Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 2, Episode 28 - The Case of the Spanish Cross - full transcript

My dear Runyan, I do
wish you would reconsider.

I can understand your
reluctance to part with the cross,

but still, $125,000
is a goodly sum.

You're wasting your time,
Karr. I've been offered 200.

By whom?

Now, what difference
does it make?

It might make all the
difference in the world.

I speak in terms of
cash, Mr. Runyan.

Coin of the realm.

Now, uh, if you were
to double your offer...

Yes, indeed, a psychiatrist
would be in order.



No, Mr. Runyan, $150,000.
That's as high as I'll go.

You'll be back.
Don't count on it.

You know, we collectors
are a strange breed.

What may take our fancy one day

may not hold any
interest for us the next.

Good day, Wormser.
Goodbye, Mr. Karr.

Mr. Runyan. Goodbye.

I've got him hooked,

but good.

And how did you like the
way I handled him, huh?

I tell you, Wormser, he'll
go $175,000 before I'm...

Did you put it back in the safe?

Well, it was right here
when we went out with Karr.

I know. Now, obviously,



it didn't walk out by...

Why, that dirty little thief.

You think Jimmy?

Get him in here.

You're a dirty thief.

Who do you think you're kidding?

It was right there no
more than 15 minutes ago.

Now, let's cut out
the fooling around.

I mean business.

What did you do with that cross?

You know what the police
will do to you if I call them.

You're on probation now.

I know it, Mr. Runyan.
You just gotta believe me.

I wouldn't believe you
on a stack of Bibles.

I wouldn't do that again
if I were you, Mr. Runyan.

Why, you insolent little pup.

I didn't mean to do it.

I didn't mean to do it!

I didn't mean to hurt
him, Mrs. Runyan.

All I was... All I was trying
to do was protect myself.

You liar.

So you came
running in here, huh?

Miriam, will you tell Mr. Runyan

he's not welcome
in this room? Curtis...

You can tell my wife if
she doesn't speak to me

for another five
years, it's okay.

But this little thief
tried to kill me.

That's a lie. Why, you...

Miriam, will you please
ask Mr. Runyan to leave?

Please, Curtis...
Now, what did you do

with that cross?

I'm gonna find it if I have
to tear this place apart.

And you know
what'll happen to you.

You're going back to
jail where you belong.

Would you like some tea, Jimmy?

Miriam, fix the boy a cup.

Miriam, please.

The tea.

I'm getting out of here.

Why?

You heard what he said.
He's gonna call the cops.

Jimmy, tell me the truth.

Did you take the cross?

No, ma'am, I swear I didn't.

Do you have any money?

I'll get by.

Will you...?

Will you call me?

Mrs. Runyan...

I've never known
anyone like you.

He didn't leave a thing behind.

If I find that my wife has
given him the money to skip,

she won't hear
the end of it. Bel...

The case! Wait.

The police will want to
check it for fingerprints.

Maybe the cross is in it.

I'm gonna call the police.

And in State v. Wilson,

the Supreme Court held
that whenever a defendant

in a criminal
action was forcibly...

Yes, Gertie?

A Mr. Felix Karr to see you.

Felix Karr.

Uh, would you ask
Mr. Karr what he want...?

It's about the
Jimmy Morrow case.

Jimmy Morrow?

Have Gertie send him in.

Mr. Mason will
see Mr. Karr, Gertie.

According to this,
he's on probation.

Uh-huh.

Mr. Mason? MASON: That's right.

How do you do, sir?

This is a rare privilege indeed.

And this, I take it, is your
secretary, Miss Street?

I make it a practice
of being informed

about the people I'm
going to do business with.

Won't you sit down? Thank you.

Do you mind? Not at all.

Uh, no, thank you.

The little man that makes
these for me in Havana

refuses to accept
the machine age.

What's on your mind?

Right to the point, eh, sir?

I admire a man like that.

You've read the story?

Yes.

