Original subtitles

Oh, I can't see anyone just now, though.

She said it would only take a minute, Perry. Her name is Dory Adler.

Find out what she wants. Make an appointment for her. Miss Adler, wait.

I told you.

No, Miss Adler. What I want is that he... That you, Mr. Mason, that you see

Miss Adler, I'm... I mean, just see me.

See who I am and what I look like and identify me.

You don't know who you are?

Of course I do. I'm Dory Adler.

But there's something crazy going on, and I'm scared, and, well, I'm trying to

stop, and... Well, I guess I must look pretty crazy myself in this kooky

but they gave it to me to wear, and... They gave it to you?

Mr. Mason, look, there isn't time to explain the mess I've gotten myself

but, well, I think I was hired just to walk around the street sometimes,

even more like a creep sometimes, because, well, because I guess maybe I

like somebody else.

Who? Please, can't I explain it later?

Miss Ambler, who hired you?

A man named Billings.

See, there was an ad in the newspaper, and, well, he interviewed hundreds of

girls, I guess, up in this hotel suite.

Which hotel?

Mr. Mason, it doesn't matter. The point is, I figured out a way to stop them

from using me. I can get myself out of trouble.

But I need the protection of somebody.

You, being able to say that I'm me.

The usual means of establishing one's identity.

I know. Now, I told her my address, and I'm 21, I'm 5 '4", I'm 117 pounds, and

let's see. Oh, distinguishing marks. I had an operation about six months ago

appendicitis. Oh, I see.

I was thinking possibly you might have some further identification, such as a

driver's license.

Oh, well, it's in my purse, but...

Do you have your fingerprints on?

Oh, good.

I'm no expert.

Don't take too long.

Yes, give me your right thumb.

Excuse me.

Yes.

Larry, I know the young lady is very pretty, and she may have a pretty scar

pretty fingers too, but she also has a gun in her purse.

Hurry it up just a little. Now, let's see. Please, Mr. Mason.

Identical. You are Dory Ambler, all right?

Of course, you've lost one pound in the past few months, but... Yes, well,

listen, I really must be going.

Why? You know, if you'd explain a little more to me. Here, let me help you with

your coat. Oh, no, that's okay. I can carry it. Sometimes it's better to turn

your problems over to someone else. No, no, it's much worse being ashamed of

yourself for being so young and stupid without... Look, over my shoulders is

just fine.

Here we are.

Here's your purse. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Mason.

At least now I know I can call on you if I ever do need your help.

Of course.

Bye.

Perry. Bella, I want Paul to... It's all right. I understood your signals on the

phone. And Paul isn't there, but his office will have somebody tailing the

by the time she leaves the building. Perfect secretary.

Well, baffling boss, will you explain to me why you have to accept a client who

carries a gun around in her purse?

It's all right, Bella. I had a good look at it.

Well? It's loaded.

With blanks.

There she goes.

Hey, stop her.

Get out of my way. Look out.

Wait a minute.

Where was it? Never mind where it was. Let's get out of here. You don't want to

get shot.

I'm okay.

Take it easy.

Where'd she go? I saw it. I saw her hold him up. Do you see him right after?

All right.

All right, now, what's going on here? Well, she said this isn't a stink -up.

Now, wait a minute. She said what?

Officer, he ran down that way. He went into the restroom, the one down the

All right, will you people stand back here, please? Just be fast.

All right, get back, will you? Move on, please.

It's all right, just stand back, please.

That's her.

That's, there she is.

It's her, all right. Now, just some old mess.

Stand right here, please. What?

Why did you do it? Holy smoke, a mean coat, and there you go. All right, all

right. Give me this. Who are you?

I'm used to making up a story, lady. You were seen with a gun in your hand.

I was what?

What are you talking about?

Will you step right over here, please? I don't even know what you're talking

about. What's wrong? What did they say I did? Who is he? I didn't do anything.

You think she looked honestly surprised, at first, I mean.

I think she's nuts.

Of course, I didn't see the holdup or whatever it was.

My boy who sailed her from the building got stuck in a freeway jam, but her taxi

had just taken the airport off -ramp, and since I was already there in another

case, he just radioed her description.

Yes, I understand that. Perry, they found her gun in the washroom, plus a

witnesses who identified her. And she just stood there, cool as a cucumber and

innocent as a lamb.

How long did that last, Paul?

Until she finally heard everything they were accusing her of. Then, boom, she

just starts laughing.

And confessed?

Confessed. She thought it was a big joke.

She says, okay, I was having a little fun, so lock me up, Sergeant. Away they

go. The police haven't called. She hasn't called.

I'm going to break your heart.

