Original subtitles

With service to Chicago and Frankfurt Springfield.

Bassett residence.

No, I'm sorry.

Mrs. Bassett just left the house.

What?

I'm Lucy, I'm the house cleaner.

Well, where did Mrs. Bassett go? Do you expect her back soon?

Well, search me.

She's on her way downtown on business to the company, you know.

Business? Her?

Yes, sir.

It's some kind of meeting. Could it be a sharecropper's meeting?

Yeah.

Domestic tool and dye.

The what?

Look here, I want the Bassett tool and dye company.

Our name has been changed for quite some time, sir. Whom are you calling,

please? Dawson. Peter Dawson. He's still the general manager there, isn't he?

Mr. Dawson is president of the company, sir, but I'm afraid his line is busy.

President.

Look here, is there a shareholders meeting going on there this afternoon?

I really wouldn't know that information, but if you'll just give me your name,

sir. Hello?

Hello?

Hello, Sybil.

Don't you look nice. Oh, thank you. Oh, I hope I'm not late.

I, uh, I brought my husband's proxy. Now, you didn't tell me whether I

need to have a copy of it when we vote, but anyway, I thought I'd better stop by

the bank.

Here.

Everyone knows it's a blanket proxy. That's all that's important.

Dora, you can tell the others the meeting will start.

Mrs. Bassett is here now.

Peter, I am doing the right thing, aren't I?

Now, I thought we agreed yesterday.

No cold feet, remember?

Oh, I know. If Richard could hear me say that just once more, he'd throw

something at me. Mother, can't you ever make up that molasses mind of yours?

I think your son's a little too anxious about this.

Matter of fact, that's why I sent him to San Francisco on company business, to

let you decide alone.

Oh, Peter, you've been so thoughtful about everything, and patient.

You know, when I'm alone with you, I know everything is going to be all

Two years is quite long enough for a woman to keep shielding a husband who

deserted her.

Come in, gentlemen. Come in.

How do you do?

Thank you.

Well, this shouldn't involve too much time, I think.

And roughly, the plan is to sell the assets of the present corporation to a

firm, which Mrs. Bassett and I are establishing, and in which you will all

participate, but in which Hartley Bassett will have no interest.

Now, since Mrs. Bassett has decided to use the proxy that her husband gave her

in our bread -and -butter days... Wait! You can't go in there!

Mr. Bassett!

Looks like I got here just in time, doesn't it?

Well, at least the house doesn't seem to have changed very much.

Cleaning woman must have gone home.

Her name's Lucy.

Well, now, that's interesting.

You, uh, still have to hide the liquor from that useless son of yours?

Oh. Oh, would you like a drink, Hartley? Yes.

Here you are.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so awfully sorry.

I suppose if I'd been away seven years, you would not only have had me declared

dead, but probably buried me, too.

But, Harley, I didn't know what to do.

It's quite a sensation to walk in on your own funeral.

It was just about like that, you know.

To find my wife and my employees getting ready to dispose of my assets, my

company. Where did you go?

Where were you?

Under the circumstances, I don't think I'm the one who needs to explain things.

Oh, well, after you just disappeared, I didn't know what to do.

Aside from personal feelings, I had nothing to fall back on. The company was

almost bankrupt.

Or perhaps you don't remember that sort of thing.

Go on.

If it hadn't been for Peter Dawson, I don't know what would have happened.

He made people stay on without any salary. He borrowed money. He worked day

night. Oh, that's very touching.

I read in the papers there are a lot of new government contracts that are using

our type of bearings.

Yes, yes. Suddenly last year, everything began to go right for us again.

Sybil, are you in love with Peter Dawson?

You have no right to ask a question like that of me.

And I can imagine my dear, greedy stepson has been egging matters along,

don't know what you're talking about. And, of course, by now, you have

investigated the possibilities of divorcing me.

Dawson has proposed a merger by marriage. No, that's not true.

Sybil, don't pretend to be any stupider than you already are.