I want you to defend the boy.

Is he a friend of yours?

I believe I saw him once.

Yesterday, when I
visited Mr. Runyan.

I can't believe he's guilty.

According to this,
the cross is gone,

but they found the
empty case in his room.

I'm sure there's a
logical explanation.

Or one that's obvious.

Mark my words, sir.
That boy is not a thief.

You can tell that from
seeing him just once?

I pride myself on being a
good judge of character.

Apparently, the authorities
don't agree with you.

He was convicted
of grand theft auto.

Childish prank.

Tell me, Mr. Karr: why
did you come to me?

I have the utmost
respect for your ability.

I feel certain you can
manage to get him acquitted.

Suppose he's guilty?

I refuse to consider
that for one second.

I trust this will be
sufficient for a retainer?

A retainer is a
little premature.

You won't take the case?

Not until I speak to the boy.

That presents a problem,
since he's disappeared.

Well, I'm sure your
Mr. Drake can find him.

You seem to know
a great deal about us.

I told you, I always
keep informed

about the people I'm
going to do business with.

I haven't said we are
going to do business.

All I ask is that you
consider my proposal.

I'll pay you $1,000 if
you represent the boy.

Will I hear from you
one way or the other?

You'll hear from me.

That's all I ask. Miss Street.

Good day.

Well...

Della, get Paul in here.

I got the impression

that you wanted
no part of Mr. Karr.

No, but there's something
here that's rather curious.

Did Mr. Karr
impress you as being

a one-man welfare organization?

Absolutely not.

Then why does he want me
to represent Jimmy Morrow?

Well, he said he believed
the boy was innocent.

Exactly.

I have a hunch that if
Mr. Karr really believed that,

he wouldn't raise
a finger to help him.

According to this,

I was just about to meet a
tall, handsome gentleman

who would make me
independently wealthy.

I'll tell him when I see him.

Did you find the boy? No.

But I thought you might
like to speak to his father.

Where does he
live? Right over here.

Mr. Morrow?

May we come in?

My name is Mason.
This is Mr. Drake.

How do you do?

You're...

You're here about my boy?

That's right.

Thank you.

Don't send him to jail.

I'm afraid you don't understand.

Jimmy's a good
boy. He's just unlucky.

Unlucky?

To have me for a father.

Nice, huh?

I've been like this
for the past 10 years.

Jimmy turned out a lot better

than anybody had
a right to expect.

But this isn't the first
time he's been in trouble.

You mean the automobile he
was supposed to have stolen

from Mrs. Runyan?

He didn't do that.

That was one of
the kids around here.

Jimmy wouldn't squeal on him.

I know you don't believe
me, but it happens to be true.

I know the kid who took the car.

His name is Barney Kellogg.

He even admitted it to me.

Who, um...?

Who arranged his probation?

Mm.

Mrs. Runyan.

She was wonderful.

She even worked it out so
Jimmy could work at her place

and... And do odd jobs.

They wouldn't trust him to me.

Excuse me.

Why did this thing
have to happen?

Jimmy was happy
for the first time.

And Mr. Runyan
had to ruin everything.

That Runyan's no
good, Mr. Mason.

First time I saw him,

I knew he was gonna
make trouble for Jimmy.

Why do you blame Runyan?

He never wanted Jimmy in
the house in the first place.

If you ask me,

he pinned it on the
kid just to get rid of him.

If you cops send him to jail...

We're not the police.

Mm-mm.

I'm an attorney,
Mr. Morrow. I'm an attorney.

I've been asked to defend
Jimmy by a man named Felix Karr.

Does...? Does that mean
you're gonna help him?

Well, I'll have to
speak to Jimmy first.

Have you any idea
where I might find him?

Well, if you do hear from him,

have him get in
touch with my office.

So this is the famous
Cruz de Santa Maria.

I've gotta get that
color photo back.

I borrowed it from Libel.

He sold the cross to
Runyan eight years ago.

