Perry Mason (1957) s01e34 Episode Script
The Case of the Gilded Lily
[SIGHS.]
Well.
[SOFTLY.]
Hey, Enid.
Are you awake? Enid? Enid! Enid? Operator.
Operator, this is an emergency.
How is she, doctor? Your roommate is a very lucky girl, Miss Bowers.
- Who's the man? - Man? Isn't that why Miss Griffin tried to commit suicide? Oh, no, it was an accident.
No, honest, doctor.
Enid's been-- Well, she's been having trouble sleeping lately and I guess maybe she got desperate and took too many pills.
Oh, they won't have to put this in the papers, will they? Well, I'll have to file a report, but I don't think the papers will pick it up.
Thanks, doctor.
Oh, can she go to work tomorrow? I don't see why not.
If you run into any difficulty, give me a ring.
Thanks, doctor.
- Good night.
- Good night.
How could he do it, Sheila? Just because our boss got married that doesn't mean it's the end of the world.
It is for me.
Enid, Mr.
Charles Stewart Brent is your employer, not your boyfriend.
You work for the man, you don't own him.
He was so kind.
And so considerate.
And after his first wife died we got to be so close.
You saw that yourself.
Enid, get down from the clouds and face facts.
Kindness and consideration aren't exactly symptoms of passion, you know.
And you better remember that before he gets back to the office next week.
He was trapped, I know it.
And I'm not Not gonna give up.
I'm-- I'm going to go on fighting.
Enid, honey, will you listen to me? I must have been crazy to try what I did.
It would just make things easier for her.
I won't do that again.
Going to be a long day, darling.
Good morning, Mr.
Brent, and congratulations.
- She sure is pretty.
- Thanks, George.
- Perry.
- Good to see you, Brent.
And congratulations.
Thanks.
I'm anxious to have you meet Anne.
We're having a party Tuesday night.
We'd love to have you and Miss Street.
- Count on us.
- I won't hold you up.
- I know you're busy.
- I'll see you.
Good morning, Sheila.
Good morning, Mr.
Brent, and congratulations.
Thank you.
- Will you tell Enid I'm in? - Yes, sir.
Oh, may I help you? I'd like to see Mr.
Brent.
May I have your name, please? Arthur Binney.
Will you please have a seat? Mr.
Brent's secretary is out at the moment, but she'll be back in a minute.
Morning, Enid.
Good morning.
Meet my new boss.
Beautiful, isn't she? By the way, did you get my wire about making arrangements for the reception? Yes, it's all taken care of.
Oh, and there's a Mr.
Arthur Binney waiting to see you.
Binney? Can't you handle him? He said it was a personal matter.
Something to do with Mrs.
Brent.
All right, send him in.
Mr.
Brent? That's right.
Can't tell you how happy this makes me.
I've heard a lot about you.
Well, I don't wanna be rude, Mr.
Binney, but I am a busy man.
Sure you are.
I'll come right to the point.
My partner and I are planning a little business venture, and we thought you might like to buy some space.
Just how does this concern my wife? My partner and I were planning a series of articles on the wives of prominent people.
We thought that Mrs.
Brent would make an interesting story, particularly with, uh, mug shots and fingerprints.
What do you mean? We thought it'd make a nice three-page spread.
Blackmail.
I wish you wouldn't talk that way, Mr.
Brent.
I'm just trying to sell a little advertising space.
BRENT [OVER INTERCOM.]
: A three-page spread? How much? BINNEY: Ten thousand dollars a page.
Oh, it's not expensive considering our circulation.
Just what has my wife supposed to have done? Well, she had this jewellery that was insured.
She made the mistake of pawning it and then reporting it stolen.
Police take a very dim view of those kind of tactics.
I'm gonna want some time to look into this.
Sure.
Take all the time you want.
Don't want you to think we're rushing you.
You can, uh, keep those mug shots if you like.
We have others.
Just a minute.
How do I get in touch with you? You don't.
I'll get in touch with you.
In exactly a week.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[INTERCOM BUZZES.]
Yes, Mr.
Brent? Enid, get me the Paul Drake Detective Agency.
If he's not in, his telephone answering service can locate him.
Yes, Mr.
Brent.
Could that be a forgery? Could be.
There's an easy way to find out.
Ask Mrs.
Brent.
Now, look, Mr.
Drake, I'm in love with my wife.
I'm not looking for a divorce.
How much do you know of your wife's background? Well, actually not much.
We only met two weeks ago in Las Vegas.
Heh.
It was like getting caught up in a cyclone.
Well, I'll check it out.
It'd help if I had samples of her fingerprints to compare with this police file.
I'm having a wedding reception in my penthouse tomorrow night.
- Maybe you could arrange to be there.
- I'll be there.
I know I don't have to remind you to keep this thing quiet.
Don't worry.
Mr.
Brent, may I give you some advice? Like what? Blackmail, like cancer, needs radical treatment.
If I were you, I'd see a lawyer.
I'll keep it in mind.
- Goodbye.
- Thank you.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[PIANO PLAYING MELLOW MUSIC.]
Darling, I'd like to have you meet Perry Mason.
- How do you do? - How do you do, Mr.
Mason? I've always wanted to meet my husband's most famous tenant.
Infamous might be a better word.
Have you met my secretary? Yes.
I envy you, Miss Street.
You must have a most fascinating job.
Oh, it is.
Just don't ask me about the hours.
- Mm.
Will you excuse me a moment? - Certainly.
Donald, I think you're putting too much vermouth in these martinis.
The other Mrs.
Brent preferred serving her martinis a little on the sweet side.
How delightfully old-fashioned.
Will you please make up a fresh batch? I do hope you're not annoyed with me.
No, I'm not annoyed, Mrs.
Brent.
Besides, what difference does it make? - I'm just your husband's secretary.
- That's no way to talk, Enid.
Why, Stewart does nothing but rave about you.
You won't blame me if I'm a little bit jealous.
Why don't we sit down and have a little chat? Well, what about your other guests? Oh, pooh on my other guests.
I'd much sooner get to know you.
- Bored? - No, just hungry.
What do you think of our hostess? Attractive.
And she has a mind of her own.
Instinct? Observation.
She just had a mild skirmish with Brent's girl Friday.
I didn't know Paul was a social butterfly.
Mrs.
Brent, you're missing an earring.
I know.
I left it in the music room.
How very observant of you.
Heh.
Mr.
Brent says that I never miss a thing.
Maybe he's minding the silver.
- Do I need glasses? - Maybe we both do.
By the way, Perry, are you interested in music? Why? I'd like to show you the wedding present I gave.
Sounds interesting.
- Mind if Della joins us? - This way.
- Nice? - Beautiful.
[PLAYING ORGAN.]
Like the tone? Very nice.
But you didn't bring me in here just so you could play.
That's right.
Look, Perry.
A very close friend of mine is having trouble with one of those scandal magazines.
Apparently, they've uncovered some dirt.
Probably false, but they threaten to publish it.
They promise to hold the press and sell him the story if he buys space? My friend asked me for advice, I promised I'd mention it to you.
I advise your friend to go to the police.
What about the scandal? Unfortunately, your friend should realise that scandal, like murder, will out.
- I can see that but-- - I'm terribly sorry.
Am I intruding? BRENT: Not at all, darling.
I think I left one of my earrings in here.
Was that it? Thank you.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Monopolising Mr.
Mason and Miss Street.
I do want you to meet all our other guests.
I'd be delighted.
BRENT: That you, Drake? - Yeah.
I'm in here.
- Well? - I'm afraid it's no good, Mr.
Brent.
Mrs.
Brent's fingerprints on that matchbox check out with the police bulletin.
As you can see by these photos, I've listed 15 points of similarity.
In court you only need 12.
Anything further on her record? Came in this morning.
She was convicted in Tacoma six years ago.
Under the name of Ann King.
She served a year in prison.
Thanks, Mr.
Drake.
Just send me a bill.
Sorry, Mr.
Brent.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Brent speaking.
At least you'll admit I'm a man of my word.
I promised to give you a week.
My partner wants to know if you've decided to buy that space.
I have the money in cash.
Good.
Now, why don't you just drive out Ventura Boulevard to Angelus.
There's a motel on the corner called the Valley Motel.
