Original subtitles

Well, I'll tell you bluntly, Dick. You haven't the ghost of a chance of getting

that estate money before the three years are up. I went over the whole thing

again with the trustees this morning.

Yeah, I kind of thought so.

Just how bad is it?

You know, it must be bad if I come to you.

My mother needs care, Everett.

She needs that sanitarium and a series of operations.

Cost $15 ,000.

Well, I... I wish I'd been able to get a better settlement on that accident, but

I did the best I could.

Look, I know you did.

There was never any question about that.

Thanks, Ev.

Dick.

Well, things have been pretty good with me lately. Nothing sensational, but...

Well, my practice has been looking up and... Well, I'm making an important

soon, so... That's wonderful, Ev. I... Are you suggesting that you'll lend me

the money?

You see, I'd like to think that if I ever got in a jam, someone would come

and want to help me out.

Thanks, Ev.

Come to the house tonight.

Fine.

8 .30, we all right?

Well, you'd better make it 9.

9 o 'clock. Right.

Yes, Miss Winslow.

I told you I do not want to talk to Miss Austin.

Helen Austin.

No, she's out of her mind. No, I... Kill herself?

All right.

All right, I'll be there in a few minutes.

What happened? It's Helen Austin. My lights aren't working. It was an

It's her head.

She's dead.

I was worried I needed... Buy one and get one free. Ultra Slim Fast. Give us a

week, we'll take off the weight.

Got this phone call from the bartender at the Oasis Inn.

That she was threatening to kill herself, and I'd better get right over

Who is she, Everett? Her name is Austin.

Helen Austin.

I've been going out with her till just recently.

Dick, I'm in trouble.

Why? It was an accident, you said.

My fiancée, her family.

I promised them I wouldn't see Helen anymore. They'll never believe that she

wasn't here visiting me.

What a mess.

My career, my whole future ruined by a crazy thing like this.

Ev.

What? I'll take care of this for you.

What? I'll put her in my car.

I'll take her to a street away from here.

I'll call the police and I'll tell them I was driving by and saw her on the

pavement. Hit and run accident.

You'd do that for me?

You were going to give me $15 ,000 just out of friendship?

It won't work, Dick.

Well, the car.

You know how the police can prove a car was in an accident? Right. You put it in

your garage until tomorrow morning.

Then you take it to the outskirts of town and you run it into a telephone

When the garage fixes it, there won't be any evidence left.

Look, I know legally it isn't right.

But nothing and nobody will be hurt by doing it this way.

Well, it was an accident.

All right.

I've got your money here, too.

In cash.

And, Dick... And look, I want you to know, if anything goes wrong, when it

right down to it, I'll make a clean breast of the whole thing. I'll tell

what really happened.

Nothing's going to go wrong.

Coming east.

Time, 9 .17.

Saw the body lying in the street.

No other cars observed on scene.

They immediately called the precinct.

That's right.

You didn't touch her?

Just to see if she was dead.

Okay, Mr. Hammond. If you need anything else, we'll get in touch.

All right, I'll find it.

Could it happen? Yes.

The good thing you put in the alarm when you did.

Seems there was little damage done.

Neither one of the cars was burned.

Hello, this is Richard Hammond.

I want to talk to Everett Durrell.

Oh.

Oh, never mind. Tell him I'll see him in his office.

Is he in? Good morning, Mr. Hammond. Do you mean, is Mr. Durrell in? No, he

isn't. May I take a message?

This is personal.

Now, where is he?

Well, I believe he's in court. You may wait here if you like.

Oh, thanks. I'll go to the Hall of Justice.

What courtroom is he in?

I'm sorry, I can't tell you that, Mr. Hammond.

I do suggest... Is he avoiding me?

Oh,

excuse me. Justice, I... Mr. Hammond. Mr. Richard Hammond, isn't it?

Yes?

I'm Clara Thorpe. I lived with Helen Austin. I'm her aunt.

I'm glad I caught you.

Oh, excuse me. Just a second, Mr. Hammond.

