Perry Mason (1957) s02e03 Episode Script
The Case of the Pint-Sized Client
( noirish jazz theme playing ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) Well, like they say, here's mud in your eye.
It's good whiskey, Anderson.
Thanks for the bottle.
How about it, Crowley? Couldn't I let you know tomorrow? Tomorrow's too late.
I'm a three-time loser.
You gotta understand my position.
They get me this time, it's life.
You're right, Pop.
You said he wasn't the man for us.
Let's get out of here.
No, wait.
How much would it pay? Five hundred for your end.
( gulps ) Would- Would you go 700? Okay, got yourself a deal, Crowley.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
Half now and half when you finish the job.
Frank, you can trust me.
Yeah.
But I can't trust this.
( liquid gurgling ) You've played the scene before, Crowley.
From now until tomorrow afternoon at 3:00, you're gonna stay sober.
And here's the floor plan.
The Hargrove Finance Company on South Burlington.
Hargrove Finance? You know their motto: "See us when you need money.
" Well, that's just what Pop and I had in mind.
( mysterious theme playing ) ( rattling ) Well, they were supposed to fix it last week.
You can hardly hear yourself think, much less- ( gasps ) All right, everybody, let's get with it.
If you cooperate, nobody gets hurt.
Which one is Hays? All right, Hays, you know the combination to the safe.
Open it.
Give it a whirl, Pop.
( alarm ringing ) Who was it? Got it.
Okay, Crowley, let's go.
( door slams ) ( screams ) ( sobbing ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( upbeat theme playing ) You, uh, have a visitor waiting to see you.
I think it's a client.
Well, didn't you-? Blond or brunette? Brunette.
All right, send her in.
Him.
Fourteen years old.
What? You know: Fourteen.
All right, Della, bring the gentleman right on in.
( chuckles ) Mr.
Mason, this is Nicholas Renzi.
How do you do, Mr.
Renzi? Hi.
Why don't I leave you gentlemen alone, and then you can talk man-to-man? All right.
All right.
All right, Nicky, what can I do for you? Well, I don't know.
I heard you were the best lawyer in town, and my grandfather says to always go to the top when you want results.
So I came to ask you something.
Is "finders keepers" according to Hoyle? Well, if you mean, "Is it legal?" it depends on what you found and where you found it.
I'm not saying I found nothing.
I'm just supposing.
Well, just suppose a few more details.
Well, what's the difference? Details.
You find something, you ought to be able to keep it.
Possession is nine-tenths of the law.
Did you come here to ask me about the law or tell me about it? Look, Mr.
Mason, suppose you find something and return it.
Does the owner have to give you a reward? No.
You know something? I don't think the law is fair.
Well, it tries to be, Nicky.
If you'd be a little more specific, perhaps the law could help you.
Now, just what is it you found? Well, thanks anyway, Mr.
Mason.
Just what do I owe you? Well, since I haven't been able to give you any advice, there's no charge.
( suspenseful theme playing ) Would it be asking too much of you to move? Oh, excuse me, Mrs.
Anderson.
Do you have any idea when Frank will be home? Why don't you leave your phone number and I'll have him call you? Yeah, we'll wait, if you don't mind.
Would it do me any good if I did, huh? Well, Sergeant Bender.
That's who it is.
Hope Iris made you feel at home.
Oh, yeah, I offered him a nice, cold bottle of strychnine.
( laughs ) You mustn't mind my wife, sergeant.
She's always clowning.
What can I do for you? Do you mind telling me where you were this afternoon about 3:00? This afternoon? Let me think ( snaps fingers ) At the track! I had two winners.
Good for you.
You sure you weren't watching them run at Hargrove and Company? Hey, I heard about that driving home.
They had a holdup, didn't they? What do you know about it, Anderson? Has all the earmarks of one of your jobs.
You know, I could sue you for slander.
Or is it libel? Wanna search the place? Ah, you're too smart to stash the stuff here.
FRANK: Well if there's anything else I can do for you gentlemen let me know.
I may take you up on that.
( door slams ) So you're up to your old tricks, huh? Baby doll, what are you saying? What do you think you're doing? I asked you something, Iris.
I told you the last time, Frank, you ever get mixed up in anything crooked, I'd leave you.
I told you I'd never let you go.
You remind me of my old man.
Always using his muscles.
( clangs ) ( knocking on door ) Come in.
Oh, hello, Mr.
Kolichek.
Hello.
Mr.
Renzi You know, I like Nicky.
Everybody likes Nicky.
Yes, he's a nice boy.
Fine boy.
That's why it's so hard.
What's so hard? One thing I don't like.
A tattletale, you know? But what can I do? Some things, parents got to know.
Or in this case, a grandparent.
( buzzing ) It works! It works! ( laughs ) Just that one little thing.
I knew I would get it, I was sure.
Mr.
Renzi.
I'm trying to tell you something about Nicky.
That he's a fine boy? Yes, I heard you.
You heard me.
But this you didn't hear: Today, Nicky comes into my emporium and spends $50.
Fifty dollars? I didn't think you knew.
I thought I should tell you.
Where would Nicky get $50? He found it.
Fifty dollars.
A young boy.
It's possible.
But I thought you should know.
Thank you, Mr.
Kolichek.
I'll talk to Nicky.
Won't you sit down? I have some wine.
No, no.
No, thanks.
I- I have to get back to the store.
I just thought that you should- Hey, Gramp.
Well, uh Well, goodbye, Mr.
Renzi.
What did he want? Where did you get that money, Nicky? What money? Don't lie to me, boy.
Mr.
Kolichek told me.
The old blabbermouth.
He doesn't want you to get into trouble.
Well, he ought to mind his own business.
What is this, Nicky? I found it in the old shack.
All this money? You found it? You believe me, don't you, Gramp? I didn't steal it.
If you tell me, I believe you.
But anyway, we must take it back to the proper authorities.
I knew you'd say that.
Now, please, no more arguments.
We take the money to the police.
The $50 you spent, well, I'll find some way to pay it back.
You won't have to return your toys.
Toys? Who buys toys? All right, baseball equipments, whatever.
You can keep it.
A coat? But it's too big for you, boy.
Much too big.
Is it-? Is it for me? Last winter you were cold and shivering all the time.
( knocking on door ) Oh, I'll get it, Gramp.
I'm looking for Anthony Renzi.
I am Anthony Renzi, officer.
What is it-? What is it you want? Hey, uh, I think I found what I'm looking for.
( dramatic theme playing ) We were just about to take it to the police.
I told the officer.
That's the truth! Honest! Uh, get the, um Where were you at 4 yesterday afternoon? Yesterday? Home.
I was home all afternoon.
That's right.
I seen him when I come home from school.
Yes, Nicky gets home every afternoon shortly before 4.
Where were you last night between 9:00 and midnight? Again, home.
Alone? I was there.
Anyone else? No.
This belong to you? GRAMP: I have such a tool.
TRAGG: It has your initials on it.
Oh, Nicky must've left it in the shack.
He told you he pried the boards loose to get the money.
NICKY: Yeah.
I think we'd better go inside.
What are you gonna do to him? That's all right, Nicky.
You stay here.
I'll be right back.
MAN ( over radio ): Unit 71, are you 10-4? MAN 2: That's, uh, an eighth of a mile east of the, uh, Mission Valley overpass.
( gasps ) ( dramatic theme playing ) TRAGG: Do you know this man? His name is Anderson.
Frank Anderson.
This'll- ( knocking on door ) Excuse me.
Hi, beautiful.
Hi, Paul.
Hello, Nicky.
Hello, Mr.
Drake.
Anything new? Plenty.