You go in and register and I'll see you around 9.
How will you know which unit I'm in? That's simple.
You register under the name of Thomas Walsh.
Better get a move on, sweetie.
He'll be here in half an hour.
Why can't I stay in here? I told you a dozen times, sweetie, we can't take the chance.
Now, be a good girl and get a move on.
I'll call you as soon as I get the cash.
WOMAN: Night.
Night, baby.
Let's see.
His was-- Last time out came in 8th.
When he runs in the mud Oh, that's no good.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Valley Motel.
Who? Mr.
Reed? Yeah, he's in Unit 4.
Wait a minute, I'll connect you.
Oh, good evening.
- I'd like a room.
- We can fix you up all right.
You don't mind sharing a bathroom? - Not if it's necessary.
- Well.
Mr.
Walsh.
- Well, we got your reservation, yeah.
- Good.
How long did it take to drive from San Francisco? - About eight hours.
- Eight hours.
That's quite a trip.
Now, here's a nice room here, Unit 8.
This is a room that's spotless.
I just finished painting it myself this afternoon.
And you wanna know something? There's no smell from this paint.
The new paint they're turning out now is marvellous.
And I always say give your customer a good clean place to live in.
They'll come back again and again.
That's very interesting.
Could I have the key? - Be glad to show you over.
- That won't be necessary.
- How much is it? - Five dollars.
Checkout time is 11 a.
m.
Oh, say, Mr.
Walsh? Do you believe in hunches? There's a horse running here in Santa Anita called Walsh's Pride.
I'm gonna put 2 bucks on his nose.
[LAUGHS.]
No sense of humour.
[BODY THUDS.]
[CLATTERING.]
[PHONE RINGING.]
MITCHELL: Mr.
Binney? Mr.
Binney? Mr.
Binney? This yours? What about the briefcase? That's mine too.
Then how do you explain the initials C.
S.
B.
? My name is Charles Stewart Brent.
And yet you registered under the name of Thomas Walsh.
How well did you know Arthur Binney? Well enough to kill him.
You realise what you're saying, Mr.
Brent? Exactly.
If you'd care to, I'll dictate a statement.
Well, I I'd like that very much.
Suppose you'll make it at headquarters.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Lieutenant Tragg? There's a phone call for you.
A Mr.
Hamilton Burger.
I'll be right back.
Would you let me have a cigarette? DISPATCHER [OVER RADIO.]
: 2518 Code, 7 Station.
Thanks.
And 344, that's an eighth of a mile east of the Mission Valley overpass.
All right, let's go.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
I don't believe it.
I don't believe one word.
All I can tell you, Mrs.
Brent, is that I spoke with your husband not more than an hour ago.
And he says he killed this man? No.
What possible motive could Stewart have? Your husband claims Binney had proof he was involved in a hit-run accident eight months ago.
- Binney was blackmailing him? - That's right.
Oh, no.
No, it's not true.
Why, even if it were, why should Stewart kill him? He could have bought him off.
That was Binney's idea.
But Stewart says he wouldn't stand for it.
And the police didn't find a penny in that motel room.
No.
You can never get me to believe that.
Whatever possessed Stewart to make up such a story? Isn't that obvious? He must be shielding someone.
Have you any idea who this someone could be? No.
Did you know Arthur Binney? - Of course not.
- Are you sure? I resent that.
Your husband's in serious trouble, Mrs.
Brent.
He could very easily wind up in the gas chamber.
He admits Binney was blackmailing him.
But I'm sure Stewart's never done anything wrong in his life.
Can you say as much for yourself? You know, I've got a feeling that Binney was playing both sides of the street.
Just what does that mean? I think he was blackmailing both you and your husband.
- Well, I can't speak for my husband.
- But he was blackmailing you? Yes.
He knew I served a year for defrauding an insurance company.
Were you guilty? I could say no, but it wouldn't be true.
I needed money desperately at the time.
Oh, I know that's no excuse.
But I'd like to think I paid for what I did.
How did Binney find out about you? I have no idea.
He threatened to go to Stewart.
I couldn't afford it.
So I paid him.
In cash? No, I gave him a pair of diamond earrings.
They were worth $2,500.
And you didn't go out to the Valley Motel last night? You have my word, Mr.
Mason.
For what it's worth.
Mrs.
Brent, I just got the news.
I went down to police headquarters, they wouldn't let me see him.
Mr.
Mason, you've just got to do something.
Mr.
Mason will do everything he can.
That's a promise, Mrs.
Brent.
I'll see there's no trouble the next time you wanna see Mr.
Brent.
BRENT: That dirty swine.
He deserved killing.
No one deserves killing, Brent.
Let's stop that right now.
But he was blackmailing my wife too.
That shouldn't be a complete shock to you.
- You must've thought she killed him.
- No.
Then what else could've made you confess? What did you find in Binney's room that seemed to indict your wife? That night I went to the motel room, Binney hit me from behind.
- How did you know it was Binney? - I just assumed it was, that's all.
Anyway, when I regained consciousness, I went in the bathroom to wash up.
And that's when I saw my gun.
- It was wrapped in a little hand towel.
- Go on.
Well, then I walked into the adjoining room and saw Binney.
Dead.
Near the body was one of my wife's diamond earrings.
You remember.
The kind she misplaced at the party.
What did you do with the earring? I wrapped it in the towel and hid it in Lieutenant Tragg's police car when they were taking me to headquarters.
Where did you hide it? In back of the rear seat.
Can you prove you drew the payoff money out of the bank? Well, Enid Griffin, my secretary, can.
She made the withdrawal for me.
I just hope you've been telling me the truth, Mr.
Brent.
We've got an awfully tough row to hoe.
It's the darndest thing, Perry, but all I can find out about this guy Binney is that he came down here from Tacoma about three weeks ago.
What about his background? Seems to have made a career out of these scandal magazines, but he's never published a single copy.
Obviously, he was always bought off.
What about partners? According to my information, he always worked solo.
Yet he definitely told Brent he had a partner.
I know, but I can't help it.
Sorry to bother you, Perry, but Enid Griffin's here.
- Well, I'll be moving along.
- Keep digging, Paul.
All right, Della.
Better have her come in.
Right.
Will you come in, Miss Griffin? Thank you.
MASON: Won't you sit down? [DOOR CLOSES.]
Doesn't look good, does it? Well, it doesn't look that bad.
You're just trying to make me feel better.
- Mr.
Brent did not kill Binney.
- Well, I don't think he did either.
You've got a 50 percent chance of being right.
Did you withdraw $30,000 from Mr.
Brent's personal account on May 17? Yes, I did and I brought the bankbook to prove it.
Now, what are you going to do about the towel? What towel? The one that Mr.
Brent hid in the police car.
Who told you about that? He did.
I went back to the jail after I saw you and they let me in.
You've got to get it before the police do.
That's impossible, Miss Griffin.
First of all, if such a towel exists, it must be evidence and should be turned over to the authorities.
Secondly-- Look, I don't want to hear any of your legal mumbo jumbo.
All I know is Mr.
Brent can go to the gas chamber.
Don't give me your legal technicalities.
Those technicalities are designed for the protection of us all.
Look, are you going to get that stuff out of Lieutenant Tragg's car or not? [DOOR SLAMS.]
DISPATCHER: Unit 344, on Mission Valley Road.
One-eighth mile east of-- Happy birthday, lieutenant.
- What'd you say? - Happy birthday.
- Well, ain't it? - Where'd you get that idea? - That girl.
- What girl? The blond.
She was here an hour ago and she said she was your niece.
- Go on.
- Well, it'll kind of spoil the surprise.
I'll take my chances.
What did she want? She had a gift for you and she wanted to put it in your car.
- Did you let her? - No, sir.
I told her it was against regulations.
She seemed upset.
Well, I should wonder.
Let's see if my hunch is right.
Washington, state your name.
Unit 7, come in.
Correction: Unit 3, come in.
Thirty-three, disregard-- Let's try the back.
Mission Valley and-- Here, give me a hand.
On the east side of 395 by Cherry Road and Tennessee at 11:48.
And that's the spot where the cops found the body.
Oh, the police took a bullet out over there.
How long had Mr.
Binney lived here? MITCHELL: Well, let's see.
He checked in-- I think it was the 8th.
