Original subtitles

Here's you change, Mr. Anclitas.

Keep it!

I'll get your bags out of the taxi, Mr. Anclitas.

I'll take care of everything, sir.

Now, don't you waste your time on me, sonny.

Save it for the paying customers.

Oh, thank you, sir, and welcome back.

Welcome back to Rowena.

Mr. Anclitas. Gee...

Now, now, now, now, you'd think I'd been gone for a whole month.

How's your mother's hip, Sadie?

Oh, Mother's back at the circus, already.

Maybe she's not riding elephants yet,

but after all those special treatments you paid for...

Sadie.

In the Big Barn I like everyone to be happy, that's all.

Here happiness is legal.

Eeenie, meenie, minie, mo.

All right, Mr. Marcus, I call you.

Two kings.

That's it, gorgeous, just lead me quietly away

to the fountain pen.

I'm sorry, Manning.

Better luck next time, sir.

Well, well, a little private game in the office, hey, Slim?

I didn't expect you back from Vegas.

Yes, just a few regulars.

The other gentlemen drifted away.

All but Mr. Manning Ennis III.

My little house is honored, sir.

And now it's endowed.

Oh, a little bad luck, maybe.

At least in the Big Barn nobody gets too badly burned.

Hm.

Well, buy the gentleman a drink, Slim.

You get the courtesy of the house, sir.

For a thousand years.

The name is Betty Roberts, hey?

Oh, yes, sir.

I'm a friend of Sadie's,

the new girl that you hired just before you went away.

Oh, sure, sure, I know.

The skirt who wanted to be a singer, huh?

Well, uh, here's your chance.

I don't understand.

Well, you just seen a man lose $60,000.

How does it happen?

Well, he... He wasn't having very good cards.

Well, I see you're a special friend

of my manager Slim Marcus, maybe, huh? Is that it?

Oh, no, the only reason I was in here was because Manning...

I mean, Mr. Ennis said he wanted some cigarettes

and then he just asked me to stay.

He thought I might bring him some luck.

Mm-mm. So much luck.

You don't know my club there's a $5,000 limit?

But you do know I like everyone to be very happy.

Please, Mr. Anclitas.

Well, that goes for me too.

Oh!

So now, uh,

how did it happen?

Sing a little.

Hm?

Betty.

Honey, what's wrong?

Well, hello, George.

I just heard you were back.

Well, well, if it isn't the Rowena police force.

Joe, be happy.

How's the wife's gallbladder?

What did you tell him?

He asked you questions, didn't he?

I... I guess he thought there might be something dishonest

about the poker game.

What did you say?

Hurry. Well, what could I tell him?

I... I don't know anything about cards.

I wasn't really watching the game.

Thanks a lot.

Oh, no, I mean...

Well, of course I told him there was nothing dishonest.

Mr. Marcus, please.

Mr. Marcus to the office.

Was there?

Frank, I need a carton.

Why did you bet all that money?

Famous last question.

Manning, please.

You don't think there was anything wrong in there, do you?

Just in here, that's the only place.

No, no, gorgeous, don't you worry about a thing.

Not you.

I'm awfully sorry it happened.

Take it easy, my wife has friends under every toadstool.

I'm scared, Manning.

I'm gonna quit this job just as soon as they'll let me.

Forget it, will you?

Forget about me too.

What are you talking about?

Manning, what's the matter with you?

Not a thing.

I'm finally going to be free, that's all.

This is it, gorgeous.

Two kings and it's all over with.

Finis.

The end.

You always got it straight about my $5,000 rule,

didn't you, Slim?

Nobody in my club plays for more without I say so myself.

It came up in a hurry.

You were supposed to be out of town.

But I knew you'd approve, all right.

He's good for it.

Oh, sure, sure.

And if I hadn't got here,

you would have told me about it, I guess.

How much money you won.

Well, sure.

Mm.

What about the girl seeing the game, George?

Oh, now, Slim, you don't have to worry about her.

I'll attend to her in the usual way.

In fact, I tell you.

If there's no trouble with her

or the check tomorrow or anybody else.

Who knows?

Maybe you don't even have to worry about yourself.

Sixty thousand dollars!

To Mr. Anclitas?

It's just not possible.

Not in one card game.

Why, that's all that you had left in your account.

Mm-hm.

And who told you that, my old friend Gowrie?

