Original subtitles

Hey, you.

Wait a minute.

What are you doing in there at this time

of night?

Well, I

you see uh

my Aunt Katie's buried in there and I

was just

You were just walking?

Well, I was just in there. Yeah, I know

that, but what were you doing in there?

It's a long story, sergeant. Well, then

start telling it. And never mind for

promoting me. It all started about

promoting me. What do you mean promoting

you? You're not a sergeant. No?

No, I haven't been on the force long

enough. Well, how long have you been on?

Well, let me see now, it'll be

4 years in September, I think. Or is it

October?

I'm not sure.

Hey, what's that got to do with it? Uh

with what? With you being in there. Oh,

why nothing? Why?

Come on now, let's start all over again.

What were you doing in there at this

time of night?

I was merely following instructions.

Instructions? Yes, I just left a

thousand dollars on Aunt Katie's grave.

A thousand dollars? Yes. What for? Oh,

cuz that's what he told me to do.

What Who told you to do? The man that

wrote the letter.

What letter?

The letter demanding a thousand dollars.

Look, mister, one of us is just a little

crazy. I know I was all right when I

left the station. You don't believe me?

That's putting it a bit mildly. Well,

all right, go on in and see for

yourself. I got to get home.

Wait a minute, just a minute.

Hey, Lou, come here.

There it is, right there.

That some of your work? Rock. That

portrait.

Yes, but it doesn't do it justice.

Really, it doesn't. Why, she was the

best cook in the world. You should have

tasted her pancakes. They just melt in

your mouth. And her pineapple upside

down cake.

All right, all right. Let's get back to

the thousand dollars. Hm? Oh. Uh

there's the wallet.

It's empty. Why, of course it's empty.

Just before I climbed over the wall, I

looked back and I saw a figure glide out

of the shadows over there, pick up the

wallet, take out the money, drop the

wallet, and disappear in that direction.

Didn't find any footprints over there,

Lou?

Well, here are some.

What's your foot size?

I guess they're mine. Yeah, funny, ain't

it?

Is there a sign over on this side?

Well, that doesn't surprise me. No? No,

you see, he didn't walk. He just seemed

to glide. Oh, he did, huh?

Well, yes. Well, suppose you and me and

Lou just glide down to headquarters.

Headquarters? Yeah. Well, I haven't any

business at headquarters.

Yeah, well, you didn't have any business

in here, either. No, no, wait a minute,

please, officer, wait.

Joe Morgan, alias Joe the Luck, alias

Dippy Joe, alias Chain Store Morgan.

Four arrests, four convictions,

suspicion of robbery at Acme Drug Store,

Yonkers, September the 5th. I was in St.

Louis. Suspicion of robbery at Acme Drug

Store, Brooklyn, September the 12th. I

was in St. Louis. Suspicion of robbery

at Acme Drug Store, Astoria, September

the 19th. I was in St. Louis. Suspicion

of robbery at Acme Drug Store, St.

Louis. Huh? September the 26th. I was in

Chicago. Step down.

All right, next.

Stand there.

Pick up your hat.

Everett P. Digberry, no previous record,

suspicion of robbery. Suspicion of

robbery?

Why, I'm the one that was robbed. Quiet.

I will not be quiet. I'm a respectable

citizen.

I pay my taxes, I've got two nephews in

the Navy, and I'm buying a government

bond every month. And these lights ARE

BLINDING ME.

AND IT'S NOT A BIT FUNNY. QUIET, I said.

And I said I won't be quiet. Okay,

Flanagan, hold it.

What's all this about?

At 1:00 this morning he was picked up

sneaking out of St. Mark's Cemetery.

Well, what were you doing there? What

were you doing there? What were you

doing there? That's all I've heard since

1:00 this morning.

And I'm getting sick and tired of

answering.

And besides, who are you and what

business is it of yours? Never mind who

I am. Answer the question.

I will not.

Answer the question. No.

Not till you come out here where I can

see you.

What will I do with him, Cap? Oh, let

him alone. Wait a minute.

Well, that's better.

Is it? Yes, now if you just take these

lights out of my eyes, everything will

be fine. You wouldn't care for a cup of

tea or something, would you? Oh, no,

thank you. I only drink tea at night. I

wouldn't drink it then, only coffee

keeps me awake. What kept you awake

until 1:00 this morning?

I had to put the money on Aunt Katie's

grave as the letter said. What's what

letter said? The Black Panther's letter.

The Black Panther?

Well, yes.

Did you get one of those letters, too?

Two? What do you mean two?

Did you get one?

Get me the commissioner. The fact that

none of yours received any further

threats seems to indicate that this is

just another one of those unfunny jokes

by some nitwit. I don't think you need

worry.

However, if you should receive any

further threats, I want you to

communicate with this office at once.

That understood?

Excuse me, Commissioner, it's Captain

Flynn, something new on the Panther

case.

Pardon me.

Yes, Flynn?

When?

All right, bring him right up.

Our little Panther Club has a new

member.

In fact, I think we should make him

president.

It's already cost him money.

This puts a new slant on the case, which

is very interesting.

Might be something to it after all.

Come on.

Commissioner's busy, Mike.

It's all right, he's expecting us.

Here he is, Commissioner, and you're

welcome to him.

Everett Digberry. Hello.

