All language subtitles for Perry Mason S06E03 The Case of the Playboy Pugilist.DVDRip.NonHI.en.CBS

♪♪

Keep your chin down!
Nobody's takin' your picture!

Did you hear what
I said? Chin down!

Don't you know the
difference... Up from down?

Oh, I mighta known... a female.

Who let a female in here?

Come on, get out of there.

So this is the red-hot newcomer
I've heard so much about.

Jimmy, your boy's
got a glass jaw.

My boy's nervous.

This is his first workout in L.A. He
had six straight K.O.s in San Diego.

Who did he fight, Cub Scouts?

- Hey.
- Take it easy, kid.

This is George Hale,
The Evening Star.

You read his column every day.

Why sure, yeah. Every day.

I suppose you want a
statement about the Jackson fight.

Kid's first crack at a real pro.

Jackson is a has-been, and that
fight's nothing but a preliminary.

No, Jimmy, I'd rather have a
statement on the Tod Richards.

Richards? Who told you?

Oh, get to the showers, kid.

- I'll be with you in a minute.
- All right, Jimmy.

What did you hear
about Richards?

Only that he wants
to buy Davey Carroll.

Why, I don't know, but...

Davey ain't for sale.
Davey's my boy.

I'm gonna make him a
champion out of him someday,

you wait and see.

I oughta kick that bum
Richards outta here.

Oh, he's a pretty
fast operator, Jimmy.

When Tod Richards
wants to buy something,

he just takes out his
checkbook and writes.

Not my Davey, he don't...

unless it's over my dead body.

Jimmy, let me know when
it's time for the funeral, huh?

I'll send flowers.

No, thanks.

There you are,
Mr. Richards... very dry.

That's fine, Max.

Oh, Max, I'm
expecting Mr. Lombard.

The minute you see him come in,
bring over one of his specials, huh?

Yes, sir, Mr. Richards.

Hey, is that Keith Lombard,
the guy who owns this hotel?

And at least a dozen more.

That's the kind of people you're
gonna be meeting from now on, Davey,

if you stick with me.

By the way, I have a tailor that
can ease out these shoulders for you.

Hey, what do you mean? I
paid 35 bucks for this coat.

I'm sure you did, but why
settle for just one coat?

Shall we drink to a whole
closetful of new clothes for Davey?

Um, like I told
you, Mr. Richards,

I... I've got an
agreement with Jimmy.

What kind of agreement?

Well, a contract, sort
of... A paper I signed.

Well, my lawyer
can take care of that.

Well, it's more
than the contract.

It's... well, it's Jimmy.

You see, he took me out
of a garage in San Diego;

he taught me everything I know.

Why of course, Davey.
His training is important.

So is loyalty. A
wonderful thing, loyalty.

You only live once, Davey. You
have to be loyal to yourself too.

That's right. How many
years does a fighter have?

When your break comes, grab it.

I can build you into
a champ, Davey.

Well, Jimmy says he can too.

But Mr. Richards
can really do it, Davey.

- Hello there, Richards.
- Lombard.

The doorman said
you wanted to see me.

You have a good
flight from New York?

Perfect. I'll have to
see you sometime later.

I haven't had a chance
to stop by the desk yet

and I would like to freshen up.

That's the best time
for a drink, isn't it?

Here you are, sir. The
special, Mr. Lombard.

Excuse me, sir, here's your mail.
The manager put your calls on top

and I'll take your hat and coat
upstairs now, sir, if you'd like.

Well, you've thought of
everything, haven't you?

And in my own house too.

I'd like to have you meet
my secretary, Miss Sands,

and a young man you'll be
hearing about, Davey Carroll.

- Pleasure to meet you.
- I didn't expect such a pleasant welcome.

Are you an associate
of Mr. Richards too?

I guess I am. I don't know yet.

You'd better watch
out for him, son.

He's a shrewd dealer.

I remember once he bought a
second-rate, broken-down ball club.

Everyone thought he was crazy,

until he fired the entire team

and made a fortune
on the real estate.

Is it your birthday,
Mr. Lombard?

They sure sell big cards
these days, don't they?

I really don't have time for that
drink just now, Richards. Sorry.

Hey, did I say something?

Look, Mr. Richards,
I'm awful sorry if I said...

Now now, Davey, big men have
big things to think about, that's all.

Now where were
we? Oh yes, loyalty.

The loyalty of a
would-be fighter...

Davey ain't for sale, I
tell you. I won't let him go.

Won't you sit down, Mr. West?

Sit down? I don't
feel like sittin' down.

Listen, Mr. Mason, I been
in the fight racket 30 years.

And I've known every
kind of a rat there is...

Owners who would break
a fighter just to win a bet,

owners who'd have a boy
burned up in a cheap flea trap

just to keep him from singin'
about a fix. But this I don't get.

