1
00:01:54,348 --> 00:01:56,359
Hello, Kathi.
2
00:01:56,383 --> 00:01:58,783
You didn't even meet
me at the bus stop.
3
00:02:00,421 --> 00:02:01,864
What did you...
4
00:02:01,888 --> 00:02:03,500
come back for?
5
00:02:03,524 --> 00:02:04,623
You.
6
00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,638
No, Phil.
7
00:02:08,662 --> 00:02:09,739
I wrote you.
8
00:02:09,763 --> 00:02:11,707
One letter, right
at the beginning,
9
00:02:11,731 --> 00:02:12,842
when I first got to jail.
10
00:02:12,866 --> 00:02:15,111
It... It was fresh in your mind.
11
00:02:15,135 --> 00:02:17,114
I don't want to go over it all.
12
00:02:17,138 --> 00:02:18,715
All right. But
I'll tell you again
13
00:02:18,739 --> 00:02:19,949
for the last time,
14
00:02:19,973 --> 00:02:22,852
that Aggie Norris ne... Never
meant anything in my life.
15
00:02:22,876 --> 00:02:24,709
Not after you and I got married.
16
00:02:25,846 --> 00:02:27,357
I love you, Kathi.
17
00:02:27,381 --> 00:02:28,592
I never stopped loving you
18
00:02:28,616 --> 00:02:30,427
through all the horror
of those last 10 months.
19
00:02:30,451 --> 00:02:33,463
Now, I don't care what
the town thinks or says.
20
00:02:33,487 --> 00:02:37,233
They say that...
That you got off easy.
21
00:02:37,257 --> 00:02:39,735
A year in jail
for killing Aggie.
22
00:02:39,759 --> 00:02:41,471
I didn't kill her.
The car skidded.
23
00:02:41,495 --> 00:02:43,628
I only had one
drink. You know that.
24
00:02:46,233 --> 00:02:48,077
Uh, I was wrong having
an argument with you
25
00:02:48,101 --> 00:02:49,412
in the restaurant.
26
00:02:49,436 --> 00:02:51,948
And I was wrong offering
to drive Aggie back to town,
27
00:02:51,972 --> 00:02:54,150
but that's between you and me.
28
00:02:54,174 --> 00:02:56,419
And I've waited
10 months to come
29
00:02:56,443 --> 00:02:58,888
and ask you to please
forgive me, Kathi.
30
00:02:58,912 --> 00:03:00,490
No.
31
00:03:00,514 --> 00:03:01,624
No.
32
00:03:01,648 --> 00:03:03,292
We only had four
months together, Kathi.
33
00:03:03,316 --> 00:03:05,094
Four months. W...
We hardly had time
34
00:03:05,118 --> 00:03:06,158
to get to know each other.
35
00:03:15,328 --> 00:03:16,406
Hello.
36
00:03:17,631 --> 00:03:21,478
Yes. He's here.
37
00:03:21,502 --> 00:03:23,179
Oh, no.
38
00:03:23,203 --> 00:03:25,181
What?
39
00:03:25,205 --> 00:03:26,725
No.
40
00:03:28,809 --> 00:03:30,375
Ward Lewis?
41
00:03:31,845 --> 00:03:33,189
He said...
42
00:03:33,213 --> 00:03:36,158
He said somebody saw
you getting off the bus.
43
00:03:36,182 --> 00:03:39,829
He said... to tell you
to get out of town.
44
00:03:39,853 --> 00:03:41,931
He said he hasn't forgotten
45
00:03:41,955 --> 00:03:43,266
that you killed Aggie,
46
00:03:43,290 --> 00:03:45,010
and neither has anyone else.
47
00:03:46,593 --> 00:03:49,553
You can't stay here,
they all hate you.
48
00:03:52,165 --> 00:03:54,210
I'm not leaving
without you, Kathi.
49
00:04:45,418 --> 00:04:47,819
It's Room 11, upstairs.
50
00:04:51,725 --> 00:04:52,969
Happen to have a reservation...?
51
00:04:52,993 --> 00:04:54,403
Beecher.
52
00:04:54,427 --> 00:04:56,339
We don't want any
drunken murderers
53
00:04:56,363 --> 00:04:57,563
in this town.
54
00:04:58,565 --> 00:04:59,865
Why...
55
00:05:01,368 --> 00:05:03,234
Stop it. Stop it!
56
00:05:04,505 --> 00:05:06,215
You ought to have
more sense, Ward Lewis.
57
00:05:06,239 --> 00:05:08,050
I ought to? He should,
comin' back here.
58
00:05:08,074 --> 00:05:10,620
What he did is past now.
59
00:05:10,644 --> 00:05:13,055
He paid for what he did.
60
00:05:13,079 --> 00:05:14,557
The law said he's
finished with it,
61
00:05:14,581 --> 00:05:17,093
and I say let's be
finished with it too.
62
00:05:17,117 --> 00:05:19,261
Not me. I'm not finished.
63
00:05:19,285 --> 00:05:20,552
Get out.
64
00:05:22,489 --> 00:05:23,922
All of you.
65
00:05:28,662 --> 00:05:31,607
Seems kind of funny, you
defending me, Charlotte.
66
00:05:31,631 --> 00:05:34,243
Hating you won't
bring my sister back.
67
00:05:34,267 --> 00:05:36,412
Good luck, Phil.
68
00:05:36,436 --> 00:05:38,848
I really wish you luck.
69
00:05:38,872 --> 00:05:40,617
I know what you
must be going through.
70
00:05:40,641 --> 00:05:41,884
If there's anything I can do,
71
00:05:41,908 --> 00:05:44,308
I'm working over
at the mill office.
72
00:05:47,313 --> 00:05:48,525
If my father comes in,
73
00:05:48,549 --> 00:05:50,560
will you tell him I'm
working tonight, Willie?
74
00:05:50,584 --> 00:05:52,150
Sure, Miss Charlotte.
75
00:05:54,187 --> 00:05:55,364
Charlotte?
76
00:05:55,388 --> 00:05:57,000
Charlotte Norris.
77
00:05:57,024 --> 00:05:59,602
Hey, aren't you Mr. Perry Mason?
78
00:05:59,626 --> 00:06:00,970
Mm, yes.
79
00:06:00,994 --> 00:06:02,772
This is the first time
I've seen Charlotte.
80
00:06:02,796 --> 00:06:04,640
She's been back East.
81
00:06:04,664 --> 00:06:06,041
Of course.
82
00:06:06,065 --> 00:06:07,376
I knew her sister.
83
00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:08,611
That's right. Uh...
84
00:06:08,635 --> 00:06:10,913
you and the sheriff go
hunting together. Mm-hm.
85
00:06:10,937 --> 00:06:12,715
Aggie's accident
was about a year ago.
86
00:06:12,739 --> 00:06:14,416
That's what all the
ruckus was about.
87
00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,652
That Phil Beecher
took her driving
88
00:06:16,676 --> 00:06:17,653
when he was drunk,
89
00:06:17,677 --> 00:06:19,689
smashed his car up, killed her,
90
00:06:19,713 --> 00:06:21,457
never got a scratch on him.
91
00:06:21,481 --> 00:06:24,181
Sometimes there's
a scar you can't see.
92
00:06:25,852 --> 00:06:27,864
That Charlotte
must be quite a girl.
93
00:06:27,888 --> 00:06:29,131
With Aggie her sister,
94
00:06:29,155 --> 00:06:30,700
and her understanding
95
00:06:30,724 --> 00:06:32,768
and forgiving
like that, you bet.
96
00:06:32,792 --> 00:06:35,359
But I ain't forgot
Phil Beecher so easy.
97
00:06:36,462 --> 00:06:38,229
Well, let's see, Mr. Mason.
98
00:06:39,365 --> 00:06:40,999
Your room's upstairs.
99
00:06:42,368 --> 00:06:45,136
Sheriff will sure
be glad to see you.
100
00:06:58,318 --> 00:07:00,830
He's back. On schedule.
101
00:07:00,854 --> 00:07:02,999
You saw him? He has
a room at the lodge.
102
00:07:03,023 --> 00:07:05,235
It couldn't have
worked out better.
103
00:07:05,259 --> 00:07:07,403
I had to pull him and
Ward Lewis apart.
104
00:07:07,427 --> 00:07:11,240
How I wanted to see
Ward smash his face in.
105
00:07:11,264 --> 00:07:13,242
Beecher doesn't
suspect anything?
106
00:07:13,266 --> 00:07:16,734
Look, I tell you, I
even stuck up for him.
107
00:07:18,571 --> 00:07:20,349
Everything else is all set.
108
00:07:20,373 --> 00:07:23,253
The payroll money,
the ledgers. Everything.
109
00:07:23,277 --> 00:07:26,289
Forty-thousand
dollars, Charlotte.
110
00:07:26,313 --> 00:07:28,624
We've waited a long
time for this, honey.
111
00:07:28,648 --> 00:07:30,626
I'm ready.
112
00:07:30,650 --> 00:07:33,384
I-I'm laying myself
wide open for you.
113
00:07:36,990 --> 00:07:38,801
Got regrets?
114
00:07:38,825 --> 00:07:40,536
Not so far.
115
00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,494
There's nothing but good
things for us in the future.
116
00:07:44,831 --> 00:07:45,911
It's time.
117
00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:54,483
Hello.
118
00:07:54,507 --> 00:07:56,819
Phil Beecher, please.
119
00:07:56,843 --> 00:07:58,387
Phil?
120
00:07:58,411 --> 00:07:59,421
Charlotte.
121
00:07:59,445 --> 00:08:01,223
Oh.
122
00:08:01,247 --> 00:08:02,358
Yes, Charlotte.
123
00:08:02,382 --> 00:08:04,594
I was just going over
the company books,
124
00:08:04,618 --> 00:08:06,851
and I noticed a notation
from the main office.
125
00:08:08,855 --> 00:08:11,601
They used one of my suggestions?
126
00:08:11,625 --> 00:08:13,536
It did? How much?
127
00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,271
Oh, about $225.
128
00:08:16,295 --> 00:08:17,740
It's marked unpaid on the books.
129
00:08:17,764 --> 00:08:20,175
I don't see any reason
why you shouldn't have it.
130
00:08:20,199 --> 00:08:21,644
After all, that's
what the company's
131
00:08:21,668 --> 00:08:23,880
employee suggestion
system is for.
132
00:08:23,904 --> 00:08:25,615
Well, that's mighty
nice of you, Charlotte.
133
00:08:25,639 --> 00:08:27,817
And I sure can use the money.
134
00:08:27,841 --> 00:08:30,119
Look, I'm working on
the payroll this evening
135
00:08:30,143 --> 00:08:31,787
with Mr. Thurston, the manager.
136
00:08:31,811 --> 00:08:33,957
We should be finished about 9.
137
00:08:33,981 --> 00:08:35,424
Why don't you drop by then?
138
00:08:35,448 --> 00:08:37,393
I'll be there with bells on.