The police know that a girl like your door handler doesn't need any lawyer.

Right now, they've probably got one psychiatrist tapping her knee, another

scratching his head, and another one... Perry, the newspaper boy was just here.

Look. There she is.

Isn't it?

Paris again tangles with law.

Minerva Menden. Who?

Mischievous Minerva shoots blanks at airports.

Wait a minute. That's Dory Ambler. At least it's the same girl I saw being

picked up at the airport, and that's the same cop.

Did you see them check her identification?

Sure. They grabbed her purse and her credit cards.

Of course, I didn't hear them say her name. I didn't want to get so close

think I was a witness.

Just wanted to see what it felt like, said Minerva. Can't you understand a

But at police headquarters, there was little laughter as Ms. Minden was booked

for... Perry, that girl's worth $10 million.

Remember the girl from back east who collected half of the inheritance on the

Minden oil?

Sure. She's been in trouble ever since.

Speeding, reckless driving.

I'm 12.

I see a door of the Ambler.

Are you trying to kill me? Well, move your foot once in a while.

I'm moving on you, you bastard. Oh, I'm sorry. So carry your own groceries once

in a while. Besides, I told you to box of pans. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going

as fast as I can. You broke my eyes. You broke it.

That's just great.

Excuse me. Do you know Miss Ambler lives at 907?

No, no. I just moved in myself. She's a blonde, young, about so tall.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

What did you say your name was? Dory Ambler.

Dory, yeah.

As a matter of fact, we had a few nice words together this morning.

My wife's been here about a week, but me, I travel, so I just... Who are you?

Acme Collection Service.

No trouble.

Yeah, well, as I was telling you boys, I never met the girl. I'm sorry.

What's Dory done?

Nothing, just a routine check.

Well, I'll tell her you were here. Go get in touch, okay?

You're a friend of Miss Ambridge, I take it?

With a husband like mine?

It's only fair to warn the young ones, don't you think?

You know, Dory's a nice, sweet girl.

She gave me the whole message. Maybe I... No, thank you. Just tell her to

Let's go.

Well, it must have been nearly two hours I hid in that ladies' room.

But nobody came in, except just for a minute when they found the gun where I

skidded it across the floor.

So finally I sneaked out.

But nobody paid any attention.

Of course, I fixed my hair and I carried the coat inside out. And as quickly as

I could, I bought this.

Oh, I had the coat wrapped up.

Oh, but I must have taken nearly ten taxis trying to get home. I was so

somebody might be following me.

You did all this to stay out of trouble?

Don't you understand?

When I found out it was that Minden girl I looked like, I just knew that I was

being used and way over my head, too.

So I thought if I did something to show her I knew to put her on the spot, well,

they'd just have to leave me alone. They'd have to just drop the whole

Instead of which, you went along with the whole gag and trumped your ace,

probably saving you as fall girl for something bigger.

Just a minute, Paul.

Dory, how did you discover that Minerva Minden was the girl you resembled?

I didn't. It was this woman in a beauty shop, and, well, she showed me this

picture in a magazine she'd been reading.

Oh, and I saw it.

So nutty me, I'd look up Miss Minden's address and go driving straight out to

her house.

She lives in something like Buckingham Palace, you know.

Then I saw her coming out of the house, and, Mr. Mason, she had on exactly the

same clothes I did.

Did you speak to Miss Minden?

Oh, no, but I wasn't too scared to telephone.

And this woman said, so sorry, but Miss Minden's taking the plane to New York

this noon.

And that's when I started getting my crazy ideas.

I came to you first, and then I went to the airport. And when I spotted Miss

Minden, she went into the ladies' room, and, well, here I am.

Dory. I know, I know. You said I should have turned the whole problem over to

somebody else.

Dory.

Tell me about this man Billings, the man that hired you. I only saw him that

once. All my clothes come by messenger, and I'm supposed to phone him every day

for instructions.

But his telephone number's over in the pad, but I think it's unlisted.

You said that for a couple of days he told you to just walk around the street

certain clothes.

Right, and in certain streets, too. That whole area around Sunset and La Brea, I

was supposed to just wander around and stop for a soda, talk to the newsboys,

you know.

Did anything unusual happen during that time?

Yes, just yesterday afternoon, I noticed two people pointing at me in the shop,

and then there was this boy in a service station.

I think I've got it, Paul.

Dory, did Billings ever ask you about certain days, certain dates?

Huh? And what you'd been doing, where you were on those dates.

Oh, oh, well, yes, he did give me sort of a memory test to see if I could

remember instructions he said.

What dates?

Well, let's see.

Oh, I remember he asked me all about March 10th, for instance.

