All language subtitles for Perry Mason S04E20 The Case of the Barefaced Witness.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS

Thanks, W.L.

So long, Swan.

Uh, Mr. Swan.

Mr. Swan, isn't it?

I'm Dan Southern of
the Pinon City Advocate.

We try to run a few lines
about all former residents

who've come back
for the big celebration.

You're not being very funny.

No comment, Mr. Swan?

But I gotta write something.

How does this sound:

Another distinguished visitor
back for Founder's Week

is Mr. Fred S. Swan.

Uh, former manager
of the local bank.

Since leaving Pinon
City three years ago,

Mr. Swan has resided at
San Quentin, California,

where we understand he's
been working in the library.

Mr. Swan's peculiar ability
with books is well-known here.

I served my time.

Is it necessary to persecute me?

Persecute you.

Legally you may be clean,

but morally
you're still a thief.

What about Iris McKay?

She was never
accused in a court of law,

but thanks to you,

Pinon City has been
about as rough on her

as it was on you.

Oh, yes. Dan Southern.

You're the old
boyfriend, aren't you?

Well, your concern for Iris

is coming a
little late, isn't it?

I said even then that
you'd never give her

the embezzled money.

But she never hide it for you,

that was just crazy gossip.

Are you telling me or asking me?

You get out of here.

You get clear out of town.

Or maybe I'll do what I should
have done three years ago.

Hello, Mr. Drake.

Remember me?

Anyone as lovely as you...

You made an investigation
for me three years ago.

I just moved here
from Pinon City.

That's right. Perry
Mason sent you to me.

Let's see. An embezzler,
hometown banker,

a man by the name of Swan,

came up a little
short, or something

and then tried to make it look

like the bank had been robbed.

Thirty-three thousand seven
hundred and fifty dollars.

A lot short, excuse me.

Sure, you're Iris
McKay. Sit down, please.

Thank you.

Then the gossips said that
Swan gave you the money,

and that you either
kept it or hid it for him.

That's why I left town.

Everybody kept watching me,

following me.

I really only dated
Fred Swan a few times.

But unfortunately, it was
just at the wrong time.

I'm sorry.

I sure wasn't much help
clearing your name, was I?

But even the FBI hasn't
been able to find that money.

However, if you have a new case

maybe I can be more help.

Heh. Well, it's sort
of the same one.

This is the Pinon City Advocate.

It was sent to me by mail.

"Another distinguished visitor

"to Founder's Week
is Mr. Fred S. Swan,

"former manager
of the local bank.

"Speculation is rampant

regarding the reason
for Mr. Swan's return."

"Suppose he's come
back for the money?"

It was clipped to the newspaper.

No signature.

Well, I've got a pretty
good idea who sent it.

Anyway, I'm going to find out.

You're going back?

I'm going back
and find Fred Swan,

and find out what he
did with that money.

At least he was
always polite to me.

And if I can just
make him tell people...

Iris,

maybe I'd better go with you.

We'll both talk to Swan.

I'm sure I can do this much
better alone, Mr. Drake.

I just want to make sure
you'd come to Pinon City

if I did need you.

Of course I will.

Heh. Thank you.

Iris.

Where will you be
staying in Pinon City?

I have one relative
in the world,

my Aunt Sarah.

I'm sure she also believes
the worst about me.

But at least she
has plenty of room.

Thank you, Mr. Drake.

Hello, Aunt Sarah.

You needn't have
come to meet me.

I never avoid the
unpleasant, Iris.

You're much too pale.

Have you been ill?

No.

I've been fine.

Come along.

The car is out at the side.

Iris.

How are you, Miss Sarah?

Mr. Southern.

Uh, the Advocate
likes to run a few lines

of all former residents.

You know, where
you've been living,

what you've been doing,
any success you've had.

You'll soon notice
that the Advocate

has become a scandal sheet.

Uh, we try to bring all the
news to our subscribers.

I'll wait for you at the car.

Hello, Iris.

Hello, Dan.