How do you know who I am? Oh, I know you all right.

What is it? What do you want?

I want that $15 ,000.

What $15 ,000?

The money Helen took with her when she left the apartment last night.

They say you found her on the street when that car hit her.

Well, the $15 ,000 was gone.

So I want it back.

How did you know about the $15 ,000?

I told you.

I'm her aunt.

Oh, no.

I mean, the $15 ,000... Who put you up to this?

What about the money?

Are you going to turn it over?

If that's the way you want it.

am I to think? I find Durrell's car, the one that was in the accident, in my

garage. Somebody sets fire to the place.

They call the fire department using my name.

The fire's put out just in time to call attention to both cars.

Then there's this Clara Thorpe woman.

How did she know about the $15 ,000?

The exact amount that Everett gave me in cash.

Unless he told her about it and is using her to get the money back.

Then you do believe your lawyer friend is double -crossing you.

Why can't I reach him?

Why is he avoiding me?

Mr. Hammond, if the situation is as you put it, your position, both morally and

legally, is indefensible.

Yes, I know.

You understand the authorities will have to be apprised of what you've told me.

Yes, I understand that.

Maybe there are no mitigating circumstances in law, but there are in

I looked at Everett with the dead woman lying there.

There was just nothing else to do except offer to do what I did for him.

If you hadn't offered, do you think he would have suggested it?

I don't know.

But he did have the $15 ,000 in cash to give you right then.

Yes.

Was your need for the money vital, Mr. Hammond?

About a year and a half ago, my mother and sister were in an automobile

accident. My sister was killed.

My mother's a hopeless invalid, in need of constant care.

The accident involving your mother, did Durrell handle the legal part of it?

Yes.

The other car was driven by some woman.

Apparently, there was carelessness on both sides.

I always thought that Everett did the best he could, but it didn't have much

result.

Mr. Mason, will you represent me?

Yes, I'll look into it.

Yes, Gertie.

Thank you.

She still can't reach Everett Durrell, but she did find out he is not in court

today. You see?

Please keep trying to reach him, Della.

Get hold of Paul Drake.

I want him to check on Mr. Everett Durrell.

He is our new neighbor down the hall, isn't he?

I'd like to know about his romance with Helen Austin.

or any other of his romances.

Tell Paul to look into that telephone call from the bartender at the Oasis

Right.

What do you want me to do, Mr. Mason?

Do you have that $15 ,000 with you?

No, sir. It's at home.

Then we'll go to your home.

What for?

Because you left the money there and because you're vulnerable.

You Mr. Hammond?

Yes, I'm Richard Hammond.

Lieutenant Tragg, homicide.

I understand you had a fire here this morning.

Did you say homicide?

Yes, I did.

A personal friend, Mr. Hammond?

As a matter of fact, no, Lieutenant, but we're not here on a matter involving

homicide, at least not that we know of. But you suspect.

Can we go in, Mr. Hammond? A moment, Lieutenant. What brings you here?

Well, the same thing that brings you here, Perry.

What's that?

A strange coincidence of Mr. Hammond reporting a hit -run accident last

His own garage set on fire this morning.

And they're missing $15 ,000 from the accident victim.

Get an anonymous tip on the money, Lieutenant?

Anonymous? No.

It came from the Miss Clara Thorpe, the dead girl's aunt.

Do you have an autopsy report yet?

Well, I expect it by the time I get back downtown.

Then you just suspect murder.

I guess I'm the gloomy type.

Well, let's go in and have a look inside, eh, Mr. Hammond?

I hate to be technical, Lieutenant, but you'll need a search warrant.

Oh, I'm glad you mentioned that, Mr. Hammond.

Oh, I understand that the fire did practically no damage.

Yes, that's right. You ever see that dead woman before, Hammond?

No.

Hello?

Yes,

he is.

It's your secretary, Mr. Mason.

Thanks.

Hello? Mr.

Everett Durrell is in his office and said it would be a privilege to talk to

you.

No, no, we didn't reach him. He called us. I'd left word.

All right, Della.

Thanks.