Why does a guy like Richards
even want in this racket?

Tod Richards has his
hands in everything.

He's owned horses, racing cars.
Why shouldn't he own a fighter?

Does it have to be my fighter?

I been a hard-luck guy all my
life and I ain't gettin' any younger.

I gotta have one
champ before I cash in.

Now how about that
contract? Will it hold up?

Who wrote this?

I did.

Well, don't worry, Mr. West.

I believe we can draw up a
contract that nobody can break.

All you'll need to do is
persuade Davey Carroll to sign it.

Come on. Come
on. Get the gloves off.

How are you gonna
sign with the gloves on?

Jimmy, I just thought that...

Jimmy thought that
you needed protection

now that you're coming up in
the world as a fighter, Davey.

But I want to explain this
contract before you sign it.

Well, anything that's okay with
Jimmy is okay with me. Only...

Well, it won't make
Mr. Richards sore, will it?

Richards? What's
he got to do with it?

I already signed a
contract with Richards.

- You what?
- Well, he said...

He said! What did you say?

No. That's the word, Davey.

No... that's what you say when somebody's
trying to knife your best friend.

But not you. I oughta
knock your dumb block...

Here, here, take it
easy on our property.

There he is. There's the
crook! Sue him, Mr. Mason.

Now, Jimmy, I've got something
here that'll make you feel better.

What's that?

It's easy. I signed the fighter;
now I need to sign the trainer.

Do what?

I've got a place out in the
country... Ideal for a fighter...

Fresh air, sunshine... everything
you'll need to get him in condition.

Why, you cheap...

You think I'd be a hired
stooge for some crook

that tried to steal my only boy?

Hold it, Jimmy, hold it.
He's giving you 50%...

and all expenses.

Apparently, Mr. Richards
wants you as a partner.

Huh?

I don't believe it.
I'm gettin' lucky.

Jimmy West is gettin' lucky.

Why didn't you tell
me we was partners?

Well, gimme a pen.
Gimme a pen, somebody.

I'll do the signing around here.

Go on, you big...

- Davey?
- How's he doing, partner?

Oh, great, Mr. Richards. Great.

Of course his head's
up in the air right now,

but you've got
nothing to worry about.

By the time the Jackson fight
comes along, he'll be great.

With you on the job, I'm not
worried about anything, Jimmy.

Here, I bought the rest of
that equipment you wanted.

It's in your name, so you'd
better sign the shipping receipts.

Sure. Step inside.

You know, this whole
layout is a little too fancy.

I mean, to train a kid that's
practically getting started...

What's that for?

I used to keep rough
company, but not anymore.

You got no idea
what a relief it is.

You sure you didn't bring it up
here to keep your partner honest?

Oh, Mr. Richards, how
can you say a thing like that?

Even Mr. Mason says
he never heard of a deal...

Jimmy, I'm just
kidding you. Here.

I know how good
a deal this is...

for both of us, Jimmy.

Okay, Joe, that's enough.

The kid's gotta
hit the road again.

Hey, you wanna wreck everything?
You know who that chick is?

Well, somebody new
come up, I guess, huh?

That's Mr. Richards' wife.
You lay off, you understand?

Yeah yeah, sure. I understand.

Hi. Do I know you?

- Not yet.
- Oh, that's too bad.

I was going to ask
you to do my back,

but it wouldn't be proper
without an introduction.

I'm Davey Carroll.

Oh yes, Tod's new toy.

- Toy?
- Mm-hmm.

My husband collects
toys... Fighters, baby dolls...

Baby dolls who walk and talk...

and take the bottle.

I see there's a little
island out in the lake.

Nice place to have a picnic.

Picnic?

Yes, it might be at that.

Jo?

Tod, it's you.

I know you've been too
busy to come to the office,

but it's been a whole week
now, and last week only one day.

Don't you think I know that, Jo?

No, I can't see you tonight.

I have to run down to San Diego today
then see Lombard again in the morning.

He doesn't know it yet, but he's
going to spend the weekend here.

I'm giving a press party
for Davey in the afternoon,

so I want you to
phone invitations.

That's right... Saturday.

And don't expect me
back in town until...

Now... now that's
not so long, is it?

Tod, at least you
can phone more often.

I miss you.

Tod?

Well, the well-dressed corpse.

What?

Wasn't Richards going
to get Davey's contract

only over your dead body?

Aw!

Oh, Jimmy, there you are.

We're already over at ringside,
Mr. Richards. Davey's all set.

Good. Okay,
everybody... ringside.

Grab your cameras. And
don't forget your drinks.

Me too, impresario?

Why not? You like to have
your picture taken, don't you?

Oh, Keith.

I'm glad you could get here
early. I want you to meet my wife.

Lori, this is the
fabulous Keith Lombard.

Hi.

Your wife?