Yeah, there's a sweetheart too.

Kiss him goodbye for me.

Manning, where do you think you're going?

Fishing.

For fish.

Oh, you're drunk.

You must be.

That's been one of my troubles ever since I married you.

Vivian,

the money is gone, do you understand?

Sixty thousand dollars was all there was left in any account.

It's all that was left of me. I'll stop the check.

You can't. It's my account.

But a gambler's debt.

Now, there is nothing wrong with gambling.

Remember?

You started it all.

You started a lot of things.

Who were you out with tonight, by the way?

Oh, so that's what's bothering you, is it?

No.

I don't even care anymore.

The bottle.

The cards.

And now you.

The idea is to get the whole thing out of my system at once.

Goodbye.

I'll get that money back.

I am warning you, I'll get back every penny of it.

Yes, hello?

This is Mrs. Manning Ennis.

I'd like to see you right away.

But, Mrs. Ennis, I...

My dear, I realize how late it is,

but I can meet you anywhere you say.

Well, why?

What do you want me for?

Of course, I'll make it worth your while.

If you'll just tell me about the card game, how they did it?

Oh, no, please.

He said you were there, the girl named Betty.

How many times do I have to say it?

There's nothing to tell.

Nothing, nothing, nothing!

Nothing you know about, that is.

Excuse me.

Yes?

Yes, Della.

That's right, it's also in pacific second.

Mm-hm, right away.

Nothing you know about or saw or realized you saw.

Oh, he could have been cheated in a dozen ways,

I suppose, but...

Mr. Mason, why does everybody keep coming after me?

Well, I suspect it's this:

In the township of Rowena,

in that one little section in the midst of Los Angeles,

it's quite within the law to lose your money playing poker.

So if it could be proved that there was something wrong

about that poker game last night,

then it's possible Mr. Ennis' money could be recovered

through legal channels.

Naturally, this would worry the gamblers.

It's funny but Manning...

Mr. Ennis, didn't seem to mind losing very much.

Maybe he feels differently today.

Now, you say Mr. Anclitas was particularly curious

about, uh, how the poker game started.

Mr. Mason, he hit me.

He touched me and backed me up against a door

and then he slapped me.

We can certainly do something about that, Miss Roberts.

Last year Sadie told me there was a girl

who made those gamblers mad

and they chased her clear out of the state.

She hadn't done a thing.

And they planted marijuana cigarettes in her room

and even a gun in her purse.

All right, Betty, suppose you tell me all of why you're here.

Whose is it?

Oh, the club has several.

You know, in the safe, next to the cash register,

places like that.

Anyway, I take this hatbox with me

so that I can change right after work.

But last night I was so anxious to get out of there, that...

That I didn't even bother to pick it up.

And when I went to get my things this morning...

You, uh, found this gun in the hatbox?

I felt under the cash register

and that's the gun that belongs there. I'm sure it is.

I was afraid to put it back. The cleaning women were there.

By, uh, any chance were you wearing gloves

when you felt under the cash register?

Oh, I'd already handled the register.

Last night I made some change for a man

after the regular woman had locked the cash drawer.

You opened it?

How?

Mr. Anclitas asked me to.

He... He gave me a key.

Excuse me.

Here are the books you asked for.

Oh, good.

Um, there's a Mr. Gowrie on the phone for you.

Can't it wait?

He, uh, mentioned Miss Roberts' name.

He seemed very anxious to find her.

Who is it?

Put him on, Gerdie.

Hello?

What's on your mind, Mr. Gowrie?

Yes, well, uh, last night, the, uh, wife of an old friend,

one of my investment clients, got me out of bed.

She was terribly upset, and, uh...

Well, since you represent Betty Roberts...

What makes you think I do?

Well, a woman called Sadie

told me that Miss Roberts was consulting you.

Well, never mind that now, Mr. Mason, you'll...

You'll know what I'm talking about,

when I tell you we intend to get every cent of that money back.

"We" intend to?

Yes, Vivian Ennis and I.

Mr. Gowrie, since it's after 10:00, why...?

Well, why do you think I'm calling?

The bank just informed me that they cashed the check.

Vivian will really blow her top now.

Look, Mr. Mason, I thought that perhaps you and I

could get together with Betty Roberts,

and sort of work this thing out some way.

Look here, Gowrie, why don't you use the Novo decision?

The what?

