Perry Mason (1957–1966): Season 3, Episode 15 - The Case of the Gallant Grafter - full transcript

Will you sign here
Mr. Livingston?

Would you like us to mail
you your monthly statements

- or will you pick them up here?
- I'll pick them up.

And how much will you
open the account with?

One hundred dollars.

Well, perhaps you would
prefer to take advantage

of our special checking account
for people who don't expect

to maintain very large balances?

There will be a large balance.

You will receive in
excess of $20,000

each week during January.



By the second day of February,
my balance will exceed $100,000.

Oh, uh, yes, sir.

Will you excuse me?

One hundred and
twelve thousand dollars?

Uh, this closes out your
account, Mr. Livingston.

Right.

But, uh... But you
just put the money in

during this past month.

Uh, it's all right, Phil.
It's okay it for cash.

You can honor the check.

Yes, sir.

Uh, how would you like it, sir?

In my briefcase.

I'm sorry, Sylvia.



No matter how
many times you try,

I'm going to
contest the divorce.

You're forcing me to do
something very distasteful.

You gave me a block of
Nelson Company stock

when we were
married four years ago.

What about it?

There's going to be a
stockholders' meeting

the end of this month.

I'm going to give my
proxies to Frank Avery.

You know Avery and I are
having a fight over control.

Your proxies might
swing it for him.

Yes, I know.

He's just waiting to milk
the company dry. He'll ruin it.

It's my company. It's been in
my family for three generations.

Yes, I know.

And yet you'd do
this just out of spite?

Out of desperation.

It seems the only
way I can force you

to give me my divorce
and my settlement.

All right, Sylvia.

I'll give it to you.

My lawyer says
we need a witness.

Arthur, will you come
in a minute, please?

Who's the man, Sylvia?

There is no other man.

Why is it ever husband seems to
think there's always another man

when his wife wants a divorce?

Perhaps to soothe
his ego a little?

Here are the proxies.

Yes, sir?

Oh, Arthur, I'll, uh...

I'll need your
signature for something.

You sunk pretty low, Avery,

going behind my back
to get my wife's proxies.

Did I do that?

It won't do you any good.

I've got them,

and since the other
stockholders vote with me,

that means you're finished.

Now?

Now.

Well, I was under the impression
the Board has to vote me out.

That's merely a formality.

But so much can happen

between now and the
board meeting, Nelson.

Uh, by the way, uh,
how's the divorce going?

I understand your wife is asking

for a tidy financial
arrangement.

I think I'll stick around.

Your tricks won't
do you any good,

so why don't we make this

as painless and
pleasant as possible?

Oh, when the time comes, I will.

Doniger?

Yes, Mr. Avery?

What we were talking
about earlier today,

go ahead with it,
Doniger. Check the books.

But going through the
whole month of January

is going to be a long job.

I don't care how long it takes,

just so it's done before
tomorrow morning.

Yes, Mr. Avery.

Norma.

Morning already?

Oh, well of course,
Mr. Doniger. Everybody's here.

Oh, gee, you look tired.

Yeah, I guess I do.

Norma, I found at
least six errors here

all pointing to the fact
that you still can't add.

Oh, isn't it terrible?

Is that why you
were up all night?

Then it's true, isn't it.

What is?

They say there's a...

There's a big fight on

between Mr. Nelson and Mr. Avery

and that the company's gonna
suffer. We may all get fired.

Nobody's going to get fired.

And I don't you to listen to
any more of that kind of talk.

Well, I bet it's all
because of Mrs. Nelson.

Well, she has
nothing to do with this.

Well, the things
I've heard about her.

Mr. Doniger, you've been
to see her a couple of times

and, well, did you ever see...?

Well, you know,
another man there?

Norma, I...

Of course I've never
seen another man there.

You'd better pay a little more
attention to your own work

and less to other
people's business.

Now, as for anything
wrong happening here,

I've worked here
almost 20 years.

I've known
Mr. Nelson all that time.

He's not going to
let anything happen.

Well, I believe
you, Mr. Doniger.

Yes.

Now, you run along.

Morning, Siddons.

Doniger. Mr. Nelson in yet?

Mm-hm.

Good morning, Robert.

Mr. Nelson.

Mr. Nelson?

You look as if you've
been up all night.

I have, sir.

You have? Why?

I've been going over the
books company and records,

Mr. Nelson.

Why?

One hundred and
twelve thousand dollars

of the company's
funds is missing

and unaccounted for, sir.

