All language subtitles for Perry Mason s08e29 Wrongful Writ

Oh, I can't see anyone just now, though.

She said it would only take a minute,
Perry. Her name is Dory Adler.

Find out what she wants. Make an
appointment for her. Miss Adler, wait.

I told you.

No, Miss Adler. What I want is that
he... That you, Mr. Mason, that you see

Miss Adler, I'm... I mean, just see me.

See who I am and what I look like and
identify me.

You don't know who you are?

Of course I do. I'm Dory Adler.

But there's something crazy going on,
and I'm scared, and, well, I'm trying to

stop, and... Well, I guess I must look
pretty crazy myself in this kooky

but they gave it to me to wear, and...
They gave it to you?

Mr. Mason, look, there isn't time to
explain the mess I've gotten myself

but, well, I think I was hired just to
walk around the street sometimes,

even more like a creep sometimes,
because, well, because I guess maybe I

like somebody else.

Who? Please, can't I explain it later?

Miss Ambler, who hired you?

A man named Billings.

See, there was an ad in the newspaper,
and, well, he interviewed hundreds of

girls, I guess, up in this hotel suite.

Which hotel?

Mr. Mason, it doesn't matter. The point
is, I figured out a way to stop them

from using me. I can get myself out of
trouble.

But I need the protection of somebody.

You, being able to say that I'm me.

The usual means of establishing one's
identity.

I know. Now, I told her my address, and
I'm 21, I'm 5 '4", I'm 117 pounds, and

let's see. Oh, distinguishing marks. I
had an operation about six months ago

appendicitis. Oh, I see.

I was thinking possibly you might have
some further identification, such as a

driver's license.

Oh, well, it's in my purse, but...

Do you have your fingerprints on?

Oh, good.

I'm no expert.

Don't take too long.

Yes, give me your right thumb.

Excuse me.

Yes.

Larry, I know the young lady is very
pretty, and she may have a pretty scar

pretty fingers too, but she also has a
gun in her purse.

Hurry it up just a little. Now, let's
see. Please, Mr. Mason.

Identical. You are Dory Ambler, all
right?

Of course, you've lost one pound in the
past few months, but... Yes, well,

listen, I really must be going.

Why? You know, if you'd explain a little
more to me. Here, let me help you with

your coat. Oh, no, that's okay. I can
carry it. Sometimes it's better to turn

your problems over to someone else. No,
no, it's much worse being ashamed of

yourself for being so young and stupid
without... Look, over my shoulders is

just fine.

Here we are.

Here's your purse. Thank you. Thank you
very much, Mr. Mason.

At least now I know I can call on you if
I ever do need your help.

Of course.

Bye.

Perry. Bella, I want Paul to... It's all
right. I understood your signals on the

phone. And Paul isn't there, but his
office will have somebody tailing the

by the time she leaves the building.
Perfect secretary.

Well, baffling boss, will you explain to
me why you have to accept a client who

carries a gun around in her purse?

It's all right, Bella. I had a good look
at it.

Well? It's loaded.

With blanks.

There she goes.

Hey, stop her.

Get out of my way. Look out.

Wait a minute.

Where was it? Never mind where it was.
Let's get out of here. You don't want to

get shot.

I'm okay.

Take it easy.

Where'd she go? I saw it. I saw her hold
him up. Do you see him right after?

All right.

All right, now, what's going on here?
Well, she said this isn't a stink -up.

Now, wait a minute. She said what?

Officer, he ran down that way. He went
into the restroom, the one down the

All right, will you people stand back
here, please? Just be fast.

All right, get back, will you? Move on,
please.

It's all right, just stand back, please.

That's her.

That's, there she is.

It's her, all right. Now, just some old
mess.

Stand right here, please. What?

Why did you do it? Holy smoke, a mean
coat, and there you go. All right, all

right. Give me this. Who are you?

I'm used to making up a story, lady. You
were seen with a gun in your hand.

I was what?

What are you talking about?

Will you step right over here, please? I
don't even know what you're talking

about. What's wrong? What did they say I
did? Who is he? I didn't do anything.

You think she looked honestly surprised,
at first, I mean.

I think she's nuts.

Of course, I didn't see the holdup or
whatever it was.

My boy who sailed her from the building
got stuck in a freeway jam, but her taxi

had just taken the airport off -ramp,
and since I was already there in another

case, he just radioed her description.

Yes, I understand that. Perry, they
found her gun in the washroom, plus a

witnesses who identified her. And she
just stood there, cool as a cucumber and

innocent as a lamb.

How long did that last, Paul?

Until she finally heard everything they
were accusing her of. Then, boom, she

just starts laughing.

And confessed?

Confessed. She thought it was a big
joke.

She says, okay, I was having a little
fun, so lock me up, Sergeant. Away they

go. The police haven't called. She
hasn't called.