Now, Perry, are we going to have to do it the hard way or is Mr. Hammond going

to produce the $15 ,000?

Why don't you ask Mr. Hammond, Lieutenant?

There's $15 ,000 in the strong box, the top desk drawer.

Take a look in the garage, partner.

Mr. Hammond, you'll have to come downtown with me.

A tremendous amount of bad publicity could come out of this, Everett.

I think it's safe to say that if you're associated with it in any way, your

career, at least in our circle, would be finished before it really got started.

But, Mr. Claridge, they've arrested Richard.

They haven't arrested him. They're questioning him.

But I promised to make a clean breast of the whole thing if he got into trouble.

What do you mean a clean breast of it, Ev?

Would you tell all about Helen Austin?

Well, yes, of course, all.

Everett, I don't want to be oppressive about this. I believe it's something you

have to make up your own mind about.

But you're inviting Barbara and me along on your confession with its attendant

horrors. Frankly, I don't know if we'll go along.

An ultimatum, Mr. Claridge?

I've already called Perry Mason's office.

Mason will crucify you.

Barbara, how can I renege on my word?

Do you think you will solve this Richard Hammond's problems by confessing your

part? But I can help him.

Well, anyway, Dick will talk. He'll involve me. You can deny whatever he

It's your word against his. Or can he prove anything?

I don't know.

No, I guess not.

I can understand your sense of honor, Everett, why you want to tell the truth

now. It was embarrassing in the first place.

Now the whole mess is being compounded. That's right.

And I can understand Dad's position.

He has certain standards to maintain.

Oh, I know it isn't fashionable to be so concerned with how things look or what

people think.

Yet scandal to him isn't fashionable either.

What about you, Barbara?

What do you think?

Everett, I don't think you and I ought to put the burden of decision on

I certainly won't.

Barbara will do as I say.

And I think you know how I feel.

Yes?

Mr. Perry Mason to see Mr. Durrell.

Miss Winslow, I have nothing to say to Mr. Mason.

Miss Winslow, would you please tell Mr. Durrell that he has a choice?

He can talk with me now or later from the witness stand.

He heard you, Mr. Mason.

Mr.

Mason, forgive ever its apparent rudeness, but since he is not involved

Hammond's difficulties, there is little to discuss.

Who are you, sir?

I'm Marvin Claridge, Everett's prospective father -in -law.

Are you also his advisor?

When necessary, Mr. Mason.

When necessary.

Good day, sir.

The first... Injured.

So, Helen Austin wasn't at the Oasis Inn last night, and there was no telephone

call from the bartender. Nope. Oh, I checked the romance between Everett

and Helen Austin.

Going to Richard Hammond, Durrell had broken off with him. He had.

Helen Austin worked as a receptionist at the Claridge Land Company's main office

on Wilshire.

Now, apparently, Durrell met Barbara Claridge through calling for Helen at

Barbara's the daughter of Marvin Claridge, chairman of the board. Very

Brentwood society.

Better check on this barber claridge, Paul.

All right. Oh, one more thing.

My man at headquarters called not ten minutes ago with the news that Durrell

categorically denies giving Hammond $15 ,000.

And the car?

The lab boys are going over it now.

It's Durrell's car. He said he loaned it to Hammond earlier yesterday.

Find out what happened to the lights on that car, Paul.

Dig into the dead girl's past and dig deep.

Get me all the information you can on the accident involving Hammond's mother

and sister 18 months ago.

Is there a murder case, Perry?

Just as though.

I'll talk to you later. Okay.

Claire Thorpe to see you.

Remember Helen Austin's aunt.

Bring her in, Dawn.

Miss Thorpe?

How do you do, Miss Thorpe?

Won't you sit down?

Oh, well.

Thank you.

Now, how can I help you?

Well, just so you'll understand that I understand, I know you represent this

Richard Hammond.

It's in the afternoon papers.

Actually, I was on my way here when I ran into him in the hall a while ago.

And I know he's probably told you about Helen's $15 ,000 and how I wanted him to

hand it back.

