A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 3, Episode 5 - Episode #3.6 - full transcript
ALL STORIES HAVE A BEGINNING.
AND THIS ONE BEGINS
WITH CHESTER BURGE,
WHO HAD BEEN LAID UP
IN A HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL DAYS
FOLLOWING A HERNIA OPERATION.
HE WAS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST
MEN IN MACON.
BUT MONEY CAN'T BUY
YOU GOOD HEALTH.
AND IT CAN'T BUY YOU HAPPINESS,
OR SO THEY SAY.
A FINE TUNE FOR WAKING UP TO.
AND NOW, THIS JUST IN,
A WOMAN IDENTIFIED
AS MRS. MARY BURGE
OF 1011 NOTTINGHAM DRIVE
WAS DISCOVERED DEAD
EARLY THIS MORNING
APPARENTLY THE VICTIM
OF A BRUTAL ATTACK.
POLICE ARE ON THE SCENE...
- SIR, BE CAREFUL.
- MY GOD.
MY GOD.
THAT'S MY WIFE.
THEY JUST SAID MY WIFE'S NAME.
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
SIR.
I -- I HAVE TO GET
OUT OF HERE.
NO, NO,
I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE.
AND NO MATTER HOW MANY DEALS
YOU CLOSE OR PALMS YOU GREASE,
MONEY CAN'T KEEP THE ONES
YOU LOVE SAFE FROM HARM.
THAT'S HOW THIS STORY BEGINS.
IN 1960, MACON, GEORGIA, WAS
A SLEEPY LITTLE TOWN FOR SOME.
BUT OUR SPHERE
WAS A WORLD APART
FROM ANYTHING
YOU'D RECOGNIZE THEN OR NOW.
FOR A SELECT FEW,
MACON WAS A CITY
OF FLOWERS AND GARDENS
AND ABOVE ALL, PARTIES.
PROPRIETY DEMANDED YOU DON
YOUR FINEST TUXEDO
AND MOST CHARMING SMILE
BECAUSE, WELL, THAT'S SIMPLY
HOW THINGS WORKED.
APPEARANCES WERE PRIZED
ABOVE ALL.
AND IN A PLACE
WITH SUCH RIGID DECORUM,
AT TIMES IT DID FEEL
LIKE WE WERE ON A STAGE.
WITH EVERYBODY SO BUSY
PLAYING A PART,
YOU WERE GUARANTEED TO END UP
WITH A FEW CHARACTERS.
PEOPLE CULTIVATED
THEIR PERSONALITIES
LIKE THEIR GRANDADDIES
DID COTTON --
IN LARGE QUANTITIES.
BUT IT MUST BE SAID,
OUR LITTLE FARCE...
WAS, IN EQUAL MEASURE,
A TRAGEDY.
MR. AND MRS. BURGE LIVED
IN THE NICEST NEIGHBORHOOD,
THE MOST,
WEALTHY ENCLAVE OF THE CITY.
THERE WERE LIGATURE
MARKS AROUND HER NECK.
HER FACE WAS BRUISED.
RIGOR MORTIS
HAS ALREADY SET IN.
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT,
MISS BURGE
HAD BEEN STRANGLED TO DEATH
AT AROUND MIDNIGHT.
SHE HAD A 10-KARAT DIAMOND RING
THAT SHE WORE.
LOOKS LIKE
THAT ROCK'S GONE.
THE RING WAS THERE,
BUT THERE WAS NO DIAMOND STONE.
WHEN THE POLICE
START LOOKING THROUGH THE ROOM,
THEY SEE A BLOOD TRAIL.
SO IT LOOKS AS THOUGH SHE
HAS DIED, PERHAPS, ON THE CARPET
AND HAS BEEN PICKED UP
AND PLACED ON THE BED.
DID YOU SEE THE DOOR?
LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY
TRIED TO JIMMY IT.
MISS BURGE HAD A CLOSET
IN HER BEDROOM THAT WAS LOCKED.
THE HINGES TO THAT DOOR
HAD BEEN JIMMIED UP
AND WOULD APPEAR TO BE AN EFFORT
BY SOMEONE
TO GET INTO THAT CLOSET.
AND ON THE DOOR TO THE CLOSET,
THEY DID FIND A FEW FINGERPRINTS
AND A PALM PRINT.
WHO FOUND THE BODY?
POLICE OFFICERS
TALKED TO JESSIE, THE MAID,
TO SEE WHAT SHE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
WHAT MADE YOU GO UP
TO MRS. BURGE'S ROOM?
I WENT TO GO
WAKE HER UP.
SHE NEVER SLEEPS
PAST 9:00.
MISS MARY,
IT'S 9:00, MA'AM.
I OPEN THE CURTAINS,
JUST TO LET SOME SUNSHINE IN.
GOD BLESS HER SOUL.
THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE
IN THE HOUSE?
NO, SIR.
WAS THERE ANYTHING UNUSUAL
IN THE PAST FEW DAYS
THAT YOU CAN RECALL?
WELL, THERE WAS THIS TERRIBLE
THING WITH MISS MARY'S BIRD.
JESSIMAE!
JESSIMAE, COME QUICKLY!
JESSIMAE...
MARY'S PET PARROT
HAD PASSED AWAY THE DAY BEFORE.
YOU KNOW, ANYTIME
SOMEONE WALKED INTO THAT HOUSE,
THAT BIRD
WOULD RAISE QUITE A RUCKUS.
IF IT HAD STILL BEEN ALIVE,
MRS. BURGE
WOULD HAVE SURELY KNOWN
SOMEONE WAS SNEAKING UP ON HER.
WHAT -- WHAT IS
THE MEANING OF ALL THIS?
AND WHAT ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE
DOING HERE?
MARY'S HUSBAND, CHESTER BURGE,
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
HAVING HAD DOUBLE HERNIA SURGERY
TWO DAYS EARLIER.
NOW, I'M SURE YOU KNOW
IT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL
FOR A PATIENT TO BE RELEASED
SO SOON AFTER A SURGERY.
THE LAST THING
A GRIEVING WIDOWER NEEDS
IS TO RUPTURE HIS STITCHES.
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
WHAT ARE ALL THESE FOOLS DOING
IN MY HOUSE?
I WANT EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF YOU OUT OF HERE THIS MINUTE.
BUT THAT WAS CHESTER BURGE
FOR YA.
HE WAS ONE OF THOSE CHARACTERS
I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.
HE GOT WHAT HE WANTED.
AND HE WASN'T CONCERNED
ABOUT RUFFLING FEATHERS
ALONG THE WAY.
I WANT TO TALK TO THE PERSON
IN CHARGE HERE.
AND I WANT EVERY ONE
OF YOU PEOPLE
OUT OF MY HOUSE THIS INSTANT.
SO WHEN THE MATTER
CONCERNED HIS BELOVED WIFE,
HE CERTAINLY WASN'T GONNA TONE
HIMSELF DOWN.
I -- I THINK I FEEL FAINT.
MR. BURGE, SIT HERE.
OUR CONDOLENCES
FOR YOUR LOSS, MR. BURGE.
IF YOU COULD ANSWER
JUST A FEW QUESTIONS FOR US.
NOW, DID YOU NOTICE
ANYTHING DISTURBED?
MARY'S VERY PARTICULAR
ABOUT HOW
SHE KEEPS HER BEDROOM.
NOTHING STANDS OUT TO ME.
IN THE UPPER CLASS,
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL IN 1960
FOR A HUSBAND AND WIFE
TO HAVE SEPARATE BEDROOMS.
IT SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
CAN YOU TELL US
WHAT'S IN THAT CLOSET?
THAT'S WHERE WE KEEP
OUR VALUABLES.
THIS NECKLACE LOOKS RAVISHING
ON YOU, DARLING.
THANK YOU,
IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
NOW, CHESTER,
BEHAVE TONIGHT.
THE MAYOR
IS GOING TO BE HERE.
OF COURSE, DARLING,
OF COURSE.
HE IS TOLD
BY THE POLICE OFFICERS
THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY
A ROBBERY.
AND THEY WANT TO KNOW
WHAT MIGHT'VE BEEN TAKEN.
IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING
IS INTACT.
I ASSUME YOU FOUND THE WALLET.
WHAT WALLET?
UNDER THE MATTRESS, USUALLY.
NO,
THAT'S NOT RIGHT AT ALL.
THERE SHOULD BE $5,000 CASH,
RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY
TO HAVE LYING AROUND.
NOT FOR US.
YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN
ABOUT LARGER THAN LIFE?
CHESTER BURGE HAD MONEY
AND PERSONALITY.
AND HE HAD BOTH IN EXCESS.
SO IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW
THE BURGES SOCIALLY,
I CAN SEE HOW THEY
MIGHT STRIKE YOU AS ODD.
BUT AS FOR MYSELF,
I WAS USED TO IT.
HE'S RESPONSIBLE
FOR SELLING ME THAT CADILLAC.
MR. GILBERT,
IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
IT IS
A PLEASURE, MA'AM.
AND MAY I PRESENT
MY WIFE, MYRTLE.
CHESTER AND MARY
WERE WHAT SOME DOWN HERE
MIGHT UNKINDLY CALL
NOUVEAU RICHE.
THEIR MONEY WAS NEW,
NOT INHERITED, JUST LIKE MINE.
BUT THEY MADE A POINT
OF THROWING LAVISH PARTIES
AND INVITING
MACON'S SOCIAL ELITE.
I'M AFRAID CHESTER'S
OSTENTATIOUS MANNERS
MADE IT EASY FOR SOME
TO DECLINE THE INVITATION.
BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO DID
BUSINESS WITH THE MAN, WELL,
THE ANNUAL BURGE
CHRISTMAS PARTY
WAS ALL BUT MANDATORY.
CHESTER AND MARY
GOT MARRIED IN 1924.
SHE WAS FROM
A MODEST FARMING FAMILY
THE NEXT COUNTY OVER,
IN TWIGGS COUNTY.
SHE WAS ONE OF 10 SIBLINGS.
HE HAD BEEN
A PLUMBER'S SON.
I THINK HE WANTED
SOMETHING BETTER.
AND SO HE WAS A BIT AMBITIOUS.
THEY HOST A NUMBER
OF LAVISH PARTIES.
THEY BEGAN PURCHASING
REAL ESTATE TO BECOME MOGULS.
THEY REALLY BEGIN CAMPAIGNING
FOR ENTRANCE
INTO GEORGIA ARISTOCRACY.
THE BURGES WEREN'T KNOWN
FOR THEIR LIGHT TOUCH.
THE PORTRAITS ON THE WALLS
WEREN'T OF CHESTER'S ANCESTORS.
EVEN THE MONOGRAM ON THE CHINA
HAD SOMEONE ELSE'S INITIALS.
AND YOU HAD TO HAND IT
TO THE MAN, HE HAD NO SHAME.
THERE'S A VERY DISTINCT
DIFFERENCE IN THE SOUTH
BETWEEN NEW MONEY AND OLD MONEY.
NEW MONEY
IS ALMOST FROWNED UPON.
YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT YOU
DESERVE ACCESS TO HIGH SOCIETY.
THE POLICE OFFICERS
ARE TAKING PICTURES.
AND THAT FLASH
FROM THE CAMERA REFLECTS
AND FROM SOMETHING
DOWN ON THE FLOOR.
THEY PICK UP
THE 10-KARAT DIAMOND.
SO, IN FACT, THE STONE
HAD NOT BEEN STOLEN.
BUT IT HAD BEEN
LOOSENED SO MUCH FROM THE RING
DURING THE STRUGGLE
THAT IT HAD FALLEN ON THE FLOOR.
IF I HAD BECOME A DETECTIVE
INSTEAD OF GOING INTO SALES,
I THINK ROBBERY WOULD'VE BEEN
MY FIRST THOUGHT, TOO.
BUT THE CLUES JUST
WEREN'T STACKING UP THAT WAY.