139
00:08:37,417 --> 00:08:40,396
I'll leave the side door open.
You know which one it is.
140
00:08:40,420 --> 00:08:41,965
Just walk in.
141
00:08:41,989 --> 00:08:44,155
Fine, Phil. See you then.
142
00:08:54,334 --> 00:08:56,112
Ah.
143
00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:01,440
Hello.
144
00:09:02,709 --> 00:09:05,521
This is Mrs. Thurston.
145
00:09:05,545 --> 00:09:08,579
I didn't know you were working
late tonight too, Charlotte.
146
00:09:10,483 --> 00:09:11,861
Your wife.
147
00:09:11,885 --> 00:09:14,085
Beecher will be here soon.
148
00:09:16,790 --> 00:09:19,001
Yes, Judith. What is it?
149
00:09:19,025 --> 00:09:20,502
You didn't tell me
Charlotte Norris
150
00:09:20,526 --> 00:09:21,837
is working with you.
151
00:09:21,861 --> 00:09:23,339
But, honey, you know
152
00:09:23,363 --> 00:09:26,398
she always works
with me on payrolls.
153
00:09:28,768 --> 00:09:30,146
Yes, dear.
154
00:09:30,170 --> 00:09:32,048
I-I'll pick them up at Tepper's.
155
00:09:32,072 --> 00:09:34,050
Tissues and, uh...
156
00:09:34,074 --> 00:09:35,373
nose drops, yes.
157
00:09:36,476 --> 00:09:38,654
Yes, dear.
158
00:09:38,678 --> 00:09:39,811
Yes.
159
00:09:40,847 --> 00:09:42,591
Oh, no time.
160
00:09:42,615 --> 00:09:44,760
You've got to go now.
161
00:09:44,784 --> 00:09:46,462
W... We haven't
overlooked anything?
162
00:09:46,486 --> 00:09:47,630
Everything is all set?
163
00:09:47,654 --> 00:09:49,966
All set. All ready for him.
164
00:09:49,990 --> 00:09:53,236
Go on, Norman. All
we have to do is do it.
165
00:09:53,260 --> 00:09:55,939
We get the $40,000 payroll,
166
00:09:55,963 --> 00:09:58,396
and Beecher gets the blame.
167
00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:01,632
Good luck.
168
00:10:04,471 --> 00:10:05,949
Well, if it's too early, Perry,
169
00:10:05,973 --> 00:10:07,516
make it 5:00 in the morning.
170
00:10:07,540 --> 00:10:09,218
I'm not worried about
getting up so early.
171
00:10:09,242 --> 00:10:10,386
It's going to bed so early.
172
00:10:10,410 --> 00:10:11,720
It's only 20 minutes after 9.
173
00:10:11,744 --> 00:10:12,888
May I have the key, please?
174
00:10:12,912 --> 00:10:14,590
Come 20 minutes after
9 tomorrow evening,
175
00:10:14,614 --> 00:10:16,292
after a long day out
in the open with a gun,
176
00:10:16,316 --> 00:10:17,961
you'll be more willing.
177
00:10:17,985 --> 00:10:19,262
Thanks for the dinner, Perry.
178
00:10:19,286 --> 00:10:21,030
Oh, it was my pleasure, Gene.
179
00:10:21,054 --> 00:10:22,265
Thank you.
180
00:10:22,289 --> 00:10:24,100
You'll call me at
4, then, huh? Yeah.
181
00:10:24,124 --> 00:10:25,835
Good night, Gene. Yeah.
182
00:10:25,859 --> 00:10:27,303
Oh, sheriff.
183
00:10:27,327 --> 00:10:28,571
Hello, Mr. Thurston.
184
00:10:28,595 --> 00:10:29,973
Closed up already?
185
00:10:29,997 --> 00:10:33,076
Charlotte asked me to tell
you she'll be, uh, a little late.
186
00:10:33,100 --> 00:10:34,510
Isn't she making up the payroll?
187
00:10:34,534 --> 00:10:36,579
That's right. Alone?
188
00:10:36,603 --> 00:10:39,115
Oh, she'll be all right.
Beecher's stopping by to...
189
00:10:39,139 --> 00:10:40,139
Beecher?
190
00:10:41,708 --> 00:10:44,309
Beecher walked out of here
just a little while ago, sheriff.
191
00:10:47,247 --> 00:10:49,192
Don't like the idea of her
being alone with Beecher
192
00:10:49,216 --> 00:10:50,392
and all that money.
193
00:10:50,416 --> 00:10:52,995
Hello.
194
00:10:53,019 --> 00:10:54,019
Hello?
195
00:10:55,655 --> 00:10:57,766
Hello, Charlotte.
196
00:11:00,293 --> 00:11:01,437
W-what was that?
197
00:11:01,461 --> 00:11:04,440
Sounded like a
shot. A pistol shot.
198
00:11:04,464 --> 00:11:05,875
Hello.
199
00:11:05,899 --> 00:11:06,899
Hello!
200
00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:28,320
Charlotte?
201
00:11:50,276 --> 00:11:51,342
Is she dead?
202
00:11:55,548 --> 00:11:57,593
I've outlived my children.
203
00:11:57,617 --> 00:11:59,083
The safe is open.
204
00:12:00,387 --> 00:12:01,531
Beecher.
205
00:12:01,555 --> 00:12:03,699
Anybody see Beecher?
206
00:12:03,723 --> 00:12:06,068
Was supposed to be
here. Maybe he was here.
207
00:12:06,092 --> 00:12:08,171
Killed Charlotte and took
off with our payroll money.
208
00:12:08,195 --> 00:12:10,715
Ward.
209
00:12:11,064 --> 00:12:12,496
I want you to stay here.
210
00:12:13,833 --> 00:12:15,933
Nobody's to go in
or out of this office.
211
00:12:17,203 --> 00:12:18,513
Nothing's to be touched.
212
00:12:25,312 --> 00:12:26,889
Okay, Gene, I'm up.
213
00:12:26,913 --> 00:12:28,757
Seems as though
I just hit the bed.
214
00:12:28,781 --> 00:12:30,325
All right... Huh?
215
00:12:32,252 --> 00:12:33,496
Who is this?
216
00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,099
This is Katherine
Beecher, Mr. Mason.
217
00:12:36,123 --> 00:12:39,157
And I'm very sorry to
disturb you like th... What?
218
00:12:40,627 --> 00:12:42,972
It's... It's quarter after 11.
219
00:12:42,996 --> 00:12:45,575
Mr. Mason, something
dreadful has happened...
220
00:12:45,599 --> 00:12:47,843
and... I heard that
you were in town,
221
00:12:47,867 --> 00:12:50,107
and I don't have
anyone to turn to.
222
00:12:50,603 --> 00:12:51,947
Take it easy, Mrs. Beecher.
223
00:12:51,971 --> 00:12:53,916
What's happened?
What can I do for you?
224
00:12:53,940 --> 00:12:55,784
Well, it's...
225
00:12:55,808 --> 00:12:57,586
I-it's my fault, Mr. Mason.
226
00:12:57,610 --> 00:12:59,121
I... I sent him away.
227
00:12:59,145 --> 00:13:00,756
If... If I'd told
him to stay home,
228
00:13:00,780 --> 00:13:02,992
he wouldn't have gone out.
229
00:13:03,016 --> 00:13:04,927
M... My husband didn't kill
230
00:13:04,951 --> 00:13:06,262
Charlotte Norris, Mr. Mason.
231
00:13:06,286 --> 00:13:07,430
He didn't.
232
00:13:07,454 --> 00:13:09,087
Uh, I'll be right down.
233
00:13:34,680 --> 00:13:36,325
Sure, it was a frame-up.
234
00:13:36,349 --> 00:13:38,760
She had it planned all along.
235
00:13:38,784 --> 00:13:41,497
She just wanted to get
back at me for Aggie.
236
00:13:41,521 --> 00:13:44,300
All this time it's
been festering in her.
237
00:13:44,324 --> 00:13:45,468
Tell me what happened.
238
00:13:45,492 --> 00:13:46,902
Well, the side door was open,
239
00:13:46,926 --> 00:13:48,904
just like she said it would be.
240
00:13:48,928 --> 00:13:51,507
I went in. She was
working on some books.
241
00:13:51,531 --> 00:13:53,309
She gave you the
suggestion money?
242
00:13:53,333 --> 00:13:54,676
The $225?
243
00:13:54,700 --> 00:13:56,712
Yes, she did.
244
00:13:56,736 --> 00:13:57,879
Then what?
245
00:13:57,903 --> 00:13:58,970
Well, I...
246
00:14:01,874 --> 00:14:03,140
I thanked her.
247
00:14:04,177 --> 00:14:06,956
We had a few words. I...
248
00:14:06,980 --> 00:14:09,825
I told her how sorry I
was about Aggie again.
249
00:14:09,849 --> 00:14:11,293
Go on.
250
00:14:11,317 --> 00:14:14,096
Well, I said goodbye
and started to leave.
251
00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:15,730
And the next thing I knew,
252
00:14:15,754 --> 00:14:17,299
there was a roar
of a gun, and...
253
00:14:17,323 --> 00:14:19,968
felt as if someone had hit
my arm with a sledgehammer.
254
00:14:19,992 --> 00:14:21,270
And what happened then?
255
00:14:21,294 --> 00:14:22,971
The shot staggered me.
256
00:14:22,995 --> 00:14:25,274
I turned. She was aiming again.
257
00:14:25,298 --> 00:14:26,442
I knew if I tried to run,
258
00:14:26,466 --> 00:14:28,110
that bullet would hit
me right in the back.
259
00:14:28,134 --> 00:14:30,612
So I just jumped over the
desk right into her, and...
260
00:14:30,636 --> 00:14:32,903
she went over backward,
and everything went flying...
261
00:14:34,507 --> 00:14:35,651
There was only one shot?
262
00:14:36,676 --> 00:14:38,220
Yes.
263
00:14:38,244 --> 00:14:40,456
And the bullet went
right through your arm?
264
00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:41,957
Yes.
265
00:14:41,981 --> 00:14:44,260
And she was alone when you left?
266
00:14:44,284 --> 00:14:45,461
Yes, sir.
267
00:14:45,485 --> 00:14:47,930
She was unconscious.
She'd hit her head.
268
00:14:47,954 --> 00:14:49,965
But she was alive, all right.
269
00:14:49,989 --> 00:14:51,633
What time was this?
270
00:14:51,657 --> 00:14:52,634
I don't know.
271
00:14:52,658 --> 00:14:54,002
A... Little after 9, I guess.
272
00:14:54,026 --> 00:14:55,504
Do you have the $225?
273
00:14:55,528 --> 00:14:57,573
Yeah, all but $20 of
it. I gave Kathi a bill
274
00:14:57,597 --> 00:14:59,597
to get some bandages and things.
275
00:15:00,733 --> 00:15:02,433
All right, let's go. Where?