Well,

this is a relief. I haven't seen

anything but blue uniform since 1:00

this morning. Why, Everett, you did not

tell me you were missing something

there. Well, no, I didn't tell anybody

that is, not till this morning. Since

then, that's all I've been doing,

telling it to the cops.

Now, I suppose I'll have to tell it all

over again to the commissioner. My name

is Everett P. Digberry. I'm a wigmaker.

I got a letter from the Panther

demanding a thousand dollars. I paid it,

got arrested, and here I am. And I want

to go home. I'm Commissioner Cole. How

do you do? I

What?

I said I'm Commissioner Cole.

Oh.

My name is Everett P. Digberry. I'm a

wigmaker. I got a letter

Yes, yes, I know. Where is the letter? I

haven't it with me. It's at my

apartment.

Was it anything like this? Hm?

Why, yes, just exactly, even to the

Panther's claw. Only on mine, it was in

the corner. When did you get it? About 2

weeks ago. Why didn't you notify the

police? Doc said not to.

You see right there.

And then it said to wait for further

instructions.

Did you receive them? Why yes, 3 days

ago.

My phone rang at 4:00 in the morning.

I'm Commissioner Stone, do you mind? Oh.

My phone rang at 4:00 in the morning,

woke me out of a sound sleep, and a very

gruff voice, way down here. Told me to

get a thousand dollars in small bills

and go to the cemetery Sunday.

I have three aunts buried there, Aunt

Lizzie, Aunt Bessie, and Faith. And I

was put the money on the middle grave.

That was Aunt Faith. Why did you do all

that without consulting the police?

Well, Commissioner, I have a wife and

five daughters. Luckily, they're up in

Maine visiting my wife's brother,

Charlie. Otherwise, I'd have six nervous

breakdowns on my hands. So, I thought

the simplest thing to do was to pay it

and get it over with before they got

back. You see, I'm expecting them the

end of the week. And you're forced to

throw away that much money? Well, no,

but I'd sooner do it than have six

hysterical women on my hands.

Have you ever tried handling six

hysterical women with one of them

weighing 180 lb? Well, frankly, no.

Well, I did once, when our little

Pekingese dog was lost, and I don't want

any more of it. No, not for $5,000.

Yeah, I can understand that.

Who made the arrest? Look, it was

Indovina. Get me a copy of the report.

Yes, sir. What bank did you draw the

money from?

The Young The Savings Bank. I live up

there. Only my house is closed right now

while the family's away. I'm staying at

a little apartment on 64th Street. Bring

in your bankbook. Yes, sir. Uh can I go

home now? Uh not yet, Digby, do you

mind?

I understand that several of you are

personally acquainted with Mr. Digby. Oh

yes, I've known Everett for several

years. He makes all my stage wigs. He

also makes uh several things for me,

beards and mustaches and so forth. Yes,

as uh as Madame Pelissa's manager, I

naturally have dealings with him. The

all six of you who have received these

letters are connected in one way or

another with the opera company, is that

right?

Yes, I am the director. And it's a

natural deduction that the writer of the

letter is also connected with the opera

company, or at least is familiar with

it.

Now, is there someone who might have a

grudge against any or all of you?

No.

I can't think of anyone. I I don't think

I have any enemies.

Hey.

How about this crazy baritone that give

you so much trouble that you have to

fire? Oh, you mean Lombardi? Yes, that's

him. Yes, he's crazy enough, all right,

to do a thing like this. Now that you

mention him,

I've had a little trouble with him. Yes,

he is a trifle over-romantic. Matter of

fact, I had to throw him out of Madame's

dressing room twice.

He might have resented my taking his

place.

I see.

Did you ever make any wigs for this uh

what's-his-name? Lombardi. Lombardi?

Why, no. He always did business with a

second-rate wigmaker named Wilkins, and

believe me, his wigs looked terrible.

Well, where is this Lombardi now? Has

anyone seen him lately?

I saw him only last week.

He looked pretty broke. He had the nerve

to ask me for $5.

He has been to my apartment several

times when I was out.

Come to think of it, he is about the

same height and weight as the man who

took the money in the cemetery.

Have this Lombardi picked up. Right.

What's his first name? Enrico. Enrico,

thanks.

I won't detain you any longer. Oh, can

all of this be kept quiet, Commissioner,

at least my part in it? You know, the

wife and daughters and his family. I

can't promise. It will be all right for

me to leave town, yes?

You see, at the close of the opera

season, I always go away.

I had planned to sail to South America

tomorrow. Tomorrow?

I'll be here, Commissioner, to represent

Madame if anything further develops

concerning her. Well, in that case,

it'll be all right.

Oh, thank you, Commissioner.

You're quite welcome, Madame. Good day.

Bye.

I want the rest of you to be available

if I should need you. Certainly, sir.

Certainly. We'll miss you. Good day,

gentlemen. We'll miss you. Bonjourno.

Goodbye.

Do you want to speak to me about

something? Oh, no.

Just a minute.

Now, am I going to have some more

trouble with you?

Let him go, Flynn.

Yes, sir. Thank you. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Anything else, Commissioner? Yes, I want

to see you a minute. All right, sir.

Uh Tony, these letters were obviously

written on the same typewriter.

Notice how the H is out of line.

Judging by the spacing,

the writer used the Hunt & Peck system.