How much did Runyan pay?

Seventy-five thousand dollars.

The Cruz de Santa Maria.

"This iron cross,

"measuring approximately
4 and a half inches by 7,

"was fashioned by Juan Piñero,

"a sailor aboard the Nina,

"the ship that accompanied
Columbus to the New World.

"The cross was made from
three nails from the Santa Maria,

"hence its name.

"On his return to Spain,
Columbus presented the cross

"to King Ferdinand, who had
it encrusted with diamonds,

"rubies, emeralds and pearls.

"And in turn,
presented it to Cortés

before his
expedition to Mexico."

That's a lot of history
for a little piece of iron.

And a lot of jewels.

But where is it now?

Did your contact know of anyone

who had expressed an
interest in the cross lately?

Only one.

Felix Karr?

Mm-hm.

Well, it's beginning to add up.

I finally finished these briefs.

Good. Runyan here?

No. Do you want
me to try his home?

I think perhaps you'd better
He's already a half-hour late.

Stop it.

Stop it!

Where is, uh, Jimmy, Mr. Morrow?

You must have some idea.

Believe me, your
son is making it

much worse for
himself by hiding.

I don't know, lieutenant.

I honestly don't know.

Hello, Mr. Morrow.

Well, I had a hunch
you were about due.

You had an appointment
last night with Mr. Runyan.

I figured there must
be a connection,

especially when his
secretary, Mr. Wormser,

told me that you
wanted to talk to Runyan

about, uh, a stolen cross.

No comment?

No comment.

I don't think you appreciate

what you're
getting yourself into.

We've got a witness who
puts Jimmy right on the scene.

That doesn't prove a thing.

This same witness saw
him holding the murder gun.

How do you know it
was the murder gun?

According to the morning papers,
there was no weapon found.

Sure.

Your client made away with it.

You're taking a lot for granted.

What makes you
sure he's my client?

Well, I... I naturally
supposed...

That isn't safe.

Please, Mr. Mason,
you've gotta help him.

You don't understand.

He's got nobody in the world.

Just a father who's a drunk.

A no-good, stinking drunk.

Please?

Please?

As I said, lieutenant,

you're taking a lot for granted.

You do represent the boy?

According to my men,

Jimmy has not been
in touch with his father.

He must be somewhere in
his old neighborhood, Paul.

No doubt, but we haven't
been able to find him.

Wait a moment.

Jimmy's father said that the
real thief of Mrs. Runyan's car

was a boy named Barney Kellogg.

Yeah?

Perhaps Barney feels
a sense of obligation.

You think he knows
where Jimmy's hiding?

Well, it's a possibility.

Well, the odds are against
it, but I'll put a tail on him.

Good.

Yes, Della?

Mr. Felix Karr is here

for his 4:00 appointment.

Bring him in, please.

I'll, uh, be in my
office for a while.

Good afternoon.

Come in, Mr. Karr.
Sit down, won't you?

Thank you.

Really, my dear,
is that necessary?

Thank you. I have a
horror of that kind of thing.

Makes me feel as though
I were talking for posterity.

Well, I assume you've
reached some decision

in regard to Jimmy Morrow?

I've decided to represent him.

Splendid.

I believe I said $500.

No, you said $1,000.

You must forgive me.

My memory isn't
what it should be.

Uh, may I have a pen?

I don't want your money.

You think there may be
conflicting interests, eh?

I'm sure of it.

You think Jimmy stole the cross,

and out of a sense of
gratitude, will turn it over to you

for getting him an attorney.

Well, I must admit, the
thought had occurred to me.

That cross is worth a good
deal of money, Mr. Mason.

Aren't you forgetting
something? It's stolen property.

Would $25,000 help to
override your concern?

Mm, that's a very
tempting offer.

Are you speaking
in promises, or cash?

Cash, sir. On delivery.

You realize, of course,

there's liable to
be many questions.

Questions never bother me.