AND ANY EXPERIENCED DETECTIVE
KNOWS THAT WHEN A WIFE
IS MURDERED,
YOU BETTER DOUBLE-CHECK
WHERE HER HUSBAND WAS.
CAN YOU CONFIRM FOR US
THAT MR. BURGE
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL LAST NIGHT?
WHY, YES, HE'S BEEN RECOVERING
FROM A HERNIA OPERATION.
I CHECKED IN ON HIM
RIGHT BEFORE MY SHIFT ENDED.
AND THERE'S NO WAY HE COULD'VE
LEFT THE HOSPITAL AFTERWARDS?
NOT WITHOUT RUPTURING
HIS INCISION, HE COULDN'T.
INVESTIGATORS DETERMINE
THAT CHESTER ISN'T THE KILLER
BECAUSE HE WAS, INDEED,
IN THE HOSPITAL
FOR A HERNIA SURGERY.
BUT IN SHIRLEY HILLS, A SCANDAL
WASN'T EASILY FORGOTTEN.
AND THE UNPLEASANT
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF MARY BURGE'S DEATH
RECALLED A SINISTER EVENT
THAT HAD GRACED OUR LAWNS
ONLY A FEW WEEKS EARLIER.
THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE
THAT I SUDDENLY RECALL.
A FEW WEEKS AGO...
...THEY CAME.
AND THEY WERE STIRRED UP
LIKE A HORNET'S NEST.
THOSE HORROR STORIES
YOU'VE HEARD
ABOUT THE SOUTH BACK THEN,
WE'D ALL DO WELL TO REMEMBER
THOSE WEREN'T JUST STORIES.
NOW, AS FAR AS THE SOUTH GOES,
MACON WAS AS LIBERAL
AS IT COULD GET IN 1960.
BUT WHEN
A WEALTHY WHITE WOMAN
IS STRANGLED
IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD,
FOLKS CAN'T HELP
BUT TURN THEIR MINDS
TO OTHER
RECENT UNPLEASANTRIES.
LIGHTS, COSTUMES, PROPS,
WHETHER IT WAS A PARTY
OR A PROTEST, DAY OR NIGHT,
FOLKS IN MACON
KNEW HOW TO PUT ON A SHOW.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE,
FOR ALL HIS ECCENTRICITIES,
ROBERT LEE DAVIDSON
WAS DANGEROUS.
WHAT IS GOING ON OUT HERE?
TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE MURDER,
MEMBERS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN
ARRIVED AT THE BURGES' HOME.
AND YOU KNOW
THAT CARL QUICKSTREET
IS IN
A WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND YOU'RE STILL RENTING
THAT HOUSE OUT TO THEM NEGROES.
FIRSTLY, MR. DAVIDSON,
LOWER THE VOLUME OF YOUR VOICE.
THIS PROTEST WAS
MOTIVATED BY ANGER
THAT BURGE
WAS LEASING PROPERTIES TO BLACKS
IN WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I DO NOT SEE
WHY ALL OF THIS IS NECESSARY.
WE CANNOT LEAVE THAT RENTAL
PROPERTY SITTING EMPTY.
WE WANT THEM GONE,
MRS. BURGE.
YOU AND YOUR CARNIVAL
OF IMBECILES
ARE TRESPASSING
ON MY PROPERTY.
I OUGHT TO JUST BLOW YOUR HEAD
RIGHT OFF.
CHESTER, PUT THAT
FOOL THING DOWN.
THEM NEGROES ARE A BLIGHT
UPON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS PURELY
A BUSINESS DECISION.
YOU FIX IT
OR WE WILL BE BACK.
AND SO DETECTIVES THOUGHT,
"WELL, PERHAPS THIS MURDER
ISN'T ROBBERY.
MAYBE IT'S TIED,
IN SOME WAY, TO THE KLAN."
MR. DAVIDSON, YOU HAVE COMPANY.
LET 'EM THROUGH, BOBBY.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
RALLY AT THE CALL
OF THE REVOLUTIONARY LEADER,
FIDEL CASTRO,
WHO ESTIMATED THAT A NUMBER...
THE POLICE, OF COURSE,
KNOW THE KU KLUX KLAN VERY WELL.
- WELL, HAVE A SEAT.
- IT'S SAD TO SAY.
BUT AT THE TIME, THE
GRAND DRAGON OF THE KU KLUX KLAN
WAS CERTAINLY RESPECTED
IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT CAN I DO YOU FOR?
YOU KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE.
YOU ARE HERE ABOUT MARY,
AREN'T YOU?
WE HEARD YOU PAID 'EM A VISIT.
WELL, WE SURE DID.
THEY WERE DISGRACING
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO YOU DECIDED TO TAKE JUSTICE
INTO YOUR OWN HANDS?
I'M SURPRISED AT YOU, DETECTIVE.
MR. BURGE DID
EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED.
AND HE EVICTED THEM NEGROES.
AND HE SAID, "THIS HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH US.
WE DIDN'T DO IT."
BUT THEM NEGROES, WELL,
THEY SURE WAS ANGRY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
IF FOLLOWING A LEAD
FROM THE GRAND DRAGON
OF THE KKK TOWARDS A GROUP
OF IMPOVERISHED BLACK TENANTS
SEEMS LIKE A TURN
A FEW DEGREES TOO STEEP,
WELL, THAT'S JUST
HOW THE SOUTH WAS BACK THEN.
AND THERE WAS
NO DENYING CHESTER
HAD SUPPLIED THESE FOLKS
WITH PLENTY OF MOTIVE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
CHESTER MADE HIS FORTUNE
SELLING PROPERTIES
AND FINANCING LOANS.
AND WHEN WE HEARD
WHAT HE'D BEEN DOING
EVEN BEFORE THE EVICTIONS,
WELL, I WOULD'VE
BEEN ANGRY, TOO.
CHESTER WOULD SELL
TO UNSUSPECTING WHITES
AND BLACKS
WITH A REVERSIONARY CLAUSE.
AND WHAT THAT MEANT WAS,
IF YOU MISSED EVEN ONE PAYMENT,
I GET THE HOUSE BACK.
AND YOU GET NOTHING
AT ALL FOR IT.
AND SO THE POLICE GO OUT
AND ROUND UP SEVERAL BLACKS
WHO FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST HIM.
THEY ARRESTED THEM ON WHAT
THEY CALLED OPEN CHARGES,
WHICH MEANT THEY DIDN'T HAVE
TO INDICT THEM ON ANYTHING
AND HELD THEM IN JAIL.
BURGE IS A EVIL MAN.
HE KICKED ME
AND MY WIFE OUT.
EVERYTHING I HAD,
I PUT INTO THAT HOME.
THE POLICE BEGIN TO SUSPECT
THAT MARY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
THE ACTUAL TARGET.
AND THAT CHESTER
WAS ACTUALLY THE TARGET.
THE POLICE THINK THERE
MUST BE SOMEBODY OUT THERE
WHO'S SO ANGRY
THAT HE HAS TAKEN THEIR HOUSE
THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET EVEN.
BUT THERE'S JUST NO EVIDENCE.
THEY HAD NOT HAD ANYTHING
TO DO WITH IT.
A WEEK AFTER THE MURDER,
THE FINGERPRINT ANALYSIS CAME
BACK FROM THE STATE CRIME LAB.
THEY FOUND, REALLY,
NOTHING OF INTEREST.
THE FINGERPRINTS ON THE DOOR
CAME BACK TO CHESTER BURGE.
WELL, IT'S HIS HOME.
AT THIS POINT,
THE POLICE ARE THINKING,
"WHO ELSE
MUST'VE KNOWN THE HOUSE?"
YOU KNOW, HER WATCH-DOG PARROT
DIED HOURS BEFORE SHE DID.
THE MISSING CASH IS KEPT
IN A VERY SPECIFIC HIDING PLACE.
THE OFFICERS COME AROUND
TO THE IDEA
THAT THERE WAS AN INSIDER
INVOLVED.
SOMEONE, PERHAPS, WITH A KEY.
THEY ARREST JESSIMAE,
THE HOUSEKEEPER.
AND THEY ARREST LEWIS JOHNSON,
THE CHAUFFEUR,
WHO POLICE DISCOVER HAD
CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS.
CAN YOU TELL US WHERE YOU WERE
ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 11th?
I WAS HOME.
GOT THERE AROUND 10:00 OR SO.
WENT HOME.
GOT THERE AROUND 10:00,
WENT TO BED WITH MY WIFE.
HAD A LITTLE SIP OF SOMETHING
AND WENT STRAIGHT TO BED.
I WOKE UP, AROUND QUARTER
TO MIDNIGHT.
AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT...
I WENT TO JESSIMAE'S.
LEWIS CAME OVER.
HE WOKE ME UP.
HOW LONG WAS HE THERE?
HE STAYED ALL NIGHT.
I STAYED THERE ALL NIGHT.
ALL NIGHT.
I STAYED THERE ALL NIGHT.
LEWIS AND JESSIMAE
HAVE IDENTICAL STORIES.
EITHER THEY'VE GOT
A REALLY GOOD LIE ORGANIZED
OR THEY'RE TELLING THE TRUTH
AND IT HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH MARY'S MURDER.
BUT IT'S OBVIOUS
TO THE OFFICERS THAT,
THEY'RE NOT,
BEING ENTIRELY FORTHCOMING.
COME ON, LEWIS.
YOU THOUGHT THAT $5,000
FROM MRS. BURGE'S WALLET
WOULD SET YOU UP
REAL NICE.
I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT, SIR.
BET YOU WANTED
THAT DIAMOND RING SO BADLY.
I DON'T CARE
'BOUT NO DIAMOND.
I JUST WISH MISS MARY
WAS STILL ALIVE.
SHE PUT UP WITH SO MUCH.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
SHE PUT UP WITH SO MUCH?
NOTHING, SIR.
THEN WHY'D YOU SAY IT?
DON'T KNOW.
WELL, IN THE SOUTH,
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON IN A HOUSEHOLD,
YOU ASK THE SERVANTS
BECAUSE THEY KNOW EVERYTHING.
IT WOULDN'T BE MY PLACE
TO DISCUSS PRIVATE MATTERS.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A MARRIAGE
IS BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE.
COME ON, NOW.
MR. BURGE... ALWAYS
HAD A CERTAIN QUALITY.
AND HE HAD A FRIEND.
AND WHAT WAS HER NAME?
A YOUNG MAN...
HE TOOK A SHINE ON.
MRS. BURGE
WASN'T TOO KEEN ON.
THIS YOUNG MAN WAS PRESENT
AT EVERY PARTY
OF CHESTER'S I ATTENDED.
AND HAVING A BIT OF A NOSE
FOR THESE THINGS,
I SMELLED TROUBLE
FROM THE BEGINNING.
JEALOUS LOVERS ARE
CAPABLE OF DOING EXTREME THINGS.
YOU KNOW HOW THINGS ARE
AT THESE PARTIES.
EVERYONE'S ALL DRESSED UP.
IT'S DARK.
THE MUSIC IS PLAYING
AND THE CHAMPAGNE IS FLOWING.
THE DETECTIVES WONDERED
IF MAYBE IT WAS DIFFICULT
FOR THIS YOUNG MAN TO STAND BY
AND WATCH HIS PARAMOUR
DANCE WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
THE POLICE DIDN'T HAVE
TO DO A LOT OF DIGGING
TO FIND OUT
WHO THIS YOUNG MAN WAS.
HE'D BEEN DOWN SEVERAL TIMES.
QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAD MET HIM.
HIS NAME WAS FRITZ PHILLIPS.
HE LIVED IN NEW JERSEY.
ON MAY 22nd,
10 DAYS AFTER THE MURDER,
THE POLICE FLY TO NEW JERSEY
TO MEET THEIR NEW SUSPECT.
EXPLAIN TO US
THE NATURE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH MR. BURGE.
DETECTIVE, I'M SURE
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE NATURE
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.
THEY KNOW THAT HE'S GAY.