It's a very ordinary brand of paper,

no watermarks, and it'll be very

difficult to trace. And what's the type?

I judge it was written on a portable

typewriter. I think you're right.

So, all we have to do is to find someone

who's got a portable typewriter with the

H out of line, a thousand dollars in

small bills in his pocket, and a pet

panther with ink on its feet. That's

about it.

Flynn,

get the boys busy on these.

Have the paper reduced to its chemical

formula and contact the manufacturers.

Yes, sir.

Detective Bureau.

Hello. Abbott speaking.

Commissioner wants a guy named Enrico

Lombardi brought in.

Yeah.

Used to be with the New York Opera

Company.

You can probably get a line on him at

the opera house.

Yes.

Yes, that's all.

You know, you'd never think it to look

at Digby, would you, Tony? Think what?

That he had a 180-lb wife and five

daughters.

Well, hello, Homer.

Did you smell that cooking all the way

upstairs?

Well, if that mistress of yours ever

catches me feeding you, it would be just

too bad for both of us.

Well, I uh I have a few things to attend

to before the boat leaves, but I'll be

back in time to take this here. Don't

bother. Everett will be here, and I

shall go with him. Meet you there. I

don't know whether I'll be able to stay

until the boat leaves, but I have an

important appointment at 9:00. Mhm.

Well, that'll be all right too, Everett.

Well, I'll see you later. Bye-bye. Bye.

And uh

don't worry.

Hey, Ybarra.

Have me send up for Madame's bags in

about half an hour.

Yes, sir. I hope everything has been

satisfactory, and we're looking forward

to having Madame with us again next

season. I think you will. She's been

more than satisfied with everything.

Thank you, sir.

Come in.

Good evening, my little Amina.

Good evening,

Signor Lombardi.

With all my best upon voice you wishes.

Oh, thank you.

They're lovely.

And now,

uh what's the meaning of this?

That's the most ridiculous thing I ever

hear.

Lombardi maybe sometimes is a good man

for a woman.

He may drink a little vino, he may

fight, he may kill,

but never you see a crook. Well, uh Then

who say Lombardi do this?

Well, uh

you see,

Mr. Digby, the man who lost the money,

merely said he saw someone resembling

you pick it up. Digby. Digby? I don't

know who this Digby is. How can I write

to him a letter? Well, you see, I really

have no And why should I threaten you?

Lombardi not threaten a woman. He love.

And especially you, my beautiful one.

Always I have a love for you. Now,

Enrico, we have been through all this

before.

Yes, I know, and I'm going to keep on a

telling you until you believe in me.

Enrico, please. Please, Enrico, please.

Always please, Enrico, please. Well,

Enrico, don't please. Do you hear me? I

love you. I love you.

Come in.

Hello, Nina.

Oh.

I hope I'm not intruding. Oh, no, not

Yes, you are intruding. And who is you?

My name is Digby. Digby? Digby. Digby?

So, you are the one.

Well, how do you do, Mr.

How do you do?

And you are the talk of the life of you,

you liar, you. When the cops kill

Lombardi for everything in the

newspaper, a crook, for that I was to in

the police station, answer a thousand

questions about something you should

know nothing about.

Let me Oh, I'll let you go. Enrico!

Enrico! Enrico! Let him go, you jackass!

I think you're a liar, butler. Find it.

Enrico!

Enrico! Are you hurt?

Enrico! Oh, that's it. Enrico! You

get out. Yes. And I called THE POLICE.

NOW, GET OUT OF HERE. You are even more

beautiful than ever when you're mad.

You

Don't you dare strike her.

Oh, you!

Hello. Give me the police.

Hello.

Oh!

Enough, forget it. Lombardi love you.

And if he can't to have you, nobody else

ever will.

Excitable chap, isn't he?

Homer, I could tell you something

that'll make your eyes pop out. You can

never guess it in your life.

No, not in all mine of them.

It's about her, too.

Now, what have I done? Commissioner sent

me up for your bankbook.

Oh, is that all? Well, come on in.

Oh, yes, the bankbook. Uh

bankbook.

Now, let me see. Where did I put that?

Where did I leave that?

Funny, it should be right here.

Oh, I'd forget my head if it wasn't tied

on to me. Oh, uh sit down, sergeant. Uh

oh, you're not a sergeant, are you? I

forgot. Well, sit down anyway.

Oh, here we are.

What do you think of that? It was still

in my coat pocket. You're welcome.

Oh, has the commissioner any idea who

the panther is yet? No, I wouldn't know.

Oh, he wouldn't, huh? No, he doesn't

tell me everything. Oh, I see.

Hey, perhaps you'd like a receipt for

this.

No, that's all right. No, I think you're

better. Let's type it out and I'll sign

it.

Well, if you say so.

Uh what's the number of that book?

174609.

Thanks.

174609.

Uh I use the hunt and peck system.

There you are. Is that all right?

Yeah, I guess so.

Well, thanks.

Well, that'll take care of that. That's

fine.

Well, so long. I'm goodbye.

That's not my pen.

Officer!

Officer!

Certainly is an absent-minded fellow.

Now, wait a minute. Did he give me a

receipt or did I give him one?

Oh, this is very confusing.

Homer! Where are you?

What have you been doing?

My, my, what a mess. What a mess.

