All language subtitles for The Benson Murder Case (1930)

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

It's moving like a

[Music]

Come on. Come on. Get a move on.

Twice.

>> Well, well,

>> she said she can't cover.

>> I tell Joy to sell him out.

>> Yes, I will.

>> Oh, I am so sorry.

>> Oh, shut up.

>> I know.

>> Hello, Mara. I must see you.

>> All right. All right. has known me.

>> Mr. Vansson.

>> Yes.

>> We're all cleaned up now except for that

one big account.

>> Oh, you mean Greg?

>> Yes.

>> What does he save us now?

>> 380,000.

>> You tried to notify us

>> all day yesterday and today.

>> Well, try Oh, never mind. Sell him out.

Sell him out.

>> Well, you heard me. Close him out. Uh,

>> Miss Ley, get those baller packages out

of the safe and bring them to my office.

>> Yes, sir.

[Music]

Well, I I I tell you it is most

necessary. I get the ticket.

>> All right. All right. In a minute.

>> Oh, thank you. Well,

>> here they are. And you note to me, too.

Pay the note and you get back to notes

due tomorrow.

>> Well, I I I cannot pay.

>> Oh, then you don't get this or this

since you can't pay the note.

>> Oh, Tony, are you not my friend?

>> Sure. If I weren't, you wouldn't forge

my name to this check, would you?

>> Oh,

yes. All right, tell her I'll see you in

a minute.

>> Well, I I must have that cookie.

>> Try and get it.

>> If you don't give it to me, I listen.

You won't do anything. Who do you think

I am? One of your fated widows. And I'm

not very afraid of male lap dogs.

>> Well, well, interesting hearing men

fight over something besides me for a

change.

>> Mr. Delroy, Mr. Mar.

>> Hello, Dely.

>> Hello, Fanny.

He knows you, too. What are you all at

Twitter about anyway? You uh borrowed

these from your mail ticket, didn't you?

And she's in Paris, isn't she? But you

better pay me somehow and return her

before she gets back, hasn't you?

>> Yes.

>> What did he mean? Your meal in Paris.

>> Where did you think I picked what I gave

you?

>> From the trees,

>> Mrs. Banning. Who?

>> Tell her I'll see her in a minute.

>> Well, boy, your music is back. Perhaps

she brought you a Parisian darkness.

>> What is this? What's that D's delight

got that I have?

>> When you're a big boy, maybe I'll tell

you.

>> Yes. Well, let me tell you something,

dog. We sold you out of the market this

morning. You haven't got a dime.

>> You You didn't.

>> Yes, but as my own. Why didn't you cable

me? You were coming.

>> My dear Johnny, I did cable. You just

must be now.

>> Oh, I was hunting in the mountains and I

was dying for you to come back to me.

What? What did you come here for, Paulo?

You not tell me you were blocked in the

market.

>> My dear boy, I don't know. I only heard

of his scratch when I arrived this

morning. I've been nearly frantic. But

of course, Tony Benson would carry me.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> Where is Tony?

>> Oh, wait, wait.

>> Tony Ben, you're a cold smell, aren't

you?

>> No wonder I can't go for you. You could

have given me another day to cover.

>> You didn't answer one of our margin

calls. Oh, I was going to bring you my

purse, but what's in that box?

>> Now, now, now, now.

>> Tell me, darling. I simply must know

what happened to my account. You You

carried me, of course.

>> No, you were a little overweight.

>> Tony.

>> Oh, Mr. Gray, excuse me. We tried to get

in touch with you.

>> I've been out of town.

>> I was going to mail these to you. Uh,

you see, you were the last account we

had that wasn't covered. So, uh,

>> I understand.

>> Mr. Gray, would you mind waiting in the

waiting room? Uh, there's someone in the

Spencer's office.

>> Oh, all right.

>> Yes, I sold you out. All of you, all

except Adolf who wasn't even in. No,

it's something else your dear Adolf owed

before. Not the marketplace.

>> And I'm pleased.

>> Never mind.

>> Oh, you're busy, Tony.

>> No, come in, Harry.

>> The storm seems to be arriving.

>> It looks as if one has already arrived.

I'll come back when you're alone.

>> All right, Harry.

>> I have nothing more to say. You are not

a gentleman, Mr. Benson. You're a

>> I know. I must smell.

>> Well, is it my fault that you're on the

high seas when the market breaks?

>> I'm a good man, too.

>> You won't do anything. Mara said he

would, but he won't. None of you will.

Oh, I suppose if you could, I'd be a

cost by now. Well, you were called on

for margin, you wanted to have your cake

and eat it, too. Easy money, quick

profit. Well, you've gambled and you

lost. Yes, you lost. Mr. You lost, I

tell you.

>> I haven't do anything to say to this

person the way she talk. with what I've

got on him. Oh, go on. Get out of here.

All of you. Go on. Go on. Get out. Leave

me alone. I'm all in. Come on, M. Get my

chauffeer at the garage. Tell him to

meet me at the club at 6:00. Yeah. I'm

going to spend the night at my place up

the river, and I don't want to be

disturbed. All right.

>> Yes. Come in, guys.

Even the heavens seem to be crashing.

[Music]

Say, Harry, why don't you spend the

night with me if I place up the river?

That's

>> not a bad idea. We can uh meet at the

club at 6:00 and have a steam in a rod

down before we go. I'm nervous.

>> I don't blame you. After that gang that

was just in here, they don't like you,

do they? Well,

>> maybe not.

You know, Harry, I'm sorry I had to sell

you out, but then you big shots are used

to taking it on the gym.

>> Not twice in succession.

>> Twice? Big Drake walked off with 180

grand of mine last week.

>> He did?

>> Yes. He high carded me.

>> Oh,

Harry, why don't you quit that racket? I

like it.

Harry, you're not sore at me, are you? I

haven't made up my mind yet.

[Music]

3,000 you're in me.

>> Yeah, three grand.

I've got the job.

No wonder after what you did to me

today.

