Original subtitles

Hurry up boys, there he is.

Let's clear the way, clear the way. Clear the way, clear the way.

What you've to say Mr. Conroy?

I've said all I can say to the boys at the airport.

We haven't had a chance to get set up yet.

- All we got is the governor sent you. - You got extraordinary powers...

- to break up the syndicate of crime. - Does that mean Neil Eichelberger?

Well, if it turns out to be Eichelberger we'll take care of that.

Anyway, they've got me in to see if I can clean things up.

But what specifically are you after Mr. Conroy?

Everything illegal, bookie, slot machines, graft, corruption.

And you think the Eichelberger syndicate controls all this?

If it does, we'll find it out. When we find it out, we'll break it up.

Do you think the situation is serious enough to call for such measures?

Well, for some reason or other, the pendulum seems to have swung back again.

And as your newspapers have repeatedly pointed out.

This city has become infested with crime again, it'll be our job to wipe it out.

Oh, please don't ask me how.

Thanks.

- May we have a picture please? - Yeah sure, help yourself.

- Shaking hands to Mr. Fogel. - Yeah, certainly.

Thank you,

Thanks a lot fellas, I'm going to need your help, I know you'll go along with me.

I'll give you everything I can as soon as I can.

There's nothing more now, believe me.

- Thanks a lot. - Thank you Mr. Conroy.

- What do you think? - Boyish charm?

- Are you kidding me? - I'll need more men.

We'll find out when we do a break it up, just like that.

You'd want to get organized, shall we make it 12:30 in the Mayor's office?

- Fine, thank you very much. - Good luck Mr. Conroy.

You know the department is squarely behind you.

Thank you very much Captain.

Thank you gentlemen, thank you, thank you.

- Mandy. - Hello Johnny..

I was wondering about you.

- Oh Johnny please. - Oh, dignity beginning at noon.

We've been here since 6, order will come later.

Oh, one thing I want for myself, a car with a siren and a red light.

- You don't think it might be misunderstood. - Ok, we'll skip the light.

- Hi. - Jerry.

How you kid? I was looking for you in that crowd.

Going to let you get the bugs out of your system.

- Congratulations. - Thanks, this is great Jerry.

Oh, Jerry McKibbon, Ms. Waycross.

- How do you do? - Hello.

Amanda is helping me out, combination of girl Friday and spiritual adviser.

- Johnny? - Also picnics on weekends.

- Amanda Waycross? - Yes, why?

I just want to get the names of the brain trust right?

Oh?

Oh, you got into a crime wave should make quite a story on the society page.

- Jerry is a reporter. - I was beginning to suspect.

- Congratulations anyway. - Thank you.

Jerry and I grew up together down in Caroline Street.

- Nice you both have such important friends. - Yes, isn't it?

Johnny, they're all kinds of messages.

None of them less than cosmic and your mother called.

I promised I'd have breakfast with her. Come on with me Jerry, we can talk.

I'll ride along but they'll want to have their dear boy to themselves.

- No, they want to see you, it's been years. - If anyone calls?

- Tell him he just went out to get tattooed. - I suppose that's as good as anything.

And please call the house, say I'm on my way.

What's your angle Jerry?

I'm supposed to do some color stuff on you Johnny.

- You feel like a colorful character? - Not exactly.

- How is been with you? - I'm scraping by.

I've read some of your stuff, very tough, very bright.

There's a trick to it, I propose the problems but never suggest the solutions.

What are the problems?

Vice, graft, corruption, war, none of it's simple.

We're weak human beings and the human equation smears everything up.

- All too sound. - You're the boy for the solutions.

- So it seems, why don't you help us out? - How?

Take a leave of absence, come on in with us.

As a press secretary or a guy to point out Eichelberger to you?

Write your own ticket.

I'll point him up for nothing, wish you luck and you can take it from there.

- You don't go along with us? - I go along with you fine.

You can give me a gun, a ready made pardon and I'll shoot the guy for you.

I don't go for the paper hat and the tin god.

Do you know what it would mean to a man Johnny, to break the Eichelberger syndicate?

DA's office, the Governor's chair, seat in the Senate.

- That's right. - I don't want any of it.

- Why not? - No political ambitions.

Clean hands, pure heart, and no political future, eh?

- That's me. - You're a stocker Johnny.

Eichelberger is sitting on top of a 200 million dollars empire.

Do you got any idea what he'd do to protect that?

- Well, roughly. - Let me ask another.

You really know why you're in this?

There's a job to be done, they tagged me I, I was around.

You were.

You're a man who wants to do good and they want a man to do good.

Sure, you always wanted to do good.

I don't say that's wrong, I say that's the way you are.

You've been discovered.

You made quite a splash at the University telling the other do-gooders...

the theory of how the law should be.

You're made-to-order for her.

So, they suck you in with your clean hands and pure heart.

Happy little amateur?

A kid standing in the sun with books under his arm.

And if a flagpole falls on you, it's just an accident.

You don't think I'm up to the job.

I think you give it one fine whirl and I'll be cheering.

It's all nice and cozy Same old story.

Election is a year off and the Governor is trying to...

stir up some free advertising for himself.

Oh, you sure you don't want something else Johnny?

No, thanks Mom, you're beginning to sound like Jerry Pop.

- What's Jerry's saying? - He thinks I'm a sucker, a fall guy.

Could be, but you're old enough to know your own mind.

Are you working with him on this Jerry?

No, I'm painting a picture of a special prosecutor's home life.

I was afraid of that.

Jerry couldn't write anything we wouldn't like. Why, he's just like my own boy.

I'm not so sure.

The important thing is Johnny, how you feel about all this.

