Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 3, Episode 11 - The Case of the Violent Village - full transcript
Phil Beecher returns from a year in prison for vehicular manslaughter of Aggie Norris the sheriff's daughter. His wife Kathi forgives him, although the people of the town despise him. Phil is charged when sister Charlotte Norris is killed.
Hello, Kathi.
You didn't even meet
me at the bus stop.
What did you...
come back for?
You.
No, Phil.
I wrote you.
One letter, right
at the beginning,
when I first got to jail.
It... It was fresh in your mind.
I don't want to go over it all.
All right. But
I'll tell you again
for the last time,
that Aggie Norris ne... Never
meant anything in my life.
Not after you and I got married.
I love you, Kathi.
I never stopped loving you
through all the horror
of those last 10 months.
Now, I don't care what
the town thinks or says.
They say that...
That you got off easy.
A year in jail
for killing Aggie.
I didn't kill her.
The car skidded.
I only had one
drink. You know that.
Uh, I was wrong having
an argument with you
in the restaurant.
And I was wrong offering
to drive Aggie back to town,
but that's between you and me.
And I've waited
10 months to come
and ask you to please
forgive me, Kathi.
No.
No.
We only had four
months together, Kathi.
Four months. W...
We hardly had time
to get to know each other.
Hello.
Yes. He's here.
Oh, no.
What?
No.
Ward Lewis?
He said...
He said somebody saw
you getting off the bus.
He said... to tell you
to get out of town.
He said he hasn't forgotten
that you killed Aggie,
and neither has anyone else.
You can't stay here,
they all hate you.
I'm not leaving
without you, Kathi.
It's Room 11, upstairs.
Happen to have a reservation...?
Beecher.
We don't want any
drunken murderers
in this town.
Why...
Stop it. Stop it!
You ought to have
more sense, Ward Lewis.
I ought to? He should,
comin' back here.
What he did is past now.
He paid for what he did.
The law said he's
finished with it,
and I say let's be
finished with it too.
Not me. I'm not finished.
Get out.
All of you.
Seems kind of funny, you
defending me, Charlotte.
Hating you won't
bring my sister back.
Good luck, Phil.
I really wish you luck.
I know what you
must be going through.
If there's anything I can do,
I'm working over
at the mill office.
If my father comes in,
will you tell him I'm
working tonight, Willie?
Sure, Miss Charlotte.
Charlotte?
Charlotte Norris.
Hey, aren't you Mr. Perry Mason?
Mm, yes.
This is the first time
I've seen Charlotte.
She's been back East.
Of course.
I knew her sister.
That's right. Uh...
you and the sheriff go
hunting together. Mm-hm.
Aggie's accident
was about a year ago.
That's what all the
ruckus was about.
That Phil Beecher
took her driving
when he was drunk,
smashed his car up, killed her,
never got a scratch on him.
Sometimes there's
a scar you can't see.
That Charlotte
must be quite a girl.
With Aggie her sister,
and her understanding
and forgiving
like that, you bet.
But I ain't forgot
Phil Beecher so easy.
Well, let's see, Mr. Mason.
Your room's upstairs.
Sheriff will sure
be glad to see you.
He's back. On schedule.
You saw him? He has
a room at the lodge.
It couldn't have
worked out better.
I had to pull him and
Ward Lewis apart.
How I wanted to see
Ward smash his face in.
Beecher doesn't
suspect anything?
Look, I tell you, I
even stuck up for him.
Everything else is all set.
The payroll money,
the ledgers. Everything.
Forty-thousand
dollars, Charlotte.
We've waited a long
time for this, honey.
I'm ready.
I-I'm laying myself
wide open for you.
Got regrets?
Not so far.
There's nothing but good
things for us in the future.
It's time.
Hello.
Phil Beecher, please.
Phil?
Charlotte.
Oh.
Yes, Charlotte.
I was just going over
the company books,
and I noticed a notation
from the main office.
They used one of my suggestions?
It did? How much?
Oh, about $225.
It's marked unpaid on the books.
I don't see any reason
why you shouldn't have it.
After all, that's
what the company's
employee suggestion
system is for.
Well, that's mighty
nice of you, Charlotte.
And I sure can use the money.
Look, I'm working on
the payroll this evening
with Mr. Thurston, the manager.
We should be finished about 9.
Why don't you drop by then?
I'll be there with bells on.
I'll leave the side door open.
You know which one it is.
Just walk in.
Fine, Phil. See you then.
Ah.
Hello.
This is Mrs. Thurston.
I didn't know you were working
late tonight too, Charlotte.
Your wife.
Beecher will be here soon.
Yes, Judith. What is it?
You didn't tell me
Charlotte Norris
is working with you.
But, honey, you know
she always works
with me on payrolls.
Yes, dear.
I-I'll pick them up at Tepper's.
Tissues and, uh...
nose drops, yes.
Yes, dear.
Yes.
Oh, no time.
You've got to go now.
W... We haven't
overlooked anything?
Everything is all set?
All set. All ready for him.
Go on, Norman. All
we have to do is do it.
We get the $40,000 payroll,
and Beecher gets the blame.
Good luck.
Well, if it's too early, Perry,
make it 5:00 in the morning.
I'm not worried about
getting up so early.
It's going to bed so early.
It's only 20 minutes after 9.
May I have the key, please?
Come 20 minutes after
9 tomorrow evening,
after a long day out
in the open with a gun,
you'll be more willing.
Thanks for the dinner, Perry.
Oh, it was my pleasure, Gene.
Thank you.
You'll call me at
4, then, huh? Yeah.
Good night, Gene. Yeah.
Oh, sheriff.
Hello, Mr. Thurston.
Closed up already?
Charlotte asked me to tell
you she'll be, uh, a little late.
Isn't she making up the payroll?
That's right. Alone?
Oh, she'll be all right.
Beecher's stopping by to...
Beecher?
Beecher walked out of here
just a little while ago, sheriff.
Don't like the idea of her
being alone with Beecher
and all that money.
Hello.
Hello?
Hello, Charlotte.
W-what was that?
Sounded like a
shot. A pistol shot.
Hello.
Hello!
Charlotte?
Is she dead?
I've outlived my children.
The safe is open.
Beecher.
Anybody see Beecher?
Was supposed to be
here. Maybe he was here.
Killed Charlotte and took
off with our payroll money.
Ward.
I want you to stay here.
Nobody's to go in
or out of this office.
Nothing's to be touched.
Okay, Gene, I'm up.
Seems as though
I just hit the bed.
All right... Huh?
Who is this?
This is Katherine
Beecher, Mr. Mason.
And I'm very sorry to
disturb you like th... What?
It's... It's quarter after 11.
Mr. Mason, something
dreadful has happened...
and... I heard that
you were in town,
and I don't have
anyone to turn to.
Take it easy, Mrs. Beecher.
What's happened?
What can I do for you?
Well, it's...
I-it's my fault, Mr. Mason.
I... I sent him away.
If... If I'd told
him to stay home,
he wouldn't have gone out.
M... My husband didn't kill
Charlotte Norris, Mr. Mason.
He didn't.
Uh, I'll be right down.
Sure, it was a frame-up.
She had it planned all along.
She just wanted to get
back at me for Aggie.
All this time it's
been festering in her.
Tell me what happened.
Well, the side door was open,
just like she said it would be.
I went in. She was
working on some books.
She gave you the
suggestion money?
The $225?
Yes, she did.
Then what?
Well, I...
I thanked her.
We had a few words. I...
I told her how sorry I
was about Aggie again.
Go on.
Well, I said goodbye
and started to leave.
And the next thing I knew,
there was a roar
of a gun, and...
felt as if someone had hit
my arm with a sledgehammer.
And what happened then?
The shot staggered me.
I turned. She was aiming again.
I knew if I tried to run,
that bullet would hit
me right in the back.
So I just jumped over the
desk right into her, and...
she went over backward,
and everything went flying...
There was only one shot?
Yes.
And the bullet went
right through your arm?
Yes.
And she was alone when you left?
Yes, sir.
She was unconscious.
She'd hit her head.
But she was alive, all right.
What time was this?
I don't know.
A... Little after 9, I guess.