I know what you're going to
say... She's much too pretty for me.

Every man thinks
that about Lori.

Aw, stop it, will you, Tod?

All right, everybody, over
at ringside for your pictures.

Who is that man?

- In the sport shirt?
- Yeah.

That's Davey's trainer.
Actually he and I are partners.

What's his name?

West. He's a real
old-timer, Jimmy is.

Jimmy West.

Now let's get you
a drink, shall we?

They don't really need
us around here. Come on.

I've got some good
stuff in the study.

Davey?

Good Night, boss. Hee hee!

What's the matter, Jimmy?

You lose something?
Your dog, maybe?

Your false teeth?
No? Your pipe dreams?

Smart guy.

Jimmy, where you been?

You big ape,
you're going to bed.

Hey, listen listen, Lori thinks
I'm gonna be champ someday.

You think I'm gonna be champ?

What if Mr. Richards saw you
like this? Don't you understand?

- If he had any idea...
- But he give it to me!

It's all right, Jimmy. He give
me out of his own private stock.

Did I waken you?

I had to call. It's
all over, darling.

Went just the way I figured.

And I'll be with
you in a few hours.

I know it's wonderful.
From now on, you and I...

Mr. Richards?

Oh, Jimmy, I'm busy.

Is this your idea of a
training quarters for a raw kid?

Parties, drinkin', reporters who
don't give a darn about Davey yet?

Darling, I'll have
to call you back.

What's goin' on here has
got to stop, Mr. Richards.

I won't have a fighter.
I'll have a gigolo,

with a head ten sizes too big.

Jimmy, this is no time
or place to talk about it.

Listen, if you don't
care about our fighter,

maybe you care
about your own wife.

If she'd just leave
Davey alone...

Lori's had hobbies
before. Now cool off and...

Hobbies? You mean you know
what's going on and you don't care?

No, Jimmy, I don't.

And from now on you can do
anything you wish with Davey.

I don't want to hear
any more about him.

You can't do this.
You can't do this to me.

You're promotin' Davey.
What about the Jackson fight?

What about the
fights after that?

You were gonna make
a champion out of him.

Mr. Richards, you
can't do this to me.

To the someday
champion of the world.

Hey, Jimmy!

Hey, Jimmy, wake up.

Wanna go on a picnic, huh?

Oh, you sure do sleep
messy, don't you?

Hey, somethin' hit you?

How could anybody be
such a big dumb sucker?

- Get outta my way.
- Now now, Jimmy, don't be sore.

Just a little picnic, huh?

Go drown yourself as far as
I'm concerned, you big ape.

I'm leaving you, do ya hear?
I never wanna see you again.

Now Jimmy, listen to me. Hey.

Hey, Jimmy?

Hey, Jimmy?

Hey?

Hey, Jimmy?

Mr. Richards?

I hitched a ride
down the mountain.

I didn't know Richards was
dead till this morning, Mr. Mason.

I swear I didn't.

Apparently no
one else did, either.

"The body of Tod Richards
was not discovered until 5:00 a.m.

It was found near a guest cottage
occupied by the missing trainer,

Jimmy West."

All right, Jimmy, tell me
again about you and Richards.

Well, he knocked
me out, like I said.

I may have landed one or
two, but then the roof fell in.

I don't know how long
I must've laid there.

- And then Davey...
- What about Davey?

Nothin'.

I got sore thinkin' about him.

Richards ruined the kid.

A bum... that's
all Davey is now.

Like givin' him all that big publicity
before he's had even one big fight.

That certainly isn't logical.

Yeah, but all the real promoting,
like lining up fights ahead,

Richards hadn't
done any of that.

He admitted it when we
got down to the cottage.

Then when I started yelling
again, he tells me to get out.

"The contract's all
through," he says.

"Davey's all through. The whole
thing's just a great big joke," he says.

Peculiar sense of humor.

Della, I'm going out to the lake
house to see what's happening.

Get hold of Paul.

He'll find a place to keep
Jimmy out of sight for a while.

- What are you doing here?
- I read the newspapers.

Was Richards one of
your clients, Mr. Mason?

No he wasn't. Who
shot him, Sergeant?

Do you know?

Well, the man who lived in the
cottage there ran off last night

and hasn't come back.

His name's Jimmy
West. You know him?

We've met.

I thought so.

Where's Richards' fighter, Davey
Carroll? I'd like to talk to him.

Then you'll have to go
down to the village jail.

That's where he spent the
night, along with Mrs. Richards.

Go away.

We're both going away.
Come on, I just paid your bail.

What happened last night?

Aw, the party got dull, so we all
went down to that joint to dance.

I must've got in a
fight. Look at this.

Richards paid almost
300 bucks for this suit.

Davey, what do you know
about Richards' death?

Nothing. Nothing at all. How
many times I gotta say it to people?

