Original subtitles

ashaily interferim

5-4 8-1

... 🔔

It will happen...

I don't know my name...

You read the morning papers.

You kno about this...

this glamorous ghost, this exhibitionist...

in C-Evistar Park last night...

who made a naked spectacle of herself in the moonlight?

Well, I saw pictures in the papers...

Read it to police...

we're trying to establish the identity of the woman they picked up...

a woman suffering from amnesia.

That woman is my sister...

다니 sorruse. kouabin.

Have you communicated this information to the authority?

No, I haven't.

Perhaps you'd better explain.

Well, Eleonora is an exhibitionist and an opportunist.

She's also a liar.

Regardless of that story in the papers, she doesn't have any more amnesia than I do.

But once before she worked her way out of trouble by faking amnesia, now she's

in trouble again.

More amnesia. I think you ought to give us all the circumstances.

Della, you'd better take this down.

Well, about two weeks ago, Eleonora ran away with Douglas

Hepner. Just one moment, please.

Douglas what? Douglas Hepner.

The most charming and graceating man you've ever met.

Where women are concerned.

And the nastiest heel who ever lived.

Alright, your sister ran away with him.

Now, two things.

Were they married and where is Douglas Hepner?

I don't know where Hepner is or how he can be located.

As to their being married.

That's what she says, but I don't believe it.

My father and I were away for the weekend and when we returned we found this

wire saying that they were on their way to Yuma, Arizona to be married.

That was two weeks ago.

We haven't heard from her since.

Exactly what is it you want me to do?

Well, go with me to General Hospital.

Be there when I make the identification.

And then? Find out what trouble she's gotten herself into and straighten it out.

But I think this trouble she's in could be serious.

I'm afraid it could hurt my father.

Is your father in good health?

Physically he's perfect.

Dad's in the wholesale jewelry business.

He specializes in diamonds.

He's a man whose word is as good as a written contract.

A family scandal could crush him.

Miss Corbin, I'm going to be tied up for most of the day.

Now for the moment, suppose Mr.

Drake goes along with you.

But I thought if you were there.

From what you've told us,

it doesn't appear that there's any immediate need or urgency.

See? Hello,

Illinois. Olga. Congratulations, dear.

Since you recognize me, I gather you've recovered most conveniently from your

amnesia. Ma'am, what are you talking about?

The police picked you up last night.

Dazed and seemingly suffering from amnesia.

Where am I, Olga?

Who are they?

They work for Perry Mason, the attorney we've retained to help you.

Mr. Paul Drake and Miss Della Street.

Attorney? What do I need an attorney for?

Miss Corbin, what's going on?

Where am I?

In a hospital?

What am I doing in a...

I just left to...

Wait a minute.

The accident.

The automobile accident.

What day is it?

Tuesday. That's right.

That's right. And yesterday was Monday.

And we left on Monday night the second.

Doug. Where's Doug?

He was driving the car.

What happened? We don't know.

But today is Tuesday the 17th, not Tuesday the 3rd.

Tell us about the accident and about Douglas Hetner.

Well, I remember that we were going to be married and we

were driving to Yuma.

And there was Doug's mother.

He telephoned a teller.

Where does Doug's mother live?

Salt Lake City, but I don't know the address.

After he placed the call, we continued driving.

With two big headlights.

He came forging out of the darkness.

Like two big eyes trying to tear me apart.

And then there was this big awful...

Dr. Ariel, please.

Paul Dray calling.

Dr. Miss Olga Corbin gave me your name and phone number.

But I'm calling on behalf of one of your private patients, Miss Eleanor Corbin.

You haven't been notified yet, but she's in General Hospital.

From what they tell me, she just recovered from a severe case of amnesia.

Dr. Is there any reason why she couldn't be taken to the hospital?

She was taken out of here at once and moved to a private sanitarium where she

could have complete quiet and no visitors.

I'm not going to any sanitarium.

My name is Mrs.

Douglas Hetner and I'm married.

I'm getting out of here to find my husband.

Mr. Drake is a private detective.

You'll find your husband.

Yes, I've just seen my daughter, doctor, and I'm terribly concerned about her.

All right, you'll call me if you need me.

Fine. Two weeks just vanished into nowhere.