I don't intend to
publicize my purchase.

I have a good number
of items in my collection

that would surprise you.

I can believe that.

Now, what do you know
about Runyan's murder?

Not a thing. I detest
violence in any form.

Well, what's the verdict?
Do we do business?

No.

Well, should you
change your mind,

you know where to reach me.

Good day, Miss Street.

Good day.

I won't say goodbye to you.

I have a definite
feeling we'll meet again.

Oddly enough, I feel
the same way, Mr. Karr.

Au revoir.

Good afternoon.

You're Miss Baker, I believe.

The maid informed
me I'd find you here.

Yes? Allow me to
introduce myself.

My name is Felix Karr.

I considered Mr. Runyan
one of my dearest friends.

Then I guess you want
to see Mrs. Runyan.

No. No, I have no desire to
intrude on her moment of grief.

But perhaps you'd be good
enough to give her these,

with my sympathies.

I'm afraid I've been guilty of
carrying coals to Newcastle.

I'm sure she'll appreciate
it just the same.

You're very kind.

I'd better get these into water.

Uh, Miss Baker,

I wonder if I could presume
on our short acquaintance.

Doubtless you've heard
of my interest in the cross.

Now, if by some chance
you should hear anything

about its whereabouts,

naturally, I would
be very grateful.

I can't tell you

how much I appreciate
your seeing me.

Thank you.

I realize the
strain you're under.

It's much worse for Jimmy.

I wish...

I wish there were
some way I could help.

And you don't feel he's guilty
of murdering your husband?

Of course not.

Do you mind if I
ask where you were

last night around 6:00?

Apparently, you've
heard my husband and I

weren't on the best of terms.

Five years ago,

Curtis and I had one of
our more colorful quarrels.

It took place on the
second-floor landing.

I often thought of having an
engraved tablet installed there

to commemorate the event.

It wasn't intentional, but
I went down the stairs,

and wound up in this.

I'm... I'm sorry.

It isn't too bad.

But I'm evading your
question, aren't I?

At 6:00, I was out for a drive.

Alone?

You find that
difficult to believe?

On April 3rd of last year,

you were issued
a restrictive license

to operate a vehicle
with hand controls.

It's amazing how easy
they've made things for me.

More tea?

Please.

Thank you.

What can you tell me about
a man named Felix Karr?

I don't believe I'm
familiar with the name.

You might ask Mr. Wormser.

He's my...

Uh...

I should say, he was
my husband's secretary.

Oh.

I'm terribly sorry.

That's all right, dear.

My cousin, Miss Miriam
Baker. Mr. Perry Mason.

How do you do?

I've heard a great
deal about you.

You're going to hear more.

Mr. Mason's going
to represent Jimmy.

Obviously, the
prospect delights you.

Miriam.

You must admit, it is
rather unusual, Mr. Mason.

But then, my cousin
was always very tolerant.

Of course, some might think

she's carrying the
principle to an extreme

when she ignores the
murder of her husband

and champions his killer.

Don't you think
you've said enough?

Oh, I'm so sorry, dear.

I keep forgetting my place.

I wish I could say this had
been a pleasure, Mr. Mason,

but then, I'm prejudiced.

Curtis Runyan was
one of my benefactors.

You'll have to
forgive my cousin.

She doesn't
generally act this way.

Obviously, she was upset
over your husband's death.

Thank you for your help,
and thank you for the tea.

It's been a great pleasure.

For me also.

And while I'm not
very often surprised,

I must admit, you had
me completely fooled.

Thank you, Roger.

I think you'll find
this sherry delightful.

Very good.

There's only one thing
that troubles me, Wormser.

How can I be sure you
actually have the cross?

I told you, I can put my
hands on it in five minutes.

All you have to do
is put up the money.

Shall we say $500?

Five hundred? You
offered Runyan 150,000.

Mr. Runyan owned the cross.

I shouldn't wanna have
to defend your title in court.