Peter hasn't said a word. He's only been trying to protect your interests. He's

been stealing from me, and so have you. Stealing?

What about the $6 ,000 you took when you went away? If anybody's been

stealing... $6 ,000? What are you talking about?

You know very well.

Oh, I hate you.

Why did you come back?

Why? Why?

You'll find out.

Hello.

Oh, yes, operator, go ahead.

It's L .A. calling. I think it's the office. Must be Mr.

Dawson. Well, you just tell him you're busy.

Hello, Richard.

Mother! Hey, I'm glad you called.

I was going to wait until this evening.

Now, Mother, wait a minute.

Now, just wait. Now, let me talk.

Only first, uh, we're getting the money, aren't we?

Money? What money?

Well, I mean, they had the meeting.

They're going to switch all the stock.

I mean, we're going to be able to sell out now, aren't we?

To raise cash?

Richard, you've got to come home right away.

Not a chance.

I just got married.

And I know you must think it's awfully fast, but when you meet Teddy, when you

see her... Mother?

It's all right, Richard.

I'm here.

I was just thinking that...

It never rains, but it pours.

Mother, you really come out with the odd ones sometimes.

What?

Who?

Quit calling him my father. That guy's not my father.

Oh, yes, yes, your stepfather, Richard. I'm so sorry, but please, please come

back. I'll be there.

Yes, only stop crying. Stop it!

I'll be there.

And I'll make it rain, too.

I'll make it pour.

On him.

Dick, there's nothing that can really spoil our wedding day.

Is there?

Yes? Mr. Woodman is here from the factory.

Send him in.

What is it you wanted, Pete?

Sit down, Gavin.

It's about Hartley Bassett. I figured you'd have heard about that by now.

I just wanted to prepare you for what it'll probably do to your program at the

plant. There are apt to be some changes.

All right you are, Dawson.

Hello, Hartley. I didn't know you were in the office.

I've been talking to your secretary. Maybe you'd better go see her. She

rather upset.

What's the matter with her?

I just fired her.

Don't rush off, Whitman.

Just testing some new models. I was right in the middle.

Oh? Well, I wouldn't want you to worry about your own job.

I certainly wouldn't dream of replacing you as plant superintendent.

Thanks.

And besides, I still remember those bridge sessions Sybil and I used to have

with you and your wife. We'll have to start them up again now I'm back.

My wife is dead.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry, Ken.

What happened?

Last year, she died by her own hand, I'm afraid.

They wrote me a letter about it from Manila.

Manila?

It's apparently where she went, where she ended up.

She left me sometime before that.

Disappeared.

It was about the same time that you disappeared, Mr. Bassett.

What's the big idea?

She's been with us for five years, with me even longer.

You had no right... Save the sympathy for yourself, Dawson.

You're fired, too.

Well, technically, he may have the right to discharge you as president.

On the other hand, your old contract as general manager will be in force for six

months. Mr. Mason, I know what a mess it is. I need clarification and

protection.

Not only for myself, but for all the others, too.

That's the only reason I'm willing to stay around for as much as five minutes.

It seems to me you've stayed around for too long.

Instead of starting a concern of your own, you've continued to do all your

for the benefit of the Bassetts.

Why?

Mrs. Bassett, I suppose, she had a first marriage that wasn't very happy either.

A son by it who's never been very much comfort to her.

Anyway, I knew we could straighten things out sooner or later with that

vote she still held.

I never really thought that Bassett would come back.

but we would have made him fair payment for his shares.

My intention was always legal and honorable.

You believe that, don't you, Mason?

You believe that the only reason I want to be protected now is so that she'll be

protected too.

Donna, put in a call for Hartley, Madison.

off Dawson's contract.

The answer is a flat and final no. He doesn't get another penny.

Then I may advise my client to sue.

Listen here, Mr. Mason. Before I finish with Dawson, he'll really need your

services. There are two sides of this story, you know.

Just what do you mean?

I mean your client is a thief, of course.