276
00:15:04,036 --> 00:15:05,481
Well, you are gonna
turn yourself in,
277
00:15:05,505 --> 00:15:06,615
aren't you, Mr. Beecher?
278
00:15:06,639 --> 00:15:07,950
Look, this town's got me pegged
279
00:15:07,974 --> 00:15:09,418
for robbery and murder.
280
00:15:09,442 --> 00:15:12,354
They're after
blood. Please, Phil.
281
00:15:12,378 --> 00:15:14,223
I'll stand by you.
282
00:15:14,247 --> 00:15:16,725
Don't you know what
they're gonna say, Kathi?
283
00:15:16,749 --> 00:15:19,261
Everything was fine up
here while I was in jail...
284
00:15:19,285 --> 00:15:20,796
but the day I get out...
285
00:15:20,820 --> 00:15:23,165
The day I get out,
the payroll is stolen
286
00:15:23,189 --> 00:15:24,922
and Charlotte is killed.
287
00:15:26,692 --> 00:15:28,070
Well, Mr. Beecher?
288
00:15:28,094 --> 00:15:30,134
Please?
289
00:15:35,635 --> 00:15:38,280
All right, Mr. Mason.
290
00:15:38,304 --> 00:15:39,915
My life's in your hands.
291
00:16:04,930 --> 00:16:06,041
Morning, Perry.
292
00:16:06,065 --> 00:16:07,065
Gene.
293
00:16:08,067 --> 00:16:10,646
Beecher killed my girl.
294
00:16:10,670 --> 00:16:11,847
Why'd he kill her, Gene?
295
00:16:11,871 --> 00:16:12,981
For money.
296
00:16:13,005 --> 00:16:15,884
For $43,267.
297
00:16:15,908 --> 00:16:17,953
What the bimonthly
payroll added up to.
298
00:16:17,977 --> 00:16:20,022
Did you find the money? Enough.
299
00:16:20,046 --> 00:16:22,024
A $20 bill.
300
00:16:22,048 --> 00:16:23,859
How do you know it
came from the payroll?
301
00:16:23,883 --> 00:16:26,283
The serial numbers
were recorded.
302
00:16:27,786 --> 00:16:29,431
Beecher said that
Charlotte called him
303
00:16:29,455 --> 00:16:31,633
and told him she had
some bonus money for him.
304
00:16:31,657 --> 00:16:33,724
That's why he
came here last night.
305
00:16:35,328 --> 00:16:36,460
Thurston.
306
00:16:39,532 --> 00:16:41,210
Tell him.
307
00:16:41,234 --> 00:16:44,113
Why did Beecher
come here last night?
308
00:16:44,137 --> 00:16:45,814
Charlotte said he
wanted to talk to her.
309
00:16:45,838 --> 00:16:47,983
Did she have any money for him?
310
00:16:48,007 --> 00:16:49,818
No.
311
00:16:49,842 --> 00:16:51,153
W-why should she?
312
00:16:51,177 --> 00:16:54,122
For an employee-
suggestion bonus.
313
00:16:54,146 --> 00:16:56,586
Is that what Beecher says?
314
00:16:57,049 --> 00:16:59,794
Who listed the serial
numbers on the payroll money?
315
00:16:59,818 --> 00:17:02,231
Well, actually, only
the 20s are listed.
316
00:17:02,255 --> 00:17:04,333
Our bank in Comstock
City does that.
317
00:17:04,357 --> 00:17:06,638
Okay. Thanks, Norman.
318
00:17:08,027 --> 00:17:09,438
You're not letting circumstances
319
00:17:09,462 --> 00:17:11,540
build up something in
your mind, are you, Gene?
320
00:17:11,564 --> 00:17:13,876
Sure, circumstances
that make up evidence.
321
00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:15,143
Facts that add in.
322
00:17:15,167 --> 00:17:16,912
His fingerprints are
all over the place.
323
00:17:16,936 --> 00:17:19,014
The wound in his arm...
How many shots were fired?
324
00:17:19,038 --> 00:17:21,884
Two. He killed her while
I listened on the phone.
325
00:17:21,908 --> 00:17:24,353
He wanted that payroll
money, and she resisted.
326
00:17:24,377 --> 00:17:25,588
She took the gun
out of her desk,
327
00:17:25,612 --> 00:17:27,055
fired at him and wounded him.
328
00:17:27,079 --> 00:17:29,592
While the phone was
ringing... My phone call
329
00:17:29,616 --> 00:17:31,193
as she managed to
pick up the receiver,
330
00:17:31,217 --> 00:17:33,484
he grabbed the gun away
from her and shot her.
331
00:17:35,288 --> 00:17:38,033
Couldn't it have been
someone else who shot her?
332
00:17:38,057 --> 00:17:39,635
Who else has a
bullet in his arm?
333
00:17:39,659 --> 00:17:41,437
Who else resorted to flight?
334
00:17:41,461 --> 00:17:44,021
Who else has been found
with the payroll money?
335
00:17:45,264 --> 00:17:48,210
He killed both of
my children, Perry.
336
00:17:48,234 --> 00:17:50,112
He's a mad dog.
337
00:17:50,136 --> 00:17:51,814
There are people in
town who are saying
338
00:17:51,838 --> 00:17:53,816
he ought to be treated like one.
339
00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,185
Put out of the way... right now.
340
00:17:57,209 --> 00:17:59,588
Do you have enough
protection at the jail?
341
00:17:59,612 --> 00:18:01,712
Ward. He's there.
342
00:18:06,686 --> 00:18:08,997
Leave us alone, Mrs. Beecher.
343
00:18:09,021 --> 00:18:10,432
Why?
344
00:18:10,456 --> 00:18:12,401
Mr. Norris said I
could stay here.
345
00:18:12,425 --> 00:18:13,736
Okay.
346
00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,104
Look, Beecher,
you got over $40,000
347
00:18:16,128 --> 00:18:17,773
stashed away somewhere.
348
00:18:17,797 --> 00:18:19,742
And you want out of here
so it'll do you some good.
349
00:18:19,766 --> 00:18:21,376
Well, you just can't have both.
350
00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:23,679
So make up your mind which.
351
00:18:23,703 --> 00:18:25,514
I don't get you.
352
00:18:25,538 --> 00:18:27,316
Tell me where the money is,
353
00:18:27,340 --> 00:18:29,017
and I'll fix it so
you can escape.
354
00:18:29,041 --> 00:18:30,886
Get a real good head start.
355
00:18:30,910 --> 00:18:32,287
I don't know where the money is.
356
00:18:32,311 --> 00:18:33,551
I haven't got it.
357
00:18:42,655 --> 00:18:43,754
Talk it over.
358
00:18:45,057 --> 00:18:47,035
The only way out of
here is through there.
359
00:18:47,059 --> 00:18:48,670
There's no way out
through the courtroom.
360
00:18:48,694 --> 00:18:49,705
Beecher, you're not gonna
361
00:18:49,729 --> 00:18:51,462
get away with murder twice.
362
00:18:56,035 --> 00:18:58,547
He really believes
that you killed Charlotte
363
00:18:58,571 --> 00:19:00,438
and took the payroll money.
364
00:19:09,214 --> 00:19:11,381
Or that's what he
wants me to think.
365
00:19:13,252 --> 00:19:14,496
What do you mean, Phil?
366
00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,665
He hates me.
367
00:19:16,689 --> 00:19:18,033
Lewis?!
368
00:19:18,057 --> 00:19:19,356
Yeah, Beecher?
369
00:19:25,899 --> 00:19:27,910
You left the door unlocked.
370
00:19:27,934 --> 00:19:30,178
I'm not gonna try
to escape, Lewis.
371
00:19:30,202 --> 00:19:32,314
You're not gonna put
a bullet in my back.
372
00:19:32,338 --> 00:19:33,983
Of course, there's one
373
00:19:34,007 --> 00:19:35,717
other thing you can do.
374
00:19:35,741 --> 00:19:37,686
You can tell Norris
where the money is
375
00:19:37,710 --> 00:19:40,288
and tell him I tried
to buy my way out.
376
00:19:40,312 --> 00:19:43,291
Only that'll cost you the
money, won't it, Lewis?
377
00:19:43,315 --> 00:19:44,693
That is...
378
00:19:44,717 --> 00:19:46,877
if you stole it and
killed Charlotte.
379
00:19:51,858 --> 00:19:53,268
Goodbye, Beecher.
380
00:20:13,112 --> 00:20:15,156
Yes? Good morning, Mr. Tepper.
381
00:20:15,180 --> 00:20:16,291
My name is Mason.
382
00:20:16,315 --> 00:20:17,826
I know it is.
383
00:20:17,850 --> 00:20:20,061
Could you tell me something
about that $20 bill that
384
00:20:20,085 --> 00:20:22,097
you said Mrs. Beecher gave you?
385
00:20:22,121 --> 00:20:24,900
Oh, I told everything there
was to tell to the sheriff.
386
00:20:24,924 --> 00:20:26,802
Did you tell him
what she bought?
387
00:20:26,826 --> 00:20:29,938
Iodine, gauze, adhesive.
388
00:20:29,962 --> 00:20:31,339
What time was this?
389
00:20:31,363 --> 00:20:32,941
About a quarter to 10.
390
00:20:32,965 --> 00:20:34,543
It weren't more
than ten minutes later
391
00:20:34,567 --> 00:20:36,578
I learned about the killing.
392
00:20:36,602 --> 00:20:38,513
Do you usually stay
open that late at night?
393
00:20:38,537 --> 00:20:40,883
I got a night bell. I
sleep in the back.
394
00:20:40,907 --> 00:20:42,851
Well, what time do
you usually close?
395
00:20:42,875 --> 00:20:44,085
Eight o'clock.
396
00:20:44,109 --> 00:20:46,555
Except Saturdays I close at 10.
397
00:20:46,579 --> 00:20:49,157
Everybody knows I'm in
the back if I ain't out front.
398
00:20:49,181 --> 00:20:51,126
Store's open
practically 24 hours.
399
00:20:52,551 --> 00:20:54,151
Morning, Mrs. Thurston.
400
00:20:55,421 --> 00:20:57,733
I need some tissues,
Mr. Tepper. Mm.
401
00:20:57,757 --> 00:20:59,234
And some nose drops.
402
00:20:59,258 --> 00:21:01,336
My husband was supposed
to bring them home last night,
403
00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:02,804
but it went right
out of his head
404
00:21:02,828 --> 00:21:04,273
as soon as he left the mill.
405
00:21:04,297 --> 00:21:06,174
This here is Mr. Perry Mason
406
00:21:06,198 --> 00:21:07,198
of Los Angeles.
407
00:21:10,636 --> 00:21:13,415
You're going to defend
Philip Beecher, aren't you?
408
00:21:13,439 --> 00:21:14,883
That's right, Mrs. Thurston.
409
00:21:14,907 --> 00:21:16,919
It's always been a mystery to me
410
00:21:16,943 --> 00:21:19,254
how a reputable
attorney can defend a man
411
00:21:19,278 --> 00:21:20,989
everybody knows is guilty.
