Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 2, Episode 30 - The Case of the Lame Canary - full transcript
Walter Prescott tries to extort all his wife Ruth's money to give her a divorce. As she leaves, a truck almost runs her down, instead crashing into a car and injuring the passenger. Ruth runs to a friend but returns to find Walter dead.
Walter, please listen to me.
I'm all ears.
I've tried to make a
go of our marriage.
It just hasn't worked.
I'm not complaining, Ruth.
It's been more than two years.
A long time to
pay for a mistake.
I want a divorce.
I'd have to fight it, Ruth.
I'd have to drag you
through the dirtiest scandal
this town has ever seen.
What are you talking about?
You were in love
with Jimmy McLain
when you married me.
You're still in love with him
and seeing him behind my back.
That's not true.
Just once, when I ran
into him accidentally.
How much money
have you got left?
That's all you ever
wanted from me.
You haven't
returned the $20,000.
About 40,000, right?
Now...
how badly do you want a divorce?
It's all I've got...
All I own.
I won't give it to you.
That's too bad.
But remember what the man said:
"Till death do us part."
You fool. You bungled it.
Let's get him to a hospital.
Jimmy? Jimmy, this is Ruth.
Walter tried to kill me.
What happened?
He wanted to make it
look like an accident.
He had a truck
try to run me down
right in front of the house.
Now, listen to me, Ruth.
What am I gonna do?
Ruth, I want you
to listen to me.
Ruth?
Honey?
Yes?
I want you to get in a cab
and come right over here.
That'll only make
for more trouble.
Will you please do as I say?
Yes.
Good.
I'll expect you over here
in about 20 minutes, huh?
Goodbye, darling.
Walter?
Walter?
Oh.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Prescott.
Forgive my startling you.
The front door was open.
Burning old love letters?
What are you doing
here, Miss Swaine?
Dictation.
Mr. Prescott called
the office and...
Mr. Prescott?
I found him like this.
I just came in.
Well, I did.
Mrs. Prescott, you don't
have to convince me.
You'd better try the police.
Or haven't you called them yet?
Hello?
Yes, this is Margaret Swaine.
Would you have your
truck pick up my baggage
at the Clairmont
Hotel tonight at 7:00?
Yes, there will be two trunks
and some hand luggage.
Uh-huh. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mr. Wray.
Miss Swaine.
What are you doing
in Mr. Prescott's desk?
There may be some papers
the police may misunderstand.
What are you talking about?
Mr. Prescott is dead. Dead?
I think it was murder.
Probably by his wife.
What?
I found her burning
what looked like evidence.
A package of letters.
Ruth?
Killed Walter?
No. That's impossible.
Calling the Prescott home,
I think you're
wasting your time.
There won't be any answer.
If she has any sense,
Ruth Prescott is at the airport
waiting for the first
plane out of the country.
What happened after
you called the police?
I came right here.
I thought I should see a lawyer.
I thought I needed
someone who...
Someone who
specialized in criminal law.
Were you in love
with your husband?
No.
Are you in love with Mr. McLain?
Yes.
All right...
tell me once again.
What did you do when
you discovered the body?
I phoned the police.
Nothing else?
You're sure there was
no gun near the body?
Positive.
Why did you bring this with you?
Well, I couldn't leave him.
I could see that something
was wrong with his foot.
Your husband was lying
there, apparently murdered,
and yet you were concerned
about a lame canary?
Della, what is the
name of that pet shop
on Mordegan Street?
Mm, Newcome's. Do
you want me to call them?
And get hold of Paul.
I wanna know all
about that accident
with the transfer truck
and the parked car.
Where was it?
Cedar, near Chestnut.
I wanna know who
the truck driver was
and any possible tie-up
between him and Walter Prescott.
Come on, Mrs. Prescott. Where?
I'd like to talk to your
Mr. McLain before the police do.
Gertie, will you
get Paul, please?
Yes, right away.
He hasn't been dead long.
An hour, maybe two at the most.
We'll know better
after the postmortem.
Any idea what caused
those scratches and
bruises on his face?
Well, he didn't get
'em from shaving.
Lieutenant.
Think the crime lab
can do anything with it?
We can try. Williams.
And when Ruth told me
she was almost
hit by that truck,
I told her to grab a cab
and come right over here.
What made you assume
that her husband
was responsible?
I told him so. That's
good enough for me.
But when she arrived here,
you were gone. Where?
I went over to see Prescott.
What did you hope
to accomplish by that?
I just wanted to talk to him.
Using that telephone would
have been the easy way.
He could've hung up on me.
What happened when you saw him?
I didn't. He wasn't home.
So you came right back here?
No...
the door wasn't locked,
so I walked in.
That happens to be the truth.
Go on.
That's the whole story.
No, not quite.
Where did that come from?
I brought it here.
No. No, she didn't.
Well, I figured she might
need a couple of things,
so I went upstairs to her
room and I packed her bag.
Some people might think
you were being presumptuous.
I don't care what anyone thinks.
That's fairly obvious.
Tell me, Mr. McLain,
just what do you
do for a living?
I work in a liquor store.
Do you own a gun?
Now, really,
Mr. Mason... Now, look,
he's in love with you.
He knows your husband
won't give you a divorce.
That's true, isn't it?
One hundred percent correct.
Then my question
about your owning a gun
wasn't entirely out of line.
May I see it?
It's downstairs...
in my car.
Excuse me.
Hello?
Just a moment.
It's a Paul Drake for you.
Thank you.
Hello, Paul?
Perry, I'm glad I
caught you there.
I got the truck
driver identified.
His name's Harry Jonson.
He has a transfer company,
and he's near your
section of town right now.
1220 Carroll Street.
You want me to meet you there?
Yes, in 15 minutes.
See you, Paul.
There's a motel in the
Valley. It's called The Crestline.
I'd like you to take your
belongings and drive out there.
She can stay here with me.
I have a friend down the hall.
I'm happy to know that,
but she can't stay here.
But if she hides... I don't
want her to broadcast
her whereabouts to the world,
and she's not going to hide.
She'll register at the
motel under her own name.
Call me when you get settled.
I was coming down Cedar
Avenue at a slow speed,
and all of a sudden, this
crazy dame crosses the street
just as I'm turning the corner.
She stopped, just like
she turned to stone.
That crazy dame thinks
you deliberately
tried to run her down.
What? Look, mister, do you
know anything about air brakes?
A little. There was
a break in the line.
I just replaced it.
It looks like it had
been cut with a knife.
You know something?
You're right.
Any idea who might have done it?
Well, it might have been
one of my competitors.
Mm, which one?
I'd rather not say
till I get some proof.
Did you ever hear
of a Walter Prescott?
Walter Prescott?
Yeah,
I was trying to get the names
of some of the witnesses.
This guy came out and
helped me with some first aid.
He said he didn't
see the accident,
but heard the crash.
Yeah. "Walter Prescott."
What was the name
of the injured man?
Frederick Walden.
What did you do with
him after the accident?
Well, he was in
pretty bad shape.
I thought I'd better
get him to a hospital.
I, uh, thought you said
your brakes were out.
Well, I can see you've
never driven a truck.
All you have to do is use
the gears and hand brake.
What about his car?
Well, it was pretty badly
bunged up but running okay.
I gave a guy 10 bucks
to follow us to the hospital
and take a cab back.
What hospital did
you take him to?
That private emergency
one over on Pine Avenue.
1900 Pine Avenue to be exact.
Uh, Doc Fowler's place,
wasn't it, Mr. Jonson?
That's right. Who are you?
This is Lieutenant
Tragg of Homicide.
What's the homicide?
There was nobody killed.
The doc said this guy
Walden was all right.
Maybe a little dizzy but okay.
Then you didn't tell him about
Prescott being murdered?