I'm going to break your heart.

The police know that a girl like your
door handler doesn't need any lawyer.

Right now, they've probably got one
psychiatrist tapping her knee, another

scratching his head, and another one...
Perry, the newspaper boy was just here.

Look. There she is.

Isn't it?

Paris again tangles with law.

Minerva Menden. Who?

Mischievous Minerva shoots blanks at
airports.

Wait a minute. That's Dory Ambler. At
least it's the same girl I saw being

picked up at the airport, and that's the
same cop.

Did you see them check her
identification?

Sure. They grabbed her purse and her
credit cards.

Of course, I didn't hear them say her
name. I didn't want to get so close

think I was a witness.

Just wanted to see what it felt like,
said Minerva. Can't you understand a

But at police headquarters, there was
little laughter as Ms. Minden was booked

for... Perry, that girl's worth $10
million.

Remember the girl from back east who
collected half of the inheritance on the

Minden oil?

Sure. She's been in trouble ever since.

Speeding, reckless driving.

I'm 12.

I see a door of the Ambler.

Are you trying to kill me? Well, move
your foot once in a while.

I'm moving on you, you bastard. Oh, I'm
sorry. So carry your own groceries once

in a while. Besides, I told you to box
of pans. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going

as fast as I can. You broke my eyes. You
broke it.

That's just great.

Excuse me. Do you know Miss Ambler lives
at 907?

No, no. I just moved in myself. She's a
blonde, young, about so tall.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

What did you say your name was? Dory
Ambler.

Dory, yeah.

As a matter of fact, we had a few nice
words together this morning.

My wife's been here about a week, but
me, I travel, so I just... Who are you?

Acme Collection Service.

No trouble.

Yeah, well, as I was telling you boys, I
never met the girl. I'm sorry.

What's Dory done?

Nothing, just a routine check.

Well, I'll tell her you were here. Go
get in touch, okay?

You're a friend of Miss Ambridge, I take
it?

With a husband like mine?

It's only fair to warn the young ones,
don't you think?

You know, Dory's a nice, sweet girl.

She gave me the whole message. Maybe
I... No, thank you. Just tell her to

Let's go.

Well, it must have been nearly two hours
I hid in that ladies' room.

But nobody came in, except just for a
minute when they found the gun where I

skidded it across the floor.

So finally I sneaked out.

But nobody paid any attention.

Of course, I fixed my hair and I carried
the coat inside out. And as quickly as

I could, I bought this.

Oh, I had the coat wrapped up.

Oh, but I must have taken nearly ten
taxis trying to get home. I was so

somebody might be following me.

You did all this to stay out of trouble?

Don't you understand?

When I found out it was that Minden girl
I looked like, I just knew that I was

being used and way over my head, too.

So I thought if I did something to show
her I knew to put her on the spot, well,

they'd just have to leave me alone.
They'd have to just drop the whole

Instead of which, you went along with
the whole gag and trumped your ace,

probably saving you as fall girl for
something bigger.

Just a minute, Paul.

Dory, how did you discover that Minerva
Minden was the girl you resembled?

I didn't. It was this woman in a beauty
shop, and, well, she showed me this

picture in a magazine she'd been
reading.

Oh, and I saw it.

So nutty me, I'd look up Miss Minden's
address and go driving straight out to

her house.

She lives in something like Buckingham
Palace, you know.

Then I saw her coming out of the house,
and, Mr. Mason, she had on exactly the

same clothes I did.

Did you speak to Miss Minden?

Oh, no, but I wasn't too scared to
telephone.

And this woman said, so sorry, but Miss
Minden's taking the plane to New York

this noon.

And that's when I started getting my
crazy ideas.

I came to you first, and then I went to
the airport. And when I spotted Miss

Minden, she went into the ladies' room,
and, well, here I am.

Dory. I know, I know. You said I should
have turned the whole problem over to

somebody else.

Dory.

Tell me about this man Billings, the man
that hired you. I only saw him that

once. All my clothes come by messenger,
and I'm supposed to phone him every day

for instructions.

But his telephone number's over in the
pad, but I think it's unlisted.

You said that for a couple of days he
told you to just walk around the street

certain clothes.

Right, and in certain streets, too. That
whole area around Sunset and La Brea, I

was supposed to just wander around and
stop for a soda, talk to the newsboys,

you know.

Did anything unusual happen during that
time?

Yes, just yesterday afternoon, I noticed
two people pointing at me in the shop,

and then there was this boy in a service
station.

I think I've got it, Paul.

Dory, did Billings ever ask you about
certain days, certain dates?

Huh? And what you'd been doing, where
you were on those dates.

Oh, oh, well, yes, he did give me sort
of a memory test to see if I could

remember instructions he said.

What dates?

Well, let's see.