I'd be careful of any accusation, Mr. Bassett, unless you're prepared to back

up in court.

Hold on a moment.

Colmar?

How much longer do you think it'll take us to go over these books?

Another four or five hours.

I'll tell you what, Mr. Mason.

If you'd come here later this evening, I'll be glad to talk this over with you.

Yes, four or five hours. Say ten o 'clock tonight.

Say something.

What's the trouble?

I don't know.

Look, her forehead's bleeding.

I was just stepping out of the elevator. I heard her scream.

Know who she is?

Well, she's my wife.

Teddy. Teddy, please.

Oh, baby.

Teddy.

Teddy.

Say something.

Dick.

Oh, Dick. Honey, what happened?

Someone knocked me down.

What are you doing here anyway? Mother told me you came down.

I was looking for you.

I was afraid you'd try to see your stepfather alone.

I didn't want you to fight with him.

Someone in here knocked you down?

The minute I walked through the door, the lights went out.

And he hit me.

He came rushing past me.

He?

Even in the dark, I could see him.

I'd know him anyplace.

It... It was the men.

They came out of there.

He's dead.

He's been shot.

It's Hartley Bassett, isn't it?

Sure.

You see, honey, I told you there was nothing to worry about.

Somebody beat me to it.

It looks like he put up a little fight.

What's that?

Only grabbed, I guess.

Looks like hair from a wig.

A toupee.

Yes, he had it in his hand, this little piece of hair.

Oh, yes, and they didn't see a gun, but he'd been shot. He'd been shot twice.

Hair? Oh, Peter, please come over right away and tell me what to do.

Sybil, of course, don't worry. I'll take care of everything. But I just walked

in the door this minute. I'm sorry.

Even though I... I think this is what I've been dreading all along.

You know, Peter, I almost wish I'd been the one to kill him.

Sybil, everything's going to be all right.

I'll be there, of course.

I went for a walk, Mr. Mason.

Quite a long walk.

All alone.

I didn't get back to the apartment until just after 11 o 'clock.

That's when Sybil telephoned.

So, for the time of the murder, you have no alibi. Is that what you wanted to

tell me? Well, mostly about the toupee. The fact that I wear one.

Well, that one thing in itself can't be too incriminating. No, but Mr. Mason,

sometime yesterday afternoon or last night, somebody stole my extra one.

They only found a small part of one in Bassett's hand.

But that's enough.

That's all they need.

You see, there are ways of identifying a toupee.

You're absolutely correct, sir.

You must be Peter Dawson.

You see, in the ordinary tou... Good morning, Perry.

You see, in the ordinary toupee, there may be 40 ,000 to 60 ,000 individual

hairs. But, of course, nobody's hair is a solid color.

You take Mr. Dawson's case, for instance.

I believe there are six different shades.

Isn't that right, sir?

Now, look here, Lieutenant.

I need hardly remind you that there's a young lady who claims to have seen a man

running out of the murder room last night and who claims, moreover, that

able to recognize him.

Richard Hartsbride.

Teddy.

I was just about to suggest to Mr. Dawson that he come along with me and

her. Yes. If she's telling the truth, she'll clear me. Oh, by all means.

If you'll be good enough, Perry, to tell us where she is.

What do you mean?

Well, you told the first officers to arrive last night that she'd gone to the

ladies' lounge to lie down.

That's right. Her husband assisted those officers in searching that building for

some trace of the man she claimed to have seen.

So? So, when Homicide arrived and went back to question the girl, she

disappeared. We found no trace of her since.

Even Richard, her husband, can't seem to help us.

And now you've jumped to a conclusion.

Naturally.

You wasted no time in getting that girl into hiding, Counselor, so that your

client wouldn't have to face her.

Well, I'm not going to waste any time either.

Perhaps Mr. Dawson should come along with me instead of you.

Drake, I've told you all I know. Believe me. Are you sure you don't know

where... Oh, hi, Perry. Paul?