No. Well, you
know about it, Perry.
I heard about it. From whom?
Uh-huh. Privileged information.
Did Prescott drive with you
when you went to the
emergency hospital, Mr. Jonson?
No.
When you dropped
Walden off at the hospital,
you returned to Cedar and
Chestnut street, didn't you?
That's right. I was
looking for someone
that might have
seen the accident.
Did you see Mr. Prescott
again at this time?
Yeah, he came out of the house
and asked how the guy was.
Yes, and then what
happened, Mr. Jonson?
Then he went back
in the house, and I left.
Where is she, Perry?
Who? Mrs. Prescott.
She was seen in her house
at 2:30 burning some letters
with Mr. Prescott
dead on the floor.
So it follows that I'd
know her whereabouts?
Well, we find reason to
believe that she'd find it desirable
to consult an attorney.
There are thousands
of attorneys in the city.
Ha-ha. But only one Perry Mason.
Come on, where is she, Perry?
You need a warrant. I've got it.
Suspicion of murder
in the first degree.
Gentlemen.
Naturally, I was shocked.
It isn't every day
you walk into a room
and find a woman standing
over her husband's dead body.
Aren't you being a little
overdramatic, Miss Swaine?
You said you first
saw Mrs. Prescott
at the fireplace.
Yes.
But you didn't see Mr. Prescott
until you walked into the room,
so she couldn't have been
standing over his body.
Well, I only meant that...
I know,
but the police aren't apt
to understand a
figure of speech.
I'm sure you wouldn't want
to give them any wrong ideas.
Now, when did you last
speak to Mr. Prescott?
Before lunch.
He told me to have my lunch
and meet him at the house.
Did you often go
to his home to work?
Yes.
Mr. Wray. Yes?
Do you mind my looking
over your company's books?
I wouldn't mind at all,
and I wish I could oblige,
but I don't happen
to have the books.
Oh, where are they?
Walter took them
home with him one night,
about a week ago.
Would you say your, uh,
business has been flourishing?
Oh, well, I can't complain.
We're insurance
brokers, you know.
And as insurance brokers,
did you insure yourselves?
Yes, Walter and I had a
policy covering each other.
To what extent?
Well, his life was insured
in my favor for $75,000,
and, uh, mine was insured in
his favor for the same amount.
I see.
The articles of
partnership provided
that in the event of the
death of one of the partners,
the wife of the deceased partner
should receive $75,000 in cash,
uh, relinquishing any interest
in the, uh, partnership.
When you collect that 75,000,
you're obliged then to turn it
over to Ruth Prescott?
That's right.
How long has that
insurance been in force?
Well, we took it out
about, uh, two years ago,
when Walter got married.
Mr. McLain? Yeah.
Lieutenant Tragg.
Mind if we come in?
Well... I have to be
at work in ten minutes.
Yeah, we only need five.
Well, what do you want?
You know a young lady
named, uh, Ruth Prescott?
Yeah.
Any idea where
we could locate her?
No.
When'd you last see her?
I don't remember exactly.
You remember approximately.
What's in there?
Nothing.
Mind if I go in? Yeah.
Yes, I certainly do.
Look, you guys can't come
in here and search this place.
You need a warrant.
That isn't going to
stop us, Mr. McLain.
Mrs. Prescott?
No. No, she isn't.
It's no use, Jimmy.
I'd like to call my attorney.
You can do that
from headquarters.
Mrs. Prescott.
I told you to stay at
The Crestline Motel.
Well, Jimmy...
Don't you realize
the construction
the court will put on this?
The police finding
you in his apartment?
What did Lieutenant
Tragg ask you?
About the business insurance.
The $75,000.
What else?
The... gun.
What gun?
I didn't have a chance
to hide it, Mr. Mason.
What gun?
I lied to you.
There was a gun near the body.
And the police found it
in your possession
when they searched you?
Yes.
The reason... I know the reason.
You thought Jimmy
shot your husband.
You wanted to protect him.
Everything's my
fault, Mr. Mason.
I had no right to assume
that it was Jimmy's gun.
When he told you
that it was in his car,
I didn't believe him.
I spoke to the truck driver
who almost ran you down.
He had faulty brakes.
His name is Jonson.
Do you recognize it?
No.
Have you ever heard of
a man named Walden?
Walden.
No.
Did you ever have the
impression that the partnership
between your husband and
Ernest Wray was not going so well?
They always seemed to get along.
Did your husband ever bring
the firm's account books home?
When I left him,
they were on his desk.
Very well, Ruth.
You're not to answer
any more questions.
I want you to say
that you're innocent,
that you're perfectly willing to
tell the authorities everything.
But that your attorney simply
will not let you say one word.
All right?
All right, Mr. Mason.
KMA-752, KMA-628 calling.
They discovered the
car about an hour ago.
Who did? The motorcycle officer.
Walden's car?
Yeah, what's left of it.
Walden in the car?
His body.
Figure out how it
happened, officer?
What makes any accident?
Carelessness mostly.
It, uh, was an accident, then?
Sure, what else?
Car 46.
Forty-six at 4-700...
Paul, how far away is
that emergency hospital?
The one where Walden was
treated after the accident?
Mm, not very far.
Maybe ten minutes.
Those doctors are usually
on 24-hour-a-day call.
Use any inducement you have to,
but get the doctor that
treated Walden over here.
I'll meet you down
below. All right, Perry.
Dr. Fowler. Perry Mason.
Sorry to have dragged
you out here, doctor.
No more sorry than
I am to be dragged.
Would you take a look
at the dead man, please?
Look at him? For what?
Identification, possibly.
He's already been
identified, Perry.
Frederick Walden
from Altaville, California.
What's his line in business?
That I'll have to find out.
Apparently an innocent
bystander involved in that accident
in front of the Prescott house.
Now he meets a violent end.
Well, the roads around
here are pretty tricky,
especially at night.
Okay, what do you wanna know?
Do you recognize him?
No.
You treated him
day before yesterday
at your office for
cuts and abrasions.
Not him, I didn't. I
never saw him before.
The murder weapon was purchased
and registered
to Walter Prescott,
the decedent,
December of last year.
And where was this
gun found, lieutenant?
In the handbag of Ruth Prescott,
the defendant in this case.
I see. Now, in the
murder room itself,
did you find anything of
an extraordinary nature?
In the fireplace we
found the burnt remains
of a packet of letters.
What did you do with
these burnt remains?
They were reconstructed
at the crime lab.
I show you now these photographs
and ask if you
can identify them.
Yes, sir, these are the
pictures of the burnt letters.
Thank you, lieutenant.
If it please the court,
I should like this gun
and these photographs
marked for identification.
Thank you.
No objection. Your witness.
No questions.
I call Margaret Swaine
to the stand, please.
The door was open
about six inches.
I knocked. There was no answer.
I went into the entry and
looked into the living room.
And what did you see?
I saw the body of
Mr. Prescott lying on the floor
and Mrs. Prescott
at the fireplace,
burning a package of letters.
What time was this, Miss Swaine?
It was 2:30.
How can you be so
precise about the time?
I was told to come
to the Prescott home
between 2 and 2:30.
I remember looking at my watch
and noticing it
was exactly 2:30.
I see.
I ask you now about a visit
to the office of
Prescott and Wray
made by the defendant
two or three weeks
before her husband's murder.
Yes, sir. Would you
please tell this court
what happened on that occasion?
I was alone in the office.
Mrs. Prescott accused me
of seeing her husband
after office hours.
I told her the only
thing her husband and I
had in common was a
business relationship.
What did she say to that?
That she didn't care
what my relationship
with Mr. Prescott was.
All she wanted was a divorce.
That if I wouldn't help
her, she'd find another way.
That she couldn't
go on living with him.
I see. Thank you, Miss Swaine.