Well, if you think
you can bluff me,

you've got another...

thing...

Wha...? What...? What...?
What did you put in...?

Roger.

At five minutes after
7, Karr had a visitor.

Unfortunately, at that time,

my man didn't get
a good look at him.

When he came
out two hours later,

he was staggering
all over the place.

Karr's chauffeur drove him
home, and my man followed them.

All right, Paul, let's
have it: who is he?

Runyan's secretary,
Everett Wormser.

Well, that's very interesting.

And Wormser was
staggering when he came out?

Yeah, he must have
had a few too many.

I wonder what he
was celebrating?

All right, Paul,
I want you to...

Yes, Della?

There's a call for
Paul on Line 2.

Harry Kline.

Thanks.

Yeah, Harry, what is it?

You sure?

No, stay where you
are. What's the address?

Okay, we'll be
there in 20 minutes.

Well, you were right
about Barney Kellogg.

We just located Jimmy Morrow.

Hi, Harry. Where's Jimmy?

What about the police?

Not a sign. Want
me to go in with you?

No, he's my client, Paul.

High time I had a
talk with him alone.

Okay. This way, Mr. Mason.

See those doors to
the basement? Mm-hm.

He's been in there
for the last two days.

Any other exit?

No.

All right. Thank you,
Harry. I'll take it from here.

Okay.

Jimmy?

Jimmy, my name is Perry Mason.

I talked with your father, Jim.

I want to help you.

I know you're down here, Jimmy.

I know there's no other way out.

Whenever you're ready, son.

I can wait just as
long as you can.

You brought the cops with you.

No, I haven't.

I don't believe you.

You tell the cops they
ain't gonna take me alive.

I've got a gun.

Jimmy.

Now, Jimmy, I want
you to listen to me.

More than that, I want
you to listen like a man.

A man knows when another
man is lying to him, Jimmy.

I can't explain how

because maybe I don't know,

but this I do know:

honest men don't
deceive each other.

Now, you believe
that, don't you?

I'm not lying.

I know that.

Honest men talk face to face.

They don't hide from
each other in dark holes.

I'd like you to come out
now and talk with me.

Jimmy?

Are you alone?

Yes, I'm alone.

I suppose that means the
cops are behind that fence.

No.

But they are looking
for you. You know that.

You'll call them.

No, I won't call them.

I'll take you to them.

Now, Jim, now, think.

I told you I don't
lie, and I don't.

Now, if you trust me,

if you believe that
I wanna help you,

the first thing I'll do

is to turn you over
to the authorities.

You can run away if you want to.

You can sink back into
this hole if you want to.

I won't stop you.

But if you do trust me,

I will turn you in.

I didn't kill Mr. Runyan.

If you've done nothing
wrong, then I can help you.

You mean I've got to trust you.

No, I mean we've
got to trust each other.

No man is alone, Jimmy.

There comes a time
when each of us must say,

"I can't do it alone."

Each of us, sooner or later,

we...

We hold out our hands and say...

Say to someone, "Help me."

When that time comes,

all we have left is our trust.

I'm going now, Jimmy.

And in the performance of
your duty, Sergeant Kenton,

would you tell
this court, please,

what happened on the
afternoon of May 1st?

One moment, sergeant.

Mr. Burger, in view
of your laryngitis,

I'm willing to grant an
adjournment if you so desire.

If the court please,

I appreciate Your
Honor's consideration,

and I apologize for
the sound of my voice.

However, the
condition is temporary,

and if you can tolerate
me, I can tolerate it.

Very well.

Now, sergeant, will you
describe the events of May 1st?

Well, at approximately
4:30 p.m.,

I received a phone call
from Mr. Curtis Runyan.

He said that a
valuable jeweled cross

had been stolen from his home.

He asked us to investigate.

And what did you discover
when you got there?

I found the case
which held the cross.

Was the cross in it?
No, sir, it was empty.

Is this the case you
found, sergeant?