412
00:21:21,013 --> 00:21:24,359
A guilty man is still
entitled to representation.
413
00:21:24,383 --> 00:21:26,984
Well, you won't
get Phil Beecher off.
414
00:21:28,187 --> 00:21:29,920
Charge it, Mr. Tepper.
Yeah, okay.
415
00:21:37,964 --> 00:21:40,175
Guess Mr. Thurston
must be quite forgetful.
416
00:21:40,199 --> 00:21:42,611
Huh?
417
00:21:42,635 --> 00:21:44,980
I guess he forgot to stop by...
418
00:21:45,004 --> 00:21:47,749
for the things Mrs. Thurston
wanted him to pick up.
419
00:21:47,773 --> 00:21:49,451
I guess so.
420
00:21:49,475 --> 00:21:51,675
Must have been around 9:00.
421
00:21:52,678 --> 00:21:54,556
Or shortly after 9.
422
00:21:54,580 --> 00:21:57,225
Just about the time
Charlotte Norris was killed.
423
00:21:57,249 --> 00:21:59,227
But maybe he did stop by,
424
00:21:59,251 --> 00:22:00,595
but you weren't here.
425
00:22:00,619 --> 00:22:03,320
Must've been one or
the other, mustn't it?
426
00:22:12,598 --> 00:22:14,509
Uh, Mr. Mason.
427
00:22:14,533 --> 00:22:16,645
Telephone call, Los Angeles.
428
00:22:16,669 --> 00:22:17,869
Thank you.
429
00:22:20,239 --> 00:22:21,282
Hello.
430
00:22:21,306 --> 00:22:24,185
Perry, what's going on up there?
431
00:22:24,209 --> 00:22:26,788
The afternoon papers
have a story about a robbery
432
00:22:26,812 --> 00:22:28,423
and murder in Fawnskin.
433
00:22:28,447 --> 00:22:31,292
And "town feeling running high."
434
00:22:31,316 --> 00:22:33,895
Afternoon papers
are right, Della.
435
00:22:33,919 --> 00:22:35,330
I'll keep in touch.
436
00:22:35,354 --> 00:22:36,387
Bye.
437
00:22:38,957 --> 00:22:42,571
Oh, um, thinking
back to last night...
438
00:22:42,595 --> 00:22:44,939
can you tell me
whether Charlotte Norris
439
00:22:44,963 --> 00:22:46,475
called Philip Beecher,
440
00:22:46,499 --> 00:22:48,109
or whether he called her?
441
00:22:49,735 --> 00:22:51,013
I don't remember.
442
00:22:52,138 --> 00:22:54,817
Hello, Gene. Hello, Perry.
443
00:22:54,841 --> 00:22:56,651
I understand
Mr. Ransome is here.
444
00:22:56,675 --> 00:22:58,320
He's right over there, sheriff.
445
00:22:58,344 --> 00:23:00,088
Eugene Norris. Sheriff Norris?
446
00:23:00,112 --> 00:23:01,890
That's right. Nice to
see you, Mr. Ransome.
447
00:23:01,914 --> 00:23:03,959
Well, I've been talking to
your deputy, Ward Lewis.
448
00:23:03,983 --> 00:23:06,128
And I've been going over
some of the elements of the case.
449
00:23:06,152 --> 00:23:07,262
Now, this is Perry Mason.
450
00:23:07,286 --> 00:23:08,630
He's representing the defendant.
451
00:23:08,654 --> 00:23:10,833
How do you do? Ah, yes.
452
00:23:10,857 --> 00:23:12,467
I recognize Mr. Mason.
453
00:23:12,491 --> 00:23:13,468
Everett Ransome, Perry.
454
00:23:13,492 --> 00:23:14,536
He's a special prosecutor
455
00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:16,238
sent up by the attorney general.
456
00:23:16,262 --> 00:23:18,841
This will be neutral
ground, Mr. Mason.
457
00:23:18,865 --> 00:23:20,309
What do you mean, Mr. Ransome?
458
00:23:20,333 --> 00:23:22,644
Oh, for you and for me.
459
00:23:22,668 --> 00:23:23,668
That's true.
460
00:23:25,071 --> 00:23:27,115
I've always considered a
courtroom neutral ground.
461
00:23:27,139 --> 00:23:28,317
Oh.
462
00:23:28,341 --> 00:23:29,651
Yeah, well, I also mean
463
00:23:29,675 --> 00:23:32,154
that Fawnskin isn't exactly
my stamping grounds,
464
00:23:32,178 --> 00:23:34,223
neither is it yours.
465
00:23:34,247 --> 00:23:36,558
And since this is relatively
a small community,
466
00:23:36,582 --> 00:23:38,293
tricks, gags,
467
00:23:38,317 --> 00:23:40,195
courtroom dramatics
which work miracles
468
00:23:40,219 --> 00:23:42,865
in the big city, simply
won't work here.
469
00:23:42,889 --> 00:23:44,388
What are you implying?
470
00:23:45,191 --> 00:23:46,634
Oh.
471
00:23:46,658 --> 00:23:49,271
I'm warning you, Mr. Mason.
472
00:23:49,295 --> 00:23:51,673
You see, I've studied
this case pretty thoroughly.
473
00:23:51,697 --> 00:23:53,708
The man Beecher is guilty.
474
00:23:53,732 --> 00:23:55,043
And...
475
00:23:55,067 --> 00:23:56,711
what is your warning?
476
00:23:56,735 --> 00:23:58,847
He's going to pay.
477
00:23:58,871 --> 00:24:00,649
He's not going to
get away with it.
478
00:24:00,673 --> 00:24:03,152
Even though he has a
high-powered, high-priced,
479
00:24:03,176 --> 00:24:05,687
big city attorney with a
hundred tricks up his sleeve.
480
00:24:11,717 --> 00:24:14,963
I'm looking forward
to some of that...
481
00:24:14,987 --> 00:24:17,365
courtroom neutrality,
Mr. Ransome.
482
00:24:17,389 --> 00:24:18,489
Gene.
483
00:24:28,601 --> 00:24:32,180
Phil and Aggie went steady
for a year in high school.
484
00:24:32,204 --> 00:24:33,715
That as serious as it got?
485
00:24:33,739 --> 00:24:34,716
Yes.
486
00:24:34,740 --> 00:24:37,085
I see.
487
00:24:37,109 --> 00:24:40,555
How long has Mr. Thurston
worked at the mill?
488
00:24:40,579 --> 00:24:42,524
Oh, a long time, Mr. Mason.
489
00:24:42,548 --> 00:24:44,926
As long as I can remember.
490
00:24:44,950 --> 00:24:46,030
He's always been a...
491
00:24:47,085 --> 00:24:48,262
Well, you know, a...
492
00:24:48,286 --> 00:24:50,699
staunch pillar of society.
493
00:24:50,723 --> 00:24:52,233
And Ward Lewis?
494
00:24:52,257 --> 00:24:56,004
Ward was in love with Aggie.
495
00:24:56,028 --> 00:24:57,438
He used to work at the mill
496
00:24:57,462 --> 00:24:59,462
before he became
your deputy sheriff.
497
00:25:00,833 --> 00:25:04,445
He and Phil
always sort of, um...
498
00:25:04,469 --> 00:25:06,147
clashed. Hm.
499
00:25:06,171 --> 00:25:07,682
This, um...
500
00:25:07,706 --> 00:25:09,450
Robert Tepper, Kathi,
501
00:25:09,474 --> 00:25:10,618
what about him?
502
00:25:10,642 --> 00:25:13,088
He's a funny one. He, uh...
503
00:25:13,112 --> 00:25:16,024
He's got a finger in
almost everything in town.
504
00:25:16,048 --> 00:25:19,161
He's got a lot of money,
but he doesn't trust banks.
505
00:25:19,185 --> 00:25:21,396
A lot of people think
that he buries his money
506
00:25:21,420 --> 00:25:22,798
but... if he does,
507
00:25:22,822 --> 00:25:24,632
nobody's ever been
able to find out where
508
00:25:24,656 --> 00:25:26,356
or... Or how much he really has.
509
00:25:27,259 --> 00:25:29,026
He dabbles in real estate.
510
00:25:30,262 --> 00:25:31,506
All right.
511
00:25:31,530 --> 00:25:33,641
You've been a great help.
512
00:25:33,665 --> 00:25:35,443
To me and to your husband.
513
00:25:47,813 --> 00:25:49,933
Let us in, please.
514
00:26:11,036 --> 00:26:14,816
I arrived at the mill at 9:25.
515
00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:18,653
Fingerprints of the
defendant, Philip Beecher...
516
00:26:18,677 --> 00:26:20,555
were on the... desk,
517
00:26:20,579 --> 00:26:23,424
on the desk chair...
518
00:26:23,448 --> 00:26:26,595
on the paneling
on the front door...
519
00:26:26,619 --> 00:26:29,330
and on the doorknob
of the side door.
520
00:26:29,354 --> 00:26:31,199
Sheriff...
521
00:26:31,223 --> 00:26:33,868
what brought you to the mill?
522
00:26:33,892 --> 00:26:36,404
I had called Charlotte.
523
00:26:36,428 --> 00:26:38,061
The phone had been picked up.
524
00:26:39,331 --> 00:26:42,410
I heard what
sounded like a shot.
525
00:26:42,434 --> 00:26:45,313
Why did you make
the call to Charlotte?
526
00:26:45,337 --> 00:26:47,382
I had just found out...
527
00:26:47,406 --> 00:26:50,718
from Mr. Thurston
at the lodge...
528
00:26:50,742 --> 00:26:53,788
she was there alone
in the mill offices
529
00:26:53,812 --> 00:26:55,546
expecting Philip Beecher.
530
00:26:56,781 --> 00:27:00,017
I suppose you know he
already killed one daughter.
531
00:27:01,921 --> 00:27:03,220
Sheriff...
532
00:27:05,257 --> 00:27:07,777
do you recognize this automatic?
533
00:27:08,294 --> 00:27:09,559
Yes.
534
00:27:11,030 --> 00:27:12,595
I tagged it.
535
00:27:13,699 --> 00:27:15,431
It's the murder weapon.
536
00:27:17,402 --> 00:27:20,215
Killed Charlotte.
537
00:27:20,239 --> 00:27:22,205
It killed my daughter.
538
00:27:24,977 --> 00:27:26,420
Your Honor...
539
00:27:26,444 --> 00:27:27,889
defense realizes the strain
540
00:27:27,913 --> 00:27:30,092
under which the
sheriff is testifying.
541
00:27:30,116 --> 00:27:31,359
If the court will allow,
542
00:27:31,383 --> 00:27:33,395
this testimony could be
given by another member
543
00:27:33,419 --> 00:27:35,197
of the sheriff's office.
544
00:27:35,221 --> 00:27:37,232
I was gonna suggest deferring
545
00:27:37,256 --> 00:27:39,568
Mr. Norris' testimony...
546
00:27:39,592 --> 00:27:41,312
but if Mr. Ransome agrees...?