Novo v. Hotel Del Rio, May 4th, 1956.

An appellate court held that a husband has no right

to gamble with the community property.

A wife can follow the community funds

and recover them from the gambler who won them.

Wait a minute, wait just a minute.

Uh, where can I find all that?

And tell your lawyer to look in 141 California Appellate,

second at page 304.

It's in 295 pacific second, uh, 576.

I've got it, thanks.

Thanks a lot, Mason.

What was all that?

Smokescreen.

But it may keep everyone from chasing after you for a while.

Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment,

I have another call to make.

Um, just sit there. We'll make it from the library.

Della, put it through for me, will you?

Excuse me.

Betty.

You have no reason to believe that this gun has ever been

used in any sort of crime, have you?

No, of course not.

No, of course not.

Colt .38 Super.

Della, several of our clients

have left guns here, haven't they?

Mm-hm, they're in the safe.

Open it, will you, please?

What are you going to do?

I just don't like to see a little girl

being pushed around by a big gambler.

Does that include little girls who tell big stories?

Just because she's pretty.

This is the same type.

You already have the serial number, don't you?

Mm.

Perry?

Trading guns is tampering with evidence.

Evidence of what?

Oh, don't worry, I'll take precaution.

But think how surprised someone will be

if they try to catch Betty

with a hatbox that contains a certain stolen gun.

I think you should keep this for a while.

Right in your hatbox.

Now, we better move you from your apartment in Rowena

to a safer place.

There's a little motel out in Oakridge I think you might like.

You want a ballistic check?

Oh, check the registration first.

I definitely want to know who owns the gun.

Then you can turn it over to your expert friend, Halstead.

Okay.

Now, you said there were two things

you wanted to see me about.

I have a new client, a young woman.

She seems to have antagonized

the powers that be out in Rowena.

That's not to smart.

She left there in rather a hurry.

She needs some things from her apartment, um...

Here's the address.

She worked in the, uh, Big Barn.

Said some of the other employees in the Big Barn

also live at her apartment house.

I'd prefer you not being seen.

Maybe I'd better wait till late this afternoon

when they've all gone to work.

And while you're there,

see if there's anything unusual in the apartment.

Out of line, you know.

Like illegal, maybe?

Okay, I'll search the joint for you.

Um, how do you want me to get in?

Down the chimney or shoot my way in?

You're entirely too suspicious, Paul.

She, uh, gave us the key voluntarily.

What's the connection between the girl and this gun

and what am I getting into, anyway?

You're gonna help us find that out.

Hello, anybody home?

Hello.

Say, what do you think you're doing there?

She ain't home.

Los Angeles Police, young lady.

We're looking for Miss Betty Roberts.

Oh, well, she's gone out to Oakridge or someplace.

Well, uh,

perhaps you wouldn't mind stepping inside here a moment.

She's not here, lieutenant.

Who is it?

Perry Mason.

Is something wrong?

Betty, I'd like you to sign this.

Just like that?

Go ahead and sign it.

Oh, looks like you've been doing a little reading.

Oh, yes, I've just been loafing all day.

Then you haven't been out of here all day?

Well, I did go to the restaurant for some coffee

after I first got here

and then later for lunch, but that's all.

And I haven't spoken to a single soul.

Here, now sign it.

It's the police, open up.

Now, don't worry, Betty.

Just do what I tell you to do.

Well, well, hello, lieutenant.

You. What do you think you're doing here?

Well, I'm suing George Anclitas.

Miss Roberts has certain claims against him.

He slapped her,

used abusive, threatening language.

Now, isn't that a likely story.

Oh.

Well, we want to look around a little.

What are you looking for?

The murder weapon, in case you didn't know.

Murder? Who's dead?

Mr. Mason, what's h...?

Now, I'll ask all the questions, young lady.

But first I wonder if you'd let me have your thumbprints.

It's all right.

Oh, uh, lieutenant.

Well, well, would you look at that.

Oh, but... But that gun was just put there.

It was in my hatbox when I went to get it at the club.

When was that?

Now, let's not answer any questions about that gun.

Tragg, I think you'll find that particular weapon

has little or no significance.

What do you mean by that?

I'm just giving you a personal, friendly tip, that's all.

Well, thanks.

I could hardly hold down my job

without your friendly, personal tips, Perry.

Miss Roberts, um, how well have you known Mr. Manning Ennis?