Yes, sir, it is.

Where did you find it?

In the defendant's room.

It was hidden between
the inner spring

and the mattress of his bed.

Thank you. Take the witness.

I didn't take that cross.

I never even saw it.

Sergeant, you say you found
this in the defendant's room.

Is that perfectly accurate?

I don't know what you mean, sir.

Well, did you personally
make the discovery?

Well, no. Mr. Runyan and
his secretary, Mr. Wormser,

found it before they called us.

Then they showed it to you

rather than the
other way around?

Yes, sir.

Did you examine
this for fingerprints?

We did.

What did you find?

It had been wiped clean.

Then the defendant's
fingerprints were not on it?

No, sir. I said it had
been wiped clean.

Thank you, sergeant.

That'll be all.

You may stand down.

Lieutenant, I ask you if you've
ever seen this gun before?

Yes, sir, it has my
identifying mark on it.

Where did you first see it?

Well, it was on the evening
of, um, May 4th, about 7:00.

It was shortly
after the defendant

surrendered to the police.

Now, lest there be any
misunderstanding about this,

did you personally find the gun?

Yes, sir, I did.

Where did you find it?

Well, it was in a
basement, um...

Basement at 1417 Grant Street.

It was, uh, wrapped in
a black leather jacket.

Is this the jacket?

Yes, sir.

If it please the court,

I should like this
marked for identification.

Thank you.

Now, lieutenant, would
you read for us, please,

the name inked into this label?

It's "Jimmy Morrow."

Thank you, lieutenant.
Cross-examine.

Lieutenant, I'd be the last one

to take credit away
from the police,

but you testified that
you personally discovered

the murder weapon?

That's right.

Would you please tell the court

what led you to
1417 Grant Street?

Well, you told us
that that's where

the defendant had been hiding.

I volunteered that
information, did I not?

There was no attempt
to mislead you?

No, sir.

Now, knowing how
thorough you are, lieutenant,

you must have checked
the registration on that gun.

Yes, sir.

I was wondering why
the state didn't see fit

to bring that out.

Can you tell us where
the gun was purchased?

Well, I... May I
refresh my memory?

By all means.

The gun was, uh,

sold by the Kane and
Kinsey Hardware Company

on January 15th of this year.

And who made the purchase?

Miss Miriam Baker.

Thank you, lieutenant.

My cousin, Miss Baker,

purchased the gun at my request.

And subsequently, she
gave the gun to you?

Yes, she did. On the same day.

And on that same day, you
showed it to the defendant?

Your Honor, I must object.

Counsel is leading the witness.

Your Honor, this
is a hostile witness.

We've seen no evidence
of that hostility, Mr. Burger.

If it please the court,

Mrs. Runyan, when I asked
you to testify for the state,

what was your reply?

Well, I... I said I
preferred not to.

And didn't you also tell me

that you had spoken
to Perry Mason

and volunteered to
defray the expenses

incurred in the defense
of Jimmy Morrow?

Yes.

You may ask your leading
questions, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Mrs. Runyan, I ask you again:

did you show the
defendant that gun?

Well, I... I may have.

I... I don't recall.

Where did you
habitually keep it?

In my car.

And was the
defendant aware of this?

I saw no reason to keep
it a secret from anyone.

Mrs. Runyan, you're not
answering my question.

Do you know, of
your own knowledge,

if the defendant knew
where you kept that gun?

Yes.

Thank you. Your witness.

No questions.

Witness is excused.

When I walked into the study,

I saw Mr. Runyan lying there,

and Jimmy running
across the room.

Uh, he had a gun in his hand.

I see. Now, Mr. Wormser,

didn't you hear a
heated conversation

between the deceased
and the defendant

less than 24 hours
before the murder?

I object, Your Honor.

Mr. Burger is
leading the witness,

and by no stretch
of the imagination

can Mr. Wormser
be called hostile.

Objection sustained.