Your witness.
Miss Swaine, do
you customarily go
into someone's home upon
finding the front door ajar?
No, but since Mr. Prescott
was expecting me,
I thought he left the
door open for me.
Was this visit at 2:30
your first visit to his
home on that day?
Yes, it was.
Had you gone to his
home on other occasions?
Yes, when Mr. Prescott wanted
me to work there with him.
Did you ever work with
Mr. Prescott at your apartment?
No.
I'm not talking about your
Halsted Street apartment,
which you rent for $80 a month.
I'm talking about an apartment
in the Westwood Arms,
which you're leasing
under the name of Maxine
Sterit for $350 a month.
Mr. Mason, I don't know
where you got your information,
but that is part
of my private life.
It has nothing to do with
this case or your client.
On the afternoon of the
murder, Miss Swaine,
did you have your trunks
moved from the Halsted apartment
to your more
expensive apartment?
Again, I say, that
is my private affair.
Not if you were
seeing Walter Prescott
at your expensive apartment
and using the
name Maxine Sterit.
Were you?
No, I was not.
Thank you. That will be all.
Stand down, please.
You arrived at
the Prescott house
at approximately
ten minutes to 2.
Was the deceased at home? No.
And how long did
you stay in the house?
About five or ten minutes.
Ten minutes at the most.
And then?
I left.
What were you doing
while you were in the house?
I was packing some
of Ruth's things.
She was moving out?
Yes.
She was leaving her husband?
Yes, it was my idea.
I told her she didn't have to...
I told her that she
didn't have to stay
in his home anymore.
I see.
Mr. McLain, I show you
these photographs of letters
previously marked
for identification,
and I ask if you recognize
the words, phrases
and handwriting.
Yes.
Is it your handwriting and
did you write these letters?
Yes.
I don't think it
will be necessary
to reveal the
contents at this time,
but these are love letters
that you wrote to Ruth
Prescott, isn't that so?
No. Ruth Jiuevnal. Who?
Ruth Jiuevnal.
I wrote them to Ruth
before she was married.
Oh, of course.
And she kept and treasured them
during her marriage
to another man.
And only on the
day of his murder
did she try to destroy them.
Now, just a min... That's all.
Thank you very
much. Your witness.
Mr. McLain, did
you take the time
to determine whether or not
Mr. Prescott was at home?
Yes, sir. He wasn't.
You're positive?
I only wish I had seen him.
Why?
Because I...
Because I just
wanted to talk to him.
Tell me, Mr. McLain,
do you own a gun?
Well, you know I do.
Did you happen
to have it with you
on that particular day?
Well, I always carry it with me.
The place where I work has
been held up several times.
But you weren't going to work,
you were going to
see the deceased.
I said I carry it all the time.
Where?
In a shoulder holster.
All right, now, were you
wearing that shoulder holster
when you went to
the Prescott house?
No.
Thank you,
Mr. McLain. That'll be all.
Step down.
I call Harry Jonson
to the stand, please.
Well, after leaving Mr. Walden
at the emergency hospital,
I drove back to
see if I could find
any more witnesses in
case there was any trouble.
Mr. Prescott came
out of his house
and asked how Walden was.
Now, Mr. Jonson,
it's been established
that you left the
hospital at 2 p.m.
Is that correct? Yes, sir.
Did you, without detouring,
drive the 11 blocks straight
to Cedar and Chestnut?
Yes, sir. Did you subsequently,
at the instigation
of the police,
time the duration of this trip?
Yes, sir, five or six
times to get an average.
And what was the
average time involved?
About eight minutes.
That would put you in
front of the Prescott home
at eight minutes after 2,
approximately, is that correct?
I guess that's right.
Now, Mr. Jonson,
this is very important.
It's been established
that the defendant
was in a room with the dead
body of her husband at 2:30.
Yes, sir.
We are now establishing the fact
that you must have
seen Walter Prescott
between 2 and 2:15. Yes, sir.
And, therefore, the
decedent was still alive
until at least 2:15.
Decedent? Oh, yes, sir. He was.
Thank you,
Mr. Jonson. That's all.
Your witness.
Uh, Mr. Mason, do you
expect your cross-examination
to be relatively lengthy?
Um, Your Honor, I...
have no questions
for this witness.
Uh, in that case, Mr. Burger,
and before you call
your next witness
and since it is
nearing the noon hour,
the court will
adjourn until 2:00.
That was a nice point you scored
with the Swaine girl, Perry.
Well, thank you, lieutenant.
Not that it really has any
relevance to this case.
Then, uh, maybe
it's just a coincidence
that she's planning
on leaving town.
Having her trunks
picked up tonight.
Now you're reaching.
Why shouldn't
she, if she wants to?
Those are the trunks
that she had moved
from the Halsted
apartment, aren't they, Paul?
Mm-hm. I had a man
stationed in the lobby
to see who called on her.
He overheard the
arrangements being made.
Who did call on her?
You won't believe
this. Ernest Wray?
Uh-huh. I also picked
up something else.
Go on.
The DA's office was
as interested as you
in finding out
Prescott's bank balance.
How much?
Somewhere in the six-figures.
All right. What else?
Word from Altaville.
Frederick Walden
was a top investigator
for the board of
fire underwriters.
Insurance investigator Walden...
Prescott and Wray,
insurance brokers...
an accident in front
of the Prescott home,
and then Walden is found dead
at the bottom of a ravine.
Suppose we were wrong
about all this from the beginning.
Suppose...
All right, we'll
have to work fast.
Della, I'd like you
to buy a trunk or two,
a few suitcases, and
have them initialed M.S.
M.S.?
They are to be
delivered immediately
to Margaret Swaine's apartment,
the one she rented under
the name of Maxine Sterit.
Paul, I'd like you to find
out which transfer outfit
Margaret Swaine is
using to move that luggage.
All right. I'll meet
you back here.
Good.
Della, I'll meet you in
front of the Westwood Arms
as soon as you can make it.
I'll take care of the papers.
Right.
Westwood Arms.
Just a moment. I'll connect you.
Oh, just a second.
Just a second.
Where do you think you're going?
Apartment 301.
Who do you want?
Maxine Sterit.
Well, you can't
take that up there.
The police issued strict
orders. Nothing's to be removed.
Who's removing anything?
But I'm sorry, you
can't take it up.
What...? What's the idea?
Well, I ain't takin'
this stuff back.
You can't leave it here.
Look, mister, make up your mind.
Here or upstairs, it's
all the same to me.
B-but... Well...
Rudy, let him in 301.
Make sure he
doesn't touch anything.
Oh, boy.
Lieutenant Arthur Tragg, please.
Yes, I'll wait.
Looks like somebody's
gonna do a lot of travelin'.
Excuse me.
Oh, heh, good afternoon.
Did a transfer company
leave some luggage here
about ten minutes ago?
Yes.
Well, I'm afraid there's
been a dreadful mistake.
You see, that luggage was mine.
Oh, why, the transfer
man put it in Apartment 301.
Uh, I don't see how the store
could make an error like that.
Oh, I'm terribly sorry,
but I can't let you take it
out until the police arrive.
The police are coming?
They're on their way.
Lieutenant Tragg?
That's right. Lieutenant Tragg.
Fine. We'll wait.
So, uh, you see, lieutenant,
it was a perfectly
natural mistake.
Oh, of course.
You meant to send the luggage
to your place, and
it wound up here.
I gave the man the address.
Yes, Maxine, uh,
Sterit's address.
The man in the luggage
shop, uh, thought it was yours.
All right. Open up.
There they are.
Well, how come
they're all initialed M.S.?
I told the man my
name was Miss Street...
Miss, uh...
And he thought you wanted
them all monogrammed M.S.
Yeah, I guess I
just wasn't thinking.