Well Pop, I think it's great.

I've always hoped that someday we'd work out a way to be closer.

So far our jobs haven't allowed, now we'll be together.

What could be better than that, eh?

Well Johnny I know, but I don't just see how you mean.

Well, haven't you heard from the department yet?

Heard what?

By special request the Governor you're my chief investigator.

No son.

- No, I won't have it.

- Why not Pop? It's already been discussed. - Well then, you can undiscuss it.

I'm a cop Johnny, just a hardworking, hoodlum pinching cop...

and I want to stay that way at least until they pension me off.

I'll leave the brain work for you. You've got the education for it,

But leave me where I'm comfortable, eh?

But Pop, it's not as simple as that.

I can get all the bright young men I want but what I need most is a cop, an honest cop...

one who knows this town.

- Pop, it's already been decided. - Well, we'll talk about it later.

- Gosh, I thought he'd jump at it. - Thanks for breakfast Mrs. Conroy.

- I'll see you later. - Yeah.

Be seeing you Mike.

Oh, come back anytime Johnny, don't stay away so long.

He'll see you in a minute.

We'll have the answers tomorrow, right son?

Hello, Harrigan.

- Mr. Eichelberger. - Yeah?

- McKibbon from The Chronicle. - Well?

- I thought you'd like to make a statement. - About what?

- Conroy. - Sure, you can quote.

I am happy that such an investigation has been started,

since it can only clear me of all charges leveled against me by the...

gentlemen of the press of this city.

- Thank you. - Anytime.

- You're a friend of the Conroys. - How do you mean? Yow know them?

No.

Harrigan is a friend of Matt Conroy's. We all grew up in the same neighborhood.

Yes, years ago, one of the finest men I ever knew.

I thought you kept that friendship up?

You guys get the idea of the diploma you get when you graduate from journalism school...

makes you different from anybody else.

Don't believe it.

That's a lot of money for a whiskey salesman to make...

even for a man that does sell whiskey.

- It's all on the income tax report. - Of course it is.

- Now, let's' talk about the Manzinates case. - Never heard of it.

I'll refresh your memory, 1948.

Peter Manzinates was a produce dealer who refused to pay to the organization.

He took a trip to Canada and he never came back.

- Maybe that guy liked to travel. - Keep your attention here.

March 1948.

You take a leave of absence from the police force.

- You were gone three weeks. - A vacation.

- Did you like Canada? - I've never been to Canada.

You and Jimmy Chop went to Canada.

You took Manzinates to Canada and you murdered him.

I said I've never been to Canada...

I don't know Manzinates and I never heard of Jimmy Chop.

Manzinates left town the same time as you and Jimmy Chop.

It's a big town, people come, people go.

March 27th, you resigned from the police force.

On the same day, you went to work for Eichelberger.

The second day, the first day we talked terms.

- Selling whiskey? - I didn't sell whiskey then.

- What did you do? - Odd jobs.

Killing people? Odd jobs like that?

You are cute too.

That fact is that you were shaking down a lot of small time bookmakers.

Eichelberger got you off, he did you a favor and you did him one.

- You arranged the Manzinates killing. - I never heard so much junk in my life.

- You are a cop Silbray and you sold out. - Baloney.

And if it's the last thing I'd do, I'm going to nail you.

All right.

Let's see if Jimmy Chop has a better memory. You can go my friend, but not for long.

I'd rather nail one crooked cop than a hundred hooligans.

Get out.

We just got to find that Manzinates, you know.

Shall I blow it?

No, no, just leave it, I don't know when Mr. Conroy will be back.

- And is there anything else Miss? - No, thank you.

I have your story, do you mind?

- I don't mind anything. - There's plenty of hot coffee there.

- I must say you write very well. - Thank you.

You don't think very much of us, do you?

Oh, I think a whole bunch of your clever as all get out.

And I thought I said so in a style that was all but heroic.

It's the style I mean, it has a twist to it.

Such as?

Such as...

if the pulp mills of America can continue supplying enough...

paper to this efficient staff, something must come to light.

The detached cynical observer frankly amused by the follies of other humans.

Well, that's all there, I agree with you. I'm one fine writer.

And it carries over into your personal attitude.

McKibbon, you're heavy with it.

- Get a firm hold on yourself. - Thanks, I will.

As a matter of fact, not all people are happiest being exhibitionists.

- But I am, I suppose. - I didn't say that.

- Your trick of entrance again. - Forgive me for not rising.

Proof of my exhibitionism,

I imagine is for a girl whose experience with crime is been limited to a parking ticket.

And you're quite a girl.

Just stick a nose into a professional cleanup campaign.

- Why should I... - Walk barefooted through the pigsty.

- It had crossed my mind. - Do you want me to tell you?

- Not particularly. - You prefer your own explanation.

Frankly, it doesn't make any difference one way or another.

You're handsome dame who does what she wants to do, so why worry about why?

Well, I think we're in business.

We've located Mrs. Manzinates through a nephew of hers out on Oakmont.

She's here, living at 446 Palm Street under the name of Mrs. Stephen Nover.

Oh, off the record, Jerry, this is not for publication.

- Naturally. - Johnny, the first real break.

- If she'll talk. - Better keep her on ice.

- Matt will, eh Pop? - Yeah, sure son.

Break off everything else in the morning Matt will have her in at 10.

Leave everything to me Johnny, I'll have her here bright and early.

We've waited a long time for this.

- See you in the morning. - Right.

Mandy, what do you say we chuck all this? Go out and have a real dinner somewhere?

- I'll even blow to a bottle of wine. - Amanda prefers the simpler things at life.

That's what you think, come on with us Jerry.