I've wondered what
you've been doing.

Well, I've been
living in Los Angeles.

I model clothes for a living,
and I pay my own expenses.

Isn't that a success story?

It sure is.

I, uh...

I hear Fred Swan's
back in town too.

I heard he was here yesterday.

You mean he's gone again?

Is that why you came back?

Because of Fred Swan?

Maybe.

Yeah, it figures.

Okay, you might try the
Plantation Motel, Cabin 6.

I saw him go in there.

He's drives a blue camper.

Aunt Sarah, would you
do me a favor, please?

I'd like to borrow your
car later this afternoon.

Now, Iris,

you know very well
I've never permitted

anyone else to drive it.

I haven't wanted
to question you,

but what do you want?

Why are you here, Iris?

I came back to dig
up the missing money

from where I buried it.

Perhaps I deserve that.

Oh, Aunt Sarah, admit it.

You never believed me.

You never believed
there was nothing between

Fred Swan and me.

I never said I
didn't believe it.

But things haven't
changed in Pinon City.

All right.

You may borrow the machine.

I just hope you know
what you're doing, Iris.

Yes?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I thought someone else
was staying in this cabin.

I, uh, heard he
was here yesterday.

Yesterday?

No. I've been staying
here for a week.

I'm Marta Wiltern.
San Francisco.

Iris McKay. Los Angeles.

Oh, um, won't you come in?

Thank you.

Didn't you used to
live in Pinon City?

Yes. I'm here visiting my aunt.

Miss Sarah.

I have vague memories of her.

I was a child, but even
then she was a grand lady.

Sit down.

Thank you.

I visit here occasionally.

Do you know the Buskirk farm?

Well, I know where it is.

I used to work for a real
estate man, W.L. Picard.

He handled the
sale for that farm.

Heh. How things have changed.

When I knew that
farm it was nothing

but a lot of dried-up,
worthless land,

like most of the valley.

Miss Wiltern, do you
know Fred Swan?

Why, yes.

I've met him a couple of times.

Is that who you
thought was here?

Yes.

He dropped in to see me.

Do you know where he's staying?

No, I don't, Iris.

As a matter of fact,

he mentioned
something about leaving.

Not being particularly
welcome here.

It was important
to you, wasn't it?

Oh, no.

I just want to check an old
business matter with him.

I'm sorry I bothered you.

Nonsense.

I enjoyed your visit.

She couldn't possibly
remember I was such a child,

but give my regards to
your wonderful Aunt Sarah.

I will. Thank you.

Fred?

Fred.

Marta, what are you doing here?

I thought you ought to know

that little friend
of yours is in town.

Who do you mean?

Iris McKay.

She seems to be
under the impression

that you're staying in my cabin.

That reporter the other day.

I had no idea that
the girl in your past

was quite so attractive.

Oh, no. Real small town stuff.

Forget it.

You know who I'm
really interested in.

Do you know what she's
interested in, Freddie?

Money.

Oh, that old story.

Well, I'm glad you're
not interested in money.

Why do you suppose that I
visited you so often in prison?

My handsome face.

Okay, you're mercenary.

Now, let's have a drink, huh?

You, uh, really ought to
worry about her, Freddie.

Aren't you afraid if
somebody doesn't stop her,

she'll poke around and upset
some very expensive apple carts?

Maybe you're the one
that needs to be stopped.

Well, Miss McKay,
it's been a long time

since you've been in my place.

Hello, Mr. Needham. Sit down.

You're looking just
fine, beautiful as ever.

Thank you, Mr. Needham.

I got the newspaper
and your note.

Note? What do you mean?

The note you sent me

about Fred Swan coming
back for the money.

Mr. Needham, I seem to remember

when I worked for W.L. Picard,

seeing some
correspondence from you.

I don't follow you.

The note I got in the mail

was in the same
fancy type as this.

Just like your menus.

Okay, so you know it was me.

Maybe I shouldn't
have played games but

I never believed you and
Swan were romancing,

even though you
came here together.