All right, Perry.
What are you up to?
I'm just helping Della
claim her luggage.
Well, uh, how can I
tell which are hers?
You can't... unless
you open them all.
Oh, I can't do that. I
haven't got a search warrant.
Della will waive her
rights this one time.
Mm-hm.
Sergeant.
Uh, start with those.
Get robbery detail.
I want to know where each
one of these furs came from.
So upon the death
of Walter Prescott,
Mrs. Prescott stood
to gain $75,000?
Is that correct?
That is correct, yes.
Thank you, Mr. Wray.
Your witness.
Mr. Wray, what would you say
is the value of the
business right now?
Well, it's mostly a matter
of goodwill, you know.
Would you say $100,000?
Well... yes.
Two hundred thousand?
Well...
While you estimated the value
to be 150,000 two years ago,
isn't it true that today
it's worth over a quarter
of a million dollars?
Well, everything's
gone up, you know.
So with the death
of Walter Prescott,
you are a sole owner
of a quarter-million-dollar
business.
And the defendant,
far from profiting by
her husband's death,
is actually losing money by
being forced to take 75,000
for a half interest
in the business.
You understand, our good name
is our biggest asset, Mr. Mason.
Mr. Wray,
is it true that in the
past several months
some of your accounts have
suffered large losses by fire?
Well, uh, yes.
But as I... I said,
our... Our good name
is our biggest asset.
Well, the fact that some of your
accounts have suffered losses...
doesn't dishonor
your firm, does it?
No, but, uh, the insurance
companies don't like
averages that,
uh, don't average.
If you know what I mean.
I ask you now if a
recent great loss by fire
involved expensive furs
on which your company
had written the policies.
Uh, Grant and Robert, yes.
How much was that loss?
It was estimated at a $108,000.
Have you ever
been acquainted with
a man by the name
of Frederick Walden.
Walden?
He was injured in an
accident on Chestnut street
and was later found dead
at the bottom of a ravine
in Sunrise canyon.
He was top investigator for
the board of fire underwriters.
No. I don't know him.
All right.
Three days ago you paid a
visit to the Westwood Arms.
Why?
Well, I... I wanted to
speak to Miss Swaine.
But Miss Swaine has been
staying at her Halsted apartment.
Now, what did you expect to find
at the Westwood Arms, Mr. Wray?
Not a thing.
Stolen furs, perhaps?
Well, certainly not!
Your Honor, I object.
I object to counsel's
badgering this witness.
His questions are incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.
And pretty far afield.
Uh, Mr. Mason, the questioning
does seem a bit improper.
I, um...
I have no further questions
of the witness, Your Honor.
At this moment I should like
to recall a previous witness.
Mr. Burger?
Mr. Mason wishes to
recall a previous witness.
I beg the court's
pardon. Which witness?
Margaret Swaine.
I have no objection, Your Honor.
I think I know what
counsel has on his mind.
Miss Swaine, take
the stand, please.
Mr. Wray, you may stand down.
Miss Swaine, I believe
the police have impounded
the trunks at your
Westwoods Arms apartment.
Trunks containing furs
worth thousands of dollars.
I ask you now, were
you not working in concert
with Walter Prescott to defraud
the insurance companies?
I refuse to answer
on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.
Did you not take the
Westwood Arms apartment
to use as a way station
for stolen merchandise?
I refuse to answer
on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.
Did you not have a falling-out
with Walter Prescott?
I refuse to answer
on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.
Which transfer
company did you use
to move your
trunks, Miss Swaine?
Which transfer company to
store that stolen merchandise?
Wasn't it Jonson's
transfer company?
I refuse to answer
on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.
If the court please,
I would now like to
cross-examine Mr. Jonson.
Any objection, Mr. Burger?
Counsel had a chance
to cross-examine
this witness before
and waived it.
No, Your Honor. I
have no objection.
Lieutenant Tragg
has just told me
of a new development
in this case,
and I welcome Mr. Mason's
efforts to explore it.
Thank you, Mr. Burger.
Is Harry Jonson
in the courtroom?
Will you take the
stand, Mr. Jonson?
You step down,
please, Miss Swaine.
Mr. Jonson,
do you know Margaret Swaine?
Yes, sir. I've had
business dealings with her.
Business of storage?
Yes, sir.
In fact, I've got some of her
stuff in my warehouse now.
Of course, I don't
know what's in it.
I just haul it, store it,
and ship it out on order.
Referring now to
Frederick Walden,
the man you injured...
That was an accident.
To avoid hitting
Mrs. Prescott there.
I think that was the
first puzzling aspect
of this case, Mr. Jonson.
The assumption that perhaps
a truck had been
hired by Walter Prescott
to run down his wife.
But what should have been
examined was the possibility
that the truck's mission
all along had been
to run down and kill
Frederick Walden.
What are you talking about?
Isn't it true that
you and Prescott
had planned to kill Walden?
No.
But he was killed
eventually, wasn't he?
And with all
suspicion far removed.
This time his car was
sent hurtling into a ravine.
Well, he was loopy like
the doc said at the hospital.
Yes, you, uh...
You did take Walden to
the hospital, didn't you?
You and Prescott?
No.
Prescott didn't.
Now...
we have heard testimony here
that Prescott was
not in his house
during the time you took
Walden to the hospital.
If you're going to lie
about... Who's lying?
He drove him to the hospital.
He didn't go
inside the hospital.
He stayed in the van
when I took Walden in.
But Mr. Walden was
never taken into the hospital.
You're wrong. Doc
Fowler treated him.
No, sir.
Dr. Fowler treated someone else.
Shall we bring Dr. Fowler
into court to so testify?
If Doc Fowler
didn't treat Walden,
then he must have treated...
Then he could only
have treated Prescott.
You're not making sense.
Where did Prescott get
those cuts and bruises
if it wasn't when you hit him?
When would I hit him?
At his house.
After you'd explained
he could pose as Walden
at the emergency hospital.
Later you would put
Walden back into his car
and push the car
over a canyon road.
So it would like a separate
and distinct accident
from the one in front
of the Prescott home.
Why would we do that?!
So that suspicion could never
be directed at either of you.
Only, after you killed Walden,
you then double-crossed Prescott
and killed him too.
Yes or no, Mr. Jonson?
Oh, he was so smart.
He thought he
knew all the answers.
I was the guy that
was taking the chances.
And he wanted me to be
satisfied with a lousy 10 percent.
Has the fact that you've
committed two murders
satisfied you, Mr. Jonson?
Margaret Swaine was cooperating
with Mr. Jonson all along.
They were partners in
everything except the murder.
I still don't see what
put you on the right track.
Hm.
I kept wondering
about his condition.
You've got to
remember the accident.
Walden was outside in his car,
keeping tabs on your husband.
Only, Prescott knew that
Walden was watching him.
So he and Jonson decided to
put Mr. Walden away for good.
After Jonson
crashed into his car,
they put the injured Walden
into the van of the truck.
That's right.
After the discussion
at Prescott's house,
Prescott agreed to follow
Jonson driving Walden's car.
Hello, Tragg. How
are you, Hamilton?
Fine, Perry.
As a matter of fact
I couldn't be better.
We just got a full
confession from Jonson.
Good.
I believe you know Lieutenant
Tragg and Mr. Burger.
Yeah, we met.
I'm sure we'd both rather
forget the circumstances.
But you were right, Perry.
They went to the hospital
where Prescott posed as Walden.
Then Jonson drove to the ravine
and Prescott again followed
him driving Walden's car.
When they got there, they
put Walden in his own car
and pushed him into the ravine.
Then Jonson drove
Prescott to his house.
And the real battle began.
I'd say Prescott put up
quite a battle for his life.
Well, how do you know that?
That's the only explanation
for that cage falling down.
