All language subtitles for Perry Mason S04E21 The Case of the Difficult Detour.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS

Hey, got a sledge?

She's in tight, Pete.

All right, Charlie, come on.
Let's get her rolling. Here.

Pete, I just totaled
our progress

and I made a projection on the
completion of the access road.

Now, at 3,000
cubic yards per unit...

That's figuring the mean
average units per day

for the past two weeks.

I think that we...
Now, look. Look, Chet.

Even if I understood this
schoolbook talk of yours...

Which I don't half the time.

Mean average units
are not going to tell me

what I've gotta know.

Do we finish the
roadbed on time?

We just about live
or die on that one.

Well, Mr. Mallory, on
your very first contract

with your own company

I am pleased to inform
you that the access road

will be completed a day
and a half ahead of schedule.

Now, now, wait a minute, Pete.

There's nothing wrong
about that, is there?

Back on schedule again,

considering all the delays
and the trouble we've had.

Wrong?

Chet, do you realize
what this means to me?

Sure. Another week and
there'll be more money

than we know what to do with.

Yeah, money.

Money and a lot more.

Chet, couldn't have
done it without you.

Hello, Stu.

Pete. Chet.

How's it going? Hi.

Good, good.

Got enough money to
last me another week?

Chet, here, he figures
we'll make it on deadline.

Hey, wonderful.

Remind me to give you a
lifetime pass to Bentonville Park.

Heh. The perfect
vacation resort.

Well, you can forget
about that pass.

Just you make that payment
on deadline and I'll be happy.

The minute you finish, I pay.

Excuse me, Mr. Benton.

Company coming.

Gentlemen, I'm Sergeant Landro.

Is one of you Stuart Benton?

Well, that's me, officer.
What can I do for you?

Peter Mallory?

I'm Mallory. What's the trouble?

This access road you're building
from the south side of the lake

to the north side,
you responsible for it?

Yes, I am. What about it?

Well, Mr. Mallory, it seems
you've been trespassing.

Trespassing?

A Mr. Ames is the
owner of the west sections

of land up to the
high-water mark on the lake.

He claims your road
and equipment both

are on his private property.

Well, there must be some
mis... Easy, Pete, easy.

Officer, I'm sure
Mr. Ames is mistaken.

Afraid the judge will
have to decide that, sir.

Mr. Benton?

For you.

Mr. Mallory?

For you.

These are court orders
to stop all the work.

Stop all the work?

You can't do this. I've got
men up here. I've got equipment.

Sorry, Mr. Mallory.

But I'm afraid you've
also got trouble.

The Mallory Construction Company

rushing a project
to completion, huh?

I've seen more
life in a graveyard.

Benton told me what
happened. Thanks.

You know, Harry, this
could be my graveyard,

weren't for guys like you.

Your equipment's in
good shape, though.

Layoff gave us a chance
to do some servicing.

You go to court tomorrow?

Yeah, we get
rolling right after that.

Don't worry, we'll
come in on time.

Ooh, I am not worried
about that. Uh...

What about your crews though?

They gonna work without pay?

With this delay,
just paying my crews

is gonna take every cent I have

to finish the access
road by deadline.

And you expect me
to carry the rental

on my stuff until then?

Well, Harry, I am just asking
for credit for a week or so.

What's the problem?

Well, I don't like courts

and I can't afford charity.

Sorry, Pete.

I gotta have your
check by tomorrow

or I am going to have
to pick up the equipment.

Oh, you give me the right
price and there'll be nothing

but Galaxy Outboards
sold on my lake.

The exclusive concession for
the right price. How about it?

Well, look, I've got the same
deal with Southwest Gas,

an exclusive concession
for the right price.

Oh, Artie Hellman
himself told me to call you.

I'll have my wife send
you the literature, hm?

Why don't you sit down, Pete?

Thanks, Sheila.

Okay. I'll see you next week.

Bye.

I just talked to Harry Parker.

He wants that check by
tomorrow or I'll lose the gear.

He can't do that.

Look, Stu.

I need that advance
payment now, not next week.

Well, according
to your contract,

I can't pay you till
you've completed.

Oh, no, look, look. Don't worry.

Now, tomorrow in court the
judge will say Ames is wrong.

That means he's liable
for any losses you've had.

Yes, but I'll have to sue.

I can't wait that long.

Well, who says wait?