Manning?

Well, we've talked a number of times.

He used to come into the Big Barn quite often.

You ever been out with him?

Two or three times, maybe.

Why?

Have you gone to visit him at his house, for instance?

No, no, I wouldn't.

Well, Miss Roberts, if you never been in that house,

how can you explain the presence of your fingerprints

on glassware, furniture,

even on an inside doorhandle of Mrs. Ennis' car?

The same car that was driven off the canyon road

to their place last night

with Vivian Ennis' dead body inside it.

Miss Roberts, did you fire the bullets that killed her?

Did you then push her car?

No, no, I didn't, no.

All right, Betty.

Don't answer any more questions.

I'm taking her down to headquarters.

And you're not going along, Perry.

Furthermore, when we fire test bullets

from that gun of hers over there, and they turn out

to be the same as the bullets that killed Mrs. Ennis...

When they find out those bullets aren't the same,

they'll have to release you, Betty.

Now, that gun didn't kill anyone last night.

Please try to believe me.

Even if the lieutenant won't.

Well, well, well, you are him, huh?

Mr. Mason.

Uh, this is Mr. Anclitas. My name is Marcus.

We didn't mean to scare you.

Well, back at the motel there are too many policemen

to talk in front of.

Mr. Mason, I get right to the point.

The what?

What do you mean?

I didn't really think he knew anything about it.

This Gowrie, he waves your name around

like the cavalry was coming.

Gowrie?

Oh, that community property business.

So he talked to you about that.

Well, you know, starting a rumor like that

can cause a lot of trouble, Mr. Mason.

I'm delighted to hear that you've been inconvenienced.

But I didn't think Gowrie would pursue the subject

after discovering that his client had been murdered.

This Gowrie would pursue wild dragons,

if he thought there were dollars inside.

The Novo decision was based upon the idea that a man

can't dispose of community funds

without receiving some consideration.

I suppose it might be argued that, uh,

in a place like Rowena,

where gambling is legal, there actually is consideration.

Already, you see.

He's already thinking.

Uh, Mr. Mason, I am prepared to offer you a handsome retainer.

And in return you'd expect me

to drop my interest in Miss Roberts?

No, why should I do that?

In particular, if they say she might have committed a murder.

Did you know Vivian Ennis?

She came to the club fairly often.

Once or twice with this man Gowrie, in fact.

Yes, but not last night.

Why should we waste so much time on other people's murders?

Look here, Anclitas, I might give some thought

to your proposition, if you'd tell me who planted

those marijuana cigarettes in Betty Roberts' apartment.

What?

My telephone number's in the book, gentlemen.

There was $355 missing

from one of the cash registers this morning too.

But I didn't plant those things.

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

But we got nothing to do about nothing.

You hear me?

Vivian said the money was hers

and she was going to get it back.

Then she slammed out the door.

That was about 2 a.m., I guess.

Mr. Ennis, was that money hers?

No, originally it was my grandfather's.

And that inheritance was what you lost gambling?

Mm-hm.

Then it wasn't community property after all.

Did Mr. Gowrie know that?

Sure, why?

Hm.

After your wife left here last night, where did you go?

The police have practically drawn pictures of it, Mr. Mason.

I went to Newport, I have a little boat there.

The doctors seem to think that your wife died about 5 a.m.

I was down at the boat then.

All right.

Tell me about you and Betty Roberts.

There isn't much.

All in the mind, I guess.

She's...

She's so much different than Vivian.

When did you bring her to the house?

A couple of nights ago.

Just to show her the place, that's all.

By any chance, uh,

were you using your wife's car that night?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I was.

We'd switched that day.

That would explain the fingerprints.

It might help Betty quite a bit.

I'd like to help her, Mr. Mason.

All I possibly can.

You really hated your wife, didn't you, Mr. Ennis?

Yes, I did.

Enough to kill her?

Hello. Hi, Perry.

Della, any word from downtown?

Not from Betty.

Perry, that, uh, ballistic expert friend of mine, Holstead,

he's all upset. Oh?

He heard this afternoon that the police are looking

for a murder weapon of the same type you gave me.

A .38 Super.

All right, Paul.

Tell him to turn it in.

I don't want to see any other people in trouble.

Well, as a matter of fact, he's checking right now.

Confidentially, that is, with one of the boys at headquarters.

Yes?

It's your office, Paul.