Besides...
a little bird told me.
A little bird, huh?
That's the first
time I ever heard
of a lame canary turning
out to be a stool pigeon.
I'm all ears.
I've tried to make a
go of our marriage.
It just hasn't worked.
I'm not complaining, Ruth.
It's been more than two years.
A long time to
pay for a mistake.
I want a divorce.
I'd have to fight it, Ruth.
I'd have to drag you
through the dirtiest scandal
this town has ever seen.
What are you talking about?
You were in love
with Jimmy McLain
when you married me.
You're still in love with him
and seeing him behind my back.
That's not true.
Just once, when I ran
into him accidentally.
How much money
have you got left?
That's all you ever
wanted from me.
You haven't
returned the $20,000.
About 40,000, right?
Now...
how badly do you want a divorce?
It's all I've got...
All I own.
I won't give it to you.
That's too bad.
But remember what the man said:
"Till death do us part."
You fool. You bungled it.
Let's get him to a hospital.
Jimmy? Jimmy, this is Ruth.
Walter tried to kill me.
What happened?
He wanted to make it
look like an accident.
He had a truck
try to run me down
right in front of the house.
Now, listen to me, Ruth.
What am I gonna do?
Ruth, I want you
to listen to me.
Ruth?
Honey?
Yes?
I want you to get in a cab
and come right over here.
That'll only make
for more trouble.
Will you please do as I say?
Yes.
Good.
I'll expect you over here
in about 20 minutes, huh?
Goodbye, darling.
Walter?
Walter?
Oh.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Prescott.
Forgive my startling you.
The front door was open.
Burning old love letters?
What are you doing
here, Miss Swaine?
Dictation.
Mr. Prescott called
the office and...
Mr. Prescott?
I found him like this.
I just came in.
Well, I did.
Mrs. Prescott, you don't
have to convince me.
You'd better try the police.
Or haven't you called them yet?
Hello?
Yes, this is Margaret Swaine.
Would you have your
truck pick up my baggage
at the Clairmont
Hotel tonight at 7:00?
Yes, there will be two trunks
and some hand luggage.
Uh-huh. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mr. Wray.
Miss Swaine.
What are you doing
in Mr. Prescott's desk?
There may be some papers
the police may misunderstand.
What are you talking about?
Mr. Prescott is dead. Dead?
I think it was murder.
Probably by his wife.
What?
I found her burning
what looked like evidence.
A package of letters.
Ruth?
Killed Walter?
No. That's impossible.
Calling the Prescott home,
I think you're
wasting your time.
There won't be any answer.
If she has any sense,
Ruth Prescott is at the airport
waiting for the first
plane out of the country.
What happened after
you called the police?
I came right here.
I thought I should see a lawyer.
I thought I needed
someone who...
Someone who
specialized in criminal law.
Were you in love
with your husband?
No.
Are you in love with Mr. McLain?
Yes.
All right...
tell me once again.
What did you do when
you discovered the body?
I phoned the police.
Nothing else?
You're sure there was
no gun near the body?
Positive.
Why did you bring this with you?
Well, I couldn't leave him.
I could see that something
was wrong with his foot.
Your husband was lying
there, apparently murdered,
and yet you were concerned
about a lame canary?
Della, what is the
name of that pet shop
on Mordegan Street?
Mm, Newcome's. Do
you want me to call them?
And get hold of Paul.
I wanna know all
about that accident
with the transfer truck
and the parked car.
Where was it?
Cedar, near Chestnut.
I wanna know who
the truck driver was
and any possible tie-up
between him and Walter Prescott.
Come on, Mrs. Prescott. Where?
I'd like to talk to your
Mr. McLain before the police do.
Gertie, will you
get Paul, please?
Yes, right away.
He hasn't been dead long.
An hour, maybe two at the most.
We'll know better
after the postmortem.
Any idea what caused
those scratches and
bruises on his face?
Well, he didn't get
'em from shaving.
Lieutenant.
Think the crime lab
can do anything with it?
We can try. Williams.
And when Ruth told me
she was almost
hit by that truck,
I told her to grab a cab
and come right over here.
What made you assume
that her husband
was responsible?
I told him so. That's
good enough for me.
But when she arrived here,
you were gone. Where?
I went over to see Prescott.
What did you hope
to accomplish by that?
I just wanted to talk to him.
Using that telephone would
have been the easy way.
He could've hung up on me.
What happened when you saw him?
I didn't. He wasn't home.
So you came right back here?
No...
the door wasn't locked,
so I walked in.
That happens to be the truth.
Go on.
That's the whole story.
No, not quite.
Where did that come from?
I brought it here.
No. No, she didn't.
Well, I figured she might
need a couple of things,
so I went upstairs to her
room and I packed her bag.
Some people might think
you were being presumptuous.
I don't care what anyone thinks.
That's fairly obvious.
Tell me, Mr. McLain,
just what do you
do for a living?
I work in a liquor store.
Do you own a gun?
Now, really,
Mr. Mason... Now, look,
he's in love with you.
He knows your husband
won't give you a divorce.
That's true, isn't it?
One hundred percent correct.
Then my question
about your owning a gun
wasn't entirely out of line.
May I see it?
It's downstairs...
in my car.
Excuse me.
Hello?
Just a moment.
It's a Paul Drake for you.
Thank you.
Hello, Paul?
Perry, I'm glad I
caught you there.
I got the truck
driver identified.
His name's Harry Jonson.
He has a transfer company,
and he's near your
section of town right now.
1220 Carroll Street.
You want me to meet you there?
Yes, in 15 minutes.
See you, Paul.
There's a motel in the
Valley. It's called The Crestline.
I'd like you to take your
belongings and drive out there.
She can stay here with me.
I have a friend down the hall.
I'm happy to know that,
but she can't stay here.
But if she hides... I don't
want her to broadcast
her whereabouts to the world,
and she's not going to hide.
She'll register at the
motel under her own name.
Call me when you get settled.
I was coming down Cedar
Avenue at a slow speed,
and all of a sudden, this
crazy dame crosses the street
just as I'm turning the corner.
She stopped, just like
she turned to stone.
That crazy dame thinks
you deliberately
tried to run her down.
What? Look, mister, do you
know anything about air brakes?
A little. There was
a break in the line.
I just replaced it.
It looks like it had
been cut with a knife.
You know something?
You're right.
Any idea who might have done it?
Well, it might have been
one of my competitors.
Mm, which one?
I'd rather not say
till I get some proof.
Did you ever hear
of a Walter Prescott?
Walter Prescott?
Yeah,
I was trying to get the names
of some of the witnesses.
This guy came out and
helped me with some first aid.
He said he didn't
see the accident,
but heard the crash.
Yeah. "Walter Prescott."
What was the name
of the injured man?
Frederick Walden.
What did you do with
him after the accident?
Well, he was in
pretty bad shape.
I thought I'd better
get him to a hospital.
I, uh, thought you said
your brakes were out.
Well, I can see you've
never driven a truck.
All you have to do is use
the gears and hand brake.
What about his car?
Well, it was pretty badly
bunged up but running okay.
I gave a guy 10 bucks
to follow us to the hospital
and take a cab back.
What hospital did
you take him to?
That private emergency
one over on Pine Avenue.
1900 Pine Avenue to be exact.
Uh, Doc Fowler's place,
wasn't it, Mr. Jonson?
That's right. Who are you?
This is Lieutenant
Tragg of Homicide.
What's the homicide?
There was nobody killed.
The doc said this guy
Walden was all right.
Maybe a little dizzy but okay.
Then you didn't tell him about
Prescott being murdered?
No. Well, you
know about it, Perry.
I heard about it. From whom?
Uh-huh. Privileged information.
Did Prescott drive with you
when you went to the
emergency hospital, Mr. Jonson?