Right from the courtroom,
we'll go directly to the bank.

We get a loan on
your pending suit, hm?

Well, can we do that?

Of course. So don't worry.

The judge will be
fair and we'll win.

He's already got the new survey
I had Phil Edwards make out.

I tell you there's no problem.

Well, I sure hope you know
what you're talking about.

Bentonville.

The perfect vacation resort.

Gentlemen, I have
compared the surveys

as submitted by both sides.

The court finds for
the plaintiff, Mr. Ames.

Defendants are permanently
enjoined from entering upon

or occupying the property
without the express permission

of the plaintiff.

But Your Honor, the survey.

Agrees as to the boundary line.

What?

Mr. Mallory, your
equipment trespassed.

But...

But what about Benton's land?

Mr. Benton is not involved.

The fault is clearly
yours and yours alone.

Please, Your Honor...

Bailiff, the next case, please.

Stu, what about the bank loan?

What are we gonna do?

Your Honor, there
must be some mistake.

Please, Your Honor.

Stu.

Stu, how about the loan?

Pete. Pete, I'll find out
about this. Call me later.

I know, but the bank loan.

Well, I don't have the
time to talk right now.

Now, about those
escrow contracts,

Consolidated contacted me

about a sweetheart
of a proposition...

Mr. Mallory.

I'm sorry.

I realize how
financially embarrassing

the court's decision
must be for you.

Embarrassing?

Mr. Ames, I'm just
about wiped out.

I just wanted you to know

there was nothing
personal about this

where you're concerned.

Benton wouldn't have
bought that north side

from your daughter without

an easy access
road around the lake.

You appear to be the innocent
bystander who's being hurt.

What you need is an
attorney of your own.

There's just got to be
a mistake somewhere.

There's a man named Perry Mason.

He isn't my attorney,

but he's a friend and
coming to my house tonight.

Now, if you would like me
to arrange an introduction,

I'd be very happy to.

But where could we
have been mistaken?

Where?

Eighty-four point
seven, frontline J?

Check.

That's it.

But it checks out,
Pete. They're right.

There is no access
strip. There never was.

Only, I don't understand.

Let's go out to the site.

Again, Pete? We measured twice.

Well, I can't... I
can't believe it.

How could it happen?

Two other guys get in a fight

and I'm left holding the bag!

It happens. It happens.

It doesn't happen!

When Ames first served
those papers we measured it

and we were right.

It looked like it was, Pete,

but it couldn't have been.

Well, you measured and I
checked the map, remember?

Yeah, yeah. Look, Pete,

why don't you go home?

I can't believe it.

I checked it. I checked
and it was right.

I...

What's the matter?

It's... It's the wrong one.

It's a different map.

That's impossible.

It's got to be the same.

Yes. Sure, it looks
the same, all right.

Even... Even with the smudges.

Somebody went
through a lot of trouble

to make it look the same.

Oh, no, no. You're
wrong, Pete. You're wrong.

Yeah. They even copied
the telephone number up here

on the right hand
corner just the way I did.

Only they didn't know
that I erased it later.

But Pete, why would anyone
wanna change the map?

Where are you going?

Bentonville Park.

Sheila?

Chet.

Yeah. The worm
has finally turned.

Pete knows. He just
exploded out of here.

What's the matter?

You fouled up
the original survey.

You're wrong, Pete. My...
My survey is on record

at the Hall of
Records, it's correct.

Not the one you
gave me, it wasn't.

It had to be. You
did it deliberately.

You're crazy.

You filed the right one
and handed me a ringer.

Only who paid you to do it?

But... Who?!

What are you talking about?

I tell you, who
paid you to do it?!

Get away from me! - Who?

Hello?

I have to speak to Stu, hurry.

It's Mallory. He's
like a crazy man.

He's coming to your place now.

I'm sorry,

but you have the wrong number.

Put this in the car
for me, will you, dear?

I, uh, wanna look
over some papers.

Uh, when will you be back?

Oh, hard to say, uh, two,
three days at the most.

Fine.

Pete. PETE: I
want to talk to you.

Look, I've, uh... I've got to
go out of town for a few days.

Stock-issue business. I don't
have time to talk right now.

I've got the whole story, Stu.

I thought you might
want to hear it.

What story?

I just came from Edwards.

I knew I couldn't make a
mistake and run through

that boundary line without
a push from somebody.