Nobody, at least of all Eleanor, seems to have any notion of where she was or

what she was doing.

Mr. Drake, do anything you have to.

We must learn the truth.

All right. Mr.

Corbin, what can you tell me about this Douglas Hetner?

We met him on our last trip to Europe.

That is on our way home.

He was on the boat.

What does Hetner do?

He's able to get a lot of people to hate him but decide him being a

cheap parasitic Don Lawn, apparently nothing.

How long ago was this trip to Europe?

About three months ago.

Mr. Drake, I believe it takes a great emotional shock to bring on amnesia.

Well, we do know there was a physical shock, the automobile accident.

Excuse me. Mr.

Corbin, oh yes, just a moment, for you Mr.

Drake. Thank you.

Hello, this Drake.

Oh good going.

Hold it a minute.

All right, let me have it.

Thanks a lot.

We traced Hetner's mother in Mississadia Hetner in Salt Lake City.

I have the direct dial number.

Do you mind if I use your phone?

Not at all.

Is this an amplifier?

Yes, this button turns it on.

Hello. Mrs. Hetner, Mrs.

Sadie Hetner. This is Paul Drake.

I'm very anxious to get in touch with your son Douglas.

I wonder if you could tell me where I could reach him please.

Oh, my son, well he telephoned from Barstow.

He was on his way to Las Vegas two or three nights ago.

The evening of the 13th.

Mrs. Hetner, is your son married or single?

Why, he's unmarried.

Wasn't there an Eleanor Corbin who?

Oh yes, Eleanor Corbin.

I remember, Douglas called me up about two weeks ago and said something about

getting married. I believe I spoke to this Eleanor Corbin on the phone.

But the other day when Douglas called me from Barstow he was with another girl.

A different girl named Suzanne whom he also introduced to me on the phone.

Just a moment.

Mr. Drake, who are you and why are you calling me?

I'm a private detective and I...

Private detective?

Well, why didn't you say so?

I don't understand.

Look here, if you have any more questions you'd better ask the McDoug himself.

Goodbye. Do any

of you know a girl whose first name is Suzanne?

It could even be somebody that Eleanor might know.

It could be Suzanne Granger.

Yes, it could have been Miss Granger.

Suzanne Granger is a pretty well-known artist here in town.

That is, if it's the same girl that I've seen pictures of in the paper.

Yes, she is an artist.

She was also part of the crowd that played around on that same boat trip three

months ago. Eleanor, Doug and Suzanne Granger.

Yes? Suzanne Granger, please.

Your name, please?

Val Drake. Your business with Miss Granger, please.

Private detective. I'd rather discuss my business with her if you don't mind.

Miss Granger isn't in at present.

Mind if I left her a note?

You'll find paper and envelopes on the desk.

Thank you.

The He's calling apartment 210 in case you're interested.

What is Miss Granger's apartment number, please?

208. No, but that won't be necessary.

I'll see to it that she gets the note.

Thank you very much.

That's all.

Now, just a minute.

We drive her on the block.

We come back and park here.

Now where are we going?

In the service entrance.

Up the service elevator to apartment 210.

Suzanne Granger lives in 208 and she isn't in.

But somebody is.

Somebody in the clerk called in apartment 210.

Yes? I think the clerk at the desk down stairs made a mistake.

My name's Paul Drake and this is Miss Della Street.

Hello. Well, Mr.

Drake, I'm afraid you got the wrong apartment.

Mine he's Ethel Belan.

No, no. We're at the right apartment, Miss Belan.

You see, we're here on behalf of Eleanor Corbin.

Do you mind if we come in?

Very lonely apartment, Miss Belan.

What do you know?

You was here, Mr.

Park. This is a double apartment.

Do you share it with someone?

I did. The person I shared it with has been out of town for the last

two weeks.

Tell me, Mr.

Drake, what are you after?

Miss Belan, when representing a client, you have to exercise caution.

It's easy to say something that can be misconstrued and then the situation becomes

complicated. It's better to let the other party make the statements and then either

agree or disagree.

Was your raincoat Eleanor was wearing?

Mm-hmm.

Oh, so that's what sent you here.

We traced the raincoat.

Eleanor sent you?

Well, actually, we came to pick up Miss Corbin's things.