Yes, he's told me.

All I want's my rights.

I'm the last and only heir of my late sister's only child.

I'm referring to Helen.

Her marriage is all dissolved and all.

So I...

charge me to handle it, and how soon can I get the money? I'm very ignorant

about these things.

Now, suppose you tell me about that money, Miss Thorpe.

Where did Helen get it?

I don't know.

Well, you said she had it with her when she left your apartment last night.

I did?

Now, suppose you tell me where that $15 ,000 came from.

Mason, if I knew that, perhaps I could find another 15 ,000 the same place.

I don't know.

That's why I'm here.

I'm trying to get you to lead me to it.

What are you going to do?

I'm going to help her.

Mr. Durrell, didn't Sergeant Holcomb call you and tell you that we were going

vacuum this driveway in the morning?

For traces of glass and blood?

You're Perry Mason.

It was a trap.

It seems to have worked.

Well, I think... I think we'd be more comfortable inside.

So it might have happened right here.

You see, Dick came by to ask me for a favor. He needed money.

Also, he wanted to borrow my car.

What time was this?

About nine o 'clock.

But what I figured after your sergeant called was that Helen was calling here.

And he might have had the accident here in my car.

Well, that would have involved me, so... Well, I thought it best to hose down

the driveway.

Taffering with evidence.

As an attorney, you know better than that.

As an attorney, he knows better than to continue lying, too. I resent that.

You're deliberately involving a man, a friend, in a hit -run manslaughter case

of which you are guilty.

That's not true. Hammond said that...

What did he say, Lieutenant?

Didn't he give you his story?

Said he came here to get the $15 ,000 that Durrell promised to lend him.

That he drove up and found you right after you hit the woman.

No. Not true, Durrell.

No.

Not true that you told Hammond you'd got a telephone call?

That the headlights in your car were suddenly not working?

That you struck Helen Austin because you couldn't see as you drove down the

driveway? No, not true.

Why would Hammond borrow your car when he had his own, Durrell?

Well, he didn't have his own. He said it wasn't working.

Didn't you help him put Helen Austin's body in his car?

No.

Did you know the police found bloodstains on the cushions of Hammond's

bloodstains that matched the dead woman's?

No, I didn't.

Or that they did not find any bloodstains in your car?

When Hammond drove the body to a deserted street and called the police...

According to their report, his car was described by making license on the

officer's report. Now, why would Hammond borrow your car and then drive his own

car?

All right.

I killed her.

But I couldn't see. The car lights were out.

I did make the deal with Hammond.

And you gave him the $15 ,000 in cash?

No.

I don't know why he said that. I didn't give him any money.

I promised to.

All right, Lieutenant.

I expect you'll drop the charges against Hammond now.

We mean the charges now against him? Oh, probably will, yes.

Since we're going to prefer others.

What others?

Murder. Against Hammond? That's right, first degree.

You see, the girl wasn't killed on Durrell's driveway at all. She had been

for at least a half an hour when Durrell's car hit her.

How do you connect Hammond with that?

Well, you take that telephone call that Durrell got from a supposed bartender.

Now, that was a phony, wasn't it?

Yes. Well, I figure Richard Hammond made it. At five hundred and nine, Mason,

when he had an appointment with Durrell here for nine o 'clock, and he knew

Durrell would be here.

You mean you think Hammond killed the girl and then deliberately set out to

it look like Durrell had killed her by accident?

Why, sure.

He tampered with the lights, hid behind the bushes.

Waited for Durrell's car to come along, threw the body in front of it, ran to

the street, got into his own car, drove up the driveway, then made out to be

shocked to discover his friend, Durrell, standing over the dead woman.

Why, Lieutenant?

Where's the motive for murder?

How do you connect him up with the dead woman?

That woman was the driver of the car which a year and a half ago killed his

sister and put his mother in the sanitarium.

I think Hamilton Burger...

He's going to ask for a quick hearing.

Cut, sir.

Technology. 255 -1818.

I don't know the exact date, but it was just a few days after the accident. I

was visiting with Helen when this Mr.