Now, look, Pete, uh,
before you say anything...

Quiet!

No more talk.

You've kidded me
long enough with talk.

I'll make it good, boy.

I'll... I'll give you back
every cent. I promise.

Pete, don't lose your
temper. Pete! Pete!

Hey, lady.

Oh, please.

My husband, he beat me.

He tried...

Well, the only reason I got away

was because somebody drove up.

Oh, please, you've
gotta help me.

All right, lady. Take it easy.

Take it easy. Here we go.

Don't come any closer.

He's dead.

I've been phoning all over town
for you. Where have you been?

Just driving around town.

Trying to think.

Chet, we're all washed up here.

Let's pack and get out.

Get out? After what happened?

What are you talking about?

Stuart Benton was murdered
tonight, beaten to death.

That's a great technique.

Florentine, isn't it?

Mm-hm. She has
a wonderful touch.

Miriam promised one
for my, uh, apartment.

And I promised her
25 hundred dollars

for her favorite charity.

You did? When was that?

Just before you moved
to San Francisco.

You know, I haven't seen too
much of your daughter either.

Mr. Mason?

Yes.

I need your help.

I think I just killed a man.

All right, sergeant.

Thank you very much.

Stuart Benton was killed by a
blow on the back of the head

with a blunt instrument.

Blunt instrument?

I just hit him in the face
with my hand, that's all.

Did he fall? Yeah.

Did he strike his
head when he fell?

No, I don't think so.

He just fell in the
middle of the room.

As far as I can remember,
he wasn't even knocked out.

Did you ransack the
room before you left?

No, I didn't do that.

I left just after I hit him.

I didn't touch a thing.

Why did you hit
him, Mr. Mallory?

He just stood there,
not a hair out of place.

A no-good, four-flusher
looking like he just stepped out

of a fashion plate.

After all he had done to
me, how could I help it?

Mr. Mason, I don't
like to hurt people.

But something just
boiled up inside of me.

I just had to shove my
fist in his face just once.

All right, Mr. Mallory,
I believe you.

But before I promise anything,
I want to speak to Mr. Ames.

Will you wait here, please?

Well?

Well,

Mallory's involved in a murder.

He wants me to represent him.

I thought I should
talk to you first.

I assume you consider
I'm involved in some way?

The victim was Stuart Benton.

Evidently, he was
killed between 9:30

and 10:00 this evening.

I see.

Mallory, Benton,

my land and my daughter's.

Yes. There... There
would be an involvement.

You're a good friend, Jim.

But you understand if
I do represent Mallory,

my first duty would be to him.

Between 9:30 and 10, eh?

Let's see now.

Oh, yes. Yes. I remember.

Right after dinner I excused
myself to answer the phone.

Said I'd be right
back but I was gone...

How long was it?

Uh, about an hour?

Perry,

I'm a bad host, perhaps.

But, uh, not a murderer.

Then you don't mind
my taking his case?

You have a free hand
as far as I'm concerned.

I like Pete Mallory.

Go on, go on, help the man.

They're beating the
bushes for Mallory.

How nice we have
him in a hotel instead.

We? Am I, uh,
breaking the law again?

Not even bending it, Paul.

He's registered
under his own name.

But we do need a couple of
hours before he surrenders himself.

What else have you found out?

Well, the murder weapon was one

of those, uh, steel markers

they stick signs
in the ground with.

What time did, uh, Mrs. Benton

and the sheriff
discover the body?

Uh, 9:50.

Mallory told Perry
he left at 9:40.

That's ten minutes' difference.

And he denies
ransacking the place.

Well, it was
ransacked all right.

They're looking for
a missing briefcase.

Paul, Benton was
packed for a trip.

Do they know where he was going?

No. Mrs. Benton
doesn't know either.

They asked her.

See if you can
find out, and fast.

All right. Uh...

Check back through the office.

Will do.

Thank you, Harry.

A moment, please, Mrs.
Benton? May I talk to you?

I don't feel like
talking to anyone now.

Uh, this is important.

Come on, mister, you
heard what the lady said.

She doesn't wanna
talk to anybody.

Go ahead, Mrs. Benton.

She called you Harry.

Could that be Harry Parker?

Look, mister, I never
did like reporters.

They're always prying. I've
got nothing to say to you.

Della. You know
where Mr. Ames lives?

Yes, I've been there.