What?

There are five checks
totaling that amount

made out to someone by the
name of, uh, George Livingston.

Is he one of our suppliers?

No, sir.

Then why did we pay him?

I don't know, sir.

Who authorized the payment?

You must have, Mr. Nelson.

You signed the checks.

Now, you certainly must
remember signing these checks.

I sign a hundred checks
a day automatically

without even looking at them.

Carelessness doesn't
relieve you of responsibility.

I know.

It's all Avery's doing.

I don't know how he
engineered it, but he did.

He's stolen $112,000
from the company.

Now he's put the blame on me
and he'll go to the stockholders

and tell them I'm the thief.

There are some
avenues we can explore.

The bank, the possibilities of
who could have put the checks

on your desk for signature.

The office girls do,
Doniger does, Arthur does.

I'll tell you, Mason, I've been
going almost out of my mind

these last couple of hours.

I've even tried to think of ways
of putting my own money in

to make up the deficit.

No, that would have been
almost an admission of guilt.

Ah, I can't do it anyway.

My wife has frozen all my funds.

And they will be until we
effect a legal settlement.

Let's see if there isn't
something we can do.

A professional investigation

of this mysterious
George Livingston

might turn up something.

I'll want to talk to your
accountant, Mr. Doniger.

I sent him home early.
He was up all night.

Mr. Doniger. Mrs. Nelson.

I... Well, I... I've been walking
around for over an hour.

Can I talk to you?

Of course. Come in.

What's the matter,
Mr. Doniger? Is something wrong?

With Mr. Nelson.

Did he send you
here? Oh, no, no, no.

He doesn't know I'm here.

He's in financial trouble.

You can help him out if
you'd release his money.

Oh, that's out of the question.

It... It will be helping the
company too, Mrs. Nelson.

I'm sure it will.

I don't know any
company or any person

that can't be helped out
with money, including me.

Goodbye, Mr. Doniger.

Pat?

Hi, honey.

When did you get
here? I didn't expect you.

About an hour ago. I
thought I'd surprise you.

Oh, Robert, you
look so exhausted.

You're very good to me.

I like taking care of you.

Well, I'll get on
with the dinner.

Hello, Mr. Doniger. I,
uh, got off work early.

Norma, I'm very tired.
If it isn't important...

Oh, it's very important.

It's, uh... It's about $56,000.

What?

Well, that's just half of
the 112,000 you stole.

See, I... I found the torn pieces
in your wastepaper basket.

I'm not very
bright, as you know,

but I wondered why you'd
want to practice signing

"George Livingston"
with your left hand.

Then... And then the
office started buzzing

with the news this morning
and I suddenly realized that...

Well, you know?

Can I talk to you
about this later Norma?

Oh, sure, sure.

But I just want you
to know something.

This will be our little secret.

As long as we have
something in common...

like all that money.

Half and half.

So you think it over, huh?

Yes. Yes, I will, Norma.

Robert?

You stole $112,000?

For you.

But why?

To give you all the
things you've never had.

But I have you.

Don't you see, Pat?

Things I'd never
be able to give you.

I thought we'd wait a
while. Maybe a year.

Then we'd take a
trip around the world.

See New York,
London, Paris together.

There's so many things
I want you to have.

Oh, Robert.

I don't need it.

I don't want it.

Give it back.

I was going to.

When I figured out
how to steal the money,

I thought that Mr. Nelson
could make up the deficit

and it wouldn't hurt.

And then?

And then I found he
couldn't and it would.

His wife has the
money all tied up

and she wouldn't release it.

So...

I couldn't keep
the money anyway.

I have to give it back.

Oh, Robert.

I love you for
wanting it for me.

But I love you twice as much

because you're
going to give it back.

Well, let's get some dinner.
We can come back later.

Wait a minute.
Perry, look at the door.

If he doesn't want to be
disturbed, why is it open?

Stay here, Della.

He was shot to death.

Small hand.

Samadhi. What's that?

A new perfume.

It smells like that, anyway.

Well, I have to call the police.

Hello, Nelson.

He was that way
when I found him.

I got here just before you did.

Who is he? Doniger?

Doniger,

alias George Livingston.

When I returned his call, he
told me he'd stolen the money.

The looks of the room,
whoever killed him has it now.

Or was looking for it.

Who knew you were coming here?

I knew, Mr. Mason.

Well, Mr. Mason, aren't
you going to call the police?

What I found out
about George Livingston

only ties in with what happened.