HE, IN TURN, KNOWS
THAT THEY KNOW THAT HE'S GAY.
HOW DID YOU MEET
MR. BURGE?
MY GREAT-AUNT MAY
AND UNCLE NU
HAD BEEN AROUND BUYING
MORTGAGES IN GEORGIA.
THEY WERE FRIENDLY
WITH CHESTER.
AND ONE TIME THEY ASKED
IF I WOULD DRIVE
MRS. AND MR. BURGE
BACK TO MACON
AFTER THEY HAD FINISHED
BUSINESS HERE IN JERSEY.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHERE YOU
WENT TO SCHOOL, FRITZ.
I, UM, SERVED AT CORNELL
AND MOVED ON TO PRINCETON.
WONDERFUL SCHOOLING.
AND THAT'S
WHEN WE BECAME ACQUAINTED.
CHESTER IS IMMEDIATELY
TAKEN WITH FRITZ.
HE'S A PERSON
FROM A FAMILY OF WEALTH.
HIS FAMILY GOES BACK
TO THE MAYFLOWER.
**
AND SO, ON THE, TRIP,
CHESTER AND FRITZ
HAVE ORAL SEX WITH ONE ANOTHER,
EVEN AS MARY IS,
THEIR TRAVELING COMPANION.
FRITZ GOES BACK
TO NEW JERSEY THE NEXT DAY.
AND CHESTER CANNOT GET FRITZ
OFF OF HIS MIND.
SO HE CONTINUES TO FLY FRITZ
DOWN TO MACON FROM TIME TO TIME.
FRITZ DID NOT STAY
IN THE GUEST BEDROOM.
HE STAYED IN THE MASTER BEDROOM
WITH THE MASTER.
WHAT WAS YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH MARY BURGE?
WE WERE CORDIAL.
I MEAN, I ASSUME IT
MUST'VE BOTHERED HER.
BUT THAT WASN'T
MY RESPONSIBILITY.
SHE KNEW
WHAT WAS GOING ON?
SHE WASN'T OPPOSED TO IT
AS LONG AS NO ONE ELSE
IN MACON KNEW ABOUT IT.
CHESTER AND MARY'S MARRIAGE
WAS A BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT
THAT ALLOWED THEM
TO ACCESS HIGH SOCIETY.
IF YOU WANTED TO GO
TO THE RIGHT COUNTRY CLUBS,
YOU HAD TO BE MARRIED.
SHE WANTS TO BE ABLE
TO MAINTAIN HER SOCIAL STATUS.
AND SHE CAN'T DO THAT
IF EVERYBODY IN MACON KNOWS
ABOUT CHESTER'S
SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES.
MARY WAS GETTING
MORE AND MORE CONCERNED.
SHE HAD KNOWN FOR YEARS
ABOUT THE FACT THAT CHESTER
WAS HAVING SEX WITH MEN.
BUT IT WAS ALMOST ALWAYS
OUT OF TOWN.
HERE WAS FRITZ, IN MACON,
WHERE PEOPLE COULD SEE.
I THINK YOU WERE HANGING AROUND
HOPING CHESTER WOULD LEAVE MARY.
AND WHEN HE DIDN'T,
YOU GOT JEALOUS.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
MY TIME WITH CHESTER
WAS JUST A DIVERSION.
SO WHERE WERE YOU THE NIGHT
OF MAY 11th?
I WAS HERE, IN NEW JERSEY.
THAT'S THE FACT OF IT.
AND FRITZ WAS ABLE TO HAVE THAT
CORROBORATED BY OTHER PEOPLE.
CHESTER HAD BEEN PURSUING
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
LONG BEFORE I CAME AROUND.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE
ABOUT MR. BURGE'S
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?
WELL, I WOULDN'T KNOW.
BUT YOU MIGHT TRY
TALKING TO HIS CHAUFFEUR.
IF THE DETECTIVES WERE
FRUSTRATED TO HEAR
THAT LEWIS KNEW MORE
THAN HE'D LET ON,
THEY PROBABLY
WEREN'T SURPRISED.
YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT A PERSON
DRIVING THEM AROUND ALL DAY.
LEWIS MAY HAVE BEEN
EMPLOYED AS A CHAUFFEUR,
BUT IT WAS HIS JOB
TO KEEP QUIET.
WHO WAS MR. BURGE
INVOLVED WITH?
I CAN TELL YA PLENTY
CHESTER DONE.
WHAT BOTHERED ME IS WHAT HE
WANTED TO DO WITH THAT BOY.
BOY WAS TOO YOUNG
FOR THAT.
HOW YOU DOING
THERE, TOMMY?
PRETTY GOOD, SIR.
HOW 'BOUT YOU?
FINE, THANKS.
DO YOU GOT ANY PLANS YET
FOR NEXT SUMMER?
NONE SO FAR.
CHESTER HAS MET
A YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR,
WHO WORKS AT THE SERVICE STATION
WHERE HE TAKES HIS CADILLAC.
HE DECIDES THAT HE'S GOING
TO TAKE THIS YOUNG BOY
OFF TO EUROPE FOR THE SUMMER.
HE WENT TO SEE
THIS BOY'S PARENTS
SAYING, "HE'LL NEVER
HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN.
WE'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.
PLUS, I'M GOING TO PAY HIM."
AND WHEN
MRS. BURGE FOUND OUT,
THINGS WEREN'T
THE SAME NO MORE.
ARE YOU TRYING TO DRAG US
THROUGH THE MUD, CHESTER?
HOW STUPID ARE YOU?
WHAT'S THE BEE
IN YOUR BONNET NOW?
LORD, CHESTER,
HOW OLD IS HE, 16?
IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START
EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS,
SEE THE WORLD!
WHAT MADE THIS TIME
DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER?
I'VE SAID IT ONCE
AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
APPEARANCES WERE EVERYTHING
TO US.
SO LONG AS CHESTER
WAS OUT OF TOWN,
HE WAS FREE TO DO
AS HE PLEASED.
BUT WE ALL SAW THIS BOY
AT THE SERVICE STATION.
IT WAS LITERALLY
TOO CLOSE TO HOME.
I MADE ARRANGEMENTS.
AND I UNMADE THEM.
MARY IMMEDIATELY
PUTS AN END TO IT.
CHESTER WAS ABSOLUTELY LIVID.
AS FAR AS HE WAS CONCERNED, MARY
SHOULD HAVE STAYED OUT OF IT.
THE POLICE HAVE TO WONDER,
"WAS HE FURIOUS ENOUGH
TO HARM HER?"
IT SEEMED INCREDIBLE.
AFTER ALL, THE POLICE
HAD CONFIRMED CHESTER
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
WHILE THE MURDER HAPPENED.
THEY'D SEEN HIM WHEN HE WAS
CARRIED INTO THE CRIME SCENE
WITH THEIR OWN EYES.
THE MAN WAS STILL RECOVERING
FROM THAT SURGERY,
EVEN WEEKS LATER.
HEY, MR. BURGE.
HOW YOU FEELING TODAY?
AS WELL AS CAN BE EXPECTED.
BUT THE CLUES
WERE STARTING TO STACK UP.
AND THEY WEREN'T
IN CHESTER'S FAVOR.
SO YOU WERE HERE
ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 11th?
YES.
AND I ASSUME YOU CHECKED
ON MR. BURGE?
I GAVE HIM A DOUBLE DOSE
OF SEDATIVES.
AND HE WENT TO BED
SOON AFTER.
AND THERE'S NO WAY
FOR MR. BURGE
TO HAVE LEFT THIS HOSPITAL
WITHOUT BEING SEEN?
WELL, I COULDN'T SAY
FOR SURE.
WE DID HAVE A SHIFT CHANGE.
AND THERE CAN BE A BIT
OF A BREAK IN BETWEEN.
YOU NOTICE ANYTHING
OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAT NIGHT?
WELL, THERE WERE TWO MEN.
THE NURSE NOTICED
TWO MALE VISITORS,
ONE BLACK AND ONE WHITE,
COME INTO THE HOSPITAL ROOM
AFTER NORMAL VISITING HOURS.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THEM?
I'M AFRAID
I DIDN'T GET A GOOD LOOK.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN A PERSON
ISN'T FORTHCOMING?
WELL, YOU FIND SOMEONE
WHO WILL BE.
POLICE BRING FRITZ
DOWN TO MACON
TO AID IN THE INVESTIGATION.
I'M JUST GONNA CUT
RIGHT TO IT.
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
WE'RE LOOKING AT CHESTER.
AND WE THINK
IF THERE'S ANYONE
WHO KNOWS WHAT WAS REALLY
GOING ON BETWEEN HIM AND MARY,
IT'D BE YOU.
WELL, I'VE HAD MY MISGIVINGS,
TOO, ON THAT ACCOUNT,
ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST
FEW MONTHS.
FRITZ WAS VERY FORTHCOMING.
HE TOLD THEM THAT IN JANUARY,
JUST FOUR MONTHS
BEFORE THE MURDER,
HE AND CHESTER
WENT DOWN TO NORTH FLORIDA.
AND THEY FOUND A SMALL HOTEL,
WHICH CHESTER WAS GOING TO BUY.
AND FRITZ WAS GOING TO RUN.
AND THEY WOULD LIVE THERE
TOGETHER IN COMPLETE BLISS.
ON THAT SAME TRIP
TO LOOK AT THE HOTELS,
THEY STOP OFF AND VISIT
CHESTER'S COUSINS, THE KYLES,
WHO LIVE DOWN THERE.
AND DURING THAT TIME,
CHESTER CONFESSES TO THE KYLES
THAT HE IS IN LOVE WITH FRITZ
AND WANTS TO SPEND THE REST
OF HIS LIFE WITH FRITZ.
HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE MARY.
LISTEN, A LOT OF MEN
WENT THROUGH THIS BACK THEN.
I KNOW THAT
BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF 'EM.
BUT I KNEW VERY WELL WHAT
CHESTER SHOULD'VE KNOWN, TOO.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE READY
TO LIVE YOUR DREAM
DOESN'T MEAN OTHER PEOPLE ARE
READY TO BE A PART OF THE PLAN.
MARY GETS WORD OF THIS.
AND SHE'S FURIOUS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
WAS NOT PART OF THE BARGAIN.
IF, IN FACT, HE WAS GOING
TO HAVE HIS FREEDOM,
IT WAS ALWAYS
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING
THAT THEY KEEP TOGETHER
THAT FACADE OF THEIR MARRIAGE.
- HOW ARE YOU, MARY?
- CHESTER, WE NEED TO TALK.
SHE'S VERY UPSET.
SHE'S VERY HURT.
MARY NEEDS CHESTER
TO MAINTAIN HER LIFESTYLE.
CHESTER, YOU ARE SICK.
YOU HAVE AN ILLNESS.
AND YOU NEED HELP.
AND, MARY DECIDES
THAT THINGS CANNOT GO ON THE WAY
THEY ARE.
I HAVE BEEN DOING
SOME READING.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN
MANY CASES
THAT HAVE BEEN TREATED
EXCELLENTLY WITH A LOBOTOMY.
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR
COTTON-PICKING MIND?
AND SO MARY DECIDES
THAT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO
IS TO HAVE THIS HOMOSEXUALITY
CUT OUT OF THEIR LIFE,
WHICH MEANS CUTTING IT
OUT OF CHESTER'S.
BACK THEN, PEOPLE THOUGHT
HOMOSEXUALITY WAS AN ILLNESS.
I WENT IN FOR TREATMENT
MYSELF, ONCE OR TWICE.
MY FAMILY WAS CONCERNED.
BUT THAT WAS JUST
HOW THINGS WERE DONE.
I'VE MADE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR YOU TO SEE A DR. THIGPEN.
YOU'VE MADE ARRANGEMENTS?
THOUGH IT MAY SEEM HATEFUL
TO US NOW, AT THE TIME,
MARY WAS ONLY TRYING TO HELP.