Well, I'd like a
copy, if I can get it,

to the sales contract
between Miriam Ames

and Benton for the
north side parcel.

Tell Mr. Ames it's important,
otherwise I wouldn't ask for it.

Mm-hm. Also,
while you're talking

to Mr. Ames,
uh, just casually...

Mm-hm. Mata Hari,
front and center.

Casually find out why,

after being away for a good year

or so he suddenly returned
from San Francisco.

In time to get a restraining
order on Pete Mallory

on that access road?

Right. Pick me up here
when you're finished.

By that time I'll
have finished talking

to a gentleman named Parker.

As I understand it,

the Sheriff's Department
is all through here.

Now, look here, friend,
I told you I didn't want...

I am not your friend.

I'm not a reporter.

I'm an attorney representing
someone involved in a murder.

I'm sorry.

I didn't know, Mr...?

Mason.

Now suppose we have
a little talk, Mr. Parker.

Sure.

Anything I can do?

You just helped Mrs.
Benton to her car.

Where was she going?

She went to the
Blue Arrow Motel.

Can't blame her for not wanting
to stick around here, can you?

Does she plan to continue
with the park project?

It's funny you asked. I
just made her an offer

to take it off her hands.

How strange.

You didn't seem to believe
very much in the park project

the other day when you
pulled all your equipment away

from Pete Mallory,
now did you, Mr. Parker?

Hello.

Hello. I'd like to see
Mr. Ames, please.

Well, he isn't here
right now, I'm afraid.

May I help you? I'm his
daughter, Miriam Ames.

Oh, yes, perhaps you could.

I'm Della Street, Perry
Mason's secretary.

Oh. Mr. Mason's
representing Pete.

Uh, Mr. Mallory, isn't he?

Uh, yes, that's right.

Well, what did you want to
ask my father, Miss Street?

Actually, I think it's something
of yours that Mr. Mason wants.

Your copy of the
contract covering the sale

of the north side property of
the Bentonville Park Estates.

Well, of course, if it
would help Mr. Mallory.

It's right here in the
study. Won't you come in?

Mm-hm.

Mr. Mason was here last night.

He talked about being impressed.

Very impressed with
one of your paintings.

Oh, nonsense.

But, uh,

he didn't mention your
being here, Miss Ames.

I got in this morning.

Oh.

Here it is.

Thank you.

Does your father plan on, uh,

living here for a little while?

Miss Street, I
assume your questions

reflect Mr. Mason's interest.

My father came down
here from San Francisco

because he received
a phone call...

An anonymous phone call.

Telling him that
somebody was building

a public road across
his own private property.

That's all I know.

Come in.

Mr. Stark? Chet Stark?

Yeah?

Paul Drake.

Private detective?

That's right. Mind if I come in?

Well, pretty complicated.

I imagine it takes a long
time to learn a thing like this.

Not something, say,
a private detective

could pick up without training?

No, not very well.

Look, Mr. Drake, is there,
uh, something you want?

Something I can,
uh, help you with?

Mr. Stark, as I'm not
horning into your racket,

would you mind telling me
what an engineer is doing

making like a private detective?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

No?

Three people:

The reservations
agent at the airport,

the desk clerk at the El
Mirador Hotel in Juárez,

and the leading divorce
attorney in Juárez.

Each told me what
I wanted to know.

Plus, one other thing:

That I was the
second person to ask.

The first person asking
questions was you.

So?

So we both went to a
lot of trouble to find out

that Stuart Benton
was going to stay

at the El Mirador Hotel in
Juárez while he obtained

a Mexican divorce
from his wife, Sheila.

All right, we were both curious.

So there's nothing
wrong with that, is there?

I get paid to be curious.

And I made my
investigation the day after

the murder of Stuart Benton.

You made your
investigation the day before.

And a lot of people,
including the police,

are going to want to know why.

I'm afraid that's my business.

Yours and Sheila Benton's?

How did you know?

I didn't know, Mr. Stark.

I just had a hunch.

I know how upset you
must be, Mrs. Benton.

But if you can help
us it might mean you'd

be saving a man's life.

Look, would you
just leave me alone?

I'll find out, as
will as the police,

if there was something
between you and Stark.

I'll also find out the rest of
what happened last night.

The rest of what happened?

Pete Mallory will swear

that one of the reasons
he struck your husband

was because your husband was
almost aggravatingly immaculate

within seconds of
what you've described

as a knockdown-dragout fight.