That's easy, because I remember I was home here alone with the flu.

Hey, hit and run, maybe.

Exactly. What?

Dory, I'll bet that Menden girl was involved in a hit -run accident or some

of a crime near the intersection of Sunset and La Brea on March 10th.

Paul, Della can check the police department for unsolved. I'm checking

else.

But that's Mr. Billings' number. If he knows that...

Hi, Sam there.

Yeah, Sam Billings.

Look, sister, this is the number he gave me. He said if I ever want my fender

fixed, be sure to call Billings Body and... Wrong number.

This is Compton and Billings, he says.

Compton and Billings?

One of the crookedest private eye outfits in town.

Well, that's very flattering, Mr. Drake.

You coming to us for information.

Well, I thought possibly you could save my outfit a little time, Mr. Billings.

You see, we've been investigating some of these phony movie job offers.

For the Actors Guild?

Yeah, I've heard about that.

Phony casting bureaus, stuff like that.

Casting. That's nice work, isn't it?

Yeah. I understand you did some interviewing the other day at the Palace

That so?

Took a suite and talked to several hundred girls. At least that's what one

boys picked up.

Casting? Well, whatever it was, I'm sure your operation was perfectly

legitimate.

All I care about is this.

We've got a list of guys who hang around the big interviews where the girls are.

I'm sorry, Mr. Drake, but I'm not going to be able to help you on this,

unfortunately.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

I'm Del Compton, Mr. Drake. How do you do, Mr. Compton? What sort of help is it

you're talking about?

He's got me mixed up with somebody else, Del.

I was just about to tell you, Drake, I haven't been inside the Palace Hotel in

two years.

Well, I guess we're just a bum steer. Thanks anyway.

See you around, gentlemen.

and that's a chance to do a favor for a big agency like his.

Alice Hurtado.

Joe.

Where were you Tuesday and Wednesday anyway?

Las Vegas.

You know that.

What's the matter? Is my competition there?

Now, look.

If you won't get rid of him, I will.

Yeah, that's better.

Now, look, baby.

Time is running out.

Well, sure, Mr. Billings.

All right, Joe.

Whatever you say, sweetie.

You understand, Miss Menden.

That the fine I've imposed is the maximum that's possible under the

circumstances.

If you hadn't pleaded guilty, if there hadn't been blanks on that gun, if the

witnesses at the airport hadn't remembered that you said, this isn't a

-up, then it would have given me great pleasure to send you to jail for a while

to learn a little something about social responsibility.

I'm sorry, Your Honor. I really am sorry.

Look at that.

19 years old, and your driver's license has been suspended twice.

Three arrests for speeding, one for reckless... I'm sure Minerva has learned

lesson this time, Your Honor.

Minerva, you have advantages, opportunities which other children don't

I remember once reading in the newspapers where you inherited $10

Well, if the law permitted spanking as a punishment for... This child has also

had tragedies, Your Honor. A broken home. No real parents of her own.

Aunt Hattie, please.

She didn't have to plead guilty, Your Honor. She didn't have to... And you,

woman. If you open your mouth once more in this courtroom, you're going to be

fined, too.

Just don't let me see you in here again, young lady. Understand?

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Next case.

I'll see she stays out of trouble. Don't you worry about that.

Well, that's it.

9 of March 10th, approximately 11 .30.

La Brea, just south of Sunset Boulevard.

The man who was hit was getting into his car, Paul.

A girl in a big convertible size swanked him.

How come the police got such a good description of her?

Apparently the girl stopped and got out to help.

But when other people came running, she changed her mind and drove away.

The man wasn't badly injured, but... Hi, beautiful.

Hi.

Terry, what did you tell Dori Adler to do now?

Told her to stay quiet.

But the second anyone singles her out for this hit -run accident, we'll jump

Miss Minerva Minton with both feet.

Well? I may have slowed down or hired Ann Billings a little, but of all the

conniving frame -ups... I wonder. Wonder what?

I've spotted several differences between them, but these girls are so much

alike, you don't suppose they could be related, do you?

Well, it would be quite a coincidence.

On the other hand, Dory says she doesn't know a thing about her own family.

Well, I stopped by probate court, and the clerk remembers that Minerva

father left her mother with her mother's sister.

Well... Maybe our Dory should be collecting some of the Minden Millions.

At least it would help to explain the rebellion.

Perry Mason's office.

Yeah, speaking.

Dory, what's the matter?

Followed?

Well, it's probably the police waiting to pick you up for that hit and run.

Now, don't get scared. They won't hurt you. And we'll be over as fast as we

No.