Oh, thanks.

Yeah?

He did?

That's a relief.

But are they sure?

Okay, thanks a lot, I got it.

Relief?

Maybe not for your client.

It seems they already found the gun they want.

Where?

It's the one they took out of Betty Roberts' hatbox

at the motel when they picked her up.

Remember? You were there.

That just couldn't be. That gun...

They say it matches with a bullet

taken from the body, Perry.

So it's got to be the gun that did the killing.

I found that two bullets had entered the chest cavity,

slightly above and to one side of the heart,

causing intensive hematoma and tissue destruction.

The paths of the bullets were, generally speaking, parallel.

And had the bullets passed

entirely through the body, doctor?

Uh, one had been deflected. It was embedded in bone.

The other was found in the outer clothing of the decedent,

where her coat had fallen down behind her,

next to the automobile seat.

Doctor, did you find anything at all to suggest

that Mrs. Ennis' death was caused by the car

plunging into that gully?

Oh, no, sir.

The car hadn't overturned.

There were hardly even any bruises.

Death was unquestionably caused by the bullets, not the wreck.

I think that'll be all, doctor.

Thank you very much. Your witness.

Doctor, you said there were two bullets.

That's right.

How far apart?

About an inch and a half at the point of entrance.

Which one was fired first?

Really, I have no way of knowing.

There was extensive tissue destruction.

Well, let me put it this way:

Would the bullets have been instantly fatal?

- Yes, sir. - Which one?

Well, both of the bullets

instantaneously inflicted a mortal wound.

But which one was the cause of death?

I have just said that both were the cause of death.

Doctor, do you mean that it's possible

for a person to die twice?

I mean that either of those bullets

could have caused the death of Mrs. Vivian Ennis.

And I cannot be sure which one it was.

Thank you, doctor.

That'll be all.

No, hold those.

Joseph Marcus, please.

Yes, I'd say Miss Roberts was quite upset

over Mr. Ennis' loss that night.

In fact, when he left her...

When he left the club, she seemed to be crying.

Well, did Betty Roberts often display

emotion in your establishment?

I mean, in connection with Mr. Ennis?

It was fairly impossible

for anyone not to notice how she felt about him,

if that's what you mean. Including Mrs. Ennis.

I'd say she sought out the man's company

every time he entered the club.

Your Honor, I object to this leading of the witness

into unwarranted conclusions.

Objection sustained.

Please confine yourself to more direct questioning, Mr. Burger.

Mr. Marcus, on the previous night,

that is the night before the night of the murder,

did you see Miss Roberts and Mr. Ennis together?

Yes, I did.

Under what circumstances?

It was in the parking lot after closing time.

I saw Miss Roberts go out there.

Mr. Ennis was waiting for her.

And what was the manner of their greeting?

They kissed each other.

That'll be all.

Counselor.

Mr. Marcus, do you recall telling me

that you were personally acquainted

with the deceased, Vivian Ennis?

She came to the club fairly often.

To gamble?

Sometimes. Sometimes she'd just sit and drink.

Gossip with friends.

With a friend like you, Mr. Marcus?

Sometimes.

Did you ever take her out

to other places?

Places where you wouldn't be quite so conspicuous?

Well, Mrs. Ennis was a very attractive woman.

How many times did you take her out, Mr. Marcus?

When you'd meet her, Mr. Marcus,

what was your manner of greeting?

Your Honor, I object.

I'll withdraw the question.

That'll be all, thank you.

Well, Vivian Ennis was fit to be tied.

She said her husband had lost $60,000 playing poker

and she intended to get every cent of it back.

Then she slammed down the phone.

That was about 2:20 a.m.

Mr. Gowrie, you've testified that Mrs. Ennis

told you she was going to contact the defendant.

Did she also tell you that she thought the poker game

might have been dishonest in some way? Fixed?

Well, as I said, Mrs. Ennis was terribly upset.

Personally I've never had any reason to even remotely suspect

a game at the Big Barn.

Thank you, Mr. Gowrie, that'll be all.

Your witness.

Mr. Gowrie, concerning your own gambling.

My own what, sir?

Well, you've just testified as to the honesty

of Mr. Anclitas' establishment.

Well, I've only really been there a few times myself.

With whom? Mr. Ennis?

No, with Vivian Ennis

as a matter of fact.

Have you ever been employed by Mr. Anclitas?