No thanks, I got to work, I'll see you later.

Paging Mr. Baldwin.

Paging Mr. Baldwin.

Calling Mr. Baldwin, Paging Mr. Baldwin.

Paging Mr. Baldwin, Calling Mr. Baldwin.

But Johnny, we've had leaks before. I can't help questioning the wisdom of...

Question what, me? Forgot my copy.

I don't blame you.

If I were the professor, I'd question me, you, the DA, the whole kit and caboodle.

- I'd screen everybody. - You know they've been screened.

I'd screen them again.

I'd get to know them intimately back to the time they were born.

I'd question my own mother.

It's open, come in.

To what do I owe the honor?

- I want to talk to you. - Fine.

- No dinner with wine? - I'm not going.

- What about your hurry to get to work? - I had to do my flower arrangements.

- Have a seat. - Thanks.

Wasn't what you said when you left, wasn't that meant to be provocative?

If you going to say something, get down to it.

What did you mean when you said you'd question everyone?

Just that.

Would you please seat down so I can throw myself at your feet?

- As you say, let's get down to it. - Good.

I came here to ask you...

exactly what it is you've been holding behind your eyes these past weeks.

And I wish some of you ivory tower people would stop trying to be so smart.

I wish you'd put your socks on and go home and sit by your fireplaces...

and read mystery stories where everything turns out nice and tidy in the end.

If you must know, I think you're a square and Johnny is a square.

You're standing in a coal chute and don't know it.

And you're a whale of a tough guy McKibbon.

- I am. - A real know it all guy.

You know all about the viciousness, you're at home in the slime.

You put your finger on all the bodies that have been buried, but you won't tell. Oh, no.

That's too amateurish... That would destroy your pose.

We're the dilettantes and you're the tough professional.

As one exhibitionist to another, why don't you cut it out?

Come on.

446, wherein is hidden Mrs. Stephen Nover Alias Mrs. Manzinates.

You understand Mrs. Manzinates, we'll have men there.

You won't know who they are, but they'll be there.

I'm going to know everything you say, everything you tell them.

- I'm not afraid. - Of course not.

You're an old woman Mrs. Manzinates. What should you be afraid of?

It is true.

You have a nephew Peter who works in a gas station in Oakmont.

He's a fine boy Peter. You're very fond of him.

That's also true, isn't it Mrs. Manzinates?

All we want is peace, that's all.

Just peace Mrs. Manzinates.

You put peace on your face tomorrow and everything will be all right.

All right.

- That was Ackerman, all right. - Jerry, what do you think?

She's all right, they were just selling insurance.

- Jerry, what are you doing out here? - I want to see you.

All right, come on in.

- What's the trouble? - Is your wife asleep?

Yeah, sit down.

I checked on 446 Palm Street, there wasn't a cop there.

Well, I didn't think it necessary.

Ackerman was there though with a couple of his...

goons teaching the facts of life to Mrs. Manzinates.

What?

Don't act surprised, why shouldn't they be?

You called Harrigan right after you left us at the hotel.

Jerry, you're crazy.

I know you're working with Eichelberger Matt.

Specifically Harrigan.

Are you drunk?

I've known it for three weeks, I've tried to figure out what to do about it.

- I come to the conclusion it's your problem. - Jerry, this is nothing to joke about.

Look Matt I grew up with Johnny.

I know how he feels about your little tin god on a mantelpiece.

It's always been that way, partly the reason he's in this today.

I don't think you want to see him torn to pieces any more than I do.

Everybody is filling you with pap.

I don't want to see you in jail...

any more than I'd like to see you found in an alley...

staring up at a curbstone only not seeing it.

Those are the only alternatives I've been able to come up with.

- You figure out one. - I won't have any more such talk.

I'm going to print the story about what happened at Manzinates today...

only for Johnny's sake I'm going to leave you out of it, I'm going to give you a chance.

It's a lie.

But if you don't want him to find out that his father is been...

crossing him every day of the calendar...

you better start figuring a way to get yourself clear.

Get out.

I'll give you 24 hours.

Get this one thing through your heads.

We need each other in this thing.

Maybe you'll need me more than I need you.

But this is the last time I go running around just

because somebody on this outfit blows a cork, you hear that Iman?

Anything I got to turn over to you, I'll report just like I've been doing.

Knock it off, how do you explain this?

McKibbon was there yesterday when we got the word on the Manzinates woman.

- He was asked to respect the confidence. - By who?

- By John. - And you let it go at it?

What was I to do, arrest him?

A newspaper man?

And he high-tails it down to Pond Street and sits on the curb.

And you didn't think it important enough to tell us Matt.

- Why was that? - He's always kept his word before.

- You sap, you wooden-headed sap. - Take it easy Matt.

Wait outside for us.

- He's all right, take my word for it. - What kind of logic is that?

A business like this depending on someone you think you can trust.

Hasn't he told us everything so far?

Small stuff, stuff you put in the window to get the suckers inside.

When it comes to a showdown, he'll pull a switch so fast...

- our necks will get twisted watching him. - All right, that's enough from both of you.

We built a great outfit, almost foolproof...

but we've got the same weaklings any business has, people.

If we've got one or 500 people, we got that many weaklings, starting right here.

I want it known around. I want it circulated in their bloodstreams.

Everybody is under glass from here on out.

This Conroy kid is tougher than we thought.

He's got angles and it looks like staying power.

We'll match him.

Money, brains, time, anything else, tell our men that.

Lay on the line.

Tell them they're going to be under glass.

I want a system set up. I want them to know there's a system.

I want fear working for us and we'll begin with Matt Conroy.

How can anyone have known where she was?