The police just searched the Renzi flat again.
They had no right to do that! Why not, Nicky? What's the matter, Paul? They found another $12,000 of the holdup money stashed in the kitchen.
Okay, but my grandfather didn't do it.
I did.
That's the truth, honest! I knew Gramp would want me to give all the money back, so I held out some and hid it in the kitchen.
Well, that's just how it happened, I swear! You believe me, don't you, Miss Street? Of course, Nicky.
No, you don't.
I can tell.
And if you don't believe me, what chance has Gramp got with the cops? ( somber theme playing ) Nicky ( sobbing ) Oh, Nicky, it's all right.
It's all right.
Nicky didn't mean to do anything wrong, Mr.
Mason.
He just thought he was being smart.
You know how this will look to the court? As though you hid that $12,000.
And the police have an eyewitness who claims that you opened the safe at Hargrove and Company.
Who say such a thing? Let him say it to my face.
Remember the police lineup? A Hargrove employee named Lois Gilbert identified you as the man at the safe.
She's wrong! Miss Gilbert says even though you were wearing a stocking over your face, she's positive about the identification.
We can't discount that, Mr.
Renzi.
She identified Anderson down at the morgue as the man who slugged Hays.
He was wearing a mask at the holdup too.
Anderson lived in your neighborhood about eight or nine years ago.
That's how he knew about that abandoned house.
Do you recall meeting him at that time, even casually? Never! I can see by your face it doesn't look good.
Well ( sighs ) They have a lot on their side.
But we have the truth on our side.
( dramatic theme playing ) Oh! You are Mr.
Perry Mason? ( vent rattling ) I'd like to see Mr.
Hays.
There are some questions- I beg your pardon? I said, I'd like to see Mr.
Hays.
What was that? Just a second, please.
Oh, this air conditioner.
Honestly.
( rattling stops ) ( sighs ) There, that's better.
Now, what were you saying? I'd like to see Mr.
Hays about the robbery.
Why, certainly.
It was just dreadful, you know.
I never was so frightened in my entire life, but I was the one who set off the alarm, you know.
You probably read about it.
I'm Lois Gilbert, and my picture was in the papers.
Yes, I saw it.
Yes.
Uh, Mr.
Hays, this is Mr.
Mason.
He's a lawyer.
He wants to ask you about the robbery.
Oh, of course.
I represent Anthony Renzi.
I understand you people identified him in the police lineup.
I don't know what you mean by "we" people, Mr.
Mason.
I haven't, and what's more, neither did Mr.
Koch.
Oh, but, Mr.
Hays, you were knocked out.
You never had a chance to notice this man's peculiarities.
What peculiarities, Miss Gilbert? There's nothing particularly distinctive about my client.
He's an old man with no pronounced characteristics.
And the man at the safe wore a stocking over his face that was bound to distort his features.
Mr.
Koch told the police they looked like a character out of a horror movie.
How could you possibly make a positive identification? Uh, well, uh The way he held his head to one side, and, um- And the way he shuffled when he walked.
You couldn't be mistaken? Oh, no.
That's the one they call Pop.
Even the voice.
There's no doubt about it.
I have an excellent ear.
What about the third member of the group? Would you be able to recognize him? You mean Riley? Riley? How'd you learn his name? Oh, well, when I set off the alarm, one of the men got excited and he called the other man Riley.
Tell me something, Miss Gilbert, weren't you a little excited yourself? Nice meeting you, Mr.
Hays, Mr.
Koch.
( knocking on door ) Yeah? Mrs.
Anderson? That's right.
My name's Paul Drake.
Bully for you.
( chuckles ) May I come in? You're in.
What's the matter? Don't you approve of my widow's weeds? Uh, I didn't say anything.
You looked.
Do you blame me? I'm an entertainer.
This is what I work in.
And the show must go on, is that it? My husband didn't leave any insurance.
Do you know what a funeral costs? I have an idea.
Then no cracks.
What are you, anyway? Another cop or a reporter? I'm a private detective.
I'm working for a lawyer, Perry Mason.
Oh, yeah.
He's defending the guy who killed my husband.
Mason thinks he's innocent.
Oh That's all that matters.
What do you want here? Do you know the names of any of your husband's close associates? No.
Did he ever mention a man named Riley? No, no.
Are you sure, Mrs.
Anderson? This is very important.
No, I don't know.
I don't know.
He never mentioned a man named Riley, no.
Well, who are some of the men he-? That's, uh, pretty expensive confetti.
Oh, that's stage money.
Sure had me fool- Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr.
Drake? ( sighs ) I don't think so.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Mm-hm.
( door closes ) ( sighs ) PAUL: Well, I'd swear that's what they were.
One hundred dollar bills torn in half.
There must've been at least five or six of them.
Oh, it couldn't be part of the holdup money.
The police got all that.
( rings ) Yes, Gertie? Just a minute.
There's an Eddie Merlin outside to see you.
Oh, yeah, he's that stool pigeon I told you about.
I'll take him into my office.
Bring him in here.
Gertie, will you send him in, please? Well, if Eddie can't help us, no one can.
He's the best songbird in the business.
( knocking on door ) Hello, Eddie.
Eddie, this is Mr.
Perry Mason and Miss Della Street.
How do you do? Hello.
Likewise.
Come on, Eddie, sit down.
What's on your mind, Mr.
Drake? What can you tell us about Frank Anderson? Let's go to your office.
You can trust them.
Frank Anderson? PAUL: Mm-hm.
Came from Chicago about eight years ago.
Used to run with the Willard mob there.
Was he ever mixed up with a man named Riley? Riley? Uh No.
You're not being very helpful, Eddie.
Sorry, Mr.
Drake.
That's how it goes.
Now, wait a minute.
That ring a bell? What do you mean, "Does that ring a bell"? Well, that piece by itself is no good.
Do you know anyone that Anderson mistrusted for one reason or another? Mistrusted enough not to pay him until the job was done? I don't think I follow you.
I think you do.
Sometimes a fella likes to lush it up.
A guy'd be nuts to pay him in advance.
What kind of fella? There were a lot of guys.
Name one.
Arthur Crowley.
Crowley? C- R-O-W-L-E-Y? Yeah.
Thanks.
You can go out this way, Eddie.
Miss Gilbert did say the man's name was Riley.
Riley, Crowley.
It's close enough.
You gotta find him, Paul.
How many men do you want me to put on it? All you need.
( ominous theme playing ) Now, lieutenant, I show you this crowbar or jimmy, which has previously been marked for identification, "People's Exhibit A.
" Have you ever seen it before? Yes, I have.
When? When I discovered the body, I found this instrument, uh, lying beside it.
Your Honor, I move that this crowbar, previously marked for identification "People's Exhibit A," be accepted into evidence.
JUDGE: It will be accepted and given the same number as the mark for identification.
Concerning this crowbar, lieutenant, how are you able to identify it? Well, from the bloodstain markings, which have not been removed.
Also you will notice initials scratched on the handle: "A.
R.
" I call your attention now to the search you made of the defendant's rooms and ask you to tell this court what you found there.
Yes, I found a couple of old safes, some locks, tools, and literature describing how locks are made.
Uh, were the tools marked in any way? Yes, they all had the initials A.
R.
etched on them.
BURGER: The same marks that we found on the murder weapon? TRAGG: That's correct.
Lieutenant, did you make a second visit to the defendant's rooms on August 4th? Yes, I did.
For what purpose? Well, we found, uh, all the money from the Hargrove robbery except $12,000.
BURGER: And what was the result of your second search? TRAGG: Well, we found $12,000 in a bag of flour in the defendant's kitchen.
I see.