Oh well,

those cryb babies at the office got on

my nerves. Well, I put a couple of twos

and twos together watching Delroy and

Mar.

Oh, let's go to bed, eh? Oh, I left my

bag at your club. I'll phone for it.

You'll have to rough it, though. I let

the servants go for the winter.

[Music]

>> What was that?

>> Backfire, I guess. Oh, Martin car maybe.

Who's Marin? The district attorney. You

know him, don't you?

>> We've had a couple of talk. What's he

doing here?

>> You've got a place next to mine. He's up

here resting for the campaign.

[Music]

Hello, Penny. adding a little burglary

to your other accomplishments. Eh,

>> I want that jewel case Molly gave you.

>> Oh,

so he borrowed them from you and not for

a banning. Eh, well, what do you think

of that, fella?

>> Hurry, Benson. I was going to give those

pearls to you. Cover my account till I

couldn't find them.

>> Hurry, what? That jewel case is in my

office safe where it'll stay.

>> Oh, no, it isn't. I saw it in the pocket

of your coat as you left today.

>> That's right. I forgot. I was upset.

They were in my coat pocket downstairs.

Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me, please.

[Music]

Go.

What do you mean frightening me like

that?

>> Would you have a drink?

>> What?

>> It's yourself, Tony.

>> Who's that?

>> It's Gray. I I'll get rid of it now.

friend of yours, huh?

>> Tony, I want

>> Excuse me, please. My coat.

>> You were leaving perhaps?

>> What? Oh, not at all. What was the noise

out back? Window blew shut. Must have

been open.

>> Tony, I must plead for my poor darling.

He had no idea he was doing anything

wrong when he sided that yet. You were

such friends. I shouldn't have left him.

Then you better pay his note to me.

>> I hear only I have the 10,000. I tell

you I've lost everything and the banks

won't advance me another cent.

>> What are you doing here?

Not my dear Anthony that it's difficult

to get.

>> Oh, Mrs. Pot.

>> Yes. Calling the kettle black. You girls

ought to get together on Mara. Paula,

who do you suppose he was running around

with while you were in?

>> Paula, I think you better go upstairs.

>> Woman,

you for me?

>> What's your name?

>> Harry for you. What's yours?

>> Fanny for you.

Tell me,

let's have a party.

>> Huh?

>> Are you going to give me that case?

>> No.

>> I would.

>> Now, look here. Say, what is this?

What's going on here? Anyway,

>> have you got a flashlight?

>> Yes, there's one over here. Come on.

>> Here it is. Here, I'll go.

I want that jewel case Mer gave you and

I'll get it

>> for what?

>> Nothing.

>> Oh, well, we'll see about that. Do you

think you can hang on to Ma with Paula

banning back? And if she finds out he's

been running around with you, where will

you be? She'll stop his allowance. You

know, uh, he hasn't told her about your

pearls.

>> I'll take care of that.

>> Yeah. Well, you'll take care of his note

somehow if you want this. Say, why all

this frenzy about a few pearls? Would

have plenty more where these came from.

Arthur,

what about this anyway?

>> I have to sell them. You sold me out,

didn't you?

>> Oh, well, let's have a look.

[Music]

Say, listen. Now, wait a minute.

Oh,

I fel

I'm I'm glad you are here, but Tony

might have misconstrued my arriving this

way. Have you been alone?

>> Well, he certainly got plenty of company

now. What are you people trying to do

anyway? Remove this guy?

>> Oh, no. No.

>> Well, let's go upstairs.

>> Yes, sir.

[Music]

I'll tell you why I won't in four words.

I don't like your

>> As if you've liked all your playmates.

>> I've had to put up with a lot of you big

businessmen to get somewhere. But now

I'm there. I'm putting up with the ones

I pick. And I told you a year ago I

wasn't picking you. Your eyes are too

close together. Get it? And let this

sink under that toupe of yours. I'm

going to get that jewel case of mine.

Oh, I beg your part.

Tony, this was the big noise.

>> Oh, hello Tony. Hello.

>> Oh, hey.

>> Die.

>> Is that my boy?

>> Paulo, what are you doing here?

>> Oh, carrying this about me, eh?

>> No, but that might be a good idea. When

you told me he would put you in jail, I

simply had to come here and throw myself

on his mercy. Tony, he's my heart.

>> Oh, please. Be quiet.

>> You know, while you've been away, he's

been playing about a bit.

>> Darling, it's not true.

>> Don't change the subject. Give him that

money. Do you want him to put me into

jail?

>> I shall let him kill him first. If you

don't mind, I have first call on him for

that.

>> Well, that makes it unanimous. Farewell,

Caesar. Oh, shall we say it with

flowers?

Say, what is this? Must be my birthday.

>> Oh, Marcus, come here.

>> I just

take your part. That's quite all right.

Come here.

[Music]

>> Ah, thunder and lightning. Enter the

villain. How are you, Mr. District?

>> Hello, V. Uh, Mr. Elroy, Mr. Maro,

>> and uh, Mr. Mara,

excuse me.

>> You'll have to put me up for the night.

I punctured a tire.

>> Plenty of room.

>> Thanks,

>> Gray. You must be behaving yourself. The

newspapers haven't accused you of Ben,

for months.

>> I can't imagine what you're talking

about.

>> Oh,

Ben, I want to talk to you about the

market upset. I suppose there'll be some

trouble. I think you can give me the

advice I need.

>> Let me take you close, won't you?

>> No thank you.

By the way, Gray,

he'd like to meet you. You mind if I

bring him in?

>> Not at all. Thanks.

>> You know, Mol seems to be quite

interested in you. Well, if he is, it

won't do him any good.

Paula is so upset. You don't mind if she

lies off for a moment. I shall prepare

her some.

>> Sure. We've all been too excited.

Anyway,

>> there you are, Gray.

[Music]

>> Final event. Mr. Benson.

>> What do you do, M?

>> Harry Gray.

>> Gray.

>> Not a detective.

>> It is

>> only as an amateur. Remember our friend

Sergeant Eve insist on that.