Wait till I get hold of you.

What's what on? Mr. Digberry?

Just a moment, please.

Oh, fiddle-de-dee.

Hello.

Yes, this is Digberry.

Huh?

What's it about?

Uh-huh.

Say, who's this talking?

Say, but I don't

But what's that got

All right. I'll be there.

38th Street and 8th Avenue?

I don't know anyone at 38th Street and

8th Avenue.

I thought you said he was in.

No, sir, Captain. I just said he didn't

go out.

You got a key for this? Yes, sir. Open

it, then. Yes.

Ow!

Commissioner?

This is what I mean.

There they are.

That ain't the panther, I'll eat my hat.

Tony.

Copy one of those panther letters on

that machine over there. Right.

No one I'm on.

Same kind of paper. Copy it exactly,

Tony. I want to check on that age.

Right.

All right. All right. Hold your horses.

I'm coming.

That does it. Yep, that's about it.

Murphy.

See if you can find the panther. Yes,

sir.

Air push push push push Air push push

push push push push

Air push push push push

Air push!

Why, Mr. Digberry, I thought you was

going out. Yes, I am. I know what you

want. I'll be back in a couple of days.

I'll see you when I come back. I'm late.

Very nice.

That's perfect.

Thanks, pal.

All right, Tony. Bring the typewriter

and don't forget that ink pad.

If I had a few more hands. Well, I'll

take the ink pad.

That's a big help.

Give me the panther.

Murphy, you wait here till Digberry

comes. Okay, Commissioner.

Ready, Tony? Right. Let's go.

You know

there's some mighty curious things going

on around here at the tune. What kind of

things? I don't know, but I was upstairs

and uh

There was coppers in his room, but he

don't know it.

Dog gone it, a man can't even hold a

secret discussion. I'll be right back to

tell you all about it.

Oh, come on, Digberry. Come on.

You You know they flashed their badges?

One of them had a gold badge.

Solid gold. And they made me open the

door to Mr. Digberry's apartment.

Uh Mr. Digberry Uh Mr. Digberry, did you

know that uh

You know he sure was acting funny

tonight, but wait till he finds them

coppers up there in his room.

I've got to tell you. Just wait till you

I'll be back, yeah.

Here, Tony.

You hold this panther. I'm getting full

of hair and ink. Give me a panther.

What do you think is behind it all,

Commissioner? Well, I'm not quite sure.

There's no question but that Digberry

wrote the letters and that he drew a

thousand dollars out of the bank. The

bank book shows that. How about that

cemetery part? It always sounded fishy

to me. I don't believe it.

He probably intended to shake down the

others

after he'd established himself as a

victim to divert suspicion. Well, he

didn't do a bad job for an amateur. Not

bad at all. I'll admit he fooled me.

Good evening, Mr. Digberry.

Good evening.

You know, Mr. Digberry sure has got

something on his mind tonight.

He's been doing nothing but popping in

and out of here all evening. Seems every

time I look up he's either going out or

coming in.

He has been acting kind of strange.

Yeah, but wait till he get upstairs.

That's all.

Oh, cops.

Getting in?

Hello.

Oh, did you come back for your pen?

Nope.

For you.

Huh?

The Commissioner wants to see you.

Tonight? Right now.

Let's go.

All right.

There. What a day. What a day.

It sure is mighty funny, Mr. Stevens.

Oh.

They come again.

Is he arrested?

And he's standing close walking

alongside of him.

Using the United States Post Office for

the purpose of blackmail is a federal

offense, Mr. Digberry.

But Mr. Colt, I didn't blackmail anyone.

Really, I didn't. You've admitted

writing the letters. Yes. That's

blackmail.

But I didn't intend to ever go any

further with it. I I just wanted an

alibi for something. Alibi? Yes.

For what?

Well, you know about my wife and five

daughters. Yes. Yes, I know all about

them. Well, they're coming home soon. I

know all about that, too. What's that

got to do with it? I had to cover up

that thousand dollars that I drew out of

our joint savings account while they

were gone.

So So you blackmailed yourself out of

it. Yes.

Oh, but it's really no laughing matter.

You don't know my wife. What did you do

with the money?

I loaned it to a friend. Who?

I'd really rather not say. It doesn't

matter, does it? No.

Habit's with you.

Who?

Just a minute.

Commissioner?

Flint.

Yes, Flint.

Where?

West 64th Street. Yeah, the Wedgwood

Arms. She had gray hair and was about 50

years old, I guess. And they did about

an hour.

And they go through the place, what do

you think they found?

A picture of our friend Digberry.

Who?

Digberry.

And it was signed affectionately yours

ever.

I see.

All right, Flint. I'll be right over.

Do you know anyone intimately at the

Wedgwood Arms apartment? Hm?

Why, no. No, why? I've just lived there

since my family went away. I just go in

and out. Did you ever visit any of the

other apartments?

No.

No, I can't say that.

What is her name? Mrs. Nora Pelton.

She's only been here a short time.

Kept to her room quite a lot.

Have any visitors lately? Well, several

nights ago a man called on her. Said he

was her husband. They had a terrific

row. Some of the tenants complained of a

noise and I had to threaten to call the

police.

See.

Is she friendly with any of the other

tenants here? No, with the exception of

Mr. Digberry. She was very friendly with

him. In fact, he was the one who engaged

his apartment for her.