And for some special
reason of your own,

you wanted that
deputy sheriff with you.

Why?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

You do know that your
husband was flying to Mexico

to get a divorce.

But you didn't
want that, did you?

Oh, no. Mr. Mason, please,

you've got it all wrong.

It's not what you think.

If you won't tell me the
truth, what can I think?

Only that you were afraid of
being cut off without a cent.

And that you...

Or that you and Stark took
advantage of Mallory's fight

with your husband
by killing him.

No!

We only wanted to
stop Stu's cheating.

His... His pushing people
around. His double-dealing.

Oh, look, you...

You didn't really
know what he was like.

His sweet-talking
women, and his...

His... His hoodwinking
businessmen.

He... He was a con man.

If he was a con man,
then Bentonville Park

wasn't a legitimate operation?

It could have been.

But it wasn't.

It was like that
everyplace we went.

You see, Stu was too clever
to ever actually break the law.

You see, he'd tie up some big,

potential subdivision
for practically nothing,

and then he'd sell
off concessions,

and then he'd take advance
payments right and left.

And got away with it?

Well, there was always

some convenient middleman,

like Pete Mallory.

Stu would set up litigation.

Not against himself,

always against the contractor.

And then the litigation
made it impossible

to complete the development.

In this instance,

he hoodwinked
Mallory into building

a road on somebody's
private property.

Yes. That's right.

The court stopped Mallory

and the project was stalled.

Stu was legally out from under

so he'd just fade away
with his pockets full of cash.

Oh, but I couldn't
let that happen again.

What did you hope to gain

by having him arrested
on a false charge?

To keep him here!

For once, finally,

somebody was mad
enough to keep yelling

until the truth came out.

You mean Pete Mallory?

Well, he was our only chance.

Nobody ever fought back before.

But if Stu left town,

Pete would have a
chance to cool off.

Don't you see? It
had to be last night

because of the blackmail.

Blackmail?

Well, that briefcase,

the one the
police couldn't find.

Stu always kept it locked up,

but last night he
had it with him

to take on the trip.

Your husband kept
blackmail evidence?

Against whom?

Well, I don't know, but it
was the only way he had

of keeping people in line to...

To keep them from... Excuse
me, I'm Sergeant Landro,

sheriff's office.

Sergeant. You'll
be interested in this.

I'm interested in Peter Mallory.

You Perry Mason?

Yes.

Where is Pete Mallory?

Perhaps you won't want to
see Mallory when you've...

If it concerns Benton
being a blackmailer, sir,

we already know about that.

We found that briefcase
she was talking about.

You found...

It was in a locker
at the bus terminal.

Key to that locker we picked
up in Pete Mallory's room.

Now will you turn him in?

There's a warrant says he's
wanted for first degree murder.

Now, where was the body
found, Sergeant Landro?

The decedent was lying crumpled
in a heap near one of the desks.

I see.

I show you this coat, and
ask you if you recognize it.

Yes, sir. It was found in
the rooms of Peter Mallory,

the defendant.

It appears to have stains of
some sort on the sleeve here.

Did you find out what
caused the stain?

Laboratory tests
proved it to be blood.

And what else did the
laboratory tests prove

about this blood stain?

That it was the
decedent's blood type,

not that of the defendant.

It's not.

All right, sergeant, I now show
you this steel marker stake.

I ask if this was also
subjected to laboratory analysis?

Yes, sir. It's the
murder weapon.

How do you know that, sergeant?

Laboratory tests
proved there were bits

of hair and blood on it that

were also the same type
as that of the decedent.

It was lying on the
floor next to the body.

I see.

Now, finally, I show
you this briefcase.

Yes, sir, we checked it out.

It belonged to Stuart Benton.

If it please the court,

I should like this
coat, the steel marker,

and this briefcase
entered in evidence

and marked for the
people Exhibits A, B and C.

No objection.

So ordered.

Now, sergeant, would
you tell us please

the circumstances leading up

to the discovery
of that briefcase?

While searching
the defendant's room,

we found the key
to a public locker.

In the locker we
found the briefcase.

And then it too was subjected
to laboratory analysis?

Yes, sir.

Laboratory tests showed that it
had been splattered with blood

that was of the same type
as that of the decedent.

Now, sergeant, tell me this,

was there anything inside
that briefcase pertaining

to Mr. Mallory, the defendant?