>> Mad told me that he's getting rusty.

Nothing to sharpen his psychology on

since the Greenber.

>> Yes, I felt rather hurt that you didn't

call me in on that green business. Take

off your colts, gentlemen, won't you?

I'll get some ice. Thank you.

>> You see, Mr. Vance, down at

headquarters, they've got an idea that I

know all about these crime. Oh,

>> really? That's right. You and uh V.

Well, those killers of his, at least the

ones I've read about, it seems to me

they're all amateurs, too.

>> Yes, it were. That's why Mark thought it

might be amusing without disturbing my

status as an amateur member. For me to

uh meet authority on professional

Harry, get some cups. We'll have coffee.

All right.

Won't you sit down, Mr. B? Thank you.

Momentum in the market at you.

>> Well, you you never heard of a bootleger

drinking his own stuff, did you?

>> Strange you two should drop in here this

evening on top of everybody wanting to

murder everybody else. Market, of

course.

Oh, we need another bottle.

>> Well, I'll get it. Or here are the keys.

And by the way, be careful of that

burglar alarm in the cellar.

I think that burglar alarm would

interest you, Mr. Van.

It's a rather tricky arrangement. Later

on, I'd like to show it to you.

It's not in his room. Must be in his

pocket.

>> I'll get it. I'll make him give it to

me.

>> Quiet. Be quiet. Coffee will be ready

soon.

D. Why can't you get money?

Does my affection for you mean so

little?

>> Oh,

well, today is a truth, darling. All the

glitters is not gold.

Oh, my boy. Oh, my boy.

>> But he'll put me in the jail. I tell

you, yes, he hates me because of the

dear woman. Well, all I did was look at

her. Can I help if she loves me? But I

am true only to you, my star. Only to

you. But this Benson who calls himself

our friend, he's jealous of him.

So

he will lose me for the jail.

I I'll hate him. We We'll both hate him.

Oh my boy. Oh my.

>> The most important thing is not to get

that envelope, the check, the note.

Oh, you jelly.

>> That's how they kill in books, Mr. B.

But glad it's really done. Quite

different.

>> I see. Then your thought is that if I

had not switched with a professional, I

might not have been so uh lucky. Is that

it?

>> That's it. No thanks. Oh, I'll get you

some coffee in a minute, Mr. Well, I've

had this bottle myself for years, Marco,

before prohibition.

>> Naturally. So, if you excuse me, I'll

see what the ladies are doing.

>> It's very interesting to get your point

of view, Mr. Van. Just how would you

stack your cards against a professional?

Well, it's my theory, Mr.

that the only infallible method of

determining human guilt is by analyzing

the psychological factors of the crime

and then applying them to the

individual. The point is in these cases

of yours, the guns, the gun, that's

newspaper slang for killer model.

Thanks.

>> What I mean to say is these killers

you've met always used a lot of

trickster, a lot of props. The

professionals don't. But from what I

hear, they bang them neat and leave them

where they exactly. That's one of the

reasons they're so seldom caught in

other jurisdiction. I mean,

>> you mean to tell me that you'd ignore

all tangible evidence of the crime?

>> Not ignore it? No. But neither would I

accept it for gospel and its face value.

Well, I I'll make that.

[Music]

Oh,

excuse me.

Why don't you go in my room to dry your

thing? There's a fire there.

>> Thanks.

I want that to your tape. I'll get it,

you know.

>> All right. Later on when they when they

be downstairs, we'll uh talk it over.

Will we?

>> I'll be back.

>> Listen, I'm going to get that jewel tape

back.

[Music]

[Music]

The jury has to depend on circumstantial

evidence, Marco. They can't understand

any other kind.

You're

[Music]

Well,

is Mr. Gray here? He's in the kitchen.

>> This is his bag. Will you see it? Guess

it, please. Certainly.

What do you suppose he Oh, this came for

you.

My bag.

What's in it, Gray? Pineapple. You know

that's newspaper slang for uh bombs, Mr.

Gray. Thanks.

Get back to our conversation. advance.

How do you think you'd come out with one

of these

bang him and leave him lay killings that

we were talking about? By a

professional, you mean?

>> Exactly. Well, it might be rather

interesting. Have you anything that line

the grave?

>> I seem to have quite a reputation in

this town for the killing.

>> Well, perhaps something could be

arranged. Split it.

Ben,

>> nothing here.

>> He's there.

>> Give me the medical examiner's office,

please.

>> Somebody must have overheard that

conversation of ours.

>> Yeah, it's exactly what was occurring to

me. I want to speak of Dr. Das

personally.

>> Well, there you are, Mr. Van. Do your

stuff.

Well,

that's that.

>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Coming up like thunder. The Hudson

outside a lot. Disclosed the cold body

being kept warm by a steamer.

>> Hurry up on that phone and give me a

match.

>> The first to arrive on the team is the

brains of the homicide squad. Sergeant E

for Edward Ernest. Sergeant Edward

Heath. Or as I nicknamed him in one of

my more brilliant moments, Edward Sloo

everybody would know he was a detective.

I'll

>> can that stuff.

Now listen, whenever I've got anything

to give you, Stribe, I'll tell you.

>> Yeah.

Who's going to tell you?

Anybody could have got up and down those

back stairs without being seen. Where's

Well, up going over the bedroom.

>> I can't do that. You get outside and

look around the ground.

>> All right. Say, what's ailing you? I got

sold out in the stock market. No. Yeah,

I lost 90 bucks.

Wiped out. By the way, Mr. Markone, Mr.

Bass would be here right away. Oh, yeah.

Well, I'll try and arrange it so that

I'll be just gone when time he gets

here.

Oh, well.

How do you spell crew?

>> What difference does it make? There

ain't any.

>> Oh, I wouldn't say that.

>> Oh, good morning, Sergeant.

>> Well, hello, Mr. Vance.

>> No go, Sam. I'm afraid the blue in that

is going to flash.