No, I'm going away. Look, just tell Mr. Mason I'm sorry I've been such a crazy

nuisance to him, but...

I don't want to be mixed up anymore in this.

Dory, wait a minute.

Don't try to run.

There may be more to this than... I just can't stand it any longer.

Tell Mr. Mason I'm sorry.

Dory, you do as we tell you.

Stay there. We're coming right over.

We're on the show.

Joe Billings. He's been shot.

Hello, Perry. Thanks for coming out here again.

Thanks a lot, Andy.

You again?

No word on Dory Ambler, if that's what you mean. That's what I mean.

We've got a full alarm out, don't worry.

Andy, how many times do I have to tell you? Someone dragged her out of that

apartment. We heard her cry.

There certainly wasn't any woman who tipped that stove over.

Sure, sure. We're going on the assumption that your client was

But, uh, I want to show you something.

Are you buying the murder weapon yet?

Some of the bushes by the path over there.

Is that all you can say? What was it?

38 revolver. No fingerprints.

Registration?

Andy, what's the matter with you? I've told you all I can, perhaps more than I

should. That's because my client is in danger.

It was obviously Billings' murderer who took Dory out of there. Harry?

Look at this, sir.

Well?

We're getting rid of Mark Kent.

This is it.

Description of the witnesses.

Last two numbers of the license.

Everything checks.

There's even a dent in the right place.

And the garage is rented to Dory Ambler, Perry.

Well, of course.

And the car belongs to Minerva Minden.

It's just been planted here, probably by Billings himself.

It was part of the frame -up. No, no.

Look at that. A cobweb. The battery's dead.

Tires are flat.

The car's been in this garage for months, Perry.

Ever since the accident, I guess.

Well, Andy, I'm sure there's some explanation. And it doesn't belong to

Minden. It's a stolen car.

Taken from a parking lot in San Francisco about six months ago.

Quite some girl, your Dory Ambler.

But I guess now you'll believe we're just as anxious to find her as you are.

Look, I can't help you, buddy. Now, how many times do I have to say it and how

many people, huh? You weren't here last night. No, I was picking up draperies at

11 o 'clock.

Well, now, if your wife sent you clear down to Long Beach to get in on a Friday

night bargain sale, wouldn't you stop for a belt? I don't know. Maybe you're a

mouse. Okay, so you had a few.

I understand your wife wasn't here either.

Well, you can say that again.

Draperies, huh? Boy, won't they just look great in Salt Lake City.

Where? Well, here.

Look for yourself.

At least that's the dateline on there. Look at the time, huh? 1 a .m. She must

have took the 8 o 'clock plane, I guess.

Changed my mind.

Mother needs me more.

Go reconcile with that red -headed waitress who slipped a note to a dinner.

P .S.

Don't hang yourself in the draperies.

Yeah, well, we kind of had our ups and downs.

Yeah, well, what I want to find out is how they got away.

They? Well, it must have been at least one man with a girl in tow, and she must

have put up a struggle.

Well, like I was...

Like I was telling the cops, you know, there's a service cord out there that

attaches to the next one, which is out by the street.

Now, if you didn't know that and you was chasing somebody through, you wouldn't

even see it.

Did you ever see Joe Billings around here, the man that was murdered?

No, no. I've only been here one day, so... I'll tell you one thing, though.

I seen this guy Compton the cops had out here this morning. I seen him around

here yesterday. He was hanging around the... Mr. Jasper, mind talking with the

lieutenant again?

Oh, look, just find that Dory girl. She's probably the one that did it. Now,

just find her.

No, Mr. Mason.

Minerva will not speak to anyone just now.

I'd rather hear that from Minerva Menden, Miss Hall.

Well, you're not going to.

After all that's been in the newspapers, our lawyers have given specific

instructions. No visitors, no interviews, and in particular, no

you, Mr. Mason.

Is that so?

Who are these protective lawyers? Now, don't be angry.

We have a great many lawyers, naturally, to handle different sources. To handle

Minerva's many escapades, you mean.

That's not true.

She's only rebelled in a childish way once or twice.

And I put a stop to that sort of thing, don't you worry.

Naturally, if Minerva ever got into serious trouble, you'd be the first one

come to.

No, thank you.

Don't you understand, Miss Hall, your niece is committed to hit and run.

She hired a detective to frame another girl for it. The detective has been

murdered and the girl kidnapped.

Now, if that isn't serious trouble... That's not how it happened at all.

This Dory Ambler, whoever she is, has simply been telling you stories.

She's simply trying to capitalize on a fancy resemblance with... Just a moment,

Miss Hall. It's not your version I want to hear.

Perhaps I will talk to those lawyers.

Fine.