Take it just as an example of what you'll be up against...

all the way down the line, with all this money flowing from the bookies.

- It wasn't money, was intimidation. - One or the other.

The fact remains it proves there is a working pipeline.

Oh, no, no chop Johnny, skip it please.

This is why I wanted to get you out of your office for a minute or two.

- Come along, you haven't met everyone. - Excuse.

Time, he's young as a politician.

So gentlemen, what do you think of him, eh?

- Hello Jerry. - Hi.

You need all these witnesses to draw me out?

- You probably know everyone, don't you? - Almost too well.

- Nice hideout you've got here Ms. Waycross. - Thank you.

It's a bird's eye view of our very corrupt city.

- May I get you a drink? - Hello Johnny.

This is a fine stunt.

I gather Mrs. Manzinates did arrive at the hearing perfectly briefed.

That's not the point, how did you know what was going on down at Palm Street?

- A shot in the dark. - I guess you realize what this does to us.

I printed a simple story that happened to be true.

I thought it might help put pressure on, anything wrong with that?

If you can see it, tell me.

It's a no good tramp newspaperman's trick.

Break any confidence for a little run of the mill story.

I thought something better of you.

- Ok professor. - Jerry...

- Hello Matt. - I'd like to speak to you a minute Jerry.

- I'm sorry Jerry. - Oh, forget it.

Can I fix you something?

Oh, you're very sweet, rustle me up a ham sandwich.

Jerry...

I'm in a spot.

I think I mentioned something about that last night.

Yeah, I'm...

sorry I lost my temper.

- Suppose I admit what you said last night. - Yeah?

- And level with you. - Yeah?

- Will you go along? - That depends.

Well, we both heard the same kind of stories hundreds of times.

Unless you've been through it yourself it's hard to understand.

Try me.

Jerry, the way they got it worked out, a cop is supposed to be something more than human.

He's supposed to work harder than anybody, be more honest than anybody.

Pay for his own bullets when he shoots a crook.

Naturally, he's not supposed to want money or things for his family.

He's altogether too high principled for that.

Well, it works out fine for a while and then...

somehow or other you get to be 40.

You find yourself looking in the windows

at the things other people look at, then you start wanting things...

because by this time you've got a kid growing up...

and you want some of the things for him.

And then you find you're in debt.

Then suddenly, you find some easy money in your pocket.

And then you find they own you.

So...

now they've got me in the nutcracker.

How do you get out Matt?

- You've got to help me Jerry. - If I believe you.

I've never asked anything from anybody before.

There's only one thing you can do. Deal behind Eichelberger's back.

Sell Johnny on the idea you've got a plan and feed him phony information.

- And try hard to stay alive. - There's that too.

- Or you can tell Johnny. - No, I can't do that, I...

Matt, how do you make me believe you're on the level?

Eichelberger had me up this morning.

There's a folder on the DA's files they're worried about. 1934, Lloyd Casilon.

He blabbed about a lot out of the things that didn't make much sense then.

They would now, if anybody wanted to put them together.

The old days, that's what they're worried about.

They want me to get that folder for them. Now how do I duck that and stay alive?

I think that's fine, I think it's just great.

- When do they want it? - Tonight.

Get it and give it to him. Only first have it photostatted.

- I may be tailed. - You ought to know how to handle that.

- Good night. - Bye, thanks.

- Bye. - See you soon.

- Now thanks Jerry, I'll see you about it. - All right Matt.

Would you mind if I eat as I run?

- Where are you going? - Say, is your car downstairs?

- In the garage. - Lend me your keys.

No.

Operator, this is Ms. Waycross's apartment, would you order a cab right away?

Thank you. See you later.

Hello operator, this is Miss Waycross please cancel that cab.

I've got to run out, the others won't mind I hope.

- Mandy. - Yes?

You mind telling me what you doing?

I don't think it's just curiosity, I think it's business, I don't know.

All right, I'm awfully doggone in love with you.

You're sweet Johnny.

- Explain it to your politicos, will you? - Sure.

I canceled the cab, come on, get in, I'll drive you.

Move over.

- Thanks Stew. - You're lucky these days.

How about it bud?

It's no trick to photostatting for you Matt but...

- it's against the rules. - There are no rules for this committee.

Wait here, I'll be right back.

Yeah, yeah, he was just here.

- And I'm holding them in my hands right now. - Make the Photostat and let him have it.

No, let him have it, it don't mean a thing, not a thing.

Right.

I guess I'm not supposed to ask who you've been following and why.

No.

- But I, I suppose it was all right. - What?

- Whatever it is I'm not supposed to ask you. - It was quite all right.

- Relax a little McKibbon. - Perhaps we both should.

Jerry, I know what you think of me.

I guess I knew that day you met me and looked at me.

I got into this because of Johnny, because he was in it.

And because I have so much respect and admiration for him.

And I thought I might help in some way and I wanted to be doing something with some use.

- Can't you understand that? - Yeah, sure.

I still want to help.

But you've made it so it isn't easy anymore.

And Jerry, I'm beginning to be afraid.

- It's going to be all right. - Is it?

You relax a little.

I'm hungry.

We've time before we go looking for the next body.

Ok.

So there you have it, the life and times of one Amanda Waycross.

- Not very inspirational. - I'd say very dull.

This novel you wrote, what was it about?

- About three chapters. - I mean content.

About young love in Mississippi.

- Oh, remind me not to read it. - You bet I will.

There's one point in your life story that escapes me.

Yes.

- I mean Johnny. - I know.

Well?

I went up to State U to interview him for one of my fine reviews.

And strangely enough, he didn't turn against you.

No.

He fell in love with you.

I suppose so.

