1
00:01:00,994 --> 00:01:03,507
Well, now, this is
all very interesting.
2
00:01:03,531 --> 00:01:07,043
It shows a lot of work
and a lot of imagination.
3
00:01:07,067 --> 00:01:11,481
I never realized you
folks were so efficient.
4
00:01:11,505 --> 00:01:13,917
All right, Folsom,
who put you onto me?
5
00:01:13,941 --> 00:01:16,352
I'm so happy you're
taking this attitude.
6
00:01:16,376 --> 00:01:18,688
I was afraid there'd
be nothing but denials.
7
00:01:18,712 --> 00:01:19,956
Now, where would that get me?
8
00:01:19,980 --> 00:01:21,157
Exactly.
9
00:01:21,181 --> 00:01:22,859
We could establish
your true identity
10
00:01:22,883 --> 00:01:24,227
in no time at all.
11
00:01:24,251 --> 00:01:26,162
Yeah, well, Mr. Folsom,
12
00:01:26,186 --> 00:01:28,854
you just don't have to
go to any more trouble.
13
00:01:30,491 --> 00:01:32,324
I'm George Beaumont.
14
00:01:33,794 --> 00:01:35,739
I needn't tell you,
Mr. Beaumont,
15
00:01:35,763 --> 00:01:38,141
you have my complete sympathy.
16
00:01:38,165 --> 00:01:39,526
Yeah, I'll bet.
17
00:01:39,550 --> 00:01:40,982
I mean it.
18
00:01:43,554 --> 00:01:46,900
There's no reason my
company has to know about this.
19
00:01:46,924 --> 00:01:48,768
I realize that if
I file this report,
20
00:01:48,792 --> 00:01:50,269
it can destroy your life,
21
00:01:50,293 --> 00:01:52,453
not to mention your happiness.
22
00:01:53,330 --> 00:01:54,808
All right, Folsom,
how much? Pardon?
23
00:01:54,832 --> 00:01:57,344
What's the going price
on happiness these days?
24
00:01:57,368 --> 00:02:00,313
Well, I'm sure we
can come to terms.
25
00:02:00,337 --> 00:02:02,549
When a man's in
trouble, I'm perfectly willing
26
00:02:02,573 --> 00:02:04,801
to give him every
opportunity... Get out.
27
00:02:04,825 --> 00:02:06,491
Out.
28
00:02:08,529 --> 00:02:09,773
Now, hold on, Beaumont.
29
00:02:11,398 --> 00:02:14,299
You're in no position to...
30
00:02:19,172 --> 00:02:21,984
George, dear, I brought
you some coffee and...
31
00:02:22,008 --> 00:02:23,353
I'm sorry. Oh, no, Ruth.
32
00:02:23,377 --> 00:02:26,156
Uh, Miss Whittaker,
this is Mr. Folsom.
33
00:02:26,180 --> 00:02:28,792
He calls himself an
insurance investigator.
34
00:02:28,816 --> 00:02:30,059
Well, I'll come back later.
35
00:02:30,083 --> 00:02:32,728
Oh, no, you stay.
Mr. Folsom was just leavin'.
36
00:02:32,752 --> 00:02:36,365
He just stopped in to
pick up some... blackmail.
37
00:02:36,389 --> 00:02:37,722
Blackmail?
38
00:02:42,896 --> 00:02:44,340
Look, Beaumont,
39
00:02:44,364 --> 00:02:47,743
you're facing a prison
term, scandal, humiliation.
40
00:02:47,767 --> 00:02:50,213
For a few thousand
dollars, you can save
41
00:02:50,237 --> 00:02:52,232
this new career of yours.
42
00:02:52,256 --> 00:02:54,351
Well, now, it's not worth it.
43
00:02:54,375 --> 00:02:57,754
Oh, wait. I'm sure that I
could raise some money.
44
00:02:57,778 --> 00:02:59,656
Six or 7,000, maybe.
45
00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,046
Ruth, are you crazy?
46
00:03:02,265 --> 00:03:04,161
My card, Miss Whittaker.
47
00:03:04,185 --> 00:03:07,531
I'll expect to hear from you.
48
00:03:07,555 --> 00:03:08,720
Good day.
49
00:03:10,524 --> 00:03:12,057
That dirty...
50
00:03:14,027 --> 00:03:16,562
I'll see him dead first
before I give him a nickel.
51
00:03:43,824 --> 00:03:45,568
You must have had money once.
52
00:03:45,592 --> 00:03:49,406
We did once,
Mr. Folsom, not now.
53
00:03:49,430 --> 00:03:52,074
Here's $7,000.
That's all I could raise.
54
00:03:52,098 --> 00:03:55,144
Well, I'm a reasonable
man, Miss Whittaker.
55
00:03:55,168 --> 00:03:57,714
May I have the
report now, please?
56
00:03:57,738 --> 00:04:00,204
Oh, y-yes. Yes, of course.
57
00:04:02,409 --> 00:04:04,509
All three copies, complete.
58
00:04:07,213 --> 00:04:09,759
Tell me, Mr. Folsom, where
did you get your information?
59
00:04:09,783 --> 00:04:11,360
It's part of my job.
60
00:04:11,384 --> 00:04:13,146
A good insurance investigator...
61
00:04:13,170 --> 00:04:15,148
Someone told you about
George. Who was it?
62
00:04:15,172 --> 00:04:16,315
Don't worry.
63
00:04:16,339 --> 00:04:18,101
My company will never know.
64
00:04:18,125 --> 00:04:19,653
But you'll know.
65
00:04:21,244 --> 00:04:22,989
I've already forgotten.
66
00:04:23,013 --> 00:04:24,513
You have my word.
67
00:04:25,516 --> 00:04:27,527
The word of a blackmailer.
68
00:04:27,551 --> 00:04:29,629
My dear Miss Whittaker...
69
00:04:29,653 --> 00:04:30,747
Ruth?
70
00:04:30,771 --> 00:04:32,237
You better go.
71
00:04:34,475 --> 00:04:37,375
Ruth! Where the devil are you?
72
00:04:43,650 --> 00:04:45,951
Seven thousand dollars.
73
00:04:47,153 --> 00:04:49,098
You must love
that man very much.
74
00:04:49,122 --> 00:04:51,356
Get out, Mr. Folsom.
75
00:04:54,628 --> 00:04:57,188
Ruth!
76
00:05:15,398 --> 00:05:17,409
Confound it. Where you been?
77
00:05:17,433 --> 00:05:19,746
It's past time for my pills.
78
00:05:19,770 --> 00:05:21,280
Your pills are on the dresser.
79
00:05:21,304 --> 00:05:22,648
Get them yourself.
80
00:05:22,672 --> 00:05:26,119
Why, that... That's no way
to talk to your father, Ruthie.
81
00:05:26,143 --> 00:05:28,505
Wait a minute!
Where are you goin'?
82
00:05:28,529 --> 00:05:31,257
As far away from
you as possible.
83
00:05:31,281 --> 00:05:34,193
Now, look, Ruth. I
got a right to know.
84
00:05:34,217 --> 00:05:36,151
You goin' away with George?
85
00:05:38,088 --> 00:05:39,966
Ruth, come back here!
86
00:05:47,697 --> 00:05:48,964
Uh-huh.
87
00:05:50,067 --> 00:05:51,699
How do you spell that?
88
00:05:54,838 --> 00:05:56,382
All right.
89
00:05:56,406 --> 00:05:57,917
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Beaumont.
90
00:05:57,941 --> 00:06:00,075
I'll tell Mr. Mason you called.
91
00:06:06,616 --> 00:06:08,216
Morning, Miss Street.
92
00:06:09,119 --> 00:06:10,529
Morning, Mr. Mason.
93
00:06:10,553 --> 00:06:12,398
You finish your homework?
94
00:06:12,422 --> 00:06:14,733
You can take it all
right to the typist.
95
00:06:14,757 --> 00:06:16,402
Oh, Paul Drake wants
you to give him a buzz
96
00:06:16,426 --> 00:06:17,837
as soon as you can.
97
00:06:17,861 --> 00:06:20,545
And you just missed a call
from a George Hartley Beaumont.
98
00:06:22,365 --> 00:06:24,777
George Hartley Beaumont? Mm-hm.
99
00:06:24,801 --> 00:06:25,945
What's his number?
100
00:06:25,969 --> 00:06:27,313
He called from a booth.
101
00:06:27,337 --> 00:06:29,377
He said he'd call
back later on tonight.
102
00:06:31,341 --> 00:06:32,552
What time tonight?
103
00:06:32,576 --> 00:06:34,543
About 6:00.
104
00:06:37,531 --> 00:06:38,742
What's wrong?
105
00:06:38,766 --> 00:06:41,978
Either someone has an
overdeveloped sense of humor,
106
00:06:42,002 --> 00:06:43,613
or we're witnessing
a modern miracle.
107
00:06:43,637 --> 00:06:45,331
George Hartley Beaumont is dead.
108
00:06:45,355 --> 00:06:46,883
Dead?
109
00:06:46,907 --> 00:06:49,052
He died almost three years ago.
110
00:06:49,076 --> 00:06:51,554
That's strange. I
don't remember that.
111
00:06:51,578 --> 00:06:53,789
That was the year you
took the six-week vacation.
112
00:06:53,813 --> 00:06:56,359
It all happened
while you were gone.
113
00:06:56,383 --> 00:06:58,361
Beaumont was on a
business trip to Europe.
114
00:06:58,385 --> 00:07:00,763
His plane went
down in the Atlantic.
115
00:07:00,787 --> 00:07:02,849
They recovered less
than half the bodies.
116
00:07:02,873 --> 00:07:08,243
Did, uh...? Did Beaumont
have a slight Southern accent?
117
00:07:10,447 --> 00:07:11,657
Yes, he did.
118
00:07:24,761 --> 00:07:26,094
Yeah?
119
00:07:31,935 --> 00:07:33,412
Where's Mr. Hollister?
120
00:07:33,436 --> 00:07:34,556
He's gone.
121
00:07:35,889 --> 00:07:37,383
What do you mean, "He's gone"?
122
00:07:37,407 --> 00:07:38,517
Well, he's gone.
123
00:07:38,541 --> 00:07:41,471
He paid up and moved
out around suppertime.
124
00:07:41,495 --> 00:07:43,539
Where?
125
00:07:43,563 --> 00:07:44,830
Did he say where?
126
00:07:45,848 --> 00:07:48,527
Well, he did, and he didn't.
127
00:07:48,551 --> 00:07:49,646
What's your name?
128
00:07:49,670 --> 00:07:51,580
Ruth Whittaker. Mm.
129
00:07:51,604 --> 00:07:54,124
Well, I guess that's for you.
130
00:08:05,385 --> 00:08:07,630
My dear Ruth, forgive me.
131
00:08:07,654 --> 00:08:10,800
I can't spend my life
hiding from the truth.
132
00:08:10,824 --> 00:08:12,434
Thanks for everything.
133
00:08:12,458 --> 00:08:14,025
Love, George.