Oh, I remember he asked me all about
March 10th, for instance.

That's easy, because I remember I was
home here alone with the flu.

Hey, hit and run, maybe.

Exactly. What?

Dory, I'll bet that Menden girl was
involved in a hit -run accident or some

of a crime near the intersection of
Sunset and La Brea on March 10th.

Paul, Della can check the police
department for unsolved. I'm checking

else.

But that's Mr. Billings' number. If he
knows that...

Hi, Sam there.

Yeah, Sam Billings.

Look, sister, this is the number he gave
me. He said if I ever want my fender

fixed, be sure to call Billings Body
and... Wrong number.

This is Compton and Billings, he says.

Compton and Billings?

One of the crookedest private eye
outfits in town.

Well, that's very flattering, Mr. Drake.

You coming to us for information.

Well, I thought possibly you could save
my outfit a little time, Mr. Billings.

You see, we've been investigating some
of these phony movie job offers.

For the Actors Guild?

Yeah, I've heard about that.

Phony casting bureaus, stuff like that.

Casting. That's nice work, isn't it?

Yeah. I understand you did some
interviewing the other day at the Palace

That so?

Took a suite and talked to several
hundred girls. At least that's what one

boys picked up.

Casting? Well, whatever it was, I'm sure
your operation was perfectly

legitimate.

All I care about is this.

We've got a list of guys who hang around
the big interviews where the girls are.

I'm sorry, Mr. Drake, but I'm not going
to be able to help you on this,

unfortunately.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

I'm Del Compton, Mr. Drake. How do you
do, Mr. Compton? What sort of help is it

you're talking about?

He's got me mixed up with somebody else,
Del.

I was just about to tell you, Drake, I
haven't been inside the Palace Hotel in

two years.

Well, I guess we're just a bum steer.
Thanks anyway.

See you around, gentlemen.

and that's a chance to do a favor for a
big agency like his.

Alice Hurtado.

Joe.

Where were you Tuesday and Wednesday
anyway?

Las Vegas.

You know that.

What's the matter? Is my competition
there?

Now, look.

If you won't get rid of him, I will.

Yeah, that's better.

Now, look, baby.

Time is running out.

Well, sure, Mr. Billings.

All right, Joe.

Whatever you say, sweetie.

You understand, Miss Menden.

That the fine I've imposed is the
maximum that's possible under the

circumstances.

If you hadn't pleaded guilty, if there
hadn't been blanks on that gun, if the

witnesses at the airport hadn't
remembered that you said, this isn't a

-up, then it would have given me great
pleasure to send you to jail for a while

to learn a little something about social
responsibility.

I'm sorry, Your Honor. I really am
sorry.

Look at that.

19 years old, and your driver's license
has been suspended twice.

Three arrests for speeding, one for
reckless... I'm sure Minerva has learned

lesson this time, Your Honor.

Minerva, you have advantages,
opportunities which other children don't

I remember once reading in the
newspapers where you inherited $10

Well, if the law permitted spanking as a
punishment for... This child has also

had tragedies, Your Honor. A broken
home. No real parents of her own.

Aunt Hattie, please.

She didn't have to plead guilty, Your
Honor. She didn't have to... And you,

woman. If you open your mouth once more
in this courtroom, you're going to be

fined, too.

Just don't let me see you in here again,
young lady. Understand?

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Next case.

I'll see she stays out of trouble. Don't
you worry about that.

Well, that's it.

9 of March 10th, approximately 11 .30.

La Brea, just south of Sunset Boulevard.

The man who was hit was getting into his
car, Paul.

A girl in a big convertible size swanked
him.

How come the police got such a good
description of her?

Apparently the girl stopped and got out
to help.

But when other people came running, she
changed her mind and drove away.

The man wasn't badly injured, but... Hi,
beautiful.

Hi.

Terry, what did you tell Dori Adler to
do now?

Told her to stay quiet.

But the second anyone singles her out
for this hit -run accident, we'll jump

Miss Minerva Minton with both feet.

Well? I may have slowed down or hired
Ann Billings a little, but of all the

conniving frame -ups... I wonder. Wonder
what?

I've spotted several differences between
them, but these girls are so much

alike, you don't suppose they could be
related, do you?

Well, it would be quite a coincidence.

On the other hand, Dory says she doesn't
know a thing about her own family.

Well, I stopped by probate court, and
the clerk remembers that Minerva

father left her mother with her mother's
sister.

Well... Maybe our Dory should be
collecting some of the Minden Millions.

At least it would help to explain the
rebellion.

Perry Mason's office.

Yeah, speaking.

Dory, what's the matter?

Followed?

Well, it's probably the police waiting
to pick you up for that hit and run.

Now, don't get scared. They won't hurt
you. And we'll be over as fast as we

No.