SO CHESTER AND FRITZ,
THEY'RE BOTH EVALUATED.
AND DR. THIGPEN
TELLS CHESTER THAT A LOBOTOMY,
OF COURSE, WOULD NOT WORK.
THEN DR. THIGPEN FINALLY SAYS,
"NO, WHAT NEEDS TO BE CUT OUT
IS FRITZ."
HE WOULD JUST REMOVE HIMSELF
FROM THE EQUATION
AND AGREE NOT TO SEE CHESTER
ANYMORE,
THAT EVERYTHING COULD GO BACK
TO NORMAL IN CHESTER'S LIFE.
SO DID YOU LEAVE?
OF COURSE I DID.
WHAT CHESTER AND I HAD,
IT WASN'T SERIOUS,
AT LEAST NOT TO ME.
SO FRITZ AGREES TO THIS.
EVEN MARY GIVES HIM A KISS
ON THE CHEEK GOODBYE.
BUT THAT'S IT.
IT'S GOODBYE.
HE IS TO LEAVE.
HE IS NEVER TO COME BACK
TO MACON.
AND HE AND CHESTER
ARE NEVER TO HAVE CONTACT AGAIN.
THE POLICE THINK
THAT MARY'S INTERRUPTING
CHESTER'S ROMANTIC PLANS
HAS SET CHESTER OFF.
IT'S LIKE THREE STRIKES
AND YOU'RE OUT.
FIRST STRIKE WAS INTERFERING
WITH CHESTER'S NEW RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
SECOND STRIKE WAS,
MARY INTERFERED WITH CHESTER
AND FRITZ'S PLANS
TO BUY THE HOTEL IN FLORIDA.
THE THIRD STRIKE WAS SENDING
FRITZ BACK TO NEW JERSEY,
NEVER TO BE
SEEN AGAIN BY CHESTER.
THE OFFICERS FELT LIKE
THEY HAD A MOTIVE FOR CHESTER.
WITH MARY OUT OF THE WAY,
CHESTER COULD DO
WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.
BUT ONE THOUGHT EMERGES.
WHY WOULD HE HAVE TO KILL HER?
WHY COULDN'T HE JUST
HAVE A DIVORCE?
LOVE CAN MAKE A PERSON
DO CRAZY THINGS SOMETIMES.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE FORCED
TO HIDE WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
BUT THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE
SECRET HIDING
IN THE BURGES' CLOSET.
WHAT'S THAT THEY SAY
ABOUT UNHAPPY FAMILIES?
THEY MAY ALL BE UNHAPPY
IN THEIR OWN WAY.
BUT AT THE TIME,
THERE WERE FAMILIES
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY LIVING
IN ARRANGEMENTS LIKE THIS ONE.
MARRIAGES THAT WERE A LITTLE
CURLY AROUND THE EDGES,
AS WE USED TO SAY.
BUT CHESTER WASN'T SATISFIED
WITH THAT.
A LESS THAN IDEAL
FAMILY SITUATION
ISN'T A MOTIVE FOR MURDER,
HOWEVER.
SO WHEN THE PIECES
DON'T ADD UP, WELL,
THAT USUALLY MEANS
THAT A PIECE IS MISSING.
WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR POLICE
TO LOOK INTO HIS BACKGROUND,
THERE IN THE LEGAL FILES
WAS A DOCUMENT.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND WAS,
WHEN CHESTER WAS A YOUNG MAN,
HE HAD BEEN DECLARED INSANE.
HIS MOTHER HAD ACTUALLY
COMMITTED HIM
TO THE INSANE ASYLUM.
LIKELY BECAUSE HE WAS
A HOMOSEXUAL.
ALL THESE DEEDS
ARE MADE OUT TO MARY BURGE.
UNDER THE LAW, IF YOU'RE INSANE,
YOU'RE NOT ABLE
TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS,
TO BUY AND SELL PROPERTY
IN YOUR OWN NAME.
SO IN ALL THOSE YEARS,
EVERYTHING
HAD BEEN PUT IN MARY'S NAME.
SHE OWNED THE HOUSES.
SHE OWNED THE JEWELRY.
MARY OWNED EVERYTHING.
IN 1960, IT WOULD'VE
BEEN UNHEARD OF FOR THE WIFE
TO PAY THE HUSBAND ALIMONY.
SO DIVORCE WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED
FOR CHESTER.
IF MARY LIVED,
SHE CONTROLLED THAT MONEY.
IF SHE DIED, HE HAD
ABOUT A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS.
MONEY MADE MARY HAPPY.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF IT.
AND AS LONG
AS MARY CONTROLLED THAT MONEY,
THERE WAS NO HOTEL
IN FLORIDA WITH FRITZ,
NO EUROPEAN VOYAGES WITH
YOUNG TRAVELING COMPANIONS.
ULTIMATELY,
THAT WAS CHESTER'S PROBLEM.
CHESTER STRUCK A DEAL
WITH MARY.
AND THEN,
HE CHANGED HIS MIND.
CHESTER DIDN'T WANT
TO MAKE A DEAL.
CHESTER WANTED EVERYTHING.
ON MAY 31st,
ALMOST 3 WEEKS AFTER THE MURDER,
CHESTER IS FORMALLY CHARGED
WITH THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE.
CHESTER'S TRIAL,
THAT STARTED IN NOVEMBER,
OF 1960 WAS THE BIGGEST THING
TO HIT MACON
IN MANY, MANY YEARS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MEMBERS OF THE JURY,
THE DEFENSE WILL CLAIM
THAT CHESTER BURGE
WAS AN INVALID AT THE TIME
OF HIS WIFE'S MURDER.
BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
CHESTER BURGE IS NO INVALID.
HE IS NO STRANGER
TO DECEIT AND LIES.
WHAT THE PROSECUTION
WAS CLAIMING IS THAT CHESTER
WAS SAVVY ENOUGH TO GET UP
AT THE HOSPITAL,
GO DOWN THE HALL,
GET DOWNSTAIRS AND GO HOME.
HE CHOKES HER
WITH HIS OWN HANDS.
AND THEN HE TRIES TO MAKE
IT LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY
BY HAMMERING SOME PINS
OUT OF THE LOCKED CLOSET DOOR.
AND THEN HE LIED ABOUT
THE MISSING MONEY TO THE POLICE.
AND COME BACK AND GET
INTO HIS HOSPITAL BED UNSEEN.
HE MADE ONLY ONE CRUCIAL MISTAKE
IN KNOCKING THE PINS
ON THE CLOSET DOOR.
HE LEFT BEHIND A FINGERPRINT.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING
BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT
WHEN I READ IT IN THE PAPERS.
THE FINGERPRINT,
A CLUE SO INSIGNIFICANT,
THEY'D ALL BUT THROWN IT AWAY.
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT
WHERE YOU LEAVE A FINGERPRINT,
IT'S WHEN.
IS IT YOUR JOB TO CLEAN
MRS. BURGE'S BEDROOM?
YES, SIR.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU CLEANED IT?
THE WEDNESDAY, SIR.
THE WEDNESDAY MRS. BURGE
WAS KILLED?
YES, SIR.
AND THE REASON
THAT IT'S IMPORTANT,
ACCORDING TO THEM,
IS THAT, SINCE CHESTER
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
WHEN THE DOOR WAS WASHED
AND THE FINGERPRINT IS THERE,
CHESTER CAME HOME THAT NIGHT.
MAYBE THAT SOUNDS
A LITTLE FAR-FETCHED.
BUT FINGERPRINT
OR NO FINGERPRINT,
CHESTER SEEMED
HEADED FOR PRISON.
HE WAS MEAN
AND HE WAS HOMOSEXUAL
AND THE JURY DIDN'T
LIKE EITHER OF THOSE THINGS.
WHEN CHARLES ADAMS
TOOK THE FLOOR, HOWEVER,
HE DID SOMETHING
WE NEVER DO DOWN HERE.
HE SAID EXACTLY WHAT EVERYONE
WAS ALREADY THINKING.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE JURY, MR. BURGE IS ARROGANT.
YOU WON'T LIKE HIM.
HE'S NOT A NICE PERSON.
IN FACT, HE'S DESPICABLE.
HE'S GUILTY OF LOTS
AND LOTS OF THINGS.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS,
HE'S ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.
AND THAT'S ALL
HE'S ON TRIAL FOR.
THEY FOUND A FINGERPRINT
ON A CLOSET.
SO WHAT?
IT'S HIS HOUSE.
YES, YOU FOUND
THE MAN'S FINGERPRINT.
SURELY, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE.
- DR. HATCHER...
- YES?
WOULD YOU BE SO KIND
AS TO EXPLAIN TO THE JURY
THE MEDICAL CONDITION
OF MR. BURGE?
MR. BURGE WAS RECOVERING
FROM A HERNIA OPERATION.
THE DEFENSE WAS CLAIMING
THAT CHESTER
HAD HAD THIS OPERATION,
A DOUBLE DOSE OF SEDATIVES
AND A SLEEPING PILL.
TO HAVE GONE HOME
AND DONE ALL THIS
WOULD'VE BEEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
WITH THAT HUGE GASH.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DECIDE TODAY
IS WHETHER WE GAMBLE
WITH THIS MAN'S LIFE.
AFTER A TOTAL OF ONLY ABOUT
SIX HOURS OF DELIBERATION...
HAS THE JURY REACHED A DECISION?
YES, YOUR HONOR.
WE, THE JURY, IN THIS MATTER
HEREBY FIND THE DEFENDANT,
ONE CHESTER BURGE, NOT GUILTY.
SEVERAL OF THE JURORS
LATER SAID,
"WE THOUGHT
HE HAD SOMEONE MURDER HER.
BUT WE WERE ASKED TO JUDGE
WHETHER HE PERSONALLY WENT HOME
AND MURDERED HIS WIFE.
AND WE THINK HE DID NOT."
THE JURY KNEW CHESTER
WAS A HOMOSEXUAL.
BUT THEY HAD PLENTY
OF REASONABLE DOUBT.
AND SO THEY DID THEIR DUTY
AND ACQUITTED HIM.
IT COULD'VE FELT LIKE
A VICTORY,
IF ONLY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.
SO WHY DIDN'T I
FEEL THAT WAY?
AFTER YEARS OF LOOKING AT IT,
INVESTIGATING IT,
TALKING TO PEOPLE,
I THINK THAT THERE WERE TWO
VISITORS TO HIS HOSPITAL ROOM
THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
MY BEST GUESS IS
THAT HE PROBABLY PAID THOSE MEN
TO HAVE HIS WIFE MURDERED.
BUT ALL WE CAN DO IS GUESS
BECAUSE THE ONLY PERSON
WHO KNOWS THE END OF THIS STORY
ISN'T AROUND TO TELL IT.
THIS PARTICULAR STORY
IS SUCH A BIZARRE ONE
THAT, IF WE TRIED
TO WRITE IT AS FICTION,
NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE IT.
OFTENTIMES, PEOPLE
IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
ARE DRIVEN TO DO BAD THINGS.
SOMETIMES, EVEN YOU OR I MIGHT
FEEL WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
THE PAIN OF BEING TRAPPED
IN A LOVELESS MARRIAGE
OR HAVING TO HIDE WHO YOU ARE
CAN DRIVE A PERSON
TO A VERY DARK PLACE.
IT'S EASY TO BE A GOOD MAN
WHEN EVERYTHING
IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN.
BUT LIFE IS FULL OF IMPOSSIBLE
DREAMS AND THWARTED HOPES.
AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY A GOOD MAN
IS SO VERY HARD TO FIND.
* BY THE LIGHT
OF THE SILVERY MOON *
* I WANT TO SPOON *
* TO MY HONEY,
I'LL CROON LOVE'S TUNE *
* YOUR SILVERY BEAMS
WILL BRING LOVE'S DREAMS *
* WE'LL BE CUDDLIN' SOON *
* BY THE SILVERY MOON *
AND THIS ONE BEGINS
WITH CHESTER BURGE,
WHO HAD BEEN LAID UP
IN A HOSPITAL FOR SEVERAL DAYS
FOLLOWING A HERNIA OPERATION.