Said he was from Tacoma and was supposed to be a lingerie salesman.
- Did he ever have any visitors? - Only that blond.
Oh? What blond was that? Well, the same one I saw him drive in with a couple of times.
Would you recognise her if you saw her again? I might, but to tell you the truth, I didn't pay too much attention to her.
Was she here on the night of the murder? Well, I honestly couldn't say.
You were the one who discovered my client near the body.
That's right.
What brought you down here? Did you hear the shot? No.
I tell you, I wondered why Mr.
Binney hadn't answered the phone.
I hadn't seen him go out.
Do you know who called him? Some dame.
Uh Pardon me.
It was the same one that called him practically every day.
- But she never left her name? - No, sir.
Well, thank you, uh, very much, Mr.
Mitchell.
Well, thank you.
Thank you.
Ha.
Yes, sir.
Where you going? Over to see Mrs.
Brent.
- I'm worried about her.
- Heh.
- What's so funny? - Oh, nothing.
Nothing.
Oh, now look, Sheila-- [DOORBELL BUZZES.]
- Oh, Mr.
Mason.
- Good evening, Enid.
May I come in? Of course, come on in.
I don't know if you know my roommate, Sheila Bowers.
I believe we met once in Mr.
Brent's office.
- How are you, Sheila? - I'm fine.
You'll have to pardon my appearance.
I should apologise for disturbing you.
Well, it's perfectly all right.
Won't you sit down? Thank you.
Ahem.
Well, uh, if you'll excuse me, I'll change my clothes.
Excuse me.
I know I should apologise for the way I behaved in the office the other day.
It was perfectly understandable.
You were under a strain.
- How's Mr.
Brent? - All right.
You don't think anything really will happen to him, do you? Well, it will.
Unless we can find someone who had a better motive to kill Binney.
What do you think of Mrs.
Brent? - What do I think of her? - As a person, I mean.
Well, I think Mr.
Brent was very lucky to have found someone like her.
I think she's a wonderful, charming woman.
Do you think she might've killed Binney? Absolutely not.
And you don't feel she married Mr.
Brent for his money? No.
But you do know her past is a trifle shady.
No.
Didn't you overhear Binney and Mr.
Brent talking on the intercom? That's what Mr.
Brent told me.
Well, I figured there was nothing to it.
All you have to do is look at Mrs.
Brent to see what a nice person she is.
Thank you very much, Enid.
You've been very helpful.
Heh.
I don't see how.
Say goodbye to Sheila for me.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
There's a phone call for you.
- Who? - She wouldn't say, but she claims she has some information on the Brent case.
Line 2.
- Hello? WOMAN: Mr.
Mason? Yes, who is this? I don't think names really matter, do they? Well, what can I do for you? Nothing.
I just thought maybe I could do something for you.
You go to trial tomorrow, don't you? Yes.
Well, before you do, you ought to check the police files on Mr.
Brent's private secretary.
Did you know she tried to commit suicide because of him? No, I didn't.
When was this? The day after he got married.
You, uh, might find there's a connection.
We will show you ladies and gentlemen of the jury a statement, which the defendant voluntarily made and signed, in which he confesses to the murder of Arthur Binney.
Then we will prove to you that the defendant, Charles Stewart Brent, is indeed guilty of this crime of murder and in the first degree.
Mr.
Mason? The defence reserves its opening statement until the prosecution rests, Your Honour.
Very well, gentlemen.
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
I call Miss Enid Griffin to the stand, please.
MAN: Miss Enid Griffin, please.
Yes, this is Mr.
Brent's briefcase.
If it please the court, I should like this marked for exhibit.
Miss Griffin, were you in your office on May 15 when Arthur Binney first visited Mr.
Brent? - Yes.
- Would you describe their discussion.
I object, Your Honour.
This is calling for the rankest form of hearsay.
If it please the court, this is not hearsay at all.
Miss Griffin knows about that conversation from her personal knowledge as I shall shortly prove.
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
Miss Griffin, do you have an interoffice communication system between your office and that of your employer, Mr.
Brent? - Yes.
- And on the occasion of Arthur Binney's first visit to Mr.
Brent, was the key to the intercom turned up so that you could overhear the conversation? I don't remember.
Well, let me refresh your memory.
Did you visit my office on Tuesday? - Yes.
- Did I show you that time a statement dictated by your employer Mr.
Brent in which he said the key was turned up? - Yes.
- And did you admit to me that it was true and that you did overhear that conversation? Yes.
Well, all right.
I ask you again.
What did Mr.
Binney say? He said that he wanted $30,000 from Mr.
Brent.
He said if he didn't get it, he would expose Mrs.
Brent.
Expose Mrs.
Brent? How? In a magazine.
He knew she had served a prison sentence.
Thank you.
Your witness.
Miss Griffin, on May 17th, did you make a withdrawal of $30,000 from Mr.
Brent's personal account at State National Savings and Loan? I did.
At the time Mr.
Brent got this money, was it your understanding he intended to pay the blackmailer or kill him? I object, Your Honour.
It calls for a conclusion not based on the facts.
Objection sustained.
You will refrain from this type of questioning, counsellor.
I'm sorry, Your Honour.
I have no further questions.
- The witness may-- - If it please the court, I have one question for this witness on redirect.
Miss Griffin, we've heard you testify that you withdrew $30,000 for Mr.
Brent from his bank account on the day of the murder.
But to your own personal knowledge, do you know whether he took that money with him to the Valley Motel? I don't know what you mean.
Well, as far as you know, he may have hidden it someplace.
Well, then why would he take it out of the bank? In order to give himself an alibi.
I have no further question for this witness, Your Honour.
You may step down, Miss Griffin.
I call Lieutenant Arthur Tragg.
Lieutenant, does this appear to you to be an accurate diagram of the two motel units in question? - Yes, sir.
- This is Unit 8.
And this is Unit 9 where the dead body was found? - That's right.
- Now, lieutenant, did you conduct any investigation with regard to the course taken by the fatal bullet? Yes, I did.
With the help of Dr.
Cortley of the crime lab.
What was the nature of the investigation? Well, first we determined by various tests that the killer was approximately ten feet away from the victim.
Then we determined the direction by a shot track.
I see.
Would you step over to the chart please, lieutenant? Would you explain to the court what you mean when you say "shot track"? You stretch a string along the calculated path of the bullet.
We knew the angle at which the bullet entered the wall after passing through the victim's body.
And would you point out to the jury, please, on this diagram, where you believe the killer stood when the fatal shot was fired? TRAGG: Right there.
BURGER: You think he shot through the connecting door from Unit 8.
TRAGG: Yes, sir.
BURGER: Unit 8 is the one that was rented by the defendant under the fictitious name of Thomas Walsh? TRAGG: That's right.
Oh, would you resume the stand, please, lieutenant? Now, I ask if you recognise this towel.
- Yes, I do.
- And this earring? - Yes, that was wrapped in the towel.
- Easy does it.
I see.
I would like these marked for exhibit.
Please hand these to the clerk.
How'd they find it? Now, lieutenant, would you describe for us how you discovered this property? Yes, it was hidden under the back seat of my car.
Did you try to trace its ownership? - Well, now may I use my notebook? - Please do.
The, uh-- It was purchased by the defendant, Stewart Brent, from Dorf and Cole.
And did Stewart Brent, the defendant, ever ride in the back seat of your car? Yes, sir.
We drove him to headquarters on the night of the murder.
Thank you, lieutenant.
Your witness.
Uh, may I? Thank you.
Now, lieutenant, I believe earrings customarily come in pairs.
- Is that correct? - Yes, sir.
- Did you find the mate to this one? - No.
No, sir.
I assume you searched the motel room thoroughly.
- We certainly did.
- And did you thoroughly search the defendant too? Well, a-- Preliminary, say.
And you didn't find the towel or the earring? Well, I found them in my car.
- How long after the crime? - Oh, about 48 hours.
And during those intervening isn't it possible that someone else might have planted that evidence in your car? Yes, sir.
It's possible.
Not probable.
Now, lieutenant, let's turn our attention to the gun.
- Isn't this rather a noisy weapon? - It does make a noise.
Yet, strangely enough, no one in the motel heard the report.
Well, a silencer of some kind might've, uh, been used on it.