No, I'm going away. Look, just tell Mr.
Mason I'm sorry I've been such a crazy

nuisance to him, but...

I don't want to be mixed up anymore in
this.

Dory, wait a minute.

Don't try to run.

There may be more to this than... I just
can't stand it any longer.

Tell Mr. Mason I'm sorry.

Dory, you do as we tell you.

Stay there. We're coming right over.

We're on the show.

Joe Billings. He's been shot.

Hello, Perry. Thanks for coming out here
again.

Thanks a lot, Andy.

You again?

No word on Dory Ambler, if that's what
you mean. That's what I mean.

We've got a full alarm out, don't worry.

Andy, how many times do I have to tell
you? Someone dragged her out of that

apartment. We heard her cry.

There certainly wasn't any woman who
tipped that stove over.

Sure, sure. We're going on the
assumption that your client was

But, uh, I want to show you something.

Are you buying the murder weapon yet?

Some of the bushes by the path over
there.

Is that all you can say? What was it?

38 revolver. No fingerprints.

Registration?

Andy, what's the matter with you? I've
told you all I can, perhaps more than I

should. That's because my client is in
danger.

It was obviously Billings' murderer who
took Dory out of there. Harry?

Look at this, sir.

Well?

We're getting rid of Mark Kent.

This is it.

Description of the witnesses.

Last two numbers of the license.

Everything checks.

There's even a dent in the right place.

And the garage is rented to Dory Ambler,
Perry.

Well, of course.

And the car belongs to Minerva Minden.

It's just been planted here, probably by
Billings himself.

It was part of the frame -up. No, no.

Look at that. A cobweb. The battery's
dead.

Tires are flat.

The car's been in this garage for
months, Perry.

Ever since the accident, I guess.

Well, Andy, I'm sure there's some
explanation. And it doesn't belong to

Minden. It's a stolen car.

Taken from a parking lot in San
Francisco about six months ago.

Quite some girl, your Dory Ambler.

But I guess now you'll believe we're
just as anxious to find her as you are.

Look, I can't help you, buddy. Now, how
many times do I have to say it and how

many people, huh? You weren't here last
night. No, I was picking up draperies at

11 o 'clock.

Well, now, if your wife sent you clear
down to Long Beach to get in on a Friday

night bargain sale, wouldn't you stop
for a belt? I don't know. Maybe you're a

mouse. Okay, so you had a few.

I understand your wife wasn't here
either.

Well, you can say that again.

Draperies, huh? Boy, won't they just
look great in Salt Lake City.

Where? Well, here.

Look for yourself.

At least that's the dateline on there.
Look at the time, huh? 1 a .m. She must

have took the 8 o 'clock plane, I guess.

Changed my mind.

Mother needs me more.

Go reconcile with that red -headed
waitress who slipped a note to a dinner.

P .S.

Don't hang yourself in the draperies.

Yeah, well, we kind of had our ups and
downs.

Yeah, well, what I want to find out is
how they got away.

They? Well, it must have been at least
one man with a girl in tow, and she must

have put up a struggle.

Well, like I was...

Like I was telling the cops, you know,
there's a service cord out there that

attaches to the next one, which is out
by the street.

Now, if you didn't know that and you was
chasing somebody through, you wouldn't

even see it.

Did you ever see Joe Billings around
here, the man that was murdered?

No, no. I've only been here one day,
so... I'll tell you one thing, though.

I seen this guy Compton the cops had out
here this morning. I seen him around

here yesterday. He was hanging around
the... Mr. Jasper, mind talking with the

lieutenant again?

Oh, look, just find that Dory girl.
She's probably the one that did it. Now,

just find her.

No, Mr. Mason.

Minerva will not speak to anyone just
now.

I'd rather hear that from Minerva
Menden, Miss Hall.

Well, you're not going to.

After all that's been in the newspapers,
our lawyers have given specific

instructions. No visitors, no
interviews, and in particular, no

you, Mr. Mason.

Is that so?

Who are these protective lawyers? Now,
don't be angry.

We have a great many lawyers, naturally,
to handle different sources. To handle

Minerva's many escapades, you mean.

That's not true.

She's only rebelled in a childish way
once or twice.

And I put a stop to that sort of thing,
don't you worry.

Naturally, if Minerva ever got into
serious trouble, you'd be the first one

come to.

No, thank you.

Don't you understand, Miss Hall, your
niece is committed to hit and run.

She hired a detective to frame another
girl for it. The detective has been

murdered and the girl kidnapped.

Now, if that isn't serious trouble...
That's not how it happened at all.

This Dory Ambler, whoever she is, has
simply been telling you stories.

She's simply trying to capitalize on a
fancy resemblance with... Just a moment,

Miss Hall. It's not your version I want
to hear.

Perhaps I will talk to those lawyers.

Fine.