Paul, where's Jimmy West?

He's in my apartment. Is this
the much-touted future champ?

- Who, me?
- Champ or chump...

I'm not quite
sure at this point.

Look here, Davey...

When was the last time
you saw Jimmy last night?

Jimmy? Oh, I never
saw him any place.

He must've been
asleep or somethin'.

I never saw Jim...

Hey, Lori?

Who's that?

The bereaved widow.

She and Davey spend the night in
jail after a brawl at a nearby roadhouse.

That's cozy.

But, Perry, I have something
I think is more interesting.

I have a contact
on The Evening Star

and he tells me George Hale
has a story about Richards...

Some big business deal he
pulled just before was killed.

- It'll be in the afternoon edition.
- George Hale the sports writer?

Uh-huh.

"While his pugilist
protégé, Davey Carroll,

was posing for bored cameramen,

Richards pulled what may be
the financial coup of the year:

purchase of the fabulous
Wilshire Lombard Hotel.

And in this writer's
opinion, at least,

brother Richards swung
the deal for pennies...

Just pennies."

Who told you this?

I'm a newspaperman,
Mr. Mason, not just a sports bum.

And when I saw Lombard up there
looking kind of grim, I got curious.

And when he went into
the house with Richards,

well, it looked like a better
story than the show outside.

You see, there'd been
rumors in financial circles

about those two, so I watched.

And just by watching you
got the story of the hotel sale?

Mr. Mason, I'm not
going to quote anybody.

A little while after Lombard left
the house last night, I followed.

Richards was still alive then.

And that's all I know.

If it isn't enough, you'll
have to ask Lombard.

Oh, one more question, Mr. Hale.

What is your professional
opinion of Davey Carroll?

Well, let's put it this way...

If Davey Carroll, at his
present stage of development,

was fighting my grandmother,

I'd have to put my
bankroll on the old lady.

And she's been
dead for ten years.

I'm sorry, Mr. Lombard isn't
taking any more calls today.

I'm sorry. I can't connect
you to Mr. Lombard.

No no no, Mr. Lombard
isn't taking any more calls.

No. I told you, Mr. Drake...

I know what you told me, but I
talked to your garage attendant

and he remembers handling
George Hale's car last night.

Well, perhaps he was
here. I don't remember.

Can't you see I'm busy?

Mr. Lombard is seeing
no one but his lawyers.

Now excuse me, please.

Hello? Hello. No, I'm sorry,

I can't connect you
with Mr. Lombard.

I'm sorry, I can't connect
you with Mr. Lombard.

Well, Paul says George Hale did go
to the Lombard Hotel late last night.

But now Lombard's barricaded
behind a wall of lawyers,

so Paul is trying an easier
angle, whatever that means.

What about the
background on Richards?

He was only with his wife a
couple of nights the past week,

according to Paul's office.

Oh, and Perry, there's
something you might like to know:

Richards' personal secretary
is a blonde named Jo Sands.

Unattached, lives in a
plush apartment on the Strip

and draws $200 a week salary.

More?

And drives a very expensive car

and recently spent $10,000
to redecorate her apartment.

Della, you have a dark
and suspicious mind.

Where is her apartment?

It's running all right now, miss. We
put in a new fuel-pump connection.

Just so it doesn't stall again.

Oh, it won't.

Miss Sands?

I'm Perry Mason. I tried to telephone
you, but I couldn't get through.

I've had the phone off the hook all
day. You're the attorney, aren't you?

Yes. As Tod Richards' secretary,

you must know something about
his deal for the Lombard Hotel.

I placed a few telephone calls

from Mr. Richards to
Mr. Lombard. That's all I know.

Now if you'll please excuse me?

Why weren't you
at Richards' party?

I had some work to
get out at the office.

When I tried to go home,
my car wouldn't start.

The garage man
picked it up this morning.

You know, I've told
all this to the police.

Did you tell them how
you met Davey Carroll?

Look, Davey
Carroll's woman crazy.

Mr. Richards thought
perhaps I could help him...

Influence him to sign
the contract, that's all.

Why would Richards
want a fighter?

Mr. Mason, I was
Mr. Richards' secretary, period.

He didn't tell me why he
did anything. Ask his wife.

If anybody knows who
killed him, she does.

I don't know why you're
asking me about Tod's affairs.

He never confided in me.

Didn't you know he was
going to buy Lombard's hotel?

Not until today, Mr. Mason...
Well after Tod's death.

Who told you about it today?

Well, my lawyers were
going through his things.

They seem very
happy about that hotel.

Apparently he got it at
a ridiculously low price...

Almost $1 million less than
what they think it's worth.

I suppose you now
inherit that bargain,

along with the rest of
your husband's estate?

Yes. Isn't that nice?

Mr. Mason, you don't think I
killed my husband for it, do you?