HE WAS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST
MEN IN MACON.
BUT MONEY CAN'T BUY
YOU GOOD HEALTH.
AND IT CAN'T BUY YOU HAPPINESS,
OR SO THEY SAY.
A FINE TUNE FOR WAKING UP TO.
AND NOW, THIS JUST IN,
A WOMAN IDENTIFIED
AS MRS. MARY BURGE
OF 1011 NOTTINGHAM DRIVE
WAS DISCOVERED DEAD
EARLY THIS MORNING
APPARENTLY THE VICTIM
OF A BRUTAL ATTACK.
POLICE ARE ON THE SCENE...
- SIR, BE CAREFUL.
- MY GOD.
MY GOD.
THAT'S MY WIFE.
THEY JUST SAID MY WIFE'S NAME.
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
SIR.
I -- I HAVE TO GET
OUT OF HERE.
NO, NO,
I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE.
AND NO MATTER HOW MANY DEALS
YOU CLOSE OR PALMS YOU GREASE,
MONEY CAN'T KEEP THE ONES
YOU LOVE SAFE FROM HARM.
THAT'S HOW THIS STORY BEGINS.
IN 1960, MACON, GEORGIA, WAS
A SLEEPY LITTLE TOWN FOR SOME.
BUT OUR SPHERE
WAS A WORLD APART
FROM ANYTHING
YOU'D RECOGNIZE THEN OR NOW.
FOR A SELECT FEW,
MACON WAS A CITY
OF FLOWERS AND GARDENS
AND ABOVE ALL, PARTIES.
PROPRIETY DEMANDED YOU DON
YOUR FINEST TUXEDO
AND MOST CHARMING SMILE
BECAUSE, WELL, THAT'S SIMPLY
HOW THINGS WORKED.
APPEARANCES WERE PRIZED
ABOVE ALL.
AND IN A PLACE
WITH SUCH RIGID DECORUM,
AT TIMES IT DID FEEL
LIKE WE WERE ON A STAGE.
WITH EVERYBODY SO BUSY
PLAYING A PART,
YOU WERE GUARANTEED TO END UP
WITH A FEW CHARACTERS.
PEOPLE CULTIVATED
THEIR PERSONALITIES
LIKE THEIR GRANDADDIES
DID COTTON --
IN LARGE QUANTITIES.
BUT IT MUST BE SAID,
OUR LITTLE FARCE...
WAS, IN EQUAL MEASURE,
A TRAGEDY.
MR. AND MRS. BURGE LIVED
IN THE NICEST NEIGHBORHOOD,
THE MOST,
WEALTHY ENCLAVE OF THE CITY.
THERE WERE LIGATURE
MARKS AROUND HER NECK.
HER FACE WAS BRUISED.
RIGOR MORTIS
HAS ALREADY SET IN.
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT,
MISS BURGE
HAD BEEN STRANGLED TO DEATH
AT AROUND MIDNIGHT.
SHE HAD A 10-KARAT DIAMOND RING
THAT SHE WORE.
LOOKS LIKE
THAT ROCK'S GONE.
THE RING WAS THERE,
BUT THERE WAS NO DIAMOND STONE.
WHEN THE POLICE
START LOOKING THROUGH THE ROOM,
THEY SEE A BLOOD TRAIL.
SO IT LOOKS AS THOUGH SHE
HAS DIED, PERHAPS, ON THE CARPET
AND HAS BEEN PICKED UP
AND PLACED ON THE BED.
DID YOU SEE THE DOOR?
LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY
TRIED TO JIMMY IT.
MISS BURGE HAD A CLOSET
IN HER BEDROOM THAT WAS LOCKED.
THE HINGES TO THAT DOOR
HAD BEEN JIMMIED UP
AND WOULD APPEAR TO BE AN EFFORT
BY SOMEONE
TO GET INTO THAT CLOSET.
AND ON THE DOOR TO THE CLOSET,
THEY DID FIND A FEW FINGERPRINTS
AND A PALM PRINT.
WHO FOUND THE BODY?
POLICE OFFICERS
TALKED TO JESSIE, THE MAID,
TO SEE WHAT SHE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
WHAT MADE YOU GO UP
TO MRS. BURGE'S ROOM?
I WENT TO GO
WAKE HER UP.
SHE NEVER SLEEPS
PAST 9:00.
MISS MARY,
IT'S 9:00, MA'AM.
I OPEN THE CURTAINS,
JUST TO LET SOME SUNSHINE IN.
GOD BLESS HER SOUL.
THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE
IN THE HOUSE?
NO, SIR.
WAS THERE ANYTHING UNUSUAL
IN THE PAST FEW DAYS
THAT YOU CAN RECALL?
WELL, THERE WAS THIS TERRIBLE
THING WITH MISS MARY'S BIRD.
JESSIMAE!
JESSIMAE, COME QUICKLY!
JESSIMAE...
MARY'S PET PARROT
HAD PASSED AWAY THE DAY BEFORE.
YOU KNOW, ANYTIME
SOMEONE WALKED INTO THAT HOUSE,
THAT BIRD
WOULD RAISE QUITE A RUCKUS.
IF IT HAD STILL BEEN ALIVE,
MRS. BURGE
WOULD HAVE SURELY KNOWN
SOMEONE WAS SNEAKING UP ON HER.
WHAT -- WHAT IS
THE MEANING OF ALL THIS?
AND WHAT ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE
DOING HERE?
MARY'S HUSBAND, CHESTER BURGE,
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
HAVING HAD DOUBLE HERNIA SURGERY
TWO DAYS EARLIER.
NOW, I'M SURE YOU KNOW
IT'S HIGHLY UNUSUAL
FOR A PATIENT TO BE RELEASED
SO SOON AFTER A SURGERY.
THE LAST THING
A GRIEVING WIDOWER NEEDS
IS TO RUPTURE HIS STITCHES.
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
WHAT ARE ALL THESE FOOLS DOING
IN MY HOUSE?
I WANT EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF YOU OUT OF HERE THIS MINUTE.
BUT THAT WAS CHESTER BURGE
FOR YA.
HE WAS ONE OF THOSE CHARACTERS
I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.
HE GOT WHAT HE WANTED.
AND HE WASN'T CONCERNED
ABOUT RUFFLING FEATHERS
ALONG THE WAY.
I WANT TO TALK TO THE PERSON
IN CHARGE HERE.
AND I WANT EVERY ONE
OF YOU PEOPLE
OUT OF MY HOUSE THIS INSTANT.
SO WHEN THE MATTER
CONCERNED HIS BELOVED WIFE,
HE CERTAINLY WASN'T GONNA TONE
HIMSELF DOWN.
I -- I THINK I FEEL FAINT.
MR. BURGE, SIT HERE.
OUR CONDOLENCES
FOR YOUR LOSS, MR. BURGE.
IF YOU COULD ANSWER
JUST A FEW QUESTIONS FOR US.
NOW, DID YOU NOTICE
ANYTHING DISTURBED?
MARY'S VERY PARTICULAR
ABOUT HOW
SHE KEEPS HER BEDROOM.
NOTHING STANDS OUT TO ME.
IN THE UPPER CLASS,
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL IN 1960
FOR A HUSBAND AND WIFE
TO HAVE SEPARATE BEDROOMS.
IT SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE THE
RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
CAN YOU TELL US
WHAT'S IN THAT CLOSET?
THAT'S WHERE WE KEEP
OUR VALUABLES.
THIS NECKLACE LOOKS RAVISHING
ON YOU, DARLING.
THANK YOU,
IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
NOW, CHESTER,
BEHAVE TONIGHT.
THE MAYOR
IS GOING TO BE HERE.
OF COURSE, DARLING,
OF COURSE.
HE IS TOLD
BY THE POLICE OFFICERS
THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY
A ROBBERY.
AND THEY WANT TO KNOW
WHAT MIGHT'VE BEEN TAKEN.
IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING
IS INTACT.
I ASSUME YOU FOUND THE WALLET.
WHAT WALLET?
UNDER THE MATTRESS, USUALLY.
NO,
THAT'S NOT RIGHT AT ALL.
THERE SHOULD BE $5,000 CASH,
RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY
TO HAVE LYING AROUND.
NOT FOR US.
YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN
ABOUT LARGER THAN LIFE?
CHESTER BURGE HAD MONEY
AND PERSONALITY.
AND HE HAD BOTH IN EXCESS.
SO IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW
THE BURGES SOCIALLY,
I CAN SEE HOW THEY
MIGHT STRIKE YOU AS ODD.
BUT AS FOR MYSELF,
I WAS USED TO IT.
HE'S RESPONSIBLE
FOR SELLING ME THAT CADILLAC.
MR. GILBERT,
IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
IT IS
A PLEASURE, MA'AM.
AND MAY I PRESENT
MY WIFE, MYRTLE.
CHESTER AND MARY
WERE WHAT SOME DOWN HERE
MIGHT UNKINDLY CALL
NOUVEAU RICHE.
THEIR MONEY WAS NEW,
NOT INHERITED, JUST LIKE MINE.
BUT THEY MADE A POINT
OF THROWING LAVISH PARTIES
AND INVITING
MACON'S SOCIAL ELITE.
I'M AFRAID CHESTER'S
OSTENTATIOUS MANNERS
MADE IT EASY FOR SOME
TO DECLINE THE INVITATION.
BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO DID
BUSINESS WITH THE MAN, WELL,
THE ANNUAL BURGE
CHRISTMAS PARTY
WAS ALL BUT MANDATORY.
CHESTER AND MARY
GOT MARRIED IN 1924.
SHE WAS FROM
A MODEST FARMING FAMILY
THE NEXT COUNTY OVER,
IN TWIGGS COUNTY.
SHE WAS ONE OF 10 SIBLINGS.
HE HAD BEEN
A PLUMBER'S SON.
I THINK HE WANTED
SOMETHING BETTER.
AND SO HE WAS A BIT AMBITIOUS.
THEY HOST A NUMBER
OF LAVISH PARTIES.
THEY BEGAN PURCHASING
REAL ESTATE TO BECOME MOGULS.
THEY REALLY BEGIN CAMPAIGNING
FOR ENTRANCE
INTO GEORGIA ARISTOCRACY.
THE BURGES WEREN'T KNOWN
FOR THEIR LIGHT TOUCH.
THE PORTRAITS ON THE WALLS
WEREN'T OF CHESTER'S ANCESTORS.
EVEN THE MONOGRAM ON THE CHINA
HAD SOMEONE ELSE'S INITIALS.
AND YOU HAD TO HAND IT
TO THE MAN, HE HAD NO SHAME.
THERE'S A VERY DISTINCT
DIFFERENCE IN THE SOUTH
BETWEEN NEW MONEY AND OLD MONEY.
NEW MONEY
IS ALMOST FROWNED UPON.
YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT YOU
DESERVE ACCESS TO HIGH SOCIETY.
THE POLICE OFFICERS
ARE TAKING PICTURES.
AND THAT FLASH
FROM THE CAMERA REFLECTS
AND FROM SOMETHING
DOWN ON THE FLOOR.
THEY PICK UP
THE 10-KARAT DIAMOND.
SO, IN FACT, THE STONE
HAD NOT BEEN STOLEN.
BUT IT HAD BEEN
LOOSENED SO MUCH FROM THE RING
DURING THE STRUGGLE
THAT IT HAD FALLEN ON THE FLOOR.
IF I HAD BECOME A DETECTIVE
INSTEAD OF GOING INTO SALES,
I THINK ROBBERY WOULD'VE BEEN
MY FIRST THOUGHT, TOO.
BUT THE CLUES JUST
WEREN'T STACKING UP THAT WAY.