I asked Miss Street to come along in case it was any packing to do.

Oh, they're already packed?

And the bedroom, the alligator suitcase and overnight bag.

I'll get them.

Of course, Eleanor owed me a week's rent.

25 dollars. All right.

I'll need a resum.

I'll receive Miss Belan.

Of course, Mr.

Drake. Receive,

uh, Paul Drake, representing Eleanor

Corbin, 25 dollars.

Will that do?

Fine. Thank you, Miss Belan.

Then I'll get the bag, Dylan.

I miss Drake.

According to the newspapers, Eleanor Corbin has amnesia.

Her mind's a complete blank as to where she was or what has happened for the

last two weeks.

She couldn't have told you about the raincoat or that she lived here.

That's right. She couldn't.

You did.

How'd you guess Eleanor lived in that apartment?

Not a hunch.

And then Miss Belan helped with what she said.

Now she said it.

Now why would Eleanor, where their clothes all torn, put the raincoat on, go over to

the park, take the raincoat off and dance around half nude?

That's a good question.

And I got some others.

What was she doing in the apartment?

When did she move in?

And where is Douglas Hefner?

You're the detective.

You're the detective, Paul.

Ow! Space cream.

And diamonds. There are girls best.

Wait a minute.

Let's take a look at the rest of those jars.

I'm a fat little fortune, man.

Paul, look. Suzanne Granger.

Are you sure?

I recognize her from her pictures.

Tell her.

Take these bags back to your place, mix them up with your own luggage and leave

them. But don't leave the gems.

Go out and register at one of the best hotels.

Once you're up in your hotel room, call the manager and tell him you have some

things you want to put away.

Then stash the gems in the hotel safe.

Use my car, I'll grab cab.

Where are you going?

Well, to visit Miss Suzanne Granger in apartment 208.

Bye, beautiful.

I'm sorry to disturb you.

This is about Douglas Hefner.

My name is Paul Drake.

I left a note for you.

I thought you might like a chance to rehearse.

Rehearse? Rehearse what?

The story you're going to tell the police in the newspapers.

Come in. Thank you.

You mentioned in your note, Doug Hefner.

What about him?

He met him on board ship three or four months ago and we're friendly with him.

On the ship and afterwards?

Why is that you a business or the business of the police?

I represent a young lady who's suffering from temporary amnesia.

Oh, really? A woman who calls herself Mrs.

Douglas Hefner? You say that as if you knew she wasn't Mrs.

Douglas Hefner. Well, let's just say that I'm not.

But almost was.

Not the reason for your trip to Vegas?

How do you know about that?

Doug's mother, Sadie Hefner, in Salt Lake City.

Among other things, his mother is why I'm not his wife.

I gather you didn't approve of interrupting your Vegas elopement while Doug called

mother. No, I didn't.

The way he discussed me on the telephone.

My name, my address, where we were going, how long we'll be going, even a description

of my figure.

I was wondering if he was planning a marriage or a purchase of some livestock

from a country fair or the possibility of entering me in a beauty contest.

Miss Granger, what day was that call made?

A few days ago.

I have another good reason to remember it.

Well, I was out of town.

Someone broke into my apartment and acts of vandalism were committed.

Vandalism? Someone cut up some very expensive tubes of paint.

Did you report this to the police?

No, I didn't.

But I know who did it.

And why.

May I ask who it was?

A client of Amnesia.

Eleanor Hepner? Eleanor Corbin.

What's the matter?

Police, cross the street in the park.

Murdered, shot in the back of the head.

Any identification, Andy?

Driver's license?

Hepner. Douglas Hepner.

Douglas Hepner was shot in the back of the head.

There's a wound of entrance but no wound of exit.

With proper ballistic examination, they'll be able to determine what gun fired the

bullet, provided they can find the gun.

Now what do you have, Paul?

Well, first, there's absolutely no record of a marriage in Yuma between Eleanor

Corbin and Douglas Hepner.

And, no record of any accident involving either of them between here and Yuma.

Second is quite a blockbuster.

Mrs. Sadie Hepner of Salt Lake City is a beautiful babe about 27 years old.

She must have taken off within minutes after I spoke to her.

When my man in Salt Lake got there, the cupboard was very, very bare.

About Hepner, how do you make a living?