'Cause if you do, you're wrong.

I'd never have killed Tod
for a little thing like money.

Excuse me.

This is Mr. Drake, Mrs. Richards.
I asked him to meet me here.

He looks friendly enough.
Can I get you a drink?

Some other time, Mrs. Richards.

Of course he'll have a
drink. He's just bashful.

I'll bet.

- Well?
- Oh.

"Keith Lombard, Lombard Hotel."

What's this?

Lombard has been
receiving these regularly

ever since he checked
in from New York.

The girl who works the mail desk said
each one made him madder and madder

until finally he just tossed
this one into a waste basket.

- Did she see what was inside?
- Yep... five playing cards:

the king of diamonds, king of
spades, four, trey and deuce of clubs.

Poker hand?

I'm a Parcheesi girl, myself.

Thanks.

I was just going
to ask Mr. Drake

what he knew of Keith
Lombard's background.

Well, I know the legend... Rags
to riches, seven-year wonder.

- I mean before the legend.
- Well, how much before?

Far enough to find a
motive for blackmail.

Lombard started in New
York, didn't he, Mrs. Richards?

How on earth would I know?

Well, hi there. Come
on and join the party.

I noticed your car out there.

What are you still doing
around here, Sergeant?

A little matter of the
murder weapon...

A small boy fishing in
the lake finally spotted it.

You have the gun?

Yes, and it puts the
clincher on our case...

A .38 revolver
belonging to Jimmy West.

So if you'll oblige me by
showing me where he is

so I can serve the warrant?

I'll show him, Paul.
You're going to New York.

"A .38 caliber
revolver, one shot fired.

Powder marks indicate
range under 12 inches.

No identifiable fingerprints."

Now, Sergeant Landro,
you state that the murder gun

was usually kept in a desk drawer
of a cottage occupied by Jimmy West.

But that's just your
own conclusion, isn't it?

Based on observations of
both the first and second maids.

Well, if a gun inside a desk
drawer was so easily seen

by the first and second maids,
then anyone might have seen it.

And of course anyone
might have fired it.

I think that's all, Sergeant.

You may step down,
Sergeant Landro.

Well, I couldn't hear
much of their row,

but I did hear Jimmy
yell, "You can't do this.

You can't do this to me."

Do you know what he meant?

Jimmy had a fixation about building
Davey Carroll into a champion.

And I think Richards had
finally seen through him, that's all.

What do you mean,
seen through him?

It's easy to set up a few phony knockouts
to make a new fighter look good...

That's a lie. Davey never
had a fixed fight in his life.

It was Richards made
a bum out of the kid.

Jimmy, sit down.

Your Honor, I apologize
for the defendant's outburst.

However, I was about
to make an objection.

The witness was
expressing an opinion.

Sustained.

Confine your questioning to
direct evidence, Mr. Burger.

I have no further questions
of this witness, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason?

Mr. Hale, on the day
after Richards' death,

your newspaper column
had the first printed the story

of his purchase of a
hotel from Mr. Lombard.

Now you stated to me that
you had observed the two men

in the process of
making this deal?

That's right. They were in
the study most of the evening

going over papers together.

I saw securities changing hands
and I heard them talking about escrows.

And if you did not then get confirmation
of the deal from Mr. Richards,

did you get one
from Mr. Lombard?

No, not there at the house.

But later, on the way back to
town, I did nail him at his hotel.

Lombard admitted
making the sale.

Now he didn't actually tell me
he was unhappy with the deal,

but when I kept
asking him the price,

he did do a little swearing
before he threw me out.

It was a perfectly
legitimate sale.

I accepted Richards'
terms, that's all...

Both cash and some
real-estate trading...

For private financial
reasons of my own.

Then there was no
bitterness between you?

Certainly not.

What time did you leave
the party, Mr. Lombard?

About 11:30.

Our deal was over. I don't like big
affairs. And I don't like heavy drinking.

And did you say good night
to your host before you left?

I wanted to.

I'd seen Richards go off toward
the training area with the defendant.

They seemed to be quarrelling.

I waited a little while and after
about 20 minutes, I walked down

and heard their
voices in the cottage.

It wasn't my fight, so I left.

I think that'll be all,
Mr. Lombard. Thank you, sir.

Counselor?

You heard the defendant talking
with Richards in the cottage?

It was Richards' voice I heard.

He was speaking rather quietly.

But what about the defendant?

You've just heard a demonstration
of how unquiet his voice is.

I don't remember having actually
heard the other party speak.

Thank you for
correcting your testimony.

Now, Mr. Lombard, you're a
highly successful hotel man.

Do you recall the first
hotel you operated?

The Union... New York City.

What happened to that hotel?

It burned down.

Your Honor, this is an old story
and I see no reason to exhume it here.

Your Honor, neither do I.