Mr. Mason?

You are Mr.

Perry Mason.

Oh, me.

Well, it was right.

Your eyes are a little lighter.

What are you talking about?

I don't suppose you two have had an appendectomy.

Well, no.

That's all right. Never mind.

I really do look like this Doriandler person.

Like the papers said. Is that what you mean?

Don't pretend you don't know about her, Minerva.

But what do they think has happened to her?

You started all this, didn't you?

Had an accident and hired Joe Billings to help cover it up.

But what else happened?

Did Billings try to blackmail you?

No. No, please, Mr. Mason.

I'm warning you, Miss Minden.

No matter what your lawyers say, no matter what your aunt says, if you know

single thing that can help us locate Dory Ambler, then we've already done it.

He's dead.

Mandy, where did they look on their body up on the canyon road?

Been there for a couple of days.

Driving Joe Billings' car, apparently to the corner too fast, rolled 500 feet

and burned up.

But it wasn't an accident.

If Dory's kidnapper became frightened, but it probably was an accident, Perry.

At least we know there wasn't any kidnapper. What?

Besides, it's much easier taking things one at a time.

The killer of Joe Billings, we know we can nail.

Why, who is it?

I didn't know whether you'd come or not, Mr. Mason. Your aunt seemed convinced

that the offer of a $50 ,000 retainer would buy anyone.

Well, she's not really my aunt, you see.

She's been taking care of me ever since... This all reminds me of a stage

who's over -groomed the prized child just to win the role of heiress.

But that's beside the point.

Minerva... Please, Mr. Mason.

I'm the one who wants you. I'm the one who needs your help.

Now, look.

Your client... Dory Ambler is dead.

So he... Dory was a very confused girl, but I liked her.

And you don't like me.

I would like to find out everything she did.

I would like to find out what happened to her.

Those are the only reasons I'd take your case, Minerva.

Oh, please, Mr. Mason, please.

Look, if you do, I'll tell you the truth. I'll tell you everything I know.

don't want to hear about it.

What?

I want you to answer just one question.

Did you kill Joe Billings?

No. No, I didn't.

Look, Mr. Mason, when you do one awful thing and then another thing to cover it

up and another and another, you just... I told you I don't want to hear it.

A lawyer is also an officer of the court, Minerva.

I couldn't remain silent about any crimes which you may have committed

to the murder of Joe Billings.

But I've got to tell somebody. I just have to.

I'm afraid silence is the medicine you'll have to take.

Now, let me smile a little.

I'll see you in court.

Lieutenant Anderson, I understand that in this particular case, you yourself

personally assisted both in fingerprint identification and in the ballistics

tests. Is that correct?

Yes, sir, I did. Then you yourself saw that the bullet taken from Joe Billings'

body matched in every particular of the test bullets fired by this gun?

I did. That's the murder gun, all right. And would you tell us where and when

you found this gun, Lieutenant?

It was the next morning.

We found it in the bushes beside the Beverly entrance to the apartment court

where Miss Dory Ambler lived.

There's a path there with bushes alongside.

The Beverly entrance, thank you, Lieutenant.

One further thing, did you check the registration of the gun?

We did, and we can introduce the proper evidence of sale.

It was purchased a year ago from the Southland gun shop by Miss Henrietta

Because I'm afraid of prowlers, that's why.

Some of the trash there is wandering about at night these days.

Miss Hull, please.

Now, you've been designated an unfriendly witness, and that means you

me direct answers to my questions.

Why did you buy that gun?

I just told you. Let me put it this way.

What did you do with the gun after you bought it?

Well, I gave it to Minerva. I thought she should keep it in her car.

Not to use, of course.

And did she keep it in her car?

Well, of course, she had to stop driving after her license was suspended.

All right, but what happened to the gun?

I don't know. I never saw it after I gave it to her.

It was just about 11.

That's right.

I saw this gal running along the street and she waves at my taxi cab.

Just a moment now. Running along what street, sir?

Well, Beverly.

You see, when I first seen her, she was just running out of the apartment court

entrance.

Right there on Beverly.

All right.

And what did you do then?

Well, I stopped my cab. She hopped in.

Her. The defendant. Right there. And what can you tell us about her manner at

that moment?

Oh, sure. She was all out of breath.

Upset, I guess. I don't know.

Anyhow... She didn't want to talk too much, so I just drove her over to the

address she gave me on Fairhaven Drive.

And did you by any chance recognize the house when you arrived at the address

she gave you?

Well, sure.

Everybody knows that old castle.

The Minton place.

So, Miss Minton, she pays me off?

Off, sir.

That's it.

Thank you. No more questions.

Now, sir.