And I don't believe you hid
that money for him either.

Well, that makes you a
minority of one in Pinon City.

But why did you want me to
know he was back in town?

Well, maybe there's
nothing to it but...

That last night you
were here together,

that was the day after he'd

supposedly been
robbed at the bank.

Before the police discovered

he was just faking to cover
his own embezzlement.

You remember?

Go on.

Well, that night,

Swan excused himself,

left you for a few minutes?

Remember that?

Vaguely. What about it?

Well, he had a small
package with him,

wrapped in white paper
with a ribbon on it and...

Package?

As a matter of fact, he said it
was a present for his landlady.

Alf, do you think...?

The money was in that package?

Yes, I think maybe it was.

The way he hung onto it.

You didn't see, but I did.

But as I remember,

he said the package
was just a nuisance

and he was going
to leave it here

before we went dancing.

He didn't check it with me.

I know because I saw him
give it to somebody else, outside.

Who?

Iris,

that's one of the reasons
I sent you that note.

I've never mentioned this before

because it seems
so unbelievable.

But I suppose if it'll help
really turn up the money,

clear up the whole thing...

Uh, clear up what whole thing?

Hello, everybody.

I wanna see your
name cleared, Iris.

Oh, very generous.

What's in it for you, Alf?

I don't have to kid anybody.

There's a little reward

that goes along with
finding the money.

That'd be for me.

Mm-hm. A $5,000 reward.

If it's Mr. Swan's money
you're talking about.

Maybe I'm talking too much.

Excuse me.

All right, Alf.

Who did Fred Swan
give that package to?

Now, you won't take offense.

It's the gospel truth, I...

Your Aunt Sarah.

You must be out of your mind.

You think I could mistake
that crazy old chariot of hers?

I tell you, Swan meet her car

and when he come back
he didn't have the package.

And she drove
off in a hurry and...

I don't believe it!

What did you say to her?

Maybe you'd better explain, Alf.

Like they say in the newspapers,
Danny, "no comment".

Iris. Ha-ha.

Well, how nice to see you.

Hello, W.L.

Let me look at you.

You know, she's
still the prettiest girl

we ever raised in this town.

And the thing that has
always bowled me over:

You've got brains
in that beautiful head.

Yes sir, you're the best
secretary I ever had.

Haven't found anyone since
who could do the job half as good.

Can I have my job back?

Oh, now, what chance would
I have of getting you back

now that you've
been to Hollywood?

I've paid off my back taxes.

You don't know
what a relief that is.

With all these outsiders
crowding into town

because of the new valley dam,

and every one of them
looking for a place to live,

the house could have
been sold out from under me.

Now, you be sure
and keep these papers

in a nice safe place.

Here, Iris, maybe
you'd better take them.

Put them with your folder.

What?

The one I sent
you last year, dear,

with the family things,

with the sealing wax on it.

A-Aunt Sarah, will you
excuse me for a moment?

I think I left
something outside.

Operator, I want
long distance, please.

Hold on, I'll see if
Mr. Mason's available.

Yes, hold on, please.

It's a Miss McKay
from Pinon City.

She wanted to get in touch

with Paul about
something or other.

And thought he might be here.

Hello, this is Perry Mason.

Mr. Mason, this is Iris McKay.

You recommended Mr. Drake
on a matter three years ago.

Oh, yes, I remember.

Uh, Mr. Drake won't be
back until later tonight.

Is there some way
I can be of help?

Well, I wanted to ask Mr. Drake

to go to my apartment
in West Los Angeles,

1391 Deauville Street.

I can call the
manager to let him in.

1391 Deauville Street.

Right, well, Paul should
be back by midnight.

A what?

A folder sealed
with sealing wax.

Of course, Miss McKay.

Well, I'll be free later.

I could, uh, probably
be of some help

if Paul doesn't show up.

And then please,
please call me back

and tell me what's inside.

I'll give you the number.

Miss McKay, you
sound quite upset.

What do you think
is in that folder?