AND ANY EXPERIENCED DETECTIVE
KNOWS THAT WHEN A WIFE
IS MURDERED,
YOU BETTER DOUBLE-CHECK
WHERE HER HUSBAND WAS.
CAN YOU CONFIRM FOR US
THAT MR. BURGE
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL LAST NIGHT?
WHY, YES, HE'S BEEN RECOVERING
FROM A HERNIA OPERATION.
I CHECKED IN ON HIM
RIGHT BEFORE MY SHIFT ENDED.
AND THERE'S NO WAY HE COULD'VE
LEFT THE HOSPITAL AFTERWARDS?
NOT WITHOUT RUPTURING
HIS INCISION, HE COULDN'T.
INVESTIGATORS DETERMINE
THAT CHESTER ISN'T THE KILLER
BECAUSE HE WAS, INDEED,
IN THE HOSPITAL
FOR A HERNIA SURGERY.
BUT IN SHIRLEY HILLS, A SCANDAL
WASN'T EASILY FORGOTTEN.
AND THE UNPLEASANT
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF MARY BURGE'S DEATH
RECALLED A SINISTER EVENT
THAT HAD GRACED OUR LAWNS
ONLY A FEW WEEKS EARLIER.
THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE
THAT I SUDDENLY RECALL.
A FEW WEEKS AGO...
...THEY CAME.
AND THEY WERE STIRRED UP
LIKE A HORNET'S NEST.
THOSE HORROR STORIES
YOU'VE HEARD
ABOUT THE SOUTH BACK THEN,
WE'D ALL DO WELL TO REMEMBER
THOSE WEREN'T JUST STORIES.
NOW, AS FAR AS THE SOUTH GOES,
MACON WAS AS LIBERAL
AS IT COULD GET IN 1960.
BUT WHEN
A WEALTHY WHITE WOMAN
IS STRANGLED
IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD,
FOLKS CAN'T HELP
BUT TURN THEIR MINDS
TO OTHER
RECENT UNPLEASANTRIES.
LIGHTS, COSTUMES, PROPS,
WHETHER IT WAS A PARTY
OR A PROTEST, DAY OR NIGHT,
FOLKS IN MACON
KNEW HOW TO PUT ON A SHOW.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE,
FOR ALL HIS ECCENTRICITIES,
ROBERT LEE DAVIDSON
WAS DANGEROUS.
WHAT IS GOING ON OUT HERE?
TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE MURDER,
MEMBERS OF THE KU KLUX KLAN
ARRIVED AT THE BURGES' HOME.
AND YOU KNOW
THAT CARL QUICKSTREET
IS IN
A WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND YOU'RE STILL RENTING
THAT HOUSE OUT TO THEM NEGROES.
FIRSTLY, MR. DAVIDSON,
LOWER THE VOLUME OF YOUR VOICE.
THIS PROTEST WAS
MOTIVATED BY ANGER
THAT BURGE
WAS LEASING PROPERTIES TO BLACKS
IN WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I DO NOT SEE
WHY ALL OF THIS IS NECESSARY.
WE CANNOT LEAVE THAT RENTAL
PROPERTY SITTING EMPTY.
WE WANT THEM GONE,
MRS. BURGE.
YOU AND YOUR CARNIVAL
OF IMBECILES
ARE TRESPASSING
ON MY PROPERTY.
I OUGHT TO JUST BLOW YOUR HEAD
RIGHT OFF.
CHESTER, PUT THAT
FOOL THING DOWN.
THEM NEGROES ARE A BLIGHT
UPON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS PURELY
A BUSINESS DECISION.
YOU FIX IT
OR WE WILL BE BACK.
AND SO DETECTIVES THOUGHT,
"WELL, PERHAPS THIS MURDER
ISN'T ROBBERY.
MAYBE IT'S TIED,
IN SOME WAY, TO THE KLAN."
MR. DAVIDSON, YOU HAVE COMPANY.
LET 'EM THROUGH, BOBBY.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
RALLY AT THE CALL
OF THE REVOLUTIONARY LEADER,
FIDEL CASTRO,
WHO ESTIMATED THAT A NUMBER...
THE POLICE, OF COURSE,
KNOW THE KU KLUX KLAN VERY WELL.
- WELL, HAVE A SEAT.
- IT'S SAD TO SAY.
BUT AT THE TIME, THE
GRAND DRAGON OF THE KU KLUX KLAN
WAS CERTAINLY RESPECTED
IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT CAN I DO YOU FOR?
YOU KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE.
YOU ARE HERE ABOUT MARY,
AREN'T YOU?
WE HEARD YOU PAID 'EM A VISIT.
WELL, WE SURE DID.
THEY WERE DISGRACING
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO YOU DECIDED TO TAKE JUSTICE
INTO YOUR OWN HANDS?
I'M SURPRISED AT YOU, DETECTIVE.
MR. BURGE DID
EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED.
AND HE EVICTED THEM NEGROES.
AND HE SAID, "THIS HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH US.
WE DIDN'T DO IT."
BUT THEM NEGROES, WELL,
THEY SURE WAS ANGRY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
IF FOLLOWING A LEAD
FROM THE GRAND DRAGON
OF THE KKK TOWARDS A GROUP
OF IMPOVERISHED BLACK TENANTS
SEEMS LIKE A TURN
A FEW DEGREES TOO STEEP,
WELL, THAT'S JUST
HOW THE SOUTH WAS BACK THEN.
AND THERE WAS
NO DENYING CHESTER
HAD SUPPLIED THESE FOLKS
WITH PLENTY OF MOTIVE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
CHESTER MADE HIS FORTUNE
SELLING PROPERTIES
AND FINANCING LOANS.
AND WHEN WE HEARD
WHAT HE'D BEEN DOING
EVEN BEFORE THE EVICTIONS,
WELL, I WOULD'VE
BEEN ANGRY, TOO.
CHESTER WOULD SELL
TO UNSUSPECTING WHITES
AND BLACKS
WITH A REVERSIONARY CLAUSE.
AND WHAT THAT MEANT WAS,
IF YOU MISSED EVEN ONE PAYMENT,
I GET THE HOUSE BACK.
AND YOU GET NOTHING
AT ALL FOR IT.
AND SO THE POLICE GO OUT
AND ROUND UP SEVERAL BLACKS
WHO FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST HIM.
THEY ARRESTED THEM ON WHAT
THEY CALLED OPEN CHARGES,
WHICH MEANT THEY DIDN'T HAVE
TO INDICT THEM ON ANYTHING
AND HELD THEM IN JAIL.
BURGE IS A EVIL MAN.
HE KICKED ME
AND MY WIFE OUT.
EVERYTHING I HAD,
I PUT INTO THAT HOME.
THE POLICE BEGIN TO SUSPECT
THAT MARY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
THE ACTUAL TARGET.
AND THAT CHESTER
WAS ACTUALLY THE TARGET.
THE POLICE THINK THERE
MUST BE SOMEBODY OUT THERE
WHO'S SO ANGRY
THAT HE HAS TAKEN THEIR HOUSE
THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET EVEN.
BUT THERE'S JUST NO EVIDENCE.
THEY HAD NOT HAD ANYTHING
TO DO WITH IT.
A WEEK AFTER THE MURDER,
THE FINGERPRINT ANALYSIS CAME
BACK FROM THE STATE CRIME LAB.
THEY FOUND, REALLY,
NOTHING OF INTEREST.
THE FINGERPRINTS ON THE DOOR
CAME BACK TO CHESTER BURGE.
WELL, IT'S HIS HOME.
AT THIS POINT,
THE POLICE ARE THINKING,
"WHO ELSE
MUST'VE KNOWN THE HOUSE?"
YOU KNOW, HER WATCH-DOG PARROT
DIED HOURS BEFORE SHE DID.
THE MISSING CASH IS KEPT
IN A VERY SPECIFIC HIDING PLACE.
THE OFFICERS COME AROUND
TO THE IDEA
THAT THERE WAS AN INSIDER
INVOLVED.
SOMEONE, PERHAPS, WITH A KEY.
THEY ARREST JESSIMAE,
THE HOUSEKEEPER.
AND THEY ARREST LEWIS JOHNSON,
THE CHAUFFEUR,
WHO POLICE DISCOVER HAD
CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS.
CAN YOU TELL US WHERE YOU WERE
ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 11th?
I WAS HOME.
GOT THERE AROUND 10:00 OR SO.
WENT HOME.
GOT THERE AROUND 10:00,
WENT TO BED WITH MY WIFE.
HAD A LITTLE SIP OF SOMETHING
AND WENT STRAIGHT TO BED.
I WOKE UP, AROUND QUARTER
TO MIDNIGHT.
AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT...
I WENT TO JESSIMAE'S.
LEWIS CAME OVER.
HE WOKE ME UP.
HOW LONG WAS HE THERE?
HE STAYED ALL NIGHT.
I STAYED THERE ALL NIGHT.
ALL NIGHT.
I STAYED THERE ALL NIGHT.
LEWIS AND JESSIMAE
HAVE IDENTICAL STORIES.
EITHER THEY'VE GOT
A REALLY GOOD LIE ORGANIZED
OR THEY'RE TELLING THE TRUTH
AND IT HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH MARY'S MURDER.
BUT IT'S OBVIOUS
TO THE OFFICERS THAT,
THEY'RE NOT,
BEING ENTIRELY FORTHCOMING.
COME ON, LEWIS.
YOU THOUGHT THAT $5,000
FROM MRS. BURGE'S WALLET
WOULD SET YOU UP
REAL NICE.
I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT, SIR.
BET YOU WANTED
THAT DIAMOND RING SO BADLY.
I DON'T CARE
'BOUT NO DIAMOND.
I JUST WISH MISS MARY
WAS STILL ALIVE.
SHE PUT UP WITH SO MUCH.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
SHE PUT UP WITH SO MUCH?
NOTHING, SIR.
THEN WHY'D YOU SAY IT?
DON'T KNOW.
WELL, IN THE SOUTH,
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON IN A HOUSEHOLD,
YOU ASK THE SERVANTS
BECAUSE THEY KNOW EVERYTHING.
IT WOULDN'T BE MY PLACE
TO DISCUSS PRIVATE MATTERS.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A MARRIAGE
IS BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE.
COME ON, NOW.
MR. BURGE... ALWAYS
HAD A CERTAIN QUALITY.
AND HE HAD A FRIEND.
AND WHAT WAS HER NAME?
A YOUNG MAN...
HE TOOK A SHINE ON.
MRS. BURGE
WASN'T TOO KEEN ON.
THIS YOUNG MAN WAS PRESENT
AT EVERY PARTY
OF CHESTER'S I ATTENDED.
AND HAVING A BIT OF A NOSE
FOR THESE THINGS,
I SMELLED TROUBLE
FROM THE BEGINNING.
JEALOUS LOVERS ARE
CAPABLE OF DOING EXTREME THINGS.
YOU KNOW HOW THINGS ARE
AT THESE PARTIES.
EVERYONE'S ALL DRESSED UP.
IT'S DARK.
THE MUSIC IS PLAYING
AND THE CHAMPAGNE IS FLOWING.
THE DETECTIVES WONDERED
IF MAYBE IT WAS DIFFICULT
FOR THIS YOUNG MAN TO STAND BY
AND WATCH HIS PARAMOUR
DANCE WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
THE POLICE DIDN'T HAVE
TO DO A LOT OF DIGGING
TO FIND OUT
WHO THIS YOUNG MAN WAS.
HE'D BEEN DOWN SEVERAL TIMES.
QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAD MET HIM.
HIS NAME WAS FRITZ PHILLIPS.
HE LIVED IN NEW JERSEY.
ON MAY 22nd,
10 DAYS AFTER THE MURDER,
THE POLICE FLY TO NEW JERSEY
TO MEET THEIR NEW SUSPECT.
EXPLAIN TO US
THE NATURE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH MR. BURGE.
DETECTIVE, I'M SURE
YOU CAN IMAGINE THE NATURE
OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.
THEY KNOW THAT HE'S GAY.