Thank you, lieutenant.
You may cross-examine.
MASON: Now, lieutenant, I take it you examined the murder weapon for fingerprints? TRAGG: Yes, I did.
MASON: Were there any? TRAGG: No, none at all.
Then this must've been the result of someone deliberately wiping the fingerprints off the murder weapon, wouldn't you say? Seems logical.
And does it also seem logical that a man would wipe his fingerprints off an instrument to avoid detection and then leave that instrument lying there when it had his own initials on it? We'll object to that, Your Honor.
Calls for a conclusion of the witness.
I'll withdraw the question.
No further cross-examination.
Witness may stand down.
If it please the court, my next witness is a friend of the defendant, and therefore may be hostile.
I respectfully request latitude in questioning him.
We'll wait until the situation arises.
Call your witness.
I call Mr.
Joseph Kolichek to the stand, please.
Mr.
Kolichek, on the 28th day of last month, two days before the robbery of Hargrove and Company, did you visit the defendant at his home? Yes.
And did you at that time have a conversation with him on the subject of money? We had such a conversation, yes.
Would you please tell this court what was said during that conversation? Mr.
Renzi told me he expected soon a lot of money.
He would buy me a big present.
He would send his grandson Nicky to a fine school.
But you must understand that- I understand.
The defendant said he was going to receive a large sum of money soon.
Did he say how soon? A couple of days.
So on the 28th of last month, two days before the robbery, the defendant said he was gonna get a large sum of money in a couple of days.
Yes.
Thank you, Mr.
Kolichek.
That's all.
Your witness.
Mr.
Kolichek, how often did Mr.
Renzi say to you that he expected a lot of money? Uh, hundreds of times.
Ever since I've met him.
For years.
For years.
And each time, did he say he was expecting the money in a few days? Always.
He was going to get rich quick.
He believed it.
Did he tell you where the money was coming from? Of course.
His invention.
Thank you, Mr.
Kolichek.
That will be all.
And what happened then, Miss Gilbert? Well, the gunman asked for the combination to the safe.
Now, Mr.
Hays is the only one who knows the combination, and he refused to give it to him.
So then the gunman turned to his partner, the one he called Pop, and said, "Give it a whirl, Pop.
" Those were his exact words? Yes.
Is the man he addressed as Pop in this courtroom? Yes.
Him.
BURGER: Let the record show that the witness pointed to the defendant.
Thank you, Miss Gilbert.
Your witness.
Now, Miss Gilbert, I have here a copy of the daily paper dated the morning after the robbery.
I ask you to look at it and identify this photograph on the front page.
Why, it's a picture of me.
Yes, it is.
I notice in this picture that you're not wearing glasses, but right now you are.
Do you remember if you were wearing your glasses at the time of the robbery? Uh Yes, I was.
Are you sure? Uh, well, it really doesn't matter, Mr.
Mason.
I can see perfectly well either way.
Can you? Would you be good enough to remove your glasses, Miss Gilbert? ( sighs ) Really.
Now, Miss Gilbert, will you read that sign at the back of the courtroom? GILBERT: "No smoking by order of fire commissioner.
" Miss Gilbert, in addition to identifying the man by sight, you also claim to have heard his voice? I certainly did.
Miss Gilbert, do you remember my visiting your office the day after you identified the defendant? Yes, very clearly.
You seem to recall everything quite clearly, Miss Gilbert.
Quite clearly, Mr.
Mason.
Do you remember what time you left your home that morning? Ten past 8.
And how did you travel? By bus.
What time did you get the bus? Was the bus crowded? Yes, it was.
Do you remember the temperature? It was hot.
When you arrived at your office, was it cooler? Much.
Then the air conditioner was working? Well, of course! I thought you said it was broken? ( sighs ) It was just making an awful noise.
But the air conditioner itself wasn't affected.
Oh, now, you know yourself, Mr.
Mason, that when you called on me, you had to repeat your questions.
But it was cool, wasn't it? Yes, it was.
Thank you, Miss Gilbert.
No further questions.
You may stand down.
( ominous theme playing ) Well, there's no mistake about it, Mr.
Burger.
I had two different lock experts look at this so-called invention of Renzi's.
Does it work? ( groans ) ( chuckles ) Apparently his interest in safes is more criminal than academic.
( phone buzzes ) Yeah? Just a second.
For you.
Tragg speaking.
Hi, lieutenant.
This is Eddie Merlin.
I got a little tip for you.
Talk to Sergeant Whittaker.
I did.
He told me to talk to you.
I know who was in on the job with Anderson at Hargrove and Company.
Yeah.
It was Arthur Crowley.
Sure, I'm sure! But, Iris, Frank promised me the other half of these bills.
I've gotta have 'em.
I'm hot, the police are looking for me.
I wish them luck, Crowley.
I only hope when they get you, they sweat you real good.
You don't understand.
I understand.
My husband's dead and you got the crust to come here for money.
I'm entitled to it.
Sue me.
I'm not kidding, Iris.
Look, you crumb, stay away from me.
I want my dough.
So help me, you take another step and I'll let you have it.
( phone buzzes ) Hello? Uh, yeah, I'd be glad to see him.
Send him up.
If you know what's good for you, Crowley, you'll clear out.
Was that the cops? Why don't you stick around and see? ( tense theme playing ) Mr.
Hays, you were present in the office at the time of the robbery? Yes, sir, I was.
But at that time, and later at the police lineup, you were unable to identify the defendant.
Is that correct? That's correct.
I refused to make an identification until I was certain.
But have you since then given the matter some more thought? I have.
And do you feel the same way now? I feel the same way about not making an identification unless I was certain.
But now I am certain.
I now can recognize the man who was referred to as Pop.
Is that man in this courtroom? He is.
Would you mind pointing to him, please, sir? He's the defendant, Anthony Renzi.
Would you explain to this court what caused you to change your mind in this matter? Well, during the course of the robbery, one of the gunmen hit me with his pistol and knocked me out.
For a while after that, I was sort of in a state of shock.
But later on, I began to recall something very familiar about the man.
And you now recognize him? I recognize him as the man who visited our office a few weeks before the robbery.
He visited your office? HAYS: Yes, sir.
BURGER: What did he want? He came to my desk and asked for information about opening an account.
I gave it to him.
I was never there.
He's mixing me up with the other fellow.
I know.
Mr.
Hays, how many people in your office have the combination to the safe? I'm the only one who has the combination to the safe.
That's done, of course, for reasons of safety.
And could anyone else possibly get that combination? Absolutely not.
I see.
I have no further questions, Mr.
Hays.
Thank you very much, sir.
Your witness, counselor.
Mr.
Mason, are you ready to cross-examine? If the court please, this testimony comes as a complete surprise.
May we request the privilege of deferring cross-examination of this witness? Mr.
Burger, have you any objections? No, Your Honor.
I'm most happy to give the defense counsel all possible latitude.
You may step down.
I call as my next witness Arthur Crowley.
( indistinct whispering ) So you did know Frank Anderson, the deceased? Well, yeah, I- I knew him.
Would you describe to the court, please, what happened on the day of July 29th, the day before the robbery? Well, like I said, he came to my place, and he had a guy with him.
Do you see this guy here? Well, yeah.
He was the defendant, Pop Renzi.
BURGER: I see.
What did Anderson say to you? Well, he asked me to go along on a heist, and I told him to forget it.
I told him I was a three-time loser and he was crazy even to come and see me.
So you took no part in the robbery at all? No, sir, I did not.
BURGER: Well, did Anderson say anything else to you about this so-called heist? Well, he told me I was a fool to pass it up.
He- He said he had a great safe man.