>> Take that pole in the hall. Well,

>> blue, Sergeant, is a very tricky color,

you know. In spite of its commonness,

it's quite difficult. But that's

anomalous, of course.

>> Well, so it is. So it is. Uh, Mr.

advance. You know, pardon my obscurity,

but sometimes I don't quite follow you.

>> Really, father?

>> No. Now, a while ago there, I said there

wasn't any clues, and you said that you

wouldn't say that.

>> Well, I wouldn't really.

>> That was the times, Colin. They want to

know if

>> you tell the Times that when they get my

name right, they might get a story.

>> You see, Sergeant, I decided to spend

the night here in uh in meditation. I

phoned Sam to bring out my things and I

uh meditated.

>> Any lost?

>> I've been studying that little daringer

that was found at the top of stairs

there last night. It's rather unique.

>> Yes. And of course the lady's handbag

which you no doubt found in Benton's

room there.

>> Yes, I got that right here.

>> Sharon.

>> We

don't come by telephone. I was ask for

Mr.

B. Say, did you get that?

>> Well, you'll go inside.

>> Hey, follow Bon on this one.

>> I don't know. Is he inside?

>> I wish I knew.

>> Hey, boy. Come on.

>> Well, I've been here since 6 a.m. B is

here. Is it Santa Claus?

>> He must have come down the chimney.

>> Come on, boy.

>> One of those two dames owns this bag.

>> Well, Mr. advance.

>> Oh yes, come in. You know, Sergeants,

when Albert here popped in last night,

Markhamm thought that he was Gray's man.

>> Gray is?

>> Oh, no, sir. I explained to Mr. Ven when

he called me up this morning. Mr. Benson

was my employer. He telephoned me last

night to bring Mr. Gray's bag from the

club.

>> What's your name?

>> Albert Reer.

>> The medical examiner's here. Show him up

>> and you stick around.

Thank you.

>> Well, another dizzy dame to do some jury

vamping, I suppose.

>> I rather doubt, sergeant, whether any

woman was in this room with Benson

immediately prior to the murder. That's

what I wanted Alberta for, to verify.

>> Good morning, Sergeant.

>> Right now, my soul, Mr. Van, why I

haven't seen you since we laid the Green

family to rest. Right. There was a

lovely murder case for you, Sergeant.

Bless my soul. Yes,

>> I was there. Well, hop at the body, doc.

>> Certainly, certainly. Have one of your

men give me a hand, please.

>> Really?

>> Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't here last night.

Wedding anniversary. My wife and I

always celebrate.

>> Went to a hockey match.

How's the election coming?

>> Fair. Oh,

>> Mr. Benson kept his two page

beautifully, didn't he? He was a bit

touchy about himself, if I do say. Bain,

you mean?

>> Yes, sir.

>> Well, what guy with a list of phone

numbers he had, wouldn't it be?

Elementary, my dear Albert. Elementary.

>> Sergeant, you've been reading Sherlock

Holmes. Quite right, my dear Watson.

Quite right. All well,

take care of these. This was Mr.

Benson's favorite to pay, sir. fancy.

>> Oh, no, sir. I once worked for a

gentleman that has seven, one for every

day in the week to correspond to the

natural growth of his hair. Uh, Albert,

do you think that Mr. Benson would have

appeared before the lady in whom he was

interested without his to?

>> Oh, no, sir. He would rather have died.

>> Well, he got his wish. The doc said he

was shot at about 6 ft and no powder

marks.

>> Well, suicides out unless Benson was an

acrobat.

If you don't mind, sir, I'll call. Thank

you, Albert.

I'll see you later. Thank you, sir.

You know, Mr. Vance, this is a kind of a

murder that the public likes. Have you

any suggestions? You know, you might

have. You were here when it happened.

But Sergeant, after a night of

meditating on what happened before the

murder, I have suggestions no hand.

>> Well, Burke's got something out front,

Sergeant.

>> Be right down. Oh, Mr. Markham told me

about the stuff Harry Gray was saying to

you. Like he was leading up to the

shooting to kind of try you out. The

nerve of that gorilla. What history?

Well, he's suspected of a lot of things.

Ever been convicted? Too smart. Just

what is his record? Well, rumor had it

that he's the big shot in a bootlegging

ring. You know, I still don't like the

way he talked to you.

>> Had to use the kitchen table.

Killed about midnight. Direct fire into

the heart. Awakening shot and never knew

what hit him. Bless my soul. No.

>> Well, he must have seen the guy.

>> Come and have a look at the bullet. Most

interesting.

>> I'll be right with you.

>> Come on. Let me

>> Never mind. Never mind.

>> Yes. One of the boys found a bush.

>> I had it in my hand.

>> In your hat and hand.

>> Sure. All right.

>> Come on. Give us a break. Let's see it.

>> I'll quiet down, will you?

>> What was it?

>> Handbag. Uh, right here.

>> Gun. Got that, too.

>> Give me that piece of paper I found in

the wood box.

>> Get that phone.

>> Look at this, Mr. Vance.

>> Yeah, I'll tell him. is an empty jewel

case that we found in a bush outside.

Been thrown out the window last night,

maybe. And here's the paper it was

wrapped in and I found in the wood box

right there. It's Mark Mer. He may prove

of interest to us later. Yeah, I'll show

him.

>> But Mr. Vance, with election coming up

Tuesday and the papers riding us the way

they are, I've got to have something

now.

>> Well, what about that small puddle of

blood on the second step from the top

there? Hasn't that any particular

significance to you? Both sergeants,

they picked up Delroy down at the Grand

Centrals, trying to beat it out of town.

>> Delroy.

>> Yes. Yes. I'll be right down.

>> Mr. Vance, your car is here.

>> Thank you.

>> Together.

>> Hey, Mr. Vance. Who did this?

>> The four March brothers.

Oh, hello France. Good morning.

>> Anything new?

>> Well, you called my hand last night.

Still stuck. I uh afraid I took up that

challenge of yours to solve a murder by

a professional too soon.

>> This was no professional job.