134
00:08:16,396 --> 00:08:18,396
Bad news, dearie?
135
00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,523
Good morning, Roberta.
136
00:08:34,547 --> 00:08:35,858
Good morning, Mr. McKay.
137
00:08:35,882 --> 00:08:37,493
The boss lady in? Uh-huh.
138
00:08:37,517 --> 00:08:38,627
Mr. Walker wants to know
139
00:08:38,651 --> 00:08:39,962
if you can make
it for lunch today.
140
00:08:39,986 --> 00:08:42,231
Mm, can't. Got a
heavy day today.
141
00:08:42,255 --> 00:08:43,566
See how he's fixed for Friday.
142
00:08:43,590 --> 00:08:44,939
Right.
143
00:08:49,095 --> 00:08:50,540
Good morning.
144
00:08:50,564 --> 00:08:52,107
Don't you know a growing girl
145
00:08:52,131 --> 00:08:54,043
should have a decent breakfast?
146
00:08:54,067 --> 00:08:56,712
I can't afford it.
Well, you can now.
147
00:08:56,736 --> 00:08:58,981
I've got orders for
68 of these babies.
148
00:08:59,005 --> 00:09:01,050
Oh, you haven't. I
most certainly have.
149
00:09:01,074 --> 00:09:04,453
Are you serious?
Well, have a look.
150
00:09:04,477 --> 00:09:06,188
Oh, Glenn, this is...
151
00:09:06,212 --> 00:09:08,824
This is wonderful.
152
00:09:08,848 --> 00:09:11,293
Oh, I don't know
what I'd do without you.
153
00:09:11,317 --> 00:09:12,862
Well, let's put it this way:
154
00:09:12,886 --> 00:09:14,731
Together we make a great team.
155
00:09:14,755 --> 00:09:17,150
Maybe we can make it
work outside the office.
156
00:09:18,775 --> 00:09:21,454
Well, you know how
I feel about marriage.
157
00:09:21,478 --> 00:09:23,789
Just because you didn't
make a big smash of it before...
158
00:09:23,813 --> 00:09:26,709
Yes, Roberta?
159
00:09:26,733 --> 00:09:28,678
I'm sorry to disturb
you, Mrs. Beaumont,
160
00:09:28,702 --> 00:09:31,581
but there's a Mr. Mason
here to see you.
161
00:09:31,605 --> 00:09:33,125
Mason?
162
00:09:33,940 --> 00:09:35,301
Perry Mason.
163
00:09:35,325 --> 00:09:37,003
Oh.
164
00:09:37,027 --> 00:09:38,092
Come in.
165
00:09:41,164 --> 00:09:44,281
He was George's lawyer.
I wonder what he wants.
166
00:09:50,073 --> 00:09:51,617
How are you, Mrs. Beaumont?
167
00:09:51,641 --> 00:09:53,386
Just fine, thank you.
168
00:09:53,410 --> 00:09:55,421
Oh, this is Mr. McKay,
our sales manager.
169
00:09:55,445 --> 00:09:56,889
Glenn, this is Perry Mason.
170
00:09:56,913 --> 00:09:58,224
I've heard a lot about you.
171
00:09:58,248 --> 00:10:00,460
I've seen evidence of your work.
172
00:10:00,484 --> 00:10:02,928
This is quite a change
from the old place.
173
00:10:02,952 --> 00:10:05,631
Well, I think Glenn deserves
the lion's share of the credit.
174
00:10:05,655 --> 00:10:07,800
Sit down. No, I
really can't stay long.
175
00:10:07,824 --> 00:10:09,268
Oh, now, you'll never
make me believe
176
00:10:09,292 --> 00:10:11,270
Perry Mason just happened
to be in the neighborhood
177
00:10:11,294 --> 00:10:12,405
and decided to drop in.
178
00:10:12,429 --> 00:10:14,407
Maybe he wants one
of our check writers.
179
00:10:14,431 --> 00:10:16,242
Now, this is our Model 78.
180
00:10:16,266 --> 00:10:18,511
No self-respecting office
would be without one.
181
00:10:18,535 --> 00:10:19,545
That's enough, Glenn.
182
00:10:19,569 --> 00:10:21,547
Obviously, he loves his work.
183
00:10:21,571 --> 00:10:24,049
Actually, we were doing a
little housecleaning at the office,
184
00:10:24,073 --> 00:10:26,786
and I ran across the
file on George's estate.
185
00:10:26,810 --> 00:10:29,622
There are some things in here I
thought you might wanna keep.
186
00:10:29,646 --> 00:10:32,392
For business or
sentimental reasons?
187
00:10:32,416 --> 00:10:34,716
Oh, a combination of both.
188
00:10:38,221 --> 00:10:40,021
No, I...
189
00:10:41,858 --> 00:10:44,325
I don't see anything in
here that interests me.
190
00:10:48,398 --> 00:10:51,132
Well, that's one way
to dispose of the past.
191
00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,617
Oh, I, uh...
192
00:10:58,641 --> 00:11:00,975
may call you about one
of those check writers.
193
00:11:35,929 --> 00:11:37,874
You look startled.
194
00:11:37,898 --> 00:11:40,176
I am.
195
00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,245
Ruthie, what on Earth
are you doin' here?
196
00:11:42,269 --> 00:11:44,280
I came to see you.
197
00:11:44,304 --> 00:11:45,748
May I come in, please?
198
00:11:45,772 --> 00:11:46,837
Of course.
199
00:11:49,075 --> 00:11:53,055
Your landlady gave me
your forwarding address.
200
00:11:53,079 --> 00:11:56,625
I guess she felt sorry for me.
201
00:11:56,649 --> 00:11:58,127
Look, Ruthie, I'm...
202
00:11:58,151 --> 00:12:00,229
I'm afraid you just
don't understand.
203
00:12:00,253 --> 00:12:01,396
I want to, George,
204
00:12:01,420 --> 00:12:04,033
more than anything
else in the world.
205
00:12:04,057 --> 00:12:06,497
Why did you leave
Crestview City?
206
00:12:07,410 --> 00:12:08,905
I'm gonna give myself up.
207
00:12:08,929 --> 00:12:11,140
Oh, no, you mustn't.
I won't let you.
208
00:12:11,164 --> 00:12:12,658
You'll go to prison.
209
00:12:12,682 --> 00:12:15,161
That's a chance I'm
gonna have to take.
210
00:12:15,185 --> 00:12:17,964
I'm gonna call Perry Mason
again tonight. He's my lawyer.
211
00:12:17,988 --> 00:12:20,348
Well, he won't be
able to help you.
212
00:12:21,157 --> 00:12:22,556
Maybe not.
213
00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:25,126
It's my own fault.
214
00:12:27,730 --> 00:12:29,875
I shoulda come back to
Los Angeles three years ago
215
00:12:29,899 --> 00:12:31,710
to face the music.
216
00:12:31,734 --> 00:12:33,579
Besides, I have no choice.
217
00:12:33,603 --> 00:12:35,547
Insurance company
knows the truth.
218
00:12:35,571 --> 00:12:37,249
No, they don't.
219
00:12:37,273 --> 00:12:40,186
That weasel Folsom
musta told 'em by now.
220
00:12:40,210 --> 00:12:42,554
I don't think so, George.
221
00:12:42,578 --> 00:12:45,313
Ruthie, you just don't
understand human nature.
222
00:12:46,949 --> 00:12:48,727
But, you know, it
doesn't matter 'cause...
223
00:12:48,751 --> 00:12:50,129
Well, maybe things
will break right
224
00:12:50,153 --> 00:12:52,686
and Mason'll get me
off with a light sentence.
225
00:12:54,257 --> 00:12:56,202
And then Laura
and I will be free
226
00:12:56,226 --> 00:12:58,003
to give it another try.
227
00:12:58,027 --> 00:13:00,138
Laura?
228
00:13:00,162 --> 00:13:02,007
You see, Ruth, most of
the trouble between us
229
00:13:02,031 --> 00:13:03,875
was my fault, and I...
230
00:13:03,899 --> 00:13:05,377
Well, I wrote to her last night.
231
00:13:05,401 --> 00:13:06,912
I... I was gonna call her,
232
00:13:06,936 --> 00:13:09,147
but I was afraid it'd be
too much of a shock to her.
233
00:13:09,171 --> 00:13:11,571
That's very
considerate of you, but...
234
00:13:12,208 --> 00:13:13,208
what about me?
235
00:13:14,727 --> 00:13:17,106
Ruthie, I'll never forget
you as long as I live.
236
00:13:17,130 --> 00:13:19,441
You're the sweetest,
kindest friend a man...
237
00:13:19,465 --> 00:13:20,698
Friend?!
238
00:13:24,604 --> 00:13:27,817
You look at me as though I
were your faithful cocker spaniel.
239
00:13:27,841 --> 00:13:29,252
Your friend?! Look, Ruthie,
240
00:13:29,276 --> 00:13:30,987
you've had a long
trip, and you're tired...
241
00:13:31,011 --> 00:13:33,256
Oh, what a fool.
242
00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:37,348
What a stupid,
pitiful, blind fool.
243
00:13:38,051 --> 00:13:40,630
No, not you. Me.
244
00:13:40,654 --> 00:13:42,698
When you told me you cared,
245
00:13:42,722 --> 00:13:45,134
I was stupid enough
to think you meant it!
246
00:13:45,158 --> 00:13:46,669
Ruthie, please,
people'll hear you.
247
00:13:46,693 --> 00:13:49,238
I don't care. I'm not ashamed.
248
00:13:49,262 --> 00:13:53,742
I only made the same mistake
thousands of women make.
249
00:13:53,766 --> 00:13:57,396
I believed a man when
he told me he loved me.
250
00:13:57,420 --> 00:13:59,520
I did love you.
251
00:14:00,924 --> 00:14:03,069
But when Mr. Folsom came
along with his briefcase,
252
00:14:03,093 --> 00:14:04,904
that changed everything, did it?
253
00:14:04,928 --> 00:14:07,773
Aw, it happened long
before he showed up.
254
00:14:07,797 --> 00:14:09,541
Ruthie, I tried to get
her out of my mind,
255
00:14:09,565 --> 00:14:11,377
but I just couldn't.
256
00:14:11,401 --> 00:14:13,678
I told you how I came
to miss that plane.
257
00:14:13,702 --> 00:14:16,081
We'd had another argument,
and I went to the gift shop
258
00:14:16,105 --> 00:14:17,549
at the terminal to
buy her a present,
259
00:14:17,573 --> 00:14:20,552
and I just didn't hear
'em announce last call.
260
00:14:20,576 --> 00:14:22,988
When I heard that
that plane crashed, I...
261
00:14:23,012 --> 00:14:24,957
Well, I figured the best
present I could give her
262
00:14:24,981 --> 00:14:27,927
was to just get out of her life.
263
00:14:27,951 --> 00:14:30,179
Next you'll be telling
me she saved your life.
264
00:14:30,203 --> 00:14:32,882
No.