And this is his picture. That's him, all

right.

Gun wound in the left temple.

What brings Pelton down here?

Been about an hour.

Want to have a look at it before we move

it? Oh, yes.

Here's the bullet, Commissioner.

Looks like a .32.

Yeah.

Where did you find it? Right here in the

chair.

Body was seated in this chair. Fixed

forward on the floor where there was

stains on and carried to this couch.

Murderer

stepped in through this doorway hid

behind this chair.

Had to be left-handed to do that.

Left-handed?

Yes. Try standing behind that chair

where you can't be seen and touch the

left temple with your right hand.

I'll buy that.

That's pretty obvious.

Nina Pelton's

What's going on here?

Yeah, she must have been in an awful

hurry to get back to that gin rummy

game.

What time did she come back? Nine

o'clock. So did everyone else that they

questioned.

What stopped at 8:10? Establishes the

time of the murder.

Take care of this one.

All right, Coroner.

Come on, Tony.

Jim. Yes, sir. I want Nina Pelton's

husband located and brought in. Also, a

manager Waters and that Lombardi

character. Yes, sir.

Digberry still in there?

No, he went out for a cup of coffee tea,

I think it was.

Oh, he did. Murphy winning? Sure. Mercy

probably needed the tea. Well, send him

in when he gets back. That's right.

You don't think Digberry did it, do you?

Candidly, no. Is he right or

left-handed, if you noticed? No, I can't

say I did.

Get me the ballistic report on this

bullet. Let me know if the boys turned

up any fingerprints. Let me know as soon

as you can. Right.

Well, Mr. Digberry,

the commissioner wants to see you right

away. Oh, he does, huh? Yeah.

Come in.

Can I go home now, Commissioner? I've

got to get up early in the morning, you

know. I have to open my shop at 8:00.

Sit down.

Huh?

Sit down.

What are your relations with Madame

Polita?

Why, she's one of my best customers. Do

you give all of your customers

autographed pictures?

I know.

Have you heard from her since she left

for South America?

No. I mean, yes. Oh,

what's this all about?

What's her address down there?

Down there?

Uh

in Box Canyon. Wouldn't be Wedgewood

Arms, apartment 211?

I don't know.

Wedgewood Arms?

264th Street.

Oh.

So, you found her already, huh?

Yes. We just came from there.

I thought I was so clever. Why, even her

manager didn't know she got off the boat

just before it sailed.

Oh, that's too bad. Now I'll be seeing

it in all the papers.

Doesn't she look different in a gray

wig? That's my work. I made that for

her.

When did you see her last? Only this

evening. I drop in every day. What time

this evening?

About 6:30, I think it was. Anyone else

there? No. What was she doing?

She was sitting in an armchair by the

door, reading. She didn't even hear me

come in. She's a little hard of hearing.

She won't admit it, but she is. Opera

singer, a little hard of hearing, eh?

How long did you stay? Just a few

minutes.

Well, after 7:00?

No. Sure? Certainly.

I was at the corner of 38th Street and

8th Avenue just at 7:00. What were you

doing there? I wasn't doing anything,

just waiting. Waiting for what?

Well, I don't quite know.

You see, about 6:00, I think it was, my

phone rang and someone, I didn't

recognize the voice, told me to be at

the corner of 38th Street and 8th Avenue

at exactly 7:00. He said it was

something about Madame Polita. It was

very important that I be there.

So, I went.

What was it?

It wasn't anything.

Nobody showed up to tell me, so after

waiting about 15 minutes, I went home.

See Madame Polita when you got back to

the apartment? No, I didn't see her. You

can ask Madame Polita.

I went straight to my apartment and

there was Murphy and we came here and

here I am.

This sounds like a third degree in one

of those movie who done it, doesn't it?

Mr. Digberry,

you're either very clever, a victim of

circumstance,

or just plain crazy.

What do you mean by that, Commissioner?

Madame Polita is dead.

Dead?

You mean she's dead?

Found dead tonight shot through the

heart.

No.

No.

Who?

Who would do such a thing and why?

That's what I intend to find out.

Do you own a gun?

Certainly.

Do you know of anyone who might have

threatened Madame Polita?

I don't.

Oh, yes.

That fell along by.

She once told me her ex-husband.

What's the color of her husband's hair?

Uh

gray,

about the same shade as mine.

About like this?

Yes. That's real hair, isn't it?

Yes, but it's out of a wig. I thought

so. But, how do you know?

By the tiny knots there.

Oh.

That's that. It's probably out of her

own wig.

No, sir. I made this wig. There's no

such cheap hair as that in it.

And it looks like it was made by that

faker Wilson.

How can you tell?

By the knot. One wig maker can usually

tell another's knot.

Yes? Madame Polita's ex-husband left for

California at 8:30 tonight. 8:30? Yes,

sir.

No report on

Lombardi yet.

Have that husband picked up and brought

back immediately. Yes, sir.

Well, Digberry,

we have work to do.

After District Attorney were here, he

probably wants you held without bail.

But, since he isn't here and if you

promise me you will not leave the city,

I'm going to let you go home.

Thank you.

If there's anything I can

be sure I'll call on you at once. Good

night.

Good night.