Oh, Albert, that dog. Thank you.

Everybody there, including me,

threatened to kill Benson. They were all

saw at that financial genius.

What's the matter? Alvin, get that door.

You know, somehow I had the impression

that uh Albert was Mr. Benson's man. So

he was. I just took him on today. You

see, Benson's dress ties were always

tied smart, and Albert there was the boy

who tied them. That's it, I think. Oh,

come in, Frank. Good morning. Good

morning.

Those two women that were there last

night, V never get mixed up with women.

They're dynamite. No brains.

>> Just

>> Yes. You see, I don't let just anybody

put a razor on me. Neither did Napoleon.

As I read about that, that's where I got

the idea. Mr. Gray, I wondered if I

could get you to help me out.

>> Sure, I better or they'll be indicting

me again. If everything those birds

tried to pin on me stuck, I'd have worn

out a carload of electric chairs by now.

You see, my business makes me acquainted

with a lot of tough mugs. And Markhamm

and that detective, he call me in every

time an automobile backfire. But I don't

mind. That's their job.

>> Yes, so it is. Well, Mr.

Something the police overlooked at the

Benson Lodge seems to point to one of

the guests there last night. And I

thought perhaps you might know someone

who would look into his room, his hotel

room for me professionally.

>> Well, you asked them all. Eh, well,

>> I know a stool pigeon that you might use

as a bellhop. Of course, he'd have to

have a package or something that he was

delivering in case someone walked in on

him.

>> Very looking for me, were you? Come on

in here. See you here, Gray.

>> Oh, you're here.

>> Oh, yes, Sergeant. I'm here. Well, I

wasn't but a minute behind you on this

one. I'm taking you downtown. Get in

there and get ready.

>> Get your hat.

>> What's the idea?

>> You, too, Gray. Mr. Markham's got some

questions he wants to ask both you boys.

>> All right. Just as soon as I'm through

here. Didn't I tell you they try to pin

this on me?

>> Oh, you never killed Benson. Not

personally you didn't. But when I

learned that Albert here was working for

Benson yesterday and for Gray today.

Well, I don't have to explain that to

you, Mr. B. Hurry up, Albert.

>> No. Albert the murderer and Gray the

accessory. Huh? Certainly the rest of

our little group won't object to that,

will they, Mr. Gray? Hardly. I'm on my

way to not Sergeant exhibition of

Japanese print. I'll see you later, no

doubt. If you'll excuse me.

Hurry up and get the immor.

>> All right, the bag's mine. I was in his

room then.

>> After climbing in the back window. Why?

>> How did you find out?

>> Well, Harry Gray was present, you know.

But Gray's oven. He was in the kitchen

making coffee.

>> I think

>> Harry Gray can't tangle me in this.

>> Why did you try to leave town?

>> Find out if you can.

>> Don't be so picturesque. I'm not a jury.

>> Oh, you're a fool. If you think I

>> Why did you go to that house?

>> To talk to Benson about my account. He

sold me out. We quarled.

>> Then you needed money.

>> No.

>> Did you uh ever see that before?

>> No.

>> Benson was interested in you.

Suppose we say that he attacked you.

>> Well, if you'll excuse me. Uh, your

reputation is well known.

The Borthheim suicide two years ago. The

case of

>> Never mind that. I'd like men in my

time. They've liked me. What of it? I

didn't like Tony Benson, but I didn't

kill him. If my thoughts could have

killed the swine, he'd have been dead

long ago.

>> The rest of me in the reception room

there.

>> Wait, please.

>> Sergeant.

>> Yes, she

>> get Mara and Mrs. is banning him.

>> Yes. And you want that ballot of graze,

too, when I'm through with him. You

know, chief, it's something funny.

>> Never mind that now, Sergeant.

>> Delroy seemed upset.

>> I don't wonder. You boked at her. You

shouldn't bark at the ladies, old man.

>> Oh, I'm busy. This is not the only case

in New York, and you're not helping me

any. You're more flippant than usual

today.

>> Well, this was a particularly flippant

murder, Markhamm. And if you go on

trusting clues like those, you will be

prettier as still.

>> Have you a clue?

>> I have instructed my lawyer.

>> I can't conceive who would want good old

Tony off of the way. Well, we were just

planning our fall hunting trip for this

month.

>> Oh, you hunt, Mr. Mer.

>> Be quiet, darling.

>> You keep it. You will have that.

>> Oh, I love to hunt. I love to hunt. I

was with the third.

>> Never mind all that. This envelope with

your name on it was found in Benson's

desk. It contains three very interesting

documents.

>> Then it was useless. He didn't have it

with him.

>> What was it?

>> The first is a cancelled check of Benson

made out to Adolf Mer for $10,000.

>> The second

is a confession signed by you admitting

this check to be a forgery. And the

third is a note for $10,000 made out to

Anthony Benson, signed by Adolf Mara.

>> Yes. Yes. Oh, I I I should have

mentioned those things before. You know,

my financial arrangement while not all

one could desire.

>> I shouldn't have left you.

>> Unfortunately, to um protect Madame St.

Mr. Benson requires $10,000. And you saw

your fought his name.

>> Oh, you mean it would have been a for if

he had made a complaint? Well, it's a

sense he can't make one now.

>> The forge is just the same, Sergeant.

I'll take that up later.

>> He forges Benson's name, pays him back

with his own money. Marvelous.

>> I explained it to the old Sony at once,

of course, and offered him this note

>> which falls as due today.

>> Yes. And

>> you mean to tell me that that Benson

accepted your note without security?

>> Oh, well, naturally.

>> Yeah. Well, what was wrapped in this

piece of paper which was found in the uh

wood box with your name on it?

>> And Tony gave me a party for my birthday

and presented me with a gold pencil. I

have it. Sir, son,

>> you didn't tell me it was your birthday.

Please,

>> Paul, be quiet. You will get me in the

electric chest.

>> But darling,

>> you will come with me.

>> This is the security that you gave

Benson for that note.