265
00:14:32,906 --> 00:14:36,251
Ruthie, for three years I
let her think I was dead,
266
00:14:36,275 --> 00:14:39,143
but more and more,
she was on my mind. I...
267
00:14:40,479 --> 00:14:43,226
I guess I shoulda
told you before.
268
00:14:43,250 --> 00:14:46,395
Yes, George, long before.
269
00:14:46,419 --> 00:14:49,265
You should have told me
before I cashed in my bonds
270
00:14:49,289 --> 00:14:50,866
and borrowed
money on my furniture
271
00:14:50,890 --> 00:14:53,435
and withdrew every
penny I had out of the bank.
272
00:14:53,459 --> 00:14:55,788
Ruthie, you didn't
pay that blackmailer!
273
00:14:55,812 --> 00:14:57,055
Didn't I?
274
00:14:57,079 --> 00:15:00,293
I gave him $7,000,
nearly everything I had.
275
00:15:00,317 --> 00:15:02,578
Seven thousand dollars?
276
00:15:02,602 --> 00:15:04,880
Yes, and for what?!
277
00:15:04,904 --> 00:15:06,748
So you could throw me a bone?
278
00:15:06,772 --> 00:15:09,485
Go ahead, George, throw it
and see how I fetch it for you.
279
00:15:09,509 --> 00:15:11,520
Your cabin's ready,
Miss Whittaker.
280
00:15:11,544 --> 00:15:13,822
Unit Number 9, two doors down.
281
00:15:13,846 --> 00:15:15,291
If you don't mind, Mr. Beaumont,
282
00:15:15,315 --> 00:15:17,348
I run a quiet place here.
283
00:15:25,825 --> 00:15:28,370
No, there's no need of your
waiting any longer, Gertie.
284
00:15:28,394 --> 00:15:30,506
Just set up the board
and you can go on home.
285
00:15:30,530 --> 00:15:31,729
Night.
286
00:15:36,369 --> 00:15:38,581
Like me to make some coffee?
287
00:15:38,605 --> 00:15:40,082
Might be a good idea.
288
00:15:42,142 --> 00:15:45,121
There's our favorite
detective, Paul Drake.
289
00:15:45,145 --> 00:15:47,156
Shall I let him in?
290
00:15:47,180 --> 00:15:49,057
Do we have a choice? Mm-mm.
291
00:15:55,971 --> 00:15:57,271
Hi, beautiful.
292
00:15:58,608 --> 00:16:00,786
I, uh, figured you
two would still be here.
293
00:16:00,810 --> 00:16:02,320
How did you figure that?
294
00:16:02,344 --> 00:16:04,222
Well, I'm a detective, remember?
295
00:16:04,246 --> 00:16:05,312
Good boy.
296
00:16:06,949 --> 00:16:09,461
Obviously, Mr. Beaumont
hasn't called yet.
297
00:16:09,485 --> 00:16:10,763
Obviously. Well, uh,
298
00:16:10,787 --> 00:16:12,364
how much longer
are you going to wait?
299
00:16:12,388 --> 00:16:14,232
It's almost 10:00.
300
00:16:14,256 --> 00:16:17,002
Oh, I'll give him
another half-hour.
301
00:16:17,026 --> 00:16:18,504
Listen, Della,
302
00:16:18,528 --> 00:16:20,372
why don't you and Paul
grab a bite together?
303
00:16:20,396 --> 00:16:22,307
I'll meet you both
just as soon... Uh-uh.
304
00:16:22,331 --> 00:16:25,577
I can be stubborn
too. Well, in that case,
305
00:16:25,601 --> 00:16:28,201
I will bid both you
charming people good night.
306
00:16:31,273 --> 00:16:32,606
Night.
307
00:16:37,413 --> 00:16:38,924
Hello?
308
00:16:38,948 --> 00:16:41,227
You don't care what
kind of hours you keep.
309
00:16:41,251 --> 00:16:42,645
Who is this?
310
00:16:42,669 --> 00:16:45,547
Your friend and admirer.
311
00:16:45,571 --> 00:16:47,249
Lieutenant Tragg?
312
00:16:47,273 --> 00:16:49,084
Yes, it is.
313
00:16:49,108 --> 00:16:51,486
Do you know the
Villa Motel on Milkirk?
314
00:16:51,510 --> 00:16:52,688
No.
315
00:16:52,712 --> 00:16:55,157
Well, do you know a fellow
named George Beaumont?
316
00:16:55,181 --> 00:16:57,826
All right, Tragg,
what's it all about?
317
00:16:57,850 --> 00:17:00,329
He's been murdered.
318
00:17:00,353 --> 00:17:01,952
Hello, Perry, you there?
319
00:17:03,722 --> 00:17:04,917
I'm here.
320
00:17:04,941 --> 00:17:06,585
We found your name
and phone number
321
00:17:06,609 --> 00:17:09,054
on a piece of
paper in his pocket.
322
00:17:09,078 --> 00:17:11,123
Can we ask you to come
out here and identify him?
323
00:17:11,147 --> 00:17:13,147
I'll get there as soon as I can.
324
00:17:32,001 --> 00:17:34,246
No, Della. I, uh...
325
00:17:34,270 --> 00:17:35,990
I think you'd better stay here.
326
00:17:44,147 --> 00:17:46,558
You mixed up in this, Mr. Mason?
You know the dead man?
327
00:17:46,582 --> 00:17:48,342
Sorry, fellas, I can't
talk to you right now.
328
00:17:52,821 --> 00:17:54,054
Well?
329
00:17:55,458 --> 00:17:58,192
Well, it's George
Beaumont, all right.
330
00:18:00,062 --> 00:18:03,008
A... client of yours, wasn't he?
331
00:18:03,032 --> 00:18:05,010
At one time.
332
00:18:05,034 --> 00:18:07,812
Pretty unusual man.
333
00:18:07,836 --> 00:18:10,232
Well, he died twice. That
doesn't happen very often.
334
00:18:10,256 --> 00:18:13,769
Then you know he was supposed
to have been on that airliner
335
00:18:13,793 --> 00:18:16,322
that went down in the
Atlantic three years ago?
336
00:18:16,346 --> 00:18:18,190
Yeah, we know that...
337
00:18:18,214 --> 00:18:19,525
and a lot more.
338
00:18:19,549 --> 00:18:21,860
Uh, get that down to the lab.
339
00:18:21,884 --> 00:18:24,284
That's the murder weapon,
if you haven't guessed.
340
00:18:24,954 --> 00:18:26,465
I guessed.
341
00:18:26,489 --> 00:18:28,667
Who killed him, lieutenant?
342
00:18:28,691 --> 00:18:30,836
What makes you think
we've picked on anyone?
343
00:18:30,860 --> 00:18:33,205
Oh, you've got that look.
344
00:18:33,229 --> 00:18:34,440
Besides, someone had to tell you
345
00:18:34,464 --> 00:18:36,074
about Beaumont
dying once before.
346
00:18:36,098 --> 00:18:38,094
You couldn't have
checked it out this fast.
347
00:18:38,118 --> 00:18:40,367
You're right.
Let's get some air.
348
00:18:43,790 --> 00:18:45,901
What about a statement?
349
00:18:45,925 --> 00:18:48,503
Now, now, boys, you're
gonna get everything you want,
350
00:18:48,527 --> 00:18:50,773
but how about giving me
a little privacy first, huh?
351
00:18:50,797 --> 00:18:52,440
Okay, lieutenant.
352
00:18:59,071 --> 00:19:00,304
Thanks.
353
00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:05,342
Hmm.
354
00:19:08,647 --> 00:19:10,993
Uh, Beaumont ever
mention a girl named, uh,
355
00:19:11,017 --> 00:19:12,761
Ruth Whittaker to you?
356
00:19:12,785 --> 00:19:15,697
I haven't spoken to Beaumont
in almost three years.
357
00:19:15,721 --> 00:19:17,199
Well, he, uh, told
Miss Whittaker
358
00:19:17,223 --> 00:19:18,901
that he phoned
you earlier today.
359
00:19:18,925 --> 00:19:20,969
He phoned my office.
I didn't speak to him.
360
00:19:20,993 --> 00:19:23,172
My, we're a little touchy
tonight, aren't we?
361
00:19:23,196 --> 00:19:24,673
I just wanna keep
the record straight.
362
00:19:24,697 --> 00:19:25,874
Oh, I can understand that.
363
00:19:25,898 --> 00:19:27,609
Burger had an idea that
you might have been,
364
00:19:27,633 --> 00:19:29,912
uh, counseling Beaumont.
365
00:19:29,936 --> 00:19:32,881
Well, if Beaumont had lived,
he'd have been in quite a jam.
366
00:19:32,905 --> 00:19:35,083
I understand our courts
take a very dim view
367
00:19:35,107 --> 00:19:37,052
of defrauding an
insurance company.
368
00:19:37,076 --> 00:19:38,954
Mr. Burger thinks I
advised Beaumont
369
00:19:38,978 --> 00:19:40,155
to stay out of sight?
370
00:19:40,179 --> 00:19:41,356
Oh, well, he didn't exactly
371
00:19:41,380 --> 00:19:43,058
come, uh, right
out and say that.
372
00:19:43,082 --> 00:19:46,161
No, but that was the
implication. Mm-hm.
373
00:19:46,185 --> 00:19:48,396
How does Ruth
Whittaker fit into this?
374
00:19:48,420 --> 00:19:52,367
She fits in real good.
We think she killed him.
375
00:19:52,391 --> 00:19:53,802
For the last two
and a half years,
376
00:19:53,826 --> 00:19:56,004
Beaumont has been
living in Crestview City
377
00:19:56,028 --> 00:19:57,806
under the name of Hollister.
378
00:19:57,830 --> 00:19:59,441
Miss Whittaker was, uh...
379
00:19:59,465 --> 00:20:00,976
Well, what is termed
in polite circles,
380
00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:02,911
his girlfriend.
381
00:20:02,935 --> 00:20:05,347
Apparently, he had some
ideas of going back to his wife,
382
00:20:05,371 --> 00:20:07,649
and Miss Whittaker
didn't approve.
383
00:20:07,673 --> 00:20:09,268
How do you know?
384
00:20:09,292 --> 00:20:11,035
They had words,
and fortunately for us,
385
00:20:11,059 --> 00:20:12,571
they were overheard.
386
00:20:12,595 --> 00:20:15,774
We found her packing
a suitcase in Unit 9.
387
00:20:15,798 --> 00:20:17,726
Well, I've got to
get back to work.
388
00:20:17,750 --> 00:20:19,228
Thanks for dropping by.
389
00:20:19,252 --> 00:20:21,918
And I'll tell Mr. Burger
you've been most cooperative.
390
00:20:30,363 --> 00:20:33,775
I wanna thank you for
coming down here, Mr. Mason.
391
00:20:33,799 --> 00:20:35,799
I know how busy you are.
392
00:20:38,036 --> 00:20:39,715
But George said
you were his friend
393
00:20:39,739 --> 00:20:41,450
as well as his lawyer.