Did you find any such silencer in either motel room? No.
No, sir.
Thank you, lieutenant.
That's all.
You may step down, lieutenant.
I call Dr.
Otto Cortley.
MAN: Dr.
Otto Cortley.
BURGER: Dr.
Cortley, would you please tell the jury what textbooks you've been responsible for editing? Burke's Criminal Investigation 23rd Edition, Spiro's Forensic Medicine, Danby's Detection of Murder.
I'm also a consultant of the police crime lab.
If the court please, we are all aware of Dr.
Cortley's reputation and stipulate his admission as expert witness subject to cross-examination.
Dr.
Cortley, I show you now this towel.
And ask if you recognise it.
I do.
It was brought to me, uh, May 20th by Lieutenant Tragg for a detailed analysis.
Would you tell the jury, please, the result of that detailed analysis? The laundry mark in the upper right-hand corner will indicate that the towel is the property of the Valley Motel.
Now, the towel's been used for normal cleansing purposes as you can tell from the traces of lipstick.
If the court please, this is wholly irrelevant and immaterial.
Mr.
Burger? My next question will establish the relevancy, Your Honour.
JUDGE: Proceed.
What else did you find, doctor? There is a bullet hole in the towel which, along with the presence of nitrite and smokeless powder, indicates that the towel has also been used as a silencer.
Thank you, doctor.
Cross-examine.
Now, Dr.
Cortley, you said you found traces of nitrite and smokeless powder on this towel? - I did.
- And you also found traces of lipstick? - Yes, sir.
- Can you tell us what kind of lipstick? I can.
It is a shade called Hibiscus Red.
It is made by Duval Freres.
Did you find anything else on this towel? Well, there were some minute hair particles that adhered to the surface.
Did you make a classification to determine whether they were human hairs? Yes, sir.
They were human hairs.
Did you subject these hairs to a microscopic analysis? - I did.
- What did they tell you about the person who used this? Well, from the structure and size of the hair, I should say that the woman that used this towel was in her early 30s.
She is a habitual user of peroxide ammonia.
And the hair endings indicate that she was originally a light brunette.
Let me ask you this, doctor.
Did you personally view the scene of the crime? I did.
And you watched as Lieutenant Tragg made a shot track to determine from where the shot came? Yes, sir.
It was remarkably well done.
I'm sure it was.
But in all these things, isn't there a chance of error? - Yes.
- Could it be off, say, four or five feet? It could.
May I have that diagram of the motel, please? Thank you, doctor.
[MAN COUGHS.]
Thank you.
Now, doctor, let us take a hypothetical case.
Suppose there was a blond hiding in the bathroom of a motel room very much like this one.
And that a body were found right over here.
Is it possible that this hypothetical blond could've fired the shot from the bathroom like so? So that the bullet would still wind up in here as revealed by a shot track? It is possible, Mr.
Mason.
MASON: That's all I ask.
Thank you, Dr.
Cortley.
Mr.
Burger? Oh, I'm sorry, Your Honour.
No redirect.
You may step down, doctor.
Since it is almost 5:00, if counsel has no objection, I would like to suggest that we adjourn.
- I have no objection, Your Honour.
- Nor have I, Your Honour.
Very well.
This court stands adjourned till 10:00 tomorrow morning.
What the devil is keeping Paul? - He should've been here an hour ago.
PAUL: Speak of the devil.
Well, what did you find out? Your informant was right.
Enid Griffin did try to commit suicide the day after Brent was married.
Nothing about it in the papers.
- Did you get the pictures? - Mm-hm.
Very blond and very pretty.
That is Mrs.
Brent Enid Griffin, Sheila Bowers.
Have copies made of these and send them to your man in Seattle.
See if any of these women served time eight years ago.
We, uh, know that Anne Brent did.
I know, but don't tell your man that.
Let him find out for himself.
Take this set over to Mitchell at the Valley Motel.
He'll probably testify tomorrow.
I'd like him to look these girls over carefully.
Well, he's already seen them in court.
Yes, but he wasn't concentrating on them.
When dealing with someone impressionable, it's surprising how much more they can remember by looking at a photograph.
Such as? Well, just ask him if any of these three blonds visited Binney at the motel.
As a matter of fact, don't let him commit himself right off.
Let him sleep on it.
I'll be perfectly satisfied if he's made up his mind - by the time he takes the stand.
- Right.
Mr.
Mitchell, you're the night manager of the Valley Motel on Ventura? That's right.
Would you tell us please what happened on the evening of May 17th? Well, around 9:30-- Is that the part you want or you want me to tell you about what happened all day? No, no, that's right.
Just start at 9:30.
Well, like I was saying, about 9:30, some lady called Mr.
Binney.
I rang his room, but there was no answer.
I thought it seemed kind of funny because I didn't see him go out.
So I went around to his room to check.
And when you looked in Unit 9 what did you see? I saw him standing over near the body.
By "him," you mean Stewart Brent, the defendant.
Yes, sir.
Now, Mr.
Mitchell, the defence has made much of a hypothetical blond.
Did you see any such woman in Unit 9? - No, sir.
- Was she in Unit 8? Well, if she was, I certainly didn't see her.
And would you have seen her if she'd been in the adjoining bathroom? I sure would.
That's all, Mr.
Mitchell.
Cross-examine.
Now, Mr.
Mitchell, when you first saw the defendant in Unit 9, was he holding the gun? - Yes, sir.
- And what did you do? I ran to call the cops.
Uh, excuse me, I mean the police.
But you said the defendant had a gun in his hand.
- Did he try to stop you? - No, sir.
Now, getting back to the deceased, Mr.
Binney.
How long had he been a guest at the Valley Motel? Close on to three weeks.
- Did Mr.
Binney have any visitors? - Only one.
You mean this person only appeared once? It was just that same dame, um-- Ahem.
Same blond.
She was the only one that used to come to see him.
How often did she visit the deceased? Two or three times a week.
I could see her from my office when she drove up in the car.
Now, Mr.
Mitchell, does the name Shirley Carrol mean anything to you? Shirley Carrol.
No.
Then, let me ask you this.
Is Mr.
Binney's blond visitor present in this court? She sure is.
She's sitting right over there.
That's a lie.
I didn't kill Binney.
Well, why should I? We were partners.
He was alive when I left the motel that night.
I didn't do it! I swear it! I swear I didn't do it! I swear! MITCHELL: Oh, here's the year.
I got one on the third, I won the cup again.
- Good evening.
- I'd like a room, please.
Yes, ma'am.
Oh, you're, uh You're Mrs.
Brent.
I'd still like a room.
Preferably Unit 9.
Look, lady, I don't know what your game is.
It's Button, Button, Who's Got the Button? - And I don't need any partners to play.
- Don't know what you're talking about.
Arthur Binney was my partner.
Are you crazy? That blond was his partner, Sheila Bowers.
She was just my contact with Binney.
Who do you think planned this whole thing? I served time with her.
You were gonna clip your own husband? Well, I figured 30,000 wasn't bad for a marriage that couldn't last very long.
Incidentally, what happened to that money? - How should I know? - Who should know better? How come you missed that diamond earring? I gave Binney the pair of them to make the plot look good.
You tell me.
You seem to know it all.
Well, I imagine you were so nervous when you took them out of Binney's pocket you dropped one of them and were afraid to take the time to look for it? You're a liar.
Oh, don't misunderstand me.
I feel that you are entitled to some part of that money.
Binney told me what a great help you were.
- Shall we say a thousand dollars? - Shall we say nuts? I wouldn't do that.
It would be more trouble to you, Mitchell.
I think we've had enough excitement for one night.
Excuse me.
All right, Mason, so you were right.
But, uh, what was the tip-off? Well, if my client was telling the truth, it meant that someone else entered Unit 8 while Brent was unconscious.
Now, who was in the best position to manage that? Mitchell.
- He had a passkey.
- Mm-hm.
While Binney was putting the money in his grip, Mitchell entered, took the gun off Brent's bed, shot Binney from the bathroom, using the towel as a silencer.
Darling, you were wonderful.
Tell me again.
TRAGG: All right, Mr.
, uh - Come on, Tragg.
I think Mr.
Brent's got the situation well in hand.
Yeah.
Now, let's wait in the car.
[MASON LAUGHS.]