I see you've already found him. Mr. Mason, please.

I've got to get back to Mother.

I just came down to the office for a few minutes, and I told him everything I

know. Now, please.

All right, we don't want to bother you. I can check with you later.

He says he doesn't even have a snapshot of his wife.

Very interesting.

Well, he's only known her a week, so maybe it's true.

Mr. Drake? Yes.

I was told you were looking for me. I'm Arthur Comar, the company controller.

Oh, yes, Mr. Comar. It was for Mr. Mason.

How do you do, Mr. Comar?

Thanks, Paul. You'd better get going.

Don't let that get lost.

I won't.

I'd like to ask you a few questions, Mr. Comar.

You're Mr.

Dawson's attorney.

Sure.

Won't you sit down? Thank you.

I understand you...

Worked rather late last night. Mr.

Bassett wanted me handy while he went over the books.

What time was it when you left here?

9 .47.

The police figure I was the last one out.

Before it happened, that is.

How can you be so precise about the time?

Well, you see, Mr. Mason, I don't drive a car.

I was trying to catch a bus.

The 9 .50.

I ran all the way to the boulevard, but I missed it and had to wait 20 minutes.

When you left the office, was Mr. Bassett here alone?

Sitting right in there, waiting for you.

I called him here late yesterday afternoon.

Were you here with him at that time? Correct.

Then you heard him refer to Peter Dawson as a thief. You heard him say that when

he was finished with Dawson, Dawson would really need a lawyer.

I could hardly believe my ears.

What was he talking about?

Why don't you ask Mr. Dawson that?

What makes you think he knows?

Well, earlier in the evening, just as I was going out for a bite to eat, Mr.

Dawson came barging in here to demand an answer to that very question. What time

was that?

About eight, I'd say.

Was he still here when you came back from supper? I don't know. I didn't see

him. My accounting offices are on the floor below, and I went directly there

returning.

Worked alone a while, adding up some figures and so on.

Then I brought them up here to show them to Mr. Bassett and to tell him good

night. I didn't see anyone else here at that time.

Tell me, Mr. Kumar, are you conscious of the fact that Mr. Dawson wears a

toupee?

Well, yes and no.

We never spoke about it.

I don't know him that well.

But I did sort of guess once when I saw another of the men kidding with him and

trying to give Mr. Dawson's hair a pull.

What man was that?

Mr. Ken Woodman, our plant superintendent.

Mr.

Woodman, I'm Perry... Counsel for the defense.

That's no reason for me to let my lunch get cold.

I understood you lived alone.

Those things are as my wife left them two years ago.

It's a long time to sustain an illusion.

Your wife died in Manila, didn't she?

May I sit down?

If it'll help you come to the point.

Did you ever connect your wife's disappearance with that of Hartley

Is that all you came to ask?

Except for where you were last night before 10 o 'clock.

Two questions.

One answer.

I'm not on the witness stand yet.

All right.

We'll take it from there, then.

On the witness stand.

That girl, Teddy.

What about her?

You actually believe that cock and bolt story of hers?

About the man running out of Bassett's office?

She had a fortune to gain by the death of Hartley Bassett at that time, being

married to his heir.

Another day or two and Bassett would have chopped his family off without a

penny. You're saying the girl killed him?

Well, if she didn't, her husband did, and she was an accomplice.

Otherwise, why has she disappeared?

Mr. Whitman, you just asked the key question about the key witness.

no lead on teddy now they found the gun they're finding all sorts of things what

gun was it well supposedly it was purchased for the office but it was

to peter dawson and they found the box of shells in his apartment well you've

just got to locate teddy she gets more important every minute grab a plane san

francisco san francisco

Well, all I know is she sang and played piano.

Called herself Teddy Lansing.

Where was she from?

Oh, they come and go.

This one wandered in here one night, ran through a number, and I heard her run

on the spot.

There's something funny, though.

What's funny?

She kept promising to have her picture taken so I could hang it out front.

She never got around to doing it.