394
00:20:41,474 --> 00:20:42,673
I was.
395
00:20:46,412 --> 00:20:48,089
Did you know that...
396
00:20:48,113 --> 00:20:51,181
all his life, George
wanted to be a painter?
397
00:20:52,251 --> 00:20:55,430
That's where we
met, in art class.
398
00:20:55,454 --> 00:20:56,565
I wasn't very good.
399
00:20:56,589 --> 00:20:58,989
I just kept on so that
I could see George.
400
00:21:01,226 --> 00:21:02,437
Of course, at that time,
401
00:21:02,461 --> 00:21:05,807
I thought his
name was Hollister.
402
00:21:05,831 --> 00:21:07,309
He didn't tell me the true story
403
00:21:07,333 --> 00:21:09,400
until some time later.
404
00:21:16,709 --> 00:21:18,920
Why did George pick
this particular time
405
00:21:18,944 --> 00:21:21,423
to come back to Los Angeles?
406
00:21:21,447 --> 00:21:22,675
He had to.
407
00:21:22,699 --> 00:21:24,977
Some insurance investigator
found out about him,
408
00:21:25,001 --> 00:21:27,763
and George wouldn't
pay him to keep quiet.
409
00:21:27,787 --> 00:21:29,682
What was this
investigator's name?
410
00:21:29,706 --> 00:21:31,950
Harry Folsom.
411
00:21:31,974 --> 00:21:34,058
I gave him $7,000.
412
00:21:35,828 --> 00:21:37,572
Well, I had to.
413
00:21:37,596 --> 00:21:40,826
I couldn't let anything
happen to George.
414
00:21:40,850 --> 00:21:41,927
How did, uh...?
415
00:21:41,951 --> 00:21:43,946
How did Folsom find
out about George?
416
00:21:43,970 --> 00:21:45,864
I don't know.
417
00:21:45,888 --> 00:21:47,488
I don't know.
418
00:21:49,458 --> 00:21:51,870
Do you have any
relatives in Crestview City?
419
00:21:51,894 --> 00:21:53,472
Just my father.
420
00:21:53,496 --> 00:21:55,874
Have you been in touch with him?
421
00:21:55,898 --> 00:21:56,992
No.
422
00:21:57,016 --> 00:21:58,827
Would you like me
to call him for you?
423
00:21:58,851 --> 00:22:01,430
No, please don't bother.
424
00:22:01,454 --> 00:22:05,099
I don't want you to go
to any more trouble. I...
425
00:22:05,123 --> 00:22:06,135
It was nice enough of you
426
00:22:06,159 --> 00:22:08,403
to come down here at all.
427
00:22:08,427 --> 00:22:10,561
Tell me, Miss Whittaker...
428
00:22:12,698 --> 00:22:15,182
did you kill George Beaumont?
429
00:22:17,219 --> 00:22:19,648
Would you believe
me if I said I didn't?
430
00:22:19,672 --> 00:22:21,150
Yes.
431
00:22:21,174 --> 00:22:24,375
Well, I didn't do it, Mr. Mason.
432
00:22:25,645 --> 00:22:28,245
I know how it looks,
and I was angry.
433
00:22:30,583 --> 00:22:33,829
But I realized it
wasn't George's fault,
434
00:22:33,853 --> 00:22:37,333
and I couldn't help the
way he felt about his wife.
435
00:22:37,357 --> 00:22:38,605
All right.
436
00:22:40,993 --> 00:22:42,326
I'll, um...
437
00:22:44,597 --> 00:22:46,957
I'll be in to see you tomorrow.
438
00:22:48,868 --> 00:22:51,980
You mean, you're willing
to act as my lawyer?
439
00:22:52,004 --> 00:22:54,444
Unless you have
someone else in mind.
440
00:23:04,083 --> 00:23:05,594
I must admit, Mr. Mason,
441
00:23:05,618 --> 00:23:07,796
I'm really surprised.
442
00:23:07,820 --> 00:23:10,866
I don't see why, Mrs. Beaumont.
443
00:23:10,890 --> 00:23:12,334
Well, for one thing,
I know my husband
444
00:23:12,358 --> 00:23:14,069
considered you his friend.
445
00:23:14,093 --> 00:23:16,638
Now you're defending
his murderer.
446
00:23:16,662 --> 00:23:18,340
I find that peculiar.
447
00:23:18,364 --> 00:23:21,143
Well, what makes you think
Miss Whittaker killed him?
448
00:23:21,167 --> 00:23:23,445
All you have to do is
read the newspapers.
449
00:23:23,469 --> 00:23:25,047
Fortunately, juries demand
450
00:23:25,071 --> 00:23:27,649
a little more proof
than reporters.
451
00:23:27,673 --> 00:23:30,135
Naturally, you'd say that.
452
00:23:30,159 --> 00:23:33,404
Oh. I'm sorry, Laura. I
didn't know you were busy.
453
00:23:33,428 --> 00:23:35,629
No, Glenn, it's all
right. Come on in.
454
00:23:36,732 --> 00:23:39,611
Hello, Mason. McKay.
455
00:23:39,635 --> 00:23:41,713
Mr. Mason's defending that girl.
456
00:23:41,737 --> 00:23:43,148
Yes, I know. I
read it in the paper.
457
00:23:43,172 --> 00:23:45,652
I take it you don't
approve either.
458
00:23:46,308 --> 00:23:47,653
Does it matter
whether I approve?
459
00:23:47,677 --> 00:23:48,787
Frankly, no.
460
00:23:48,811 --> 00:23:51,556
How well did you know
George Beaumont?
461
00:23:51,580 --> 00:23:53,275
I heard that you
worked that way.
462
00:23:53,299 --> 00:23:55,210
You're not just satisfied
463
00:23:55,234 --> 00:23:57,279
with getting an
acquittal for a client.
464
00:23:57,303 --> 00:23:59,498
But I understand that
you have a compulsion
465
00:23:59,522 --> 00:24:01,500
to turn up the guilty party.
466
00:24:01,524 --> 00:24:03,001
That doesn't answer my question.
467
00:24:03,025 --> 00:24:05,303
It doesn't, does it?
468
00:24:05,327 --> 00:24:07,973
Now, I believe the question was,
469
00:24:07,997 --> 00:24:09,608
did I know George Beaumont?
470
00:24:09,632 --> 00:24:10,809
Well, yes, I did.
471
00:24:10,833 --> 00:24:11,977
I came here to work for him
472
00:24:12,001 --> 00:24:13,962
about six months
before he disappeared.
473
00:24:13,986 --> 00:24:16,064
Now, would you like to
know what I thought of him?
474
00:24:16,088 --> 00:24:17,231
No, don't. It's all right.
475
00:24:17,255 --> 00:24:19,300
I want Mr. Mason to know.
476
00:24:19,324 --> 00:24:20,902
You see, Beaumont
was one of those men
477
00:24:20,926 --> 00:24:22,637
who meant well,
but he couldn't help
478
00:24:22,661 --> 00:24:23,972
ruining everything he touched.
479
00:24:23,996 --> 00:24:26,040
He ran this office
into the ground
480
00:24:26,064 --> 00:24:29,544
and gave Laura a
phobia against marriage.
481
00:24:29,568 --> 00:24:32,848
In short, I thought very
little of the gentleman.
482
00:24:32,872 --> 00:24:34,716
Well, I can't say you've
avoided the question.
483
00:24:35,908 --> 00:24:38,086
Are there any others? Yes.
484
00:24:38,110 --> 00:24:40,630
Do you know a man
named Harry Folsom?
485
00:24:40,780 --> 00:24:43,208
Folsom? No.
486
00:24:43,232 --> 00:24:45,977
He's an insurance
investigator for Mercury Mutual.
487
00:24:46,001 --> 00:24:47,145
He's the one who discovered
488
00:24:47,169 --> 00:24:49,414
George didn't die
in that plane crash.
489
00:24:49,438 --> 00:24:51,955
By any chance, did Folsom
get in touch with you?
490
00:24:52,591 --> 00:24:53,719
Why should he?
491
00:24:53,743 --> 00:24:56,487
He tried to blackmail
your husband.
492
00:24:56,511 --> 00:24:59,290
He offered to keep his report
from the insurance company.
493
00:24:59,314 --> 00:25:01,698
I wondered if he'd come to
you with a similar proposal.
494
00:25:04,086 --> 00:25:06,431
Well, you stood to
lose a great deal.
495
00:25:06,455 --> 00:25:08,567
The insurance company
paid you $90,000
496
00:25:08,591 --> 00:25:09,935
when that plane went down.
497
00:25:09,959 --> 00:25:12,904
Now I ask you, Mr. Mason:
498
00:25:12,928 --> 00:25:14,272
Would you believe
me if I told you
499
00:25:14,296 --> 00:25:16,658
I had no idea my
husband was alive?
500
00:25:16,682 --> 00:25:18,749
I might. I doubt it.
501
00:25:19,918 --> 00:25:22,597
I suggest you, um...
502
00:25:22,621 --> 00:25:23,965
You see this Mr. Folsom.
503
00:25:23,989 --> 00:25:26,752
I'm rather surprised you
never thought of it yourself.
504
00:25:26,776 --> 00:25:28,120
As a matter of fact, I did.
505
00:25:28,144 --> 00:25:29,855
There's an investigator
named Paul Drake
506
00:25:29,879 --> 00:25:32,390
flying down to
Crestview City to see him.
507
00:25:32,414 --> 00:25:35,260
With any luck, he should
be there in about 20 minutes.
508
00:25:35,284 --> 00:25:36,728
It's nice to see you
again, Mr. McKay,
509
00:25:36,752 --> 00:25:39,030
and I haven't forgotten
about that check writer.
510
00:25:39,054 --> 00:25:41,967
I'll try and have my office
get in touch with you shortly.
511
00:25:41,991 --> 00:25:43,271
Mrs. Beaumont.
512
00:26:00,226 --> 00:26:03,605
Tell Mr. Mason I'll do
anything at all to cooperate.
513
00:26:03,629 --> 00:26:06,775
Unfortunately, there's very
little I can add to the story.
514
00:26:06,799 --> 00:26:09,911
How did you find out George
Beaumont was still alive?
515
00:26:09,935 --> 00:26:12,347
That's a strange
thing, Mr. Drake.
516
00:26:12,371 --> 00:26:14,116
An anonymous phone call.
517
00:26:14,140 --> 00:26:15,305
Oh? Man or woman?
518
00:26:16,308 --> 00:26:17,588
Man, I believe.
519
00:26:21,247 --> 00:26:22,624
Naturally, at
first, I didn't think
520
00:26:22,648 --> 00:26:23,658
there was anything to it,
521
00:26:23,682 --> 00:26:25,660
but, of course, I checked.
522
00:26:25,684 --> 00:26:28,244
After all, that's what my
company pays me for.
523
00:26:28,453 --> 00:26:30,220
What about your other
sources of income?
524
00:26:30,956 --> 00:26:32,300
I beg your pardon?