And the description
of him I got at the bank

would fit Doniger if Doniger
wore a hat, coat, glasses

and a walrus moustache.

Well, in that getup,
almost anybody would fit.

Well, there's no more
guesswork, anyway, Perry.

Tragg has a witness
confirming the fact

that Doniger was
George Livingston.

Oh, who's the witness?

I don't know. He's under
wraps. Identity unknown.

I'd follow through
on that, Paul.

That glove. It means a
woman. Check that out.

What else at headquarters?

Mm. I found out they
didn't find the money.

Still have Nelson down there?

Uh-huh. And they're
still questioning him.

Material witness.

They should have released
him by now or booked him.

Did he ever tell you what he
was doing in Doniger's apartment?

Doniger phoned Nelson
and left a message.

When Nelson returned the call,

Doniger confessed
stealing the money.

Paul, I'd like you to
continue your investigation

of the firm personnel.
Include Sylvia Nelson

and find out if she's been
running around with another man.

All right.

Della, after I've gone,
call Lieutenant Tragg

and ask him if it'll
be necessary for us

to get a writ of habeas
corpus for Edward Nelson,

or is he gonna release him?

After you've gone where?

I'm going to the Nelson
Company offices.

Oh, can I help you?

Thank you. Uh, I'm looking
for Mr. Nelson's secretary.

Oh, Mr. Siddons. Yes,
well, he's right over there.

Thank you.

Mr. Siddons? My name is Mason.

Where's Mr. Nelson? I
understand you're representing him.

Well, last I heard, he was
down at police headquarters.

I hope he'll return
here shortly.

You, uh, work late last night?

Well, I came back after
dinner to work quite late.

Mr. Doniger was killed
between 5 and 5:45.

What time did you leave
the office for dinner?

About 5, perhaps
a few minutes after.

I'd left a message
for Mr. Nelson

telling him that
Doniger had called.

And what time did you return?

Roughly, again, uh,
about a quarter to 6.

And the message you
had left for Mr. Nelson?

He had picked it up.

Was a Mr. Franklyn Avery
here in the office when you left?

I don't know.

Was he here when you returned?

I don't know that either.

Why would Mr. Avery have,
uh, gone to Doniger's apartment?

Well, I didn't ask him, but,
uh, to be quite fair about it,

Mr. Avery wanted to
use the theft as a weapon

to force Mr. Nelson
out of the company.

We're not on the best of terms.

I suggest you talk
to Mr. Avery yourself.

Well, I have.

He offered nothing.

Nothing remotely civil.

Sounds like him.

So it does.

So it does. Well,
that's quite a trick.

Materializing behind
a person's back?

And this is the second
time I've done it now, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

You see, I also
eavesdrop whenever I can.

I'm no sportsman. I
don't like competition.

I, uh, came back here last night

and saw you
drafting this letter,

so I know what
you're doing, Siddons.

I'm still working
for Edward Nelson.

Well, you hang
on to his coattails,

even though they're
flinging into the gutter.

I could end up there anyway
with you in control here, Mr. Avery.

What are you doing, Mr. Siddons?

Well, these are
requests for proxies

for an upcoming
stockholders' meeting.

Oh, I see.

Well, thank you for your time.

That was Perry Mason,
wasn't it? You know, he spoke...

Norma. Oh, did I do
something wrong?

No, no, no, no. These letters
contain a complete explanation

of Mr. Nelson's
position on the theft

and I want you to get
them out immediately.

Oh, yes, Mr. Siddons.

Ten, 20.

Thank you.

Yes, sir?

I'm trying to identify a scent.

I believe this is the name
of the perfume. Samadhi?

Oh, yes. A heavenly fragrance

with a very sweet background.

Rather oriental.

And yet the character
is down-to-earth,

don't you think?

Are these, uh, perfumes
very expensive?

Expense is relative.

We carry only the very best.

I wonder,

do you have a customer by
the name of Robert Doniger?

The name is familiar.

Would you mind
checking on it for me?

Yes, I can check the
last several weeks.

Um,

Doniger. Doni...

Robert Doniger. Here it is.

Oh, he's made several purchases.

Mm. Did he take them with him?

Well, the last one
he had delivered

to a Patricia Martin.

Yes, Mr. Mason.
Robert stole the money.

He thought he needed it to...

To win me.

When did you find out
that he'd stolen the money?

I overheard them
talking. I was in the kitchen

and I couldn't believe it.

So after Norma left,

I went out and
asked him about it.