Of course not. I've never taken a penny from him.

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

No further questions.

And what happened the next morning, Miss Bradford,

the morning after the murder?

The next morning when I tapped on Betty's door,

she wasn't in.

Then later, when I went out for breakfast,

she came banging into me on the sidewalk.

She came from the club, I guess.

She was white as a sheet.

Did she say anything to you?

She said something awful had happened

and she'd call me later.

She was going to see a lawyer.

Then she got in the taxi and drove off.

And did she call you later?

Yeah.

She said she was going out to some place in Oakridge.

She was going to hide for a while.

I see.

Your witness.

No questions.

In the Big Barn I want everyone to be happy.

Even a man whose just lost $60,000 dollars in one sitting?

Oh, he wanted to play. It was his idea.

There was nothing wrong about it.

I only wish I had lost the money myself.

Yes, just answer the questions, please.

Now, Mr. Anclitas, would you tell us...?

Your Honor, may I be excused for a moment?

You may, Mr. Burger.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason, what are they all trying to do to me?

With the court's permission, I'd like to ask this witness

to stand aside temporarily.

For what reason, Mr. Burger?

Earlier testimony of the doctor made us anxious

to double-check certain facts about the murder weapon.

This has now been done.

And I would like to call to the stand at this time, Mr. Wilton,

our top police expert on ballistics.

How do you feel about this, Mr. Mason?

Reserving my right to cross-examine this witness,

I have no objection, Your Honor.

You may step down, sir.

I said you may step down, sir.

Now, Mr. Wilton, to repeat,

you say that this bullet, which has been identified

as one of the two bullets which killed Vivian Ennis,

was definitely fired from this gun

which is marked People's Exhibit E.

Yes, sir, that's correct, sir.

It's a Colt .38 Super.

And that's the same gun that Lieutenant Tragg found

in the defendant's hatbox at the time that she was arrested.

That's it.

That's the gun that fired that bullet.

Now, here is a second bullet,

marked People's Exhibit C.

This was also removed from the victim's body.

Have you ever seen this bullet before?

I have.

It's the same type and caliber as the other slug,

but we ran a ballistics check on it too.

Well, we didn't think it necessary at first but,

well, then we did.

And was this bullet, this second bullet, fired from this gun?

No, sir, it was not.

You mean that the two fatal bullets were fired

from two different guns?

That's it, sir.

Mr. Wilton, I show you this second gun

of the same make and type as the other

and I ask if you recognize this.

Yes, sir, I do. It has my mark on it.

If it please the court,

I should like this second .38-caliber Colt Super automatic

entered in evidence for the people and marked Exhibit F.

Mr. Mason?

I have no objection, Your Honor.

Mr. Wilton, will you tell us, please,

if you checked that second gun ballistically?

Yes, sir, that second gun,

Exhibit F, is the gun that fired that second bullet.

Now, just a moment.

Mr. Burger, it seems to me you may be giving defense

grounds for requesting a dismissal.

The doctor stated it was impossible to tell

which bullet had killed Mrs. Ennis,

so unless you actually intend to link

the accused to both of these guns...

That's exactly what we intend, Your Honor.

Proceed.

Mr. Wilton, will you please tell us how that second gun

first came to your attention?

Well, it was shown to me confidentially

by another gun expert.

He does work for private parties mostly. His name is Halstead.

Now, Mr. Halstead,

what was the name of the man who brought you this gun?

His name is Paul Drake. He's a private investigator.

And did Mr. Drake give you any reason why he wanted this gun

to be test-fired by you?

He just said it was being done for a lawyer.

Did he say what lawyer?

Mr. Perry Mason.

Thank you, sir. Your witness.

No questions.

Well, so much for gun number two, Exhibit F.

I now call George Ranger to the stand.

Mr. Ranger, I show you now Exhibit E.

This is the first gun.

The one that was taken from the defendant's hatbox

at the time of her arrest.

I ask you if this is your gun.

Oh, I really couldn't tell that.

Well, I suggest that you compare the serial number on the gun

with the number on your gun permit.

They seem to be the same.

Well, would you say then

that this is your gun?

I guess it must be.

And would you tell us, please,

when you last saw it?

About, uh, six months ago.

I was involved in a civil suit.

My lawyer didn't think I should be carrying a weapon,

so he locked the gun in his safe.

And what was your lawyer's name?