525
00:26:32,324 --> 00:26:34,402
Didn't Miss Whittaker
pay you $7,000
526
00:26:34,426 --> 00:26:36,071
to destroy your report?
527
00:26:36,095 --> 00:26:38,073
That's what she
told Perry Mason.
528
00:26:38,097 --> 00:26:39,975
She's a dirty little liar!
529
00:26:39,999 --> 00:26:41,643
Then, you made a
report to your company?
530
00:26:41,667 --> 00:26:42,947
Naturally.
531
00:26:43,803 --> 00:26:46,848
Funny, they haven't
received it yet.
532
00:26:46,872 --> 00:26:49,050
I checked just before
I flew down here.
533
00:26:49,074 --> 00:26:50,618
Are you suggesting,
by any chance...?
534
00:26:50,642 --> 00:26:51,753
I'm suggesting
535
00:26:51,777 --> 00:26:53,789
that you mailed your
report to your company
536
00:26:53,813 --> 00:26:56,179
after you found out George
Beaumont was murdered.
537
00:26:58,016 --> 00:26:59,394
All right, Drake,
538
00:26:59,418 --> 00:27:00,528
if you want to play rough,
539
00:27:00,552 --> 00:27:02,964
I'm just the boy to
accommodate you.
540
00:27:02,988 --> 00:27:05,967
Your friend Perry Mason
had better watch his step.
541
00:27:05,991 --> 00:27:08,220
You know what Beaumont
told me before he died?
542
00:27:08,244 --> 00:27:09,921
I have no idea.
543
00:27:09,945 --> 00:27:11,189
He said he got in
touch with Mason
544
00:27:11,213 --> 00:27:12,891
just after the plane crashed,
545
00:27:12,915 --> 00:27:14,726
and Mason advised
him to stay out of sight
546
00:27:14,750 --> 00:27:17,128
and let my company
pay off on the policy.
547
00:27:17,152 --> 00:27:19,982
Mason got $25,000 for
masterminding the deal.
548
00:27:20,006 --> 00:27:22,122
George Beaumont told you this?
549
00:27:24,326 --> 00:27:26,166
Let's see you prove he didn't.
550
00:27:27,462 --> 00:27:30,408
Now, if Mason
wants to throw mud,
551
00:27:30,432 --> 00:27:32,294
tell him I can throw
with the best of them.
552
00:27:32,318 --> 00:27:34,984
I'll just bet you're in
a league by yourself.
553
00:27:36,655 --> 00:27:39,001
Who tipped you off that
George Beaumont was alive?
554
00:27:40,259 --> 00:27:41,291
Let go of me.
555
00:27:41,860 --> 00:27:42,860
Well?
556
00:27:45,331 --> 00:27:46,308
Whittaker.
557
00:27:46,332 --> 00:27:47,542
Who?
558
00:27:47,566 --> 00:27:49,646
Jonah Whittaker.
Ruth Whittaker's father.
559
00:27:57,409 --> 00:27:59,209
Thanks, uh, Mr. Folsom.
560
00:28:12,090 --> 00:28:13,768
I tell you, Perry.
561
00:28:13,792 --> 00:28:16,092
This Folsom character
is as slimy as they come.
562
00:28:18,029 --> 00:28:19,674
Do you think he could
have killed Beaumont?
563
00:28:19,698 --> 00:28:20,675
Mm-mm.
564
00:28:20,699 --> 00:28:22,427
He certainly had a motive.
565
00:28:22,451 --> 00:28:25,397
After all, if Beaumont were
going to give himself up,
566
00:28:25,421 --> 00:28:26,664
naturally, he'd tell the police
567
00:28:26,688 --> 00:28:28,808
that Folsom had been
trying to blackmail him.
568
00:28:30,759 --> 00:28:33,026
What's the penalty for
blackmail, counselor?
569
00:28:34,062 --> 00:28:35,640
Oh, all depends.
570
00:28:35,664 --> 00:28:37,392
Could be several years.
571
00:28:37,416 --> 00:28:39,327
How much extra can be added
572
00:28:39,351 --> 00:28:41,897
for conspiring to defraud
your own insurance company?
573
00:28:41,921 --> 00:28:44,121
Well, you got me
convinced, Della.
574
00:28:45,124 --> 00:28:47,435
What about Miss
Whittaker's father, Paul?
575
00:28:47,459 --> 00:28:49,804
Well, I tried to get in touch
with him, but he was gone.
576
00:28:49,828 --> 00:28:50,972
According to the neighbors,
577
00:28:50,996 --> 00:28:53,074
he left yesterday
morning with a suitcase.
578
00:28:53,098 --> 00:28:54,542
I traced him down
to the bus terminal,
579
00:28:54,566 --> 00:28:56,966
and they told me he
bought a ticket for L.A.
580
00:28:57,503 --> 00:29:00,114
He'll probably try
to contact Ruth.
581
00:29:00,138 --> 00:29:01,115
Check it out, will you?
582
00:29:01,139 --> 00:29:02,116
I already have.
583
00:29:02,140 --> 00:29:03,251
As of 11:00 this morning,
584
00:29:03,275 --> 00:29:05,795
he had not put in an appearance.
585
00:29:06,445 --> 00:29:07,689
Ruth must have known all along
586
00:29:07,713 --> 00:29:09,724
that it was her father
who called Folsom,
587
00:29:09,748 --> 00:29:10,814
yet she said nothing.
588
00:29:11,951 --> 00:29:12,983
She was protecting him.
589
00:29:14,053 --> 00:29:15,129
Proving some parents
590
00:29:15,153 --> 00:29:17,165
get better children
than they deserve.
591
00:29:17,189 --> 00:29:18,700
You'll have to find
him, Paul, and fast.
592
00:29:18,724 --> 00:29:20,301
Preliminary hearing
starts Wednesday.
593
00:29:20,325 --> 00:29:22,037
I know. I've got Faulkner
and Davis on it now.
594
00:29:22,061 --> 00:29:24,072
I'll put on some more men
if you think it's necessary.
595
00:29:24,096 --> 00:29:26,991
Maybe you'd better.
596
00:29:27,015 --> 00:29:28,326
Yes, Gertie?
597
00:29:28,350 --> 00:29:29,461
All right, put him on.
598
00:29:29,485 --> 00:29:30,533
It's for you, Paul.
599
00:29:31,803 --> 00:29:33,148
Hello?
600
00:29:33,172 --> 00:29:34,172
Yeah?
601
00:29:36,308 --> 00:29:37,319
Yeah, I see.
602
00:29:37,343 --> 00:29:38,987
No.
603
00:29:39,011 --> 00:29:41,131
No, that's okay. Call me later.
604
00:29:42,381 --> 00:29:43,625
That was Faulkner.
605
00:29:43,649 --> 00:29:45,594
He found old man Whittaker.
606
00:29:45,618 --> 00:29:46,894
Where?
607
00:29:46,918 --> 00:29:48,130
In the DA's office.
608
00:29:51,490 --> 00:29:54,068
We, uh, found this in the
corner of the motel room
609
00:29:54,092 --> 00:29:55,526
occupied by the deceased.
610
00:29:56,762 --> 00:29:58,706
The, uh, exact
point is indicated
611
00:29:58,730 --> 00:30:00,930
by the letter B on
that, uh, diagram.
612
00:30:01,634 --> 00:30:03,044
I see.
613
00:30:03,068 --> 00:30:04,812
Now, lieutenant,
614
00:30:04,836 --> 00:30:08,250
what did you find when you
examined this letter opener?
615
00:30:08,274 --> 00:30:10,152
Well, there were
several bloodstains.
616
00:30:10,176 --> 00:30:11,953
On analysis, they proved
to be the same type
617
00:30:11,977 --> 00:30:13,121
as the blood of the...
618
00:30:13,145 --> 00:30:15,123
Of the victim, George Beaumont.
619
00:30:15,147 --> 00:30:17,209
Did you find any
fingerprints on here?
620
00:30:17,233 --> 00:30:18,210
Yes, sir.
621
00:30:18,234 --> 00:30:19,244
They were smudged,
622
00:30:19,268 --> 00:30:20,945
but there was an
identifiable thumb
623
00:30:20,969 --> 00:30:22,980
and forefinger on the handle.
624
00:30:23,004 --> 00:30:24,316
Did you identify those prints?
625
00:30:24,340 --> 00:30:25,333
We have.
626
00:30:25,357 --> 00:30:27,568
They belong to the defendant,
627
00:30:27,592 --> 00:30:28,670
Ruth Whittaker.
628
00:30:28,694 --> 00:30:30,338
Thank you, lieutenant.
629
00:30:30,362 --> 00:30:31,339
You may cross-examine.
630
00:30:31,363 --> 00:30:32,563
Um, may I?
631
00:30:33,699 --> 00:30:34,676
Of course.
632
00:30:34,700 --> 00:30:35,700
Thank you.
633
00:30:43,108 --> 00:30:44,108
Uh, lieutenant,
634
00:30:45,544 --> 00:30:48,623
we've heard
testimony that the...
635
00:30:48,647 --> 00:30:51,593
The victim was
stabbed in the back.
636
00:30:51,617 --> 00:30:52,716
That's correct.
637
00:30:54,720 --> 00:30:55,752
Thank you.
638
00:31:00,859 --> 00:31:04,372
And this is where
Mr. Beaumont was standing
639
00:31:04,396 --> 00:31:06,708
when the fatal
blow was delivered?
640
00:31:06,732 --> 00:31:10,111
No. No, that's where
we found the body.
641
00:31:10,135 --> 00:31:13,381
But if death was
instantaneous, as we've heard,
642
00:31:13,405 --> 00:31:15,817
then the victim must
have been standing
643
00:31:15,841 --> 00:31:17,636
in this general area.
644
00:31:17,660 --> 00:31:19,104
Isn't that true?
645
00:31:19,128 --> 00:31:21,306
Well, as a matter of
fact, he wasn't standing.
646
00:31:21,330 --> 00:31:23,274
He was kneeling.
647
00:31:23,298 --> 00:31:26,027
As though he were, um,
looking for something?
648
00:31:26,051 --> 00:31:27,896
I object, Your Honor.
649
00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:29,648
That calls for a
conclusion of the witness.
650
00:31:29,672 --> 00:31:31,900
Objection sustained.
651
00:31:31,924 --> 00:31:34,357
Uh, thank you,
lieutenant. That'll be all.
652
00:31:35,093 --> 00:31:36,538
You may step down.
653
00:31:36,562 --> 00:31:39,124
I call Leon Corby
to the stand, please.
654
00:31:39,148 --> 00:31:40,747
Mr. Leon Corby.
655
00:31:43,652 --> 00:31:46,063
A-and then Miss Whittaker
said she would run over
656
00:31:46,087 --> 00:31:47,465
and say hello to Mr. Beaumont
657
00:31:47,489 --> 00:31:51,136
while I was, uh, fixing
up Unit Number 9.
658
00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:52,537
But while I was in
there cleaning up,
659
00:31:52,561 --> 00:31:54,305
I heard this arguing.