Well, it just might include
some money, Mr. Mason.

And if it does,
it's stolen money.

Oh, hello, Paul.

Hi, Perry. I just called Della.

She, uh, said you were
cutting in on my racket.

Well, you can have it all back.

Might not be a bad idea at that.

You lack the, uh, light touch
necessary in this business.

But thanks for trying.

Iris McKay seemed so upset
when you didn't show up,

I thought I'd
better take a look.

Della mentioned a sealed folder.

Said Iris thought
there was a possibility

that part of that $33,000

might have been right here
in the apartment all this time.

Who knows?

Anyway, it's gone now.

Of course, there might...

Might have been something else

besides money in that folder.

What do you think?

I think I'd better find out.

You know, there's a
celebration going on up there...

A celebration. A mystery.

A girl in distress.

Paul, I think you're
going to enjoy Pinon City.

Iris? Miss McKay.

Excuse me.

Iris is much prettier than that.

No, no. But do you know her?

A little.

You seem very
anxious to meet her.

Just got off the train?

Mm-hm, and she was
supposed to meet me here.

Have you seen her?

All right, mister,
you're under arrest.

Come along peacefully.

Wait a minute. You're
making a mistake.

That's what they all say.

Oh, it's quite
all right, officer.

He really wasn't doing anything.

We caught him
barefaced, didn't we?

What?

This is Founder's Week, friend.

What was good enough
for our forefathers,

is good enough for us.

This week everybody
gets dressed up.

A beard or five
bucks, that's the law.

Well, not having
any fast hair...

Don't try to bribe us, mister.

First the paddy wagon,

then you get
mugged, then you pay.

Excuse us, miss.

Really, friend, uh, no offense.

The dough goes for charity.

It's okay.

I guess I missed the person

who was supposed to
meet me here anyway.

You mean Iris McKay?

I heard you call her name.

She hasn't been around
the station all morning.

Oh, wait a minute, I've got
a rental car here some place.

Is it all right if I pick it up?

We'll get it later.

Yes?

I beg your pardon.

I'm looking for Miss McKay.

I'm Miss McKay. Who are you?

My name's Paul Drake.

It's Miss Iris McKay
I wanted to see.

That's strange.

Excuse me?

Well, this morning
she rented a bicycle.

And, oh, at least an hour ago,

she rode off to the
station to meet you.

I see.

Well, if she left
here that long ago,

she might have been wanted
to go somewhere else first.

Some shopping or
maybe some friends

she wanted to say hello to?

Friends? In Pinon City?

No.

Unless W.L.

W.L.?

W.L. Picard, real estate.

She used to work there.

He did say something about,

wouldn't she drop in to see him.

But if she was going to meet
you, I don't understand why...

I'll find her, Miss
McKay. Thank you.

She was here, all right.

But not for long.

She got all excited
about something and left.

Didn't even wait for
Mr. Picard to come back.

That's Iris for you.

Uh, excited about what?

Search me.

Mr. Beller was in here
and was talking to her.

Beller?

The surveyor from
the steel company.

He said something.

Don't ask me what.

And Iris just popped
up and ran out.

Can you remember
in what direction?

Good afternoon, Mr. Picard.

Can I help you, sir?

I'm looking for Iris McKay.

Oh?

Oh, well, I haven't seen
Miss McKay since last evening.

Uh, Dora, I've got some letters

I'd like to get out
this afternoon.

Yes, sir.

Miss.

I really don't know where
she was going, Mr. Drake.

Can you tell me where
I find this man Beller?

Well, I think he said something
about getting a haircut.

Dora.

Well, all I had mentioned was

that I had been working
near that old Buskirk farm,

and how surprised I was
to look through my transit

and spot this truck-bed camper
parked inside the empty barn.

Inside, mind you.

What did the girl say?

She asked me the
color of the camper,

and I told her blue and, pfft,

off she went on her bicycle.

Not too short in
the back, please.

The Buskirk farm.
Thank you, Mr. Beller.

Iris?