I'm afraid you'll have to cancel your

engagement for tonight, Tony. We have

work to do. No surprise to me. I haven't

been able to keep a date in months. When

you were in the army.

Looks as though the 40-hour week doesn't

mean a thing to Mr. Wilson.

Ah, good evening, gentlemen. Welcome to

the oldest most reliable wig shop in the

United States. What can I do for you?

This is Commissioner Colt.

Oh. I want some information. Yes, sir.

Have you made any gray wigs lately?

Yes, sir. Made a couple, I think. And

for whom? Well, I'd have to look in my

book. Oh, just a minute. Do you know a

wig maker named Digberry? Yes. Ah, that

faker.

Seems to be a little professional

jealousy.

Let me have that envelope.

Do you recognize these as coming from

one of your wigs?

Yes. It could come from one of them.

Can you tell which one?

I might.

Ah.

Here we are.

What did you find?

Well, right here I have

I didn't think of that here.

Well, according to my book, I made one

for a new customer, a man by the name of

Frank Gallager, 724 West 41st Street.

And only in a sometime ago, I made one

for an opera singer by the name of

Lombardi.

Now, those hairs could come from either

of them.

That all? Yes. Very few people want gray

wigs, much less gray hair, except in

special cases. Well, thank you. I may

need you later. Oh, oh, Commissioner,

I have some other mistakes that I think

would suit your taste. 33rd Street and

8th.

Oh, I'm sorry. No, if I want one, I I

think I'll get it in the old-fashioned

way. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Go on. Go on. Read it. Read it on week.

That's a fine bunch of publicity to

throw at anybody.

Look, Patch. Election is coming on and I

need a conviction in a big case like

this if I'm going to stay District

Attorney of this bird. I know you do,

Bill, but I got to have somebody to

convict first, do you mind?

What about Digberry? We've got enough on

him right now to send him to the chair.

I cannot understand why you let that

fellow go. Why did you?

Because I don't think he did it, that's

why. He doesn't think he did it. He

doesn't think he did it. Look, Batch,

it's an open and shut case.

He got mixed up with her, spent money on

her, probably fell madly in love with

her, and finally she threw him a down,

so he shot. It's as simple as that.

That's formula 146A in the bottom

drawer, but it doesn't fit this case.

Why not? Cuz he's not the type, even if

she was.

Yes? Madam Felicia's manager, Sharon,

wants to see the commissioner. All

right. Send him in.

There's a lot more to this case than

meets the eye, Bill.

Then I must be blind, cuz I can't see

it.

Commissioner, uh I just read about Madam

in the papers. Why, what happened? Who

did it, and why? What happened? Who did

it, and why?

We don't know yet. Oh, now come on,

Batch.

Oh, Captain Walters, this is District

Attorney Doughty. Captain Walters is

Madam Felicia's manager. How do you do,

sir? How do you do? Why, Mr. Doughty,

this is terrible. You imagine the shock

to me. I I thought she was on her way to

South America. So did everyone else,

except this Digbury.

Digbury? Digbury.

I wonder. Why, certainly, Digbury. It's

a cinch.

Oh, take it easy, will you? Keep your

shirt on. Oh, Batch, sometimes you make

me sore.

Keep your shirt on. Of all the stupid

idiot Batch.

Commissioner, I'd like to offer a $1,000

reward for the arrest of the murderer.

That's your privilege, Captain Walters.

Will you take charge of it? Certainly.

Yes?

Get a report on those two names Wilkins

gave you.

Somebody's out of town.

And there's no such person as Frank

Galloway at 724 West 41st Street,

because there's no such address.

That number would be in the middle of

the Hudson River.

I thought so. Thanks. Yes, sir. Get me

Wilkins on the phone.

Here you are, Commissioner.

Thank you. Take care of this, Tony.

Oh, uh

would you write your address on here for

me, Captain Walters?

Why, certainly. In case I should want to

get in touch with you.

Just a minute, please.

Wilkins.

Hello, Mr. Wilkins. This is Commissioner

Cole.

Uh there's no such address as 724 West

41st Street. You sure you gave it to us

correctly?

Oh, you are sure.

What does this man, Galloway, look like?

Do you think you'd recognize him if you

saw him again?

I see.

I wish you'd come to my office at 9:00

tomorrow morning. I may have several

people here I want you to look at.

Thank you very much.

Good luck.

Here you are, Commissioner.

Well, thank you.

File that for me, Tony.

Oh, you won't be leaving town for a

while yet, will you, Captain Walters?

Oh, no, no, not until this is settled,

anyway. Fine. Oh, by the way,

where did you first meet Madam Felicia?

In Paris, just before the war started.

She was in a jam over her passport and

credentials. She's Hungarian by birth,

you know.

Yes, I know. I had some very influential

friends over there, and I straightened

things out for her. Very nice of you.

I've been handling her affairs ever

since. You're an American, aren't you?

Why, yes, of course.

I was wondering about the accent. Oh,

may I ask what the captain is for? I

went over to France with the Fighting

69th in the last war, and uh

I stayed there for 20 years.

The Fighting 69th.

Great outfit there. Yes, it is.

I know Colonel Donovan well. Is that so?

Yes, in fact, Wild Bill and I were altar

boys together.