Yeah, I know. She's real camera shy.

How long was she here?

Just short of a month.

Some young guy started hanging around. A few days later, she was gone.

No notice, no nothing.

Well, she quit so suddenly. As a matter of fact, she forgot some of her stuff.

May I take a look?

Sure. I went through it myself to see if I could find some kind of an address to

ship it to, but there wasn't anything here.

What did they tell you?

Clothes Beauty Salon, Fresno.

Look, miss.

What? Just call me Flo.

Flo, you've already had me cooling my heels out here for half an hour.

Now, do you or don't you remember a customer answering the description of

Lansing?

Like I said, I'll have to think about it.

See, it was this way, sweetie.

I made a phone call.

Well, what for?

Oh, you'll find out any minute.

There, you see?

Mr. Drake, meet Wilbur Fenwick.

Mr. Fenwick? Drake, what about this girl you're looking for?

Well, you think you know her?

What I think is she's my wife.

Well, I just can't believe it.

Six months ago in Fresno, Wilbur Fenwick met and married this girl, known to him

as Nicky.

In his case, too, it was a whirlwind courtship.

Whereupon, she promptly proceeded to take him for every dollar he had. And

Fenwick had quite a few.

But you're taking his word for it. No, not entirely.

I double -checked and came up with certain facts that just can't be

away. Fact number one.

She left in a hurry without saying goodbye to anyone.

Fact number two.

There's no evidence that she even bothered to get a divorce from Fenwick

marrying you.

Well, of course she got a divorce.

Mr. Mason, you've just got to find her.

I couldn't agree with you more.

But let's keep it quiet for the time being, shall we?

Oh,

it's all right with me.

Well, at least we now know why Teddy took off so fast the other night.

The surplus happened. Sure.

As soon as she realized she was involved in a murder, she figured the police

would start prying into her past.

She would have decorated the newspapers from coast to coast for everyone,

including Wilbur Fenwick, to see.

All of which adds up to the fact that she'll hardly reappear of her own

volition, certainly not soon enough to help Peter Dawson.

Listen, I'd swear I was being followed.

Of course you were, and are, and will continue to be.

Who? Why?

The police think you'll find out through me.

Where she is they think the sooner or later you'll leave them right to her And

maybe you will at that

Well

What do you think I Could be

twins and look mind telling me what all this means

Miss Grant, you'll receive a full explanation along with detailed

before you leave town.

And where am I going?

One of my favorite vacation spots, Carmel -by -the -Sea. Oh, you'll need

expense money.

Look, Mr. Mason, I know you're on the level, but your reputation,

well, you do skirt the law at times.

You'll be doing nothing illegal.

Okay.

When do I leave?

If you call back within the hour, I'll have made all the arrangements.

Yes, sir.

Now, would you mind telling me what all this means?

It means the preliminary hearing starts tomorrow morning.

Teddy was lying on the floor unconscious.

I picked her up and carried her over to the couch, and that's when he showed up.

Who? Mr. Perry Mason.

Really?

All right, Mr. Hart, go on.

Teddy opened her eyes and explained about the man who had hit her.

Your Honor, due to reasons which will become self -evident, Mrs.

Teddy Hart has not been available for subpoena.

Under race chastity, the rules against hearsay evidence therefore become

inoperative, and the state wishes to invoke its right... To bring out what

Teddy Hart said by means of the testimony of this witness.

Mr. Mason.

I have no objection, Your Honor.

You may proceed.

Mr. Hart.

What did your wife say to you and to Mr. Mason about the man who had hit her?

She said that the lights went off and he rushed in from the outer office.

He hit her.

Well, that's all she could remember.

Did you ask her if she would recognize her assailant?

Yes.

She said that she'd know him anywhere.

I see.

Now, would you tell this court, please, the circumstances of your wife's

disappearance?

Well, we called the police.

The squad car came first.

And we carried her into the ladies' lounge so that she could lie down. See,

was still woozy.

