Original subtitles

Here he comes.

Any plans for an appeal?

Mr. Pace, any comment on your client's conviction?

Well, I think the jury made a terrible mistake.

Do you still insist John Springer is innocent?

Yes. Anything you can add to that, Mr. Springer? No, nothing.

I'm innocent.

I didn't kill Sharon.

I didn't kill anybody.

What are you going to do now?

All right, boys, that's enough.

That's enough.

A Quinn Martin production starring Ephraim Zimbliss Jr.

Also starring Philip Abbott, William Reynolds, with guest stars

Michael Callen, Anne Helm,

Simon Scott, and special guest star Lorraine Day.

Tonight's episode.

Gamble with death.

Three days after John Eldon Springer's conviction and futile attempt to escape,

a special delivery letter arrived at the Boston home of Alexander York, a key

prosecution witness in Springer's murder trial.

Because of the letter's apparent urgency,

Mrs. York opened it and read the message.

Inasmuch as the letter was obviously an extortion attempt threatening York and

his family, she immediately tried to telephone her husband.

Unable to reach him, she placed a frantic call to the local office of the

where Inspector Lewis Erskine and Special Agent Tom Colby were just

their final report on a major kidnapping investigation.

Inspector Erskine, may I help you?

Inspector, a letter just came in from my husband's special delivery.

I opened it because it was marked urgent.

Someone is trying to blackmail my husband.

Would you read it to me, please? I'll have someone take it down.

Well, the words were cut out of different publications and pasted to

of brown wrapping paper. It says, Mr. York...

It was you, not John Springer, who murdered Sharon O 'Neill.

I saw you kill her.

For $50 ,000, I will keep quiet, or else you and your family will die.

Don't contact police.

Await instructions.

Has your husband seen this?

I haven't been able to reach him, but he should be home shortly.

What's your address, please?

1317 Maple Road.

All right, Mrs. York.

Hold on to the note and the envelope it came in.

I wouldn't mention this to anyone else. I'll be right out.

I understand you're just talking to Mrs. York, Lewis.

Yeah, extortion complaint.

Connection with the Springer case.

Wasn't York the star witness?

As long as we're here, I suppose we ought to interview her.

Call the Bureau, will you, Tony? Tell them we'll be taking a later plane.

Ellen, what's wrong? You're as white as a ghost. I've been trying to reach you

all over town. Why? What happened?

Where did you get this?

Just a little while ago. Special delivery.

I wonder what kind of a mind sits down and dreams up this kind of stuff.

No, don't.

The FBI wants to see it.

FBI?

I couldn't reach you, so I called them.

They said to keep the note in the envelope.

Well, you shouldn't have bothered them.

Well, Alex, I was frightened and... Frightened of what?

You sound as if you believe this nonsense.

Of course not, but...

Mrs.

York? Yes?

F .B .I., Inspector Elkin.

This is Dr. Egan's home.

My husband just got home.

Alex York, Inspector.

How do you do?

Agent Colby. How do you do?

Is that the note?

Yes.

I'm sorry. I didn't realize it deserved so much attention.

Well, mailing an extortion letter is a federal offense, Mr. York. I see.

Won't you sit down?

Do you have any idea who sent it to you?

No. Well, I suppose crank letters like this are very common during a murder

trial.

My husband was a witness at the John Springer trial.

Yes, I'm aware of that.

The girl he murdered worked at my shipyard.

Incidentally, do you two have children?

Yes, a boy and a girl, but... They're both away at college right now.

We'll need their addresses.

I'll get them for you.

Inspector, I didn't think they allowed mail like this to be sent from prison.

They don't.

You gentlemen are beginning to get me worried.

Do you really think there's something to it?

I mean, you must receive mail like this all the time.

We do.

Probably this will turn out to be another of them.

Here they are.

Thank you.

Well, I guess this is all we'll be needing for now.

Thank you for coming by so quickly.

If you get another letter, you'll let us know, won't you? Of course.

Good day.

Hi, Johnny.

How you feeling?

Well, I had a long time to heal.

You okay, Anne?

I'm fine.

Baby's due in seven weeks.

Yeah.

You look wonderful.

You mean bulky, but I feel good.

Hey, I spoke to your lawyer, Johnny. He said the appeal may go through.

Don't they always say that?

Come on, now, you've got to stop thinking that way. We're all doing

we can to help you. Oh, I know, I know.

I'm sorry.

Just that... How can anybody help me now?

I'm not sure. There might be a way.

Yeah?

No, you're kidding.