Yes, sir.

There were some papers and notes

in what was apparently
Stuart Benton's handwriting

mentioning Peter
Mallory by name.

Your Honor, since this
is a preliminary hearing,

I'm gonna ask Sergeant Landro

to describe merely
the general nature

of those notes
about Mr. Mallory.

Well, it was information
that could conceivably, uh,

well, hurt his reputation
if it was passed on

to someone sensitive
about the use of violence,

or concerned about
Pete Mallory's temper.

I think that'll take
care of the situation.

Thank you, sergeant.

Your witness.

Sergeant Landro,

if the defendant had a
fight with the decedent

and had bloodied
his nose, let us say,

isn't it possible that
blood from the fight

was what you found on
the defendant's clothes?

It's possible.

Now, uh,

concerning the
contents of that briefcase.

Were there, uh, other names
on those notes of Benton's?

I object, Your Honor.

Revealing any additional
names from that briefcase

at this hearing would be
pointless sensationalism,

and it might do harm
to innocent people.

May I remind the prosecutor
that he introduced the evidence

and that once having
introduced a portion of it,

the balance of it is subject to
disclosure on cross-examination.

It would appear that
the evidence, in total,

would be brought out
in any superior court trial.

Mr. Mason, are you
asking for a full reading

of all the material
in that briefcase?

Well, no, Your Honor.

My question is
limited to who else,

by name, is mentioned
in those notes.

Prosecution's
objection is overruled.

Answer the question, sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Well, aside from Peter Mallory,

the only other person
even remotely connected

with this case whose name
was mentioned was Harry Parker.

Thank you,
sergeant. That'll be all.

Uh, you may step down.

Mallory blamed Stuart Benton.

He told me that Benton
better get him out of trouble

or he'd make trouble for Benton.

Mm-hm. That'll
be all, Mr. Parker.

Thank you. Your witness.

Mr. Parker, on June 7th

you withdrew $50,000
from your account.

On June 8th, Benton
deposited 50,000.

Now, you were seen
together during that period.

Of course.

It was a loan.

Loan?

Yes.

No record of it on
the company books.

Now, isn't it true that
you are a silent partner?

That you were blackmailed
into becoming a silent partner?

As a silent partner,
buying into Bentonville Park

meant protecting
your initial investment

after Benton's death.

It was a sound
business deal, was it not?

Yes, it was.

Mr. Parker, you
were at the other end

of the squeeze play against
Mallory, were you not?

What I did was
absolutely legitimate.

He couldn't pay his debts
so I took back my equipment.

When Benton told you
that Mallory knew the truth

and was going to expose
you, what did you do?

I never talked to Benton.

I didn't know anything
until I heard he was dead.

When was that, Mr. Parker?

When I read it in the papers.

And you can't
prove any different.

Perhaps not, Mr. Parker.

No further questions.

I was working late at my office

when Mallory came charging in.

It was about a quarter to 9.

Continue, Mr. Edwards.

Well, Mallory kept insisting
that he had been swindled.

That somebody had switched
the survey charts on him.

He, uh... He asked...

No. I guess he told
me it was Benton and...

And threatened me if
I didn't agree with him.

So you agreed with him?

Well, I would have agreed
to anything at that moment.

Go ahead.

Well, he... He...

He pushed me and
rushed out of my office

saying he was gonna
get his hands on Benton.

That's all, Mr. Edwards.

Thank you. Your witness.

Mr. Edwards, do
you frighten easily?

No.

Come now, Mr. Edwards.

Isn't it true that many
things frighten you?

During World War II

you were restricted
to non-combat duty

because of uncontrollable fear.

In 1954 you obtained a
divorce charging extreme cruelty

and specifying that you were

afraid of your wife.

Your Honor, Mr. Mason

is embarrassing this
witness with questions

that are not even
germane to this hearing.

On the contrary, Your Honor,

the prosecution
has stated it wishes

to illustrate the
mood and temper

of the defendant on
the night of the murder.

I simply wish to illustrate

that this witness
was not competent

to judge that mood and temper.

You've made your point,
Mr. Mason. Please continue.

Now, Mr. Edwards,

if the defendant
had reason to believe

he'd been swindled,
why did he come to you?

Isn't it true that you
were involved by, uh,

virtue of having
prepared a false survey?

My charts were correct.