The U.S.

Customs pays a reward for information on smuggled goods.

So, Hepner spent all his time sailing the luxury liners between Europe and the

states. He'd soft-soap his way into the confidence of lady tourists with more money

than brains. And Eleanor, her sister and father?

We're just returning from a buying trip for a wholesale jewelry business.

Very interesting when you remember the fortune and jams we dug up in Eleanor's

make-up jars.

Well, a professional informer is usually interested in 20%

reward, but more than that.

Also interested in blackmail.

Which as you know annoys the police department as much as shooting people in

the back of the head.

Well, good evening everyone.

Well, dinner-trag, what would cause Hammershad to come calling at his hour?

Three official documents.

One a search warrant for Paul Drake's apartment.

Results, negative. Two, a search warrant for Dallas Street's

apartment. And Hugo.

We found the luggage you took from Ethel Belan's apartment.

Luggage belonging to Eleanor Corbin.

Miss Belan was most cooperative.

Yes, so was General Hospital.

They told us all about Paul Drake's visit.

Funnily, Eleanor Corbin seems to have vanished right after that visit.

That third document could be trouble for you, Paul.

It could mean the revocation of your license.

Well, what Andy?

The police had no hold on Eleanor Corbin.

She was sick, her own doctor had her removed for treatment.

It would be different if she were a fugitive.

She is a fugitive, Perry.

Until we find out where the doctor has taken her.

You see, this third document is a warrant for the arrest of Eleanor Corbin.

The discharge of the bullet into the decedent's head resulted in almost instant

death. There were no other injuries which could have caused death.

And in my opinion, the victim on whom I performed the autopsy had been dead for

approximately 24 to 36 hours.

A complete set of photographs of the autopsy have been prepared for the defense

counsel. The clothing of the decedent had no laundry or a crack-cleaning marks,

and the only personal effects on them in his pockets were a key case, a hack

-a-chief, a pack of cigarettes and a wallet.

Identification was made from the driver's license in his wallet.

Did you search the scene of the crime for a possible murder weapon?

Yes, sir. We found a gun buried under some earth about 50 feet from where the

decedent's body was discovered.

It was a .38 caliber revolver with one discharged shell.

Did you check this gun ballistically by firing through it, and did you make other

ballistic tests? Yes, sir, we did.

The fatal bullet and the test shots fired from the gun exactly matched.

Were you able to determine the ownership of this particular gun?

Yes, sir. It belonged to the defendant, Eleanor Corbin.

What have you got in your pockets, Paul?

Just a bunch of junk.

Put it all out here on the table, wouldn't you?

And you men talk about the stuff that goes in a woman's purse.

Well, what have I proved?

That there wasn't quite enough stuff in Hepner's pockets?

The police say he kept an apartment, but that he never used it.

Never used a bed, never used a bathroom, there was no food in the icebox, no

laundry sent out.

Perry, wait a minute, laundry.

I just remember there was a man's laundered shirt in Eleanor Corbin's suitcase.

Now, if it was Hepner's shirt and there's a laundry mark, maybe we'll find out where

Hepner really lived.

The suitcase is still in my apartment.

All right, Paul, you check the laundry marks.

I'm going out of the coroner's office to see if I can get wax impressions of

those keys they found on Hepner.

Where is the laundry mark?

That shirt belonged to a Frank Orton B.

Newberg, apartment 20 Arlington, Arms.

You think Mr.

Newberg and Mr.

Hepner won them the same?

Well, we'll know soon enough.

Della had keys made from those wax impressions.

Let's go. I have here a sketch that shows the arrangement of your apartment

and Miss Granger's apartment.

I'd like you to tell us, please, if this correctly shows the interior arrangement of

your apartment. Yes, sir, it does show my apartment correctly, but I've never been in

Miss Granger's apartment.

Well, that's all right.

I'm going to verify the arrangement of Miss Granger's apartment with another witness.

Now, was there any particular room in your apartment where the defendant said she

wanted to stay?

Yes, sir.

You see, my bedroom is the one with a large closet next to Miss Granger's, and...

Eleanor insisted that I move into the other bedroom so that she could have the bedroom

next to Miss Granger's apartment.

Miss Belanda, have you ever seen the defendant in possession of a weapon?