Mr. Mason?

You are Mr.

Perry Mason.

Oh, me.

Well, it was right.

Your eyes are a little lighter.

What are you talking about?

I don't suppose you two have had an
appendectomy.

Well, no.

That's all right. Never mind.

I really do look like this Doriandler
person.

Like the papers said. Is that what you
mean?

Don't pretend you don't know about her,
Minerva.

But what do they think has happened to
her?

You started all this, didn't you?

Had an accident and hired Joe Billings
to help cover it up.

But what else happened?

Did Billings try to blackmail you?

No. No, please, Mr. Mason.

I'm warning you, Miss Minden.

No matter what your lawyers say, no
matter what your aunt says, if you know

single thing that can help us locate
Dory Ambler, then we've already done it.

He's dead.

Mandy, where did they look on their body
up on the canyon road?

Been there for a couple of days.

Driving Joe Billings' car, apparently to
the corner too fast, rolled 500 feet

and burned up.

But it wasn't an accident.

If Dory's kidnapper became frightened,
but it probably was an accident, Perry.

At least we know there wasn't any
kidnapper. What?

Besides, it's much easier taking things
one at a time.

The killer of Joe Billings, we know we
can nail.

Why, who is it?

I didn't know whether you'd come or not,
Mr. Mason. Your aunt seemed convinced

that the offer of a $50 ,000 retainer
would buy anyone.

Well, she's not really my aunt, you see.

She's been taking care of me ever
since... This all reminds me of a stage

who's over -groomed the prized child
just to win the role of heiress.

But that's beside the point.

Minerva... Please, Mr. Mason.

I'm the one who wants you. I'm the one
who needs your help.

Now, look.

Your client... Dory Ambler is dead.

So he... Dory was a very confused girl,
but I liked her.

And you don't like me.

I would like to find out everything she
did.

I would like to find out what happened
to her.

Those are the only reasons I'd take your
case, Minerva.

Oh, please, Mr. Mason, please.

Look, if you do, I'll tell you the
truth. I'll tell you everything I know.

don't want to hear about it.

What?

I want you to answer just one question.

Did you kill Joe Billings?

No. No, I didn't.

Look, Mr. Mason, when you do one awful
thing and then another thing to cover it

up and another and another, you just...
I told you I don't want to hear it.

A lawyer is also an officer of the
court, Minerva.

I couldn't remain silent about any
crimes which you may have committed

to the murder of Joe Billings.

But I've got to tell somebody. I just
have to.

I'm afraid silence is the medicine
you'll have to take.

Now, let me smile a little.

I'll see you in court.

Lieutenant Anderson, I understand that
in this particular case, you yourself

personally assisted both in fingerprint
identification and in the ballistics

tests. Is that correct?

Yes, sir, I did. Then you yourself saw
that the bullet taken from Joe Billings'

body matched in every particular of the
test bullets fired by this gun?

I did. That's the murder gun, all right.
And would you tell us where and when

you found this gun, Lieutenant?

It was the next morning.

We found it in the bushes beside the
Beverly entrance to the apartment court

where Miss Dory Ambler lived.

There's a path there with bushes
alongside.

The Beverly entrance, thank you,
Lieutenant.

One further thing, did you check the
registration of the gun?

We did, and we can introduce the proper
evidence of sale.

It was purchased a year ago from the
Southland gun shop by Miss Henrietta

Because I'm afraid of prowlers, that's
why.

Some of the trash there is wandering
about at night these days.

Miss Hull, please.

Now, you've been designated an
unfriendly witness, and that means you

me direct answers to my questions.

Why did you buy that gun?

I just told you. Let me put it this way.

What did you do with the gun after you
bought it?

Well, I gave it to Minerva. I thought
she should keep it in her car.

Not to use, of course.

And did she keep it in her car?

Well, of course, she had to stop driving
after her license was suspended.

All right, but what happened to the gun?

I don't know. I never saw it after I
gave it to her.

It was just about 11.

That's right.

I saw this gal running along the street
and she waves at my taxi cab.

Just a moment now. Running along what
street, sir?

Well, Beverly.

You see, when I first seen her, she was
just running out of the apartment court

entrance.

Right there on Beverly.

All right.

And what did you do then?

Well, I stopped my cab. She hopped in.

Her. The defendant. Right there. And
what can you tell us about her manner at

that moment?

Oh, sure. She was all out of breath.

Upset, I guess. I don't know.

Anyhow... She didn't want to talk too
much, so I just drove her over to the

address she gave me on Fairhaven Drive.

And did you by any chance recognize the
house when you arrived at the address

she gave you?

Well, sure.

Everybody knows that old castle.

The Minton place.

So, Miss Minton, she pays me off?

Off, sir.

That's it.

Thank you. No more questions.

Now, sir.