Did he volunteer the name of this great safe man? Yeah.
He pointed at him.
And he said Pop Renzi.
That's all.
Your witness.
You- You've talked about a conversation between yourself and a man named Anderson.
Can you tell us what Pop Renzi said? He didn't say nothing.
Not one single word? No.
Mr.
Crowley, you referred to yourself as a three-time loser.
Now, undoubtedly, you've taken the witness stand in criminal actions before, have you not? Yeah, I've been a witness before, sure.
Well, have you on these occasions ever incriminated anyone else? I never put the finger on anyone in my life.
But this occasion is different.
Is that because you know the defendant is not part of a mob and you're not afraid of him? No, it's because I'm out on parole.
I gotta cooperate with the police if I wanna stay out.
You know that.
I know you seem to be consorting with known criminals.
I can't help it if Anderson looked me up.
I told him I wouldn't have nothing to do with him, and I didn't.
But you did talk to Anderson? Well, I had to.
I- I couldn't slam the door in his face.
Your Honor, may I have a moment to confer? Yes, yes, of course.
( speaking indistinctly ) Mrs.
Anderson, is there anything you'd like to tell me about this man Crowley? You're knocking on the wrong door, counselor.
But any case, you're being very helpful.
What are you trying to pull? Recognize this, Mr.
Crowley? You mean, those torn bills? I mean, these torn bills.
I recognize they're torn.
Will you testify to this court that you did not go up to Frank Anderson's apartment at a time subsequent to the robbery? CROWLEY: I didn't see Frank Anderson.
MASON: I didn't ask you if you saw Frank Anderson.
I asked you if you went up to Frank Anderson's apartment.
Yeah, I went up there.
And did you have several torn $100 bills with you? Yeah, but that had nothing to do with this robbery.
Then what did it have to do with? Well, Frank- Frank asked me to hold on to those torn bills for a couple of days.
MASON: Have you any idea where the money came from? CROWLEY: No, he - He just asked me to do him a favor, that's all.
What favor? Well, to- To- To hold those torn bills.
You mean, he was willing to trust you for favors? Sure he was.
Then why did he tear the bills in half? Well, I- I don't know.
That- That was just Frank's way.
MASON: You were willing to do him a favor, but you refused to do anything wrong, is that it? CROWLEY: That's it.
You must be aware that association with known criminals is a violation of your parole.
Is that wrong, Mr.
Crowley? I have no further questions, Your Honor.
I would suggest to the prosecution that the testimony of this witness be re-examined and his contradictions brought to the attention of the parole board.
And then I, uh- Then I was employed for the next five years by the Haines Protection Company, manufacturers of, uh, time lock safes and alarm systems.
And then after that, my present employment.
MASON: If it please the court, defense will stipulate Mr.
Cagle is a qualified expert in his field.
Very well.
Proceed, Mr.
Burger.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Now, Mr.
Cagle, you've examined the lock on the safe in the office of the Hargrove Finance Company? Yes, sir, I have.
It operates on a dial combination.
Would it be possible to open that lock without knowing the combination? Mm, well, I would say that if the lock was set, it would take someone with a great deal of experience experimenting on a similar type lock.
A great deal of experience on a similar type of lock? Yes, sir, that's right.
I now show you this exact duplicate of the safe located in the office of the Hargrove Finance Company.
With the court's permission, I would like to ask you to step down and examine the lock on this safe.
Permission is granted.
How long would it take you to open this lock without knowing the combination? Well, with luck, sometimes it could be done in less than a minute.
But it could also take hours.
Let's take a couple of minutes and see how your luck is.
I object, Your Honor, on the grounds that this is not the best evidence.
If Mr.
Burger is attempting to prove that the safe at the Hargrove Company office can be opened by an expert, I submit that we must use the safe at the Hargrove Company office for this experiment.
But this safe is identical with the one at the Hargrove Company office.
Nevertheless, each safe is known to have its own character and present its own problems.
Well, if you think I'm gonna ask this court to waste its time by reconvening at the Hargrove Company office, I'd rather dispense with the whole demonstration altogether.
And I would prefer that you allow the court to determine when its time is being wasted.
If Your Honor please, the defense is now most anxious to accept Mr.
Burger's offer to demonstrate how simply the safe at the Hargrove Company office can be opened by an expert.
Your Honor, the prosecution could complete its case in just a matter of minutes.
I think Mr.
Mason has every right to insist upon his point.
Moreover, it is the court's feeling that time is never wasted in the pursuance of justice.
This court, therefore, will adjourn and reconvene in the offices of the Hargrove Finance Company for the purpose of taking further testimony.
( gavel bangs ) ( dramatic theme playing ) TRAGG: Forty-seven seconds, Your Honor.
I guess luck was on my side.
In other words, it could have taken much longer? Oh, yes.
Would you say, Mr.
Cagle, that this represented the average time or less than the average? I'm afraid I couldn't answer that, Your Honor.
Since the average time is so important, Your Honor, I suggest we have Mr.
Cagle go through the operation again to determine how long it would take the second time.
If it please the court, I think I've proved my point.
It seems hardly necessary to go through the whole experiment again.
Oh, I think we can spare the minute it will take.
Go ahead, Mr.
Cagle.
BURGER: All right, Mr.
Cagle, I'll tell you when.
( lock rattling ) BURGER: Now.
( rattling ) Who turned that on? I did.
That's ridiculous, Mr.
Mason.
Turn it off.
If Your Honor please, defense was under the impression that this experiment was intended to be an exact-conditions test.
And according to Miss Gilbert's sworn testimony, this air conditioner was on and functioning in exactly this manner during the entire holdup.
Is that not correct, Miss Gilbert? Yes, it is.
Well, in that case, Mr.
Cagle, I suppose you'll have to proceed under the prevailing conditions.
That's impossible.
How do you know until you try? All right, Mr.
Cagle.
BURGER: Now.
It's impossible to hear a thing under these circumstances, Your Honor.
Would you say under these conditions that neither you nor anyone else could possibly open this safe if he did not know the combination? Completely impossible.
( rattling stops ) Now, Mr.
Hays, you testified that after the robbery, you subsequently remembered having seen the defendant, Anthony Renzi, in this office when he attempted to open an account with you? Is that correct? That's right.
At that time, did you give the defendant, Anthony Renzi, the combination to this safe? Of course not! But you just heard Mr.
Cagle.
Without knowing the combination, no one could open the safe while the air conditioner was on.
Yet you testified you alone had the combination.
Next you'll be saying I killed Frank Anderson.
I'm saying that now.
You killed Frank Anderson because you thought he'd double-crossed you when you found the money was missing at that old house.
How did you feel when you learned the money had been taken by a 14-year-old boy? How did you feel when you learned that you had committed robbery and murder and all for absolutely nothing, Mr.
Hays? How did you feel? You don't believe that, do you, Mr.
Mason? ( ominous theme playing ) ( upbeat theme playing ) There you are.
Oop.
( laughs ) Here.
Thank you.
( door opens ) NICKY: Gramp! Oh, Nicky, Nicky, Nicky.
Gee, Gramp, Miss Street says it's all over.
You're not in trouble anymore.
That's right, Nick.
But how can I ever repay Mr.
Mason? That I don't know.
Well, I'm gonna take care of it, Gramp.
I told Miss Street I'm gonna get a job.
( chuckles ) Do you know how long it would take to p- Pay for the services of a man like Mr.
Mason? Not long if you perfect your invention.
Ah! But it will be perfected! That I promise.
It will work.
Well, then you'll both have a lot of money.
Well, yeah, but when? In a few days, Nicky.
A few days.