Well.
[SOFTLY.]
Hey, Enid.
Are you awake? Enid? Enid! Enid? Operator.
Operator, this is an emergency.
How is she, doctor? Your roommate is a very lucky girl, Miss Bowers.
- Who's the man? - Man? Isn't that why Miss Griffin tried to commit suicide? Oh, no, it was an accident.
No, honest, doctor.
Enid's been-- Well, she's been having trouble sleeping lately and I guess maybe she got desperate and took too many pills.
Oh, they won't have to put this in the papers, will they? Well, I'll have to file a report, but I don't think the papers will pick it up.
Thanks, doctor.
Oh, can she go to work tomorrow? I don't see why not.
If you run into any difficulty, give me a ring.
Thanks, doctor.
- Good night.
- Good night.
How could he do it, Sheila? Just because our boss got married that doesn't mean it's the end of the world.
It is for me.
Enid, Mr.
Charles Stewart Brent is your employer, not your boyfriend.
You work for the man, you don't own him.
He was so kind.
And so considerate.
And after his first wife died we got to be so close.
You saw that yourself.
Enid, get down from the clouds and face facts.
Kindness and consideration aren't exactly symptoms of passion, you know.
And you better remember that before he gets back to the office next week.
He was trapped, I know it.
And I'm not Not gonna give up.
I'm-- I'm going to go on fighting.
Enid, honey, will you listen to me? I must have been crazy to try what I did.
It would just make things easier for her.
I won't do that again.
Going to be a long day, darling.
Good morning, Mr.
Brent, and congratulations.
- She sure is pretty.
- Thanks, George.
- Perry.
- Good to see you, Brent.
And congratulations.
Thanks.
I'm anxious to have you meet Anne.
We're having a party Tuesday night.
We'd love to have you and Miss Street.
- Count on us.
- I won't hold you up.
- I know you're busy.
- I'll see you.
Good morning, Sheila.
Good morning, Mr.
Brent, and congratulations.
Thank you.
- Will you tell Enid I'm in? - Yes, sir.
Oh, may I help you? I'd like to see Mr.
Brent.
May I have your name, please? Arthur Binney.
Will you please have a seat? Mr.
Brent's secretary is out at the moment, but she'll be back in a minute.
Morning, Enid.
Good morning.
Meet my new boss.
Beautiful, isn't she? By the way, did you get my wire about making arrangements for the reception? Yes, it's all taken care of.
Oh, and there's a Mr.
Arthur Binney waiting to see you.
Binney? Can't you handle him? He said it was a personal matter.
Something to do with Mrs.
Brent.
All right, send him in.
Mr.
Brent? That's right.
Can't tell you how happy this makes me.
I've heard a lot about you.
Well, I don't wanna be rude, Mr.
Binney, but I am a busy man.
Sure you are.
I'll come right to the point.
My partner and I are planning a little business venture, and we thought you might like to buy some space.
Just how does this concern my wife? My partner and I were planning a series of articles on the wives of prominent people.
We thought that Mrs.
Brent would make an interesting story, particularly with, uh, mug shots and fingerprints.
What do you mean? We thought it'd make a nice three-page spread.
Blackmail.
I wish you wouldn't talk that way, Mr.
Brent.
I'm just trying to sell a little advertising space.
BRENT [OVER INTERCOM.]
: A three-page spread? How much? BINNEY: Ten thousand dollars a page.
Oh, it's not expensive considering our circulation.
Just what has my wife supposed to have done? Well, she had this jewellery that was insured.
She made the mistake of pawning it and then reporting it stolen.
Police take a very dim view of those kind of tactics.
I'm gonna want some time to look into this.
Sure.
Take all the time you want.
Don't want you to think we're rushing you.
You can, uh, keep those mug shots if you like.
We have others.
Just a minute.
How do I get in touch with you? You don't.
I'll get in touch with you.
In exactly a week.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[INTERCOM BUZZES.]
Yes, Mr.
Brent? Enid, get me the Paul Drake Detective Agency.
If he's not in, his telephone answering service can locate him.
Yes, Mr.
Brent.
Could that be a forgery? Could be.
There's an easy way to find out.
Ask Mrs.
Brent.
Now, look, Mr.
Drake, I'm in love with my wife.
I'm not looking for a divorce.
How much do you know of your wife's background? Well, actually not much.
We only met two weeks ago in Las Vegas.
Heh.
It was like getting caught up in a cyclone.
Well, I'll check it out.
It'd help if I had samples of her fingerprints to compare with this police file.
I'm having a wedding reception in my penthouse tomorrow night.
- Maybe you could arrange to be there.
- I'll be there.
I know I don't have to remind you to keep this thing quiet.
Don't worry.
Mr.
Brent, may I give you some advice? Like what? Blackmail, like cancer, needs radical treatment.
If I were you, I'd see a lawyer.
I'll keep it in mind.
- Goodbye.
- Thank you.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[PIANO PLAYING MELLOW MUSIC.]
Darling, I'd like to have you meet Perry Mason.
- How do you do? - How do you do, Mr.
Mason? I've always wanted to meet my husband's most famous tenant.
Infamous might be a better word.
Have you met my secretary? Yes.
I envy you, Miss Street.
You must have a most fascinating job.
Oh, it is.
Just don't ask me about the hours.
- Mm.
Will you excuse me a moment? - Certainly.
Donald, I think you're putting too much vermouth in these martinis.
The other Mrs.
Brent preferred serving her martinis a little on the sweet side.
How delightfully old-fashioned.
Will you please make up a fresh batch? I do hope you're not annoyed with me.
No, I'm not annoyed, Mrs.
Brent.
Besides, what difference does it make? - I'm just your husband's secretary.
- That's no way to talk, Enid.
Why, Stewart does nothing but rave about you.
You won't blame me if I'm a little bit jealous.
Why don't we sit down and have a little chat? Well, what about your other guests? Oh, pooh on my other guests.
I'd much sooner get to know you.
- Bored? - No, just hungry.
What do you think of our hostess? Attractive.
And she has a mind of her own.
Instinct? Observation.
She just had a mild skirmish with Brent's girl Friday.
I didn't know Paul was a social butterfly.
Mrs.
Brent, you're missing an earring.
I know.
I left it in the music room.
How very observant of you.
Heh.
Mr.
Brent says that I never miss a thing.
Maybe he's minding the silver.
- Do I need glasses? - Maybe we both do.
By the way, Perry, are you interested in music? Why? I'd like to show you the wedding present I gave.
Sounds interesting.
- Mind if Della joins us? - This way.
- Nice? - Beautiful.
[PLAYING ORGAN.]
Like the tone? Very nice.
But you didn't bring me in here just so you could play.
That's right.
Look, Perry.
A very close friend of mine is having trouble with one of those scandal magazines.
Apparently, they've uncovered some dirt.
Probably false, but they threaten to publish it.
They promise to hold the press and sell him the story if he buys space? My friend asked me for advice, I promised I'd mention it to you.
I advise your friend to go to the police.
What about the scandal? Unfortunately, your friend should realise that scandal, like murder, will out.
- I can see that but-- - I'm terribly sorry.
Am I intruding? BRENT: Not at all, darling.
I think I left one of my earrings in here.
Was that it? Thank you.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Monopolising Mr.
Mason and Miss Street.
I do want you to meet all our other guests.
I'd be delighted.
BRENT: That you, Drake? - Yeah.
I'm in here.
- Well? - I'm afraid it's no good, Mr.
Brent.
Mrs.
Brent's fingerprints on that matchbox check out with the police bulletin.
As you can see by these photos, I've listed 15 points of similarity.
In court you only need 12.
Anything further on her record? Came in this morning.
She was convicted in Tacoma six years ago.
Under the name of Ann King.
She served a year in prison.
Thanks, Mr.
Drake.
Just send me a bill.
Sorry, Mr.
Brent.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Brent speaking.
At least you'll admit I'm a man of my word.
I promised to give you a week.
My partner wants to know if you've decided to buy that space.
I have the money in cash.
Good.
Now, why don't you just drive out Ventura Boulevard to Angelus.
There's a motel on the corner called the Valley Motel.
You go in and register and I'll see you around 9.
How will you know which unit I'm in? That's simple.
You register under the name of Thomas Walsh.