That was only a guess when you called
the girl you drove Miss Minton.

That? Well, didn't you hear the
testimony indicating that Minerva Minden

Dory Ambler look so much alike they
might have been mistaken for twins?

Oh, yeah, yeah, sure.

But I'm not guessing, friend.

When I seen her at the door fumbling
with those keys, and then some butler

open up that door and say, I heard you
coming, Miss Minerva.

That's her, ain't it?

No, I didn't know the exact nature of
the case Joe, Mr.

Billings, is working on.

Then why did you say you were suspicious
of him? Well, I was always suspicious

of him when he started laughing to
himself. You see, I needed Joe. He met

a lot better than I did, but I... As a
partner, I never really trusted him. I

knew as soon as he got something big
enough, he'd, uh... Well, double -cross

too. Can you tell us anything about the
nature of the job your partner was

working on at the time of his death?

Well, it started with a phone call from
some gal.

That's the way he got all of his
instructions on the case, by telephone.

Do you know that for a fact, or is that
just another of your suspicions?

No, no, Joe told me.

See, the evening before his death, I was
getting a little sore, so I pinned him

down. He said, just sit tight. He said
he'd never met his client in person. He

didn't want to meet her until he was
ready to strike her for dough.

A lot of dough, he said.

Well, I was beginning to get a little
worried because it sounded like

and blackmail. Mr. Compton, did he tell
you the name of this client or anything

about the nature of the work he was
hired to do for her?

He said it was Miss Minerva Minden who
hired him to protect her.

And did he tell you any details about
how he intended to protect Miss Minden?

One moment, Mr. Mason. I'm bearing in
mind this is hearsay evidence, but you

have further objections.

I have no objections whatsoever, Your
Honor.

Very well.

Proceed. Did your partner tell you how
he intended to protect Miss Minden?

No, I've told you about all I know.

Except Joe did have someone else working
with him on this, some girl.

Do you know the name of that girl?

Well, I tailed him to the apartment
court. I saw him talking to her. The

now realize, of course, was Dory Ambler.

She was the one, all right. Well,
there's no question about it, Mr.

car had been parked in the garage rented
by Miss Ambler for several months.

Could it have been parked there since as
long ago as last March 10th, Sergeant?

Well, that's several months.

A laboratory test can't show an exact
date, naturally.

Naturally, Sergeant.

Now, what else can you tell us about
that automobile?

Well, it was originally stolen from San
Francisco, as I've already testified.

On further examination downtown, we
found that the rear seat cushion had

split and then resewn.

And do you recognize this package of
money?

I do.

It's a bundle of $100 bills that I found
hidden inside the rear cushion.

That's my mark there.

What amount of money is here and all?

There's $5 ,000 and all.

And can you tell us anything else about
these $100 bills, Sergeant?

Yes, sir. The serial numbers have been
recorded by a San Francisco bank.

Those bills are part of a $15 ,000
robbery of that bank committed on March

Has the San Francisco bank robbery been
solved, Sergeant?

Well, the San Francisco police had a
pretty good lead, yes.

A man and a woman... Now, just a moment.

It seems to me you're getting rather far
afield here, Mr. Berger.

It's my intention, Your Honor, to tie up
the San Francisco bank robbery with the

present murder case through my next
witness, if I may.

I called Clyde Jasper to the stand.

All right, so I did.

But nobody got hurt, Your Honor. We used
water pistols.

But it was you, Mr. Jasper.

You were the one who robbed that bank.

Nice and clean, yes, sir. I did it. And
who was the woman who helped you?

Well, now there you get into the legal
aspects, Mr. Berger. Mr. Jasper, if I

tell this court...

The description of the woman who helped
you rob that bank matches the

description of your wife, Rita Jasper.

Can you deny it?

Now, look, I told you I'd help you when
I could, didn't I?

I'll draw my own conclusions, Mr.
Berger.

This man's obviously thrown himself on
your mercy, but he need not incriminate

his wife.

Of course, Your Honor.

All right, Mr. Jasper, keeping in mind
what His Honor just told us, what did

do after you robbed the bank?

Well, we, uh, we borrowed his car, the
convertible.

From a parking lot, and we drive to Los
Angeles.

Only, uh, well, the wife, she likes to
go to parties.

You know, so the next night, we seen one
at this hotel, so we crash it, that's

all. You know, there's no harm in a
little dancing, is there?

Only, when we come out, the car's been
stolen. Now, can you imagine that?

Amazing. Go ahead.

Well, what's the guy to do? You know, I
couldn't report it.

And I got $15 ,000 stashed in the back
seat.

Well, the parking boy gave us the lead
on his blonde.

and the wife, she stays around L .A.,
and she finally spots the blonde in a

It's this Doriandler girl.

She's seen her ID the same as the
parking lot boy did.