Norma?

Norma Williams,
the girl from his office.

She wanted to blackmail
Robert, Mr. Mason.

She wanted half of the
money to keep quiet.

And what did Mr. Doniger
have to say to that?

He told her he
wanted to think about it.

After she left,

Robert told me about
how he stole the money.

And then?

Then he called the
office to tell Mr. Nelson.

Do you remember
what time this was?

About half past 4. But he
didn't speak to Mr. Nelson.

He was out.

Then he called somebody
by the name of Avery.

Oh? Did he speak to Mr. Avery?

Yes. He told him he,
and not Mr. Nelson,

had stolen the money.

He told him he was going
to confess to the whole thing

and give the money back.

What time did you
leave his apartment?

Right after his
call to Mr. Avery.

Did you actually see
the money, Miss Martin?

Yes. He had it in his briefcase.

You know, the police
did not find the money

in Mr. Doniger's apartment.

Yes, I know they didn't.

Then you've told
the police all this?

Of course, Mr. Mason.

And I'd tell anybody anything

if it would help catch the
person who murdered Robert.

Della, will you come in please?

Yes, sir. Be right there.

Edward Nelson
was released at 1:00.

He said he'd go home
and shower and shave

and then he'd come in.
Fine, Della. Paul call in?

Mm-hm. Nothing to report
except he put on three men.

Oh, and he said indications
are that Robert Doniger,

despite his dull appearance,
had quite a way with women.

Oh?

I'll want Paul to check
out Norma Williams.

She works in the Nelson Company.

There's someone
waiting to see you.

Uh, Mrs. Sylvia Nelson.

Have her come in.

Mrs. Nelson, will
you come in, please?

Mr. Mason.

Won't you sit down, Mrs. Nelson?

Mr. Mason, you must know

that Edward and I have agreed
to a divorce and a settlement.

I would be glad to talk to you

about your husband's
case, Mrs. Nelson.

But I cannot discuss
your divorce in any way,

except in the presence
of your attorney.

Well, I'm not concerned
with legal ethics,

particularly since I've decided

to withdraw the divorce action.

I can't add

to Edward's troubles this way.

Well, I have the
impression that Edward

will be delighted
to know about this,

if he doesn't
misinterpret your motives.

How misinterpret?

Well, for instance,
you could be thinking

that he'll be tried and
convicted of murder,

in which case all of his
estate would go to you,

as his widow,

instead of just part of it
for the divorce settlement.

That would be very cruel
and callous of me, wouldn't it?

Uh, Mrs. Nelson.

That's a very haunting
perfume you're wearing.

Is it? Yes, Gertie?

Do you mind telling
me what kind it is?

All right.

I can't see what
difference that makes.

You're not going
to send me a bottle.

Mr. Nelson is waiting.

Gertie put him
in the law library.

Mr. Nelson.

Quite a session down
at police headquarters?

Yes. I think they let me
go more from getting tired

of looking at me
than anything else.

Do you ever buy
perfume for your wife?

Perfume?

No. Why?

Did your wife know
Robert Doniger very well?

Doniger? Of course she did.

Very well? Intimately?

I, uh...

I'm... I'm sorry to
break in like this,

but I have a warrant to serve.

Mr. Nelson, it seems that
we released you prematurely.

What changed your
mind, lieutenant?

It wasn't exactly a
change of mind, Perry.

Mr. Nelson's car
was being serviced.

Yes, after I
drove home I left it

at the service station
around the corner.

And instructed
them not to deliver it.

Well, what does that mean?

Well, I guess it means
he didn't want it delivered,

but the service station forgot
and they did deliver the car.

And guess what we discovered
in the luggage compartment?

One hundred and
twelve thousand dollars.

And something
else we discovered.

Doniger not only stole
your client's money,

he also stole his wife.

Well, I didn't think
anything at all

when I found that piece of paper

with "George Livingston"
written all over it.

I mean, until I heard about
the money being missing.

And then I just kind of...

I don't know, I put
two and two together

and all the scraps,
and I went to see him.

And when was
this, Miss Williams?

Wednesday. The
day he was killed.

And what did you say to him?

Well, Mr. Doniger admitted
he had taken the money, and...

Well, I pleaded
with him to return it

so Mr. Nelson and the
company wouldn't be ruined,

and he said he
would give it back.

Thank you.

Oh, Miss Williams.

What time of day
was this, please?

Uh, about a quarter after 4.

Cross-examine, counselor.