- Was it immediate? - Instant.

You have that kind of effect.

What a nice thing to say.

You ought to know it by now.

It's getting late.

- Does it matter? - It's supposed to.

May I help you clean up?

No thanks, I'll leave it for Ellen.

- You want me to go? - Yes.

Mandy...

you're not much good as a cloak and dagger woman.

We've been yapping all night and what have you found out from me?

I found out enough.

We both have...

something we didn't want to know.

- Do you want me to go now? - Yes.

- Why out here? - You wanted to be careful, didn't you?

You could be going home to lunch.

- It would've been simpler to mail it. - Neil is waiting for you.

- Why? - Something about John.

- Where? - In the oil station up the street.

Holdup, holdup, holdup.

Police officer, drop that gun.

Police, police, police, police.

Police. Police.

- Well, there's nothing to be done for him. - Guess somebody better call the police.

- He'll don't know what ever hit him. - Neither would knew what happened.

- Hello? - Jerry?

Yeah.

Oh, we just a got a flash, a shooting out on 34th and Schuyler Matt Conroy killed.

Oh no.

Some guy robbing a market, get out there, will you?

Yeah, yeah.

- Where you say it was then? - 34th and Schuyler.

Yeah, Ok.

A fine guy like that and some little two-bit thief.

I almost wished Matt hadn't got him.

I wish we could have had him for a small while, just a short while.

- You satisfied with it Clint? - Can't find much wrong.

- Twenty witnesses, they're all telling. - Big sister act, eh?

Yeah, the usual thing.

He was the unlikeliest man in town to get killed, wasn't he Clint?

- In a manner of speaking. - A hood wouldn't put a finger on him.

No.

He had a badge on his vest and a paper in his pocket.

And the paper said nobody could touch him.

What's eating you?

Don't you think the department takes care of its own?

Got a good question there, let's both think of an answer to it.

Accordingly killed in the line of duty.

No connection is been established...

between his death and his official position with the crime commission.

Now you'll have to excuse me.

Will you come with me?

John.

Johnny, I'm so sorry.

Matt Conroy and I grew up in the same neighborhood and I'll miss him.

He was a fine man.

And his widow should be proud of the way he served his community.

As I said to Mr. Martin, I said, that was just like Matt Conroy.

Brave as a tiger, that's what he was, brave as a tiger.

Thank you very much Mrs. Martin.

- You're very kind. - Mary, is there anything I can do for you?

And to think that such a brave man should be killed by such hoodlums.

- Jerry. - Yeah?

- I think I should know. - What?

- I think it's important to all of us. - Know what?

About Matt.

What about Matt?

He stepped in front of a bullet and now he's waiting to be buried, what else?

Jerry, don't close me out, I've never felt so lost.

Last night everything seemed so simple.

- Mandy? - Yes?

- You don't believe it was accidental? - No.

Why not?

What did you and Matt talk about at my place? Why did you follow him downtown?

Years ago, it seems he took some money.

I gathered it was to put Johnny through college.

They were using him.

And upon my excellent advice, he tried to double cross them.

- Oh Jerry? - What do I do now? Call the cops?

And what do I tell Johnny about his father? That he was a crook?

And how can I tell him about us now?

Mandy, would you, would you come in a minute and help mother?

Station WRRG again takes you to the offices of the Crime Commission where...

John Conroy and his staff continue their relentless questioning of...

witnesses alleged to be connected with the so called syndicate Conroy is out to break.

Mr. Eichelberger, we'd like to ask you about some of the statements you made to our...

investigators if you don't mind.

Not at all, glad to talk about anything.

On my part Mr. Conroy, I'll be...

happy to get on the record and clean up some of the things they've been printing about me.

- I got a statement here I'd like to read. - You can put it in the record later.

All right.

You're in the trucking business Mr. Eichelberger?

It's right, have been for years, run a lot of trucks.

And how would you estimate your income for that business?

Well, it's all on the tax records Mr. Conroy, I couldn't say offhand.

- Well, would you say about 100,000 dollars? - Yes, I guess so, a little more or less.

- And, you have other sources of income? - That's right.

- Could you tell us what they are? - Well, they're varied, I own...

few pieces of other businesses and I lend a good deal of money here and there.

- Charge interest. - You lend money to bookies?

Oh, that I couldn't say, I lend money to people I know.

What they do with it, I don't always know.

They could be bookies, some of these people?

They could at that Mr. West, some of them I wouldn't know.

And the control of all this money Mr. Eichelberger...

wouldn't you say that gives you control of these bookies?

No, I wouldn't, that's what they like to say about me, Tsar of the bookies.

That's nonsense, it isn't true. I lend money just like a bank does.

Did it ever occur to you Mr.Eichelberger...

did you ever suspect for a moment that this money was being used for illegal purposes?

I worried about it for years.

Anybody who has as many friends as I have is bound to know a few...

and in these times you come to realize that you could be sitting on a...

powder keg and not knowing it.

You see, a lot of people helped me get started, help me a lot so...

How can I always act like a bank?

You would get notes for these loans as you call them Mr. Eichelberger?

- Sometimes, yes. - They would be given to you directly?

Well, one way or another.

And if stock with the security, it would be registered to you?

Sometimes, yes.

I'm assuming that you are a good businessman Mr. Eichelberger.

Well, that I'll go along with.

And that you'd see that these loans to these friends of yours...

would be handled in a business-like way.

You watch your pocketbook you'll learn that.

Did you occasionally buy these stocks?

Well, I guess you could call it that,

Sometimes I buy them and hold them, sometimes I wouldn't.

Times I just put them in the safe.