That was only a guess when you called the girl you drove Miss Minton.

That? Well, didn't you hear the testimony indicating that Minerva Minden

Dory Ambler look so much alike they might have been mistaken for twins?

Oh, yeah, yeah, sure.

But I'm not guessing, friend.

When I seen her at the door fumbling with those keys, and then some butler

open up that door and say, I heard you coming, Miss Minerva.

That's her, ain't it?

No, I didn't know the exact nature of the case Joe, Mr.

Billings, is working on.

Then why did you say you were suspicious of him? Well, I was always suspicious

of him when he started laughing to himself. You see, I needed Joe. He met

a lot better than I did, but I... As a partner, I never really trusted him. I

knew as soon as he got something big enough, he'd, uh... Well, double -cross

too. Can you tell us anything about the nature of the job your partner was

working on at the time of his death?

Well, it started with a phone call from some gal.

That's the way he got all of his instructions on the case, by telephone.

Do you know that for a fact, or is that just another of your suspicions?

No, no, Joe told me.

See, the evening before his death, I was getting a little sore, so I pinned him

down. He said, just sit tight. He said he'd never met his client in person. He

didn't want to meet her until he was ready to strike her for dough.

A lot of dough, he said.

Well, I was beginning to get a little worried because it sounded like

and blackmail. Mr. Compton, did he tell you the name of this client or anything

about the nature of the work he was hired to do for her?

He said it was Miss Minerva Minden who hired him to protect her.

And did he tell you any details about how he intended to protect Miss Minden?

One moment, Mr. Mason. I'm bearing in mind this is hearsay evidence, but you

have further objections.

I have no objections whatsoever, Your Honor.

Very well.

Proceed. Did your partner tell you how he intended to protect Miss Minden?

No, I've told you about all I know.

Except Joe did have someone else working with him on this, some girl.

Do you know the name of that girl?

Well, I tailed him to the apartment court. I saw him talking to her. The

now realize, of course, was Dory Ambler.

She was the one, all right. Well, there's no question about it, Mr.

car had been parked in the garage rented by Miss Ambler for several months.

Could it have been parked there since as long ago as last March 10th, Sergeant?

Well, that's several months.

A laboratory test can't show an exact date, naturally.

Naturally, Sergeant.

Now, what else can you tell us about that automobile?

Well, it was originally stolen from San Francisco, as I've already testified.

On further examination downtown, we found that the rear seat cushion had

split and then resewn.

And do you recognize this package of money?

I do.

It's a bundle of $100 bills that I found hidden inside the rear cushion.

That's my mark there.

What amount of money is here and all?

There's $5 ,000 and all.

And can you tell us anything else about these $100 bills, Sergeant?

Yes, sir. The serial numbers have been recorded by a San Francisco bank.

Those bills are part of a $15 ,000 robbery of that bank committed on March

Has the San Francisco bank robbery been solved, Sergeant?

Well, the San Francisco police had a pretty good lead, yes.

A man and a woman... Now, just a moment.

It seems to me you're getting rather far afield here, Mr. Berger.

It's my intention, Your Honor, to tie up the San Francisco bank robbery with the

present murder case through my next witness, if I may.

I called Clyde Jasper to the stand.

All right, so I did.

But nobody got hurt, Your Honor. We used water pistols.

But it was you, Mr. Jasper.

You were the one who robbed that bank.

Nice and clean, yes, sir. I did it. And who was the woman who helped you?

Well, now there you get into the legal aspects, Mr. Berger. Mr. Jasper, if I

tell this court...

The description of the woman who helped you rob that bank matches the

description of your wife, Rita Jasper.

Can you deny it?

Now, look, I told you I'd help you when I could, didn't I?

I'll draw my own conclusions, Mr. Berger.

This man's obviously thrown himself on your mercy, but he need not incriminate

his wife.

Of course, Your Honor.

All right, Mr. Jasper, keeping in mind what His Honor just told us, what did

do after you robbed the bank?

Well, we, uh, we borrowed his car, the convertible.

From a parking lot, and we drive to Los Angeles.

Only, uh, well, the wife, she likes to go to parties.

You know, so the next night, we seen one at this hotel, so we crash it, that's

all. You know, there's no harm in a little dancing, is there?

Only, when we come out, the car's been stolen. Now, can you imagine that?

Amazing. Go ahead.

Well, what's the guy to do? You know, I couldn't report it.

And I got $15 ,000 stashed in the back seat.

Well, the parking boy gave us the lead on his blonde.

and the wife, she stays around L .A., and she finally spots the blonde in a

It's this Doriandler girl.

She's seen her ID the same as the parking lot boy did.