Miss Williams, you say
you put two and two together

and reasoned that
Mr. Doniger stole the money.

Why did you go to him instead
of an official of the company?

Well, I liked Mr. Doniger.

And I thought maybe
he'd put the money back

before anyone would know.

And besides, I didn't want
him to get into any trouble.

But isn't it true that you
threatened him with trouble?

I wouldn't threaten him.

Isn't it true that you tried
to blackmail the decedent

into sharing that
stolen money with you?

No! Of course not!

Miss Williams, when you
left Mr. Doniger's apartment,

where did you go?

Home.

Do you live alone?

No, I have a roommate.

Was your roommate home
when you arrived there?

Well, no. She doesn't
get off work un...

Until 6:00.

Thank you. That's all.

You may step down.

Miss Martin, you were a
close friend of the deceased,

Robert Doniger, weren't you?

Yes.

He was a very
wonderful, warm man.

Would you tell us, please,

what happened on the
afternoon of his murder?

Well, after Miss
Williams left...

And I don't care what she says,

she did try to blackmail Robert.

I was right there
in the kitchen!

Miss Martin.

I'm sorry. I...

I know I shouldn't
talk like that.

Well, after she left,

Robert told me about
stealing the money.

And did you see the money?

Yes.

He had it in a briefcase.

I see.

What happened then?

We talked

and he decided to
give the money back.

So he called
Mr. Nelson to tell him.

And spoke to him?

No. No, Mr. Nelson
wasn't in his office.

But Robert said he'd call again.

Thank you, Miss
Martin. Cross-examine.

Miss Martin, what time did
you leave the apartment?

A little before 5:00.

And where did you go?

To my place.

Do you live alone?

Yes.

Now, did Mr. Doniger make
any other telephone calls

after he failed to
reach Mr. Nelson?

Yes. He called a Franklyn Avery.

He's the vice president
of the company.

And he confessed
stealing the money?

Yes, and told him he
was going to put it back.

Mr. Doniger showed you
the cash and then he put it, uh,

into the briefcase.

What then did he
do with the briefcase?

He put it away in a
drawer in the buffet.

Thank you, Miss
Martin, that'll be all.

I call Arthur Siddons, please.

I received a phone call
from Robert Doniger.

At what time?

Well, the first one was at 4:30.

Oh, there was
more than one call?

Yes, he called back about 5:00.

But Mr. Nelson
wasn't in then either.

I left a message on his desk

before going out to dinner.

And when you
returned from dinner,

the message that you
had left on his desk

had been picked
up, is that correct?

That's right, but I don't see
how it makes any difference.

Maybe somebody
went into his office...

Just a second!
- -and took it off his desk.

Your Honor!

I move that that outburst
be stricken from the record.

So ordered.

Mr. Siddons,

as Mr. Nelson's
executive secretary,

was it customary for company
personnel to go in and out

of Mr. Nelson's office
without invitation?

No.

And had you told anybody
about the message?

No, sir.

Proceed, Mr. Burger.

As executive secretary
and personal assistant,

you were in a position to know
a great deal about Mr. Nelson,

weren't you? Yes, I suppose so.

And then did you know that
he was about to be divorced

and that he accused his wife of
being in love with another man?

I object, Your Honor.

The prosecution is leading the
witness with improper questions.

I withdraw the
questions, Mr. Mason.

Your witness.

Mr. Siddons, about
that telephone call.

Did he say anything
about the missing money?

Yes. He said he had to
talk to Mr. Nelson about it.

Did he tell you that
he'd stolen the money

or that he had the
money in his possession?

No, sir.

Thank you, that'll be all.

You may stand down, Mr. Siddons.

Well, yes. You see, my mother's
the manager of the building

where Mr. Doniger
had his apartment.

Well, now, I usually
don't pay any attention,

but I was waiting out in
the hall just then for my date

and I saw this lady.

What lady? Well, her.

Mrs. Sylvia Nelson.

She a beautiful mink
coat on. Just beautiful.

Yes, and what time was this?

Well, this was just about 5:30,

because that was
the time of my date.

I see. Uh, then what happened?

Well, then this man
came in through the front

and said, "Sylvia!"

Was that all he said?

Well, he managed to get out,

"Have you been
seeing Robert Doniger?"

But she just sailed
right on out out past him

without even looking
at him or answering him.

And what did the man do then?

Well, he just kind of stared
after her, thinking like,

then he got into the
elevator and went up.

Now, would you look around
this courtroom, Miss Ford,

and tell us if you
see that man here?