Mr. Mason, what is your
objective in this line of questioning?

I'm trying to set a background
for what I believe happened

on the Richards estate the
night of the murder, Your Honor.

Very well, Mr. Mason.

Now Mr. Lombard,

you sold a valuable property,
apparently at a fantastic loss.

On the advice of
counsel, Your Honor,

I refuse to answer any question
concerning my personal financial affairs.

But in the past you did
own the Union Hotel,

and the Union
Hotel did burn down.

Now was the hotel insured?

It's a matter of record

I was paid $250,000 by the
Eastboard Insurance Company.

Thank you again, Mr. Lombard.

I knew that Mr. Richards was going
to have trouble with the defendant

because he said that
Jimmy... Mr. West...

Was getting on his nerves.

Did he say anything to you about
canceling the defendant's contract?

No, not in so many words.

Mr. Richards had a way of
getting bored with his little hobbies.

- I guess he got bored with everything.
- Thank you, Miss Sands.

Thank you very
much. Cross-examine.

Miss Sands, as
Mr. Richards' secretary,

do you recognize this
envelope; the stationary;

the style of type?

"Mr. Keith Lombard,
Lombard Hotel,

Personal."

No. No, I've never
seen it before.

Did you know that Keith
Lombard was invited

to the press party
for Davey Carroll?

No. I mean yes.

Mr. Richards did mention it, but
I didn't know why he was invited

or anything about buying
hotels, for that matter.

I was his secretary...
just his secretary.

Well, I hadn't seen my husband
at the party for some time,

so I went looking for him.

The door to the
cottage was open.

He... the defendant...

Was yelling at Tod.
"I'll kill you," he said.

"I'll kill you for this."

And then he started
hitting my husband.

Well, Tod just grabbed his
arm and kicked the door shut.

I was afraid that some of
the other guests might notice,

so I went back to the party to...
Well, to sort of keep everyone busy.

You mean you ran off
and left your husband?

You didn't even try to help him
when he was being attacked?

Well, it never occurred to me

that Tod couldn't quite easily
have killed him, if he'd wanted to.

After all, I had no idea then

that Mr. West had a gun.

So later on you again looked for
your husband and couldn't find him.

And yet you were
willing to leave your home

and go to a nearby
roadhouse for an all-night party?

Not until after Davey Carroll had told
me he'd seen my husband drive away,

alone and... and healthy.

Mrs. Richards, how long were
you married to the deceased?

Six years.

Six happy years?

Not particularly.

As a matter of fact,

just lately we'd been
considering a divorce.

What did you do before you
were married, Mrs. Richards?

Do?

Yes, around the time the Union
Hotel was destroyed by fire.

"Lori Wilson,
switchboard operator,

reported the blaze
shortly after midnight."

Your Honor, would
it be asking too much

to inquire what
counsel is doing?

What is that you're
reading, Mr. Mason?

A portion of the
police report on the fire

that destroyed the Union Hotel
in New York City seven years ago.

I was about to ask Mrs. Richards
what her maiden name was.

Well, of course I'm Lori
Wilson. But what about it?

I only worked for
Mr. Lombard once, that's all.

And I did not know that he was
coming to the party that night.

I hadn't even seen him since
I left New York six years ago.

And I certainly don't know
anything about any business dealings

that he might have
had with my husband.

Then you admit, Mr. Carroll,
that it's quite possible

that Mr. Richards and Jimmy
West had quarreled before;

that Jimmy West
was already afraid

that Richards was losing
interest in promoting you?

Well, I sort of kept my
eyes on other things.

I mean, I know Jimmy
had a temper but...

Mr. Carroll, I show
you this slip of paper.

This was found by the
police in Mr. Richards' wallet

when they examined his body
the morning after his death.

Now this is a typewritten note. Do
you think you could read it for us?

Yeah, yeah.

"I'm not going to
warn you again.

You know what will
happen if you back down."

Did you ever see
this note before?

No, I never.

Examine it closely. Maybe
you'll recognize the signature.

Yeah, it's Jimmy's handwriting.
It's signed "Jimmy West."

Yes it is, isn't it?

Of course we'll wait
for a handwriting expert

to prove that Mr. West
actually signed this, won't we?

I didn't write that note. I never
touched a typewriter in my life.

Now, Mr. Carroll,

we heard Mrs.
Richards testify here

that you clearly told her
that you saw her husband

drive away from the house after the
time of his quarrel with the defendant.

Well, like I told you
before, Mr. Burger...

Davey, I know that you were just
trying to help your friend Jimmy West.

But you have to tell this court

whether or not what you
told Mr. Richards was true.

Well, it wasn't
exactly true, but...

Now Davey, do you remember what
I told you in my office about perjury?

Do you remember what I told
you about how it would be for you

if you were an unfriendly
witness here today?

Jimmy, I didn't want
to tell them anything.