Better get a move on, sweetie.
He'll be here in half an hour.
Why can't I stay in here? I told you a dozen times, sweetie, we can't take the chance.
Now, be a good girl and get a move on.
I'll call you as soon as I get the cash.
WOMAN: Night.
Night, baby.
Let's see.
His was-- Last time out came in 8th.
When he runs in the mud Oh, that's no good.
[PHONE BUZZES.]
Valley Motel.
Who? Mr.
Reed? Yeah, he's in Unit 4.
Wait a minute, I'll connect you.
Oh, good evening.
- I'd like a room.
- We can fix you up all right.
You don't mind sharing a bathroom? - Not if it's necessary.
- Well.
Mr.
Walsh.
- Well, we got your reservation, yeah.
- Good.
How long did it take to drive from San Francisco? - About eight hours.
- Eight hours.
That's quite a trip.
Now, here's a nice room here, Unit 8.
This is a room that's spotless.
I just finished painting it myself this afternoon.
And you wanna know something? There's no smell from this paint.
The new paint they're turning out now is marvellous.
And I always say give your customer a good clean place to live in.
They'll come back again and again.
That's very interesting.
Could I have the key? - Be glad to show you over.
- That won't be necessary.
- How much is it? - Five dollars.
Checkout time is 11 a.
m.
Oh, say, Mr.
Walsh? Do you believe in hunches? There's a horse running here in Santa Anita called Walsh's Pride.
I'm gonna put 2 bucks on his nose.
[LAUGHS.]
No sense of humour.
[BODY THUDS.]
[CLATTERING.]
[PHONE RINGING.]
MITCHELL: Mr.
Binney? Mr.
Binney? Mr.
Binney? This yours? What about the briefcase? That's mine too.
Then how do you explain the initials C.
S.
B.
? My name is Charles Stewart Brent.
And yet you registered under the name of Thomas Walsh.
How well did you know Arthur Binney? Well enough to kill him.
You realise what you're saying, Mr.
Brent? Exactly.
If you'd care to, I'll dictate a statement.
Well, I I'd like that very much.
Suppose you'll make it at headquarters.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Lieutenant Tragg? There's a phone call for you.
A Mr.
Hamilton Burger.
I'll be right back.
Would you let me have a cigarette? DISPATCHER [OVER RADIO.]
: 2518 Code, 7 Station.
Thanks.
And 344, that's an eighth of a mile east of the Mission Valley overpass.
All right, let's go.
[ENGINE STARTS.]
I don't believe it.
I don't believe one word.
All I can tell you, Mrs.
Brent, is that I spoke with your husband not more than an hour ago.
And he says he killed this man? No.
What possible motive could Stewart have? Your husband claims Binney had proof he was involved in a hit-run accident eight months ago.
- Binney was blackmailing him? - That's right.
Oh, no.
No, it's not true.
Why, even if it were, why should Stewart kill him? He could have bought him off.
That was Binney's idea.
But Stewart says he wouldn't stand for it.
And the police didn't find a penny in that motel room.
No.
You can never get me to believe that.
Whatever possessed Stewart to make up such a story? Isn't that obvious? He must be shielding someone.
Have you any idea who this someone could be? No.
Did you know Arthur Binney? - Of course not.
- Are you sure? I resent that.
Your husband's in serious trouble, Mrs.
Brent.
He could very easily wind up in the gas chamber.
He admits Binney was blackmailing him.
But I'm sure Stewart's never done anything wrong in his life.
Can you say as much for yourself? You know, I've got a feeling that Binney was playing both sides of the street.
Just what does that mean? I think he was blackmailing both you and your husband.
- Well, I can't speak for my husband.
- But he was blackmailing you? Yes.
He knew I served a year for defrauding an insurance company.
Were you guilty? I could say no, but it wouldn't be true.
I needed money desperately at the time.
Oh, I know that's no excuse.
But I'd like to think I paid for what I did.
How did Binney find out about you? I have no idea.
He threatened to go to Stewart.
I couldn't afford it.
So I paid him.
In cash? No, I gave him a pair of diamond earrings.
They were worth $2,500.
And you didn't go out to the Valley Motel last night? You have my word, Mr.
Mason.
For what it's worth.
Mrs.
Brent, I just got the news.
I went down to police headquarters, they wouldn't let me see him.
Mr.
Mason, you've just got to do something.
Mr.
Mason will do everything he can.
That's a promise, Mrs.
Brent.
I'll see there's no trouble the next time you wanna see Mr.
Brent.
BRENT: That dirty swine.
He deserved killing.
No one deserves killing, Brent.
Let's stop that right now.
But he was blackmailing my wife too.
That shouldn't be a complete shock to you.
- You must've thought she killed him.
- No.
Then what else could've made you confess? What did you find in Binney's room that seemed to indict your wife? That night I went to the motel room, Binney hit me from behind.
- How did you know it was Binney? - I just assumed it was, that's all.
Anyway, when I regained consciousness, I went in the bathroom to wash up.
And that's when I saw my gun.
- It was wrapped in a little hand towel.
- Go on.
Well, then I walked into the adjoining room and saw Binney.
Dead.
Near the body was one of my wife's diamond earrings.
You remember.
The kind she misplaced at the party.
What did you do with the earring? I wrapped it in the towel and hid it in Lieutenant Tragg's police car when they were taking me to headquarters.
Where did you hide it? In back of the rear seat.
Can you prove you drew the payoff money out of the bank? Well, Enid Griffin, my secretary, can.
She made the withdrawal for me.
I just hope you've been telling me the truth, Mr.
Brent.
We've got an awfully tough row to hoe.
It's the darndest thing, Perry, but all I can find out about this guy Binney is that he came down here from Tacoma about three weeks ago.
What about his background? Seems to have made a career out of these scandal magazines, but he's never published a single copy.
Obviously, he was always bought off.
What about partners? According to my information, he always worked solo.
Yet he definitely told Brent he had a partner.
I know, but I can't help it.
Sorry to bother you, Perry, but Enid Griffin's here.
- Well, I'll be moving along.
- Keep digging, Paul.
All right, Della.
Better have her come in.
Right.
Will you come in, Miss Griffin? Thank you.
MASON: Won't you sit down? [DOOR CLOSES.]
Doesn't look good, does it? Well, it doesn't look that bad.
You're just trying to make me feel better.
- Mr.
Brent did not kill Binney.
- Well, I don't think he did either.
You've got a 50 percent chance of being right.
Did you withdraw $30,000 from Mr.
Brent's personal account on May 17? Yes, I did and I brought the bankbook to prove it.
Now, what are you going to do about the towel? What towel? The one that Mr.
Brent hid in the police car.
Who told you about that? He did.
I went back to the jail after I saw you and they let me in.
You've got to get it before the police do.
That's impossible, Miss Griffin.
First of all, if such a towel exists, it must be evidence and should be turned over to the authorities.
Secondly-- Look, I don't want to hear any of your legal mumbo jumbo.
All I know is Mr.
Brent can go to the gas chamber.
Don't give me your legal technicalities.
Those technicalities are designed for the protection of us all.
Look, are you going to get that stuff out of Lieutenant Tragg's car or not? [DOOR SLAMS.]
DISPATCHER: Unit 344, on Mission Valley Road.
One-eighth mile east of-- Happy birthday, lieutenant.
- What'd you say? - Happy birthday.
- Well, ain't it? - Where'd you get that idea? - That girl.
- What girl? The blond.
She was here an hour ago and she said she was your niece.
- Go on.
- Well, it'll kind of spoil the surprise.
I'll take my chances.
What did she want? She had a gift for you and she wanted to put it in your car.
- Did you let her? - No, sir.
I told her it was against regulations.
She seemed upset.
Well, I should wonder.
Let's see if my hunch is right.
Washington, state your name.
Unit 7, come in.
Correction: Unit 3, come in.
Thirty-three, disregard-- Let's try the back.
Mission Valley and-- Here, give me a hand.
On the east side of 395 by Cherry Road and Tennessee at 11:48.
And that's the spot where the cops found the body.
Oh, the police took a bullet out over there.
How long had Mr.
Binney lived here? MITCHELL: Well, let's see.
He checked in-- I think it was the 8th.
Said he was from Tacoma and was supposed to be a lingerie salesman.