Well, sure. That's
him right over there.

The one that's on trial.
Mr. Nelson, his name is.

Thank you, Miss Ford.

Your witness.

Miss Ford, how long did
you remain in the hall?

Oh, no time at all,
because just then

my Wednesday-steady
came and we took off.

Your Wednesday-steady?

Well, sure. My steady
on Wednesdays.

That'll be enough, thank you.

Yes. This is the murder weapon.

Registered to the
deceased, Robert Doniger.

Thank you, lieutenant.

I show you now this glove
and ask if you can identify it.

Yes. It has my mark on it.

It was found in the murder room.

You had it examined, of course?

And analyzed by
the police laboratory.

And this bottle of perfume,
do you recognize it?

Yes, that has my mark on it too.

Did you have its
contents analyzed?

Yes, sir. The police
laboratory found

that the perfume in this bottle

matched characteristics
of the perfume on the glove.

I see. And where was this
bottle found, lieutenant?

Well, when we made a
search of the defendant's home.

Thank you. Now, in connection
with that same search,

I show you this pair of gloves.

Yes, they also bear
my identifying mark.

They're the property
of Mrs. Sylvia Nelson.

They were found in her home.

They are the same size
and make as the single glove.

This pair is grey,
the other pair, black.

And this sales slip,
of course. Yes, sir.

Two pairs of
gloves, black, grey,

purchased by Mrs. Sylvia Nelson.

Thank you, lieutenant.

And, finally, I show
you this briefcase,

and ask if you can
identify it. Yes, sir.

It was secreted in the
luggage compartment

of the defendant's car.

And when it was found
in the defendant's car,

what were its contents?

A hundred and twelve
thousand dollars.

Thank you, lieutenant.

If it please the court,

I offer these items:

this gun, this single
glove, this perfume bottle,

this pair of gloves,
this sales receipt

and this briefcase, which
contained the money.

I ask that they be
entered in evidence,

and marked for the people
Exhibits A, B, C, D, E and F

respectively, and in that order.

No objection.

Thank you, counselor.
Your witness.

Lieutenant, when you arrived
at decedent's apartment,

you found the defendant there?

Yes.

You made a search of
the decedent's apartment?

Yes. You did not find the money

or the briefcase
in that apartment?

No, no.

But you did find the
money and the briefcase

in Mr. and Mrs.
Nelson's car? That's right.

Thank you,
lieutenant. That'll be all.

You may step down.

What were you doing at
Mr. Doniger's apartment

the day he was
killed, Mrs. Nelson?

I went there on business.

What business?

Mr. Doniger had
come to me earlier

to ask me to release
Edward's funds.

I was rather short with him.

So I went to his apartment
to find out more about it.

You were entertaining the
thought of changing your mind?

Yes.

Did you speak to him?

No.

There was a note on the
door asking not to be disturbed.

So I left without knocking.

How did your glove
get inside the room?

I don't know.

I may have
dropped it in the hall.

Was he dead or alive
when you found the money?

I didn't go inside the room.

And I didn't know
anything about the money

at that time.

Mr. Mason, I don't have
to answer your questions.

Mrs. Nelson, the
prosecution contends

that your husband
killed Doniger,

took the money and drove away.

That he left the
car at the garage,

hiding the money in the trunk.

That he remembered
that he'd seen your glove

in Doniger's room
and went back to get it.

Your husband
contends that Doniger

was dead when he arrived.

Now, I suggest that your
husband could've returned

to retrieve the glove
he recognized as yours

thinking you had killed Doniger.

Mrs. Nelson,

that may or may not be true.

But I believe your
husband tried to help you.

Don't you want to help him?

Yes.

Of course.

All right, then.

What was your
relationship with Doniger?

You haven't answered that.

If you're talking
about a relationship

other than business,

I'll deny it.

Now, if you'll excuse
me, Mr. Mason,

I have some things to do

before court resumes at 2:00.

Good day, Mrs. Nelson.

Perry.

Good afternoon, Hamilton.

Perry.

Hm. And, uh, this.

Here's a copy of the
letter Arthur Siddons

has been sending
to the stockholders.

And here's a
background on Siddons:

College graduate, excellent
tennis player, unmarried.

I haven't been able to get a
line on his women friends yet.

He's certainly
loyal to our client.

The letter flays Avery alive.

Well, most of
what it says is true.

Avery operates by
buying into a company,

then worming his
way into control.

Through proxies?
Whenever he can.