Come on, now, would I kid you about a thing like that, huh?

Look, uh... Johnny, are you... positive york was the guy who was secretly seeing

sharon well she she never said so in so many words you know she

she said she had a friend that was taking care of her um some man that

would give her all the things she wanted she wanted plenty to well suppose

it was your just suppose it still doesn't mean he murdered her

Well, why else would he lie at the trial?

Well, maybe he just made an honest mistake. It's happened before.

Do you really think that?

Oh, well, I... I wouldn't blame you if you did.

You know, there was a minute back there in court when York was on his stand.

He almost had me convinced that I was the one he saw.

But Sharon never mentioned his name.

Well, she...

She said something about, did I ever meet his wife or something like that.

Look, Harry, you've got problems enough of your own. You know, what with the

baby and everything.

Besides, that trial must have cost you every last penny you had.

We'll manage, Johnny.

Easy come, easy go.

I don't know what you've got in your head, but I think maybe the best thing

right now is... Hey, cut it out, Johnny. What's a brother for?

Do you really think you can prove that York lied?

Hey, I'm not going to kid you. It's a long shot.

But if what you think is true, it might just work.

Honey, you're talking in riddles.

I'm sorry. I don't mean to.

I just can't.

Harry, don't you know that false hope is worth the none at all?

That's easy for us to say. We're not in there.

Besides, wild as it is, it might just work.

What might just work?

Honey, you know what I'm in the mood for? Pizza.

Harry, you're not going to do anything foolish, are you?

Now, did you ever know me to do anything like that in my life?

Always that first time for everything.

Honey, we can't afford any more trouble. I mean, with the baby coming and all.

Look, I'm an honest, hard -working salesman. Maybe a little on the dull

but I do know the difference between legal and illegal.

And I promise you there is nothing to worry about, okay?

I wish I could put my finger on it.

It's almost as though he was too casual about the note.

Somehow I got the impression he didn't want us to investigate.

What was Mrs. York's attitude?

Well, she's a great deal more concerned than her husband.

Do you have any record of previous extortion letters there?

No, this is the first one.

As soon as it arrives, I'll send it over to the documents section for comparison

with anonymous extortion notes we have on file.

Arthur, if it's all right with you, I'd like to stay on a few days.

Just let me ask you something.

You suppose there's any possibility the extortionist might have something?

Seems hard to believe, doesn't it?

But if he has, York's moves in the next couple of days should tell us a great

deal.

Well, you'd better stay there and clear it up.

I'll let you know just as soon as we have anything.

Thanks, Arthur.

Tony, find out where Alex York does his banking, will you?

If he withdraws any large sums, we should know about it.

According to our current production schedules, the hull should come up the

blocks by the end of June.

With any luck, the ship should be in the water no later than...

Mr.

York's office.

Is Mr. York in?

May I ask who's calling?

The name's Jones.

I sent him a special delivery letter.

One moment, please.

Mr. Jones?

Jones?

Something about a special delivery letter.

All right, I'll take it.

We'll finish that letter after lunch.

An eyewitness.

I saw you kill Sharon O 'Neil.

If this is some kind of a sick joke... No, it's not.

I want $50 ,000 in cash.

You know what they do to people like you?

Did you think you could murder a girl in cold blood and just walk away with no

one knowing?

Who is this?

$50 ,000, York.

In small bills or I go to the police.

If you had any evidence, you would have testified at John Springer's trial.

No one pays you for going on the witness stand and being a good citizen.

Not the way you're going to pay me.

How do I know you have any evidence?

I told you.

I saw you.

I was there. I can prove it.

You're bluffing.

Okay, York.

Suit yourself.

Why now?

No.

Wait a minute.

I'm waiting.

How do I deliver the money?

Just get it. I'll call again.

Hi, honey.

Oh, I got the cutest little yellow outfit. Only three dollars.

What's wrong with you?

Uh, nothing.

Oh, something's the matter. No, honey. Is it Johnny? No, no, it's not Johnny.

Everything's fine.

I've watched other people pull off fantastic deals, run big bluffs, and

always envied them.

Wondered where they got the nerve.

But the funny thing is, it isn't that hard. It really isn't that hard if you

just have enough guts to stick to your guns.

People pay your price.

I am of the slightest idea what you're talking about.

Are you sure you're all right?

I never felt better in my life.

Happy days.

arranged this call, referred to it as issuing a contract, I believe.

Yes.

I don't care what it costs.

Fine.

Have your man contact me as soon as...

You mind if I eat my lunch while we talk?