Do you have the $225?
Yeah, all but $20 of
it. I gave Kathi a bill
to get some bandages and things.
All right, let's go. Where?
Well, you are gonna
turn yourself in,
aren't you, Mr. Beecher?
Look, this town's got me pegged
for robbery and murder.
They're after
blood. Please, Phil.
I'll stand by you.
Don't you know what
they're gonna say, Kathi?
Everything was fine up
here while I was in jail...
but the day I get out...
The day I get out,
the payroll is stolen
and Charlotte is killed.
Well, Mr. Beecher?
Please?
All right, Mr. Mason.
My life's in your hands.
Morning, Perry.
Gene.
Beecher killed my girl.
Why'd he kill her, Gene?
For money.
For $43,267.
What the bimonthly
payroll added up to.
Did you find the money? Enough.
A $20 bill.
How do you know it
came from the payroll?
The serial numbers
were recorded.
Beecher said that
Charlotte called him
and told him she had
some bonus money for him.
That's why he
came here last night.
Thurston.
Tell him.
Why did Beecher
come here last night?
Charlotte said he
wanted to talk to her.
Did she have any money for him?
No.
W-why should she?
For an employee-
suggestion bonus.
Is that what Beecher says?
Who listed the serial
numbers on the payroll money?
Well, actually, only
the 20s are listed.
Our bank in Comstock
City does that.
Okay. Thanks, Norman.
You're not letting circumstances
build up something in
your mind, are you, Gene?
Sure, circumstances
that make up evidence.
Facts that add in.
His fingerprints are
all over the place.
The wound in his arm...
How many shots were fired?
Two. He killed her while
I listened on the phone.
He wanted that payroll
money, and she resisted.
She took the gun
out of her desk,
fired at him and wounded him.
While the phone was
ringing... My phone call
as she managed to
pick up the receiver,
he grabbed the gun away
from her and shot her.
Couldn't it have been
someone else who shot her?
Who else has a
bullet in his arm?
Who else resorted to flight?
Who else has been found
with the payroll money?
He killed both of
my children, Perry.
He's a mad dog.
There are people in
town who are saying
he ought to be treated like one.
Put out of the way... right now.
Do you have enough
protection at the jail?
Ward. He's there.
Leave us alone, Mrs. Beecher.
Why?
Mr. Norris said I
could stay here.
Okay.
Look, Beecher,
you got over $40,000
stashed away somewhere.
And you want out of here
so it'll do you some good.
Well, you just can't have both.
So make up your mind which.
I don't get you.
Tell me where the money is,
and I'll fix it so
you can escape.
Get a real good head start.
I don't know where the money is.
I haven't got it.
Talk it over.
The only way out of
here is through there.
There's no way out
through the courtroom.
Beecher, you're not gonna
get away with murder twice.
He really believes
that you killed Charlotte
and took the payroll money.
Or that's what he
wants me to think.
What do you mean, Phil?
He hates me.
Lewis?!
Yeah, Beecher?
You left the door unlocked.
I'm not gonna try
to escape, Lewis.
You're not gonna put
a bullet in my back.
Of course, there's one
other thing you can do.
You can tell Norris
where the money is
and tell him I tried
to buy my way out.
Only that'll cost you the
money, won't it, Lewis?
That is...
if you stole it and
killed Charlotte.
Goodbye, Beecher.
Yes? Good morning, Mr. Tepper.
My name is Mason.
I know it is.
Could you tell me something
about that $20 bill that
you said Mrs. Beecher gave you?
Oh, I told everything there
was to tell to the sheriff.
Did you tell him
what she bought?
Iodine, gauze, adhesive.
What time was this?
About a quarter to 10.
It weren't more
than ten minutes later
I learned about the killing.
Do you usually stay
open that late at night?
I got a night bell. I
sleep in the back.
Well, what time do
you usually close?
Eight o'clock.
Except Saturdays I close at 10.
Everybody knows I'm in
the back if I ain't out front.
Store's open
practically 24 hours.
Morning, Mrs. Thurston.
I need some tissues,
Mr. Tepper. Mm.
And some nose drops.
My husband was supposed
to bring them home last night,
but it went right
out of his head
as soon as he left the mill.
This here is Mr. Perry Mason
of Los Angeles.
You're going to defend
Philip Beecher, aren't you?
That's right, Mrs. Thurston.
It's always been a mystery to me
how a reputable
attorney can defend a man
everybody knows is guilty.
A guilty man is still
entitled to representation.
Well, you won't
get Phil Beecher off.
Charge it, Mr. Tepper.
Yeah, okay.
Guess Mr. Thurston
must be quite forgetful.
Huh?
I guess he forgot to stop by...
for the things Mrs. Thurston
wanted him to pick up.
I guess so.
Must have been around 9:00.
Or shortly after 9.
Just about the time
Charlotte Norris was killed.
But maybe he did stop by,
but you weren't here.
Must've been one or
the other, mustn't it?
Uh, Mr. Mason.
Telephone call, Los Angeles.
Thank you.
Hello.
Perry, what's going on up there?
The afternoon papers
have a story about a robbery
and murder in Fawnskin.
And "town feeling running high."
Afternoon papers
are right, Della.
I'll keep in touch.
Bye.
Oh, um, thinking
back to last night...
can you tell me
whether Charlotte Norris
called Philip Beecher,
or whether he called her?
I don't remember.
Hello, Gene. Hello, Perry.
I understand
Mr. Ransome is here.
He's right over there, sheriff.
Eugene Norris. Sheriff Norris?
That's right. Nice to
see you, Mr. Ransome.
Well, I've been talking to
your deputy, Ward Lewis.
And I've been going over
some of the elements of the case.
Now, this is Perry Mason.
He's representing the defendant.
How do you do? Ah, yes.
I recognize Mr. Mason.
Everett Ransome, Perry.
He's a special prosecutor
sent up by the attorney general.
This will be neutral
ground, Mr. Mason.
What do you mean, Mr. Ransome?
Oh, for you and for me.
That's true.
I've always considered a
courtroom neutral ground.
Oh.
Yeah, well, I also mean
that Fawnskin isn't exactly
my stamping grounds,
neither is it yours.
And since this is relatively
a small community,
tricks, gags,
courtroom dramatics
which work miracles
in the big city, simply
won't work here.
What are you implying?
Oh.
I'm warning you, Mr. Mason.
You see, I've studied
this case pretty thoroughly.
The man Beecher is guilty.
And...
what is your warning?
He's going to pay.
He's not going to
get away with it.
Even though he has a
high-powered, high-priced,
big city attorney with a
hundred tricks up his sleeve.
I'm looking forward
to some of that...
courtroom neutrality,
Mr. Ransome.
Gene.
Phil and Aggie went steady
for a year in high school.
That as serious as it got?
Yes.
I see.
How long has Mr. Thurston
worked at the mill?
Oh, a long time, Mr. Mason.
As long as I can remember.
He's always been a...
Well, you know, a...
staunch pillar of society.
And Ward Lewis?
Ward was in love with Aggie.
He used to work at the mill
before he became
your deputy sheriff.
He and Phil
always sort of, um...
clashed. Hm.
This, um...
Robert Tepper, Kathi,
what about him?
He's a funny one. He, uh...
He's got a finger in
almost everything in town.
He's got a lot of money,
but he doesn't trust banks.
A lot of people think
that he buries his money
but... if he does,
nobody's ever been
able to find out where
or... Or how much he really has.
He dabbles in real estate.
All right.
You've been a great help.
To me and to your husband.
Let us in, please.
I arrived at the mill at 9:25.
Fingerprints of the
defendant, Philip Beecher...
were on the... desk,
on the desk chair...
on the paneling
on the front door...
and on the doorknob
of the side door.
Sheriff...
what brought you to the mill?
I had called Charlotte.
The phone had been picked up.
I heard what
sounded like a shot.
Why did you make
the call to Charlotte?
I had just found out...
from Mr. Thurston
at the lodge...
she was there alone
in the mill offices
expecting Philip Beecher.
I suppose you know he
already killed one daughter.
Sheriff...
do you recognize this automatic?
Yes.
I tagged it.
It's the murder weapon.