Richard Hammond came into the hospital room.

I guess he didn't notice me, but I noticed him all right.

And did Richard Hammond see Helen Austin, the deceased?

Yes, he did.

And his attorney.

And they talked with her. They were trying to find out whose fault the

was. What accident are you referring to, Miss Dorp? The one which killed Mr.

Hammond's sister, seriously injured his mother, and sent my niece, Helen Austin,

the driver of the other car, to the hospital.

So Helen Austin saw and talked to the defendant, Richard Hammond.

Yes, sir.

I see.

Now, Miss Thorpe, would you please tell this court what took place on the

evening of November 18th of this year? That's the night of the murder.

Well, I got home from work a little late that night. I had dinner out.

Helen was on the phone. She hung up when I came in, took her coat to go out. I

said, where are you going? She said, got a date. I said, who?

And she answered, somebody with 50... $15 ,000 for me.

Really? What time of the evening was this, Miss Thorpe?

About 7 .30.

I see.

I think that'll be all, Miss Thorpe. Thank you very much. Your witness.

Miss Thorpe, did you see $15 ,000 in the possession of the decedent?

No, sir, but she said she was going to pick it up. She left the apartment at 7

.30. She wasn't killed until 9, so she must have had it.

Did she usually pick up amounts like that from her dates? I don't know.

Do you have an inkling of who the person was she expected to get the money from?

No, sir, and don't you misunderstand me. I didn't say anybody did give her

money.

Was she very secretive about her dates?

Sometimes. Most of the time, actually. The only date I ever knew was this

Everett Dorrell.

That was real steady for a while, and it stopped.

Did she ever mention anyone else? Any other men's names?

Like who?

Oh, Alexander Hill, perhaps.

Oh, him. Well, yes.

Did she see him after their divorce?

Not that I know about.

She was married at the time of the accident 18 months ago, was she not?

The time of the accident?

Yes, she was.

Under what name was she registered at the hospital?

Mrs. Alexander Hill.

What was the physical appearance of the decedent at that time?

Oh, she was all covered with bandages.

Her face, too? Oh, yes.

So the defendant then came to the hospital and talked with Mrs. Alexander

a woman whose face he could not see.

That's all, Miss Thorpe.

I call Lieutenant Arthur Tragg, please.

And what were the results of the tests on the bloodstains, Lieutenant?

The traces on the seat cushion and the rug in Mr. Hammond's car were of the

blood type as the decedent's. I see.

I show you now this stone, which has been identified as a possible lethal

weapon. I ask if you recognize it. Yes, sir, that has my mark on it. It is the

murder weapon.

Traces of blood and hair from decedent were found on it.

And would you tell this court, please, where the murder weapon was found?

In a...

Vacant lot behind Mr. Hammond's home.

Now, Lieutenant, on the morning after the murder, what did you find in Mr.

Hammond's home?

In a strong box, cash in the amount of $15 ,000.

That's interesting.

I think that'll be all, Lieutenant. Thank you.

Cross it down.

Lieutenant, has it been established, undetermined, where the murder of Helen

Austin took place?

No, no, sir.

Was the driveway at Mr.

Everett Durrell's home examined for evidence of the murder?

I object to that, Your Honor. That's incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial.

It's also improper cross -examination in that it deals with matters not touched

on in direct.

Mr. Mason?

Your Honor, in view of the statement that the place of the murder has not yet

been established, and knowing that the police made a thorough examination of

this driveway...

We want to know whether any pertinent evidence has been found and suppressed,

because that would enable us to show bias on the part of this witness.

Objection overruled. Proceed, Mr. Mason.

I am not going to pursue this matter at the present time, Your Honor.

It seems clear to me that the district attorney has deliberately ignored

aspects of the case. The defense is going to wait to see what transpires.

Well, counsel won't have very long to wait, Your Honor.

The prosecution believes that for purposes of this preliminary hearing...

proved a murder and overwhelmingly illustrated the probable guilt of the

defendant.

Therefore, Your Honor, the state rests.