Iris.

Who are you? And
what's going on here?

Why are you looking for Iris?

She's got nothing
to do with this.

Nothing to do with what?

His name's Fred Swan.

Chief Hagerty, I've known
you since you were a boy.

You had very little brains
then and even less now.

Why have you arrested my niece?

Now, Miss Sarah, Fred Swan's
been killed and it's our job...

I'm going to talk to Iris.

Oh, Aunt Sarah.

Mr. Drake, what
is this nonsense?

Why haven't they arrested
Dan Southern for murder?

If, as they say,
he was out there.

Aunt Sarah, no.

The police seem to feel

that Swan was
dead at least an hour

before Dan got there.

However, your niece's
bicycle was there.

Her scarf was there.

And she admits she was there.

I didn't kill him.

Tell us the truth, child.

He'd... He'd been drinking.

When I asked him
where the money was

he just laughed at me.

Then he...

He tried to grab me and...

And he tried to...

I managed to shove him away.

And I just ran.

All right. Half an hour later,

you stumbled into
the Diamond farm.

When Al Diamond
got back from the fields,

he drove you into
town. Is that right?

Yes, and after that
the police came...

Iris, if you don't mind,

can I talk to you
in my office now?

She can't tell you any more
than she already has, chief.

It seems to me...

Never mind, Drake.

We just did some matching.

The doc says it
was that jack handle

that killed Swan, all right.

And Iris's
fingerprints are on it.

Will you come with
me, Iris, please?

I'm sorry, Miss Sarah.

What...? What do we do now?

If you have no objections,
I'll call Los Angeles.

Los Angeles?

An attorney.

Perry Mason.

Now, Mr. Needham,

we've got all of the
preliminaries out of the way,

we've established
the corpus delicti,

as they say in the big cities.

I'm gonna ask
you to tell the court

exactly in your own words,

what took place in your café

the day Iris McKay
returned to town.

Uh, this might
seem a bit informal,

but we like to keep
things simple here.

Well, let's see.

It was just that Iris
McKay wanted to know

about Fred Swan being in town,

and that he hadn't
really given her

all that money to hide.

Mr. Needham, please relate
just to what the defendant said

to you and you said to her.

I told her about a
package Fred Swan had

when he came to my
place one night with her.

That was three years ago.

But I got the idea
later that that package

might have contained
some of that $33,750.

Well, now, uh, what
happened with that package?

Swan gave it to somebody.

Not the defendant?

No, sir.

To her aunt, Miss Sarah McKay.

I recognized her car,
out in my parking lot.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Needham,

did you send the defendant

a copy of the local newspaper

on which you'd
marked with crayon

an item announcing Fred
Swan's return to Pinon City?

Yes.

And in a note
sent along with it,

did you infer that Fred Swan

had probably come back
for the missing money?

Yes, I did.

Now, then, did you
know that on the day

Iris McKay received
your message,

her apartment in Los Angeles

had been broken
into and ransacked

after she had left Los
Angeles for Pinon City?

No, I didn't know that.

But you did know that she'd
be away from home at the time

you were looking for
that missing money?

Yes, sure. But...

No more questions.

Being as charitable as possible,

I can only say that
Mr. Needham must be mistaken.

I most certainly never
received any package

from Mr. Swan.

In fact, I barely knew the man.

I believe the witness
qualified his statement

by saying it was
your car he saw.

You know perfectly
well, Jonathan Hale,

I never permit
anyone else to drive it.

And you know perfectly
well, Miss Sarah,

that you still haven't directly
answered my question.

I simply don't
remember the episode.

All right, we'll try
something else.

Do you, uh, recognize
this photograph?

My grandmother's sister.
My great Aunt Hattie.

And, uh...

And this folder here?

You know very
well it's my folder.

You also know that it was stolen

from my niece's
apartment in Los Angeles.

What was in it?

Papers.

Miss Sarah, you were present

when both the folder
and the photograph

were introduced as evidence?