No.
When you dropped
Walden off at the hospital,
you returned to Cedar and
Chestnut street, didn't you?
That's right. I was
looking for someone
that might have
seen the accident.
Did you see Mr. Prescott
again at this time?
Yeah, he came out of the house
and asked how the guy was.
Yes, and then what
happened, Mr. Jonson?
Then he went back
in the house, and I left.
Where is she, Perry?
Who? Mrs. Prescott.
She was seen in her house
at 2:30 burning some letters
with Mr. Prescott
dead on the floor.
So it follows that I'd
know her whereabouts?
Well, we find reason to
believe that she'd find it desirable
to consult an attorney.
There are thousands
of attorneys in the city.
Ha-ha. But only one Perry Mason.
Come on, where is she, Perry?
You need a warrant. I've got it.
Suspicion of murder
in the first degree.
Gentlemen.
Naturally, I was shocked.
It isn't every day
you walk into a room
and find a woman standing
over her husband's dead body.
Aren't you being a little
overdramatic, Miss Swaine?
You said you first
saw Mrs. Prescott
at the fireplace.
Yes.
But you didn't see Mr. Prescott
until you walked into the room,
so she couldn't have been
standing over his body.
Well, I only meant that...
I know,
but the police aren't apt
to understand a
figure of speech.
I'm sure you wouldn't want
to give them any wrong ideas.
Now, when did you last
speak to Mr. Prescott?
Before lunch.
He told me to have my lunch
and meet him at the house.
Did you often go
to his home to work?
Yes.
Mr. Wray. Yes?
Do you mind my looking
over your company's books?
I wouldn't mind at all,
and I wish I could oblige,
but I don't happen
to have the books.
Oh, where are they?
Walter took them
home with him one night,
about a week ago.
Would you say your, uh,
business has been flourishing?
Oh, well, I can't complain.
We're insurance
brokers, you know.
And as insurance brokers,
did you insure yourselves?
Yes, Walter and I had a
policy covering each other.
To what extent?
Well, his life was insured
in my favor for $75,000,
and, uh, mine was insured in
his favor for the same amount.
I see.
The articles of
partnership provided
that in the event of the
death of one of the partners,
the wife of the deceased partner
should receive $75,000 in cash,
uh, relinquishing any interest
in the, uh, partnership.
When you collect that 75,000,
you're obliged then to turn it
over to Ruth Prescott?
That's right.
How long has that
insurance been in force?
Well, we took it out
about, uh, two years ago,
when Walter got married.
Mr. McLain? Yeah.
Lieutenant Tragg.
Mind if we come in?
Well... I have to be
at work in ten minutes.
Yeah, we only need five.
Well, what do you want?
You know a young lady
named, uh, Ruth Prescott?
Yeah.
Any idea where
we could locate her?
No.
When'd you last see her?
I don't remember exactly.
You remember approximately.
What's in there?
Nothing.
Mind if I go in? Yeah.
Yes, I certainly do.
Look, you guys can't come
in here and search this place.
You need a warrant.
That isn't going to
stop us, Mr. McLain.
Mrs. Prescott?
No. No, she isn't.
It's no use, Jimmy.
I'd like to call my attorney.
You can do that
from headquarters.
Mrs. Prescott.
I told you to stay at
The Crestline Motel.
Well, Jimmy...
Don't you realize
the construction
the court will put on this?
The police finding
you in his apartment?
What did Lieutenant
Tragg ask you?
About the business insurance.
The $75,000.
What else?
The... gun.
What gun?
I didn't have a chance
to hide it, Mr. Mason.
What gun?
I lied to you.
There was a gun near the body.
And the police found it
in your possession
when they searched you?
Yes.
The reason... I know the reason.
You thought Jimmy
shot your husband.
You wanted to protect him.
Everything's my
fault, Mr. Mason.
I had no right to assume
that it was Jimmy's gun.
When he told you
that it was in his car,
I didn't believe him.
I spoke to the truck driver
who almost ran you down.
He had faulty brakes.
His name is Jonson.
Do you recognize it?
No.
Have you ever heard of
a man named Walden?
Walden.
No.
Did you ever have the
impression that the partnership
between your husband and
Ernest Wray was not going so well?
They always seemed to get along.
Did your husband ever bring
the firm's account books home?
When I left him,
they were on his desk.
Very well, Ruth.
You're not to answer
any more questions.
I want you to say
that you're innocent,
that you're perfectly willing to
tell the authorities everything.
But that your attorney simply
will not let you say one word.
All right?
All right, Mr. Mason.
KMA-752, KMA-628 calling.
They discovered the
car about an hour ago.
Who did? The motorcycle officer.
Walden's car?
Yeah, what's left of it.
Walden in the car?
His body.
Figure out how it
happened, officer?
What makes any accident?
Carelessness mostly.
It, uh, was an accident, then?
Sure, what else?
Car 46.
Forty-six at 4-700...
Paul, how far away is
that emergency hospital?
The one where Walden was
treated after the accident?
Mm, not very far.
Maybe ten minutes.
Those doctors are usually
on 24-hour-a-day call.
Use any inducement you have to,
but get the doctor that
treated Walden over here.
I'll meet you down
below. All right, Perry.
Dr. Fowler. Perry Mason.
Sorry to have dragged
you out here, doctor.
No more sorry than
I am to be dragged.
Would you take a look
at the dead man, please?
Look at him? For what?
Identification, possibly.
He's already been
identified, Perry.
Frederick Walden
from Altaville, California.
What's his line in business?
That I'll have to find out.
Apparently an innocent
bystander involved in that accident
in front of the Prescott house.
Now he meets a violent end.
Well, the roads around
here are pretty tricky,
especially at night.
Okay, what do you wanna know?
Do you recognize him?
No.
You treated him
day before yesterday
at your office for
cuts and abrasions.
Not him, I didn't. I
never saw him before.
The murder weapon was purchased
and registered
to Walter Prescott,
the decedent,
December of last year.
And where was this
gun found, lieutenant?
In the handbag of Ruth Prescott,
the defendant in this case.
I see. Now, in the
murder room itself,
did you find anything of
an extraordinary nature?
In the fireplace we
found the burnt remains
of a packet of letters.
What did you do with
these burnt remains?
They were reconstructed
at the crime lab.
I show you now these photographs
and ask if you
can identify them.
Yes, sir, these are the
pictures of the burnt letters.
Thank you, lieutenant.
If it please the court,
I should like this gun
and these photographs
marked for identification.
Thank you.
No objection. Your witness.
No questions.
I call Margaret Swaine
to the stand, please.
The door was open
about six inches.
I knocked. There was no answer.
I went into the entry and
looked into the living room.
And what did you see?
I saw the body of
Mr. Prescott lying on the floor
and Mrs. Prescott
at the fireplace,
burning a package of letters.
What time was this, Miss Swaine?
It was 2:30.
How can you be so
precise about the time?
I was told to come
to the Prescott home
between 2 and 2:30.
I remember looking at my watch
and noticing it
was exactly 2:30.
I see.
I ask you now about a visit
to the office of
Prescott and Wray
made by the defendant
two or three weeks
before her husband's murder.
Yes, sir. Would you
please tell this court
what happened on that occasion?
I was alone in the office.
Mrs. Prescott accused me
of seeing her husband
after office hours.
I told her the only
thing her husband and I
had in common was a
business relationship.
What did she say to that?
That she didn't care
what my relationship
with Mr. Prescott was.
All she wanted was a divorce.
That if I wouldn't help
her, she'd find another way.
That she couldn't
go on living with him.
I see. Thank you, Miss Swaine.
Your witness.
Miss Swaine, do
you customarily go
into someone's home upon
finding the front door ajar?
No, but since Mr. Prescott
was expecting me,
I thought he left the
door open for me.