660
00:31:54,329 --> 00:31:56,608
Could you hear what
they were saying?
661
00:31:56,632 --> 00:32:00,512
Well, I heard the lady say,
uh, "I cashed all my bonds,
662
00:32:00,536 --> 00:32:03,515
took a loan on my
furniture, and all for you."
663
00:32:03,539 --> 00:32:04,766
Something like that.
664
00:32:04,790 --> 00:32:07,068
Could you hear
Mr. Beaumont's answer?
665
00:32:07,092 --> 00:32:08,069
N-no.
666
00:32:08,093 --> 00:32:09,837
Thank you, Mr. Corby. Mm.
667
00:32:09,861 --> 00:32:10,861
Cross-examine.
668
00:32:14,967 --> 00:32:16,878
Now, Mr. Corby,
669
00:32:16,902 --> 00:32:18,980
when you interrupted
this alleged quarrel
670
00:32:19,004 --> 00:32:20,982
between the victim
and the defendant,
671
00:32:21,006 --> 00:32:23,118
what exactly did you see?
672
00:32:23,142 --> 00:32:27,388
Well, the lady was holding
that there letter opener
673
00:32:27,412 --> 00:32:28,790
like it was a dagger.
674
00:32:28,814 --> 00:32:31,843
Was she wearing
gloves at the time?
675
00:32:31,867 --> 00:32:34,546
N-no. No, she wasn't.
676
00:32:34,570 --> 00:32:37,281
Then, naturally you'd expect
677
00:32:37,305 --> 00:32:39,684
to find her fingerprints
on the letter opener.
678
00:32:39,708 --> 00:32:41,269
Well, sure, yeah.
679
00:32:41,293 --> 00:32:43,271
Now, what time
was this, Mr. Corby?
680
00:32:43,295 --> 00:32:45,607
Oh, it was pretty close to 3:00.
681
00:32:45,631 --> 00:32:47,892
And you discovered
the body when?
682
00:32:47,916 --> 00:32:49,861
About 8 that night.
683
00:32:49,885 --> 00:32:51,763
So isn't it then possible
684
00:32:51,787 --> 00:32:54,632
that another person,
wearing gloves,
685
00:32:54,656 --> 00:32:57,035
could have entered that
room during that interval?
686
00:32:57,059 --> 00:32:58,336
I object, Your Honor.
687
00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:00,205
Counsel is being argumentative.
688
00:33:00,229 --> 00:33:02,039
Objection sustained.
689
00:33:02,063 --> 00:33:03,792
Thank you,
Mr. Corby. That's all.
690
00:33:03,816 --> 00:33:05,627
Uh, just a moment, Mr. Corby.
691
00:33:05,651 --> 00:33:08,630
One or two
questions on redirect.
692
00:33:08,654 --> 00:33:10,632
You testified that the quarrel
693
00:33:10,656 --> 00:33:12,217
between the victim
and the defendant
694
00:33:12,241 --> 00:33:13,818
took place at 3:00.
695
00:33:13,842 --> 00:33:14,970
Yes, sir. That's right.
696
00:33:14,994 --> 00:33:17,055
When did you next
see the defendant?
697
00:33:17,079 --> 00:33:19,975
About half past 5, quarter to 6.
698
00:33:19,999 --> 00:33:22,277
And where was she at this time?
699
00:33:22,301 --> 00:33:24,429
She was coming out
of Mr. Beaumont's room.
700
00:33:24,453 --> 00:33:26,598
But did you see Mr. Beaumont?
701
00:33:26,622 --> 00:33:29,133
No, uh, the next time I saw him
702
00:33:29,157 --> 00:33:31,435
was when I found
him stretched out
703
00:33:31,459 --> 00:33:33,855
on the floor of that room, dead.
704
00:33:33,879 --> 00:33:35,799
Thank you, Mr. Corby.
705
00:33:40,051 --> 00:33:41,896
Well, naturally,
the first thing I did
706
00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:43,965
was go up to see Mr. Beaumont.
707
00:33:43,989 --> 00:33:45,132
My informant told me
708
00:33:45,156 --> 00:33:47,335
he was using the name
of George Hollister.
709
00:33:47,359 --> 00:33:48,370
The minute I talked to him,
710
00:33:48,394 --> 00:33:50,314
I was sure I had
the right party.
711
00:33:51,997 --> 00:33:53,708
Mr. Folsom,
712
00:33:53,732 --> 00:33:55,377
was the defendant,
Miss Whittaker,
713
00:33:55,401 --> 00:33:57,078
present at that meeting?
714
00:33:57,102 --> 00:33:58,680
Yes, sir, she was.
715
00:33:58,704 --> 00:34:00,382
Did you see the defendant again?
716
00:34:00,406 --> 00:34:03,317
Yes, sir, that same night.
717
00:34:03,341 --> 00:34:06,388
I went to her home, and...
718
00:34:06,412 --> 00:34:09,190
She gave me $7,000 in cash.
719
00:34:09,214 --> 00:34:11,609
Why did she give you
this money, Mr. Folsom?
720
00:34:11,633 --> 00:34:13,944
So I wouldn't send
my report on Beaumont
721
00:34:13,968 --> 00:34:15,313
to the home office.
722
00:34:15,337 --> 00:34:18,249
In other words, Miss Whittaker
hoped that this payment
723
00:34:18,273 --> 00:34:20,740
would keep her relationship
with Mr. Beaumont intact?
724
00:34:22,677 --> 00:34:24,093
That was the whole idea.
725
00:34:25,714 --> 00:34:26,994
You may cross-examine.
726
00:34:45,300 --> 00:34:47,211
Mr. Folsom, I'm very interested
727
00:34:47,235 --> 00:34:48,902
in this so-called payment.
728
00:34:50,271 --> 00:34:53,139
Isn't that rather a polite
term for blackmail?
729
00:34:56,011 --> 00:34:57,889
Well, if you want
to call it that.
730
00:34:57,913 --> 00:35:00,353
I do want to call it that.
731
00:35:03,985 --> 00:35:06,630
Now, uh...
732
00:35:06,654 --> 00:35:08,599
Didn't you first telephone
733
00:35:08,623 --> 00:35:11,624
and then go to see
the district attorney...
734
00:35:13,294 --> 00:35:16,040
at your own expense
735
00:35:16,064 --> 00:35:19,543
in order to tell him about this?
736
00:35:19,567 --> 00:35:20,567
Yes, sir, I did.
737
00:35:21,502 --> 00:35:22,814
And didn't you do this
738
00:35:22,838 --> 00:35:25,583
in an attempt to secure
immunity for yourself
739
00:35:25,607 --> 00:35:26,906
from a blackmail charge?
740
00:35:29,111 --> 00:35:30,454
I just thought the
whole thing over
741
00:35:30,478 --> 00:35:32,712
and realized it was
the best thing to do.
742
00:35:34,282 --> 00:35:36,762
Now, isn't it a fact that the...
743
00:35:37,685 --> 00:35:42,200
The story you first
told the district attorney
744
00:35:42,224 --> 00:35:45,236
differs materially from
the one you're telling now?
745
00:35:45,260 --> 00:35:46,971
I object, Your Honor.
746
00:35:46,995 --> 00:35:49,207
This is improper
cross-examination.
747
00:35:49,231 --> 00:35:51,976
It's incompetent,
irrelevant and immaterial,
748
00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,329
in that it assumes a
fact not in evidence.
749
00:35:54,353 --> 00:35:57,465
I think we will commit
the question, Mr. Burger.
750
00:35:57,489 --> 00:35:59,633
You may continue, Mr. Mason.
751
00:35:59,657 --> 00:36:02,137
Why, thank you, Your Honor.
752
00:36:04,196 --> 00:36:06,374
Now, Mr. Folsom...
753
00:36:06,398 --> 00:36:08,798
you admit
blackmailing my client.
754
00:36:09,868 --> 00:36:10,845
Yes, sir.
755
00:36:10,869 --> 00:36:12,180
Did you at any time
756
00:36:12,204 --> 00:36:14,849
try to get money from any
other person in this case?
757
00:36:14,873 --> 00:36:17,769
I don't know what you mean.
758
00:36:17,793 --> 00:36:19,737
Did you get in touch
with Mrs. Beaumont
759
00:36:19,761 --> 00:36:21,972
and tell her that her
husband was still alive?
760
00:36:21,996 --> 00:36:23,324
No.
761
00:36:23,348 --> 00:36:26,332
How is it you missed
that golden opportunity?
762
00:36:29,337 --> 00:36:31,499
Uh, I never even thought of it.
763
00:36:34,493 --> 00:36:35,803
We have heard evidence
764
00:36:35,827 --> 00:36:38,439
that Mr. Beaumont
intended to give himself up.
765
00:36:38,463 --> 00:36:40,441
Now, he told you
that, didn't he?
766
00:36:40,465 --> 00:36:41,626
Yes.
767
00:36:41,650 --> 00:36:43,594
Well, weren't you afraid
of the consequences
768
00:36:43,618 --> 00:36:46,463
when your company
discovered the true facts?
769
00:36:46,487 --> 00:36:47,832
And didn't it occur to you
770
00:36:47,856 --> 00:36:49,976
that there might be a
way you could stop him?
771
00:36:54,262 --> 00:36:55,372
I-I didn't kill him,
772
00:36:55,396 --> 00:36:57,316
if that's what
you're suggesting.
773
00:37:04,522 --> 00:37:06,801
Now, Mrs. Beaumont,
when was the last time
774
00:37:06,825 --> 00:37:09,225
that you saw or heard
from your late husband?
775
00:37:10,328 --> 00:37:12,907
On November 19th,
three years ago.
776
00:37:12,931 --> 00:37:13,975
That... That was the day
777
00:37:13,999 --> 00:37:15,710
he was supposed to fly
to Europe on business?
778
00:37:15,734 --> 00:37:18,512
Yes, he was booked
on the American Eagle.
779
00:37:18,536 --> 00:37:20,114
Would you explain
to this court, please,
780
00:37:20,138 --> 00:37:21,471
what happened to that aircraft?
781
00:37:23,241 --> 00:37:26,487
It crashed about
an hour after takeoff.
782
00:37:26,511 --> 00:37:27,722
And you had no way of knowing
783
00:37:27,746 --> 00:37:29,506
that your husband was
not onboard that plane?
784
00:37:30,616 --> 00:37:31,693
No, sir.
785
00:37:31,717 --> 00:37:32,694
He made no attempt
786
00:37:32,718 --> 00:37:34,317
to get in touch
with you thereafter?
787
00:37:36,755 --> 00:37:39,275
Absolutely none at all.
788
00:37:39,992 --> 00:37:41,869
So you didn't know
789
00:37:41,893 --> 00:37:43,170
and had no way of knowing
790
00:37:43,194 --> 00:37:46,507
that your husband was
in Los Angeles and alive
791
00:37:46,531 --> 00:37:49,011
on November 14th,
the day of the murder?
792
00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:50,495
No, sir.