So therefore you
know that both items

were found in the barn
where Fred Swan was killed?

Now, I ask you
again, Miss Sarah,

what was in that folder
you gave your niece?

Answer the question, Miss Sarah.

I cannot be forced to
testify against myself.

Or to reveal anything that
would tend to expose me

to public censure or to
destroy my reputation.

So I'm not going to answer.

Well, no more questions.

Cross-examine.

As I understand it, Miss McKay,

you sent a sealed folder
to your niece some time ago

for safekeeping?

Yes.

Was there any
money in that folder?

No. There was
absolutely no money in it.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Yes, it was the day
before Mr. Swan's murder

that Iris McKay came to my cabin

at the Plantation Motel.

She said she was
looking for Fred Swan.

Did she say why she
was looking for him?

No, but she seemed
disappointed to find me

instead of him there.

Thank you.

Cross-examine?

Mrs. Wiltern,

I take it you knew
Fred Swan fairly well?

Yes, I met him
once or twice here,

several years ago.

And then I saw him
again in San Francisco.

Don't you mean, Mrs. Wiltern,

that you visited with him

while he was in
prison at San Quentin,

near San Francisco?

Yes.

Mrs. Wiltern, would
you please tell this court

your maiden name?

Marta Buskirk.

Then it was your family

who originally owned
the Buskirk farm?

The farm where Fred
Swan was found murdered?

It was my family.

All the Buskirks are dead now.

Mrs. Wiltern,

when did the Buskirks
sell their farm?

A little over three years ago.

To whom did they sell it?

Well, I don't remember exactly.

Yes, it was a woman
from San Diego.

A Letitia Cochrane.

And who handled
the sale of the farm?

W.L. Picard, he handled
the whole transaction.

Your Honor, I won't
make a formal objection

to this extraneous type
of cross-examination,

but the weekend's
coming up and...

Mr. Mason, it does
seem you are going afield.

I've just one more
question, Your Honor.

It's a matter of record, anyway.

Now, Mrs. Wiltern,

for how much did Mr. Picard
sell the, uh, Buskirk...?

Your family's farm?

Forty-five thousand dollars.

Listen, how many times
do I have to tell you, I...

Mr. Southern.
Mr. Southern, now, please.

The court has already
ruled you a hostile witness,

so you don't have to
go losing your temper.

Just answer the
questions "yes" or "no."

All right.

Now, you found out from
police officer Gene Barr

that he saw Iris McKay
bicycle out the east road

toward the Buskirk farm?

Correct? Yes.

And knowing Fred Swan
was camping out there,

you hurried out to the farm,

and so found the
remains of Fred Swan?

Yes.

Now, the day before the murder

you told the defendant where
she could find Fred Swan,

or where you thought
she could find him.

Now, on the day of the murder,

you knew where he
was but you didn't tell her.

Now, was that
because you were afraid

of what might happen if
Iris McKay found Fred Swan?

No. Why should I be afraid?

That's not true.

Are you trying to say...?

That's all. That's
all, thank you.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Southern, on
the day of the murder,

did you neglect to tell Iris
McKay where Swan was

because you were jealous

of a possible intimate
relationship between them?

No, of course not.

There was no relationship.
There never was.

But nevertheless
you were jealous?

Of course I was jealous.

I hated Swan.

I threatened him too.

I told him to get out
of town and he didn't.

I could have swung
that tire iron at him

with a great deal of pleasure.

No further questions.

Yes, I drove up to the field
adjacent to the Buskirk farm

that same afternoon.

The afternoon of the murder.

What were you doing
there, Mr. Picard?

Well, some surveyors who've
been working for the steel company

have been using my
office and records.

I just wanted to see if they
needed anything, that's all.

But apparently they'd
already finished work.

Would you tell the
court what you saw

out there that afternoon?

I saw Iris McKay bicycle up

to the entrance
of the Buskirk farm

and then turn in
toward the barn area.

Anything else?

No. I didn't see the surveyors,

I just kept on
driving toward town.

No more questions.