Mr. Mason, it seems to the court that the prosecution is entitled to an order

binding the defendant over to trial.

May the court please.

Counsel realizes the defense doesn't usually put on its case at this time.

But the unusual aspects of this case would seem to make it an advantage

than a disadvantage.

Then you want to put on a defense, Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

But since we did not anticipate the state resting so early, defense asked

adjournment until tomorrow morning.

So ordered.

This court will recess until 9 .30 tomorrow morning.

I can't understand why Durrell wasn't in the court.

He should have been a principal witness for the prosecution.

Now, I see that subpoenas are issued for Durrell, Barbara Claridge.

Marvin Clary.

And Mr. Alexander Hill.

Hello, darling.

K -Tel International presents the country music video of the year.

Conway Twitty, number one hit. No cost or obligation.

You may be seated.

People versus Hammond.

Are you ready to present the case to the defense, Mr. Mason?

Yes, Your Honor.

I call Everett Durrell to the stand.

Mr. Durrell, do you know the defendant in this case, Richard Hammond?

Yes. Did you make an arrangement with Mr. Hammond on the night of Wednesday,

November 18th, the night of the murder?

Yes. What was Mr. Hammond obligated to do?

Well, he was to remove the body of Helen Austin to a side street, call the

police, and report her death as a hit -run accident.

And where was the body?

On the driveway.

Please be more explicit.

Under the bumper, on the pavement, near the wheel, the car had struck her. Is

that what you want me to say? I want you to answer the questions.

Now, in return for Mr. Hammond doing the service for you, what were you going to

do for him?

Lend him $15 ,000.

But I... Thank you.

Cross -examine.

Mr. Durrell, did you give or lend the defendant $15 ,000?

No, sir.

At about five minutes to nine on the night of the murder, did you receive a

phone call which caused... Objection, Your Honor.

Incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial, and improper questioning, in that it

takes up matters not part of the direct examination.

Abstain.

Mr. Durrell...

Did you have an appointment at 9 o 'clock on the night of the murder with

defendant at your house?

Objection, Your Honor, on the same grounds.

Your Honor, these questions are certainly germane to the issues in this

Your Honor, the prosecution had the opportunity of bringing out all these

germane issues when it presented its case.

Prosecution chose not to do so.

Sustained. Mr. Berger, you will confine yourself to proper cross -examination.

Very well. I have no further questions of the witness at this time. I will

out what I want to bring out and rebuttal. That would be when the defense

finished with its case. Naturally, Mr. Mason.

I call Mr. Alexander Hill.

Alexander Hill, take the stand, please.

You may step down.

Well, it's been more than a few months I've been out of work.

More than a few months.

How long has it been, Mr. Hill?

A few years.

Do you recall my visit to your apartment?

Yes, sir.

Would you tell this court how much your cigarette lighter cost?

Well, it was a gift.

Would you tell this court what you were wearing?

You mean the silk shirt and tie?

Were they also a gift?

No, I bought them.

I have here a record of Miss Austin's bank deposits and withdrawals.

The items I'm referring to go back almost a year and a half.

On or about the first of each month, there is a bank deposit of $2 ,000. Can

put any light on this for the court? No.

On or about the third of each month, there is a record of a bank withdrawal

$1 ,000. Can you tell the court anything about this? No, no.

I think we'd better examine your position, Mr. Hill.

You have not been gainfully employed for several years. You wear very expensive

clothes. Your former wife had a secret source of income.

Yet you cannot tell this court anything about any of this.

Your Honor, I object.

Mr. Mason is cross -examining his own witness.

I've refrained from objecting up to now, but I think this has gone far enough.

Mr. Berger, the court is interested in this man's method of support.

He seems to have found a magic way of life.

If he can tell me the secret and it isn't illegal in some form, I might like

try it myself.

You're going to answer that question, Mr. Hill. Where do you get your money?

Helen gave it to me.

I think you'd better explain that, sir.

I knew that Helen was seeing other men, but I never knew who.

She was very tricky about that.