Killed Charlotte.
It killed my daughter.
Your Honor...
defense realizes the strain
under which the
sheriff is testifying.
If the court will allow,
this testimony could be
given by another member
of the sheriff's office.
I was gonna suggest deferring
Mr. Norris' testimony...
but if Mr. Ransome agrees...?
Deputy Sheriff Ward Lewis
can handle it just as well.
Sheriff.
It's the murder weapon.
Ballistics checked it
out with the lethal bullet.
I show you now... this bullet,
and I ask you to identify it.
Yeah, this bullet was
taken out of the wall.
Your Honor, I'd like
this to be marked
as State's Exhibit D, please.
No objection.
Now, deputy, I
ask you to describe
other points of
interest found at the...
scene of the murder.
Well, some blood
was found on the floor...
and a trail leading
to the front door.
Was it classified as a type?
Type AB. It was
not Charlotte's blood.
When Beecher was
examined by the doc,
he was found to be wounded
through the fleshy
part of the upper arm,
the bullet going right
through and into the wall.
His blood was tested for type.
Same as the blood
on the floor: AB.
A relatively rare type of blood.
What else was found at the...
murder scene?
Well, in the wastebasket
uh, next to the desk,
a torn wrapper.
You know, the kind of
wrapper used by the bank
to, uh, put their
money into. Mm-hm.
Go on, deputy.
It had two of the defendant's
fingerprints on it.
Thank you.
You may cross, Mr. Mason.
Deputy Lewis...
were any of the
defendant's fingerprints found
anyplace on the open safe?
Nope.
How many shots were
fired from the murder gun?
Two, apparently.
Why do you say "apparently"?
We only found two bullets.
The one that killed Charlotte
and the other one in the wall.
How many bullets were found
remaining in the magazine?
Five.
A load is eight, then...
three shots might
have been fired?
Well, there's no way of telling
whether there was exactly
eight bullets to start with.
We only found two bullets.
How diligently did you search?
We found all we had to find!
The one that killed Charlotte
and the one went through
his arm into the wall.
Oh.
Then the bullet that went
through the defendant's arm...
must've entered the
wall at a flat position.
A "tumbling entrance,"
I believe it's called,
caused by a deflection
through the flesh.
The Comstock City lab men,
th... They didn't examine for that.
It was perfectly clear...
Now, just a minute.
Then it is possible
that the bullet
you found in the wall...
did not go through
the defendant's arm,
and that a third bullet did.
I... I don't get the point
of all this, Your Honor.
If there was a third
bullet, it wasn't found.
And neither was the
missing cartridge shell.
And if a third bullet was fired,
it could have been fired
at the defendant too.
Uh, nevertheless, Your Honor,
I would like the bullet,
State's Exhibit D,
made available
to a defense expert
for microscopic examination.
Very well, Mr. Mason.
Now, Deputy Lewis...
what else beside
the money wrapper
was found in the wastebasket?
As I recall, nothing but
some crumpled papers...
And, oh, yes, one or two
soiled cleaning tissues.
And that's all?
That's all.
Now, on the day
following the murder...
did you engage the defendant
in a conversation at the jail?
Object.
Immaterial, incompetent
and irrelevant.
And improper in that
it takes up matters
not part of the
direct examination.
Objection sustained.
Deputy Lewis, isn't it true that
on the same day,
you deliberately left the
defendant's cell door open?
Object.
Same reason.
Sustained.
Mr. Mason.
Seems to the court
that you are aware
that your questions
are improper.
If the court please,
I'm trying to show
bias and prejudice.
And I can assure Your
Honor that the conversations
I'm calling for do so
indicate bias and prejudice.
In that case...
objection overruled.
Now, Deputy Lewis...
Look, I don't know
what they told you and what
they said, but I didn't say anything.
And I didn't leave
that cell door open.
Not knowingly, anyway.
No more questions.
Call Mr. Norman Thurston
to the stand, please.
Mr. Thurston...
what time did you leave
the mill on November 13th,
the night of the murder?
A few minutes before 9:00.
Was Charlotte Norris there
when you left?
She had called Phil Beecher
to tell him that she knew
there had been nothing going on
between him and Aggie
before the accident.
Now, Mr. Thurston...
what was the reason that,
uh, you have the listings
of the serial numbers
of the payroll money?
Since the robbery in Comstock,
we asked the bank to
list the serial numbers
on all $20 bills
in each payroll.
Now, I'm going to
show you these listings...
and I'd like you to
identify them for us.
These are the listings.
We get them, uh, with the
money every second Friday.
This time, November 13th.
Who makes up this list?
Uh, the cashier at the bank.
Here on the front page is
his signature and the date.
This time, November 13th.
And here on the last page
is his signature and the date.
The, uh, pages in
between are only initialed.
Hm. Thank you.
I offer these lists to be
marked as evidence, please.
No objection.
Uh, you may have this witness.
Mr. Thurston...
how long does it take
to walk from the
mill to the lodge?
Well, that depends.
It's less than a half mile.
It can take five
minutes or 15 minutes.
How long did it take you on
the night of November 13th?
About average.
Average. That would
be about ten minutes.
Didn't you arrive at 9:20?
Well, then it took
me a little longer.
Perhaps during your walk you...
stopped somewhere.
Yes, I may have. Where?
Object, Your Honor.
The question is
irrelevant, incompetent
and immaterial. And improper,
since it was not part of
the direct examination.
Your Honor, we're
dealing with events
close to the time of the murder.
Well, he's seeking to
cross-examine this man
on the possibility
of his own guilt.
Well, now, on this...
objection overruled.
The court is inclined
to permit the defense
a measure of latitude
in its cross-examination,
especially in
this delicate area.
However, Mr. Mason, I
will not rule out objections
if you wander too far afield.
Your Honor.
Now, let me state this in
another way, Mr. Thurston.
During that walk...
did you stop at Tepper's market
to pick up some
things for your wife?
Yes.
Did you pick them up?
No. Why not?
I couldn't wake Bob Tepper up.
How did you know he was asleep?
Well, heh-heh,
if he's not in the store,
he's either out on his
property somewhere
burying his money,
or he's sleeping.
Since it was
after 9:00 at night,
I guess he was sleeping.
No further questions.
Call Robert Tepper to the stand.
Kathi, I want you
to do me a favor.
Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth and
nothing but the truth?
I do.
State your name.
- Robert Tepper.
- Be seated.
Here's a signed check.
I want you to make
it out for $1,000,
cash it at the
Comstock City bank.
A thousand dollars?
Get a $1,000 bill,
if they have one.
Otherwise, the
largest they have.
I'm trying a little
experiment in human nature.
Now, hurry.
Katherine Beecher
come into your store?
Oh, about a quarter to 10.
What did she want?
Bandages, gauze and iodine.
Did she pay cash
for her purchases?
Oh, yes. She give me a $20 bill.
And I gave her her change.
I show you this
bill, Mr. Tepper,
and ask you to
identify it for us.
Yes. That's the
bill she give me.
I put my initials on it.
Hm.
I offer this bill in
evidence, Your Honor.
And you will note that
the serial number here
corresponds... to
the sixth entry here
on the first page
of the list of $20 bills
made up by the bank
cashier... Mm-hm.
And marked State's Exhibit H.
Mr. Mason?
Defense has no objection.
Your witness.
Now, Mr. Tepper...
you were in your store at 9:45
when you served Mrs. Beecher...
but you were not in
your store at 9:10 or 9:15
when Mr. Thurston rang
the bell in your rear quarters.
Now, where were
you at that time?
Object, Your Honor.
Irrelevant, incompetent,
immaterial...
and improper cross-examination.
Let Mr. Mason put the
witness on as his own witness
if he wishes to
inquire to this point.
Sustained.
Your Honor...
at this time I would
like to ask for a recess
- to check on a point.
- Very well.
This court is adjourned
until 2:30 this afternoon.
Now...
I don't want any
misunderstanding, Mr. Mason.
I own this parcel of
land, 5-and-a-half acres,
situated north of the highway,
adjacent to Willow Creek,
exactly according
to this title deed.
Now, you agree to pay me
the sum of $5,500 for it.
If I pick up the option.