Perry Mason.

Really.

Thank you.

Your witness.

No questions.

Your Honor, at this time I have no alternative

except to call Perry Mason to the stand.

Just a moment, Mr. Burger. Your Honor...

Your Honor I realize that this is a very irregular request.

But I'm faced with a shocking situation in which the counsel

for the defense had personal possession of both guns

that fired both bullets.

May it please the court, it's after 12:00.

Your Honor.

Mr. Burger, I'm just as curious and concerned as you are,

but the point of Mr. Mason's interruption is well taken.

It is after 12.

Court adjourned until 2 p.m.

Mr. Mason, I'm so sorry.

Now you're in almost as bad trouble as I am.

Never mind all that.

Just try to think.

Try to remember.

Well, Mr. Anclitas walked in on the poker game.

Slim Marcus had raked in all the cards that were face-up.

And then he reached for the check, but...

But Mr. Anclitas took it out of his hand.

Betty what do you mean all the cards that were face-up?

Well, the last two poker hands, that's all.

You know, four cards up and one down.

Excuse me.

Did you reach the doctor?

Uh-huh, he said either one of those bullets

could have been fired after Vivian Ennis was already dead.

How long after? Mm, several hours.

Had to be that, at least.

Well, I should hope so.

If one of those guns didn't leave the safe in your office

until 10:00 that morning,

five hours after Vivian Ennis was killed...

Paul, do you know Section 330 of the State Penal Code?

Huh?

It defines illegal games of chance

when the code was written in 1872.

It did not include draw poker.

Later, when the code was amended,

it did include stud poker.

Playing a game of stud poker is a misdemeanor,

even in Rowena.

The inference here is obvious, Your Honor.

The defendant, Betty Roberts, came to Perry Mason with a gun

which had fired a fatal bullet into the body of Vivian Ennis.

Somehow that gun then left her possession and in its place,

she obtained another gun which could only have been given her

by her counsel, that same Perry Mason.

Very well, Mr. Burger.

I've only allowed you to make these statements

since this is a hearing, without jury.

Your Honor, I found it necessary to make my point very clear

because we have here a strong inference that this defendant

was actually instructed by her attorney

to return to the scene of the crime

and to fire a second bullet from a second gun

into the body of the victim.

It's one thing for counsel to advise

a person accused of a crime,

but it's quite another thing for an attorney himself

to become an accessory to murder.

I agree, sir.

Mr. Mason, you'll now take the stand and be sworn as a witness.

Your Honor, I'm still representing the defendant

and I'm entitled to pursue this case in an orderly manner.

As I remember,

when the district attorney

started calling witnesses out of their proper order,

he hadn't quite finished his examination

of Mr. George Anclitas.

That makes no difference, Your Honor,

I have no more questions of Mr. Anclitas.

Then I insist upon conducting my cross-examination

of Mr. Anclitas, Your Honor.

Mr. Mason is just stalling for time, Your Honor.

Counsel is within his rights, Mr. Burger.

Mr. Anclitas will return to the stand for cross-examination.

Concerning the legal ownership of this first gun, Mr. Anclitas,

Exhibit E, I believe it has been established

that it belonged to the Big Barn.

Well, that's right. That gun belongs by my cash register.

Hm, now tell us how many other guns you keep at the club

for, uh, which you hold permits.

Uh, let me see, uh, two in the bar,

one at each cashier.

Uh, there are five guns, I think.

And you account for every one of the five guns?

Your Honor, I object.

This is a familiar trick of Mr. Mason's.

He's trying to get us so tangled up in immaterial guns...

I'll watch my step, Mr. Burger.

But I suggest if you have a point, you make it, Mr. Mason.

Now, Mr. Anclitas, how do you account for this particular gun

getting into the possession of the defendant?

Did she steal it?

Oh, steal is a big word.

Murder is a bigger one.

On the same morning this gun was found to be missing,

did you cause the cash drawers at your club

to be double-checked?

Yes. And you found what?

One of them was short $355.

And then did you ask the Rowena Police

to look for that missing money and did they find it?

Your Honor, I'll object to that. That's an improper question.

Uh, Your Honor,

I, uh, know the prosecution hasn't decided

when to reveal all this,

but the subject has been introduced.

My question is quite in order.

Objection overruled.

Continue, Mr. Mason.

Mr. Anclitas, was that $355 found, and if so, where?