Well, we're finally getting close. So,
the wife rents a place at the same

apartment. Are you telling me that you
actually hid $15 ,000 in cash in the

backseat of this car, which you claim
was later stolen from you? Yeah.

Only we didn't find the car until that
same night. But that night was the night

of the murder.

Yeah. Now, what time that night?

I don't know, it was around 10, 10 .30.

So, we start pulling the money out right
away. Then I spot there's about two

-thirds of it missing. So me, I put it
right back in.

Somebody's on us, I say, you know.

Watch and wait, you know, be careful.

Well, there's a guy been hanging around
Dory Hamlet's apartment. And right

around this time, I seen his car drive
off.

That was maybe 10 .45.

All right, you saw the car drive off.
Now, could you see who was driving the

car?

No, I couldn't actually see who was
driving.

But it was the same car that belonged to
this Joe Billings.

The cop showed me the license and
identification down at police

Then you're talking about the car in
which Dori Ambler later met her dead.

Yeah, it was an awful mess.

Will you please tell us what you did the
night of the murder after 1045?

The wife and me, we go back to the
apartment, and we're beating our brains

trying to figure out what we're going to
do next. When, bam, we hear a shot.

That no good reader. Let's go see, she
says. You know, of all the nosy... Well,

anyway. Right at this time, we hear
footsteps like a woman running out the

Beverly Way.

So we just go around and take a peek in
the back way, that's all.

You didn't by any chance go into Dory
Amber's apartment?

Well, now, if the coast is clear and
maybe there's some of my money in there,

yeah. All right, Mr. Jasper, what did
you find when you entered Dory Amber's

apartment? A man dying, right there on
the road.

But I know soon to touch him, and boom,
boom, this guy's at the door. Well,

Rita, she panics a little, you know. So
I drag her out of there, and I slam a

stove over to stop them, and we jump
into a rental car, and off we go.

That's enough, Mr.

Jasper. Thank you very much. You've been
a most cooperative witness.

Oh, no, wait here.

Did this man just volunteer this story?

Yes, he did, Your Honor. After we had
checked on his record, he's got some

convictions. Well, it's the wife, Your
Honor. Don't you see?

I mean, I tear her out to the airport,
and I dump her on a plane.

I tried to phony up the telegram she
sends me from Salt Lake City, but... Has

his wife been apprehended yet, Mr.
Berger?

No, Your Honor, she hasn't, and I doubt
very much... It's the least I could do

now, don't you think?

Well, you know me, I've been in trouble
before, but Rita, she's got to get

clear. I mean, Rita's a three -time
loser.

Well, I'm certain defense counsel will
wait to cross -examine.

I've just got to tell you what I did,
Mr. Mason. I said let this go on.

I may have pleased the court, but I
would like to have Lieutenant Anderson

return to the stand.

No, I did not say that Dory Ambler's
death was also being listed as a murder.

Why not?

If the police had concluded that Dory
had been working with Joe Billings, if

they believed that she had left the
scene driving his car at 1045, just a

minutes before Billings was murdered,
well, in the first place, there wasn't

real evidence to go on.

The car was spread over 500 feet,
totally destroyed.

and her body was burned almost beyond
recognition.

How did you know it was Dory, then? The
laboratory was able to reconstruct

fingerprints and determine the color of
hair.

Also, of course, her purse had been
thrown clear and its contents scattered

over the sagebrush.

Yes.

And with the court's permission, I'd
like you to further explain that means

identification. Your Honor, Mr. Walman
here.

The purpose of this hearing is to
determine that Joe Billings was murdered

impossible to prove the probable
identity of his murder.

And defense contends, Your Honor, that
only by understanding what happened to

Dory can we find the truth about
Billings' murder.

It seems to me I've allowed the
prosecution a good bit of leeway.

You have the same privilege, Mr. Mason.
Proceed.

I understand it, Lieutenant.

This plate shows a reconstruction of
Miss Ambler's thumbprint.

That's correct.

It's not perfect, but it's as good as
the laboratory could manage with burnt

tissue. I see.

You compared this, I suppose, with the
thumbprint shown on Miss Ambler's

driver's license.

Yes, it's on the other card there.

I think we can project them side by
side.

Quite a bit of difference.

To an expert, I'm sure there are
similarities.

Perhaps Lieutenant Anderson could point
them out.

What we look for, Your Honor, are points
of exact similarity rather than just

any overall pattern.

Now here you see that point is the same.

And down here at the curve, that's
similar.

And to the right, there's another.

Then up here, how many points of
similarity did you find, Lieutenant?

Well, at least six, as I remember.

Let's see. There's one, two, six.

But I thought to establish absolute
identification, you needed at least 12

points of similarity.

Oh, no, no. There have been many cases
that have been established with several

less than 12. How many less?