Court is adjourned until
9:30 Monday morning.

Hi.

Thanks.

Well, I found out that
Letitia Cochrane doesn't own

the Buskirk farm anymore.

She sold it to, uh,
Intersolidated Steel.

Did you speak to her?

No, I couldn't find her.

I just got the records.

Here's all there is on her.

Her living in San Diego
dates back 26 years.

Hm, what's this?

It's a list of all those
arrested and fined

for not wearing beards.

What about them?

I have a hunch one
of them is our thief.

Oh, nine names here. Our thief?

You mean the one that
busted into Iris's apartment?

How do you figure that?

I admit it's a, uh, long shot.

But unless the thief
came up here prepared,

he arrived in town barefaced.

Oh, in which case
he would be arrested,

and mugged.

Hey, they even took my picture.

Better get going.

See you later.

During the weekend, Your Honor,

certain new evidence
has been uncovered

and I believe, with
the court's indulgence,

we can clarify certain aspects

of this case by recalling
several witnesses

for further cross-examination.

Oh, Your Honor,
this is highly irregular.

If the counselor wishes to
put on a case for the defense...

It was Mr. Hale who wished

to keep this hearing
simple, I believe.

If recalling a few witnesses

will help us, Mr. Mason,

uh, let's get on
with the business.

I would like to recall
W.L. Picard to the stand.

Mr. Picard, please.

I remind you that you're
still under oath, Mr. Picard.

A little over three years ago,

you handled the sale
of the Buskirk farm

for the family of Marta
Wiltern, is that correct?

Yes.

You transacted a sale which
amounted to, uh, $45,000.

The purchaser was one
Letitia Cochrane of San Diego.

I've been trying to
reach Miss Cochrane,

but without success.

Now, when was the last time

you saw her, Mr. Picard?

Three years ago.

Three years ago.

That was when
she bought the farm.

I understand she
just sold the farm

to Intersolidated Steel.

Did you also handle
that transaction for her?

Yes, but by mail.

Now, when she bought the farm,

there was, um,
some sort of option

connected with the sale,
wasn't there, Mr. Picard?

I... I believe so.

Are you then
saying that an option

to purchase that
property was given to

Intersolidated Steel
three years ago?

Yes, I think so. Uh...

Uh, y-yes.

An option to purchase
the Buskirk farm

for $225,000.

Nearly a quarter of a million?

Y-Yes.

But of course it was
only an option to buy.

Isn't it also true, Mr. Picard,

that the steel company's
interest in that property

was based on advance knowledge

of a federal dam
being constructed

here in this valley?

A dam created by a
federal commission.

A commission on which you
alone from this area served.

And of which only
you could have know,

and from which only
you could have profited?

Well, of course, I was
on that commission.

And of course I would
know about the plans

for building the dam.

But you have no
right to insinuate that...

Now, tell us,

that option we just spoke of,

how much did it cost
the steel company?

I don't exactly remember.

Eleven thousand two
hundred and fifty dollars.

Is that figure correct?

I think so.

Now, the Buskirk family
wanted 45,000 for the property.

Intersolidated Steel was willing

to pay $11,250 for an option.

That left $33,750.

Yes, I... I suppose so.

Now, that's a figure that
sticks in my mind, Mr. Picard.

Wasn't that the exact sum
Fred Swan stole from his bank?

Or rather, embezzled and
tried to make it look like theft?

Well, now, of course,
you're making it seem...

Fred came to me with a deal.

We had to close it in a hurry.

I told him if he could
raise that amount of money,

that I would take
care of everything else.

So he brought me
the money in cash.

I never asked him
where it came from.

Afterwards, when I
found out that the police

did not believe his story
about the bank and the robbery

well, it was too late
to do anything then.

But you and Swan
still remained partners.

And it was you who
supplied the middleman.

Uh, in this case,
Letitia Cochrane.

Yes.

I did it through her.

And so that $33,750

never at any time had one
thing to do with Iris McKay?

No, it didn't.