Perhaps those that
you filed were correct,

but weren't you paid to give
the defendant a false survey?

No. That isn't true. No! No!

Your Honor, Mr. Mason
is deliberately intimidating

this witness.

He's already demonstrated
that the man suffers

from unnatural fears.

I'm glad the prosecution
concurs in that Mr. Edwards

has unnatural
fears and would tend

to exaggerate and distort events

because of his own personality.

May I continue, Your Honor?

Yes, Mr. Mason. Go ahead.

Now, Mr. Edwards,

you did not falsify a
survey because of money.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

Then did you falsify a
survey because of fear?

No.

Well...

I, uh...

No.

No further questions.

Step down, please.

I call Mrs. Stuart Benton.

All right, Mrs. Benton,
Mallory had arrived

giving you a chance
to break away.

Where did you go?

I went to get the
deputy, like I told you.

And when we got back
there, Stuart was dead,

Mallory was gone, and...
And the briefcase was missing.

Thank you, Mrs.
Benton. That'll be all.

Your witness.

Mrs. Benton, you knew your
husband was leaving you.

Isn't it possible you used
the defendant's arrival

to your own advantage
by killing your husband

before you went to
get the deputy sheriff?

No! No, I didn't kill my
husband! That's a lie!

- Your Honor.
- That's a lie!

The defense attorney seems to be

accusing everyone of this crime.

That's quite enough confusion.

This witness is obviously
unable to continue her testimony.

This court is adjourned
until 1:30 this afternoon.

May we have a moment, please?

You told me you weren't
being blackmailed.

Sorry, Mr. Mason.

It never dawned on
me that somebody

would make something of it.

Believe me.

What was in that briefcase
that concerned you?

Happened a long
time ago, San Diego.

I hit a man, too hard.

They arrested me,

spent a couple
of nights in jail.

Benton had the records.

I suppose he could
have embarrassed me

but he didn't need to pressure
me into doing that project.

I wanted to do it.

I guess I made it
rather rough for you?

Tell you what, Pete.

I won't let it worry me
if it doesn't worry you.

Good enough?

Good enough, Mr. Mason.

All right, bailiff. Thank you.

Perry, do you think
what was in the briefcase

will be damaging?

I'm more interested in
what wasn't in the briefcase.

What wasn't?

Paul, of course, you
have some good contacts

with the phone company.

Yeah, I know a couple
of dolls down there.

Uh-huh.

Check out those two telephone
numbers for me, will you?

I know I would have profited,
personally, Mr. Mason,

but it was a matter of putting
an end to the defrauding

of the people my
husband had business with.

What you are admitting is
that you actually conspired

against your husband in an
effort to take over the project?

If a wife must
remain blindly loyal

to a despicable
philanderer who...

Who cheated and stole,

and who'd go on
cheating and stealing

and even blackmail...

Then, yes, Mr. Mason, I
am guilty of a conspiracy.

Now, then, on the night of
the murder you left the trailer,

altered your appearance to
simulate having been beaten

by your husband, and went
hunting for a deputy sheriff.

How long were you gone?

About 20 minutes.

So you don't actually know,

of your own knowledge,

what time Mallory left

during that 20 minute period,

or whether or not
someone else came in

and killed your husband?

No.

Did you kill your
husband after Mallory left?

No, Mr. Mason, I didn't.

But, well, suppose I had.

Would I have
taken the briefcase?

Perhaps you might have taken it

to plant in the right place

and further convict
the defendant.

Uh, one more question.

Who else knew of the briefcase?

No one.

You're under oath, Mrs. Benton.

Did Chet Stark know of the
briefcase and its contents?

Yes.

Are you and Mrs.
Stuart Benton in love?

Yes.

It was our hope to get married,

if Sheila was ever free.

Is that why you both
conspired against her husband?

He had it coming to him.

He had what coming, Mr. Stark,

getting arrested
or getting killed?

That's not what I mean.

What do you mean?

Do you mean you were
concerned with what you had coming

along with Mrs. Benton?

A share in the park,

a share in $100,000
worth of insurance

on Stuart Benton's life?

What?

N-No.

No.

You... You're
twisting it all up!

Then Mallory and
Mason went into my study.

Mason came out saying Mallory
might be involved in a murder

and would I object to
Mason defending him.

How did Mallory
look when he arrived?

Apprehensive. Uneasy.