Well, nine or ten similarities is often
nine or ten.

But there you have only six. But here
there are only a few bits of skin, just

few areas to work with. I feel that when
this is added to the other evidence of

the girl's identity... Lieutenant, how
many people in the world have six points

of similarity between their
fingerprints?

Mr. Mason, I really wouldn't care to
guess.

Aren't there possibly hundreds of
thousands, possibly even millions?

Your Honor.

Be quiet, Mr. Berger.

Go on, Mr. Mason.

For instance, couldn't I use anyone's
fingerprints? The defendant's, for

example. Your Honor, I have here a copy
of the defendant's thumbprint.

Lieutenant, mightn't we find some points
of similarity with those prints on the

screen? Well, that's possibly true, but
maybe even as many as six?

Oh, no, no, I seriously doubt that.

Here.

Show us, won't you?

Point out whatever similarities you can
find.

Well, between this one and this one, but
that's the same as a third, of course.

Let's see, that's two, three.

Would this make it easier?

Well, between these two fingerprints, of
course. Go on, keep counting. Three,

four, five, six, seven, eight, nine,

ten, eleven, twelve, fifteen, twenty, a
hundred.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

You've just proven that the defendant
burned to death in that automobile four

days ago.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mason. I have to tell you
I'm sorry.

Order.

Order in the court.

We can take a few moments recess if you
like, Mr. Mason.

I think just the court's indulgence for
a few moments.

I did it. I did everything.

What did you do?

Don't you understand? That's my license
up there.

I couldn't drive, so I took out another
license under the name of Dory Ambler.

And then I went to a party and I had a
fight with my boyfriend. So I ran out

I took his car.

I mean, I mean, I thought it was his
car.

And then I hit someone at La Brea.

I wanted to stop Mr. Mason, but when you
do one thing and then another, another.

And then I hired Mr.

Billings to help me.

Instead, he tried to blackmail me. All
right, that's enough.

Any reason the bailiff can't remove the
screen there, Mr. Mason?

Oh, Your Honor, I'd like to go on now,
if you don't mind.

I'd like to ask that Mr. Del Compton be
returned to the stand.

But I didn't know they were both the
same girl. I didn't know anything about

I tell you.

Joe Billings, I assume, had already
guessed the truth.

Well, sure.

That must have been what he was always
laughing about. He'd have really had

girl on the hook.

He talked to the woman who was working
with him, you said.

And you assumed it was Dori Amber.

Well, sure, but now it doesn't make any
sense.

I mean, he called her baby and sweetie
and stuff like that on the phone.

Well, isn't it possible that was another
woman he was using?

Someone else whom Billings was working
with in order to build up his blackmail

of Minerva Minden?

Well, sure, obviously.

But before we consider who she was, Mr.
Crompton, can you tell us who in this

courtroom not only assumed that Dory and
Minerva were separate girls as you did,

but also acted upon that assumption by
building lies on it? Well, sure.

It was the same person who said that
somebody drove off in Billings' car,

implying that it was Dory Ambler, and
then said that 15 minutes later another

girl ran out towards Beverly.

It was him.

How about it, Mr. Jasper?

Will you admit you committed perjury, or
do we have to wait until the

fingerprints of your wife Rita can be
brought over here to be shown on that

screen? Rita was the woman who died,
wasn't she?

Rita was the woman whom you killed and
burned.

I caught him.

Him and her.

At Billings.

Sure, he was honest. He got our $10
,000.

But she didn't have to kiss him, did
she?

She didn't have to double -cross me.

She didn't have to throw me out and team
up with some... So I shot him.

And she baked all the way out to those
hills.

I love that lousy, no -good...

So I killed her, too.

He dropped your purse when you ran out
of the apartment and Jasper picked it

The next day, when he thought he knew
the whole story, he spread the contents

that purse all over the canyon.

I was so scared that night.

I really did want to run away forever.

And then after I hung up, that Mr.

Billings started coming.

Well, I just got out before he saw me.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

If I could be spanked for all the crazy
things I've done, why I ever thought

that I could blame Dory Adler for all my
awful crimes and then just have her

disappear.

I could escape her.

Minerva, you're going to get a good deal
more than a spanking for that hit -and

-run accident and for falsifying a
driver's license.

I know.

I'm responsible.

And I want to be.

I'm not better than other people.

Like Aunt Hetty keeps saying.

What an imagination.

Yes, and you even had me believing that
your eyes were lighter than Dory's.

Oh, they are lighter. See, sometimes I
wear contact lenses and I have this

pair tinted darker, so I... I guess I do
need a doctor.

That's right.

To remove your appendix.

Oh.

You do have a scar, don't you?

Oh. No, see, what you do is you take a
little cologne and then you put it... I

guess maybe I won't show you.

Gotta learn how to be a lady sometime.