You know better, Mr. Burger.

Let's observe the
rules of evidence.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Mr. Wormser, where were
you at 3 p.m. on May 1st?

In Mr. Runyan's study.

And who else was
present at that time?

Mr. Runyan and the defendant.

Would you tell us, please, what
you saw and what you heard?

Well, Mr. Runyan told Jimmy

he was going to send him
to jail for stealing the cross.

And what was Jimmy's reaction?

He attacked Mr. Runyan.

Thank you, sir. Cross-examine.

Mr. Wormser, you testified
that you were present

when the defendant had this
altercation with the deceased.

That's right.

But didn't Mr. Runyan
strike the defendant first?

Not that I recall.

Need I remind you
you're under oath?

Well, if Mr. Runyan hit Jimmy,

I most certainly
didn't see him do it.

How do you feel
about the defendant?

I liked him.

You liked him? Yes.

But isn't it true that you

constantly referred
to him as the "jailbird"?

That was just a joke.

That was just your
idea of good, clean fun?

Everyone knew I
meant nothing by it.

I was very fond of Jimmy.

Thank you. That's all.

You may step down.

Uh, just a moment, Mr. Wormser.

I have one or two
questions on redirect.

You've just heard
counsel insinuate

that you might be biased
against the defendant.

Did you ever lend
the defendant money?

Yes, sir, on several occasions.

For what purpose?

Once or twice to buy books,

and another time, I gave him $20

when he was worried
about his father.

And did the defendant

ever repay these loans?

Not yet.

How else did you show your
friendship for the defendant?

I encouraged him
to ask questions.

About what?

Well, he was interested
in Mr. Runyan's collection,

particularly the
Cross of Santa Maria.

I showed it to
him several times.

He seemed fascinated by it.

What gave you that idea?

Well, he was forever
asking questions about it.

What sort of questions?

He wanted to know
how much it was worth

and what kind of
people would buy it.

Things like that.

That's all, Mr. Wormser.

Gentleman, since
it's almost 5:00,

I think this might be
a good time to recess.

Court stands adjourned
till 10:00 tomorrow morning.

I didn't mean anything
by asking Mr. Wormser

how much the cross was worth.

I... I was just curious.

Why did you tell me
you hadn't seen it?

I was afraid you'd think
I was a-a-a crook, or...

Why should I think that?

You know where they
found the empty case.

In your room.

Now, what about the cross, Jim?

I didn't take the
cross, Mr. Mason.

After I left Mrs. Runyan, I
went to my room to pack.

I found the empty case
under a pile of T-shirts.

I hid it under the mattress.

I... I couldn't think of
anything else to do.

Had Mrs. Runyan
offered to help you?

That's why I went back.

Somebody called my father

and said she wanted
to see me at 7:00.

Now, did you go into the study?

But he was already
dead when I got there.

That's why I took
the gun, Mr. Mason.

I thought Mrs. Runyan had...

Just like Barney Kellogg, hm?

You know, Jim,
sometimes it's wise

to let people bear their
own responsibilities.

I'll see you in the morning.

Mr. Karr's residence.
Who's calling?

One moment, please.

It's Mr. Mason.

Yes, Mr. Mason,
what can I do for you?

I just heard of a little item
that might interest you.

A jeweled cross.

I am interested.

You, uh, mentioned $25,000.

Naturally, you want more.

You are a student
of human nature.

Well, sir, I can't
say I'm surprised.

Suppose we put it this way:

if you can deliver the
cross, I'll pay you $165,000.

That sounds fair enough.

Then I'll hear from you?

You can depend on it.

Well?

He just offered me 165,000.

That's 15,000 more than
he offered Mr. Runyan.

I don't get it.

Obviously, Mr. Karr did.

All right, Mr. Burger, you
may call your next witness.

Yes, Your Honor... Your Honor?

Yes, Mr. Mason?

I haven't finished
my examination

of the previous witness.