- Did he ever have any visitors? - Only that blond.
Oh? What blond was that? Well, the same one I saw him drive in with a couple of times.
Would you recognise her if you saw her again? I might, but to tell you the truth, I didn't pay too much attention to her.
Was she here on the night of the murder? Well, I honestly couldn't say.
You were the one who discovered my client near the body.
That's right.
What brought you down here? Did you hear the shot? No.
I tell you, I wondered why Mr.
Binney hadn't answered the phone.
I hadn't seen him go out.
Do you know who called him? Some dame.
Uh Pardon me.
It was the same one that called him practically every day.
- But she never left her name? - No, sir.
Well, thank you, uh, very much, Mr.
Mitchell.
Well, thank you.
Thank you.
Ha.
Yes, sir.
Where you going? Over to see Mrs.
Brent.
- I'm worried about her.
- Heh.
- What's so funny? - Oh, nothing.
Nothing.
Oh, now look, Sheila-- [DOORBELL BUZZES.]
- Oh, Mr.
Mason.
- Good evening, Enid.
May I come in? Of course, come on in.
I don't know if you know my roommate, Sheila Bowers.
I believe we met once in Mr.
Brent's office.
- How are you, Sheila? - I'm fine.
You'll have to pardon my appearance.
I should apologise for disturbing you.
Well, it's perfectly all right.
Won't you sit down? Thank you.
Ahem.
Well, uh, if you'll excuse me, I'll change my clothes.
Excuse me.
I know I should apologise for the way I behaved in the office the other day.
It was perfectly understandable.
You were under a strain.
- How's Mr.
Brent? - All right.
You don't think anything really will happen to him, do you? Well, it will.
Unless we can find someone who had a better motive to kill Binney.
What do you think of Mrs.
Brent? - What do I think of her? - As a person, I mean.
Well, I think Mr.
Brent was very lucky to have found someone like her.
I think she's a wonderful, charming woman.
Do you think she might've killed Binney? Absolutely not.
And you don't feel she married Mr.
Brent for his money? No.
But you do know her past is a trifle shady.
No.
Didn't you overhear Binney and Mr.
Brent talking on the intercom? That's what Mr.
Brent told me.
Well, I figured there was nothing to it.
All you have to do is look at Mrs.
Brent to see what a nice person she is.
Thank you very much, Enid.
You've been very helpful.
Heh.
I don't see how.
Say goodbye to Sheila for me.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES.]
There's a phone call for you.
- Who? - She wouldn't say, but she claims she has some information on the Brent case.
Line 2.
- Hello? WOMAN: Mr.
Mason? Yes, who is this? I don't think names really matter, do they? Well, what can I do for you? Nothing.
I just thought maybe I could do something for you.
You go to trial tomorrow, don't you? Yes.
Well, before you do, you ought to check the police files on Mr.
Brent's private secretary.
Did you know she tried to commit suicide because of him? No, I didn't.
When was this? The day after he got married.
You, uh, might find there's a connection.
We will show you ladies and gentlemen of the jury a statement, which the defendant voluntarily made and signed, in which he confesses to the murder of Arthur Binney.
Then we will prove to you that the defendant, Charles Stewart Brent, is indeed guilty of this crime of murder and in the first degree.
Mr.
Mason? The defence reserves its opening statement until the prosecution rests, Your Honour.
Very well, gentlemen.
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
I call Miss Enid Griffin to the stand, please.
MAN: Miss Enid Griffin, please.
Yes, this is Mr.
Brent's briefcase.
If it please the court, I should like this marked for exhibit.
Miss Griffin, were you in your office on May 15 when Arthur Binney first visited Mr.
Brent? - Yes.
- Would you describe their discussion.
I object, Your Honour.
This is calling for the rankest form of hearsay.
If it please the court, this is not hearsay at all.
Miss Griffin knows about that conversation from her personal knowledge as I shall shortly prove.
You may proceed, Mr.
Burger.
Miss Griffin, do you have an interoffice communication system between your office and that of your employer, Mr.
Brent? - Yes.
- And on the occasion of Arthur Binney's first visit to Mr.
Brent, was the key to the intercom turned up so that you could overhear the conversation? I don't remember.
Well, let me refresh your memory.
Did you visit my office on Tuesday? - Yes.
- Did I show you that time a statement dictated by your employer Mr.
Brent in which he said the key was turned up? - Yes.
- And did you admit to me that it was true and that you did overhear that conversation? Yes.
Well, all right.
I ask you again.
What did Mr.
Binney say? He said that he wanted $30,000 from Mr.
Brent.
He said if he didn't get it, he would expose Mrs.
Brent.
Expose Mrs.
Brent? How? In a magazine.
He knew she had served a prison sentence.
Thank you.
Your witness.
Miss Griffin, on May 17th, did you make a withdrawal of $30,000 from Mr.
Brent's personal account at State National Savings and Loan? I did.
At the time Mr.
Brent got this money, was it your understanding he intended to pay the blackmailer or kill him? I object, Your Honour.
It calls for a conclusion not based on the facts.
Objection sustained.
You will refrain from this type of questioning, counsellor.
I'm sorry, Your Honour.
I have no further questions.
- The witness may-- - If it please the court, I have one question for this witness on redirect.
Miss Griffin, we've heard you testify that you withdrew $30,000 for Mr.
Brent from his bank account on the day of the murder.
But to your own personal knowledge, do you know whether he took that money with him to the Valley Motel? I don't know what you mean.
Well, as far as you know, he may have hidden it someplace.
Well, then why would he take it out of the bank? In order to give himself an alibi.
I have no further question for this witness, Your Honour.
You may step down, Miss Griffin.
I call Lieutenant Arthur Tragg.
Lieutenant, does this appear to you to be an accurate diagram of the two motel units in question? - Yes, sir.
- This is Unit 8.
And this is Unit 9 where the dead body was found? - That's right.
- Now, lieutenant, did you conduct any investigation with regard to the course taken by the fatal bullet? Yes, I did.
With the help of Dr.
Cortley of the crime lab.
What was the nature of the investigation? Well, first we determined by various tests that the killer was approximately ten feet away from the victim.
Then we determined the direction by a shot track.
I see.
Would you step over to the chart please, lieutenant? Would you explain to the court what you mean when you say "shot track"? You stretch a string along the calculated path of the bullet.
We knew the angle at which the bullet entered the wall after passing through the victim's body.
And would you point out to the jury, please, on this diagram, where you believe the killer stood when the fatal shot was fired? TRAGG: Right there.
BURGER: You think he shot through the connecting door from Unit 8.
TRAGG: Yes, sir.
BURGER: Unit 8 is the one that was rented by the defendant under the fictitious name of Thomas Walsh? TRAGG: That's right.
Oh, would you resume the stand, please, lieutenant? Now, I ask if you recognise this towel.
- Yes, I do.
- And this earring? - Yes, that was wrapped in the towel.
- Easy does it.
I see.
I would like these marked for exhibit.
Please hand these to the clerk.
How'd they find it? Now, lieutenant, would you describe for us how you discovered this property? Yes, it was hidden under the back seat of my car.
Did you try to trace its ownership? - Well, now may I use my notebook? - Please do.
The, uh-- It was purchased by the defendant, Stewart Brent, from Dorf and Cole.
And did Stewart Brent, the defendant, ever ride in the back seat of your car? Yes, sir.
We drove him to headquarters on the night of the murder.
Thank you, lieutenant.
Your witness.
Uh, may I? Thank you.
Now, lieutenant, I believe earrings customarily come in pairs.
- Is that correct? - Yes, sir.
- Did you find the mate to this one? - No.
No, sir.
I assume you searched the motel room thoroughly.
- We certainly did.
- And did you thoroughly search the defendant too? Well, a-- Preliminary, say.
And you didn't find the towel or the earring? Well, I found them in my car.
- How long after the crime? - Oh, about 48 hours.
And during those intervening isn't it possible that someone else might have planted that evidence in your car? Yes, sir.
It's possible.
Not probable.
Now, lieutenant, let's turn our attention to the gun.
- Isn't this rather a noisy weapon? - It does make a noise.
Yet, strangely enough, no one in the motel heard the report.
Well, a silencer of some kind might've, uh, been used on it.