And on the occasions when you did buy them...

you use some sort of clearinghouse for these security transactions, I suppose?

Yeah, it's right.

Isn't it a fact Mr. Eichelberger that you own a company for just that purpose?

No, that's not true, I don't own it. I have some shares in a securities company.

What company is that?

- Well, I'd like to consult with my lawyer. - Go ahead.

One, Arco Securities, I've done some business with them, among others.

And the cash transactions, you kept a record of those?

Mr. Conroy, you make it sound like I was loaning millions.

As a matter of fact, you were, weren't you?

That is if we accept for a moment the premise that they were all loans?

No, I wasn't and that's what comes of all this sensationalism, the...

kind of stuff the papers have been printing.

A guy makes a two dollar bet, he's a big gambler. I lend a few bucks and I'm a Tsar.

You wish to say that there is not a large...

thoroughly organized syndicate centered in this city?

I don't know about it being organized.

But as long as gambling is illegal and profitable it'll always be there.

Tell me Mr. Conroy...

how many people in this room do you believe never made a two dollar bet?

Station WRRG returning you to the Harrison Hotel, headquarters of the Conroy Committee.

John Conroy continues his questioning of Miss Lillian Smith...

former lady friend of Roy Ackerman.

- And that's when you came back from Florida? - Yeah, right about that time I guess.

And you gave a series of parties here in the city?

I didn't give any parties, some fellas gave party.

If I give parties they got to pay for them.

Why should I do that when the parties are for fellas?

Did Roy Ackerman come to any of these parties?

That schmo, I wouldn't even have him around.

How much money did you have when you came back from Florida?

I don't know, fifteen thousand, twenty thousand more or less, how should I know?

Five or six thousand dollars wouldn't make any difference to you?

I don't know much about money, I just use it for spending.

Where did you get the money?

From fellas, where else? That's a silly question.

This meeting will recess until 2 P. M.

WRRG now brings you the third day of the Conroy Committee investigations.

John Conroy has for the past hour been attempting to break down the testimony of...

another alleged member of the Eichelberger syndicate.

That was in June 1935. What was your salary at that time?

- I think it was 80 bucks a week. - Who paid it to you?

- Arco. - Arco what?

- Arco Securities Company. - Did Arco employ you?

- I don't know, I made a deal with Roy. - Roy Ackerman?

Yeah, yeah, that's right.

But you said you were paid by the Arco Securities Company?

I said I got my checks from Arco.

Were you ever arrested and questioned?

Maybe I was, I don't remember.

You don't remember being arrested for murder?

The cops can get in the habit of hauling a guy in.

And you gave bond for $25,000?

You say I did, I did.

- Didn't you? - Ok, Ok, I did.

- Where you get the money? - What, for the bond?

I sold some stock.

Twenty five thousand dollars worth of stock on an eighty dollar salary?

- Well oh, well, see, I had... - Let me remind you that you're under oath.

To whom did you sell the stocks?

Well...

I think...

it was a long time ago, maybe it was Arco...

look, I don't know from nothing.

He's got a hit on them,

Isn't a case of finding a buried body, it's a case of mathematical law.

Thousand of stray pieces of information...

when he connects them might he can spell out the whole story.

Well, whether he knows it or not he's got it all right here.

I wouldn't believed it.

Arco, almost every other page, Arco. Where did the money come from? Arco.

What was the holding company? Arco.

But that had to be Neil, for the income tax record.

20 years at work for the federals.

Now comes along the professor with a bee in his pants.

And gets lucky.

It's isn't luck, it's hard work, he's building step by step, setting a trap.

Then he'll subpoena Arco's books and spring it...

tonight, tomorrow morning, the next day.

What's wrong with our just losing books?

It wouldn't stand, would amount the same as a confession.

There's no way to do it small.

The whole building will have to go.

Go?

Even the fire department gave us a couple of notices that the gas furnace was dangerous.

But there are apartments above the place, a dozen people live there.

You can wake them up and carry them out, you'd be a hero.

Neil, you can't.

You wouldn't believe we'd do it?

- No. - That's what makes it good.

I don't think a jury would believe it either.

All right, hurry it up, get the ledgers out of there, get those files.

I'm going to check the current, I'll be right back.

- Hank? - Yeah.

- How is it? - Coming.

- But make sure all the windows are closed. - Ok.

Make it snappy.

- Hurry it up. - All set.

- All right, let's use the back door. - What's that? Listen.

- She loves the way he says good night. - Just a kid.

All right, all right, why don't we get on with it? Get going.

- Hank? - Yeah.

- We're going. - Ok.

Are you sure there won't be anything left?

- I know my business. - Yeah, but...

The rock this place is going to get, there won't be anything big enough to put together.

Ok.

Ok, turn it on.

- Why doesn't it go? - Shut up, it'll go.

Quite a coincidence, isn't it?

Johnny, I'll dig on this for the rest of my life if necessary.

- Anybody get out alive? - One or two are still fighting.

- But won't be by morning. - It's more or less the official opinion.

- You go out there? - Yeah.

Maybe you can get it across to your readers...

these aren't just a lot of gangsters killing each other.

That the people of this fine Midwestern city are...

in danger of their lives in their own beds.

It ought to make quite a story.

- The story is here. - Yeah.

I should've listened you months ago. You suggested I wasn't the man for the job.

- I've changed my mind. - We both have.

Don't know how long it'll take me to get the smell of that burned flesh out of my nose.

You can't blame yourself.

Can't I? You warned me Fogel, the police.

What was it you said about me Jerry?

I was a kid standing in the hot sun with a dream on my face.

That's past Johnny.

Take a look at those files, evidence, testimony, thousands of pages of them.