Yes, you have too, Mr. Mason.

Your Honor, if you'll
consult the record,

you'll see that
Mr. Mason announced

he had no further
questions of Mr. Wormser.

You then submitted
the witness to a redirect.

I had no opportunity
for a recross.

Your Honor recessed
immediately thereafter.

Counsel is right, Mr. Burger.

You may have your recross.

Mr. Wormser.

Yes, sir? You'll
retake the stand.

Remember, you're
still under oath.

Your Honor, may I have a moment?

Very well, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Wormser, how long were
you employed by the deceased?

Almost five years.

Naturally, Mr. Runyan
trusted you?

Of course.

You say "of course" as though
you were worthy of that trust?

I was. Then how
do you explain this:

How do you explain
it, Mr. Wormser?

No, don't look to Mr. Karr.

He has a very simple
explanation. I want yours.

Where were you on the
night of May 3rd at 7:00?

I, uh... I don't remember.

Then let me refresh your memory.

You went to Mr. Karr's
home. You left at 9:00.

Now, I'd like this court to know

exactly what happened
that night between 7 and 9.

How much did Mr. Karr
pay you for the cross?

If he told you he
paid me, he lied.

He drugged me and
took it out of my pocket.

But you were conscious when
you obtained possession of it?

Are you suggesting I stole it?

Didn't you? No!

Miriam Baker.
She had it all along.

That doesn't explain
how you got it.

Miriam Baker.

She gave it to me.

Why?

Was that the price
for your silence?

You blackmailed
her, Mr. Wormser.

You knew she'd stolen the cross.

You told her you'd protect her.

How could I do
that? That was easy.

We heard the sergeant testify

there were no fingerprints
found on the case.

Well, what happened to
my client's fingerprints?

They should have been on it.

He found the case in his room.

Then he hid it
under the mattress.

Obviously, someone
wiped that case clean.

Well, it wasn't me!

Who else had the opportunity?

You and Mr. Runyan
discovered the case.

Mr. Runyan was the one
who phoned the police.

That left you alone in the room.

Well, I didn't
kill him! She did!

We'll have order here,

or this court will be cleared!

Your Honor, he's
lying! He stole the cross!

He couldn't have, Miss Baker.

He was with Mr. Runyan
when it disappeared.

You were the only one

who had the
opportunity to remove it.

Now, why did you
give it to Mr. Wormser?

Because...

Because... Because...

he knew that you had
killed Curtis Runyan.

You killed Runyan
when he discovered

that you were the one
who had stolen the cross.

Miriam, why?

Why?

You ask me why?

For the last five years,

I've waited on
you hand and foot.

I was just a slave to be ordered
about and pushed around.

That's not true.
Don't try to deny it.

Look at my hands.

They're ugly. Ugly.

And they grew
ugly working for you.

My mother...

My mother was a Marlow.

She had servants waiting on her

when your family was
grubbing in the dirt.

I thought if...

If I could sell the cross...

I... I don't know
what I thought.

Then Mr. Mason had a
reproduction of the cross

made from a photograph.

And at the psychological moment,
he showed it to Mr. Wormser.

So he only showed him
the front of the cross?

That's right.

That was all Wormser
needed to see,

but you'll notice I didn't
let him get his hands on it.

But you did leave the impression

that Mr. Karr had
told you everything.

That's the story.

I wish I knew the
right words to...

Words aren't necessary, Jim.

You know how I feel.

What are you going
to do now, Jimmy?

Well, Mrs. Runyan wants me

to come back and
work for her, but, uh...

And you've decided against that?

You know what I've decided.

Mm-hm.

You're going back to
live with your father.

Mm-hm.

Oh, I'm not fooling
myself about him.

He'll never change,
but he needs me.

Good luck, Jim.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.
Goodbye, Miss Street.

Goodbye, Jimmy.

Now, Jim,

don't you be a stranger.

Oh, I won't.

Quite a boy.

Quite a man.