Not at all.

One of the prosecution witnesses, Alexander York, received a threatening

yesterday.

It was unsigned, accusing him of murdering Sharon O 'Neill.

Can't blame that on Johnny.

Boy's lying in a prison hospital.

I thought you might be able to tell me something about his friends.

He hasn't any.

What about relatives?

One brother.

If he wrote a letter like that, he'd scare himself to death.

Excuse me.

According to the transcript of the trial, your client accused York of

false testimony.

That's right.

Ulcers, like a red -hot poker right here.

Mind telling me about it?

No, I first noticed it when I started eating spicy... The testimony, Mr.

Paisley. Oh, yes.

Well... Johnny and Sharon had a little romance going until Sharon started

another man, someone that could take her places and give her things that Johnny

couldn't afford.

Johnny always thought the man was Alexander York.

Now, Alex York sat there in court and swore that he was working late that

He heard this scream from outside somewhere in the shipyard.

He went out to investigate.

He saw Johnny dragging Sharon's body toward the end of the pier.

But by the time he got there, Johnny had dumped the body in the bay and

disappeared.

And Springer denies the story?

Every word of it.

Unfortunately, he has no alibi for where he was that night.

No other witnesses?

No, only York.

His testimony was the emotional turning point of the trial.

That and some circumstantial evidence was all that was needed to convict

Springer. And that's it.

No wonder my ulcer's acting up.

Well, thank you, Mr. Paisley.

I want this section finished by Friday, Mac. Put on some more men if you have

to.

I'm sorry, I'm very busy.

My name's Weber.

I think you've been expecting me. We have a contract.

Your organization works fast.

I'm impressed.

It's all included in the price.

Well, when will Mr. Paisley be back?

Well, why can't I see him then? I can be there in about 20 minutes.

Got to see him today. Tomorrow's too late.

You don't understand. This is a matter of life and death.

I promise it won't take too long.

Fine. Thank you.

Harry, who was that on the phone?

Just a customer, honey. I've got to go see him.

What about a matter of life and death?

Well, it worked, didn't it? I got the appointment.

Honey, it's the new me.

Demand and ye shall receive. It's that simple.

Honey, you're crazy. Yeah, like a fox, you'll see.

Oh, honey, I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but you... But you like

me better this way, don't you?

I don't know.

I didn't mind you the old way.

Hey, look, I've got to go. I'll be home early.

Why don't you take a nap or something? Tonight, maybe we'll go out to dinner,

okay?

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Mr. York just drew $8 ,000 cash from his personal account.

That's a long way from $50 ,000.

Has he cashed in any other assets?

Savings, insurance, securities?

Not that we've been able to determine, Inspector.

Yes.

Oh, yes, Mr. Ward.

Yes, Arthur.

Luce, I'm in the lab.

I'm afraid we haven't got much for you.

We compared the extortion note, but we can't come up with an identification.

No good latent?

Nothing readable, no.

Is there a pattern? I mean, does it tie in with other cases where prosecution

witnesses have received threatening letters?

No. It's a strange case, Lewis. I can't recall seeing one quite like it before.

We'll let you know as soon as anything develops.

All right, Arthur. Thank you. Good luck. I'll talk to you later.

Any luck back there?

At the farm.

Tony, if anything breaks, we'll be at the state prison. Okay.

Harry, these hypothetical cases make me very nervous.

Get to the point.

Okay.

Suppose, just for example, someone tells York he witnessed the murder.

Is he telling the truth?

No, no, it's a bluff.

But say York doesn't know that. Now, suppose he gets scared, makes a deal to

the man to keep quiet.

A man would have to be guilty to do a thing like that.

Exactly, by making the deal he proves his guilt, right?

Possibly.

But you see, that raises a number of legal questions which the court would

to consider.

But it might get them thinking, thinking enough to reopen the investigation.

Might.

Might also get the man who dreamed it up a jail sentence for extortion.

Harry, the FBI talked to me today about an extortion letter to Alexander York.

Now, I can't just pretend this conversation never took place and looked

other way.

What do you mean?

You wrote that letter, didn't you?

Let me finish, Mr. Paisley.

This fellow was planning to go to the police. He wants them there when the

murderer delivers the money.

You want some free advice?

Well, it's about the only kind I can afford these days. Forget about the

thing. Would you, Mr. Paisley, if it were your brother in the state

penitentiary...

York. Who is this?

An eyewitness.

I saw you kill Sharon O 'Neil.

If this is some kind of a sick joke... What are you doing?