I have four weeks to do that.
Oh, we haven't decided how
much that option gonna cost you.
You name it, Mr. Tepper.
Uh...$500?
Why don't we make it a thousand?
Thousand.
All right.
Now... a check will be
perfectly all right.
Thousand-dollar bill?
I just got it from the bank.
Mr. Mason, what makes you
so anxious to buy this land?
Why, I have faith in this part
of the country, Mr. Tepper.
Don't you?
All right, let's
have it, Mr. Tepper.
It's mine. It's my money!
If it is, you'll get it back.
L, seven, seven, oh,
three, three, four, nine, six.
That makes the... fifth $20 bill
that checks out
on that list, right?
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Mr. Tepper...
where did you get these bills?
Well, I haven't been
to that safe for a week.
I wouldn't even have gone today
if I hadn't got
that $1,000 bill,
to put it away for safekeeping.
Now, please answer the question.
Where did you get these bills?
Well, you know I run a store.
From my customers.
But these bills were part of
the November 13th payroll.
The payroll that was
stolen, not distributed.
I don't understand that.
You know, I think I do.
Your Honor, I
would like to recall
Norman Thurston to the stand.
I object, Your Honor.
This is just the
type of shenanigans
Perry Mason is noted for.
Well, now, just
what is your definition
of the word "shenanigan,"
Mr. Prosecutor?
Uh, I think Mr. Mason's request
is both reasonable and logical.
Objection overruled.
Mr. Thurston, you will
take the stand, please.
Step down, please.
You are still under
oath, Mr. Thurston.
Mr. Thurston...
what about these bills
being in circulation?
Yes, I... I guess I'd
better explain that.
Yes, I should guess so.
I planned to steal the
November 13th payroll money.
I took one of the old lists
and substituted the inside pages
for the November 13th pages.
The initialed pages only?
Yes, I...
The front and back
pages were dated.
I... I couldn't use them,
so I used the front
and back pages
of the real November
13th payroll list
and inserted inside pages
from the...
previous payroll list.
Mr. Thurston, in this plan,
didn't you and
Charlotte Norris conspire
to put blame on the defendant?
And...
in this plan, didn't
she call the defendant
and tell him she had
some bonus money for him?
Yes.
And in this plan, didn't
she tell the defendant
to come to the mill
at 9:00 that night?
Yes.
What was the complete
plan, Mr. Thurston?
I left the mill a few
minutes before 9.
I was to go to the hotel
and tell Charlotte's father
sh... She'd be a little late.
Then, uh, she was to call
and accuse Beecher
of overpowering her,
and stealing the payroll money.
But i-it didn't
work out that way.
You and Charlotte were
to share the money?
Yes.
Isn't it true that you stayed
at the mill until Beecher left?
And that you then
killed Charlotte Norris?
No, I didn't!
There was the shot
Sheriff Norris heard
over the telephone.
And you were in
the hotel at the time.
Uh, no more questions.
Your Honor, I
hadn't anticipated...
this turn in the case.
I thought that the defendant
could be bound over
with a minimum of trouble.
But it appears I'll have
to present evidence
that I'd...
hoped to save
for the jury trial.
I call Mrs. Judith Thurston
to the stand, please.
You may step down.
Uh, well... I thought I
would drive to the mill
and give Norman a lift home.
I figured he'd
worked hard all day,
and he hadn't taken the car.
And I wanted to save
him the long uphill walk
at that time of the night.
What time did you arrive
at the mill, Mrs. Thurston?
Well, I'm not positive
of the exact time,
but it must have been
close to 20 or 25
minutes after 9.
I pulled up in
front of the offices.
There were lights on.
But you can't see all
the way in, you know.
The front door was locked.
I was just getting
ready to knock...
when I heard the shot inside.
The shot?
Yes. One shot.
Then I heard somebody
running toward the door.
I stepped back
into the shadows...
and he dashed out.
Then what did you do?
Well, after he had
gone, I went inside.
I was worried about Norman.
I called, but there
wasn't any answer.
Then I saw Charlotte...
and I ran out.
Did you recognize this man
who ran out of the offices
after you heard the shot?
Yes.
Phil Beecher...
the defendant.
Thank you, Mrs. Thurston.
Cross-examine.
Now, you say you
heard the single shot
while you were
outside the mill offices?
Yes.
How much later was
it before the defendant
ran to the front door?
Well, practically immediately.
Uh, how fast was he running?
Very fast.
Did he have to fumble
when he opened the front door?
No.
Not that I recall.
Isn't there a safety
lock on that door?
Oh, yes. Yes, I guess there is.
And if it's locked,
then you have to...
hold the lock open
with one hand,
while you turn the knob
and open the
door with the other.
Uh, well, that isn't hard to do.
Oh, not if your hands are free.
And I suppose the
defendant's hands were free?
Well, yes. Weren't they?
Yes, I would say so.
If he wasn't carrying something.
And if he...
had absconded
with that payroll money,
he must have, uh,
stuffed it into his pockets.
I-I-I suppose so.
I-I didn't notice.
You would have, Mrs. Thurston.
Do you have any idea
of the bulk of $40,000...
when it's comprised
of silver change
and dollar bills,
5-dollar bills, 10s and 20s?
I don't remember any of these
things you're talking about.
Now, you testified
that you went in
and you saw Charlotte's body.
Now, how close to
the body did you get?
Close enough to tell
she was dead. Shot dead.
How long did you stay there?
I told you, I didn't stay.
I ran out.
You had a cold at
that time, did you not?
Well, y-yes.
And how long did you remain
in the mill offices?
I didn't. I told you.
Won't do, Mrs. Thurston.
You were there
long enough to use
at least two cleaning tissues.
They were found
in the wastebasket
at the side of Charlotte's desk.
Now, your testimony has been
a mass of contradiction.
I suggest that you
have fabricated
a bundle of lies...
and that you did not
see the defendant
on the night of November 13th.
I suggest that you
were not concerned at all
about the long uphill walk
your husband had to take.
What motivated you was
his working late at night
with Charlotte Norris.
Why should I think
anything about that?
I suggest that you...
did arrive at the mill office.
Perhaps at about...
15 minutes after 9.
But you found the
front door open.
It was locked.
When you went in,
you found Charlotte Norris,
unconscious, but
very much alive.
No, she was dead.
All right then...
she was dead.
And what went through your mind?
Wasn't it that your husband
had committed the murder?
And when that phone rang...
you picked up the gun,
you lifted the receiver,
you heard the sheriff's voice...
and you fired the gun.
And that was the third bullet.
No. Oh, no.
Oh, don't say no.
Those cleaning tissues
can be traced directly to you.
Oh.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Yes. It's true.
All right then, let's get
this time element straight.
You arrived at a
quarter past 9...
and Charlotte was dead?
Yes.
The defendant said he left
at about five minutes after 9.
That Charlotte was
unconscious but still alive.
Uh, that leaves a
ten-minute period
during which someone
killed Charlotte
and made off with that money.
Could've been Deputy Lewis...
could've Mr. Tepper.
Or it could have been the
one you really thought it was:
your husband, wasn't
it, Mrs. Thurston?
Were you in love
with her, Norman?
Yes.
She hated Beecher so much,
she just used me.
She was so angry about it,
missing him with the gun.
She... She was all...
All... All twisted and...
And full of...
Of bitterness and hate.
She never cared
about me or the money.
She just wanted
revenge for Aggie.
I picked up the pistol...
I shot her.
When did you know who really
killed Charlotte, Mr. Mason?
Oh, when I learned
about the scheme
with the serial numbers.
Someone had to be in on it,
to take advantage
of the payroll money.
And since only Thurston
and Charlotte knew about it...
Then it was only a question
of engineering a confession.
I don't think you made
a bad deal, Perry.
Someday this land is
gonna be very valuable.
I think I'll put up a cabin.
Won't have to stop
at the lodge. Hm.
Well, Gene, you've
had a pretty rough time.
I think of Charlotte
like Thurston said.
It was her hate, got
her all twisted up.
Nothing's all black or white.
Even hate.
Oh, I have a message
for you from Ransome,
the special prosecutor.
All he needs is
to view his career
with a little patience.