And a couple of other officers and myself checked the rest of the building

quickly as we could.

Soon after that, the other squad cars arrived. Excuse me a moment.

Do you know where Mr. Mason was during this period?

Well, the last time I saw him, he was on the phone trying to get Mr. Dawson.

And how long was it after that that you returned to that part of the building

and found that your wife was missing?

About five minutes. But you're wrong if you think Mr. Mason sent Teddy away.

Just a moment.

The witness will refrain from volunteering information or conclusions.

All of the answer of the witness after the words five minutes will be stricken

from the record.

Proceed. I have no further questions. Thank you, Mr. Hart.

Your witness.

No question.

And where was this torn piece of toupee found, Lieutenant?

I saw it clutched in the left hand of the decedent.

Was there any other indication that Mr. Bassett had struggled or grappled

perhaps with the murderer?

Well, a lamp had been knocked over. The wastebasket had been spilled halfway

across the floor.

The carpet had been twisted and kicked up in a couple of places near the

decedent's feet.

I see.

I show you now this.

38 caliber automatic pistol. I ask if you recognize it. Yes, it has my mark on

it. And was this weapon checked ballistically?

Yes, sir.

This gun fired the two bullets which were removed from the decedent's body.

It's been checked out as the murder weapon.

Thank you, Lieutenant. If it pleases the court, I should like this automatic and

this piece of torn toupee entered in evidence as people's exhibit D and E.

Mr. Mason?

No objection.

Oh, and Lieutenant, where was this gun found?

In a culvert.

Four blocks from the scene of the crime.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

I think that'll be all for now.

You're with us.

Lieutenant, I take it you made a thorough search for this gun in the

apartment. Certainly.

Yet you found it not in his apartment, but in a culvert where anyone might have

thrown it. He's found the culvert, yes.

Lieutenant, isn't it true that the police rate culverts among their

hunting grounds for missing weapons?

Oh, that's only because criminals seem to find culverts so handy.

This particular culvert is in a public park.

About a third of the walking distance from Mr. Dawson's office to his

I'd say.

Thank you for adding that information.

And in view of it, don't you therefore think it possible that the murder weapon

was deliberately discarded in that culvert?

So discovery of it...

would be certain, so that Mr. Dawson would be implicated?

Objection, Your Honor. Those questions are argumentative.

Sustained.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

That'll be all, then.

I'd say.

I call Mr. Stanley Roderick.

Bring him in.

He has solemnly promised to swear the testimony about to give will be the

the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

This head block was made by us to conform exactly to the shape of Mr.

head in order to create his particular hairpiece.

I see.

Now, Mr. Roderick, is there any other way of positively identifying a

other than the method you described to us? That is, other than matching the

shades. Oh, yes, indeed.

Under a microscope.

Each person's hairline is as different and distinctive as a fingerprint.

It's like a shoreline with infinite and varied juttings and inlets.

I'm sure it is.

Mr. Roderick, would you please tell us what these marks on the head block are

for? Well, this is the outline of the tuft of hair that was found in the dead

man's hand.

And would you please demonstrate for us how the tuft of hair fits between these

markings? Oh, yes.

It fits.

Right in here.

And it's your conclusion, then, Mr. Roderick, that this tuft of hair could

have come from Peter Dawson's toupee?

Oh, absolutely.

Thank you very much. If it pleased the court, I should like this head block.

Entered in evidence as people's exhibit F.

Mr. Mason?

No objection, Your Honor.

Your witness.

Mr. Roderick.

Do you think it's plausible that someone grabbing at a man's head could tear out

a small segment of his toupee without ripping or removing the entire thing?

Oh, entirely plausible.

If it were properly attached with spirit gum.

If you'd like a test, Mr. Mason, grab away.

Mr.

Colmar, I show you this item marked People's Exhibit G.

I ask if you recognize it.

Yes. Yes, this is a photostat of a page from a company ledger for the month in

which Hartley Bassett disappeared.

Do you know who requested that this photostat be made?