( laughs ) ( laughs ) ( upbeat theme playing ) ( noirish jazz theme playing )
It's good whiskey, Anderson.
Thanks for the bottle.
How about it, Crowley? Couldn't I let you know tomorrow? Tomorrow's too late.
I'm a three-time loser.
You gotta understand my position.
They get me this time, it's life.
You're right, Pop.
You said he wasn't the man for us.
Let's get out of here.
No, wait.
How much would it pay? Five hundred for your end.
( gulps ) Would- Would you go 700? Okay, got yourself a deal, Crowley.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
Half now and half when you finish the job.
Frank, you can trust me.
Yeah.
But I can't trust this.
( liquid gurgling ) You've played the scene before, Crowley.
From now until tomorrow afternoon at 3:00, you're gonna stay sober.
And here's the floor plan.
The Hargrove Finance Company on South Burlington.
Hargrove Finance? You know their motto: "See us when you need money.
" Well, that's just what Pop and I had in mind.
( mysterious theme playing ) ( rattling ) Well, they were supposed to fix it last week.
You can hardly hear yourself think, much less- ( gasps ) All right, everybody, let's get with it.
If you cooperate, nobody gets hurt.
Which one is Hays? All right, Hays, you know the combination to the safe.
Open it.
Give it a whirl, Pop.
( alarm ringing ) Who was it? Got it.
Okay, Crowley, let's go.
( door slams ) ( screams ) ( sobbing ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( upbeat theme playing ) You, uh, have a visitor waiting to see you.
I think it's a client.
Well, didn't you-? Blond or brunette? Brunette.
All right, send her in.
Him.
Fourteen years old.
What? You know: Fourteen.
All right, Della, bring the gentleman right on in.
( chuckles ) Mr.
Mason, this is Nicholas Renzi.
How do you do, Mr.
Renzi? Hi.
Why don't I leave you gentlemen alone, and then you can talk man-to-man? All right.
All right.
All right, Nicky, what can I do for you? Well, I don't know.
I heard you were the best lawyer in town, and my grandfather says to always go to the top when you want results.
So I came to ask you something.
Is "finders keepers" according to Hoyle? Well, if you mean, "Is it legal?" it depends on what you found and where you found it.
I'm not saying I found nothing.
I'm just supposing.
Well, just suppose a few more details.
Well, what's the difference? Details.
You find something, you ought to be able to keep it.
Possession is nine-tenths of the law.
Did you come here to ask me about the law or tell me about it? Look, Mr.
Mason, suppose you find something and return it.
Does the owner have to give you a reward? No.
You know something? I don't think the law is fair.
Well, it tries to be, Nicky.
If you'd be a little more specific, perhaps the law could help you.
Now, just what is it you found? Well, thanks anyway, Mr.
Mason.
Just what do I owe you? Well, since I haven't been able to give you any advice, there's no charge.
( suspenseful theme playing ) Would it be asking too much of you to move? Oh, excuse me, Mrs.
Anderson.
Do you have any idea when Frank will be home? Why don't you leave your phone number and I'll have him call you? Yeah, we'll wait, if you don't mind.
Would it do me any good if I did, huh? Well, Sergeant Bender.
That's who it is.
Hope Iris made you feel at home.
Oh, yeah, I offered him a nice, cold bottle of strychnine.
( laughs ) You mustn't mind my wife, sergeant.
She's always clowning.
What can I do for you? Do you mind telling me where you were this afternoon about 3:00? This afternoon? Let me think ( snaps fingers ) At the track! I had two winners.
Good for you.
You sure you weren't watching them run at Hargrove and Company? Hey, I heard about that driving home.
They had a holdup, didn't they? What do you know about it, Anderson? Has all the earmarks of one of your jobs.
You know, I could sue you for slander.
Or is it libel? Wanna search the place? Ah, you're too smart to stash the stuff here.
FRANK: Well if there's anything else I can do for you gentlemen let me know.
I may take you up on that.
( door slams ) So you're up to your old tricks, huh? Baby doll, what are you saying? What do you think you're doing? I asked you something, Iris.
I told you the last time, Frank, you ever get mixed up in anything crooked, I'd leave you.
I told you I'd never let you go.
You remind me of my old man.
Always using his muscles.
( clangs ) ( knocking on door ) Come in.
Oh, hello, Mr.
Kolichek.
Hello.
Mr.
Renzi You know, I like Nicky.
Everybody likes Nicky.
Yes, he's a nice boy.
Fine boy.
That's why it's so hard.
What's so hard? One thing I don't like.
A tattletale, you know? But what can I do? Some things, parents got to know.
Or in this case, a grandparent.
( buzzing ) It works! It works! ( laughs ) Just that one little thing.
I knew I would get it, I was sure.
Mr.
Renzi.
I'm trying to tell you something about Nicky.
That he's a fine boy? Yes, I heard you.
You heard me.
But this you didn't hear: Today, Nicky comes into my emporium and spends $50.
Fifty dollars? I didn't think you knew.
I thought I should tell you.
Where would Nicky get $50? He found it.
Fifty dollars.
A young boy.
It's possible.
But I thought you should know.
Thank you, Mr.
Kolichek.
I'll talk to Nicky.
Won't you sit down? I have some wine.
No, no.
No, thanks.
I- I have to get back to the store.
I just thought that you should- Hey, Gramp.
Well, uh Well, goodbye, Mr.
Renzi.
What did he want? Where did you get that money, Nicky? What money? Don't lie to me, boy.
Mr.
Kolichek told me.
The old blabbermouth.
He doesn't want you to get into trouble.
Well, he ought to mind his own business.
What is this, Nicky? I found it in the old shack.
All this money? You found it? You believe me, don't you, Gramp? I didn't steal it.
If you tell me, I believe you.
But anyway, we must take it back to the proper authorities.
I knew you'd say that.
Now, please, no more arguments.
We take the money to the police.
The $50 you spent, well, I'll find some way to pay it back.
You won't have to return your toys.
Toys? Who buys toys? All right, baseball equipments, whatever.
You can keep it.
A coat? But it's too big for you, boy.
Much too big.
Is it-? Is it for me? Last winter you were cold and shivering all the time.
( knocking on door ) Oh, I'll get it, Gramp.
I'm looking for Anthony Renzi.
I am Anthony Renzi, officer.
What is it-? What is it you want? Hey, uh, I think I found what I'm looking for.
( dramatic theme playing ) We were just about to take it to the police.
I told the officer.
That's the truth! Honest! Uh, get the, um Where were you at 4 yesterday afternoon? Yesterday? Home.
I was home all afternoon.
That's right.
I seen him when I come home from school.
Yes, Nicky gets home every afternoon shortly before 4.
Where were you last night between 9:00 and midnight? Again, home.
Alone? I was there.
Anyone else? No.
This belong to you? GRAMP: I have such a tool.
TRAGG: It has your initials on it.
Oh, Nicky must've left it in the shack.
He told you he pried the boards loose to get the money.
NICKY: Yeah.
I think we'd better go inside.
What are you gonna do to him? That's all right, Nicky.
You stay here.
I'll be right back.
MAN ( over radio ): Unit 71, are you 10-4? MAN 2: That's, uh, an eighth of a mile east of the, uh, Mission Valley overpass.
( gasps ) ( dramatic theme playing ) TRAGG: Do you know this man? His name is Anderson.
Frank Anderson.
This'll- ( knocking on door ) Excuse me.
Hi, beautiful.
Hi, Paul.
Hello, Nicky.
Hello, Mr.
Drake.
Anything new? Plenty.
The police just searched the Renzi flat again.