>> Oh, so Miss Darrow told you.

>> Who? those first and she threatened to

kill Benoy.

>> Yes, she is a snake that woman and I'm

I'm finished with her. No, you are the

wolf to me again. Darling,

>> you think I would accompany you through

your sorted affair?

>> Oh, we miss do loaned me her purse. And

>> what a lovely liar. He bought them for

me one day and stolen the next.

>> Oh, Adolf, that's what became of the

money I sent you to cover my maru. No

wonder you forged that check. Why you

you What were you doing sneaking into

Benson's house last night? Both of you.

Why did you quarrel with him? I wanted

to get that confession of portery. He

threatened to put Adolf in jail. Mr.

Markhamm. Adult's all I have now except

the money that makes him love me.

>> You threatened to kill Benson yourself,

didn't you?

>> Yes.

>> Well, who didn't?

>> Mr. Mark, may I have that jewel case?

Mr.

>> Gray is here, sir. Oh,

>> send him in. Mr. in the room. Sergeant

in here,

>> you chose my salad yet?

>> We are not.

>> Well, Mr. Detective, the newspaper boys

are certainly having a lot of fun with

you being on the scene of the crime last

night.

They don't seem to take your presence at

the scene of the murder quite so

humorously. No one ever laughs at me.

They used to when I was a kid, but I

taught them not to. But you, Final

Vance, the famous amateur detective, to

be in on the draw and then raised out.

How do you stand it?

>> Perhaps I haven't completed my draw.

>> I'll see you later, Grace.

>> Why not?

I'm used to that, Marc

Deloy is nothing. Did you notice that

she didn't even ask if her pearls were

still there? No, because she knew they

weren't. Because she got them.

>> No.

>> She tried to leave town, didn't she?

>> Where was she going? Do you know?

>> Yes. Boston. Oh, man. I'm tired. I'm

tired of all these human passions and

lies. And you don't suppose they'll feed

us in the election Tuesday, do you?

Solving this case won't lose you any

votes. Well, I have solved it, Sergeant.

These complications, Mara and Mrs.

Banning and the fool val simply obscure

the direct evidence against Delroy.

>> Yes, chief.

>> Sergeant, exhibit A, B, and C versus

Fanny Delroy. Label them for the grand

jury. I am going to ask for her

indictment this afternoon.

>> On that evidence, Lance, I may not know

Japanese art, but I am still district

attorney of New York.

Defense Council in the Maguire case.

Sir,

>> you have to wait. Are

>> they to be detained here?

>> Sergeant, I heard Mr. Delroy over the

custody of Mason.

>> Yes.

Have Mr. O'Brien over at Chief's office

right away. Yeah.

>> Don't make me say old man. You can't

afford to. If you'll show me where I I'd

like to show you are some bits of

stringy fuzz across the front of the

wet.

>> You have that wcuit of course? It's in

the medical examiner's office. What's

that got to do with it?

>> Have I ever let you down?

>> Well, no.

>> But suppose we take a look at that

Westcat then.

>> All right.

County Cout. Yes, sir.

>> Vance, this looks like a well goose

chase.

>> Uh, suppose you turn east at the next

corner.

>> Oh,

that shot. Stop the car.

>> No, no, my apartment. Quick. That shot

was not for me. Malcolm

>> had a silencer on that gun.

>> What makes you think the bullet was

meant for you?

>> Something I said in your office. It must

have been overheard.

>> By whom?

>> All the possibilities were there,

weren't they?

>> Well, I still think it's Delroy.

But Mark, do women kill merely to

recover a string of pearls?

>> Well, suppose Benthon enforced his

attention on her. Suppose that he

attempted to

>> Can you imagine Ben with his vanity

attempting anything without his to pay?

>> I've got it.

>> What do you mean,

>> Albert? The minute you told me that

Albert brought that handbag out to Gray

that night,

>> Gray simply went out there to spend the

night with Benson, who was nervous.

>> Well, he picked a swell chaperone.

>> Yeah. He gl forgotten left his bag in

Benson's room at the club. Benson phoned

and Albert brought it out. That's all.

And where did Albert go after that? He

claimed that he took the train back to

town. That's no alibi. Well, he only

started working for Benson 6 weeks ago,

and when I photographed him, he nearly

threw a fist.

>> You know, Malcolm, because Albert

refuses to tell the police the history

of his life, Sergeant insists that he's

a gunman in disguise.

>> Well, he's a foreigner.

>> Well, my case against Delroy. So son,

you tell Smithether to prepare the

indictment.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Now, just for a moment, I'm not going to

let you make fools of yourself.

Mark them until tomorrow night, let me

handle this in my own way. Now, if you

don't, on the day after tomorrow, the

morning papers and I, not you, will have

solved the murder of Anthony Benson. And

that's election day. You stopped me last

night from proceeding what I saw fit.

And I got a bullet in my arm. Delroy had

the real motive.

motive.

>> Drop a nickel in a slot and get a

motive. Everybody has some motive for

murdering somebody.

>> Yeah. Be careful somebody doesn't murder

you.

>> No, nobody's going to get him, Chief.

I'll watch over you, Mr. Vance.

>> Thank you, Sergeant. Oh, tell me, did

that firearms expert of yours say when

he would know about those bullets?

>> Uh, sometime today.

>> I'll see him. And if you don't mind,

Malcolm, I'd like to have Miss Deloyy's

jewel case brought to me here this

afternoon.

>> Right.

>> Then, I want a police woman.

>> A police woman? Yes.

>> Say, I can handle anything in this case.

>> Well, very good, Sergeant. This is a

little job of chambermaidating in a

hotel.

>> Oh,

this is the bullet that killed Benson.

The rifling marks on it correspond

exactly with the rifling on the inside

of the barrel of that gun you picked up

after the murder.

This one is the one that hit Mr.

Markhamm. The same kind of a bullet

fired from the same kind of a gun. But

the trouble is that this is such a

special nick that I don't understand how

there could be two of them exactly alike

around here.