HE, IN TURN, KNOWS
THAT THEY KNOW THAT HE'S GAY.
HOW DID YOU MEET
MR. BURGE?
MY GREAT-AUNT MAY
AND UNCLE NU
HAD BEEN AROUND BUYING
MORTGAGES IN GEORGIA.
THEY WERE FRIENDLY
WITH CHESTER.
AND ONE TIME THEY ASKED
IF I WOULD DRIVE
MRS. AND MR. BURGE
BACK TO MACON
AFTER THEY HAD FINISHED
BUSINESS HERE IN JERSEY.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHERE YOU
WENT TO SCHOOL, FRITZ.
I, UM, SERVED AT CORNELL
AND MOVED ON TO PRINCETON.
WONDERFUL SCHOOLING.
AND THAT'S
WHEN WE BECAME ACQUAINTED.
CHESTER IS IMMEDIATELY
TAKEN WITH FRITZ.
HE'S A PERSON
FROM A FAMILY OF WEALTH.
HIS FAMILY GOES BACK
TO THE MAYFLOWER.
**
AND SO, ON THE, TRIP,
CHESTER AND FRITZ
HAVE ORAL SEX WITH ONE ANOTHER,
EVEN AS MARY IS,
THEIR TRAVELING COMPANION.
FRITZ GOES BACK
TO NEW JERSEY THE NEXT DAY.
AND CHESTER CANNOT GET FRITZ
OFF OF HIS MIND.
SO HE CONTINUES TO FLY FRITZ
DOWN TO MACON FROM TIME TO TIME.
FRITZ DID NOT STAY
IN THE GUEST BEDROOM.
HE STAYED IN THE MASTER BEDROOM
WITH THE MASTER.
WHAT WAS YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH MARY BURGE?
WE WERE CORDIAL.
I MEAN, I ASSUME IT
MUST'VE BOTHERED HER.
BUT THAT WASN'T
MY RESPONSIBILITY.
SHE KNEW
WHAT WAS GOING ON?
SHE WASN'T OPPOSED TO IT
AS LONG AS NO ONE ELSE
IN MACON KNEW ABOUT IT.
CHESTER AND MARY'S MARRIAGE
WAS A BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT
THAT ALLOWED THEM
TO ACCESS HIGH SOCIETY.
IF YOU WANTED TO GO
TO THE RIGHT COUNTRY CLUBS,
YOU HAD TO BE MARRIED.
SHE WANTS TO BE ABLE
TO MAINTAIN HER SOCIAL STATUS.
AND SHE CAN'T DO THAT
IF EVERYBODY IN MACON KNOWS
ABOUT CHESTER'S
SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES.
MARY WAS GETTING
MORE AND MORE CONCERNED.
SHE HAD KNOWN FOR YEARS
ABOUT THE FACT THAT CHESTER
WAS HAVING SEX WITH MEN.
BUT IT WAS ALMOST ALWAYS
OUT OF TOWN.
HERE WAS FRITZ, IN MACON,
WHERE PEOPLE COULD SEE.
I THINK YOU WERE HANGING AROUND
HOPING CHESTER WOULD LEAVE MARY.
AND WHEN HE DIDN'T,
YOU GOT JEALOUS.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
MY TIME WITH CHESTER
WAS JUST A DIVERSION.
SO WHERE WERE YOU THE NIGHT
OF MAY 11th?
I WAS HERE, IN NEW JERSEY.
THAT'S THE FACT OF IT.
AND FRITZ WAS ABLE TO HAVE THAT
CORROBORATED BY OTHER PEOPLE.
CHESTER HAD BEEN PURSUING
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
LONG BEFORE I CAME AROUND.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE
ABOUT MR. BURGE'S
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?
WELL, I WOULDN'T KNOW.
BUT YOU MIGHT TRY
TALKING TO HIS CHAUFFEUR.
IF THE DETECTIVES WERE
FRUSTRATED TO HEAR
THAT LEWIS KNEW MORE
THAN HE'D LET ON,
THEY PROBABLY
WEREN'T SURPRISED.
YOU LEARN A LOT ABOUT A PERSON
DRIVING THEM AROUND ALL DAY.
LEWIS MAY HAVE BEEN
EMPLOYED AS A CHAUFFEUR,
BUT IT WAS HIS JOB
TO KEEP QUIET.
WHO WAS MR. BURGE
INVOLVED WITH?
I CAN TELL YA PLENTY
CHESTER DONE.
WHAT BOTHERED ME IS WHAT HE
WANTED TO DO WITH THAT BOY.
BOY WAS TOO YOUNG
FOR THAT.
HOW YOU DOING
THERE, TOMMY?
PRETTY GOOD, SIR.
HOW 'BOUT YOU?
FINE, THANKS.
DO YOU GOT ANY PLANS YET
FOR NEXT SUMMER?
NONE SO FAR.
CHESTER HAS MET
A YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR,
WHO WORKS AT THE SERVICE STATION
WHERE HE TAKES HIS CADILLAC.
HE DECIDES THAT HE'S GOING
TO TAKE THIS YOUNG BOY
OFF TO EUROPE FOR THE SUMMER.
HE WENT TO SEE
THIS BOY'S PARENTS
SAYING, "HE'LL NEVER
HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN.
WE'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.
PLUS, I'M GOING TO PAY HIM."
AND WHEN
MRS. BURGE FOUND OUT,
THINGS WEREN'T
THE SAME NO MORE.
ARE YOU TRYING TO DRAG US
THROUGH THE MUD, CHESTER?
HOW STUPID ARE YOU?
WHAT'S THE BEE
IN YOUR BONNET NOW?
LORD, CHESTER,
HOW OLD IS HE, 16?
IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START
EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS,
SEE THE WORLD!
WHAT MADE THIS TIME
DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER?
I'VE SAID IT ONCE
AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
APPEARANCES WERE EVERYTHING
TO US.
SO LONG AS CHESTER
WAS OUT OF TOWN,
HE WAS FREE TO DO
AS HE PLEASED.
BUT WE ALL SAW THIS BOY
AT THE SERVICE STATION.
IT WAS LITERALLY
TOO CLOSE TO HOME.
I MADE ARRANGEMENTS.
AND I UNMADE THEM.
MARY IMMEDIATELY
PUTS AN END TO IT.
CHESTER WAS ABSOLUTELY LIVID.
AS FAR AS HE WAS CONCERNED, MARY
SHOULD HAVE STAYED OUT OF IT.
THE POLICE HAVE TO WONDER,
"WAS HE FURIOUS ENOUGH
TO HARM HER?"
IT SEEMED INCREDIBLE.
AFTER ALL, THE POLICE
HAD CONFIRMED CHESTER
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
WHILE THE MURDER HAPPENED.
THEY'D SEEN HIM WHEN HE WAS
CARRIED INTO THE CRIME SCENE
WITH THEIR OWN EYES.
THE MAN WAS STILL RECOVERING
FROM THAT SURGERY,
EVEN WEEKS LATER.
HEY, MR. BURGE.
HOW YOU FEELING TODAY?
AS WELL AS CAN BE EXPECTED.
BUT THE CLUES
WERE STARTING TO STACK UP.
AND THEY WEREN'T
IN CHESTER'S FAVOR.
SO YOU WERE HERE
ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 11th?
YES.
AND I ASSUME YOU CHECKED
ON MR. BURGE?
I GAVE HIM A DOUBLE DOSE
OF SEDATIVES.
AND HE WENT TO BED
SOON AFTER.
AND THERE'S NO WAY
FOR MR. BURGE
TO HAVE LEFT THIS HOSPITAL
WITHOUT BEING SEEN?
WELL, I COULDN'T SAY
FOR SURE.
WE DID HAVE A SHIFT CHANGE.
AND THERE CAN BE A BIT
OF A BREAK IN BETWEEN.
YOU NOTICE ANYTHING
OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAT NIGHT?
WELL, THERE WERE TWO MEN.
THE NURSE NOTICED
TWO MALE VISITORS,
ONE BLACK AND ONE WHITE,
COME INTO THE HOSPITAL ROOM
AFTER NORMAL VISITING HOURS.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THEM?
I'M AFRAID
I DIDN'T GET A GOOD LOOK.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN A PERSON
ISN'T FORTHCOMING?
WELL, YOU FIND SOMEONE
WHO WILL BE.
POLICE BRING FRITZ
DOWN TO MACON
TO AID IN THE INVESTIGATION.
I'M JUST GONNA CUT
RIGHT TO IT.
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
WE'RE LOOKING AT CHESTER.
AND WE THINK
IF THERE'S ANYONE
WHO KNOWS WHAT WAS REALLY
GOING ON BETWEEN HIM AND MARY,
IT'D BE YOU.
WELL, I'VE HAD MY MISGIVINGS,
TOO, ON THAT ACCOUNT,
ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST
FEW MONTHS.
FRITZ WAS VERY FORTHCOMING.
HE TOLD THEM THAT IN JANUARY,
JUST FOUR MONTHS
BEFORE THE MURDER,
HE AND CHESTER
WENT DOWN TO NORTH FLORIDA.
AND THEY FOUND A SMALL HOTEL,
WHICH CHESTER WAS GOING TO BUY.
AND FRITZ WAS GOING TO RUN.
AND THEY WOULD LIVE THERE
TOGETHER IN COMPLETE BLISS.
ON THAT SAME TRIP
TO LOOK AT THE HOTELS,
THEY STOP OFF AND VISIT
CHESTER'S COUSINS, THE KYLES,
WHO LIVE DOWN THERE.
AND DURING THAT TIME,
CHESTER CONFESSES TO THE KYLES
THAT HE IS IN LOVE WITH FRITZ
AND WANTS TO SPEND THE REST
OF HIS LIFE WITH FRITZ.
HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE MARY.
LISTEN, A LOT OF MEN
WENT THROUGH THIS BACK THEN.
I KNOW THAT
BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF 'EM.
BUT I KNEW VERY WELL WHAT
CHESTER SHOULD'VE KNOWN, TOO.
JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE READY
TO LIVE YOUR DREAM
DOESN'T MEAN OTHER PEOPLE ARE
READY TO BE A PART OF THE PLAN.
MARY GETS WORD OF THIS.
AND SHE'S FURIOUS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
WAS NOT PART OF THE BARGAIN.
IF, IN FACT, HE WAS GOING
TO HAVE HIS FREEDOM,
IT WAS ALWAYS
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING
THAT THEY KEEP TOGETHER
THAT FACADE OF THEIR MARRIAGE.
- HOW ARE YOU, MARY?
- CHESTER, WE NEED TO TALK.
SHE'S VERY UPSET.
SHE'S VERY HURT.
MARY NEEDS CHESTER
TO MAINTAIN HER LIFESTYLE.
CHESTER, YOU ARE SICK.
YOU HAVE AN ILLNESS.
AND YOU NEED HELP.
AND, MARY DECIDES
THAT THINGS CANNOT GO ON THE WAY
THEY ARE.
I HAVE BEEN DOING
SOME READING.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN
MANY CASES
THAT HAVE BEEN TREATED
EXCELLENTLY WITH A LOBOTOMY.
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR
COTTON-PICKING MIND?
AND SO MARY DECIDES
THAT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO
IS TO HAVE THIS HOMOSEXUALITY
CUT OUT OF THEIR LIFE,
WHICH MEANS CUTTING IT
OUT OF CHESTER'S.
BACK THEN, PEOPLE THOUGHT
HOMOSEXUALITY WAS AN ILLNESS.
I WENT IN FOR TREATMENT
MYSELF, ONCE OR TWICE.
MY FAMILY WAS CONCERNED.
BUT THAT WAS JUST
HOW THINGS WERE DONE.
I'VE MADE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR YOU TO SEE A DR. THIGPEN.
YOU'VE MADE ARRANGEMENTS?
THOUGH IT MAY SEEM HATEFUL
TO US NOW, AT THE TIME,
MARY WAS ONLY TRYING TO HELP.