Mr. Bassett, on the day he returned.

Did he by any chance tell you why?

No, he didn't say why.

I call your attention to this item.

It's a debit of $6 ,000.

Yes, that's the amount that turned up missing after Mr. Bassett's departure.

And what explanation was given for it?

Well, we assumed that Mr.

Bassett had skipped off with it.

Assumed? What kind of an investigation was held at the time?

None. Why was that?

Well, Mr. Dawson asked that the matter be hushed up as much as possible.

Really? Thank you, Mr. Comar.

You're welcome.

Mr. Comar, how could a substantial sum like...

$6 ,000 turn up missing.

Well, our affairs were a little precarious in those days.

We were concerned that an attachment would be made in our bank accounts.

So our employees were paid in cash.

To that end, currency was accumulated in the vault.

Who had access to the vault?

Well, besides Peter Dawson, there was myself and Mrs. Bassett, of course, and

Ken Woodman, who was then doubling as our purchasing agent.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Barely got time to catch your plane.

After I left, I heard Dawson starting to get angry.

And Bassett yelled at him, you're fired too.

Now, Mr. Woodman, later that same day, did you overhear another angry

conversation between Mr. Dawson and Mr. Bassett?

Yes, I did. And what did Mr. Dawson say on that occasion?

He said, Hartley, someday I'm going to kill you.

Mr. Woodman, when you were in Mr. Bassett's office, was the subject of

brought up?

Yes.

Yes, he mentioned something about starting our bridge sessions again, that

and his wife, me and my wife, and I explained that Agnes was dead.

And you also explained that her death had occurred in Manila and that she died

by her own hand.

Yes.

Did you explain that the last time you saw your wife was during December two

years ago?

I... I don't exactly remember everything I told him. You felt that he already

knew these things?

Mr. Woodman, isn't it true that after you were notified of the death of your

wife, you took a leave of absence?

Sure, I went fishing. I saw it to the lake region in Idaho.

I have here a photostat of an airline's passenger list for the day your

leave of absence began.

It shows Kenneth L. Woodman booked for Manila.

All right. So I flew to Manila. To go fishing?

What were you fishing for?

Proof of why your wife left you? Wasn't Bassett the reason?

I got proof that Bassett was the one. I swore I'd find him and kill him.

Man changes after a while.

Killing isn't always the answer to everything.

I have no further questions.

I call Mrs.

Sybil Bassett to the stand.

Just a moment.

As we have arrived at the hour of noon adjournment... The court feels that it

would be better to declare the use of recess at this time until 2 .30 this

afternoon.

Mr. Mason, please.

Richard, where did he go?

Mrs. Bassett, it might not be proper for me to tell you.

Why not?

Because a very great deal might depend on what happened.

Where he is.

Come in.

Darling. Dick.

You're sure you weren't followed?

Are you Richard Hart? What's the big idea?

This is Sergeant Bryce of the Los Angeles Police. He's up here to get Mrs.

Hart to return to Los Angeles with him immediately.

Well, my name is Lorna Grant.

I suppose he isn't Richard Hart.

Well, what if I am? You've got it all wrong. This isn't my wife, Teddy.

These initials happen to be T as in Teddy, H as in Hart.

Sorry, but the little game is up.

Let's go.

Mrs. Bassett at 7 .58 p .m.

On the day of the return and the death of Hartley Bassett, did you receive a

note from your husband by special messenger?

Well, come now, Mrs. Bassett, if it's necessary to refresh your memory.

Here's a receipt that you yourself signed at the time of the delivery of

note.

Yes.

Yes, I did receive a note from him.

Can you produce that note in court?

No. Why not?

I threw it away.

If it pleased the court, I should like at this time permission to enter this

photo site in evidence.

Mr. Mason?

You represent this to be what, Mr. Berger? Our investigators found

on the memo pad on Hartley Bassett's desk.

of a message that had apparently been written on the top sheet of that pad

a ballpoint pen.