547
00:27:42,728 --> 00:27:45,229
Deputy Sheriff Ward Lewis
can handle it just as well.
548
00:27:46,865 --> 00:27:47,865
Sheriff.
549
00:27:52,138 --> 00:27:53,281
It's the murder weapon.
550
00:27:53,305 --> 00:27:55,772
Ballistics checked it
out with the lethal bullet.
551
00:27:57,743 --> 00:28:00,155
I show you now... this bullet,
552
00:28:00,179 --> 00:28:02,659
and I ask you to identify it.
553
00:28:03,549 --> 00:28:06,328
Yeah, this bullet was
taken out of the wall.
554
00:28:06,352 --> 00:28:07,795
Your Honor, I'd like
this to be marked
555
00:28:07,819 --> 00:28:10,100
as State's Exhibit D, please.
556
00:28:11,290 --> 00:28:12,555
No objection.
557
00:28:15,994 --> 00:28:17,739
Now, deputy, I
ask you to describe
558
00:28:17,763 --> 00:28:20,008
other points of
interest found at the...
559
00:28:20,032 --> 00:28:21,542
scene of the murder.
560
00:28:21,566 --> 00:28:24,278
Well, some blood
was found on the floor...
561
00:28:24,302 --> 00:28:26,314
and a trail leading
to the front door.
562
00:28:26,338 --> 00:28:28,549
Was it classified as a type?
563
00:28:28,573 --> 00:28:31,853
Type AB. It was
not Charlotte's blood.
564
00:28:31,877 --> 00:28:33,655
When Beecher was
examined by the doc,
565
00:28:33,679 --> 00:28:34,956
he was found to be wounded
566
00:28:34,980 --> 00:28:36,558
through the fleshy
part of the upper arm,
567
00:28:36,582 --> 00:28:39,127
the bullet going right
through and into the wall.
568
00:28:39,151 --> 00:28:41,663
His blood was tested for type.
569
00:28:41,687 --> 00:28:45,267
Same as the blood
on the floor: AB.
570
00:28:45,291 --> 00:28:47,811
A relatively rare type of blood.
571
00:28:49,027 --> 00:28:51,039
What else was found at the...
572
00:28:51,063 --> 00:28:52,474
murder scene?
573
00:28:52,498 --> 00:28:55,110
Well, in the wastebasket
uh, next to the desk,
574
00:28:55,134 --> 00:28:56,277
a torn wrapper.
575
00:28:56,301 --> 00:28:58,013
You know, the kind of
wrapper used by the bank
576
00:28:58,037 --> 00:29:00,115
to, uh, put their
money into. Mm-hm.
577
00:29:00,139 --> 00:29:01,749
Go on, deputy.
578
00:29:01,773 --> 00:29:04,152
It had two of the defendant's
579
00:29:04,176 --> 00:29:06,087
fingerprints on it.
580
00:29:06,111 --> 00:29:07,511
Thank you.
581
00:29:08,614 --> 00:29:10,614
You may cross, Mr. Mason.
582
00:29:14,353 --> 00:29:16,130
Deputy Lewis...
583
00:29:16,154 --> 00:29:18,733
were any of the
defendant's fingerprints found
584
00:29:18,757 --> 00:29:20,468
anyplace on the open safe?
585
00:29:20,492 --> 00:29:21,769
Nope.
586
00:29:21,793 --> 00:29:23,938
How many shots were
fired from the murder gun?
587
00:29:23,962 --> 00:29:25,073
Two, apparently.
588
00:29:25,097 --> 00:29:26,208
Why do you say "apparently"?
589
00:29:26,232 --> 00:29:27,542
We only found two bullets.
590
00:29:27,566 --> 00:29:29,877
The one that killed Charlotte
and the other one in the wall.
591
00:29:29,901 --> 00:29:32,247
How many bullets were found
remaining in the magazine?
592
00:29:32,271 --> 00:29:33,448
Five.
593
00:29:33,472 --> 00:29:35,317
A load is eight, then...
594
00:29:35,341 --> 00:29:37,118
three shots might
have been fired?
595
00:29:37,142 --> 00:29:38,386
Well, there's no way of telling
596
00:29:38,410 --> 00:29:40,555
whether there was exactly
eight bullets to start with.
597
00:29:40,579 --> 00:29:41,723
We only found two bullets.
598
00:29:41,747 --> 00:29:43,692
How diligently did you search?
599
00:29:43,716 --> 00:29:45,327
We found all we had to find!
600
00:29:45,351 --> 00:29:46,494
The one that killed Charlotte
601
00:29:46,518 --> 00:29:48,263
and the one went through
his arm into the wall.
602
00:29:48,287 --> 00:29:49,287
Oh.
603
00:29:50,656 --> 00:29:53,668
Then the bullet that went
through the defendant's arm...
604
00:29:53,692 --> 00:29:56,304
must've entered the
wall at a flat position.
605
00:29:56,328 --> 00:29:58,406
A "tumbling entrance,"
I believe it's called,
606
00:29:58,430 --> 00:30:00,741
caused by a deflection
through the flesh.
607
00:30:00,765 --> 00:30:03,778
The Comstock City lab men,
th... They didn't examine for that.
608
00:30:03,802 --> 00:30:05,847
It was perfectly clear...
Now, just a minute.
609
00:30:05,871 --> 00:30:07,882
Then it is possible
that the bullet
610
00:30:07,906 --> 00:30:09,617
you found in the wall...
611
00:30:09,641 --> 00:30:11,719
did not go through
the defendant's arm,
612
00:30:11,743 --> 00:30:13,254
and that a third bullet did.
613
00:30:13,278 --> 00:30:16,024
I... I don't get the point
614
00:30:16,048 --> 00:30:17,358
of all this, Your Honor.
615
00:30:17,382 --> 00:30:19,560
If there was a third
bullet, it wasn't found.
616
00:30:19,584 --> 00:30:21,830
And neither was the
missing cartridge shell.
617
00:30:21,854 --> 00:30:24,866
And if a third bullet was fired,
618
00:30:24,890 --> 00:30:26,934
it could have been fired
at the defendant too.
619
00:30:26,958 --> 00:30:28,569
Uh, nevertheless, Your Honor,
620
00:30:28,593 --> 00:30:30,671
I would like the bullet,
State's Exhibit D,
621
00:30:30,695 --> 00:30:32,573
made available
to a defense expert
622
00:30:32,597 --> 00:30:34,376
for microscopic examination.
623
00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:36,199
Very well, Mr. Mason.
624
00:30:37,535 --> 00:30:39,513
Now, Deputy Lewis...
625
00:30:39,537 --> 00:30:41,215
what else beside
the money wrapper
626
00:30:41,239 --> 00:30:42,850
was found in the wastebasket?
627
00:30:42,874 --> 00:30:44,885
As I recall, nothing but
some crumpled papers...
628
00:30:44,909 --> 00:30:46,988
And, oh, yes, one or two
soiled cleaning tissues.
629
00:30:47,012 --> 00:30:48,222
And that's all?
630
00:30:48,246 --> 00:30:49,457
That's all.
631
00:30:49,481 --> 00:30:52,560
Now, on the day
following the murder...
632
00:30:52,584 --> 00:30:54,195
did you engage the defendant
633
00:30:54,219 --> 00:30:55,729
in a conversation at the jail?
634
00:30:55,753 --> 00:30:56,931
Object.
635
00:30:56,955 --> 00:30:59,500
Immaterial, incompetent
and irrelevant.
636
00:30:59,524 --> 00:31:01,035
And improper in that
it takes up matters
637
00:31:01,059 --> 00:31:02,837
not part of the
direct examination.
638
00:31:02,861 --> 00:31:05,373
Objection sustained.
639
00:31:05,397 --> 00:31:08,176
Deputy Lewis, isn't it true that
640
00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:09,610
on the same day,
641
00:31:09,634 --> 00:31:12,113
you deliberately left the
defendant's cell door open?
642
00:31:12,137 --> 00:31:13,736
Object.
643
00:31:14,907 --> 00:31:16,017
Same reason.
644
00:31:16,041 --> 00:31:17,118
Sustained.
645
00:31:17,142 --> 00:31:19,120
Mr. Mason.
646
00:31:19,144 --> 00:31:20,888
Seems to the court
that you are aware
647
00:31:20,912 --> 00:31:22,890
that your questions
are improper.
648
00:31:22,914 --> 00:31:24,059
If the court please,
649
00:31:24,083 --> 00:31:26,694
I'm trying to show
bias and prejudice.
650
00:31:26,718 --> 00:31:28,930
And I can assure Your
Honor that the conversations
651
00:31:28,954 --> 00:31:30,031
I'm calling for do so
652
00:31:30,055 --> 00:31:32,589
indicate bias and prejudice.
653
00:31:34,159 --> 00:31:35,670
In that case...
654
00:31:35,694 --> 00:31:36,860
objection overruled.
655
00:31:38,664 --> 00:31:40,174
Now, Deputy Lewis...
Look, I don't know
656
00:31:40,198 --> 00:31:42,644
what they told you and what
they said, but I didn't say anything.
657
00:31:42,668 --> 00:31:44,546
And I didn't leave
that cell door open.
658
00:31:44,570 --> 00:31:45,869
Not knowingly, anyway.
659
00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:50,474
No more questions.
660
00:31:52,778 --> 00:31:55,298
Call Mr. Norman Thurston
to the stand, please.
661
00:31:58,350 --> 00:32:00,328
Mr. Thurston...
662
00:32:00,352 --> 00:32:02,597
what time did you leave
the mill on November 13th,
663
00:32:02,621 --> 00:32:04,232
the night of the murder?
664
00:32:04,256 --> 00:32:07,235
A few minutes before 9:00.
665
00:32:07,259 --> 00:32:08,570
Was Charlotte Norris there
666
00:32:08,594 --> 00:32:10,338
when you left?
667
00:32:10,362 --> 00:32:13,541
She had called Phil Beecher
to tell him that she knew
668
00:32:13,565 --> 00:32:14,775
there had been nothing going on
669
00:32:14,799 --> 00:32:16,578
between him and Aggie
before the accident.
670
00:32:16,602 --> 00:32:18,779
Now, Mr. Thurston...
671
00:32:18,803 --> 00:32:19,981
what was the reason that,
672
00:32:20,005 --> 00:32:22,250
uh, you have the listings
of the serial numbers
673
00:32:22,274 --> 00:32:24,852
of the payroll money?
674
00:32:24,876 --> 00:32:26,421
Since the robbery in Comstock,
675
00:32:26,445 --> 00:32:28,756
we asked the bank to
list the serial numbers
676
00:32:28,780 --> 00:32:31,492
on all $20 bills
in each payroll.
677
00:32:31,516 --> 00:32:34,451
Now, I'm going to
show you these listings...
678
00:32:36,221 --> 00:32:38,988
and I'd like you to
identify them for us.
679
00:32:41,226 --> 00:32:43,137
These are the listings.