I think he's getting it,
along with a sense of humor.
Says he has one
more objection to make.
To the attorney general,
next time he's appointed
to run up against you.
Hm.
You didn't even meet
me at the bus stop.
What did you...
come back for?
You.
No, Phil.
I wrote you.
One letter, right
at the beginning,
when I first got to jail.
It... It was fresh in your mind.
I don't want to go over it all.
All right. But
I'll tell you again
for the last time,
that Aggie Norris ne... Never
meant anything in my life.
Not after you and I got married.
I love you, Kathi.
I never stopped loving you
through all the horror
of those last 10 months.
Now, I don't care what
the town thinks or says.
They say that...
That you got off easy.
A year in jail
for killing Aggie.
I didn't kill her.
The car skidded.
I only had one
drink. You know that.
Uh, I was wrong having
an argument with you
in the restaurant.
And I was wrong offering
to drive Aggie back to town,
but that's between you and me.
And I've waited
10 months to come
and ask you to please
forgive me, Kathi.
No.
No.
We only had four
months together, Kathi.
Four months. W...
We hardly had time
to get to know each other.
Hello.
Yes. He's here.
Oh, no.
What?
No.
Ward Lewis?
He said...
He said somebody saw
you getting off the bus.
He said... to tell you
to get out of town.
He said he hasn't forgotten
that you killed Aggie,
and neither has anyone else.
You can't stay here,
they all hate you.
I'm not leaving
without you, Kathi.
It's Room 11, upstairs.
Happen to have a reservation...?
Beecher.
We don't want any
drunken murderers
in this town.
Why...
Stop it. Stop it!
You ought to have
more sense, Ward Lewis.
I ought to? He should,
comin' back here.
What he did is past now.
He paid for what he did.
The law said he's
finished with it,
and I say let's be
finished with it too.
Not me. I'm not finished.
Get out.
All of you.
Seems kind of funny, you
defending me, Charlotte.
Hating you won't
bring my sister back.
Good luck, Phil.
I really wish you luck.
I know what you
must be going through.
If there's anything I can do,
I'm working over
at the mill office.
If my father comes in,
will you tell him I'm
working tonight, Willie?
Sure, Miss Charlotte.
Charlotte?
Charlotte Norris.
Hey, aren't you Mr. Perry Mason?
Mm, yes.
This is the first time
I've seen Charlotte.
She's been back East.
Of course.
I knew her sister.
That's right. Uh...
you and the sheriff go
hunting together. Mm-hm.
Aggie's accident
was about a year ago.
That's what all the
ruckus was about.
That Phil Beecher
took her driving
when he was drunk,
smashed his car up, killed her,
never got a scratch on him.
Sometimes there's
a scar you can't see.
That Charlotte
must be quite a girl.
With Aggie her sister,
and her understanding
and forgiving
like that, you bet.
But I ain't forgot
Phil Beecher so easy.
Well, let's see, Mr. Mason.
Your room's upstairs.
Sheriff will sure
be glad to see you.
He's back. On schedule.
You saw him? He has
a room at the lodge.
It couldn't have
worked out better.
I had to pull him and
Ward Lewis apart.
How I wanted to see
Ward smash his face in.
Beecher doesn't
suspect anything?
Look, I tell you, I
even stuck up for him.
Everything else is all set.
The payroll money,
the ledgers. Everything.
Forty-thousand
dollars, Charlotte.
We've waited a long
time for this, honey.
I'm ready.
I-I'm laying myself
wide open for you.
Got regrets?
Not so far.
There's nothing but good
things for us in the future.
It's time.
Hello.
Phil Beecher, please.
Phil?
Charlotte.
Oh.
Yes, Charlotte.
I was just going over
the company books,
and I noticed a notation
from the main office.
They used one of my suggestions?
It did? How much?
Oh, about $225.
It's marked unpaid on the books.
I don't see any reason
why you shouldn't have it.
After all, that's
what the company's
employee suggestion
system is for.
Well, that's mighty
nice of you, Charlotte.
And I sure can use the money.
Look, I'm working on
the payroll this evening
with Mr. Thurston, the manager.
We should be finished about 9.
Why don't you drop by then?
I'll be there with bells on.
I'll leave the side door open.
You know which one it is.
Just walk in.
Fine, Phil. See you then.
Ah.
Hello.
This is Mrs. Thurston.
I didn't know you were working
late tonight too, Charlotte.
Your wife.
Beecher will be here soon.
Yes, Judith. What is it?
You didn't tell me
Charlotte Norris
is working with you.
But, honey, you know
she always works
with me on payrolls.
Yes, dear.
I-I'll pick them up at Tepper's.
Tissues and, uh...
nose drops, yes.
Yes, dear.
Yes.
Oh, no time.
You've got to go now.
W... We haven't
overlooked anything?
Everything is all set?
All set. All ready for him.
Go on, Norman. All
we have to do is do it.
We get the $40,000 payroll,
and Beecher gets the blame.
Good luck.
Well, if it's too early, Perry,
make it 5:00 in the morning.
I'm not worried about
getting up so early.
It's going to bed so early.
It's only 20 minutes after 9.
May I have the key, please?
Come 20 minutes after
9 tomorrow evening,
after a long day out
in the open with a gun,
you'll be more willing.
Thanks for the dinner, Perry.
Oh, it was my pleasure, Gene.
Thank you.
You'll call me at
4, then, huh? Yeah.
Good night, Gene. Yeah.
Oh, sheriff.
Hello, Mr. Thurston.
Closed up already?
Charlotte asked me to tell
you she'll be, uh, a little late.
Isn't she making up the payroll?
That's right. Alone?
Oh, she'll be all right.
Beecher's stopping by to...
Beecher?
Beecher walked out of here
just a little while ago, sheriff.
Don't like the idea of her
being alone with Beecher
and all that money.
Hello.
Hello?
Hello, Charlotte.
W-what was that?
Sounded like a
shot. A pistol shot.
Hello.
Hello!
Charlotte?
Is she dead?
I've outlived my children.
The safe is open.
Beecher.
Anybody see Beecher?
Was supposed to be
here. Maybe he was here.
Killed Charlotte and took
off with our payroll money.
Ward.
I want you to stay here.
Nobody's to go in
or out of this office.
Nothing's to be touched.
Okay, Gene, I'm up.
Seems as though
I just hit the bed.
All right... Huh?
Who is this?
This is Katherine
Beecher, Mr. Mason.
And I'm very sorry to
disturb you like th... What?
It's... It's quarter after 11.
Mr. Mason, something
dreadful has happened...
and... I heard that
you were in town,
and I don't have
anyone to turn to.
Take it easy, Mrs. Beecher.
What's happened?
What can I do for you?
Well, it's...
I-it's my fault, Mr. Mason.
I... I sent him away.
If... If I'd told
him to stay home,
he wouldn't have gone out.
M... My husband didn't kill
Charlotte Norris, Mr. Mason.
He didn't.
Uh, I'll be right down.
Sure, it was a frame-up.
She had it planned all along.
She just wanted to get
back at me for Aggie.
All this time it's
been festering in her.
Tell me what happened.
Well, the side door was open,
just like she said it would be.
I went in. She was
working on some books.
She gave you the
suggestion money?
The $225?
Yes, she did.
Then what?
Well, I...
I thanked her.
We had a few words. I...
I told her how sorry I
was about Aggie again.
Go on.
Well, I said goodbye
and started to leave.
And the next thing I knew,
there was a roar
of a gun, and...
felt as if someone had hit
my arm with a sledgehammer.
And what happened then?
The shot staggered me.
I turned. She was aiming again.
I knew if I tried to run,
that bullet would hit
me right in the back.
So I just jumped over the
desk right into her, and...
she went over backward,
and everything went flying...
There was only one shot?
Yes.
And the bullet went
right through your arm?
Yes.
And she was alone when you left?
Yes, sir.
She was unconscious.
She'd hit her head.
But she was alive, all right.
What time was this?
I don't know.
A... Little after 9, I guess.
Do you have the $225?
Yeah, all but $20 of
it. I gave Kathi a bill
to get some bandages and things.
All right, let's go. Where?