And to what purpose? Can't even be used for wallpaper.

To get anywhere now, to unify a case against Eichelberger would take...

a major piece of criminal evidence.

According to the police, they'll have a lead on the explosion in 48 hours.

What's your own opinion?

Before they can get anything that'll tie Eichelberger to it...

if they ever do...

your commission will be dead and buried, you know that.

- Yeah. - Well, so what?

Shall we strike off a medal commemorating Mr. Eichelberger?

How many more people do you want me to kill?

I dug up a story.

A murder story.

And if we play it right and have any luck...

we can panic them into making a sucker move.

What murder?

If we can get one man close enough to go into the chair, the whole cup will spill over.

What murder?

I'm going to knock you to your knees again Johnny.

You'll have to get me on my feet first.

Matt's murder.

That wasn't a thief shooting his way out of a store.

It was a planned execution all the way down the line to...

the double cross with the little guy they used.

Why? What would be their motive?

Matt was working with them.

He told me so himself, he was trying to shake loose.

No, I don't believe it.

Of course not.

Check it yourself.

Take a look at his income tax returns from 1939 on.

- Johnny. - Yes Mom?

Oh, what is this?

- You've been down here two hours. - Nothing Mom.

Just some papers of Dad's I wanted to see.

Well, would you like something, a glass of milk?

No thanks Mom, I got to get back downtown.

- Oh, is there something wrong? - Nothing more than usual.

Good night Mom.

I can't stop you from printing it Jerry.

All you had to do was ask.

My father was a crooked cop.

You can decide how much good it will do to publicize that...

and what it'll do to my mother.

But before you decide, you must know that I'm quitting.

- I'm getting out. - Johnny.

That means the whole investigation collapses.

- They can appoint someone else. - Will they?

You know they won't.

They'll dig into the record and find out that all this time...

and all this money produced absolutely nothing.

That the sacred investigation was a complete flop.

And from then on they'll play political hopscotch.

A committee will be appointed to investigate the investigation.

And in due time they'll return with a comprehensive report...

that'll be promptly filed and forgotten.

And in the meantime, the people will wind up...

right where they were, at the mercy of the hoodlums.

- Is it important to you? - Yes, it is.

You are the boy in the sun now, eh?

Maybe I am Johnny.

But something occurs to me even allowing for the apathy of the people and their lack...

of integrity and their occasional lack of intelligence.

And that's the fact they all want desperately to believe in a certain majesty of the law.

And for people like us, like you and me...

the greatest crime in law is the lack of faith in the law.

And that's when we join hands with the hoodlums.

If they can convince us of the uselessness of knocking out crime...

the difficulty, the fact that personal sacrifices may be too great.

Then we might as well hand over the city and the state and the nation too...

to the Neil Eichelbergers and let them run it for us.

It's a very late point of view, coming from you.

But a timely one, I suppose, in terms of a newspaper story.

But I don't think I need a speech about honor and integrity from either one of you.

I understood what you meant about Jerry and me.

- I'm sorry I couldn't have told you. - It's not important.

I can't apologize and ask your forgiveness.

I can only ask you to try and understand and believe...

that we tried very hard not to have it happen.

But Johnny, don't let this influence your decision.

If you walk out now, you'll regret it all your life.

Isn't it a tragic thing if people all over this nation can be told that a man...

like Eichelberger can tear a man like you apart with his dirty fingers?

What are we coming to Johnny? A man like that can do this to all of us?

- Hello? - This is Conroy.

Hello Johnny.

I'm holding a press conference in my office at 10 o'clock.

I'm giving them the facts about my father.

You going to stick with the job?

Yes, I'm calling you now so you can have whatever lead this will give you.

Johnny, what about your mother?

I think you pointed out that sometimes a few people have to pay an exorbitant price...

to help the law.

I want to talk to Mister...

Mr. McKibbon.

- Hello? - Mr. McKibbon?

Yes, who's this?

Well, you don't know me Mr. McKibbon, I just read your story.

Well, that's nice but who is this?

- My name is Carmelina... - Carmelina who?

It doesn't matter, it's about Monty LaRue.

Where are you Carmelina?

Was that honestly how he was killed?

Yes it was, I can prove it to you.

Where are you?

- Hello Carmelina. - Hello.

I'm glad you called.

You're not sorry you did, are you?

- Was that how he was killed? - Yes, exactly the way I wrote the story.

They just shot him like that after we did it for him?

They planned to double cross him, he didn't have chance.

- Were you his wife? - Yes, but I didn't want him to get into it.

- Of course not. - I couldn't stop him, he was crazy.

I don't know what got into him.

- He was crazy to be a big guy. - I know.

- They told him they'd make him a big guy. - Who told him Carmelina?

They.

- Were you there when they made the deal? - In the next room.

- But you heard them? - Yes.

Did you see Monty's body Carmelina?

There was a hole smashed right through his head.

You'd like to have them pay for that, wouldn't you?

Yeah, that's what I want.

- Who was there Carmelina? - Fella named Roy.

- Roy Ackerman? - Yeah and a fellow named Herm.

What was his last name? What's the matter?

It's them.

Head down.

- How they know you were here? - I don't know, I live in the next block.

- Have they seen you? - Yes.

- Are they coming? - No.

When they start this way, I want you to get up and walk toward that door.

- Walk, do you understand? - They'll kill me.

They'll kill us, I shouldn't have called.

I want you to walk toward that door, do you hear me?

- They're coming. - Go ahead.

Hey Lady.

Carmelina?

Carmelina?

Carmelina...

Carmelina...

And arrange for a spot break on every station at hourly intervals.

Good. Now, here it is.

Carmelina, give yourself up to the police.