680
00:32:43,161 --> 00:32:46,107
We get them, uh, with the
money every second Friday.
681
00:32:46,131 --> 00:32:48,109
This time, November 13th.
682
00:32:48,133 --> 00:32:49,644
Who makes up this list?
683
00:32:49,668 --> 00:32:51,679
Uh, the cashier at the bank.
684
00:32:51,703 --> 00:32:55,517
Here on the front page is
his signature and the date.
685
00:32:55,541 --> 00:32:57,685
This time, November 13th.
686
00:32:57,709 --> 00:32:59,687
And here on the last page
687
00:32:59,711 --> 00:33:02,457
is his signature and the date.
688
00:33:02,481 --> 00:33:06,294
The, uh, pages in
between are only initialed.
689
00:33:06,318 --> 00:33:08,229
Hm. Thank you.
690
00:33:08,253 --> 00:33:11,054
I offer these lists to be
marked as evidence, please.
691
00:33:21,833 --> 00:33:23,010
No objection.
692
00:33:23,034 --> 00:33:24,467
Uh, you may have this witness.
693
00:33:32,377 --> 00:33:35,623
Mr. Thurston...
how long does it take
694
00:33:35,647 --> 00:33:37,758
to walk from the
mill to the lodge?
695
00:33:37,782 --> 00:33:40,961
Well, that depends.
It's less than a half mile.
696
00:33:40,985 --> 00:33:43,665
It can take five
minutes or 15 minutes.
697
00:33:43,689 --> 00:33:46,901
How long did it take you on
the night of November 13th?
698
00:33:46,925 --> 00:33:48,169
About average.
699
00:33:48,193 --> 00:33:50,273
Average. That would
be about ten minutes.
700
00:33:51,996 --> 00:33:54,308
Didn't you arrive at 9:20?
701
00:33:54,332 --> 00:33:56,444
Well, then it took
me a little longer.
702
00:33:56,468 --> 00:33:58,613
Perhaps during your walk you...
703
00:33:58,637 --> 00:34:00,014
stopped somewhere.
704
00:34:00,038 --> 00:34:02,116
Yes, I may have. Where?
705
00:34:02,140 --> 00:34:03,284
Object, Your Honor.
706
00:34:03,308 --> 00:34:04,919
The question is
irrelevant, incompetent
707
00:34:04,943 --> 00:34:06,320
and immaterial. And improper,
708
00:34:06,344 --> 00:34:08,456
since it was not part of
the direct examination.
709
00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:09,957
Your Honor, we're
dealing with events
710
00:34:09,981 --> 00:34:11,258
close to the time of the murder.
711
00:34:11,282 --> 00:34:13,160
Well, he's seeking to
cross-examine this man
712
00:34:13,184 --> 00:34:14,995
on the possibility
of his own guilt.
713
00:34:15,019 --> 00:34:16,830
Well, now, on this...
714
00:34:16,854 --> 00:34:18,599
objection overruled.
715
00:34:18,623 --> 00:34:20,568
The court is inclined
to permit the defense
716
00:34:20,592 --> 00:34:23,404
a measure of latitude
in its cross-examination,
717
00:34:23,428 --> 00:34:25,573
especially in
this delicate area.
718
00:34:25,597 --> 00:34:27,975
However, Mr. Mason, I
will not rule out objections
719
00:34:27,999 --> 00:34:30,078
if you wander too far afield.
720
00:34:30,102 --> 00:34:32,180
Your Honor.
721
00:34:32,204 --> 00:34:35,071
Now, let me state this in
another way, Mr. Thurston.
722
00:34:36,174 --> 00:34:37,752
During that walk...
723
00:34:37,776 --> 00:34:39,287
did you stop at Tepper's market
724
00:34:39,311 --> 00:34:41,289
to pick up some
things for your wife?
725
00:34:41,313 --> 00:34:42,523
Yes.
726
00:34:42,547 --> 00:34:43,691
Did you pick them up?
727
00:34:43,715 --> 00:34:45,560
No. Why not?
728
00:34:45,584 --> 00:34:47,629
I couldn't wake Bob Tepper up.
729
00:34:47,653 --> 00:34:49,364
How did you know he was asleep?
730
00:34:49,388 --> 00:34:50,632
Well, heh-heh,
731
00:34:50,656 --> 00:34:51,999
if he's not in the store,
732
00:34:52,023 --> 00:34:53,834
he's either out on his
property somewhere
733
00:34:53,858 --> 00:34:56,571
burying his money,
or he's sleeping.
734
00:34:56,595 --> 00:34:58,038
Since it was
after 9:00 at night,
735
00:34:58,062 --> 00:34:59,596
I guess he was sleeping.
736
00:35:04,636 --> 00:35:06,180
No further questions.
737
00:35:06,204 --> 00:35:07,848
Call Robert Tepper to the stand.
738
00:35:07,872 --> 00:35:09,439
Kathi, I want you
to do me a favor.
739
00:35:14,613 --> 00:35:16,591
Do you swear to tell the truth,
740
00:35:16,615 --> 00:35:18,759
the whole truth and
nothing but the truth?
741
00:35:18,783 --> 00:35:20,561
I do.
742
00:35:20,585 --> 00:35:22,296
State your name.
743
00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,565
- Robert Tepper.
- Be seated.
744
00:35:24,589 --> 00:35:26,167
Here's a signed check.
745
00:35:26,191 --> 00:35:28,302
I want you to make
it out for $1,000,
746
00:35:28,326 --> 00:35:30,304
cash it at the
Comstock City bank.
747
00:35:30,328 --> 00:35:31,972
A thousand dollars?
748
00:35:31,996 --> 00:35:34,074
Get a $1,000 bill,
if they have one.
749
00:35:34,098 --> 00:35:36,110
Otherwise, the
largest they have.
750
00:35:36,134 --> 00:35:38,078
I'm trying a little
experiment in human nature.
751
00:35:38,102 --> 00:35:39,313
Now, hurry.
752
00:35:39,337 --> 00:35:41,449
Katherine Beecher
come into your store?
753
00:35:41,473 --> 00:35:43,884
Oh, about a quarter to 10.
754
00:35:43,908 --> 00:35:45,252
What did she want?
755
00:35:45,276 --> 00:35:48,556
Bandages, gauze and iodine.
756
00:35:48,580 --> 00:35:50,124
Did she pay cash
for her purchases?
757
00:35:50,148 --> 00:35:52,226
Oh, yes. She give me a $20 bill.
758
00:35:52,250 --> 00:35:54,696
And I gave her her change.
759
00:35:54,720 --> 00:35:56,497
I show you this
bill, Mr. Tepper,
760
00:35:56,521 --> 00:35:58,700
and ask you to
identify it for us.
761
00:35:58,724 --> 00:36:00,968
Yes. That's the
bill she give me.
762
00:36:00,992 --> 00:36:02,770
I put my initials on it.
763
00:36:02,794 --> 00:36:03,938
Hm.
764
00:36:03,962 --> 00:36:06,574
I offer this bill in
evidence, Your Honor.
765
00:36:06,598 --> 00:36:08,309
And you will note that
the serial number here
766
00:36:08,333 --> 00:36:11,612
corresponds... to
the sixth entry here
767
00:36:11,636 --> 00:36:14,081
on the first page
of the list of $20 bills
768
00:36:14,105 --> 00:36:16,116
made up by the bank
cashier... Mm-hm.
769
00:36:16,140 --> 00:36:18,500
And marked State's Exhibit H.
770
00:36:18,643 --> 00:36:19,675
Mr. Mason?
771
00:36:20,812 --> 00:36:22,479
Defense has no objection.
772
00:36:24,148 --> 00:36:25,148
Your witness.
773
00:36:29,053 --> 00:36:30,598
Now, Mr. Tepper...
774
00:36:30,622 --> 00:36:33,133
you were in your store at 9:45
775
00:36:33,157 --> 00:36:35,236
when you served Mrs. Beecher...
776
00:36:35,260 --> 00:36:38,373
but you were not in
your store at 9:10 or 9:15
777
00:36:38,397 --> 00:36:41,008
when Mr. Thurston rang
the bell in your rear quarters.
778
00:36:41,032 --> 00:36:42,744
Now, where were
you at that time?
779
00:36:42,768 --> 00:36:44,211
Object, Your Honor.
780
00:36:44,235 --> 00:36:47,047
Irrelevant, incompetent,
immaterial...
781
00:36:47,071 --> 00:36:49,684
and improper cross-examination.
782
00:36:49,708 --> 00:36:52,387
Let Mr. Mason put the
witness on as his own witness
783
00:36:52,411 --> 00:36:54,922
if he wishes to
inquire to this point.
784
00:36:54,946 --> 00:36:56,446
Sustained.
785
00:36:57,682 --> 00:36:59,126
Your Honor...
786
00:36:59,150 --> 00:37:02,162
at this time I would
like to ask for a recess
787
00:37:02,186 --> 00:37:04,220
- to check on a point.
- Very well.
788
00:37:05,823 --> 00:37:08,068
This court is adjourned
until 2:30 this afternoon.
789
00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:16,844
Now...
790
00:37:16,868 --> 00:37:18,879
I don't want any
misunderstanding, Mr. Mason.
791
00:37:18,903 --> 00:37:21,915
I own this parcel of
land, 5-and-a-half acres,
792
00:37:21,939 --> 00:37:23,551
situated north of the highway,
793
00:37:23,575 --> 00:37:24,952
adjacent to Willow Creek,
794
00:37:24,976 --> 00:37:27,622
exactly according
to this title deed.
795
00:37:27,646 --> 00:37:29,123
Now, you agree to pay me
796
00:37:29,147 --> 00:37:32,560
the sum of $5,500 for it.
797
00:37:32,584 --> 00:37:34,161
If I pick up the option.
798
00:37:34,185 --> 00:37:35,796
I have four weeks to do that.
799
00:37:35,820 --> 00:37:39,300
Oh, we haven't decided how
much that option gonna cost you.
800
00:37:39,324 --> 00:37:40,556
You name it, Mr. Tepper.
801
00:37:41,726 --> 00:37:43,993
Uh...$500?
802
00:37:46,098 --> 00:37:47,938
Why don't we make it a thousand?
803
00:37:48,900 --> 00:37:49,877
Thousand.
804
00:37:49,901 --> 00:37:51,612
All right.
805
00:37:51,636 --> 00:37:53,548
Now... a check will be
806
00:37:53,572 --> 00:37:54,982
perfectly all right.
807
00:37:57,542 --> 00:38:00,321
Thousand-dollar bill?
808
00:38:00,345 --> 00:38:02,278
I just got it from the bank.
809
00:38:03,982 --> 00:38:05,593
Mr. Mason, what makes you
810
00:38:05,617 --> 00:38:08,496
so anxious to buy this land?
811
00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:11,465
Why, I have faith in this part
of the country, Mr. Tepper.
812
00:38:11,489 --> 00:38:12,489
Don't you?