Now, would you,
uh, just tell this court

where we can find
Letitia Cochrane.

I told you.

I haven't seen her
in over three years.

That's enough, Mr. Picard,

I certainly wouldn't want
you to perjure yourself.

Your Honor,

at this time I would like to

recall Sarah McKay to the stand.

You may step down, sir.

Miss Sarah, will you
step to the stand, please.

Miss McKay,

have you ever used the
name Letitia Cochrane?

I've been known as
Sarah McKay for 61 years.

In Pinon City, yes.

But I refer to San
Diego, 26 years ago.

Isn't it true that
you once lived

in San Diego for
approximately five months

under the name of
Letitia Cochrane?

Yes.

It's true.

And three years ago you allowed

Mr. Picard to use that name?

Oh, I didn't willingly
allow him to...

I know it... It was wrong.

But I had no idea of
everything that was involved

when I signed that name.

Why?

Were you afraid of Mr. Picard?

Were you afraid because of
something he knew about you?

Miss McKay,

I call your attention

to, uh, that sealed folder.

The folder you
sent to your niece,

and which was later stolen.

I ask you now,

would you please tell this
court just what was in that folder.

Now, you've already testified

that there wasn't
any money in it.

A copy of my will,

some insurance papers.

Just... Just personal
family things.

What else?

What knowledge did
Mr. Picard have of you

that enabled him to coerce
you to such an extent?

What else was in that
folder, Miss McKay?

A birth certificate...

for Mary Frances Cochrane.

My daughter.

If she'd lived,

she would have been
a young lady now.

Almost the same age as my niece

and very like her, I think.

She died at childbirth.

That's why I could never
bear to be close to Iris.

She reminded me so of...

I'm sorry, Miss McKay.

But there must have
been something more.

You must have had more reason

for keeping
everything so secret.

It isn't as though
I were a child.

I was 35 at the time.

Go on.

Well,

just before the baby was born,

my husband left me.

He ran away.

Your husband?

I think it's called
common-law husband.

We were talking about the folder

stolen from the
defendant's apartment.

If Picard and Swan

were partners and knew
where they'd spent that $33,750,

then obviously both of them knew

there was no
money in that folder.

But no other person would
have known that fact, would they?

In particular, a person
who was anxious

to find that money.

A person who was
watching all the time.

A person who followed Iris

and knew she'd called
my office in Los Angeles.

A person who then hired a
man named Eugene Liston,

to go to her apartment
and steal that folder.

All right. All right.

I was after that folder.

But all I wanted was the reward.

I mean... I mean, at
first I didn't know anything

about land deals.

Only in that folder

when I discovered
about Letitia Cochrane.

And when I went out and
tried to make a deal with Swan,

when I tried to cut
in on him and Picard,

well, h-he went crazy.

He'd been drinking.
He was like a crazy man.

He lunged at me with a board.

I knocked him down. I had to.

I-It was self-defense.

Was it self-defense when
you then crushed his skull

with a jack handle?

When Swan tried to molest me,

I grabbed the jack
handle to protect myself.

Well, he backed away and
I just threw it down and ran.

But Needham saw you.

He'd been talking to
Swan before you arrived.

While you were there
he kept out of sight.

After you left,
Swan became ugly,

and Needham knocked him down.

Then using the same
weapon he'd seen you touch,

he finished him off,

being careful not to
leave any prints of his own.

What about Marta Wiltern?

What did she have to do with it?

Well, she must have
suspected what was going on

when she learned
the steel company

had had an option on her land.

So she either tried
to cut herself in,

or she wanted to
get even with the men

who'd swindled her family.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

I'm so very, very grateful.

Aunt Sarah, may
I borrow the car?

Whatever for?

You know I don't allow...

Well, if the young man
doesn't have a surrey,

I guess a horseless
carriage is the next best thing.

Heh. Thank you, Aunt Sarah.

Miss Sarah, just how
old is that machine?

Twenty-two years.

But I think it's time to
trade it in for a new model.

Don't you?