Well, we're finally getting close. So, the wife rents a place at the same

apartment. Are you telling me that you actually hid $15 ,000 in cash in the

backseat of this car, which you claim was later stolen from you? Yeah.

Only we didn't find the car until that same night. But that night was the night

of the murder.

Yeah. Now, what time that night?

I don't know, it was around 10, 10 .30.

So, we start pulling the money out right away. Then I spot there's about two

-thirds of it missing. So me, I put it right back in.

Somebody's on us, I say, you know.

Watch and wait, you know, be careful.

Well, there's a guy been hanging around Dory Hamlet's apartment. And right

around this time, I seen his car drive off.

That was maybe 10 .45.

All right, you saw the car drive off. Now, could you see who was driving the

car?

No, I couldn't actually see who was driving.

But it was the same car that belonged to this Joe Billings.

The cop showed me the license and identification down at police

Then you're talking about the car in which Dori Ambler later met her dead.

Yeah, it was an awful mess.

Will you please tell us what you did the night of the murder after 1045?

The wife and me, we go back to the apartment, and we're beating our brains

trying to figure out what we're going to do next. When, bam, we hear a shot.

That no good reader. Let's go see, she says. You know, of all the nosy... Well,

anyway. Right at this time, we hear footsteps like a woman running out the

Beverly Way.

So we just go around and take a peek in the back way, that's all.

You didn't by any chance go into Dory Amber's apartment?

Well, now, if the coast is clear and maybe there's some of my money in there,

yeah. All right, Mr. Jasper, what did you find when you entered Dory Amber's

apartment? A man dying, right there on the road.

But I know soon to touch him, and boom, boom, this guy's at the door. Well,

Rita, she panics a little, you know. So I drag her out of there, and I slam a

stove over to stop them, and we jump into a rental car, and off we go.

That's enough, Mr.

Jasper. Thank you very much. You've been a most cooperative witness.

Oh, no, wait here.

Did this man just volunteer this story?

Yes, he did, Your Honor. After we had checked on his record, he's got some

convictions. Well, it's the wife, Your Honor. Don't you see?

I mean, I tear her out to the airport, and I dump her on a plane.

I tried to phony up the telegram she sends me from Salt Lake City, but... Has

his wife been apprehended yet, Mr. Berger?

No, Your Honor, she hasn't, and I doubt very much... It's the least I could do

now, don't you think?

Well, you know me, I've been in trouble before, but Rita, she's got to get

clear. I mean, Rita's a three -time loser.

Well, I'm certain defense counsel will wait to cross -examine.

I've just got to tell you what I did, Mr. Mason. I said let this go on.

I may have pleased the court, but I would like to have Lieutenant Anderson

return to the stand.

No, I did not say that Dory Ambler's death was also being listed as a murder.

Why not?

If the police had concluded that Dory had been working with Joe Billings, if

they believed that she had left the scene driving his car at 1045, just a

minutes before Billings was murdered, well, in the first place, there wasn't

real evidence to go on.

The car was spread over 500 feet, totally destroyed.

and her body was burned almost beyond recognition.

How did you know it was Dory, then? The laboratory was able to reconstruct

fingerprints and determine the color of hair.

Also, of course, her purse had been thrown clear and its contents scattered

over the sagebrush.

Yes.

And with the court's permission, I'd like you to further explain that means

identification. Your Honor, Mr. Walman here.

The purpose of this hearing is to determine that Joe Billings was murdered

impossible to prove the probable identity of his murder.

And defense contends, Your Honor, that only by understanding what happened to

Dory can we find the truth about Billings' murder.

It seems to me I've allowed the prosecution a good bit of leeway.

You have the same privilege, Mr. Mason. Proceed.

I understand it, Lieutenant.

This plate shows a reconstruction of Miss Ambler's thumbprint.

That's correct.

It's not perfect, but it's as good as the laboratory could manage with burnt

tissue. I see.

You compared this, I suppose, with the thumbprint shown on Miss Ambler's

driver's license.

Yes, it's on the other card there.

I think we can project them side by side.

Quite a bit of difference.

To an expert, I'm sure there are similarities.

Perhaps Lieutenant Anderson could point them out.

What we look for, Your Honor, are points of exact similarity rather than just

any overall pattern.

Now here you see that point is the same.

And down here at the curve, that's similar.

And to the right, there's another.

Then up here, how many points of similarity did you find, Lieutenant?

Well, at least six, as I remember.

Let's see. There's one, two, six.

But I thought to establish absolute identification, you needed at least 12

points of similarity.

Oh, no, no. There have been many cases that have been established with several

less than 12. How many less?