But we're in a court
of law now, aren't we?

And you did lie to Mrs.
Richards, didn't you, Davey?

Answer yes or no.

Yeah. But I didn't want anybody
going down there, that's all.

I seen what a mess
the cottage was in.

The cottage was a mess, Davey?

Why, the police report
indicated it was quite tidy.

Well, I only picked
things up a little.

It wasn't much of a fight they had.
And Jimmy wouldn't kill anybody.

Look, Mr. Burger,
like I told you,

I didn't want anybody to
think Jimmy had anything to do

- with that body on the path.
- Big dumb ape.

Oh, you saw Richards' body too?

That's why I got everybody
to go down to that roadhouse.

That's why I got
them out of there.

Why, Davey? Why was that?

Well, look, some people add
two and two and they get four.

And just because
there's a gun lying around

and I happen to
know it's Jimmy's...

Oh, you saw the gun?

Now look, I didn't touch
it. There's no fingerprints.

And there were none
because I used a handkerchief.

You hear me? I
used a handkerchief.

- A handkerchief, Davey?
- When I threw it in the lake.

Ho ho, of course.

That's how it got
in the lake, isn't it?

And why did you
do all this, Davey?

Come on now, tell the
court. Why did you do it?

To help him.

Now listen, Judge, honest, I
wasn't trying to hurt the evidence...

To help your friend Jimmy West to
escape... isn't that what you mean?

You wanted to give your
friend time to get away

because you knew he'd
just committed a murder.

No! I just thought he had. I
mean, I just thought he had.

Now Davey, why don't you tell us
your story right from the beginning?

Just start at the beginning
and tell us your whole story.

That's my signature, all
right, but I didn't sign that note.

I didn't write
Richards any notes.

You must have signed
something, Jimmy.

- No, nothing except those receipts.
- Receipts?

Richards bought gym
equipment in my name.

I kept signing for all
kinds of stuff like that.

The pressure had to be
put on Lombard in some way,

but why from you, Jimmy?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

But I know that guy Lombard.

Why didn't you
tell me that before?

Because I didn't remember
him till he got talking

about that old Union Hotel.

That's where I stayed and
that Buddy Chance stayed...

You know, the fighter
I told you got bumped.

Buddy died in that fire.

What? Is that important?

How can anything I say
be important after that big...

Della, get hold of
Paul in New York.

I believe I know
how this worked,

but I can't rely on
Jimmy's memory to prove it.

Before I start my defense,

you'll have to check again
with the telephone company.

I'll also want a book on guns

and a pair of gloves.

In the course of your
investigation, Sergeant Landro,

did you find that the
defendant had a police record?

No, not exactly.

I did find he'd been
subpoenaed once as a witness

in a New York boxing scandal.

He was training for Doc Morgan,

a hoodlum who owned
a string of fighters.

Was the defendant personally
involved in the scandal, Sergeant?

Apparently not.

Anyway, the investigation was
dropped when the chief witness,

a fighter named
Buddy Chance, died.

You might have added that
he died in the Union Hotel fire.

Oh, one more question...

Did you check as to whether this
Doc Morgan had a police record?

Morgan had been brought to
trial three times in years past...

No convictions.

He left the country for good
six years ago to dodge a tax rap.

What other crimes had Morgan
been accused of, Sergeant?

Armed robbery,

assault with a deadly weapon,

arson...

I didn't know anything
about that fire.

Mrs. Richards, I remind
you that you're under oath.

Now you were on duty the
night of the fire, were you not?

Yes, I was in the office

going over some unpaid bills.

I was helping the bookkeeper.

But I didn't see anything
that had to do with anything.

Were there many unpaid bills?

Yes, I guess so.

Isn't it true that Mr. Lombard was
very near bankruptcy at that time?

Well, I'd heard stories,

but I didn't know
anything about his affairs.

Your Honor,

this hearing concerns
the present-day murder

of Tod Richards, not...

I can relate this evidence to
the present crime, Your Honor,

with just one more question.

Since defense hopes
to prove that Jimmy West

has been an innocent pawn in a
blackmail scheme that succeeded...

Never mind the
argument, Mr. Mason.

Ask your one question.

Mrs. Richards,

did you tell your husband
all these things you knew

about Keith Lombard?

Well, I... I guess so...

a long time ago.

But if Tod used anything I told
him to put pressure on Mr. Lombard,

well, I don't know
anything about it!

All right, all right, yes.

There were playing cards in
those envelopes I received.

It was a poker hand.

And what did the
cards signify to you?

More of the old hotel slander.

Then I started getting
notes from Jimmy West...

Or at least I thought
they were from him.

I knew he was there
in New York at the time,

but I didn't think
he knew that...

They were threatening notes.

With what, Mr. Lombard?