Was this visit at 2:30
your first visit to his
home on that day?
Yes, it was.
Had you gone to his
home on other occasions?
Yes, when Mr. Prescott wanted
me to work there with him.
Did you ever work with
Mr. Prescott at your apartment?
No.
I'm not talking about your
Halsted Street apartment,
which you rent for $80 a month.
I'm talking about an apartment
in the Westwood Arms,
which you're leasing
under the name of Maxine
Sterit for $350 a month.
Mr. Mason, I don't know
where you got your information,
but that is part
of my private life.
It has nothing to do with
this case or your client.
On the afternoon of the
murder, Miss Swaine,
did you have your trunks
moved from the Halsted apartment
to your more
expensive apartment?
Again, I say, that
is my private affair.
Not if you were
seeing Walter Prescott
at your expensive apartment
and using the
name Maxine Sterit.
Were you?
No, I was not.
Thank you. That will be all.
Stand down, please.
You arrived at
the Prescott house
at approximately
ten minutes to 2.
Was the deceased at home? No.
And how long did
you stay in the house?
About five or ten minutes.
Ten minutes at the most.
And then?
I left.
What were you doing
while you were in the house?
I was packing some
of Ruth's things.
She was moving out?
Yes.
She was leaving her husband?
Yes, it was my idea.
I told her she didn't have to...
I told her that she
didn't have to stay
in his home anymore.
I see.
Mr. McLain, I show you
these photographs of letters
previously marked
for identification,
and I ask if you recognize
the words, phrases
and handwriting.
Yes.
Is it your handwriting and
did you write these letters?
Yes.
I don't think it
will be necessary
to reveal the
contents at this time,
but these are love letters
that you wrote to Ruth
Prescott, isn't that so?
No. Ruth Jiuevnal. Who?
Ruth Jiuevnal.
I wrote them to Ruth
before she was married.
Oh, of course.
And she kept and treasured them
during her marriage
to another man.
And only on the
day of his murder
did she try to destroy them.
Now, just a min... That's all.
Thank you very
much. Your witness.
Mr. McLain, did
you take the time
to determine whether or not
Mr. Prescott was at home?
Yes, sir. He wasn't.
You're positive?
I only wish I had seen him.
Why?
Because I...
Because I just
wanted to talk to him.
Tell me, Mr. McLain,
do you own a gun?
Well, you know I do.
Did you happen
to have it with you
on that particular day?
Well, I always carry it with me.
The place where I work has
been held up several times.
But you weren't going to work,
you were going to
see the deceased.
I said I carry it all the time.
Where?
In a shoulder holster.
All right, now, were you
wearing that shoulder holster
when you went to
the Prescott house?
No.
Thank you,
Mr. McLain. That'll be all.
Step down.
I call Harry Jonson
to the stand, please.
Well, after leaving Mr. Walden
at the emergency hospital,
I drove back to
see if I could find
any more witnesses in
case there was any trouble.
Mr. Prescott came
out of his house
and asked how Walden was.
Now, Mr. Jonson,
it's been established
that you left the
hospital at 2 p.m.
Is that correct? Yes, sir.
Did you, without detouring,
drive the 11 blocks straight
to Cedar and Chestnut?
Yes, sir. Did you subsequently,
at the instigation
of the police,
time the duration of this trip?
Yes, sir, five or six
times to get an average.
And what was the
average time involved?
About eight minutes.
That would put you in
front of the Prescott home
at eight minutes after 2,
approximately, is that correct?
I guess that's right.
Now, Mr. Jonson,
this is very important.
It's been established
that the defendant
was in a room with the dead
body of her husband at 2:30.
Yes, sir.
We are now establishing the fact
that you must have
seen Walter Prescott
between 2 and 2:15. Yes, sir.
And, therefore, the
decedent was still alive
until at least 2:15.
Decedent? Oh, yes, sir. He was.
Thank you,
Mr. Jonson. That's all.
Your witness.
Uh, Mr. Mason, do you
expect your cross-examination
to be relatively lengthy?
Um, Your Honor, I...
have no questions
for this witness.
Uh, in that case, Mr. Burger,
and before you call
your next witness
and since it is
nearing the noon hour,
the court will
adjourn until 2:00.
That was a nice point you scored
with the Swaine girl, Perry.
Well, thank you, lieutenant.
Not that it really has any
relevance to this case.
Then, uh, maybe
it's just a coincidence
that she's planning
on leaving town.
Having her trunks
picked up tonight.
Now you're reaching.
Why shouldn't
she, if she wants to?
Those are the trunks
that she had moved
from the Halsted
apartment, aren't they, Paul?
Mm-hm. I had a man
stationed in the lobby
to see who called on her.
He overheard the
arrangements being made.
Who did call on her?
You won't believe
this. Ernest Wray?
Uh-huh. I also picked
up something else.
Go on.
The DA's office was
as interested as you
in finding out
Prescott's bank balance.
How much?
Somewhere in the six-figures.
All right. What else?
Word from Altaville.
Frederick Walden
was a top investigator
for the board of
fire underwriters.
Insurance investigator Walden...
Prescott and Wray,
insurance brokers...
an accident in front
of the Prescott home,
and then Walden is found dead
at the bottom of a ravine.
Suppose we were wrong
about all this from the beginning.
Suppose...
All right, we'll
have to work fast.
Della, I'd like you
to buy a trunk or two,
a few suitcases, and
have them initialed M.S.
M.S.?
They are to be
delivered immediately
to Margaret Swaine's apartment,
the one she rented under
the name of Maxine Sterit.
Paul, I'd like you to find
out which transfer outfit
Margaret Swaine is
using to move that luggage.
All right. I'll meet
you back here.
Good.
Della, I'll meet you in
front of the Westwood Arms
as soon as you can make it.
I'll take care of the papers.
Right.
Westwood Arms.
Just a moment. I'll connect you.
Oh, just a second.
Just a second.
Where do you think you're going?
Apartment 301.
Who do you want?
Maxine Sterit.
Well, you can't
take that up there.
The police issued strict
orders. Nothing's to be removed.
Who's removing anything?
But I'm sorry, you
can't take it up.
What...? What's the idea?
Well, I ain't takin'
this stuff back.
You can't leave it here.
Look, mister, make up your mind.
Here or upstairs, it's
all the same to me.
B-but... Well...
Rudy, let him in 301.
Make sure he
doesn't touch anything.
Oh, boy.
Lieutenant Arthur Tragg, please.
Yes, I'll wait.
Looks like somebody's
gonna do a lot of travelin'.
Excuse me.
Oh, heh, good afternoon.
Did a transfer company
leave some luggage here
about ten minutes ago?
Yes.
Well, I'm afraid there's
been a dreadful mistake.
You see, that luggage was mine.
Oh, why, the transfer
man put it in Apartment 301.
Uh, I don't see how the store
could make an error like that.
Oh, I'm terribly sorry,
but I can't let you take it
out until the police arrive.
The police are coming?
They're on their way.
Lieutenant Tragg?
That's right. Lieutenant Tragg.
Fine. We'll wait.
So, uh, you see, lieutenant,
it was a perfectly
natural mistake.
Oh, of course.
You meant to send the luggage
to your place, and
it wound up here.
I gave the man the address.
Yes, Maxine, uh,
Sterit's address.
The man in the luggage
shop, uh, thought it was yours.
All right. Open up.
There they are.
Well, how come
they're all initialed M.S.?
I told the man my
name was Miss Street...
Miss, uh...
And he thought you wanted
them all monogrammed M.S.
Yeah, I guess I
just wasn't thinking.
All right, Perry.
What are you up to?
I'm just helping Della
claim her luggage.
Well, uh, how can I
tell which are hers?
You can't... unless
you open them all.