The impressions were developed to the point of legibility in the police lab,

a photostat was made of the results.

No objection.

Mrs. Bassett, I ask you now if this is not, in fact, a true copy of the note

sent to you by special messenger from your husband.

Yes. Would you please read it to the court?

Aye. My dear devoted wife.

Suggest you change your plans for Peter Dawson.

I didn't take that $6 ,000. He did, and maybe more, too.

I'll be home when I'm through checking the books. Light a lamp in the window,

Hartley.

And now one final question.

Between the time you received this note and when your husband died some two

hours later, did you or did you not inform Peter Dawson of the contents of

note?

Louder, please.

Yes.

That's all. Thank you. Take the witness.

No question.

Mr.

Berger.

I beg your course indulgence, Your Honor.

To what end?

Your Honor, unrefuted testimony has established the fact that Mrs. Teddy

said she could identify the man who ran from the murder scene.

I have just learned that this key witness, Mrs. Teddy Hart, has been

Bailiff, enforce quiet or clear the courtroom.

Furthermore, Your Honor, she has been located under circumstances which

suggest the possibility of grave misconduct on the part of defense

Mr. Berger, do you have a specific request to make of the court at this

I have indeed, Your Honor.

The plane bringing Mrs.

Teddy Hart from Carmel is due to land here in half an hour.

I ask a recess until this witness can be brought to court to testify.

Request granted.

Court to reconvene at 3 .30.

Mr. Mason, Mr. Berger, I want to see both of you in my chamber.

I must say, I can't help but admire for it. Who?

Mason, sticking his neck out like that for a client.

Yes. How about a cup of coffee?

No, thanks.

Now, Hamilton, what is the basis for your allegations of misconduct?

Well, Judge, I suspected right from the beginning that Mr. Mason was responsible

for the disappearance of Teddy Hart.

Now I'm convinced of it. We had Dick Hart under surveillance all along.

This morning, after he testified, he slipped out of the courtroom and met

Drake, who drove him to the airport, followed by one of your men.

Exactly. And the trail of the lonely bridegroom ended at Carmel.

In the motel room of a girl registered as Lorna Grant, but who fitted exactly

the description of Teddy Hart, and who, by curious coincidence, had the initials

T .H. on her luggage.

Well, Perry, in the interest of my client, I had to take a desperate

If I lose, I'll assume sole responsibility.

I'm afraid you lost already, Perry.

No.

The girl being returned from Carmel is actually Lorna Grant, not Teddy Hart.

You set that up deliberately?

But why?

What possible excuse could you have for such a thing?

There was no other course open to me.

The murderer had to believe that Teddy Hart would shortly be brought into the

courtroom to point an accusing finger at him.

But the murderer happens to be Peter Dawson.

I think I've made a pretty airtight case against him, even without Teddy Hart.

Well, supposing someone else were guilty, and supposing that this someone

believes that the girl being flown from Carmel actually is Teddy Hart.

Exactly.

And it isn't likely that this someone will lose any time in getting away from

here, as far away as possible.

Will someone please fill me in on Colmar's confession?

Della can give you a first -hand account.

Well, when Bassett skipped out, it was really Arthur Colmar who took the $6

,000.

He thought Bassett wouldn't show up again, so who'd be the wiser?

Yeah, but when Bassett did come back, it was Dawson he blamed, not Colmar.

Until that night.

Then he went over some ledgers and found other discrepancies.

Bassett finally realized it was Comar who had been doing the embezzling. He

accused him, and Comar begged for a little time.

But then he used that time in planning to frame Dawson into a murder.

That's right, with the bit of toupee and all the rest of it.

There was only one problem, though. He almost didn't get away.

In walked Teddy.

In walked who?

Well, Lieutenant, we weren't speaking of the devil, but come right in.

All right, Perry, all right. I just thought you'd like to know something

Teddy Hart, that's all.

Sending her picture out over the wire has finally paid off.

You mean they found her? In Vermont.

And guess what she was doing?

Getting married again.