They had no right to do that! Why not, Nicky? What's the matter, Paul? They found another $12,000 of the holdup money stashed in the kitchen.
Okay, but my grandfather didn't do it.
I did.
That's the truth, honest! I knew Gramp would want me to give all the money back, so I held out some and hid it in the kitchen.
Well, that's just how it happened, I swear! You believe me, don't you, Miss Street? Of course, Nicky.
No, you don't.
I can tell.
And if you don't believe me, what chance has Gramp got with the cops? ( somber theme playing ) Nicky ( sobbing ) Oh, Nicky, it's all right.
It's all right.
Nicky didn't mean to do anything wrong, Mr.
Mason.
He just thought he was being smart.
You know how this will look to the court? As though you hid that $12,000.
And the police have an eyewitness who claims that you opened the safe at Hargrove and Company.
Who say such a thing? Let him say it to my face.
Remember the police lineup? A Hargrove employee named Lois Gilbert identified you as the man at the safe.
She's wrong! Miss Gilbert says even though you were wearing a stocking over your face, she's positive about the identification.
We can't discount that, Mr.
Renzi.
She identified Anderson down at the morgue as the man who slugged Hays.
He was wearing a mask at the holdup too.
Anderson lived in your neighborhood about eight or nine years ago.
That's how he knew about that abandoned house.
Do you recall meeting him at that time, even casually? Never! I can see by your face it doesn't look good.
Well ( sighs ) They have a lot on their side.
But we have the truth on our side.
( dramatic theme playing ) Oh! You are Mr.
Perry Mason? ( vent rattling ) I'd like to see Mr.
Hays.
There are some questions- I beg your pardon? I said, I'd like to see Mr.
Hays.
What was that? Just a second, please.
Oh, this air conditioner.
Honestly.
( rattling stops ) ( sighs ) There, that's better.
Now, what were you saying? I'd like to see Mr.
Hays about the robbery.
Why, certainly.
It was just dreadful, you know.
I never was so frightened in my entire life, but I was the one who set off the alarm, you know.
You probably read about it.
I'm Lois Gilbert, and my picture was in the papers.
Yes, I saw it.
Yes.
Uh, Mr.
Hays, this is Mr.
Mason.
He's a lawyer.
He wants to ask you about the robbery.
Oh, of course.
I represent Anthony Renzi.
I understand you people identified him in the police lineup.
I don't know what you mean by "we" people, Mr.
Mason.
I haven't, and what's more, neither did Mr.
Koch.
Oh, but, Mr.
Hays, you were knocked out.
You never had a chance to notice this man's peculiarities.
What peculiarities, Miss Gilbert? There's nothing particularly distinctive about my client.
He's an old man with no pronounced characteristics.
And the man at the safe wore a stocking over his face that was bound to distort his features.
Mr.
Koch told the police they looked like a character out of a horror movie.
How could you possibly make a positive identification? Uh, well, uh The way he held his head to one side, and, um- And the way he shuffled when he walked.
You couldn't be mistaken? Oh, no.
That's the one they call Pop.
Even the voice.
There's no doubt about it.
I have an excellent ear.
What about the third member of the group? Would you be able to recognize him? You mean Riley? Riley? How'd you learn his name? Oh, well, when I set off the alarm, one of the men got excited and he called the other man Riley.
Tell me something, Miss Gilbert, weren't you a little excited yourself? Nice meeting you, Mr.
Hays, Mr.
Koch.
( knocking on door ) Yeah? Mrs.
Anderson? That's right.
My name's Paul Drake.
Bully for you.
( chuckles ) May I come in? You're in.
What's the matter? Don't you approve of my widow's weeds? Uh, I didn't say anything.
You looked.
Do you blame me? I'm an entertainer.
This is what I work in.
And the show must go on, is that it? My husband didn't leave any insurance.
Do you know what a funeral costs? I have an idea.
Then no cracks.
What are you, anyway? Another cop or a reporter? I'm a private detective.
I'm working for a lawyer, Perry Mason.
Oh, yeah.
He's defending the guy who killed my husband.
Mason thinks he's innocent.
Oh That's all that matters.
What do you want here? Do you know the names of any of your husband's close associates? No.
Did he ever mention a man named Riley? No, no.
Are you sure, Mrs.
Anderson? This is very important.
No, I don't know.
I don't know.
He never mentioned a man named Riley, no.
Well, who are some of the men he-? That's, uh, pretty expensive confetti.
Oh, that's stage money.
Sure had me fool- Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr.
Drake? ( sighs ) I don't think so.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Mm-hm.
( door closes ) ( sighs ) PAUL: Well, I'd swear that's what they were.
One hundred dollar bills torn in half.
There must've been at least five or six of them.
Oh, it couldn't be part of the holdup money.
The police got all that.
( rings ) Yes, Gertie? Just a minute.
There's an Eddie Merlin outside to see you.
Oh, yeah, he's that stool pigeon I told you about.
I'll take him into my office.
Bring him in here.
Gertie, will you send him in, please? Well, if Eddie can't help us, no one can.
He's the best songbird in the business.
( knocking on door ) Hello, Eddie.
Eddie, this is Mr.
Perry Mason and Miss Della Street.
How do you do? Hello.
Likewise.
Come on, Eddie, sit down.
What's on your mind, Mr.
Drake? What can you tell us about Frank Anderson? Let's go to your office.
You can trust them.
Frank Anderson? PAUL: Mm-hm.
Came from Chicago about eight years ago.
Used to run with the Willard mob there.
Was he ever mixed up with a man named Riley? Riley? Uh No.
You're not being very helpful, Eddie.
Sorry, Mr.
Drake.
That's how it goes.
Now, wait a minute.
That ring a bell? What do you mean, "Does that ring a bell"? Well, that piece by itself is no good.
Do you know anyone that Anderson mistrusted for one reason or another? Mistrusted enough not to pay him until the job was done? I don't think I follow you.
I think you do.
Sometimes a fella likes to lush it up.
A guy'd be nuts to pay him in advance.
What kind of fella? There were a lot of guys.
Name one.
Arthur Crowley.
Crowley? C- R-O-W-L-E-Y? Yeah.
Thanks.
You can go out this way, Eddie.
Miss Gilbert did say the man's name was Riley.
Riley, Crowley.
It's close enough.
You gotta find him, Paul.
How many men do you want me to put on it? All you need.
( ominous theme playing ) Now, lieutenant, I show you this crowbar or jimmy, which has previously been marked for identification, "People's Exhibit A.
" Have you ever seen it before? Yes, I have.
When? When I discovered the body, I found this instrument, uh, lying beside it.
Your Honor, I move that this crowbar, previously marked for identification "People's Exhibit A," be accepted into evidence.
JUDGE: It will be accepted and given the same number as the mark for identification.
Concerning this crowbar, lieutenant, how are you able to identify it? Well, from the bloodstain markings, which have not been removed.
Also you will notice initials scratched on the handle: "A.
R.
" I call your attention now to the search you made of the defendant's rooms and ask you to tell this court what you found there.
Yes, I found a couple of old safes, some locks, tools, and literature describing how locks are made.
Uh, were the tools marked in any way? Yes, they all had the initials A.
R.
etched on them.
BURGER: The same marks that we found on the murder weapon? TRAGG: That's correct.
Lieutenant, did you make a second visit to the defendant's rooms on August 4th? Yes, I did.
For what purpose? Well, we found, uh, all the money from the Hargrove robbery except $12,000.
BURGER: And what was the result of your second search? TRAGG: Well, we found $12,000 in a bag of flour in the defendant's kitchen.
I see.
Thank you, lieutenant.
You may cross-examine.