A little frightened, I think.

So Mallory knew at that
time that he was gonna

be accused of murder

and he deliberately sought
out Mr. Mason to get him off?

The question is
improper, Your Honor.

It calls for a conclusion
from the witness.

Uh, sustained.

No more questions. Mr. Mason.

Mr. Ames, there were
two important phone calls

made on the night of the murder.

One at 8:45, to a
number in San Francisco.

And one at 9:00 from that
number in San Francisco

to you.

Yes.

Mr. Ames,

the person Stuart
Benton called...

The person who then called
you from San Francisco.

Was that person your
daughter, Miriam Ames?

Yes.

Mr. Ames, isn't it a fact
that your daughter, Miriam,

and Stuart Benton were involved
in a whirlwind relationship?

A relationship that
suddenly terminated?

Miriam wrote to me in
San Francisco about it.

Stuart Benton
came to town, alone.

Apparently an attractive man.

Yes, at... At first it
was just business.

His wanting to buy her property.

But then Miriam
became interested in him.

Very much interested in him.

They went out
together a great deal.

Her calls and letters implied
she had every reason to believe

he was seriously
interested in her.

But he was careful
to always take her

to out-of-the-way
places, away from town,

where they wouldn't be seen.

I... I sensed what was
going on from her letters.

I... I was deeply concerned.

I... I tried, without
much luck, to warn her.

"Without much luck"?

Well, Miriam was
happy and excited.

She... She had no reason
to suspect Stuart Benton

was anything but
what he claimed,

so she went ahead
and signed the land deal

without letting me or an
attorney even see the papers.

And then?

His wife showed up in town.

He had fooled her, swindled her,

shamed her in her own eyes.

But he didn't
stop there, did he?

She... She had
written him some...

Some rather naive letters.

Because of her seeming
indiscretion with a married man,

he then tried to blackmail her?

Yes.

That's why he called her
the night of the murder,

using those letters to try
to extort money from her?

And that's why, uh,

frightened, she then called you?

Yes, yes, yes.

Did you then leave your home,
Mr. Ames, go to see Benton,

kill him, and then
remove from that briefcase

any reference to your daughter?

No.

So help me. No.

Somebody removed those letters.

According to Sergeant Landro,

they were not in the
briefcase, were they?

I never touched that briefcase.

I never set eyes on it.

Besides yourself, Mr. Ames,

who knew Miriam and
liked her well enough

to have removed
those letters? Who?

Pete Mallory.

I see.

This is important, Mr. Ames.

Just how did your daughter
meet Stuart Benton?

He came to the house.

Alone?

No.

He was brought
there by the engineer,

Phil Edwards.

We used to see a
good deal of each other.

My wife and Miriam were friends.

In its way, it was a rather
chivalrous thing you did.

Mr. Edwards, you did
remove the blackmail evidence

concerning Miriam Ames
from Benton's briefcase?

Yes.

There was also
blackmail evidence

concerning you
in that briefcase.

Evidence he used to
force you to introduce him

to Miriam Ames. Evidence he used

to force you to switch
surveys on Pete Mallory?

Yes.

After you removed the evidence,

you checked the briefcase
in the terminal locker

and planted the key
in Mallory's room?

Yes.

And you were outside
when Mallory hit Benton?

And when Mallory
left, you went inside?

Benton was half-unconscious.

The briefcase was on the floor.

It wasn't enough just to
get rid of the evidence.

Mallory knew.

I had to discredit him.

And Benton could always talk.

That could mean
losing my license,

going to jail.

Don't you see, Mr. Mason?

I... I was frightened.

Uh, Pete, you did so very
well working for other people.

I wonder, whatever prompted you

to gamble all the
money you had saved

and go into
business for yourself?

Well, it meant more money.

More, it proved that I
was a real somebody.

Someone who could...

You know, Jim,
permitting that access road

to, uh, cross your property

would get Pete
out of a bad hole.

But it would also allow you

to have a substantial interest

in a profitable venture.

What? Me...

Me buy into...

No, no, no. Not
buy, just exchange.

Just deed that one
small strip of land, uh,

for participation
in the entire resort.

But buying into...

Oh, Dad.

Uh...

Into Bentonville Park, huh?

Hm.

Why not? I've never turned away

from a good
business proposition.

Suppose we, uh...
Suppose we talk about it, eh?

Suppose we do.

Tell we now...