793
00:37:50,519 --> 00:37:52,329
Would you be good
enough to relate to us
794
00:37:52,353 --> 00:37:55,700
your own actions
on November 14th?
795
00:37:55,724 --> 00:37:59,670
You may refer to the
office diary if you'd like to.
796
00:37:59,694 --> 00:38:01,060
I would like to, please.
797
00:38:04,483 --> 00:38:05,926
Well, I, uh...
798
00:38:05,950 --> 00:38:08,162
I came in the office at 9:15
799
00:38:08,186 --> 00:38:10,398
and started over
some correspondence
800
00:38:10,422 --> 00:38:13,167
with my secretary,
Roberta Walker.
801
00:38:13,191 --> 00:38:16,337
And at 10:00, I
went over the books.
802
00:38:16,361 --> 00:38:19,140
And at 10:30,
Mr. Mason dropped in.
803
00:38:19,164 --> 00:38:20,575
Excuse me.
804
00:38:20,599 --> 00:38:23,132
When was the last time you
saw Mr. Mason before that?
805
00:38:24,569 --> 00:38:26,113
Well, when he, uh,
806
00:38:26,137 --> 00:38:28,366
brought over the check
from the insurance company.
807
00:38:28,390 --> 00:38:30,601
So on the day of the murder,
808
00:38:30,625 --> 00:38:33,270
you had not seen Mr. Mason
for almost three years?
809
00:38:33,294 --> 00:38:34,271
That's right.
810
00:38:34,295 --> 00:38:35,415
Go ahead, please.
811
00:38:37,048 --> 00:38:40,160
Well, at 11:00, I had
a business meeting
812
00:38:40,184 --> 00:38:45,499
with, uh, my associate, Glenn
McKay, and two salesmen.
813
00:38:45,523 --> 00:38:48,402
Then at 1:00, we
went out to lunch.
814
00:38:48,426 --> 00:38:49,759
A-and after lunch?
815
00:38:51,128 --> 00:38:53,374
Well, I became ill
suddenly, and I...
816
00:38:53,398 --> 00:38:54,842
I didn't want to go
back to the office,
817
00:38:54,866 --> 00:38:56,198
so I went home.
818
00:38:57,268 --> 00:38:59,708
And did you consult your doctor?
819
00:38:59,937 --> 00:39:01,649
Uh, yes, sir. I called
our family physician,
820
00:39:01,673 --> 00:39:03,116
Dr. William Burns,
821
00:39:03,140 --> 00:39:05,919
and he ordered me to
stay in bed for the day.
822
00:39:05,943 --> 00:39:07,020
And when was the first time
823
00:39:07,044 --> 00:39:09,990
that you learned of
your husband's death?
824
00:39:10,014 --> 00:39:12,993
Well, at 11:30 that night
w-when Lieutenant...
825
00:39:13,017 --> 00:39:14,027
Tragg?
826
00:39:14,051 --> 00:39:15,028
Tragg. Tragg...
827
00:39:15,052 --> 00:39:17,164
called me at my apartment.
828
00:39:17,188 --> 00:39:19,700
I see. Thank you, Mrs. Beaumont.
829
00:39:19,724 --> 00:39:22,044
You may
cross-examine, counselor.
830
00:39:32,553 --> 00:39:36,067
I'm, uh... I'm sorry
to hear you became ill
831
00:39:36,091 --> 00:39:37,635
on the day of my
visit, Mrs. Beaumont.
832
00:39:37,659 --> 00:39:39,604
I hope there was no connection.
833
00:39:39,628 --> 00:39:42,372
The doctor said it
was food poisoning.
834
00:39:42,396 --> 00:39:44,525
But you were the only
one who became ill.
835
00:39:44,549 --> 00:39:46,160
Yes, sir.
836
00:39:46,184 --> 00:39:47,184
I see.
837
00:39:48,453 --> 00:39:54,368
Your husband stayed at
the Villa Motel in Los Angeles
838
00:39:54,392 --> 00:39:57,171
48 hours prior to his murder.
839
00:39:57,195 --> 00:39:59,773
And during that time,
840
00:39:59,797 --> 00:40:03,333
he made no effort
whatsoever to phone you?
841
00:40:05,136 --> 00:40:07,715
No, sir, he didn't.
842
00:40:07,739 --> 00:40:12,687
Uh, by any chance, did
he, uh... Did he write to you?
843
00:40:12,711 --> 00:40:13,838
No.
844
00:40:13,862 --> 00:40:15,873
And if I may anticipate
your next question,
845
00:40:15,897 --> 00:40:17,392
he didn't telegraph either.
846
00:40:17,416 --> 00:40:20,227
Thank you, Mrs. Beaumont.
847
00:40:20,251 --> 00:40:21,962
That will be all.
848
00:40:21,986 --> 00:40:23,319
You may stand down.
849
00:40:25,557 --> 00:40:28,035
I call Jonah Whittaker
to the stand, please.
850
00:40:28,059 --> 00:40:29,459
Jonah Whittaker.
851
00:40:32,497 --> 00:40:34,241
If it please the court,
852
00:40:34,265 --> 00:40:36,110
I should like to request
a 20-minute recess
853
00:40:36,134 --> 00:40:37,600
while I confer with my client.
854
00:40:39,054 --> 00:40:40,898
Well, since it's almost 12:00,
855
00:40:40,922 --> 00:40:42,633
perhaps this would be
as good a time as any
856
00:40:42,657 --> 00:40:44,234
for the noon recess.
857
00:40:44,258 --> 00:40:47,593
The court stands adjourned
till 2:00 this afternoon.
858
00:40:52,734 --> 00:40:53,944
All I told my father
859
00:40:53,968 --> 00:40:55,846
was that George's real
name was Beaumont
860
00:40:55,870 --> 00:40:58,582
and he had a wife
in Los Angeles.
861
00:40:58,606 --> 00:40:59,850
You sure you didn't tell him
862
00:40:59,874 --> 00:41:01,540
her first name was Laura?
863
00:41:02,677 --> 00:41:05,156
No, I'm not sure,
864
00:41:05,180 --> 00:41:06,524
but what difference
does it make?
865
00:41:06,548 --> 00:41:08,158
It makes this difference:
866
00:41:08,182 --> 00:41:10,394
if Mrs. Beaumont knew
her husband was alive
867
00:41:10,418 --> 00:41:12,697
on November 14th,
she's a definite suspect.
868
00:41:12,721 --> 00:41:14,298
She did know.
869
00:41:14,322 --> 00:41:15,450
She knew.
870
00:41:15,474 --> 00:41:17,652
Well, your father
did write to her, then?
871
00:41:17,676 --> 00:41:19,787
No, George did himself.
872
00:41:19,811 --> 00:41:21,477
Are you positive?
873
00:41:23,264 --> 00:41:25,375
Yes, uh...
874
00:41:25,399 --> 00:41:28,278
I'm trying to remember
when it first came out.
875
00:41:28,302 --> 00:41:30,347
It was when I went to
his room in that motel,
876
00:41:30,371 --> 00:41:33,817
and he said something
about writing to her...
877
00:41:33,841 --> 00:41:36,754
because if she heard
his voice on the phone,
878
00:41:36,778 --> 00:41:38,456
it would be too great a shock.
879
00:41:38,480 --> 00:41:40,520
And why didn't you
tell me that before?
880
00:41:41,549 --> 00:41:42,926
I don't know.
881
00:41:42,950 --> 00:41:45,146
In all the excitement, it
slipped my mind, I guess.
882
00:41:45,170 --> 00:41:48,349
Then Mrs. Beaumont was
perjuring herself on the stand.
883
00:41:48,373 --> 00:41:50,384
A little thing like
perjury wouldn't stop her
884
00:41:50,408 --> 00:41:52,286
if she was guilty of murder.
885
00:41:52,310 --> 00:41:54,155
Listen, Ruth, I...
886
00:41:55,897 --> 00:41:56,908
What's wrong?
887
00:41:56,932 --> 00:41:59,443
There's a lot that's wrong.
888
00:41:59,467 --> 00:42:01,387
I'd better get in
touch with Paul.
889
00:42:06,474 --> 00:42:07,807
Try not to worry.
890
00:42:13,949 --> 00:42:16,760
And do you remember the
morning of November 15th?
891
00:42:16,784 --> 00:42:19,224
That is the day
following the murder.
892
00:42:23,658 --> 00:42:25,602
Excuse me, Mr. McKay, I
asked if you remembered
893
00:42:25,626 --> 00:42:27,204
the morning of November 15th.
894
00:42:27,228 --> 00:42:28,205
Why, yes, sir.
895
00:42:28,229 --> 00:42:30,908
I, uh, discovered,
uh, Lieutenant Tragg
896
00:42:30,932 --> 00:42:32,276
and two of his officers
897
00:42:32,300 --> 00:42:34,645
examining Mrs., uh,
Beaumont's office.
898
00:42:34,669 --> 00:42:35,779
And what happened then?
899
00:42:35,803 --> 00:42:38,782
Well, lieutenant, uh,
showed me, uh, an envelope
900
00:42:38,806 --> 00:42:40,306
addressed to Mrs. Beaumont.
901
00:42:42,277 --> 00:42:43,557
Is this the envelope?
902
00:42:49,317 --> 00:42:50,516
Yes, sir.
903
00:42:52,653 --> 00:42:54,464
If it please the court, I
would like this marked
904
00:42:54,488 --> 00:42:55,768
for identification.
905
00:43:04,833 --> 00:43:07,077
My darlin' Laura,
906
00:43:07,101 --> 00:43:09,746
I know what a
shock this must be.
907
00:43:09,770 --> 00:43:13,034
It must seem like a
voice from the grave.
908
00:43:13,058 --> 00:43:16,771
All I can tell you now is
that I'm very much alive.
909
00:43:16,795 --> 00:43:18,739
I realize the problems
this will make for you,
910
00:43:18,763 --> 00:43:22,743
and I wish there was some
way I could alleviate them.
911
00:43:22,767 --> 00:43:26,546
I'll call you in a day or two
after I see Perry Mason.
912
00:43:26,570 --> 00:43:28,804
With all my love, George.
913
00:43:37,982 --> 00:43:41,461
Now, Mr. McKay,
this is the letter
914
00:43:41,485 --> 00:43:44,031
Lieutenant Tragg showed you
on the morning of November 15th?
915
00:43:44,055 --> 00:43:45,065
Yes, sir.
916
00:43:45,089 --> 00:43:47,034
Did you examine it
carefully at that time?
917
00:43:47,058 --> 00:43:48,435
I did.
918
00:43:48,459 --> 00:43:51,055
And would you say that the
seal had been tampered with?
919
00:43:51,079 --> 00:43:53,223
I object, Your Honor.
920
00:43:53,247 --> 00:43:55,087
This witness is not an expert.
921
00:43:58,719 --> 00:44:00,865
If it please the court,
Sergeant Walker,
922
00:44:00,889 --> 00:44:02,699
from the crime
lab, is here in court
923
00:44:02,723 --> 00:44:04,368
and could testify
on this subject.