By the way, Commissioner, I'd like to go

over to Madam's apartment and check

things over, if I may. Last week, she

took one of her largest insurance

policies out of a deposit box, and I'd

like to find it. I think that would be

all right. Tony, telephone the office in

charge. It'll be all right with Mr.

Captain Walters. Yes. Thank you,

Commissioner. Is there anything else you

want of me? No, no, that'll be all.

Well, goodbye. And uh I'll be standing

by for your call. Goodbye.

Well, anyway, they got him.

Have Doughty follow that through. Yes,

sir.

Send Lombardi in. Right.

Take him in. Come on, come on, you.

Come on in the what? Always come on the

come on. Well, Lombardi no wonder come

on. Lombardi want to sleep. Come on. Get

up on your feet.

Where's he going now?

I'm no like to be pushing around all the

time. Shut up. Here he is, Commissioner.

Oh.

How do you do?

Who is you? I'm no see you before, do I?

Shut up.

I saw him no.

Shut up. I come on. That's all I hear.

Shut up. Come on. Come on. Shut up.

You shut up.

Good night.

Huh?

Good night.

You know that gentleman?

You see?

Gentleman say, "Good night, Lombardi."

I'm not

shut up.

Come on.

Go home. Go home.

Where did you find him? In an alley back

of 28th Street. He had this on him when

we picked him up.

One shell has been fired. Yeah.

Is yours, Lombardi?

Yes, I think it's all.

What were you doing with it?

I shot myself.

But I think the shot it miss.

Where were you night before last?

I don't know.

Were you anywhere near 64th Street last

night? I don't know.

Now, think. Where were you?

How do I know where I was the last

night, too? Last of before night.

I don't even know where I was tonight.

Lock him up till he finds out where he

is. Come on.

Why don't you go home?

You're on the go again. Come on the shut

up. Who shut up for come on?

Hello.

Yeah.

Oh, hello, Mr. Abbott. Have you found

out who did it yet? No. But Commissioner

Cole wants you here at 9:00 tomorrow

morning. He thinks Wilkins will be able

to identify the murderer. Wilkins?

Oh, I remember.

The gray hair.

All right, I'll be

Goodbye.

Not much of a marksman. Took two shots

this time.

You think the same person killed Madam

Felicia?

Like a .32, same caliber as the other

one.

We have a motive for this one. He's

taking no chances on Wilkins identifying

him.

Now, look, Batch, if you hadn't let

Digbury go, this never would have

happened.

Oh, Bill, Digbury had nothing to do with

it. I can name you at least three others

who might have done it. Who, for

instance?

Well, her husband. They didn't get

along. We'll find out more about him

when he gets here tomorrow. Then that's

Lombardi. He's crazy enough to have done

it, even when he's sober.

And Captain Walters might have a motive,

to say nothing of the mysterious Frank

Galloway, whom we haven't been able to

find yet.

You dig up anything that might help,

Tom? No, not a thing, Commissioner.

Well, keep trying. Commissioner, look at

this.

The missing part of Digberry's picture.

This definitely ties in with Madame

Felicia's apartment. It means that

Wilkins was there at one time or

another. There's your motive. Where? In

fact, I can think of two motives right

now. First, jealousy of Digberry over

Wilkins' association with Felicia. Or

second, Digberry thought that Wilkins

killed her and decided to avenge it.

Well, it sounds possible, Bill, but not

probable. Perhaps if you don't arrest

Digberry now, I'll have my own men do

it.

All right, I'll make a deal with you. If

I don't break this case by 9:00 tomorrow

morning, you can arrest Digberry at

10:00. It's a bet.

I hope he doesn't decide to kill

somebody else before then. If he does,

you'll probably find a motive for that,

too. Well, you can laugh if you want to,

but I think we ought to give his

apartment a good going over.

All right, if it'll make you sleep any

better, we'll go over there now. Come

on.

Come over here, Eightball. Uh uh yes,

Captain.

Were you on duty the night of the

murder? Yes.

Did you see Mr. Digberry that night?

Yes, sir, four or five times. What was

he doing? Oh, he was acting awful funny.

He just kept popping in and out of the

lady's apartment all night. Popping in

and out? Yes, just popping in and out.

Hear any shots? No, sir, sure didn't.

Get his name, Tony. Right.

What's your name? Nicodemus J. Brown.

You can most always get me right here.

Okay. Uh yes, okay.

I don't see anything in here, Bill. You

haven't looked in the drawers yet. Well,

you look through them. Maybe you can

find something. Okay.

Wow.

There's the missing insurance policy.

Signed over to Digberry, too.

Went to him. Thousand dollars.

That gives him another motive. Yes, and

that's the first one I can't dispute.

I'll admit it looks bad.

Commissioner, look here.

Luger.

Right caliber, too. Well,

now will you arrest Digberry? I still

have him till 9:00 tomorrow morning, do

you mind?

Where did you get this?

From Nina. What for?

Well, you remember my thousand dollars?

Yes.

Well, I loaned it to her. And she

insisted I keep that as security.

Why should she borrow a thousand dollars

from you? She was a very wealthy woman.

That's what everyone thought, but she

wasn't. In fact, she was nearly broke.

That's why she went into hiding here

after the opera season. She couldn't

afford to go away like she used to, and

she also couldn't afford to have the

truth known. It would have hurt her

career.

And you were the only one who knew where

she was. Yes.