Oh, I can't do that. I
haven't got a search warrant.
Della will waive her
rights this one time.
Mm-hm.
Sergeant.
Uh, start with those.
Get robbery detail.
I want to know where each
one of these furs came from.
So upon the death
of Walter Prescott,
Mrs. Prescott stood
to gain $75,000?
Is that correct?
That is correct, yes.
Thank you, Mr. Wray.
Your witness.
Mr. Wray, what would you say
is the value of the
business right now?
Well, it's mostly a matter
of goodwill, you know.
Would you say $100,000?
Well... yes.
Two hundred thousand?
Well...
While you estimated the value
to be 150,000 two years ago,
isn't it true that today
it's worth over a quarter
of a million dollars?
Well, everything's
gone up, you know.
So with the death
of Walter Prescott,
you are a sole owner
of a quarter-million-dollar
business.
And the defendant,
far from profiting by
her husband's death,
is actually losing money by
being forced to take 75,000
for a half interest
in the business.
You understand, our good name
is our biggest asset, Mr. Mason.
Mr. Wray,
is it true that in the
past several months
some of your accounts have
suffered large losses by fire?
Well, uh, yes.
But as I... I said,
our... Our good name
is our biggest asset.
Well, the fact that some of your
accounts have suffered losses...
doesn't dishonor
your firm, does it?
No, but, uh, the insurance
companies don't like
averages that,
uh, don't average.
If you know what I mean.
I ask you now if a
recent great loss by fire
involved expensive furs
on which your company
had written the policies.
Uh, Grant and Robert, yes.
How much was that loss?
It was estimated at a $108,000.
Have you ever
been acquainted with
a man by the name
of Frederick Walden.
Walden?
He was injured in an
accident on Chestnut street
and was later found dead
at the bottom of a ravine
in Sunrise canyon.
He was top investigator for
the board of fire underwriters.
No. I don't know him.
All right.
Three days ago you paid a
visit to the Westwood Arms.
Why?
Well, I... I wanted to
speak to Miss Swaine.
But Miss Swaine has been
staying at her Halsted apartment.
Now, what did you expect to find
at the Westwood Arms, Mr. Wray?
Not a thing.
Stolen furs, perhaps?
Well, certainly not!
Your Honor, I object.
I object to counsel's
badgering this witness.
His questions are incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial.
And pretty far afield.
Uh, Mr. Mason, the questioning
does seem a bit improper.
I, um...
I have no further questions
of the witness, Your Honor.
At this moment I should like
to recall a previous witness.
Mr. Burger?
Mr. Mason wishes to
recall a previous witness.
I beg the court's
pardon. Which witness?
Margaret Swaine.
I have no objection, Your Honor.
I think I know what
counsel has on his mind.
Miss Swaine, take
the stand, please.
Mr. Wray, you may stand down.
Miss Swaine, I believe
the police have impounded
the trunks at your
Westwoods Arms apartment.
Trunks containing furs
worth thousands of dollars.
I ask you now, were
you not working in concert
with Walter Prescott to defraud
the insurance companies?
I refuse to answer
on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.
Did you not take the
Westwood Arms apartment
to use as a way station
for stolen merchandise?
I refuse to answer
on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.
Did you not have a falling-out
with Walter Prescott?
I refuse to answer
on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.
Which transfer
company did you use
to move your
trunks, Miss Swaine?
Which transfer company to
store that stolen merchandise?
Wasn't it Jonson's
transfer company?
I refuse to answer
on the grounds that
it may incriminate me.
If the court please,
I would now like to
cross-examine Mr. Jonson.
Any objection, Mr. Burger?
Counsel had a chance
to cross-examine
this witness before
and waived it.
No, Your Honor. I
have no objection.
Lieutenant Tragg
has just told me
of a new development
in this case,
and I welcome Mr. Mason's
efforts to explore it.
Thank you, Mr. Burger.
Is Harry Jonson
in the courtroom?
Will you take the
stand, Mr. Jonson?
You step down,
please, Miss Swaine.
Mr. Jonson,
do you know Margaret Swaine?
Yes, sir. I've had
business dealings with her.
Business of storage?
Yes, sir.
In fact, I've got some of her
stuff in my warehouse now.
Of course, I don't
know what's in it.
I just haul it, store it,
and ship it out on order.
Referring now to
Frederick Walden,
the man you injured...
That was an accident.
To avoid hitting
Mrs. Prescott there.
I think that was the
first puzzling aspect
of this case, Mr. Jonson.
The assumption that perhaps
a truck had been
hired by Walter Prescott
to run down his wife.
But what should have been
examined was the possibility
that the truck's mission
all along had been
to run down and kill
Frederick Walden.
What are you talking about?
Isn't it true that
you and Prescott
had planned to kill Walden?
No.
But he was killed
eventually, wasn't he?
And with all
suspicion far removed.
This time his car was
sent hurtling into a ravine.
Well, he was loopy like
the doc said at the hospital.
Yes, you, uh...
You did take Walden to
the hospital, didn't you?
You and Prescott?
No.
Prescott didn't.
Now...
we have heard testimony here
that Prescott was
not in his house
during the time you took
Walden to the hospital.
If you're going to lie
about... Who's lying?
He drove him to the hospital.
He didn't go
inside the hospital.
He stayed in the van
when I took Walden in.
But Mr. Walden was
never taken into the hospital.
You're wrong. Doc
Fowler treated him.
No, sir.
Dr. Fowler treated someone else.
Shall we bring Dr. Fowler
into court to so testify?
If Doc Fowler
didn't treat Walden,
then he must have treated...
Then he could only
have treated Prescott.
You're not making sense.
Where did Prescott get
those cuts and bruises
if it wasn't when you hit him?
When would I hit him?
At his house.
After you'd explained
he could pose as Walden
at the emergency hospital.
Later you would put
Walden back into his car
and push the car
over a canyon road.
So it would like a separate
and distinct accident
from the one in front
of the Prescott home.
Why would we do that?!
So that suspicion could never
be directed at either of you.
Only, after you killed Walden,
you then double-crossed Prescott
and killed him too.
Yes or no, Mr. Jonson?
Oh, he was so smart.
He thought he
knew all the answers.
I was the guy that
was taking the chances.
And he wanted me to be
satisfied with a lousy 10 percent.
Has the fact that you've
committed two murders
satisfied you, Mr. Jonson?
Margaret Swaine was cooperating
with Mr. Jonson all along.
They were partners in
everything except the murder.
I still don't see what
put you on the right track.
Hm.
I kept wondering
about his condition.
You've got to
remember the accident.
Walden was outside in his car,
keeping tabs on your husband.
Only, Prescott knew that
Walden was watching him.
So he and Jonson decided to
put Mr. Walden away for good.
After Jonson
crashed into his car,
they put the injured Walden
into the van of the truck.
That's right.
After the discussion
at Prescott's house,
Prescott agreed to follow
Jonson driving Walden's car.
Hello, Tragg. How
are you, Hamilton?
Fine, Perry.
As a matter of fact
I couldn't be better.
We just got a full
confession from Jonson.
Good.
I believe you know Lieutenant
Tragg and Mr. Burger.
Yeah, we met.
I'm sure we'd both rather
forget the circumstances.
But you were right, Perry.
They went to the hospital
where Prescott posed as Walden.
Then Jonson drove to the ravine
and Prescott again followed
him driving Walden's car.
When they got there, they
put Walden in his own car
and pushed him into the ravine.
Then Jonson drove
Prescott to his house.
And the real battle began.
I'd say Prescott put up
quite a battle for his life.
Well, how do you know that?
That's the only explanation
for that cage falling down.
Besides...
a little bird told me.
A little bird, huh?
That's the first
time I ever heard
of a lame canary turning
out to be a stool pigeon.