813
00:39:18,823 --> 00:39:20,634
All right, let's
have it, Mr. Tepper.
814
00:39:20,658 --> 00:39:23,026
It's mine. It's my money!
815
00:39:24,863 --> 00:39:26,662
If it is, you'll get it back.
816
00:39:33,004 --> 00:39:35,649
L, seven, seven, oh,
817
00:39:35,673 --> 00:39:38,741
three, three, four, nine, six.
818
00:39:39,844 --> 00:39:41,922
That makes the... fifth $20 bill
819
00:39:41,946 --> 00:39:43,524
that checks out
on that list, right?
820
00:39:43,548 --> 00:39:45,347
Yes, sir. Thank you.
821
00:39:46,984 --> 00:39:48,195
Mr. Tepper...
822
00:39:48,219 --> 00:39:49,930
where did you get these bills?
823
00:39:49,954 --> 00:39:51,965
Well, I haven't been
to that safe for a week.
824
00:39:51,989 --> 00:39:53,467
I wouldn't even have gone today
825
00:39:53,491 --> 00:39:55,269
if I hadn't got
that $1,000 bill,
826
00:39:55,293 --> 00:39:57,237
to put it away for safekeeping.
827
00:39:57,261 --> 00:39:58,939
Now, please answer the question.
828
00:39:58,963 --> 00:40:00,307
Where did you get these bills?
829
00:40:00,331 --> 00:40:01,975
Well, you know I run a store.
830
00:40:01,999 --> 00:40:03,377
From my customers.
831
00:40:03,401 --> 00:40:07,047
But these bills were part of
the November 13th payroll.
832
00:40:07,071 --> 00:40:10,618
The payroll that was
stolen, not distributed.
833
00:40:10,642 --> 00:40:12,141
I don't understand that.
834
00:40:14,011 --> 00:40:16,189
You know, I think I do.
835
00:40:16,213 --> 00:40:17,658
Your Honor, I
would like to recall
836
00:40:17,682 --> 00:40:19,493
Norman Thurston to the stand.
837
00:40:19,517 --> 00:40:20,661
I object, Your Honor.
838
00:40:20,685 --> 00:40:22,162
This is just the
type of shenanigans
839
00:40:22,186 --> 00:40:23,864
Perry Mason is noted for.
840
00:40:23,888 --> 00:40:25,499
Well, now, just
what is your definition
841
00:40:25,523 --> 00:40:28,101
of the word "shenanigan,"
Mr. Prosecutor?
842
00:40:28,125 --> 00:40:29,837
Uh, I think Mr. Mason's request
843
00:40:29,861 --> 00:40:31,705
is both reasonable and logical.
844
00:40:31,729 --> 00:40:32,840
Objection overruled.
845
00:40:32,864 --> 00:40:35,910
Mr. Thurston, you will
take the stand, please.
846
00:40:35,934 --> 00:40:37,433
Step down, please.
847
00:40:40,805 --> 00:40:43,339
You are still under
oath, Mr. Thurston.
848
00:40:44,809 --> 00:40:46,520
Mr. Thurston...
849
00:40:46,544 --> 00:40:49,104
what about these bills
being in circulation?
850
00:40:50,247 --> 00:40:52,793
Yes, I... I guess I'd
better explain that.
851
00:40:52,817 --> 00:40:55,228
Yes, I should guess so.
852
00:40:55,252 --> 00:40:59,032
I planned to steal the
November 13th payroll money.
853
00:40:59,056 --> 00:41:00,400
I took one of the old lists
854
00:41:00,424 --> 00:41:03,337
and substituted the inside pages
855
00:41:03,361 --> 00:41:05,539
for the November 13th pages.
856
00:41:05,563 --> 00:41:08,209
The initialed pages only?
857
00:41:08,233 --> 00:41:09,743
Yes, I...
858
00:41:09,767 --> 00:41:11,913
The front and back
pages were dated.
859
00:41:11,937 --> 00:41:12,980
I... I couldn't use them,
860
00:41:13,004 --> 00:41:14,916
so I used the front
and back pages
861
00:41:14,940 --> 00:41:17,118
of the real November
13th payroll list
862
00:41:17,142 --> 00:41:19,186
and inserted inside pages
863
00:41:19,210 --> 00:41:21,555
from the...
previous payroll list.
864
00:41:21,579 --> 00:41:23,690
Mr. Thurston, in this plan,
865
00:41:23,714 --> 00:41:25,592
didn't you and
Charlotte Norris conspire
866
00:41:25,616 --> 00:41:27,228
to put blame on the defendant?
867
00:41:27,252 --> 00:41:28,595
And...
868
00:41:28,619 --> 00:41:31,132
in this plan, didn't
she call the defendant
869
00:41:31,156 --> 00:41:33,300
and tell him she had
some bonus money for him?
870
00:41:33,324 --> 00:41:34,902
Yes.
871
00:41:34,926 --> 00:41:37,504
And in this plan, didn't
she tell the defendant
872
00:41:37,528 --> 00:41:39,807
to come to the mill
at 9:00 that night?
873
00:41:39,831 --> 00:41:41,375
Yes.
874
00:41:41,399 --> 00:41:44,133
What was the complete
plan, Mr. Thurston?
875
00:41:45,336 --> 00:41:48,683
I left the mill a few
minutes before 9.
876
00:41:48,707 --> 00:41:51,284
I was to go to the hotel
and tell Charlotte's father
877
00:41:51,308 --> 00:41:53,020
sh... She'd be a little late.
878
00:41:53,044 --> 00:41:54,621
Then, uh, she was to call
879
00:41:54,645 --> 00:41:56,657
and accuse Beecher
of overpowering her,
880
00:41:56,681 --> 00:41:58,714
and stealing the payroll money.
881
00:42:00,451 --> 00:42:02,930
But i-it didn't
work out that way.
882
00:42:02,954 --> 00:42:04,987
You and Charlotte were
to share the money?
883
00:42:05,990 --> 00:42:07,101
Yes.
884
00:42:07,125 --> 00:42:08,803
Isn't it true that you stayed
885
00:42:08,827 --> 00:42:10,938
at the mill until Beecher left?
886
00:42:10,962 --> 00:42:13,774
And that you then
killed Charlotte Norris?
887
00:42:13,798 --> 00:42:15,264
No, I didn't!
888
00:42:17,168 --> 00:42:19,546
There was the shot
Sheriff Norris heard
889
00:42:19,570 --> 00:42:21,916
over the telephone.
890
00:42:21,940 --> 00:42:24,540
And you were in
the hotel at the time.
891
00:42:29,246 --> 00:42:31,180
Uh, no more questions.
892
00:42:33,818 --> 00:42:35,629
Your Honor, I
hadn't anticipated...
893
00:42:35,653 --> 00:42:36,931
this turn in the case.
894
00:42:36,955 --> 00:42:39,433
I thought that the defendant
could be bound over
895
00:42:39,457 --> 00:42:41,835
with a minimum of trouble.
896
00:42:41,859 --> 00:42:43,604
But it appears I'll have
to present evidence
897
00:42:43,628 --> 00:42:44,805
that I'd...
898
00:42:44,829 --> 00:42:47,063
hoped to save
for the jury trial.
899
00:42:48,766 --> 00:42:51,401
I call Mrs. Judith Thurston
to the stand, please.
900
00:42:52,870 --> 00:42:54,303
You may step down.
901
00:43:04,949 --> 00:43:07,861
Uh, well... I thought I
would drive to the mill
902
00:43:07,885 --> 00:43:10,464
and give Norman a lift home.
903
00:43:10,488 --> 00:43:12,633
I figured he'd
worked hard all day,
904
00:43:12,657 --> 00:43:14,835
and he hadn't taken the car.
905
00:43:14,859 --> 00:43:17,171
And I wanted to save
him the long uphill walk
906
00:43:17,195 --> 00:43:18,939
at that time of the night.
907
00:43:18,963 --> 00:43:20,441
What time did you arrive
908
00:43:20,465 --> 00:43:23,411
at the mill, Mrs. Thurston?
909
00:43:23,435 --> 00:43:26,347
Well, I'm not positive
of the exact time,
910
00:43:26,371 --> 00:43:27,348
but it must have been
911
00:43:27,372 --> 00:43:30,317
close to 20 or 25
minutes after 9.
912
00:43:30,341 --> 00:43:33,454
I pulled up in
front of the offices.
913
00:43:33,478 --> 00:43:35,055
There were lights on.
914
00:43:35,079 --> 00:43:38,025
But you can't see all
the way in, you know.
915
00:43:38,049 --> 00:43:40,193
The front door was locked.
916
00:43:40,217 --> 00:43:42,329
I was just getting
ready to knock...
917
00:43:42,353 --> 00:43:44,865
when I heard the shot inside.
918
00:43:44,889 --> 00:43:46,366
The shot?
919
00:43:46,390 --> 00:43:49,369
Yes. One shot.
920
00:43:49,393 --> 00:43:52,840
Then I heard somebody
running toward the door.
921
00:43:52,864 --> 00:43:55,275
I stepped back
into the shadows...
922
00:43:55,299 --> 00:43:56,844
and he dashed out.
923
00:43:56,868 --> 00:43:58,946
Then what did you do?
924
00:43:58,970 --> 00:44:02,249
Well, after he had
gone, I went inside.
925
00:44:02,273 --> 00:44:04,513
I was worried about Norman.
926
00:44:05,843 --> 00:44:08,243
I called, but there
wasn't any answer.
927
00:44:09,513 --> 00:44:11,292
Then I saw Charlotte...
928
00:44:11,316 --> 00:44:13,426
and I ran out.
929
00:44:13,450 --> 00:44:15,863
Did you recognize this man
who ran out of the offices
930
00:44:15,887 --> 00:44:17,220
after you heard the shot?
931
00:44:18,689 --> 00:44:19,955
Yes.
932
00:44:21,692 --> 00:44:23,437
Phil Beecher...
933
00:44:23,461 --> 00:44:25,306
the defendant.
934
00:44:25,330 --> 00:44:27,607
Thank you, Mrs. Thurston.
935
00:44:27,631 --> 00:44:28,831
Cross-examine.
936
00:44:34,438 --> 00:44:37,051
Now, you say you
heard the single shot
937
00:44:37,075 --> 00:44:38,986
while you were
outside the mill offices?
938
00:44:39,010 --> 00:44:40,253
Yes.
939
00:44:40,277 --> 00:44:41,889
How much later was
it before the defendant
940
00:44:41,913 --> 00:44:43,057
ran to the front door?
941
00:44:43,081 --> 00:44:45,693
Well, practically immediately.
942
00:44:45,717 --> 00:44:48,261
Uh, how fast was he running?
943
00:44:48,285 --> 00:44:49,396
Very fast.
944
00:44:49,420 --> 00:44:50,664
Did he have to fumble
945
00:44:50,688 --> 00:44:52,466
when he opened the front door?
946
00:44:52,490 --> 00:44:53,567
No.
947
00:44:53,591 --> 00:44:55,068
Not that I recall.