924
00:44:04,392 --> 00:44:06,621
I only tried to
expedite matters.
925
00:44:06,645 --> 00:44:08,656
I appreciate your concern
926
00:44:08,680 --> 00:44:10,825
for the court, Mr. Burger,
927
00:44:10,849 --> 00:44:13,661
but the rules of
evidence must maintain.
928
00:44:13,685 --> 00:44:15,246
The objection is sustained.
929
00:44:15,270 --> 00:44:16,880
Very well, Your Honor.
930
00:44:16,904 --> 00:44:18,749
I have no further questions
to ask this witness.
931
00:44:18,773 --> 00:44:20,339
You may cross-examine.
932
00:44:21,876 --> 00:44:23,676
Oh, Mr. Mason.
933
00:44:25,413 --> 00:44:26,646
Mr. Burger.
934
00:44:29,417 --> 00:44:31,228
Mr. McKay,
935
00:44:31,252 --> 00:44:33,497
what is your
personal relationship
936
00:44:33,521 --> 00:44:34,515
with Mrs. Beaumont?
937
00:44:34,539 --> 00:44:36,650
Your Honor, I object!
938
00:44:36,674 --> 00:44:39,570
This is certainly incompetent,
immaterial and irrelevant.
939
00:44:39,594 --> 00:44:41,004
If Your Honor please,
940
00:44:41,028 --> 00:44:43,541
I should like to
prove the relevancy.
941
00:44:43,565 --> 00:44:45,609
The witness will
answer the question.
942
00:44:45,633 --> 00:44:49,080
McKAY: I am very
fond of Mrs. Beaumont.
943
00:44:49,104 --> 00:44:52,371
In fact, you have, uh,
hopes of marrying her?
944
00:44:53,341 --> 00:44:54,452
Well, high hopes.
945
00:44:54,476 --> 00:44:56,921
And you'd do
anything in your power
946
00:44:56,945 --> 00:44:59,623
to protect her from a
possible charge of murder?
947
00:44:59,647 --> 00:45:02,993
Oh, I don't need to
protect her, Mr. Mason.
948
00:45:03,017 --> 00:45:07,097
I think it's been proven that
she had no way of knowing
949
00:45:07,121 --> 00:45:08,599
that her husband was alive.
950
00:45:08,623 --> 00:45:10,468
She never saw the letter.
951
00:45:10,492 --> 00:45:12,603
How can you testify
to that, Mr. McKay?
952
00:45:12,627 --> 00:45:14,138
Well, the...
953
00:45:14,162 --> 00:45:17,308
The letter arrived in the
afternoon mail at 3:00,
954
00:45:17,332 --> 00:45:21,278
and Laura was in bed at
home with food poisoning.
955
00:45:21,302 --> 00:45:25,216
And you returned to the
office after lunch that day?
956
00:45:25,240 --> 00:45:26,367
I did.
957
00:45:26,391 --> 00:45:29,403
Then you, uh... Then
you saw the envelope?
958
00:45:30,561 --> 00:45:33,440
Well, assuming
that I did, Mr. Mason,
959
00:45:33,464 --> 00:45:34,875
I'd have to be clairvoyant
960
00:45:34,899 --> 00:45:37,278
to know what was on
the inside of the letter.
961
00:45:37,302 --> 00:45:38,500
The seal wasn't broken.
962
00:45:48,446 --> 00:45:51,092
Now, Mr. McKay,
would you, uh...?
963
00:45:51,116 --> 00:45:52,693
Would you please examine these
964
00:45:52,717 --> 00:45:56,452
and describe them for the court?
965
00:46:01,208 --> 00:46:06,891
They seem to be two
steel knitting needles,
966
00:46:06,915 --> 00:46:08,576
soldered together at one end.
967
00:46:08,600 --> 00:46:10,861
You have no idea
of their function?
968
00:46:10,885 --> 00:46:13,096
I'm afraid I don't follow you.
969
00:46:13,120 --> 00:46:16,367
Well, I understood they
were tools of your trade.
970
00:46:16,391 --> 00:46:18,769
As a matter of fact,
Mr. Drake just got these
971
00:46:18,793 --> 00:46:21,005
from one of your own salesmen.
972
00:46:21,029 --> 00:46:24,125
Would you care for me
to demonstrate their use?
973
00:46:24,149 --> 00:46:26,994
I don't know about
the witness, Mr. Mason,
974
00:46:27,018 --> 00:46:28,395
but the court would,
975
00:46:28,419 --> 00:46:30,214
if it has any
bearing on the case.
976
00:46:30,238 --> 00:46:32,115
It has, Your Honor.
977
00:46:32,139 --> 00:46:33,379
Allow me.
978
00:46:35,309 --> 00:46:36,520
Your Honor, this is a device
979
00:46:36,544 --> 00:46:39,756
used by salesmen of
check-writing machines,
980
00:46:39,780 --> 00:46:41,991
to show how easy it is,
981
00:46:42,015 --> 00:46:45,095
to remove a check from
an envelope and alter it.
982
00:46:45,119 --> 00:46:48,599
The same principle, of
course, applies to a letter.
983
00:46:48,623 --> 00:46:53,320
You, uh, insert this in the
bottom of the envelope,
984
00:46:53,344 --> 00:46:58,580
and when the letter is caught
between the two needles,
985
00:46:59,750 --> 00:47:04,136
you simply wind
it up, like this,
986
00:47:06,574 --> 00:47:09,108
and then withdraw it,
987
00:47:10,545 --> 00:47:11,860
like this.
988
00:47:13,247 --> 00:47:15,659
By reversing the process,
989
00:47:15,683 --> 00:47:18,600
you can reintroduce
the letter...
990
00:47:20,672 --> 00:47:23,300
and the seal will show no sign
991
00:47:23,324 --> 00:47:25,844
that it has been tampered with.
992
00:47:26,711 --> 00:47:27,991
Isn't that correct?
993
00:47:29,547 --> 00:47:32,243
Haven't you used
such a device yourself?
994
00:47:32,267 --> 00:47:34,077
Well, yes.
995
00:47:34,101 --> 00:47:36,197
A lot of salesmen
in our business do.
996
00:47:36,221 --> 00:47:38,065
Then why did you give
the court the impression
997
00:47:38,089 --> 00:47:39,950
you had no idea
what these were for?
998
00:47:39,974 --> 00:47:43,204
Because I had no desire
to involve Mrs. Beaumont.
999
00:47:43,228 --> 00:47:46,207
That's very noble
of you, Mr. McKay.
1000
00:47:46,231 --> 00:47:49,710
But why should Mrs.
Beaumont become involved?
1001
00:47:49,734 --> 00:47:50,928
You just testified
1002
00:47:50,952 --> 00:47:53,214
that she never saw that
letter, that she was home ill.
1003
00:47:53,238 --> 00:47:54,415
Well, I... I submit that
1004
00:47:54,439 --> 00:47:56,317
when you saw the
initials on that envelope,
1005
00:47:56,341 --> 00:47:58,018
you became suspicious.
1006
00:47:58,042 --> 00:47:59,270
You removed the letter,
1007
00:47:59,294 --> 00:48:01,939
discovered that George
Beaumont was alive.
1008
00:48:01,963 --> 00:48:05,309
No, no. I didn't have
to leave the letter there!
1009
00:48:05,333 --> 00:48:06,727
I could have destroyed it!
1010
00:48:06,751 --> 00:48:09,162
You didn't dare destroy it.
1011
00:48:09,186 --> 00:48:11,465
Your receptionist might have
remembered that envelope
1012
00:48:11,489 --> 00:48:12,983
and told Mrs. Beaumont.
1013
00:48:13,007 --> 00:48:15,786
So you returned the
letter to the envelope,
1014
00:48:15,810 --> 00:48:18,121
and then you went
to the Villa Motel,
1015
00:48:18,145 --> 00:48:21,158
where you killed
George Beaumont!
1016
00:48:21,182 --> 00:48:24,128
Isn't that the way it
happened, Mr. McKay?
1017
00:48:24,152 --> 00:48:26,547
Answer me!
1018
00:48:32,810 --> 00:48:36,489
Laura, you've got to believe me.
1019
00:48:36,513 --> 00:48:38,058
I did this for us.
1020
00:48:38,082 --> 00:48:40,727
He would have ruined
everything that we built.
1021
00:48:40,751 --> 00:48:42,084
We were a great team.
1022
00:48:43,788 --> 00:48:45,999
You know that you didn't
want him to come back.
1023
00:48:46,023 --> 00:48:47,422
Laura, don't leave me!
1024
00:48:54,432 --> 00:48:55,942
You know what I
still don't understand?
1025
00:48:55,966 --> 00:48:57,311
Hmm.
1026
00:48:57,335 --> 00:48:59,747
Why McKay would take a
chance of going to that motel,
1027
00:48:59,771 --> 00:49:03,183
bent on murder
and not bring a gun.
1028
00:49:03,207 --> 00:49:04,184
Yeah.
1029
00:49:04,208 --> 00:49:06,219
Well, my guess is that he did.
1030
00:49:06,243 --> 00:49:08,989
You're right. I just
spoke to Tragg.
1031
00:49:09,013 --> 00:49:11,258
McKay admits he had a gun.
1032
00:49:11,282 --> 00:49:14,094
Beaumont jumped him and
knocked it out of his hand.
1033
00:49:14,118 --> 00:49:15,398
How does he do it?
1034
00:49:16,053 --> 00:49:18,098
Black magic.
1035
00:49:18,122 --> 00:49:20,300
Remember that Tragg testified
1036
00:49:20,324 --> 00:49:22,235
that Beaumont was
on his hands and knees
1037
00:49:22,259 --> 00:49:24,188
when he was stabbed
with that letter opener?
1038
00:49:24,212 --> 00:49:25,922
Yeah.
1039
00:49:25,946 --> 00:49:27,691
Of course, he was
trying to get the gun
1040
00:49:27,715 --> 00:49:28,997
when it fell on the floor.
1041
00:49:29,984 --> 00:49:31,227
See how simple it is?
1042
00:49:31,251 --> 00:49:33,463
Oh, uh, here's my
expense account.
1043
00:49:33,487 --> 00:49:34,982
I thought you'd
like to check it.
1044
00:49:35,006 --> 00:49:37,506
That covers just about
everything I spent on this case.
1045
00:49:38,993 --> 00:49:41,738
Miscellaneous: $125.98.
1046
00:49:41,762 --> 00:49:43,245
Paul Drake.
1047
00:49:44,549 --> 00:49:46,527
Well, Perry wanted me
to talk to that salesman
1048
00:49:46,551 --> 00:49:48,634
and find out about
the knitting needles.
1049
00:49:54,074 --> 00:49:55,708
It's my fault, Della.
1050
00:49:58,679 --> 00:50:01,513
I should have known he didn't
have any sales resistance.
1051
00:50:03,684 --> 00:50:04,883
Well, here.
1052
00:50:08,522 --> 00:50:09,688
Write him a check.
1053
00:50:11,024 --> 00:50:12,958
Sure.