>> Excuse me, Mr. Vance. Yes. Well, here's

the picture of those fingerprints you

wanted.

>> Oh, good. And uh that coffee can. You

left it there. All right.

>> Yes, I stuck it back on the kitchen

shelf. Thank you. What gets me is

Sergeant Heath said there was no

explosion when Marco was shot. Now this

type of gun was designed in Russia

during the revolution for the protection

of the women over the airy. A few

drifted to Paris and were copied to the

underworld but there was never a

silencer manufactured with that gun.

>> Ah, but there was Captain

by the late Bale of the Paris police.

Both the gun and its tiny silencer are

described. You might keep that copy for

your files. Thank you. Thank you. And

captain, if there should be a call for

me, I'll be at the reference room at the

time.

>> I'll let you know.

>> Goodbye.

>> Goodbye.

>> But for strength of composition, Mr.

Vance, and for unusual delicacy of life,

I would

>> Oh, Sam, pardon me.

>> Is Mr. Malcolm all right?

>> Well, no, sir. Sergeant He is with him.

>> As I was saying, Mr. Mr. V, I could do

no better than to recommend to you these

three very choice examples of the Yukio

school. Now, these Mr. Vans are a rare

opportunity. If you don't take advantage

of it, sir, I assure you you'll regret

it to your

>> Hey. Hey. Who are you?

>> Who am I? Who are you?

>> Oh, pardon me, Sergeant. This is my

prince dealer. He's not dangerous.

>> Oh, if you would step aside, please. Mr.

Vance, these three.

>> I better take that door, Mr. Vance. You

know, we can't be too careful today.

>> All right, Sergeant. Oh, by the way, you

haven't forgotten that jewel case.

>> Right here.

>> Thank you.

>> Of course, Mr. D. I don't want to force

these upon you. I have in the portfolio

something that might interest you still

more. If I can only find it here, it was

something I was particularly anxious to

bring to your attention. Ah, yes. Here

we have it. These three from the right

collection. Tokub by Nar Noi and Hiroshi

commonly referred to you know as the

three Hosig

or did you get it?

>> Yes sir. All the sacks were tied up uh

with cord like that except from one

>> and that one.

>> Well, somebody must have cut it off like

you said.

>> Hey, what have you been up to?

>> All right, I'll explain later.

>> Oh, will you stand by Mr. Markhamm's

office, please?

>> Yes, sir.

>> Sergeant, we're getting warm.

>> What do you mean we're getting warm from

that? Mr. Vad, may I not call your

attention to these very Oh,

>> uh, I'll take the Hiroshiki. 3,000, you

said? Huh?

>> Right. Thank you. Correct.

Pardon me.

3,000 bucks for those chromos. What's

the psychology in that, Mr. Vance?

>> Perent, we're hot.

>> Then, will you please let me in on this

string bonfire business?

>> You will observe, Sergeant, that this

twine burns slowly but surely.

Oh, would you take that, please?

Yeah. No, he

Oh, she has.

Good.

>> Yes, Sergeant. Mrs. Bannings confessed

slowly but surely.

It was to protect Adolf. I went to

Benson's room. I pleaded with him. He

had the jewel case, so I thought he must

have Adolf's confessional forgery and

his note, too.

Benson laughed at me. There was a gun on

the table, so I I shot him. He went to

the door to call and then he fell.

>> And where was Mr. Marlo?

>> In one of the guest rooms. Oh, I swear

to you, Mr. Marlo is in a

>> Mrs. Banning.

>> Yes.

>> Have you a hair pin?

Huh?

>> A hair pin?

Yes.

>> May I have it?

>> Thank you.

>> Sergeant Heath on the wire. Mr. Vance,

is there anyone in the reception room?

No, sir. I'll take it back.

Hello.

Yeah.

Oh, just a minute. What are you doing

up? You think I can lie around your

apartment with the newspapers panning me

about this Benson crime? Where's

Sergeant Heath? I can't find him

anywhere.

>> I have him on the wire. He's uh doing

something for me. Oh,

>> also for you.

Yes, Sergeant.

Yes.

All right. Arrange it for

six shot. And you'd better set that

clock out there and your watch with

mine. I make it just 4:33.

Right.

>> Uh, Mr. Vance, if you're through with

me, uh, well, I haven't had any lunch

yet, then

>> Oh, I'm terribly sorry, sir. Suppose you

eat first and then pick up that police

woman who's chambering for at the battle

with you.

>> All right. Good.

What do you think of her confession?

What about more a confession of love

than a confession of guilt? Don't you

think? You mean that she's trying to

protect Mal? Whatever.

>> Mr. Gray is here, sir.

>> Let him in.

I do.

>> Oh, hello. How are you, Gray?

>> Hey, when are you going to play that

hand you've been bragging about tonight?

Would you like to uh sit in on the game?

Table, stakes, anything you say. Now,

you say this will be your party. I don't

think so.

I'd like to have all our little group at

Benson's Lodge in 1 hour and suppose we

take along a photograph of Adolf Mer's

fingerprint.

I understand I don't need Mara. You mean

to tell me that you were just sitting up

there alone when the gun went off?

>> How do you know it was a gun?

>> Oh, this is going to be an interesting

hand.

>> Well, what I said was that I was not

with Mrs. B.

>> I don't want to know where you are not.

I want to know where you were.

>> I have a gentleman.

>> Oh, Mrs. Deloy.

>> Yes,

>> he was with me.

>> Remarkable fellow, Mala. Oh, come on.

We're not getting any place at all, Van.

You'll have your murder remark by 6:00.

>> I can't stand much more of this. If

you've got anything on me, say it.

>> This is a rather unusual jewel case of

yours, Miss Delroy.

>> Who would you?

>> You know, Malcolm, Miss Delroy had a

better motive for keeping Anthony Benson

permanently quiet than any of them.

Please, I would like to go. You keep

quiet. And you, Albert, hiding your path

from the police.

I was afraid. I don't blame you.