Well, you are gonna
turn yourself in,
aren't you, Mr. Beecher?
Look, this town's got me pegged
for robbery and murder.
They're after
blood. Please, Phil.
I'll stand by you.
Don't you know what
they're gonna say, Kathi?
Everything was fine up
here while I was in jail...
but the day I get out...
The day I get out,
the payroll is stolen
and Charlotte is killed.
Well, Mr. Beecher?
Please?
All right, Mr. Mason.
My life's in your hands.
Morning, Perry.
Gene.
Beecher killed my girl.
Why'd he kill her, Gene?
For money.
For $43,267.
What the bimonthly
payroll added up to.
Did you find the money? Enough.
A $20 bill.
How do you know it
came from the payroll?
The serial numbers
were recorded.
Beecher said that
Charlotte called him
and told him she had
some bonus money for him.
That's why he
came here last night.
Thurston.
Tell him.
Why did Beecher
come here last night?
Charlotte said he
wanted to talk to her.
Did she have any money for him?
No.
W-why should she?
For an employee-
suggestion bonus.
Is that what Beecher says?
Who listed the serial
numbers on the payroll money?
Well, actually, only
the 20s are listed.
Our bank in Comstock
City does that.
Okay. Thanks, Norman.
You're not letting circumstances
build up something in
your mind, are you, Gene?
Sure, circumstances
that make up evidence.
Facts that add in.
His fingerprints are
all over the place.
The wound in his arm...
How many shots were fired?
Two. He killed her while
I listened on the phone.
He wanted that payroll
money, and she resisted.
She took the gun
out of her desk,
fired at him and wounded him.
While the phone was
ringing... My phone call
as she managed to
pick up the receiver,
he grabbed the gun away
from her and shot her.
Couldn't it have been
someone else who shot her?
Who else has a
bullet in his arm?
Who else resorted to flight?
Who else has been found
with the payroll money?
He killed both of
my children, Perry.
He's a mad dog.
There are people in
town who are saying
he ought to be treated like one.
Put out of the way... right now.
Do you have enough
protection at the jail?
Ward. He's there.
Leave us alone, Mrs. Beecher.
Why?
Mr. Norris said I
could stay here.
Okay.
Look, Beecher,
you got over $40,000
stashed away somewhere.
And you want out of here
so it'll do you some good.
Well, you just can't have both.
So make up your mind which.
I don't get you.
Tell me where the money is,
and I'll fix it so
you can escape.
Get a real good head start.
I don't know where the money is.
I haven't got it.
Talk it over.
The only way out of
here is through there.
There's no way out
through the courtroom.
Beecher, you're not gonna
get away with murder twice.
He really believes
that you killed Charlotte
and took the payroll money.
Or that's what he
wants me to think.
What do you mean, Phil?
He hates me.
Lewis?!
Yeah, Beecher?
You left the door unlocked.
I'm not gonna try
to escape, Lewis.
You're not gonna put
a bullet in my back.
Of course, there's one
other thing you can do.
You can tell Norris
where the money is
and tell him I tried
to buy my way out.
Only that'll cost you the
money, won't it, Lewis?
That is...
if you stole it and
killed Charlotte.
Goodbye, Beecher.
Yes? Good morning, Mr. Tepper.
My name is Mason.
I know it is.
Could you tell me something
about that $20 bill that
you said Mrs. Beecher gave you?
Oh, I told everything there
was to tell to the sheriff.
Did you tell him
what she bought?
Iodine, gauze, adhesive.
What time was this?
About a quarter to 10.
It weren't more
than ten minutes later
I learned about the killing.
Do you usually stay
open that late at night?
I got a night bell. I
sleep in the back.
Well, what time do
you usually close?
Eight o'clock.
Except Saturdays I close at 10.
Everybody knows I'm in
the back if I ain't out front.
Store's open
practically 24 hours.
Morning, Mrs. Thurston.
I need some tissues,
Mr. Tepper. Mm.
And some nose drops.
My husband was supposed
to bring them home last night,
but it went right
out of his head
as soon as he left the mill.
This here is Mr. Perry Mason
of Los Angeles.
You're going to defend
Philip Beecher, aren't you?
That's right, Mrs. Thurston.
It's always been a mystery to me
how a reputable
attorney can defend a man
everybody knows is guilty.
A guilty man is still
entitled to representation.
Well, you won't
get Phil Beecher off.
Charge it, Mr. Tepper.
Yeah, okay.
Guess Mr. Thurston
must be quite forgetful.
Huh?
I guess he forgot to stop by...
for the things Mrs. Thurston
wanted him to pick up.
I guess so.
Must have been around 9:00.
Or shortly after 9.
Just about the time
Charlotte Norris was killed.
But maybe he did stop by,
but you weren't here.
Must've been one or
the other, mustn't it?
Uh, Mr. Mason.
Telephone call, Los Angeles.
Thank you.
Hello.
Perry, what's going on up there?
The afternoon papers
have a story about a robbery
and murder in Fawnskin.
And "town feeling running high."
Afternoon papers
are right, Della.
I'll keep in touch.
Bye.
Oh, um, thinking
back to last night...
can you tell me
whether Charlotte Norris
called Philip Beecher,
or whether he called her?
I don't remember.
Hello, Gene. Hello, Perry.
I understand
Mr. Ransome is here.
He's right over there, sheriff.
Eugene Norris. Sheriff Norris?
That's right. Nice to
see you, Mr. Ransome.
Well, I've been talking to
your deputy, Ward Lewis.
And I've been going over
some of the elements of the case.
Now, this is Perry Mason.
He's representing the defendant.
How do you do? Ah, yes.
I recognize Mr. Mason.
Everett Ransome, Perry.
He's a special prosecutor
sent up by the attorney general.
This will be neutral
ground, Mr. Mason.
What do you mean, Mr. Ransome?
Oh, for you and for me.
That's true.
I've always considered a
courtroom neutral ground.
Oh.
Yeah, well, I also mean
that Fawnskin isn't exactly
my stamping grounds,
neither is it yours.
And since this is relatively
a small community,
tricks, gags,
courtroom dramatics
which work miracles
in the big city, simply
won't work here.
What are you implying?
Oh.
I'm warning you, Mr. Mason.
You see, I've studied
this case pretty thoroughly.
The man Beecher is guilty.
And...
what is your warning?
He's going to pay.
He's not going to
get away with it.
Even though he has a
high-powered, high-priced,
big city attorney with a
hundred tricks up his sleeve.
I'm looking forward
to some of that...
courtroom neutrality,
Mr. Ransome.
Gene.
Phil and Aggie went steady
for a year in high school.
That as serious as it got?
Yes.
I see.
How long has Mr. Thurston
worked at the mill?
Oh, a long time, Mr. Mason.
As long as I can remember.
He's always been a...
Well, you know, a...
staunch pillar of society.
And Ward Lewis?
Ward was in love with Aggie.
He used to work at the mill
before he became
your deputy sheriff.
He and Phil
always sort of, um...
clashed. Hm.
This, um...
Robert Tepper, Kathi,
what about him?
He's a funny one. He, uh...
He's got a finger in
almost everything in town.
He's got a lot of money,
but he doesn't trust banks.
A lot of people think
that he buries his money
but... if he does,
nobody's ever been
able to find out where
or... Or how much he really has.
He dabbles in real estate.
All right.
You've been a great help.
To me and to your husband.
Let us in, please.
I arrived at the mill at 9:25.
Fingerprints of the
defendant, Philip Beecher...
were on the... desk,
on the desk chair...
on the paneling
on the front door...
and on the doorknob
of the side door.
Sheriff...
what brought you to the mill?
I had called Charlotte.
The phone had been picked up.
I heard what
sounded like a shot.
Why did you make
the call to Charlotte?
I had just found out...
from Mr. Thurston
at the lodge...
she was there alone
in the mill offices
expecting Philip Beecher.
I suppose you know he
already killed one daughter.
Sheriff...
do you recognize this automatic?
Yes.
I tagged it.
It's the murder weapon.
Killed Charlotte.
It killed my daughter.
Your Honor...
defense realizes the strain
under which the
sheriff is testifying.