SO CHESTER AND FRITZ,
THEY'RE BOTH EVALUATED.
AND DR. THIGPEN
TELLS CHESTER THAT A LOBOTOMY,
OF COURSE, WOULD NOT WORK.
THEN DR. THIGPEN FINALLY SAYS,
"NO, WHAT NEEDS TO BE CUT OUT
IS FRITZ."
HE WOULD JUST REMOVE HIMSELF
FROM THE EQUATION
AND AGREE NOT TO SEE CHESTER
ANYMORE,
THAT EVERYTHING COULD GO BACK
TO NORMAL IN CHESTER'S LIFE.
SO DID YOU LEAVE?
OF COURSE I DID.
WHAT CHESTER AND I HAD,
IT WASN'T SERIOUS,
AT LEAST NOT TO ME.
SO FRITZ AGREES TO THIS.
EVEN MARY GIVES HIM A KISS
ON THE CHEEK GOODBYE.
BUT THAT'S IT.
IT'S GOODBYE.
HE IS TO LEAVE.
HE IS NEVER TO COME BACK
TO MACON.
AND HE AND CHESTER
ARE NEVER TO HAVE CONTACT AGAIN.
THE POLICE THINK
THAT MARY'S INTERRUPTING
CHESTER'S ROMANTIC PLANS
HAS SET CHESTER OFF.
IT'S LIKE THREE STRIKES
AND YOU'RE OUT.
FIRST STRIKE WAS INTERFERING
WITH CHESTER'S NEW RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
SECOND STRIKE WAS,
MARY INTERFERED WITH CHESTER
AND FRITZ'S PLANS
TO BUY THE HOTEL IN FLORIDA.
THE THIRD STRIKE WAS SENDING
FRITZ BACK TO NEW JERSEY,
NEVER TO BE
SEEN AGAIN BY CHESTER.
THE OFFICERS FELT LIKE
THEY HAD A MOTIVE FOR CHESTER.
WITH MARY OUT OF THE WAY,
CHESTER COULD DO
WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.
BUT ONE THOUGHT EMERGES.
WHY WOULD HE HAVE TO KILL HER?
WHY COULDN'T HE JUST
HAVE A DIVORCE?
LOVE CAN MAKE A PERSON
DO CRAZY THINGS SOMETIMES.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE FORCED
TO HIDE WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
BUT THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE
SECRET HIDING
IN THE BURGES' CLOSET.
WHAT'S THAT THEY SAY
ABOUT UNHAPPY FAMILIES?
THEY MAY ALL BE UNHAPPY
IN THEIR OWN WAY.
BUT AT THE TIME,
THERE WERE FAMILIES
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY LIVING
IN ARRANGEMENTS LIKE THIS ONE.
MARRIAGES THAT WERE A LITTLE
CURLY AROUND THE EDGES,
AS WE USED TO SAY.
BUT CHESTER WASN'T SATISFIED
WITH THAT.
A LESS THAN IDEAL
FAMILY SITUATION
ISN'T A MOTIVE FOR MURDER,
HOWEVER.
SO WHEN THE PIECES
DON'T ADD UP, WELL,
THAT USUALLY MEANS
THAT A PIECE IS MISSING.
WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR POLICE
TO LOOK INTO HIS BACKGROUND,
THERE IN THE LEGAL FILES
WAS A DOCUMENT.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND WAS,
WHEN CHESTER WAS A YOUNG MAN,
HE HAD BEEN DECLARED INSANE.
HIS MOTHER HAD ACTUALLY
COMMITTED HIM
TO THE INSANE ASYLUM.
LIKELY BECAUSE HE WAS
A HOMOSEXUAL.
ALL THESE DEEDS
ARE MADE OUT TO MARY BURGE.
UNDER THE LAW, IF YOU'RE INSANE,
YOU'RE NOT ABLE
TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS,
TO BUY AND SELL PROPERTY
IN YOUR OWN NAME.
SO IN ALL THOSE YEARS,
EVERYTHING
HAD BEEN PUT IN MARY'S NAME.
SHE OWNED THE HOUSES.
SHE OWNED THE JEWELRY.
MARY OWNED EVERYTHING.
IN 1960, IT WOULD'VE
BEEN UNHEARD OF FOR THE WIFE
TO PAY THE HUSBAND ALIMONY.
SO DIVORCE WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED
FOR CHESTER.
IF MARY LIVED,
SHE CONTROLLED THAT MONEY.
IF SHE DIED, HE HAD
ABOUT A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS.
MONEY MADE MARY HAPPY.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF IT.
AND AS LONG
AS MARY CONTROLLED THAT MONEY,
THERE WAS NO HOTEL
IN FLORIDA WITH FRITZ,
NO EUROPEAN VOYAGES WITH
YOUNG TRAVELING COMPANIONS.
ULTIMATELY,
THAT WAS CHESTER'S PROBLEM.
CHESTER STRUCK A DEAL
WITH MARY.
AND THEN,
HE CHANGED HIS MIND.
CHESTER DIDN'T WANT
TO MAKE A DEAL.
CHESTER WANTED EVERYTHING.
ON MAY 31st,
ALMOST 3 WEEKS AFTER THE MURDER,
CHESTER IS FORMALLY CHARGED
WITH THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE.
CHESTER'S TRIAL,
THAT STARTED IN NOVEMBER,
OF 1960 WAS THE BIGGEST THING
TO HIT MACON
IN MANY, MANY YEARS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MEMBERS OF THE JURY,
THE DEFENSE WILL CLAIM
THAT CHESTER BURGE
WAS AN INVALID AT THE TIME
OF HIS WIFE'S MURDER.
BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
CHESTER BURGE IS NO INVALID.
HE IS NO STRANGER
TO DECEIT AND LIES.
WHAT THE PROSECUTION
WAS CLAIMING IS THAT CHESTER
WAS SAVVY ENOUGH TO GET UP
AT THE HOSPITAL,
GO DOWN THE HALL,
GET DOWNSTAIRS AND GO HOME.
HE CHOKES HER
WITH HIS OWN HANDS.
AND THEN HE TRIES TO MAKE
IT LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY
BY HAMMERING SOME PINS
OUT OF THE LOCKED CLOSET DOOR.
AND THEN HE LIED ABOUT
THE MISSING MONEY TO THE POLICE.
AND COME BACK AND GET
INTO HIS HOSPITAL BED UNSEEN.
HE MADE ONLY ONE CRUCIAL MISTAKE
IN KNOCKING THE PINS
ON THE CLOSET DOOR.
HE LEFT BEHIND A FINGERPRINT.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING
BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT
WHEN I READ IT IN THE PAPERS.
THE FINGERPRINT,
A CLUE SO INSIGNIFICANT,
THEY'D ALL BUT THROWN IT AWAY.
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT
WHERE YOU LEAVE A FINGERPRINT,
IT'S WHEN.
IS IT YOUR JOB TO CLEAN
MRS. BURGE'S BEDROOM?
YES, SIR.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU CLEANED IT?
THE WEDNESDAY, SIR.
THE WEDNESDAY MRS. BURGE
WAS KILLED?
YES, SIR.
AND THE REASON
THAT IT'S IMPORTANT,
ACCORDING TO THEM,
IS THAT, SINCE CHESTER
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL
WHEN THE DOOR WAS WASHED
AND THE FINGERPRINT IS THERE,
CHESTER CAME HOME THAT NIGHT.
MAYBE THAT SOUNDS
A LITTLE FAR-FETCHED.
BUT FINGERPRINT
OR NO FINGERPRINT,
CHESTER SEEMED
HEADED FOR PRISON.
HE WAS MEAN
AND HE WAS HOMOSEXUAL
AND THE JURY DIDN'T
LIKE EITHER OF THOSE THINGS.
WHEN CHARLES ADAMS
TOOK THE FLOOR, HOWEVER,
HE DID SOMETHING
WE NEVER DO DOWN HERE.
HE SAID EXACTLY WHAT EVERYONE
WAS ALREADY THINKING.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE JURY, MR. BURGE IS ARROGANT.
YOU WON'T LIKE HIM.
HE'S NOT A NICE PERSON.
IN FACT, HE'S DESPICABLE.
HE'S GUILTY OF LOTS
AND LOTS OF THINGS.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS,
HE'S ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.
AND THAT'S ALL
HE'S ON TRIAL FOR.
THEY FOUND A FINGERPRINT
ON A CLOSET.
SO WHAT?
IT'S HIS HOUSE.
YES, YOU FOUND
THE MAN'S FINGERPRINT.
SURELY, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE.
- DR. HATCHER...
- YES?
WOULD YOU BE SO KIND
AS TO EXPLAIN TO THE JURY
THE MEDICAL CONDITION
OF MR. BURGE?
MR. BURGE WAS RECOVERING
FROM A HERNIA OPERATION.
THE DEFENSE WAS CLAIMING
THAT CHESTER
HAD HAD THIS OPERATION,
A DOUBLE DOSE OF SEDATIVES
AND A SLEEPING PILL.
TO HAVE GONE HOME
AND DONE ALL THIS
WOULD'VE BEEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
WITH THAT HUGE GASH.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DECIDE TODAY
IS WHETHER WE GAMBLE
WITH THIS MAN'S LIFE.
AFTER A TOTAL OF ONLY ABOUT
SIX HOURS OF DELIBERATION...
HAS THE JURY REACHED A DECISION?
YES, YOUR HONOR.
WE, THE JURY, IN THIS MATTER
HEREBY FIND THE DEFENDANT,
ONE CHESTER BURGE, NOT GUILTY.
SEVERAL OF THE JURORS
LATER SAID,
"WE THOUGHT
HE HAD SOMEONE MURDER HER.
BUT WE WERE ASKED TO JUDGE
WHETHER HE PERSONALLY WENT HOME
AND MURDERED HIS WIFE.
AND WE THINK HE DID NOT."
THE JURY KNEW CHESTER
WAS A HOMOSEXUAL.
BUT THEY HAD PLENTY
OF REASONABLE DOUBT.
AND SO THEY DID THEIR DUTY
AND ACQUITTED HIM.
IT COULD'VE FELT LIKE
A VICTORY,
IF ONLY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.
SO WHY DIDN'T I
FEEL THAT WAY?
AFTER YEARS OF LOOKING AT IT,
INVESTIGATING IT,
TALKING TO PEOPLE,
I THINK THAT THERE WERE TWO
VISITORS TO HIS HOSPITAL ROOM
THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
MY BEST GUESS IS
THAT HE PROBABLY PAID THOSE MEN
TO HAVE HIS WIFE MURDERED.
BUT ALL WE CAN DO IS GUESS
BECAUSE THE ONLY PERSON
WHO KNOWS THE END OF THIS STORY
ISN'T AROUND TO TELL IT.
THIS PARTICULAR STORY
IS SUCH A BIZARRE ONE
THAT, IF WE TRIED
TO WRITE IT AS FICTION,
NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE IT.
OFTENTIMES, PEOPLE
IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
ARE DRIVEN TO DO BAD THINGS.
SOMETIMES, EVEN YOU OR I MIGHT
FEEL WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
THE PAIN OF BEING TRAPPED
IN A LOVELESS MARRIAGE
OR HAVING TO HIDE WHO YOU ARE
CAN DRIVE A PERSON
TO A VERY DARK PLACE.
IT'S EASY TO BE A GOOD MAN
WHEN EVERYTHING
IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN.
BUT LIFE IS FULL OF IMPOSSIBLE
DREAMS AND THWARTED HOPES.
AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY A GOOD MAN
IS SO VERY HARD TO FIND.
* BY THE LIGHT
OF THE SILVERY MOON *
* I WANT TO SPOON *
* TO MY HONEY,
I'LL CROON LOVE'S TUNE *
* YOUR SILVERY BEAMS
WILL BRING LOVE'S DREAMS *
* WE'LL BE CUDDLIN' SOON *
* BY THE SILVERY MOON *