Did the notes threaten to link
you with both arson and murder

which followed a
poker game one night?

There was no claim of arson
and you can't implicate me

in Chance's death.

I didn't even know he was
still in the hotel when it burned.

Didn't you know that
you'd hired an arsonist,

that he in turn had used
the fire for his own purpose...

To cover the murder of
a troublesome witness?

Is that what Richards bluffed you into
believing that Jimmy West could prove?

On advice of counsel, I refuse to answer
on the grounds it may incriminate me.

But you will admit that
Richards did force you

to sell your hotel at his price;

and after saying goodbye
to everyone else that night,

you followed him
down to his cottage?

Yes yes yes! But I
didn't talk to him again.

I swear I didn't.

He was still alive
when I left the premises.

Yes, you heard him, you
said, speaking to someone else.

But you didn't hear
the other person's voice.

So isn't it possible that
what you really heard

was Tod Richards
speaking on the telephone?

Your Honor,

Mr. Mason is asking the
witness to guess what happened.

Your Honor, we are
prepared to prove

that a phone call was made
from the cottage that night.

Mr. Mason, that's
completely irrelevant.

Your Honor, the prosecution
is perfectly well aware

that several phone calls
may have been made

from that cottage that night,

and that's equally irrelevant.

Prosecution may not be aware
that the last number called...

A San Diego number...

Had also been called 37 times

during the past two months
from the Richards' house.

The number called was the
residence of a Miss Kay McKenzie.

I should have come forward,

but Tod was dead. I
couldn't bring him back.

How long had you known
the decedent, Miss McKenzie?

Three months.

We wanted to marry,

but Tod kept
saying "Let's wait."

He didn't want to leave his wife
until he'd completed a business thing...

Buying that hotel.

And when he completed
the hotel deal, he called you?

Yes.

He was very happy.

He said he'd see me
within just a few hours.

And then something interrupted

and he had to call me back
from the cottage, about 11:45.

When Richards talked
to you that second time,

did you hear anything unusual?

Any sound, any other voice?

No.

We talked for some time.
Tod sounded rather breathless.

He... he said he'd just
had a fight with somebody,

but that I shouldn't worry

and that he loved me.

And, well, there was
one strange thing...

He hung up suddenly.

He didn't even say good night.

As if someone had
entered the room?

Your Honor, I object to that.

That's a leading question.

Yes it is.

Your Honor, I early read part
of the police laboratory report

on the murder weapon.

"A .38 caliber
revolver, one shot fired.

Powder marks indicate
range under 12 inches."

Now as the court may be aware,

no gun of this type has
a slight tendency to leak

around the
breach... to backfire.

Therefore anyone firing it

would probably receive a scattering
of minute powder particles on the hand.

These would soon disappear,
of course, or be washed off.

But if the murderer happened
to be wearing a glove...

Now see here, Mr...

One moment, Mr. Mason.
Is it your intention

to link that particular glove
with the witness on the stand?

Since the glove is monogrammed
with initials not those of the witness...

No, Your Honor.

But I will ask that the glove be
tested by the police laboratory

for traces of gunpowder.

But whose glove
is that, Mr. Mason?

It belongs to the woman
who helped Tod Richards

execute every step of
his blackmail purchase

of the Lombard Hotel,

hopeful that he would
divorce his wife and marry her...

That is until she walked
into the cottage that night

and caught him at the telephone

- telling still another woman...
- Where did you get that glove?

Tod lied to me.

He said that if I helped him,

he'd marry me.

And...

then I caught him

talking to that woman...

telling her that he loved her;

telling her that he...

Davey, keep your chin down.

Hit him, Davey... hit him again.

When George Hale gave me
his opinion of Davey as a fighter,

I was pretty sure he had
to have ulterior reasons

for wanting Davey's
contract in such a hurry.

It was a good idea. It worked.

Correction... it
would have worked

if Jo Sands hadn't gotten a
strong case of feminine suspicion

and gone to the party
without an invitation.

Yep, Richards wasn't paying
enough attention to her.

Yet Paul said he wasn't
spending his time at home, either.

Since the motive
for Richards' murder

was obviously something that
happened after his deal with Lombard,

somebody either had to
have been cut out or hurt.

That's right.

The lady walked in on
Richards, made a big scene;

Richards told her to go jump
in the lake and walked out.

Unfortunately for him, she
spotted the gun in the open drawer

and went after him.

That glove of hers... they found
them powder burns, did they?

Search me. We had
to buy it in a store.

I figured if Richards could
run a bluff, why couldn't I?

You know something, Jimmy?

I... I didn't keep my chin down.

He learned it! Come on, kid.

Come on, kid,
get to the showers.

You know, Mr. Mason, you were
wrong about only one thing... Davey.

You wait and see.

Now that he's tasted canvas,
I'll make a real fighter out of him.

I'm sure you will.