If the court will allow,
this testimony could be
given by another member
of the sheriff's office.
I was gonna suggest deferring
Mr. Norris' testimony...
but if Mr. Ransome agrees...?
Deputy Sheriff Ward Lewis
can handle it just as well.
Sheriff.
It's the murder weapon.
Ballistics checked it
out with the lethal bullet.
I show you now... this bullet,
and I ask you to identify it.
Yeah, this bullet was
taken out of the wall.
Your Honor, I'd like
this to be marked
as State's Exhibit D, please.
No objection.
Now, deputy, I
ask you to describe
other points of
interest found at the...
scene of the murder.
Well, some blood
was found on the floor...
and a trail leading
to the front door.
Was it classified as a type?
Type AB. It was
not Charlotte's blood.
When Beecher was
examined by the doc,
he was found to be wounded
through the fleshy
part of the upper arm,
the bullet going right
through and into the wall.
His blood was tested for type.
Same as the blood
on the floor: AB.
A relatively rare type of blood.
What else was found at the...
murder scene?
Well, in the wastebasket
uh, next to the desk,
a torn wrapper.
You know, the kind of
wrapper used by the bank
to, uh, put their
money into. Mm-hm.
Go on, deputy.
It had two of the defendant's
fingerprints on it.
Thank you.
You may cross, Mr. Mason.
Deputy Lewis...
were any of the
defendant's fingerprints found
anyplace on the open safe?
Nope.
How many shots were
fired from the murder gun?
Two, apparently.
Why do you say "apparently"?
We only found two bullets.
The one that killed Charlotte
and the other one in the wall.
How many bullets were found
remaining in the magazine?
Five.
A load is eight, then...
three shots might
have been fired?
Well, there's no way of telling
whether there was exactly
eight bullets to start with.
We only found two bullets.
How diligently did you search?
We found all we had to find!
The one that killed Charlotte
and the one went through
his arm into the wall.
Oh.
Then the bullet that went
through the defendant's arm...
must've entered the
wall at a flat position.
A "tumbling entrance,"
I believe it's called,
caused by a deflection
through the flesh.
The Comstock City lab men,
th... They didn't examine for that.
It was perfectly clear...
Now, just a minute.
Then it is possible
that the bullet
you found in the wall...
did not go through
the defendant's arm,
and that a third bullet did.
I... I don't get the point
of all this, Your Honor.
If there was a third
bullet, it wasn't found.
And neither was the
missing cartridge shell.
And if a third bullet was fired,
it could have been fired
at the defendant too.
Uh, nevertheless, Your Honor,
I would like the bullet,
State's Exhibit D,
made available
to a defense expert
for microscopic examination.
Very well, Mr. Mason.
Now, Deputy Lewis...
what else beside
the money wrapper
was found in the wastebasket?
As I recall, nothing but
some crumpled papers...
And, oh, yes, one or two
soiled cleaning tissues.
And that's all?
That's all.
Now, on the day
following the murder...
did you engage the defendant
in a conversation at the jail?
Object.
Immaterial, incompetent
and irrelevant.
And improper in that
it takes up matters
not part of the
direct examination.
Objection sustained.
Deputy Lewis, isn't it true that
on the same day,
you deliberately left the
defendant's cell door open?
Object.
Same reason.
Sustained.
Mr. Mason.
Seems to the court
that you are aware
that your questions
are improper.
If the court please,
I'm trying to show
bias and prejudice.
And I can assure Your
Honor that the conversations
I'm calling for do so
indicate bias and prejudice.
In that case...
objection overruled.
Now, Deputy Lewis...
Look, I don't know
what they told you and what
they said, but I didn't say anything.
And I didn't leave
that cell door open.
Not knowingly, anyway.
No more questions.
Call Mr. Norman Thurston
to the stand, please.
Mr. Thurston...
what time did you leave
the mill on November 13th,
the night of the murder?
A few minutes before 9:00.
Was Charlotte Norris there
when you left?
She had called Phil Beecher
to tell him that she knew
there had been nothing going on
between him and Aggie
before the accident.
Now, Mr. Thurston...
what was the reason that,
uh, you have the listings
of the serial numbers
of the payroll money?
Since the robbery in Comstock,
we asked the bank to
list the serial numbers
on all $20 bills
in each payroll.
Now, I'm going to
show you these listings...
and I'd like you to
identify them for us.
These are the listings.
We get them, uh, with the
money every second Friday.
This time, November 13th.
Who makes up this list?
Uh, the cashier at the bank.
Here on the front page is
his signature and the date.
This time, November 13th.
And here on the last page
is his signature and the date.
The, uh, pages in
between are only initialed.
Hm. Thank you.
I offer these lists to be
marked as evidence, please.
No objection.
Uh, you may have this witness.
Mr. Thurston...
how long does it take
to walk from the
mill to the lodge?
Well, that depends.
It's less than a half mile.
It can take five
minutes or 15 minutes.
How long did it take you on
the night of November 13th?
About average.
Average. That would
be about ten minutes.
Didn't you arrive at 9:20?
Well, then it took
me a little longer.
Perhaps during your walk you...
stopped somewhere.
Yes, I may have. Where?
Object, Your Honor.
The question is
irrelevant, incompetent
and immaterial. And improper,
since it was not part of
the direct examination.
Your Honor, we're
dealing with events
close to the time of the murder.
Well, he's seeking to
cross-examine this man
on the possibility
of his own guilt.
Well, now, on this...
objection overruled.
The court is inclined
to permit the defense
a measure of latitude
in its cross-examination,
especially in
this delicate area.
However, Mr. Mason, I
will not rule out objections
if you wander too far afield.
Your Honor.
Now, let me state this in
another way, Mr. Thurston.
During that walk...
did you stop at Tepper's market
to pick up some
things for your wife?
Yes.
Did you pick them up?
No. Why not?
I couldn't wake Bob Tepper up.
How did you know he was asleep?
Well, heh-heh,
if he's not in the store,
he's either out on his
property somewhere
burying his money,
or he's sleeping.
Since it was
after 9:00 at night,
I guess he was sleeping.
No further questions.
Call Robert Tepper to the stand.
Kathi, I want you
to do me a favor.
Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth and
nothing but the truth?
I do.
State your name.
- Robert Tepper.
- Be seated.
Here's a signed check.
I want you to make
it out for $1,000,
cash it at the
Comstock City bank.
A thousand dollars?
Get a $1,000 bill,
if they have one.
Otherwise, the
largest they have.
I'm trying a little
experiment in human nature.
Now, hurry.
Katherine Beecher
come into your store?
Oh, about a quarter to 10.
What did she want?
Bandages, gauze and iodine.
Did she pay cash
for her purchases?
Oh, yes. She give me a $20 bill.
And I gave her her change.
I show you this
bill, Mr. Tepper,
and ask you to
identify it for us.
Yes. That's the
bill she give me.
I put my initials on it.
Hm.
I offer this bill in
evidence, Your Honor.
And you will note that
the serial number here
corresponds... to
the sixth entry here
on the first page
of the list of $20 bills
made up by the bank
cashier... Mm-hm.
And marked State's Exhibit H.
Mr. Mason?
Defense has no objection.
Your witness.
Now, Mr. Tepper...
you were in your store at 9:45
when you served Mrs. Beecher...
but you were not in
your store at 9:10 or 9:15
when Mr. Thurston rang
the bell in your rear quarters.
Now, where were
you at that time?
Object, Your Honor.
Irrelevant, incompetent,
immaterial...
and improper cross-examination.
Let Mr. Mason put the
witness on as his own witness
if he wishes to
inquire to this point.
Sustained.
Your Honor...
at this time I would
like to ask for a recess
- to check on a point.
- Very well.
This court is adjourned
until 2:30 this afternoon.
Now...
I don't want any
misunderstanding, Mr. Mason.
I own this parcel of
land, 5-and-a-half acres,
situated north of the highway,
adjacent to Willow Creek,
exactly according
to this title deed.
Now, you agree to pay me
the sum of $5,500 for it.
If I pick up the option.
I have four weeks to do that.
Oh, we haven't decided how
much that option gonna cost you.
You name it, Mr. Tepper.
Uh...$500?