I just want to know what's going on, Harry.

Hey, now, what are you getting upset for? I just want to know what's going

Nothing. Nothing is going on. Oh, nothing. Nothing. You call witnesses

You call that nothing?

Now, listen to me. It's just a bluff.

I mean, I'm not really going to go through with it. The police are going to

there. The police.

You don't understand.

All right, I want you to listen to this. Now, just listen.

He's as good as admitted he killed that girl.

How do I know you have any evidence?

I told you.

I saw you.

She frightened the man out of his wits.

It's because he's guilty. That's why he's frightened.

Oh, honey, will you just think it through? I've already thought it

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm afraid.

I just think we'd better talk to Mr. Paisley about this. I already have.

And he goes along with it?

Well, of course.

I don't want you to do anything. I don't want you to do anything because I know

you're going to get into trouble. Amy, it's going to be all right.

Now, where are you going? I'm going to see Mr. Paisley to find out what he

really said. I can't turn my back on my own brother.

Amy, wait.

Harry, I'm going.

Please, Amy.

No, I'm going.

Amy.

How is she, doctor?

I'm afraid we weren't able to save the baby.

And Amy, how's my wife? Well, there's been quite a bit of internal

We hope we've stopped it.

You hope?

Well, we won't know for a while yet.

I'm sorry, Mr. Springer. I wish I could be more encouraging.

We're with the FBI.

We'd like to ask you a few questions if you feel up to it.

About what?

During your trial, you accused Alexander York of perjury.

Yeah, that's right. Why?

Well, York's received a letter stating that the signer had seen him murder

Sharon O 'Neill and that he wanted $50 ,000 to keep quiet.

You don't seem surprised.

Why should I?

I always said York was the one that killed Sharon.

At this point, all we know is that someone's trying to blackmail him.

Whether, in fact, the extortionist witnessed the murder is only conjecture.

Well, who do you think it is?

We're hoping you might be able to tell us.

Has York paid that ransom yet?

Not as far as we know.

Yeah, but, I mean, like, if he does, wouldn't that be an admission of guilt?

No, sir.

Not in a court of law.

You see, even if someone had actually seen York commit the murder, as a

blackmailer, his integrity on the witness stand would be seriously

The sooner we find this individual, the more credibility his testimony may have.

Yeah, but, I mean, why did the blackmailer wait until now?

I mean, why didn't he make his move before the trial?

I would be crazy enough to pull a bluff like that in front of myself.

Mr. Springer, when's the last time you saw your brother?

My brother.

My brother's the biggest square alive.

What did you talk about the last time you were together?

Did he mention York or a letter?

He had some wild idea on his mind.

It couldn't be it.

Well, I know it couldn't.

the coast at ocean bluff five o 'clock this afternoon you'll see a stone wall

leave the money there the man who picks up that briefcase is the one i want

killed

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.

It's all right.

I'm from the hospital business office. Your wife was brought in this morning.

Yes.

I'm sorry to bother you at a time like this, Mr. Springer, but you didn't list

any insurance on your form.

Yeah, well, that's because I don't have any.

But I did leave a check for the deposit with the office.

Could you step into the office for just a moment, please?

Is something the matter?

It'll only take a moment.

Bounced, didn't it?

These things always seem to happen at once, don't they?

Yeah.

What are the charges?

So far, surgery, anesthesia, oxygen, intensive care.

I hate to burden you at a time like this, but when there's no insurance,

required to make some... Perhaps you could borrow from some friend.

Or we might put you in touch with a loan agency that would... Don't you

understand? I don't have anything.

I'm broke.

I just lost my child, and my wife is in the other room fighting for her life.

Does anyone care? Does anything matter in this life except a few measly bucks?

Is that all it comes down to?

All right.

I'll get it.

Mr. Springhart. I didn't mean...

Come

on, get going.

What's wrong, Alex?

Oh, I'm just tired, I guess.

Is it the extortion note?

I'd almost forgotten about that.

I wish you could tell me what's happening.

Nothing's happening.

Nothing very important, anyway.

It's important enough for quite a few drinks.

A lot of things important enough for that.

You've been drinking ever since you got the extortion note.

What are you trying to say, Helen?

Let me help you.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to snap at you.

I love you very sincerely.

Sincerely.

That's a...

Strange word for people who've been married some 20 -odd years.

I didn't mean it the way it sounded.

You knew her, didn't you?

Who?

Sharon O 'Neil, the murdered girl.

That doesn't even deserve an answer.

I'm entitled to one.