Well, nine or ten similarities is often nine or ten.

But there you have only six. But here there are only a few bits of skin, just

few areas to work with. I feel that when this is added to the other evidence of

the girl's identity... Lieutenant, how many people in the world have six points

of similarity between their fingerprints?

Mr. Mason, I really wouldn't care to guess.

Aren't there possibly hundreds of thousands, possibly even millions?

Your Honor.

Be quiet, Mr. Berger.

Go on, Mr. Mason.

For instance, couldn't I use anyone's fingerprints? The defendant's, for

example. Your Honor, I have here a copy of the defendant's thumbprint.

Lieutenant, mightn't we find some points of similarity with those prints on the

screen? Well, that's possibly true, but maybe even as many as six?

Oh, no, no, I seriously doubt that.

Here.

Show us, won't you?

Point out whatever similarities you can find.

Well, between this one and this one, but that's the same as a third, of course.

Let's see, that's two, three.

Would this make it easier?

Well, between these two fingerprints, of course. Go on, keep counting. Three,

four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,

ten, eleven, twelve, fifteen, twenty, a hundred.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

You've just proven that the defendant burned to death in that automobile four

days ago.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason. I have to tell you I'm sorry.

Order.

Order in the court.

We can take a few moments recess if you like, Mr. Mason.

I think just the court's indulgence for a few moments.

I did it. I did everything.

What did you do?

Don't you understand? That's my license up there.

I couldn't drive, so I took out another license under the name of Dory Ambler.

And then I went to a party and I had a fight with my boyfriend. So I ran out

I took his car.

I mean, I mean, I thought it was his car.

And then I hit someone at La Brea.

I wanted to stop Mr. Mason, but when you do one thing and then another, another.

And then I hired Mr.

Billings to help me.

Instead, he tried to blackmail me. All right, that's enough.

Any reason the bailiff can't remove the screen there, Mr. Mason?

Oh, Your Honor, I'd like to go on now, if you don't mind.

I'd like to ask that Mr. Del Compton be returned to the stand.

But I didn't know they were both the same girl. I didn't know anything about

I tell you.

Joe Billings, I assume, had already guessed the truth.

Well, sure.

That must have been what he was always laughing about. He'd have really had

girl on the hook.

He talked to the woman who was working with him, you said.

And you assumed it was Dori Amber.

Well, sure, but now it doesn't make any sense.

I mean, he called her baby and sweetie and stuff like that on the phone.

Well, isn't it possible that was another woman he was using?

Someone else whom Billings was working with in order to build up his blackmail

of Minerva Minden?

Well, sure, obviously.

But before we consider who she was, Mr. Crompton, can you tell us who in this

courtroom not only assumed that Dory and Minerva were separate girls as you did,

but also acted upon that assumption by building lies on it? Well, sure.

It was the same person who said that somebody drove off in Billings' car,

implying that it was Dory Ambler, and then said that 15 minutes later another

girl ran out towards Beverly.

It was him.

How about it, Mr. Jasper?

Will you admit you committed perjury, or do we have to wait until the

fingerprints of your wife Rita can be brought over here to be shown on that

screen? Rita was the woman who died, wasn't she?

Rita was the woman whom you killed and burned.

I caught him.

Him and her.

At Billings.

Sure, he was honest. He got our $10 ,000.

But she didn't have to kiss him, did she?

She didn't have to double -cross me.

She didn't have to throw me out and team up with some... So I shot him.

And she baked all the way out to those hills.

I love that lousy, no -good...

So I killed her, too.

He dropped your purse when you ran out of the apartment and Jasper picked it

The next day, when he thought he knew the whole story, he spread the contents

that purse all over the canyon.

I was so scared that night.

I really did want to run away forever.

And then after I hung up, that Mr.

Billings started coming.

Well, I just got out before he saw me.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

If I could be spanked for all the crazy things I've done, why I ever thought

that I could blame Dory Adler for all my awful crimes and then just have her

disappear.

I could escape her.

Minerva, you're going to get a good deal more than a spanking for that hit -and

-run accident and for falsifying a driver's license.

I know.

I'm responsible.

And I want to be.

I'm not better than other people.

Like Aunt Hetty keeps saying.

What an imagination.

Yes, and you even had me believing that your eyes were lighter than Dory's.

Oh, they are lighter. See, sometimes I wear contact lenses and I have this

pair tinted darker, so I... I guess I do need a doctor.

That's right.

To remove your appendix.

Oh.

You do have a scar, don't you?

Oh. No, see, what you do is you take a little cologne and then you put it... I

guess maybe I won't show you.

Gotta learn how to be a lady sometime.