And, uh, other
ways when he can't.

Any tie-in with Doniger?

No, not that I could turn up.

What about a tie-in
with Sylvia Nelson?

Not that I know of.

All rise, please.

And then what did you say
to the defendant, Mr. Avery?

Well, I said a lot could happen
before the board meeting,

that he was
embroiled with a wife

who was making
large financial demands

and, well, actually,

I was worried.

I object, Your Honor.

Sustained.

The witness will refrain from
testifying as to his feelings

and confine himself
as to what happened,

what was said and what was done.

Very well. Uh, Mr. Avery,

did you tell the defendant
that you were worried?

Yes, sir. I told
him I was worried.

And what were you worried about?

About the business.

He just wasn't putting in the
time and attention he should.

Then I was approached
by Robert Doniger.

He told me some cancelled
checks had come in

he couldn't justify.

Yes, we've already
established that this was part

of the decedent's plan
for stealing the money.

Please, let's go on from there.

Well, frankly, I
suspected at the time

that Doniger was the thief,

but I still believe he
had an accomplice.

Exactly what do you mean, sir?

Well, I don't believe Doniger
got those blank checks

signed by accident.

I think Edward Nelson
signed them knowingly.

Objection, Your Honor.

I move to strike the answer
of the witness as to his beliefs.

Motion granted.

Mr. Avery, what happened at 5:45

on the afternoon of the murder?

I went to Robert
Doniger's apartment.

And who was there, Mr. Avery?

Well, Edward Nelson.

And his attorney,
Mason, and Miss Street.

And Robert Doniger?

Yes.

But he was dead.

So he was.

Your witness.

Mr. Avery, why did you go to
Robert Doniger's apartment?

I received a
telephone call from him.

What did he have to say?

He said that he had
stolen the money

and wanted to return
it to the company.

What time did you get
that call? About 4:30.

How long does it take to
go from the Nelson building

to Doniger's apartment?

Oh, I don't know. I would
judge about ten or 15 minutes.

But you didn't arrive at
the apartment until 5:45.

That was an hour
and 15 minutes later.

That's right.

Would you please explain
the reason for the delay?

I had an errand or
two to take care of.

Where did these
errands take you?

Oh, they had nothing
to do with this case.

Will you please tell this
court where you were?

Your Honor.

Answer the question, Mr. Avery.

I went to call on a man.

What man?

His name is Charles Evans.

Was he a business associate?

In a manner of speaking.

Uh, was he a...

private investigator, Mr. Avery?

Yes.

Then he can verify that
you were at his office

between half past
4 and half past 5?

No. No? Why not?

He wasn't in his office.

Well, then, his
secretary could verify it.

No. He doesn't have a secretary.

He was just doing a little
job of checking for me.

It isn't important. It has
nothing to do with this case!

Something to do with the
company proxy fight, Mr. Avery?

I'll tell you what has
to do with this case.

What has to do with
this case is the fact

that nobody can
verify where you were

at the time the
murder was committed.

All right. Nobody can.

You weren't very pleased
to hear Mr. Doniger confess

to stealing the money, were you?

I was happy the company
would get the money back.

Oh, but you would have
been happier if Mr. Nelson

had turned out to be the thief?

Well, yes.

It would've helped me
get control of the company.

And it must've occurred to you
that if Doniger didn't confess,

Mr. Nelson could still have
been blamed for the theft.

And didn't you therefore
visit Doniger immediately after

his telephone call to you? No.

No?

Was one of those errands
you had to take care of

a trip to Sylvia
Nelson's apartment?

No.

Hadn't you been seeing
Mrs. Nelson socially,

without her husband's knowledge?

No.

Hadn't you spoken together

about getting from her proxies
for her company's stock?

No.

Didn't you use a similar
maneuver with the wife

of one of your fellow board
members in Chicago, Mr. Avery?

A fellow board
member of a concern

you later took over?

Someone had to get
into Doniger's apartment

and kill him

and steal that money
in the briefcase.

It had to be someone
who knew that Doniger

had stolen the money.

That means someone who Doniger

had spoken to:

Mrs. Nelson,

Miss Williams,

Miss Martin,

Mr. Siddons,

or you, Mr. Avery.

It wasn't me.

In the second place,
it had to be someone

who had access to the luggage
compartment of the Nelson car,

Oh, how would I know that?

Perhaps a private investigator

gave you the
information. No, he didn't.

Also it had to be someone who
had good and sufficient reason

to sacrifice $112,000.