Why don't we make it a thousand?
Thousand.
All right.
Now... a check will be
perfectly all right.
Thousand-dollar bill?
I just got it from the bank.
Mr. Mason, what makes you
so anxious to buy this land?
Why, I have faith in this part
of the country, Mr. Tepper.
Don't you?
All right, let's
have it, Mr. Tepper.
It's mine. It's my money!
If it is, you'll get it back.
L, seven, seven, oh,
three, three, four, nine, six.
That makes the... fifth $20 bill
that checks out
on that list, right?
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Mr. Tepper...
where did you get these bills?
Well, I haven't been
to that safe for a week.
I wouldn't even have gone today
if I hadn't got
that $1,000 bill,
to put it away for safekeeping.
Now, please answer the question.
Where did you get these bills?
Well, you know I run a store.
From my customers.
But these bills were part of
the November 13th payroll.
The payroll that was
stolen, not distributed.
I don't understand that.
You know, I think I do.
Your Honor, I
would like to recall
Norman Thurston to the stand.
I object, Your Honor.
This is just the
type of shenanigans
Perry Mason is noted for.
Well, now, just
what is your definition
of the word "shenanigan,"
Mr. Prosecutor?
Uh, I think Mr. Mason's request
is both reasonable and logical.
Objection overruled.
Mr. Thurston, you will
take the stand, please.
Step down, please.
You are still under
oath, Mr. Thurston.
Mr. Thurston...
what about these bills
being in circulation?
Yes, I... I guess I'd
better explain that.
Yes, I should guess so.
I planned to steal the
November 13th payroll money.
I took one of the old lists
and substituted the inside pages
for the November 13th pages.
The initialed pages only?
Yes, I...
The front and back
pages were dated.
I... I couldn't use them,
so I used the front
and back pages
of the real November
13th payroll list
and inserted inside pages
from the...
previous payroll list.
Mr. Thurston, in this plan,
didn't you and
Charlotte Norris conspire
to put blame on the defendant?
And...
in this plan, didn't
she call the defendant
and tell him she had
some bonus money for him?
Yes.
And in this plan, didn't
she tell the defendant
to come to the mill
at 9:00 that night?
Yes.
What was the complete
plan, Mr. Thurston?
I left the mill a few
minutes before 9.
I was to go to the hotel
and tell Charlotte's father
sh... She'd be a little late.
Then, uh, she was to call
and accuse Beecher
of overpowering her,
and stealing the payroll money.
But i-it didn't
work out that way.
You and Charlotte were
to share the money?
Yes.
Isn't it true that you stayed
at the mill until Beecher left?
And that you then
killed Charlotte Norris?
No, I didn't!
There was the shot
Sheriff Norris heard
over the telephone.
And you were in
the hotel at the time.
Uh, no more questions.
Your Honor, I
hadn't anticipated...
this turn in the case.
I thought that the defendant
could be bound over
with a minimum of trouble.
But it appears I'll have
to present evidence
that I'd...
hoped to save
for the jury trial.
I call Mrs. Judith Thurston
to the stand, please.
You may step down.
Uh, well... I thought I
would drive to the mill
and give Norman a lift home.
I figured he'd
worked hard all day,
and he hadn't taken the car.
And I wanted to save
him the long uphill walk
at that time of the night.
What time did you arrive
at the mill, Mrs. Thurston?
Well, I'm not positive
of the exact time,
but it must have been
close to 20 or 25
minutes after 9.
I pulled up in
front of the offices.
There were lights on.
But you can't see all
the way in, you know.
The front door was locked.
I was just getting
ready to knock...
when I heard the shot inside.
The shot?
Yes. One shot.
Then I heard somebody
running toward the door.
I stepped back
into the shadows...
and he dashed out.
Then what did you do?
Well, after he had
gone, I went inside.
I was worried about Norman.
I called, but there
wasn't any answer.
Then I saw Charlotte...
and I ran out.
Did you recognize this man
who ran out of the offices
after you heard the shot?
Yes.
Phil Beecher...
the defendant.
Thank you, Mrs. Thurston.
Cross-examine.
Now, you say you
heard the single shot
while you were
outside the mill offices?
Yes.
How much later was
it before the defendant
ran to the front door?
Well, practically immediately.
Uh, how fast was he running?
Very fast.
Did he have to fumble
when he opened the front door?
No.
Not that I recall.
Isn't there a safety
lock on that door?
Oh, yes. Yes, I guess there is.
And if it's locked,
then you have to...
hold the lock open
with one hand,
while you turn the knob
and open the
door with the other.
Uh, well, that isn't hard to do.
Oh, not if your hands are free.
And I suppose the
defendant's hands were free?
Well, yes. Weren't they?
Yes, I would say so.
If he wasn't carrying something.
And if he...
had absconded
with that payroll money,
he must have, uh,
stuffed it into his pockets.
I-I-I suppose so.
I-I didn't notice.
You would have, Mrs. Thurston.
Do you have any idea
of the bulk of $40,000...
when it's comprised
of silver change
and dollar bills,
5-dollar bills, 10s and 20s?
I don't remember any of these
things you're talking about.
Now, you testified
that you went in
and you saw Charlotte's body.
Now, how close to
the body did you get?
Close enough to tell
she was dead. Shot dead.
How long did you stay there?
I told you, I didn't stay.
I ran out.
You had a cold at
that time, did you not?
Well, y-yes.
And how long did you remain
in the mill offices?
I didn't. I told you.
Won't do, Mrs. Thurston.
You were there
long enough to use
at least two cleaning tissues.
They were found
in the wastebasket
at the side of Charlotte's desk.
Now, your testimony has been
a mass of contradiction.
I suggest that you
have fabricated
a bundle of lies...
and that you did not
see the defendant
on the night of November 13th.
I suggest that you
were not concerned at all
about the long uphill walk
your husband had to take.
What motivated you was
his working late at night
with Charlotte Norris.
Why should I think
anything about that?
I suggest that you...
did arrive at the mill office.
Perhaps at about...
15 minutes after 9.
But you found the
front door open.
It was locked.
When you went in,
you found Charlotte Norris,
unconscious, but
very much alive.
No, she was dead.
All right then...
she was dead.
And what went through your mind?
Wasn't it that your husband
had committed the murder?
And when that phone rang...
you picked up the gun,
you lifted the receiver,
you heard the sheriff's voice...
and you fired the gun.
And that was the third bullet.
No. Oh, no.
Oh, don't say no.
Those cleaning tissues
can be traced directly to you.
Oh.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Yes. It's true.
All right then, let's get
this time element straight.
You arrived at a
quarter past 9...
and Charlotte was dead?
Yes.
The defendant said he left
at about five minutes after 9.
That Charlotte was
unconscious but still alive.
Uh, that leaves a
ten-minute period
during which someone
killed Charlotte
and made off with that money.
Could've been Deputy Lewis...
could've Mr. Tepper.
Or it could have been the
one you really thought it was:
your husband, wasn't
it, Mrs. Thurston?
Were you in love
with her, Norman?
Yes.
She hated Beecher so much,
she just used me.
She was so angry about it,
missing him with the gun.
She... She was all...
All... All twisted and...
And full of...
Of bitterness and hate.
She never cared
about me or the money.
She just wanted
revenge for Aggie.
I picked up the pistol...
I shot her.
When did you know who really
killed Charlotte, Mr. Mason?
Oh, when I learned
about the scheme
with the serial numbers.
Someone had to be in on it,
to take advantage
of the payroll money.
And since only Thurston
and Charlotte knew about it...
Then it was only a question
of engineering a confession.
I don't think you made
a bad deal, Perry.
Someday this land is
gonna be very valuable.
I think I'll put up a cabin.
Won't have to stop
at the lodge. Hm.
Well, Gene, you've
had a pretty rough time.
I think of Charlotte
like Thurston said.
It was her hate, got
her all twisted up.
Nothing's all black or white.
Even hate.
Oh, I have a message
for you from Ransome,
the special prosecutor.
All he needs is
to view his career
with a little patience.
I think he's getting it,
along with a sense of humor.
Says he has one
more objection to make.
To the attorney general,
next time he's appointed
to run up against you.
Hm.