This yours?

I know.

I found it right here in this drawer.

You did?

That's funny.

I never saw it before in my life.

Oh, come on. That's for wasting time. I

insist you put this man under arrest at

once. Under arrest?

Yes. Why, you can't do that. My wife and

daughters are coming in at 11:48

tomorrow morning. I've got to meet them

at the station.

You're going to be much too busy at that

time. Come on. Now, wait a minute. Where

are you

What suit were you wearing at the time

of the murder? Suit?

Well,

I don't know. Now, wait a minute. Let me

think.

Was it this one?

Uh no no, it was my light one. Yes,

that's it. Where is it? Right in the

closet.

Get it, Tony. Right.

You never saw this before.

I give you my word I never saw it in my

life. Whose is it?

Yes. What's that

That's all.

My coat, sir. Right.

Thank you.

The elevator boy says he saw you go in

Felicia's apartment wearing that suit.

Is that right? Yes, I did. Our chemist

have found traces of Madame Felicia's

face powder on the lapels and shoulders

of the coat.

That happens when you move the body from

where it fell. But I tell you I

Don't interrupt me. This gun has been

tested and proven to be the same gun

used in both cases.

And it was found in your apartment. But

it isn't mine.

So, the motive for your actions is

perfectly clear.

This policy would bring you twenty

thousand dollars at Madame Felicia's

death.

This is the missing policy, isn't it,

Captain Walters? Why

why yes, that's it. Thank you.

So, you see, Mr. Digberry, I have enough

evidence to convict you of both crimes.

Just a minute, Bill.

I'd like to ask Mr. Digberry a few

questions, if you don't mind.

Why, certainly. Go ahead.

Mr. Digberry,

are you sure this is your suit? Why yes,

certainly. Would you swear to it?

Yes, that's where I bought it.

Take a good look.

That's funny.

No, this isn't my suit. That button was

off my suit. I was waiting for my wife

to come home and sew it on.

Of course it isn't your suit.

And this isn't one of your wigs, either.

No, indeed, not with that Wilkins label

in it.

Glenn?

Yes, sir. And the gun wasn't yours.

Absolutely not.

You see, Bill, this wig makes it very

clear why the upper part of Digberry's

picture was found in Wilkins' shop.

Wilkins was using it to match Digberry's

head for Galloway.

Yes, but what about the gun that was

found in Digberry's apartment? Well,

this is the way I see it.

This Galloway, practically disguised as

Digberry, with the wig, the suit, and

the hat, killed Madame Felicia, after

first getting Digberry out of the house

with a fake telephone call.

Now, we have scientifically established

the fact that her death occurred no

later than 7:00, even though the watch

on her wrist, the one with a broken

crystal, stopped at 8:10.

You see, this murderer was a very clever

man.

He set this watch forward more than an

hour. Then he stopped it by depressing

the mainspring. This, of course, was

done to ruin Digberry's alibi, because

Digberry could prove that he was not in

the apartment at 7:00 when the murder

actually occurred.

Then, knowing that Wilkins was the only

one who could identify him,

Galloway disposed of Wilkins.

And then he planted the murder gun in

Digberry's apartment.

Then Galloway went to his own apartment,

his real address, not the one in the

Hudson River,

and he wrapped the coat, the suit, and

the wig up in a package, planning of

course to dispose of them. But he

delayed just a little too long. He

thought quite safely.

Now, this proves conclusively that

Galloway was the murderer.

And that sounds logical to you?

Well, yes, in a way.

What do you think about it, Captain

Walters? I uh

yes, sir, I think so.

Well, you ought to know, Galloway.

It's Frank Galloway.

I

Well, look.

What is this, uh a joke? Far from it.

Why, you can't You can't prove anything

so ridiculous.

A moment ago, it sounded quite plausible

to you. But if you're still not

convinced, I'll give you a few more

facts. We can prove that you bought the

hat and the suit. The wig speaks for

itself. And as for the gun, the Paris

police informed me that it was purchased

by you in Paris. They very readily

identified your fingerprints which you

so kindly gave me when you wrote out the

address. Why why this is preposterous.

Why should I kill Madame Felicia?

Because you'd stolen her money.

You knew she'd canceled her trip to

South America and was having you

investigated. Yes, that's why she

borrowed my thousand dollars.

Exactly. It's too bad for you you didn't

destroy the wig and the suit. It might

have been a perfect crime. Have you been

following me, Bill?

Well, all right, sure.

All right, Flynn.

Incidentally,

I knew you never belonged to the

Fighting 69th.

We didn't have any rats in that outfit.

Come on.

Well, this is very confusing.

We still have a blackmail charge against

you, Mr. Digberry.

But, since your identifying the the gray

hairs was the most important step in

solving this crime, I think the reward

should be yours. You've made yourself a

thousand dollars. Well, thanks. That

makes you even. And if you can legally

collect the insurance policy, you'll be

twenty thousand dollars ahead. In that

case, I think you'll have to tell your

wife. Right. My wife? Oh, dear, the

train. The 11:38. I'll never be able to

make Grand Central Station in 10

minutes.

You'll make it all right. Tony, put him

in my car.

Right. Come along, Digberry.

Oh, thanks. You've saved my life.

I'm planning to use both sirens.

See, Bill, what happens when a button

comes off?