MASON: Now, lieutenant, I take it you examined the murder weapon for fingerprints? TRAGG: Yes, I did.
MASON: Were there any? TRAGG: No, none at all.
Then this must've been the result of someone deliberately wiping the fingerprints off the murder weapon, wouldn't you say? Seems logical.
And does it also seem logical that a man would wipe his fingerprints off an instrument to avoid detection and then leave that instrument lying there when it had his own initials on it? We'll object to that, Your Honor.
Calls for a conclusion of the witness.
I'll withdraw the question.
No further cross-examination.
Witness may stand down.
If it please the court, my next witness is a friend of the defendant, and therefore may be hostile.
I respectfully request latitude in questioning him.
We'll wait until the situation arises.
Call your witness.
I call Mr.
Joseph Kolichek to the stand, please.
Mr.
Kolichek, on the 28th day of last month, two days before the robbery of Hargrove and Company, did you visit the defendant at his home? Yes.
And did you at that time have a conversation with him on the subject of money? We had such a conversation, yes.
Would you please tell this court what was said during that conversation? Mr.
Renzi told me he expected soon a lot of money.
He would buy me a big present.
He would send his grandson Nicky to a fine school.
But you must understand that- I understand.
The defendant said he was going to receive a large sum of money soon.
Did he say how soon? A couple of days.
So on the 28th of last month, two days before the robbery, the defendant said he was gonna get a large sum of money in a couple of days.
Yes.
Thank you, Mr.
Kolichek.
That's all.
Your witness.
Mr.
Kolichek, how often did Mr.
Renzi say to you that he expected a lot of money? Uh, hundreds of times.
Ever since I've met him.
For years.
For years.
And each time, did he say he was expecting the money in a few days? Always.
He was going to get rich quick.
He believed it.
Did he tell you where the money was coming from? Of course.
His invention.
Thank you, Mr.
Kolichek.
That will be all.
And what happened then, Miss Gilbert? Well, the gunman asked for the combination to the safe.
Now, Mr.
Hays is the only one who knows the combination, and he refused to give it to him.
So then the gunman turned to his partner, the one he called Pop, and said, "Give it a whirl, Pop.
" Those were his exact words? Yes.
Is the man he addressed as Pop in this courtroom? Yes.
Him.
BURGER: Let the record show that the witness pointed to the defendant.
Thank you, Miss Gilbert.
Your witness.
Now, Miss Gilbert, I have here a copy of the daily paper dated the morning after the robbery.
I ask you to look at it and identify this photograph on the front page.
Why, it's a picture of me.
Yes, it is.
I notice in this picture that you're not wearing glasses, but right now you are.
Do you remember if you were wearing your glasses at the time of the robbery? Uh Yes, I was.
Are you sure? Uh, well, it really doesn't matter, Mr.
Mason.
I can see perfectly well either way.
Can you? Would you be good enough to remove your glasses, Miss Gilbert? ( sighs ) Really.
Now, Miss Gilbert, will you read that sign at the back of the courtroom? GILBERT: "No smoking by order of fire commissioner.
" Miss Gilbert, in addition to identifying the man by sight, you also claim to have heard his voice? I certainly did.
Miss Gilbert, do you remember my visiting your office the day after you identified the defendant? Yes, very clearly.
You seem to recall everything quite clearly, Miss Gilbert.
Quite clearly, Mr.
Mason.
Do you remember what time you left your home that morning? Ten past 8.
And how did you travel? By bus.
What time did you get the bus? Was the bus crowded? Yes, it was.
Do you remember the temperature? It was hot.
When you arrived at your office, was it cooler? Much.
Then the air conditioner was working? Well, of course! I thought you said it was broken? ( sighs ) It was just making an awful noise.
But the air conditioner itself wasn't affected.
Oh, now, you know yourself, Mr.
Mason, that when you called on me, you had to repeat your questions.
But it was cool, wasn't it? Yes, it was.
Thank you, Miss Gilbert.
No further questions.
You may stand down.
( ominous theme playing ) Well, there's no mistake about it, Mr.
Burger.
I had two different lock experts look at this so-called invention of Renzi's.
Does it work? ( groans ) ( chuckles ) Apparently his interest in safes is more criminal than academic.
( phone buzzes ) Yeah? Just a second.
For you.
Tragg speaking.
Hi, lieutenant.
This is Eddie Merlin.
I got a little tip for you.
Talk to Sergeant Whittaker.
I did.
He told me to talk to you.
I know who was in on the job with Anderson at Hargrove and Company.
Yeah.
It was Arthur Crowley.
Sure, I'm sure! But, Iris, Frank promised me the other half of these bills.
I've gotta have 'em.
I'm hot, the police are looking for me.
I wish them luck, Crowley.
I only hope when they get you, they sweat you real good.
You don't understand.
I understand.
My husband's dead and you got the crust to come here for money.
I'm entitled to it.
Sue me.
I'm not kidding, Iris.
Look, you crumb, stay away from me.
I want my dough.
So help me, you take another step and I'll let you have it.
( phone buzzes ) Hello? Uh, yeah, I'd be glad to see him.
Send him up.
If you know what's good for you, Crowley, you'll clear out.
Was that the cops? Why don't you stick around and see? ( tense theme playing ) Mr.
Hays, you were present in the office at the time of the robbery? Yes, sir, I was.
But at that time, and later at the police lineup, you were unable to identify the defendant.
Is that correct? That's correct.
I refused to make an identification until I was certain.
But have you since then given the matter some more thought? I have.
And do you feel the same way now? I feel the same way about not making an identification unless I was certain.
But now I am certain.
I now can recognize the man who was referred to as Pop.
Is that man in this courtroom? He is.
Would you mind pointing to him, please, sir? He's the defendant, Anthony Renzi.
Would you explain to this court what caused you to change your mind in this matter? Well, during the course of the robbery, one of the gunmen hit me with his pistol and knocked me out.
For a while after that, I was sort of in a state of shock.
But later on, I began to recall something very familiar about the man.
And you now recognize him? I recognize him as the man who visited our office a few weeks before the robbery.
He visited your office? HAYS: Yes, sir.
BURGER: What did he want? He came to my desk and asked for information about opening an account.
I gave it to him.
I was never there.
He's mixing me up with the other fellow.
I know.
Mr.
Hays, how many people in your office have the combination to the safe? I'm the only one who has the combination to the safe.
That's done, of course, for reasons of safety.
And could anyone else possibly get that combination? Absolutely not.
I see.
I have no further questions, Mr.
Hays.
Thank you very much, sir.
Your witness, counselor.
Mr.
Mason, are you ready to cross-examine? If the court please, this testimony comes as a complete surprise.
May we request the privilege of deferring cross-examination of this witness? Mr.
Burger, have you any objections? No, Your Honor.
I'm most happy to give the defense counsel all possible latitude.
You may step down.
I call as my next witness Arthur Crowley.
( indistinct whispering ) So you did know Frank Anderson, the deceased? Well, yeah, I- I knew him.
Would you describe to the court, please, what happened on the day of July 29th, the day before the robbery? Well, like I said, he came to my place, and he had a guy with him.
Do you see this guy here? Well, yeah.
He was the defendant, Pop Renzi.
BURGER: I see.
What did Anderson say to you? Well, he asked me to go along on a heist, and I told him to forget it.
I told him I was a three-time loser and he was crazy even to come and see me.
So you took no part in the robbery at all? No, sir, I did not.
BURGER: Well, did Anderson say anything else to you about this so-called heist? Well, he told me I was a fool to pass it up.
He- He said he had a great safe man.
Did he volunteer the name of this great safe man? Yeah.
He pointed at him.