Oh, that accident she had when her car cracked up and she killed that girl and

hurt the mother?

She wasn't alone in that car.

I could tell the way she tried to cover up.

She was covering up for someone who was with her in the car at that time?

Well, sure.

That's how she got the $2 ,000 every month.

And your $1 ,000?

She gave it to me because... well, to keep me quiet.

Who was the man?

I don't know.

But the only man I ever found out she was seeing was Mr.

Everett Durrell.

Thank you, Mr. Hill.

Gross examiner.

I have no questions of this witness, Your Honor.

But in view of his testimony, if the defense has no objection, I would like

interrupt his case at this time for the purpose of calling Mr. Everett Durrell

as a rebuttal witness.

No objection.

Great. Well, Your Honor, I call Everett Durrell.

Mr. Durrell, were you involved in an accident in Helen Austin's car and were

paying her to cover up that fact?

No, sir. I was not in the car nor in any accident with the decedent. And I did

not give her any money. And you did not give the defendant any money either?

No, sir. I've already told you the extent of our agreement.

Thank you, Mr. Durrell. Your witness.

Mr. Durrell, when you made that agreement with Richard Hammond, you knew

Helen Austin was the driver of the car which killed his sister, didn't you?

Yes. And you knew that Richard didn't know her as Helen Austin, but as Mrs.

Hill.

Yes. And he didn't recognize her either.

Well, I can only apologize for that. I was desperate.

Why were you desperate?

Well, I didn't want Barbara to know. I didn't want her father to find out.

They'd never have believed I wasn't still seeing Helen.

Yet you told them both the next morning.

Well, Dick had gotten into trouble by that time. I wanted to tell the truth.

Yes, I remember.

Then Marvin Claridge put pressure on you.

Marvin Claridge is still putting pressure on you, isn't he?

No, no.

How did your car get to Richard's garage?

I don't know.

Isn't it true that you did give Richard Hammond that $15 ,000?

No.

Then did you give the money to Helen Austin?

Helen? No.

She was to pick up $15 ,000, wasn't it, from you?

No.

Weren't you the one in her car at the time of that accident 18 months ago?

And haven't you been paying her a monthly tribute for her silence?

No. No?

Then who could it be, Mr. Durrell?

Who could the mysterious passenger have been?

The one she's protected all this time.

Well, I don't know. It wasn't me.

Then who was paying Helen Austin $2 ,000 a month for her silence, Mr. Durrell?

Now, from whom was Helen going to get that $15 ,000?

All right.

From the only one it could have been.

Marvin Claridge.

I'm sorry, sir. I lied for you.

I lied about giving Richard Hammond the money. I did give it to him.

I love Barbara, but... If this means I can't have her...

I'm sorry.

Helen worked for him.

Even when she was going out with me.

She was seeing him.

Thank you, Mr. Durrell.

Will Mr. Claridge please take the stand?

Yes, I gave her $2 ,000 the first of every month.

Since the accident?

Yes. Then the money was blackmail money.

And you were the mysterious passenger.

Yes.

I don't like to think of it like that. She never threatened me with exposing

affair.

But perhaps that's one of the things I found so fascinating about Helen, that

understood each other so well.

I just increased the regular amount of money I was giving her. So that it

a rather large regular amount.

Yes. And then she asked you for a rather large lump sum, $15 ,000. She said she

needed it desperately. She... Well, she demanded it. And you gave it to her.

No. Why not?

Peculiarly enough, Everett, Mr.

Durrell, asked to borrow that exact amount.

In giving it to Everett, I thought Helen could wait until the next day.

But she didn't care to wait.

She was angry.

So, you've been tampering with evidence and obstructing police procedure.

I'm quite willing to pay for what I've done.

Can I drop you any place, Mr. Hammond? Thank you.

Good night, Mr. Mason. Good night, Dick. Good night.

And now are you quite willing to pay for what you've done?

What have I done?

You tampered with my digestion and obstructed my feeding procedure for

some time.

I plead guilty with the fine.

One dinner.

Payable now.

Viacom.