opinion, and personal prejudice.

Sustained.

Strike the question and response.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Dunlap, do you know of your own knowledge that Millicent Barton

Tolliver knew of the fate of her predecessor, your mother?

Oh, yes, I told her. When?

At the party the night she was killed.

And what was her reaction?

She went all to pieces.

She looked scared to death.

Your witness.

Now then, Mr. Dunlap, you testify that the defendant, not you, inherited your

mother's entire estate.

He talked her into it. I blame him.

You do.

You don't blame the fact that your mother told friends that she had

after you were convicted on a charge of felonious breaking and entering? And

wasn't that sentence then suspended when you agreed to enlist in the armed

forces? From which you have just been separated for the good of the service?

Objection.

The witness's past is not an issue here.

The validity of his testimony is overruled.

That's got nothing to do with it.

There's still what he'd done to my ma and to me.

What did he do to you?

He turned my own ma against me so he could make off with everything she had.

Now then, Sergeant Woodward.

Was your investigation of the defendant confined to Tulsa, Oklahoma?

No, sir. I also investigated a report from Springfield, Missouri.

Could you tell the court the results of that investigation?

Yes, sir.

I learned that two years before moving to Tulsa, the defendant met and married

his first wife in Springfield.

She was Agnes Frost, age 26, parents deceased.

She was killed in an automobile accident.

What were the circumstances surrounding this accident?

Mr. Tolliver stated at the inquest that he was driving his wife to see a doctor.

The car apparently stalled on a railroad track as a train approached.

Mr. Tolliver testified that he was not able to get his wife out of the car.

The autopsy revealed she was under heavy sedation at the time.

What was the inquest verdict?

That death was accidental.

Can you tell us to what extent, if any, the defendant profited from this

accident? He collected $10 ,000 from a life insurance policy on his wife.

He also inherited from his wife a house and 50 -acre farm, which he sold for $60

,000 before moving to Tulsa.

Thank you, Sergeant.

Your witness, Mr. Mason.

I'm beginning to wonder if you're capable of speaking the truth.

You lied to your wife, you lied to me, and you're lying to yourself.

We've been trying to investigate everyone you've been in contact with

came here.

But perhaps we should have spent our time investigating you. I know what you

must think.

Can you honestly say you've told the truth to one person since you've been

Well, told the truth to you.

Sometimes I've told the truth to Millie.

You told her about your money and your former wives?

No.

I did tell her about my liver, though.

Oh, I've had it a long time.

It gets all jumpy and...

And uneasy when I'm upset.

Like now.

Calamo.

It's old home remedy, you know.

Dark laughs at me when I take it, but it's the only thing that seems to give

real relief.

You told Millie you were taking Calamo?

I wanted to be honest.

Look, Mr. Mason.

Please. Please don't give up on me now.

The only reason I didn't tell you about Agnes was...

Well, you almost quit on me when you found out I had one other wife.

I figured if you knew there'd been two, I'd have lost you for sure.

Lucas, are there any more wives?

You know, if another one appears, there are no more.

That's the truth.

Well, he wanted to know what the ranch was worth.

The income from the cattle, the truck garden, the poultry. I see.

Well, then would you say his interest in the ranch was entirely mercenary?

Objection. The question is leading and suggestive, and like much of the

attorney's examination, borders on prejudicial misconduct.

That, sir, is your opinion.

That is also my opinion, Mr. Snell.

Objection sustained.

I apologize, Your Honor.

No further questions.

Now, Mr. Hutchinson.

This hobby of yours, the financial prospects of which seem to interest Mr.

Tolliver, would you tell us about it?

It's nothing much.

It's an old process for making fine felt.

They taught it to me when I was in the hospital.

You've already testified to that effect.

I'm interested in the chemical solution you said you used in the process.

What is the solution?

Bicloride of mercury.

Bichloride of mercury.

That's the lay term for mercuric chloride, doctor? Yes.

It's also known as corrosive sublimate.

A deadly poison, whatever you call it.

But aren't there some beneficial mercury compounds?

Oh, yes.

Mercury chrome.

Certain oxides.

Even home remedies?

You must be thinking of calomel.

Yes, calomel actually is mercuric chloride.

Then isn't it very similar to the poison mercuric chloride?

It contains the same basic elements, yes.

But bichloride is deadly, whereas calomel is a harmless home remedy.

Normally, yes, but under certain conditions, mercurius chloride, calomel,

chained into mercury chloride and become poisonous.

Under what conditions, doctor?

Oh, prolonged storage, particularly in a damp place, or an acid solution.

A solution such as citric acid?

Orange juice or lemonade?

Why, yes.

Mrs. Munford, what prompted you to come down from San Francisco?

My husband explained all that. I'm asking you, Mrs. Munford.

Well, Roy Hutchinson wrote to me. Why should he write to you?