948
00:44:55,092 --> 00:44:57,004
Isn't there a safety
lock on that door?
949
00:44:57,028 --> 00:44:59,240
Oh, yes. Yes, I guess there is.
950
00:44:59,264 --> 00:45:00,741
And if it's locked,
951
00:45:00,765 --> 00:45:02,409
then you have to...
952
00:45:02,433 --> 00:45:04,078
hold the lock open
with one hand,
953
00:45:04,102 --> 00:45:05,412
while you turn the knob
954
00:45:05,436 --> 00:45:07,281
and open the
door with the other.
955
00:45:07,305 --> 00:45:09,016
Uh, well, that isn't hard to do.
956
00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:11,218
Oh, not if your hands are free.
957
00:45:11,242 --> 00:45:14,588
And I suppose the
defendant's hands were free?
958
00:45:14,612 --> 00:45:16,156
Well, yes. Weren't they?
959
00:45:16,180 --> 00:45:17,991
Yes, I would say so.
960
00:45:18,015 --> 00:45:20,255
If he wasn't carrying something.
961
00:45:21,252 --> 00:45:23,197
And if he...
962
00:45:23,221 --> 00:45:24,431
had absconded
963
00:45:24,455 --> 00:45:25,633
with that payroll money,
964
00:45:25,657 --> 00:45:26,900
he must have, uh,
965
00:45:26,924 --> 00:45:28,569
stuffed it into his pockets.
966
00:45:28,593 --> 00:45:31,138
I-I-I suppose so.
I-I didn't notice.
967
00:45:31,162 --> 00:45:32,839
You would have, Mrs. Thurston.
968
00:45:32,863 --> 00:45:36,510
Do you have any idea
of the bulk of $40,000...
969
00:45:36,534 --> 00:45:38,512
when it's comprised
of silver change
970
00:45:38,536 --> 00:45:39,980
and dollar bills,
971
00:45:40,004 --> 00:45:42,449
5-dollar bills, 10s and 20s?
972
00:45:42,473 --> 00:45:45,052
I don't remember any of these
things you're talking about.
973
00:45:45,076 --> 00:45:46,887
Now, you testified
that you went in
974
00:45:46,911 --> 00:45:48,789
and you saw Charlotte's body.
975
00:45:48,813 --> 00:45:50,958
Now, how close to
the body did you get?
976
00:45:50,982 --> 00:45:53,994
Close enough to tell
she was dead. Shot dead.
977
00:45:54,018 --> 00:45:55,929
How long did you stay there?
978
00:45:55,953 --> 00:45:57,431
I told you, I didn't stay.
979
00:45:57,455 --> 00:45:59,233
I ran out.
980
00:45:59,257 --> 00:46:01,802
You had a cold at
that time, did you not?
981
00:46:01,826 --> 00:46:03,066
Well, y-yes.
982
00:46:04,362 --> 00:46:06,207
And how long did you remain
983
00:46:06,231 --> 00:46:07,241
in the mill offices?
984
00:46:07,265 --> 00:46:09,643
I didn't. I told you.
985
00:46:09,667 --> 00:46:11,178
Won't do, Mrs. Thurston.
986
00:46:11,202 --> 00:46:12,446
You were there
long enough to use
987
00:46:12,470 --> 00:46:14,848
at least two cleaning tissues.
988
00:46:14,872 --> 00:46:16,317
They were found
in the wastebasket
989
00:46:16,341 --> 00:46:18,040
at the side of Charlotte's desk.
990
00:46:20,011 --> 00:46:21,455
Now, your testimony has been
991
00:46:21,479 --> 00:46:23,557
a mass of contradiction.
992
00:46:23,581 --> 00:46:25,959
I suggest that you
have fabricated
993
00:46:25,983 --> 00:46:28,262
a bundle of lies...
994
00:46:28,286 --> 00:46:29,796
and that you did not
see the defendant
995
00:46:29,820 --> 00:46:31,621
on the night of November 13th.
996
00:46:32,790 --> 00:46:34,735
I suggest that you
were not concerned at all
997
00:46:34,759 --> 00:46:36,604
about the long uphill walk
998
00:46:36,628 --> 00:46:38,038
your husband had to take.
999
00:46:38,062 --> 00:46:40,341
What motivated you was
his working late at night
1000
00:46:40,365 --> 00:46:41,542
with Charlotte Norris.
1001
00:46:41,566 --> 00:46:44,411
Why should I think
anything about that?
1002
00:46:44,435 --> 00:46:46,713
I suggest that you...
1003
00:46:46,737 --> 00:46:49,250
did arrive at the mill office.
1004
00:46:49,274 --> 00:46:51,084
Perhaps at about...
1005
00:46:51,108 --> 00:46:53,053
15 minutes after 9.
1006
00:46:53,077 --> 00:46:54,455
But you found the
front door open.
1007
00:46:54,479 --> 00:46:55,689
It was locked.
1008
00:46:55,713 --> 00:46:56,924
When you went in,
1009
00:46:56,948 --> 00:46:58,992
you found Charlotte Norris,
1010
00:46:59,016 --> 00:47:01,395
unconscious, but
very much alive.
1011
00:47:01,419 --> 00:47:02,796
No, she was dead.
1012
00:47:02,820 --> 00:47:04,564
All right then...
1013
00:47:04,588 --> 00:47:06,166
she was dead.
1014
00:47:06,190 --> 00:47:08,535
And what went through your mind?
1015
00:47:08,559 --> 00:47:11,771
Wasn't it that your husband
had committed the murder?
1016
00:47:11,795 --> 00:47:13,606
And when that phone rang...
1017
00:47:13,630 --> 00:47:16,109
you picked up the gun,
you lifted the receiver,
1018
00:47:16,133 --> 00:47:18,078
you heard the sheriff's voice...
1019
00:47:18,102 --> 00:47:19,613
and you fired the gun.
1020
00:47:19,637 --> 00:47:21,715
And that was the third bullet.
1021
00:47:21,739 --> 00:47:23,750
No. Oh, no.
1022
00:47:23,774 --> 00:47:25,285
Oh, don't say no.
1023
00:47:25,309 --> 00:47:28,588
Those cleaning tissues
can be traced directly to you.
1024
00:47:28,612 --> 00:47:29,612
Oh.
1025
00:47:31,282 --> 00:47:32,882
Oh, I'm sorry.
1026
00:47:36,387 --> 00:47:39,399
Yes. It's true.
1027
00:47:39,423 --> 00:47:41,601
All right then, let's get
this time element straight.
1028
00:47:41,625 --> 00:47:45,405
You arrived at a
quarter past 9...
1029
00:47:45,429 --> 00:47:47,841
and Charlotte was dead?
1030
00:47:47,865 --> 00:47:48,942
Yes.
1031
00:47:48,966 --> 00:47:50,944
The defendant said he left
1032
00:47:50,968 --> 00:47:52,679
at about five minutes after 9.
1033
00:47:52,703 --> 00:47:56,216
That Charlotte was
unconscious but still alive.
1034
00:47:56,240 --> 00:47:57,717
Uh, that leaves a
ten-minute period
1035
00:47:57,741 --> 00:47:59,452
during which someone
killed Charlotte
1036
00:47:59,476 --> 00:48:01,321
and made off with that money.
1037
00:48:01,345 --> 00:48:04,324
Could've been Deputy Lewis...
1038
00:48:04,348 --> 00:48:06,460
could've Mr. Tepper.
1039
00:48:06,484 --> 00:48:09,263
Or it could have been the
one you really thought it was:
1040
00:48:09,287 --> 00:48:11,520
your husband, wasn't
it, Mrs. Thurston?
1041
00:48:16,127 --> 00:48:18,838
Were you in love
with her, Norman?
1042
00:48:18,862 --> 00:48:19,973
Yes.
1043
00:48:22,600 --> 00:48:24,712
She hated Beecher so much,
1044
00:48:24,736 --> 00:48:27,314
she just used me.
1045
00:48:27,338 --> 00:48:30,016
She was so angry about it,
1046
00:48:30,040 --> 00:48:31,184
missing him with the gun.
1047
00:48:31,208 --> 00:48:33,220
She... She was all...
All... All twisted and...
1048
00:48:33,244 --> 00:48:34,355
And full of...
1049
00:48:34,379 --> 00:48:36,523
Of bitterness and hate.
1050
00:48:36,547 --> 00:48:39,726
She never cared
about me or the money.
1051
00:48:39,750 --> 00:48:42,751
She just wanted
revenge for Aggie.
1052
00:48:44,622 --> 00:48:46,933
I picked up the pistol...
1053
00:48:46,957 --> 00:48:48,335
I shot her.
1054
00:49:06,944 --> 00:49:08,088
When did you know who really
1055
00:49:08,112 --> 00:49:09,957
killed Charlotte, Mr. Mason?
1056
00:49:09,981 --> 00:49:11,458
Oh, when I learned
about the scheme
1057
00:49:11,482 --> 00:49:13,093
with the serial numbers.
1058
00:49:13,117 --> 00:49:14,294
Someone had to be in on it,
1059
00:49:14,318 --> 00:49:16,229
to take advantage
of the payroll money.
1060
00:49:16,253 --> 00:49:18,365
And since only Thurston
and Charlotte knew about it...
1061
00:49:18,389 --> 00:49:21,168
Then it was only a question
of engineering a confession.
1062
00:49:21,192 --> 00:49:23,803
I don't think you made
a bad deal, Perry.
1063
00:49:23,827 --> 00:49:26,273
Someday this land is
gonna be very valuable.
1064
00:49:26,297 --> 00:49:27,975
I think I'll put up a cabin.
1065
00:49:27,999 --> 00:49:29,999
Won't have to stop
at the lodge. Hm.
1066
00:49:31,735 --> 00:49:33,913
Well, Gene, you've
had a pretty rough time.
1067
00:49:33,937 --> 00:49:36,616
I think of Charlotte
like Thurston said.
1068
00:49:36,640 --> 00:49:40,020
It was her hate, got
her all twisted up.
1069
00:49:40,044 --> 00:49:42,022
Nothing's all black or white.
1070
00:49:42,046 --> 00:49:43,323
Even hate.
1071
00:49:43,347 --> 00:49:44,925
Oh, I have a message
for you from Ransome,
1072
00:49:44,949 --> 00:49:46,226
the special prosecutor.
1073
00:49:47,452 --> 00:49:49,630
All he needs is
to view his career
1074
00:49:49,654 --> 00:49:50,997
with a little patience.
1075
00:49:51,021 --> 00:49:51,998
I think he's getting it,
1076
00:49:52,022 --> 00:49:54,134
along with a sense of humor.
1077
00:49:54,158 --> 00:49:56,904
Says he has one
more objection to make.
1078
00:49:56,928 --> 00:49:58,672
To the attorney general,
1079
00:49:58,696 --> 00:50:01,041
next time he's appointed
to run up against you.
1080
00:50:01,065 --> 00:50:02,108
Hm.