As long as you are at large, you are in danger of your life.

The police are your only protection.

You got it? Good.

Carmelina LaRue, described as female, 27 years, 5 feet 6 inches, 116 pounds.

Large dark eyes, black hair, olive complexion.

- Don't worry Roy, we'll find her. - We'll find her or the cops will.

I said stop worrying.

- What's the matter with you Roy? - I'll tell you what's the matter.

That dame is the only person in the world with a finger that can point...

that can point straight at me.

She ran, didn't she? She knows better than to talk.

She talked to McKibbon.

- And you know it wouldn't stand in court. - Who'd be sitting in court Neil?

Waiting to see if it stand or not. I'll tell you who, me.

And I'll tell you something else.

This guy McKibbon is the only guy who can identify the LaRue dame.

Anybody else they bring in is just a frightened dame, but he knows her.

Neil, the day he shoved his nose in our luck started going bad.

You go ahead and worry about the court, I'm going to change our luck.

You do nothing of the kind.

The first and only blunder we made was in knocking off Matt Conroy.

- You didn't think so at the time. - I do now, now get this Roy.

This is a positive order, lay off McKibbon.

We'll find her and we'll wash it up.

I want Detroit Logan 60126.

Hello? Who wants him?

- This is Harry Roy. - What's all that noise?

Just playing some old records I just got in. Hey, turn that thing off.

- Now Roy. - Look...

- you still got that guy Red around? - Red?

- Are you kidding? He's right here. - I'd like to borrow him.

- Ok, when do you want him? - Now.

Put him on a plane right away.

You're my pal, you're my pal Jerry but I hear nothing.

Keep working Bink, find Ackerman and don't let him out of your sight.

- Let me know if he even coughs. - Ok, it's a deal.

Come on girls, step up. Way over to end.

Hands down.

All right now girls, keep your heads up and your hands by your sides.

Hey, you with the white blouse, wake up, keep your head up there.

- Jerry, any of these? - No.

All right men, keep sweeping, he says it's none of these...

- but don't pick up the same gals all night. - That's all.

- Oh Jerry... - Yeah?

- You better stay here. - Why?

We don't want to lose you, sweetheart.

You're the only one who can identify the girl.

- They know that as well as we do. - I'm touched with your concern.

- You stay here. - Listen Clint...

there's a girl out there somewhere scared to death...

- with every hoodlum in town looking for her. - We'll get here.

- Yeah, you've done fine so far. - I suppose you know just where to look.

Maybe not but I started with her.

- The least I can do is stay on my feet. - Take a couple of men with you.

You got a couple of men left, let them look on their own.

McKibbon, your paper on the phone.

Hello?

Jerry, I got a call for the board, Sammy Lester, you know him?

Lester? No.

Says he used to manage for Monty.

Monty LaRue?

He says he knows the girl and may have a tip for you, won't talk anybody but you.

- Ok, put him on Ed. - Hold it.

- Hello. - Yeah, this is McKibbon.

- Where are you? - In a drugstore on Canal Street.

- Yeah, maybe I can give you something. - Sure, what do you got?

Well, not on the phone.

- Where are you? - At the fights.

Listen,

I'll leave a ticket at the box office for you, come alone.

I'll take the next seat as soon as I can get away, I got a boy in a bout here.

How do I know you Sammy? How do I know what this is?

You're not worried, are you pal? In the middle of the stadium, how safe can you get?

Now look, I don't want any trouble.

Ok Sammy.

Take care of her, honey.

Mr. Conroy Mr.Conroy, she's here, she's here.

You're going to be all right, you're fine now.

You're safe, do you hear? We're going to take care of you.

It's all right.

It's all right, you're going to be fine, you're safe now.

I'm John Conroy, there's nothing to be afraid of now.

- You are Carmelina? - Yes.

Here, drink this.

This testimony and the mass of other stuff, you got them.

- I think sir. - In any court in the land.

- And they'll break none. - No question.

Alright, let's pick them up, everyone on the list, Eichelberger, Ackerman, all of them.

Let's go get them boys.

Mike, stay here, will you?

- What about Jerry? - Still haven't got him.

Well, stick with it, I'd, I'd like him to be in on this.

Hello Ed, yes.

At the fights? He couldn't be.

- Where? - At the fights.

Why at the fights?

Yes, yes.

They said he got a tip about Carmelina.

I don't like it.

- Tell him to hold on. - Hold it Ed.

- Have you still got a detail downstairs? - Yes, still standing by.

- Get it and get over to the Arena quick. - Yes sir.

Take charge.

This Dave Fogel, how about that information?

McKibbon.

That's him, get him in your mind Red.

- There's no chance for a mistake. - I could pick him out in a million.

You satisfied with the set up?

You know me, I can find a guy across this whole joint.

Let me work it out.

- Great shot from up here. - Yeah.

Been trying to find you, I've seen Ackerman here.

He fingered you when you come in, some out of town guy, he's going to put the gun on you.

Get out of here, but don't get in the clear.

Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, out.

Jerry.

Jerry, Jerry...

There's a gun on me, get away and keep in the crowd.

- Get the doctor please. - Get to the doctor.

- Right. - Come on.

Hey, if they get this guy they can get Ackerman.

They will and we got Carmelina.

Don't talk Jerry. Oh darling.

I'll admit, I never thought I'd see that, let's go.

Was a shooting at the Arena at the fights, one of Ackerman's gunmen got Jerry McKibbon.

Let's get moving, come on.

- Where is he? - Downstairs.

What happened?

Where's the hospital?

Sometimes someone has to pay an exorbitant price...

to uphold the majesty of the law.

He said so himself.