He was working for Millicent Barton, wasn't he? No, he worked for me.

And my husband.

On Millicent Barton's ranch.

It wasn't her ranch. She rented it.

Well, I'm sure you're mistaken, Mrs. Munford.

I am not.

Guy inherited that ranch several years ago.

With him in Los Angeles and me in San Francisco, we rented it.

Mrs. Munford, I have here a photocopy of a transaction handled by Valix Realty

six months ago.

For one dollar and other valuable consideration, transferring to Millicent

Barton, all title and interest to a ranch known as...

you were completely unaware that your husband had disposed of the property?

I had no idea.

I'd like a chance to explain about the ranch. You see... We'll return to that.

But first, you might be able to enlighten us on another important

Lucas Tolliver's liver.

What? There's the babe. Watch now.

Lucas Tolliver's liver trouble.

You were aware of it, were you not?

Mr. Tolliver noted it on his application to your Happy Future Service.

Now, surely you read those applications.

Your Honor, if Mr. Mason is deliberately attempting to confuse this court, well

then, at least as far as I'm concerned, he succeeded.

He took it.

Where is he going? What's his explanation?

Now, we've been treated to courses in...

felt -making, real estate transfers, and chemistry, but I draw the line at the

discussion of the defendant's internal complaints.

Your Honor, the question of my client's liver trouble is quite germane.

I'll admit the confusion has seemed monumental, but when we accept one

integral fact, it all becomes quite clear.

The defendant, Lucas Tolliver, was not the murderer.

He was, in fact, the intended murder victim.

Now consider, as the prosecution pointed out, Your Honor, The defendant came

here posing as a poor man, hiding his other two marriages in order to win a

loving wife.

That is what he claimed.

And strangely enough, that was the truth. Far from being a fortune hunter,

fortune was being hunted by Millicent Barton.

Your Honor, is this Mr.

Mason's idea of cross -examination? It sounds more like a lecture.

You asked for an explanation. I'm giving it to you.

Mr. Snow, I'm going to allow it.

You may continue, Mr. Mason.

Yes, Your Honor.

Now, Mr. Munford, think back to the night of the party.

After talking to Mr. Tolliver's stepson, Millicent Barton Tolliver spoke to you.

What was the substance of that conversation?

She was terribly upset.

Larry Dunlap had told her that Lucas Tolliver had poisoned his mother.

And she believed that she was married to a wife murderer.

What else was said?

I told her I was as shocked as she was.

You were shocked?

Yes, you see, Happy Future had brought them together. But you already knew all

about Lucas.

If necessary, we can subpoena the records of your detailed investigation

Lucas Tolliver before he was put in contact with Millicent Barton.

Therefore, you had to know.

But when my wife and I came to see you, it was because we were terribly

concerned.

Your wife was concerned for the reputation of your company. But that

exactly what was bothering you.

No, I was concerned for... Concerned for Millicent?

Or that your plan for fleecing Mr. Tolliver might fail?

You were concerned the night of the party, weren't you?

Didn't Millicent say she was frightened and wanted out of the marriage?

She may have. And that would have destroyed the plans you and Millicent

carefully made.

Finding the right man, transferring the property so she could appear wealthy.

At first, you only intended to fleece Lucas Tolliver.

But now you had to kill him.

Millicent and I loved each other. Why would I kill her?

You didn't intend to kill her.

You intended to kill Lucas Tolliver by giving him a fatal dose of bichloride of

mercury. So it would appear the liver medicine, the calomel already in his

system, had been changed by lemonade into poisonous mercuric chloride.

What were your thoughts, Mr. Munford?

What were your thoughts when Lucas picked up the fatal potion and instead

drinking it himself, handed it to the woman you loved?

I didn't mean to kill Millie.

I didn't mean to.

I didn't mean to.

Buddy, buddy, you really did me a good turn when you put me on to Mr. Mason

here. Well, then do me a good turn and put me on to one of those oil strikes of

yours. I'll do that. I'll sure do that. I'm going to clue you in too, Miss

Della. Oh, well, I have about $35 to invest.

She's a real plunger. Honey, anybody who looks as pretty as you do doesn't need

any money. All you've got to do is find yourself a rich husband.

Before you introduce Della to a friendly computer, we have one more legal

transaction, Lucas.

Ah, the ranch.

Do you have the papers, Mr. Mason?

Just as you wanted.

You've given up all claim to the property to Mrs. Munford.

Well, that's only fair.

Oh. There goes $200 ,000.

You know, I've never known a woman yet who could handle money by herself.

A woman needs a man around.

Someone to do things for. Someone to... You know, I've been thinking lately.

Before I head back home, maybe I ought to just stop off at that ranch and see

I can bring a little comfort to poor Miss Mumford.

Poor lady's been awful broken up lately.