Did you find any such silencer in either motel room? No.
No, sir.
Thank you, lieutenant.
That's all.
You may step down, lieutenant.
I call Dr.
Otto Cortley.
MAN: Dr.
Otto Cortley.
BURGER: Dr.
Cortley, would you please tell the jury what textbooks you've been responsible for editing? Burke's Criminal Investigation 23rd Edition, Spiro's Forensic Medicine, Danby's Detection of Murder.
I'm also a consultant of the police crime lab.
If the court please, we are all aware of Dr.
Cortley's reputation and stipulate his admission as expert witness subject to cross-examination.
Dr.
Cortley, I show you now this towel.
And ask if you recognise it.
I do.
It was brought to me, uh, May 20th by Lieutenant Tragg for a detailed analysis.
Would you tell the jury, please, the result of that detailed analysis? The laundry mark in the upper right-hand corner will indicate that the towel is the property of the Valley Motel.
Now, the towel's been used for normal cleansing purposes as you can tell from the traces of lipstick.
If the court please, this is wholly irrelevant and immaterial.
Mr.
Burger? My next question will establish the relevancy, Your Honour.
JUDGE: Proceed.
What else did you find, doctor? There is a bullet hole in the towel which, along with the presence of nitrite and smokeless powder, indicates that the towel has also been used as a silencer.
Thank you, doctor.
Cross-examine.
Now, Dr.
Cortley, you said you found traces of nitrite and smokeless powder on this towel? - I did.
- And you also found traces of lipstick? - Yes, sir.
- Can you tell us what kind of lipstick? I can.
It is a shade called Hibiscus Red.
It is made by Duval Freres.
Did you find anything else on this towel? Well, there were some minute hair particles that adhered to the surface.
Did you make a classification to determine whether they were human hairs? Yes, sir.
They were human hairs.
Did you subject these hairs to a microscopic analysis? - I did.
- What did they tell you about the person who used this? Well, from the structure and size of the hair, I should say that the woman that used this towel was in her early 30s.
She is a habitual user of peroxide ammonia.
And the hair endings indicate that she was originally a light brunette.
Let me ask you this, doctor.
Did you personally view the scene of the crime? I did.
And you watched as Lieutenant Tragg made a shot track to determine from where the shot came? Yes, sir.
It was remarkably well done.
I'm sure it was.
But in all these things, isn't there a chance of error? - Yes.
- Could it be off, say, four or five feet? It could.
May I have that diagram of the motel, please? Thank you, doctor.
[MAN COUGHS.]
Thank you.
Now, doctor, let us take a hypothetical case.
Suppose there was a blond hiding in the bathroom of a motel room very much like this one.
And that a body were found right over here.
Is it possible that this hypothetical blond could've fired the shot from the bathroom like so? So that the bullet would still wind up in here as revealed by a shot track? It is possible, Mr.
Mason.
MASON: That's all I ask.
Thank you, Dr.
Cortley.
Mr.
Burger? Oh, I'm sorry, Your Honour.
No redirect.
You may step down, doctor.
Since it is almost 5:00, if counsel has no objection, I would like to suggest that we adjourn.
- I have no objection, Your Honour.
- Nor have I, Your Honour.
Very well.
This court stands adjourned till 10:00 tomorrow morning.
What the devil is keeping Paul? - He should've been here an hour ago.
PAUL: Speak of the devil.
Well, what did you find out? Your informant was right.
Enid Griffin did try to commit suicide the day after Brent was married.
Nothing about it in the papers.
- Did you get the pictures? - Mm-hm.
Very blond and very pretty.
That is Mrs.
Brent Enid Griffin, Sheila Bowers.
Have copies made of these and send them to your man in Seattle.
See if any of these women served time eight years ago.
We, uh, know that Anne Brent did.
I know, but don't tell your man that.
Let him find out for himself.
Take this set over to Mitchell at the Valley Motel.
He'll probably testify tomorrow.
I'd like him to look these girls over carefully.
Well, he's already seen them in court.
Yes, but he wasn't concentrating on them.
When dealing with someone impressionable, it's surprising how much more they can remember by looking at a photograph.
Such as? Well, just ask him if any of these three blonds visited Binney at the motel.
As a matter of fact, don't let him commit himself right off.
Let him sleep on it.
I'll be perfectly satisfied if he's made up his mind - by the time he takes the stand.
- Right.
Mr.
Mitchell, you're the night manager of the Valley Motel on Ventura? That's right.
Would you tell us please what happened on the evening of May 17th? Well, around 9:30-- Is that the part you want or you want me to tell you about what happened all day? No, no, that's right.
Just start at 9:30.
Well, like I was saying, about 9:30, some lady called Mr.
Binney.
I rang his room, but there was no answer.
I thought it seemed kind of funny because I didn't see him go out.
So I went around to his room to check.
And when you looked in Unit 9 what did you see? I saw him standing over near the body.
By "him," you mean Stewart Brent, the defendant.
Yes, sir.
Now, Mr.
Mitchell, the defence has made much of a hypothetical blond.
Did you see any such woman in Unit 9? - No, sir.
- Was she in Unit 8? Well, if she was, I certainly didn't see her.
And would you have seen her if she'd been in the adjoining bathroom? I sure would.
That's all, Mr.
Mitchell.
Cross-examine.
Now, Mr.
Mitchell, when you first saw the defendant in Unit 9, was he holding the gun? - Yes, sir.
- And what did you do? I ran to call the cops.
Uh, excuse me, I mean the police.
But you said the defendant had a gun in his hand.
- Did he try to stop you? - No, sir.
Now, getting back to the deceased, Mr.
Binney.
How long had he been a guest at the Valley Motel? Close on to three weeks.
- Did Mr.
Binney have any visitors? - Only one.
You mean this person only appeared once? It was just that same dame, um-- Ahem.
Same blond.
She was the only one that used to come to see him.
How often did she visit the deceased? Two or three times a week.
I could see her from my office when she drove up in the car.
Now, Mr.
Mitchell, does the name Shirley Carrol mean anything to you? Shirley Carrol.
No.
Then, let me ask you this.
Is Mr.
Binney's blond visitor present in this court? She sure is.
She's sitting right over there.
That's a lie.
I didn't kill Binney.
Well, why should I? We were partners.
He was alive when I left the motel that night.
I didn't do it! I swear it! I swear I didn't do it! I swear! MITCHELL: Oh, here's the year.
I got one on the third, I won the cup again.
- Good evening.
- I'd like a room, please.
Yes, ma'am.
Oh, you're, uh You're Mrs.
Brent.
I'd still like a room.
Preferably Unit 9.
Look, lady, I don't know what your game is.
It's Button, Button, Who's Got the Button? - And I don't need any partners to play.
- Don't know what you're talking about.
Arthur Binney was my partner.
Are you crazy? That blond was his partner, Sheila Bowers.
She was just my contact with Binney.
Who do you think planned this whole thing? I served time with her.
You were gonna clip your own husband? Well, I figured 30,000 wasn't bad for a marriage that couldn't last very long.
Incidentally, what happened to that money? - How should I know? - Who should know better? How come you missed that diamond earring? I gave Binney the pair of them to make the plot look good.
You tell me.
You seem to know it all.
Well, I imagine you were so nervous when you took them out of Binney's pocket you dropped one of them and were afraid to take the time to look for it? You're a liar.
Oh, don't misunderstand me.
I feel that you are entitled to some part of that money.
Binney told me what a great help you were.
- Shall we say a thousand dollars? - Shall we say nuts? I wouldn't do that.
It would be more trouble to you, Mitchell.
I think we've had enough excitement for one night.
Excuse me.
All right, Mason, so you were right.
But, uh, what was the tip-off? Well, if my client was telling the truth, it meant that someone else entered Unit 8 while Brent was unconscious.
Now, who was in the best position to manage that? Mitchell.
- He had a passkey.
- Mm-hm.
While Binney was putting the money in his grip, Mitchell entered, took the gun off Brent's bed, shot Binney from the bathroom, using the towel as a silencer.
Darling, you were wonderful.
Tell me again.
TRAGG: All right, Mr.
, uh - Come on, Tragg.
I think Mr.
Brent's got the situation well in hand.
Yeah.
Now, let's wait in the car.
[MASON LAUGHS.]