Alex, look at me.

Two years after we were married, the phone rang, and a man said, tell your

husband to stop playing around with my wife.

I cried for weeks.

I didn't know what to do about it.

I wanted to bring it out in the open, but I didn't have the nerve.

I was afraid you would leave me.

Helen.

And so I thought, it'll be just this one.

It will pass.

But I was wrong.

And when the others happened, I started to rationalize.

Some men just have to get involved with other women.

It's a sickness like gambling or drinking.

I made it.

Myself.

Children were crazy about you.

There was always the hope someday you'd grow up.

It hurts, Alex.

Even after 20 years, it still hurts.

Please

try

and understand.

You murdered the girl, didn't you?

You couldn't have missed him by more than ten minutes, Inspector.

Yes?

For you, Inspector.

Erskine. It's Tony, Lewis.

Yes, Tony.

I just got a call from Andrew Paisley, John Springer's lawyer.

He seems to feel that Harry Springer might be involved in the extortion.

He's worried that Springer is setting up York to gain a tacit admission of

guilt.

All right, Tony. Thanks very much.

Miss Swenson, this is Inspector Erskine.

Do, Inspector.

Miss Swenson saw Springer leave the hospital.

Do you recall the number of the cab, Miss Swenson?

No, Inspector. I'm sorry.

The address you gave the driver?

Right now.

Do you remember the name of the cab company?

Yes, it was a Madison cab. I'm sure of that. That was it.

Madison. Well, thank you very much. You're welcome, Inspector.

Thank you.

May I use the telephone?

Of course.

Don't you see? It was an accident.

I didn't intend to kill her.

Why?

Somehow she got the idea I was going to marry her. When I tried to end it, she

started to call you.

I tried to take the phone away from her.

She fell.

Get her head against the edge of her...

He's some heavy machinery.

What about the boy?

John Springer, the one who went to prison?

Helen, I'm not trying to justify what I did.

But I wasn't the only one involved. It was you and the children.

You let him go to prison for us?

Why is it so hard to accept that I would want to protect my family?

Alex, who are you trying to protect?

Your family or yourself?

Two face backs, Helen.

What would you and the children do if I go to prison?

Four youthful, exciting lives thrown away for a gesture.

What about John Springer's life?

All right.

What about John Springer's life?

What has he got to offer the world?

Does he have a lovely wife and two wonderful children?

Does he run a shipyard with a thousand employees?

Helen, in your heart.

How can you compare his life with ours?

In a way, I'm responsible, too.

I should have spoken up long before.

We don't even speak the same language.

Springer's going to be all right, I promise. I'll make it up to him.

Inspector Erskine, please.

Right.

Agents interviewed the cab driver.

The cabbie remembers dropping Springer at a place called Ocean Bluff.

He remembers him because he acted very nervous, kept changing his mind.

How far is Ocean Bluff from here?

Not far, if you use the expressway.

Thank you.

This is 17 to all units.

Receipt to Ocean Bluff.

17 out.

You can pin down. I'll work my way around.

Tell Unit 6 to come in by the main highway.

Drop the gun.

I

swear,

it wasn't for the money.

But when he didn't hang up after I told him I saw him kill Sharon, I felt like I

had a tiger by the tail.

I could feel my heart actually stop. I couldn't back out. I was already

committed.

When did you decide to take the money instead of going to the police as you

originally planned?

At the hospital. That's when everything caved in.

Too bad you didn't think about the consequences.

Yeah, well, at a time like that, all I could think about was my wife.

Everything that had happened.

I didn't care what happened to me, just that Amy get through it.

Later, I figured I'd tell you.

Maybe I could still do Johnny some good by confessing everything. I don't know.

All right, we'll have this segment typed up and you can read it over.

What happens to York now? Will Johnny's case get reopened?

Well, it's ironic.

While you were out trying to collect the payoff, Mrs. York called here.

York admitted what he'd done.

He asked to make a full confession.

You mean if I hadn't gone out to that meeting?

That's right.

It almost cost you your life for nothing.

Well, won't this mean that Johnny will be cleared?

It looks that way.

As soon as York gave his statement to the police, the warden gave your brother

the news.

Gee, that's great.

Does he know about me?

Not yet.

Will I get a chance to see him?

I think that can be arranged.

Thank you, Inspector.

Was that the hospital?

Your wife's out of danger. She's going to be fine.

Harry Springer was convicted of extortion and placed on probation.

Alexander York was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Sharon O

He is currently serving his sentence in a state penitentiary.

you