Albert's wife is looking for him. He

left her in Chicago recently without

giving notice, you might say.

>> How much longer is this comedy going to

last? V in 10 minutes. Mark him. It

won't be comedy. For one of you, it

isn't now, is it? But why give me a

ringside seat to the se? If any of you

comics have got an idea that I had

anybody bumping off, you certainly had

motive enough, didn't you?

What motive? simply matter of fact

revenge for having sold you out on the

market. You, the illustrious Harry Gray,

the big shot,

vanity and arrogant Markhamm, usually

motivates the behavior of the

intelligent gunman.

>> Gunman?

>> Look here. But you were with us here

when the shot was fired and the body

fell. And just before that, I was in the

kitchen making coffee. That's right. I

remember. I remember that it was very

overboiled coffee. Must have been on the

fire a long time, was it?

>> Ray couldn't have made the coffee that

night. I made it for Paula.

>> I wouldn't call me a liar if I were you.

>> I Mara made the coffee.

>> And if Mara did make it, Markhamm, Mr.

Gray was off of this room for some 5

minutes. Doing what? You're dealing.

Don't ask me. I'm not. I'm telling you.

Mr. Gray didn't make the coffee that

night. You know who says I didn't? This

photograph of the only fingerprints on

that freshly unwrapped can of coffee.

And this one of your prince, Ma, prove

even to a jury, Malcolm, that only he

touched the coffee can.

>> Oh, stop this. When they took the prince

of my fingers this afternoon, I knew you

had suspected me. If you're going to

accuse me, do it.

>> Oh, this is getting tricky. Oh,

two-handed poker isn't so very tricky,

do you think? Mr. Dre, just what were

you doing while Malcolm and I sat here

that night and Albert came in so

mysteriously with your handbag?

You tell me.

Charm, you crept up those back stairs,

tapped on Benson's door. He was changing

his collar. You remember, Malcolm, how

it bothered him. Walked in and shot him

dead with one of those important

daringers and silences of yours.

Silences? That's a hot one. You heard

the shot while I stood here with you.

>> The shot that killed Benson was silent.

No one heard it. Just as no one heard

the shot which you fired at me, Gray,

and which wounded Mr. Markham here at

the lodge. However, you arranged for a

second shot to explode as Benson's body

came tumbling down those stairs. And I

suppose the body waited up there for the

second shot. Exactly. You arranged that,

too,

just as I have.

The dummy avered

at the head of the stairs by a piece of

twine of the same kind that Mr. Gray cut

from a sack of liquor in the basement

that night. The twine was caught at the

Benson's body and looped around a new

post at the head of the stairs. I knew

that the body must have been there for

several minutes. But how did you know?

Because if Benson had been shot

immediately prior to his tumbling down

the stairs, there couldn't possibly have

been that puddle of blood on the second

step from the pub, could there? Very

interesting. But where were all these

people while I was doing this Houdini

stuff? Do you think I'd take a chance at

being walked in on like that? But what

chance were you taking after you saw

that Mrs. Banning was resting on the bed

in her room?

>> How did you lose it?

>> Your hair, Mrs. Bunning, thank you. It

exactly matches this one which I found

on your pillow up there that night. From

the impression of your figure on the

bed, you must have been resting there

for some time, weren't you?

>> Yes, I was lying there with a short

fire.

>> All right, but what about Droy and Mara?

Miss Deroy has already told us that Mr.

Ma was with her discussing uh pearls. I

should think Mr. Ma had considerable

explaining to do if you remember. You

listened outside their door, and what

you heard convinced you that they would

remain there for several minutes at

least. But how could he have timed the

shop? As I just did with a dummy,

another of Benson's cartridge burglar

alarms, like this one. You used the one

Benson had stuck in the door of his

store room. You got it when you went

down to the cellar that night. After you

had made sure that you would not be

interrupted by Mrs. planning and the

others. You hung the body and the alarm

on that twine up there. Then you set

fire to a loose end of the twine so that

when the flame reached the nut, the

twine broke, the body fell, and the

alarm dropped to the floor where it

exploded like this.

You were first upstairs after the body

fell. You quickly dropped the daringer

behind a new post, picked up the alarm

and the strings, put them in your

pocket, and told me to do my stuff,

wasn't it? Well, he meant to kill

Venton, you see. But surrounding it with

the props he did was simply camouflage,

I suppose, to bele the amateur. You're

going to have the time of your sweet

life trying to hang this on me.

The police woman I used as a chambermaid

in your hotel has already hung it on

you. She found Miss Delroyy's pearl

which you stole that night after the

shooting to develop suspicion. Anything

else? Oh, yes.

The coat you wore, Mr. Gray. It seems

that bits of fuzz from the twine you

used were on Benson's West

also on the inside of his pocket. the

same pocket from which I saw you

withdrawing your hand as I followed you

up the stairs. You know that isn't

enough. Do you think any jury would go

for that?

Well, if not, I know they'll go for

this.

A clever little silencer that fits your

clever little gun. Another trophy from

your room, Mr. Gray. Also contributed by

our police woman. Is that enough?

All right. You are smart as me, Vance.

I'm game.

Hey, he's got a gun.

Stop it. Great.

>> Well, Mr. Vance, I told you I'd watch

over you. I can find that baby put these

slugs mighty close to me. I better call

the dog. I'll um I'll be outside.

Haven't been feeling very bad.

>> All right,

>> I'll take care of you, Dolly. Dear,

>> get that cold hand. Yes, you

>> do. This Sergeant Heath. I'm out at the

Benson lodge. There's been another

murder. I mean, uh shooting. Uh I did

it. Okay.

Put it on. May I have a dual case now?

>> Of course.

And don't worry. No one else knows about

your daughter.

>> Thank you. I was going to her when they

caught me leaving town. If Benson had

found this, he would have held it over

me, threatened. Tell my little girl. But

I am.

Thank you, Mr.

for not telling them to rock.

>> So, it was Harry Gray, Mr. Vance.

Well, it didn't surprise me any

[Music]