In her apartment, Miss Betty Roberts.

Along with what else,

Mr. Anclitas?

Well, just a few smokes the police said. Marijuana.

It's funny, I didn't think it of her.

Now, let's go back to the night before.

When you walked in on that poker game, Miss Roberts was there.

Isn't that correct? Yes.

The sole witness to a game in which $60,000 changed hands.

Now, suppose there was something peculiar about that game.

Suppose they'd been playing stud poker, for instance.

Stud poker, instead of the more legal draw poker.

No, no, no, no.

Not even if the customers ask for it.

Not in my club.

Isn't it true that last year you got rid of a female employee

by planting incriminating items in her possession?

Certain items such as, uh, a stolen pistol, money, marijuana.

Objection, Your Honor.

Sustained.

All right, Mr. Anclitas.

Isn't it true that after the $60,000 poker game

you decided to get rid of Miss Betty Roberts?

Isn't it true that you took money

from one of your cash drawers to be placed

in Miss Roberts' apartment?

No.

Isn't it true that you planted marijuana cigarettes

in Miss Roberts' apartment?

Of course not. I never touch the stuff.

She's no good, that girl.

He's lying.

I did it. I put those things there.

He made me do it.

He paid my bills.

He paid my mother's hospital.

He wanted everybody should be happy, he said.

And when did you plant the gun in Betty Roberts' possession?

Early the next morning.

I went over to the club

and I noticed her hatbox was still there,

so I put the gun in it.

Betty, honey, I'm so awful sorry.

Your Honor, in the light of these new developments,

I would like to recall another witness: Mr. William Gowrie.

Mr. Burger?

No objection, Your Honor.

The money then belonged to Mr. Ennis.

It was not community property.

That's right.

Did you at any time help Vivian Ennis

to get control of that money, legally that is,

perhaps by juggling investments?

Now, there's no need for me to answer that sort of a question.

Why? Because her husband knew what you were up to?

I wasn't up to anything I tell you.

But you were seeing

Mrs. Ennis socially, were you not?

Well, that's different.

Had you proposed marriage, Mr. Gowrie,

in the event of their divorce?

Well, what of it?

She refused me.

Why?

Because you hadn't been successful

in getting the money for her?

Well, how should I know?

She threw me over, don't you understand?

She threw you over for whom,

Mr. Gowrie?

How should I know?

The, uh, different times you took her to the Big Barn,

whom did she go there to meet?

Don't you think it most probable, Mr. Gowrie,

that Vivian Ennis had become interested in someone

who could get the money for her

and perhaps get it quite easily?

Now look, I'm not gonna commit myself in any way.

Why not, Mr. Gowrie?

Surely you couldn't have known all the things

Mrs. Ennis' murderer must have known

about that gun, for instance.

Where it was kept.

About Mr. Anclitas' intention in planting money and marijuana

in order to incriminate Miss Roberts.

About Mr. Anclita" rage that night

over a poker game which had been carefully kept secret from him.

You.

You pig.

For $60,000.

I'll kill you.

Shut up, George.

Get your hands off me! Leave me alone!

You ruined my business.

You ruined my club, my reputation.

Get him off of me!

I'll tell everything. Get him away from me.

I'll tell you how I killed her!

To begin with, Marcus took every penny he could get

from Mr. Ennis in that poker game.

Vivian and her new boyfriend, Marcus,

intended to split the winnings.

But then Anclitas walked in and, uh, took the whole pot instead.

Well, that's what made Vivian so terribly upset, of course.

Sure.

After closing time, she came after Marcus,

threatened to expose him to his boss.

That's when they fought and he killed her.

But what about the guns?

Well, he used the cash register gun.

That's what he killed her with.

Afterwards, he took the gun right back to the club

where he put it away again,

knowing that Sadie would then plant the gun on you.

That's just exactly what happened too.

Only I switched the guns.

While you were in the restaurant having coffee,

Marcus checked in your room and found you had a gun

with the wrong serial number.

That's when he got panicky.

All he could think was

Sadie had put the wrong gun in the hatbox.

So he gilded the lily.

He took the gun out,

put another shot through the body,

later returned the gun while you were out having lunch.

Just to make me look guilty.

Well, by that time he was committed. He had to.

Oh, excuse me.

Did you send for me, Mr. Mason?

I like everybody to be happy.