And he said Pop Renzi.
That's all.
Your witness.
You- You've talked about a conversation between yourself and a man named Anderson.
Can you tell us what Pop Renzi said? He didn't say nothing.
Not one single word? No.
Mr.
Crowley, you referred to yourself as a three-time loser.
Now, undoubtedly, you've taken the witness stand in criminal actions before, have you not? Yeah, I've been a witness before, sure.
Well, have you on these occasions ever incriminated anyone else? I never put the finger on anyone in my life.
But this occasion is different.
Is that because you know the defendant is not part of a mob and you're not afraid of him? No, it's because I'm out on parole.
I gotta cooperate with the police if I wanna stay out.
You know that.
I know you seem to be consorting with known criminals.
I can't help it if Anderson looked me up.
I told him I wouldn't have nothing to do with him, and I didn't.
But you did talk to Anderson? Well, I had to.
I- I couldn't slam the door in his face.
Your Honor, may I have a moment to confer? Yes, yes, of course.
( speaking indistinctly ) Mrs.
Anderson, is there anything you'd like to tell me about this man Crowley? You're knocking on the wrong door, counselor.
But any case, you're being very helpful.
What are you trying to pull? Recognize this, Mr.
Crowley? You mean, those torn bills? I mean, these torn bills.
I recognize they're torn.
Will you testify to this court that you did not go up to Frank Anderson's apartment at a time subsequent to the robbery? CROWLEY: I didn't see Frank Anderson.
MASON: I didn't ask you if you saw Frank Anderson.
I asked you if you went up to Frank Anderson's apartment.
Yeah, I went up there.
And did you have several torn $100 bills with you? Yeah, but that had nothing to do with this robbery.
Then what did it have to do with? Well, Frank- Frank asked me to hold on to those torn bills for a couple of days.
MASON: Have you any idea where the money came from? CROWLEY: No, he - He just asked me to do him a favor, that's all.
What favor? Well, to- To- To hold those torn bills.
You mean, he was willing to trust you for favors? Sure he was.
Then why did he tear the bills in half? Well, I- I don't know.
That- That was just Frank's way.
MASON: You were willing to do him a favor, but you refused to do anything wrong, is that it? CROWLEY: That's it.
You must be aware that association with known criminals is a violation of your parole.
Is that wrong, Mr.
Crowley? I have no further questions, Your Honor.
I would suggest to the prosecution that the testimony of this witness be re-examined and his contradictions brought to the attention of the parole board.
And then I, uh- Then I was employed for the next five years by the Haines Protection Company, manufacturers of, uh, time lock safes and alarm systems.
And then after that, my present employment.
MASON: If it please the court, defense will stipulate Mr.
Cagle is a qualified expert in his field.
Very well.
Proceed, Mr.
Burger.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Now, Mr.
Cagle, you've examined the lock on the safe in the office of the Hargrove Finance Company? Yes, sir, I have.
It operates on a dial combination.
Would it be possible to open that lock without knowing the combination? Mm, well, I would say that if the lock was set, it would take someone with a great deal of experience experimenting on a similar type lock.
A great deal of experience on a similar type of lock? Yes, sir, that's right.
I now show you this exact duplicate of the safe located in the office of the Hargrove Finance Company.
With the court's permission, I would like to ask you to step down and examine the lock on this safe.
Permission is granted.
How long would it take you to open this lock without knowing the combination? Well, with luck, sometimes it could be done in less than a minute.
But it could also take hours.
Let's take a couple of minutes and see how your luck is.
I object, Your Honor, on the grounds that this is not the best evidence.
If Mr.
Burger is attempting to prove that the safe at the Hargrove Company office can be opened by an expert, I submit that we must use the safe at the Hargrove Company office for this experiment.
But this safe is identical with the one at the Hargrove Company office.
Nevertheless, each safe is known to have its own character and present its own problems.
Well, if you think I'm gonna ask this court to waste its time by reconvening at the Hargrove Company office, I'd rather dispense with the whole demonstration altogether.
And I would prefer that you allow the court to determine when its time is being wasted.
If Your Honor please, the defense is now most anxious to accept Mr.
Burger's offer to demonstrate how simply the safe at the Hargrove Company office can be opened by an expert.
Your Honor, the prosecution could complete its case in just a matter of minutes.
I think Mr.
Mason has every right to insist upon his point.
Moreover, it is the court's feeling that time is never wasted in the pursuance of justice.
This court, therefore, will adjourn and reconvene in the offices of the Hargrove Finance Company for the purpose of taking further testimony.
( gavel bangs ) ( dramatic theme playing ) TRAGG: Forty-seven seconds, Your Honor.
I guess luck was on my side.
In other words, it could have taken much longer? Oh, yes.
Would you say, Mr.
Cagle, that this represented the average time or less than the average? I'm afraid I couldn't answer that, Your Honor.
Since the average time is so important, Your Honor, I suggest we have Mr.
Cagle go through the operation again to determine how long it would take the second time.
If it please the court, I think I've proved my point.
It seems hardly necessary to go through the whole experiment again.
Oh, I think we can spare the minute it will take.
Go ahead, Mr.
Cagle.
BURGER: All right, Mr.
Cagle, I'll tell you when.
( lock rattling ) BURGER: Now.
( rattling ) Who turned that on? I did.
That's ridiculous, Mr.
Mason.
Turn it off.
If Your Honor please, defense was under the impression that this experiment was intended to be an exact-conditions test.
And according to Miss Gilbert's sworn testimony, this air conditioner was on and functioning in exactly this manner during the entire holdup.
Is that not correct, Miss Gilbert? Yes, it is.
Well, in that case, Mr.
Cagle, I suppose you'll have to proceed under the prevailing conditions.
That's impossible.
How do you know until you try? All right, Mr.
Cagle.
BURGER: Now.
It's impossible to hear a thing under these circumstances, Your Honor.
Would you say under these conditions that neither you nor anyone else could possibly open this safe if he did not know the combination? Completely impossible.
( rattling stops ) Now, Mr.
Hays, you testified that after the robbery, you subsequently remembered having seen the defendant, Anthony Renzi, in this office when he attempted to open an account with you? Is that correct? That's right.
At that time, did you give the defendant, Anthony Renzi, the combination to this safe? Of course not! But you just heard Mr.
Cagle.
Without knowing the combination, no one could open the safe while the air conditioner was on.
Yet you testified you alone had the combination.
Next you'll be saying I killed Frank Anderson.
I'm saying that now.
You killed Frank Anderson because you thought he'd double-crossed you when you found the money was missing at that old house.
How did you feel when you learned the money had been taken by a 14-year-old boy? How did you feel when you learned that you had committed robbery and murder and all for absolutely nothing, Mr.
Hays? How did you feel? You don't believe that, do you, Mr.
Mason? ( ominous theme playing ) ( upbeat theme playing ) There you are.
Oop.
( laughs ) Here.
Thank you.
( door opens ) NICKY: Gramp! Oh, Nicky, Nicky, Nicky.
Gee, Gramp, Miss Street says it's all over.
You're not in trouble anymore.
That's right, Nick.
But how can I ever repay Mr.
Mason? That I don't know.
Well, I'm gonna take care of it, Gramp.
I told Miss Street I'm gonna get a job.
( chuckles ) Do you know how long it would take to p- Pay for the services of a man like Mr.
Mason? Not long if you perfect your invention.
Ah! But it will be perfected! That I promise.
It will work.
Well, then you'll both have a lot of money.
Well, yeah, but when? In a few days, Nicky.
A few days.
( laughs ) ( laughs ) ( upbeat theme playing ) ( noirish jazz theme playing )