Someone who stood
to gain much more

by nailing Edward
Nelson for the murder.

I didn't!

I wouldn't get
mixed up in murder.

Wouldn't you?

Your Honor, I would like
to recall Mr. Arthur Siddons

in an effort to resolve
this case immediately.

Mr. Burger?

I have no objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Siddons.

The witness may stand down.

Now, Mr. Siddons, at
approximately half past 4

you received the first
telephone call from the deceased.

Yes, and the second one at 5:00.

Then you left a
message for Mr. Nelson

to the effect that Robert
Doniger wanted to see him

about the missing money.

Right.

Then you went to dinner

and returned to
your office by 5:45?

Yes, sir.

Did Doniger tell you
that he'd stolen the money

and was going to
make restitution?

No.

Or that he had the
money in his apartment?

No.

You mean "no" at 4:30?

Both times.

Well, why would he tell
Mr. Avery and not you?

I'm just Mr. Nelson's secretary.

I'm not an officer
of the company.

Hm, that's true.

Now, I have here a copy
of a letter you were sending

to selected stockholders.

It's a militant
exposé of Mr. Avery

and his business ethics.

I think the stockholders
are entitled to know the truth

about their company's officers.

It's also a spirited
defense of Edward Nelson

and includes information
that the $112,000

was stolen by Doniger
and not Nelson.

Yes, sir. Avery had
already sent out telegrams

telling the stockholders
he had proof

of Mr. Nelson's responsibility.

Yes, Mr. Siddons,

therefore haste was
essential on your part.

That's right. But you
prepared this letter

on the night of the murder when
you returned from your dinner

to continue with your work.

Now, how did you know at that
time about Doniger's confession?

You stated he hadn't
told you about it.

Had Norma Williams
told you about it?

Oh, uh, no.

No, those letters didn't go
out till the following morning.

But the letters were
written the night before?

Mr. Avery said he'd
seen your draft of it.

Well,

as a matter of fact,

uh, Doniger did tell me.

Yes, yes, Doniger did.

So he told you

that he had stolen the money

and that it was
in his apartment?

Yes.

Well, why didn't you write that
in your message to Mr. Nelson?

I didn't think of it.

You didn't think of it?

Well, it was of vital importance
to Mr. Nelson, wasn't it?

Mr. Siddons,

is it true that you were
on Mr. Nelson's side

in this controversy
with Franklyn Avery

over control of the
Nelson Company?

Well, yes I was. Of
course I was. I still am.

In the event Mr. Nelson
is convicted of the murder

of Robert Doniger,

control of the Nelson company

passes to Mrs.
Nelson, does it not?

I don't know. I suppose so.

Isn't that why you didn't
mind sacrificing the $112,000?

It would go back to the company.

When you and Mrs.
Nelson were married,

it would come right back to you.

That's not true about Sylvia...

I've tried to be so careful.

So you gave her the
briefcase with the money in it

and she placed it in the luggage
compartment of the Nelson car.

Then you both sat
back and waited

for the law to do
your dirty work.

Sylvia had no part in it.

I brought the briefcase to her.

I told her how it would work.

That she was just to let the law

take its course.

That's what's going to
happen, Mr. Siddons.

The law is going
to take its course.

You should have no trouble with
the stockholders' meeting now,

Mr. Nelson. No.

Avery is already moving out.

Sylvia lied about not having
been in Doniger's room?

She couldn't admit
it even though

she had dropped her glove there,
because Doniger was dead then.

But she wasn't in on the murder?

Except after the
fact, Mr. Nelson.

And then she jumped in with
a vengeance to involve you.

And all the while you
were protecting her.

Sorry, Mr. Mason.

I should've told you about
seeing her in the building.

But Burger didn't really believe

she was having an affair
with Doniger, did he?

No, he didn't. Neither did I.

But it didn't matter
what we believed.

If you believed that she
was carrying on with Doniger,

there would've been
sufficient motive for you.

She went to Doniger's room
just to find out about the business?

That's right.

Well, I want to thank
you, Mr. Mason.

I, uh...

I think this should
cover your fee.

Hm, more than.

You're very generous.

I want to thank you again.

Good night. Good night.

Come on, Perry.
You can buy us dinner

with some of that "more than."

Ah, let it ring, let it ring.

If it's important, they'll call
back during business hours.

Uh...

Well, what if it's...?

Hello.

Yes, it is.

Uh, just a moment, please.

Yes, miss.