Yes, sir. A .38 caliber revolver exactly like the one you're holding.

Did the defendant show you this weapon herself?

No. No, I saw it in her overnight bag.

In her overnight bag?

What other luggage did the defendant bring when she moved in with you?

An overnight bag and a suitcase.

And what happened to these two pieces of luggage?

Miss Drake and Miss Street picked them up and took them away.

Did you have occasion to contact the defendant about this or about anything else

at that time?

No. She called me from a hospital, I think.

Miss Belan, would you please tell us exactly what the defendant said to you when

she phoned from the hospital?

She said, ìAthelime and a terrible scrape, real serious trouble, and I've got

to protect myself.

And you've got to back me up in anything I say.

Because for the past two weeks I'm pretending that I've had amnesia.

Now, were you faking amnesia?

Yes. Were you running around the park that night, half dressed, and if so, why?

Mr. Mason, I was appealing for help.

I was trying to get somebody to follow me.

Why did you want someone to follow you?

Because I wanted to lead them to where they could find Dougís body.

You knew his body was there?

You knew he was dead?

Yes. Doug and I were working on something very important.

And every time we met, we got together there in the park.

So when I went there this night, Doug was lying there dead.

And my gun was right beside him.

Why didnít you go straight to the police?

Tell them what you and Heppner were working on.

Tell them exactly what had happened.

Because they wouldnít have believed me.

They wouldnít believe the truth, but they would believe a phony amnesia act.

Is that what youíre trying to tell me?

No, no, you donít understand.

I wasnít going to fake amnesia then.

It was well when the police cornered me, I got panicky I guess.

Tell me, what was this story you dreamed up that you couldnít remember

to tell the police?

Well, I got this idea that if I were found in the park hysterical and

disheveled, I could say I was there with Doug, a strange man, a costidus,

and killed Doug and tried to assault me.

And Iíd say that well, I forced my way clear and was wandering

around the park in a dayís condition.

Go on. Well, I rushed back to the apartment and tore off some of my clothing

and grabbed Ethelís raincoat to cover me in case someone should see me first.

And went back to the park.

If you were ever put on a witness stand and tried to tell a jury what

youíve just told me, I guarantee youíd be convicted of first degree murder.

Now, I want the entire story, all of it, right from the beginning.

And this time, I want the truth.

I didnít kill Doug Hebner.

I couldnít tell what actually happened, but everything youíve heard, everything youíre

going to hear is close enough to the truth to convict me of murder.

Your Honor, the district attorney stated that he has a witness who can authenticate

a diagram of the Granger in Belan apartments.

Now, I should like to defer my cross -examination to Miss Belan until the diagram

has been introduced so that I might cross -examine on the positions of the various

rooms involved.

Your name is Walter Ritchie.

Youíre employed by the Sierra Vista apartments.

Yes, sir. I show you now this diagram.

I ask you if it shows correctly the various rooms in apartment 208 and 210.

Yes, sir. The apartments are identical.

Except that the closet in one of the bedrooms of number 210 is three and a

half feet shorter than the other closets shown on the sketch.

Now, this sketch was drawn to scale, and it was made by you at my request.

Is that correct?

It was. Is it a full, true and accurate diagram?

It is. If it please the court, I should like this diagram, and it is an

evidence mark for the people exhibit H.

Thatís all you may step down.

Just a moment.

I have a question to do with the witness.

Surely there canít be any objection to the diagram.

I just wanted to find out a few points about the background of the witness.

Your Honor. Very well.

If you insist, cross-examine Mr.

Mason. On the day following the murder when Mr.

Paul Drake and Ms.

Della Street asked to see Suzanne Granger, didnít you go to the switchboard and bring

the apartment to Ms.

Ethel Belan?

Well, I have occasion to call many of the apartments, but

I simply donít remember calling Mr.

Belan at that time, no?

Thatíll be all, thank you.

Now, Ms. Belan, letís see if your recollection is any better than Mr.

Richieís. Do you recall an occasion when Mr.

Richie phoned you and said that Mr.

Paul Drake was inquiring for Susan Granger?

Yes. I remember.

What is the connection between you and Mr.

Richie? I object to that, Your Honor.

Itís quite obvious that Councilís on another of his fishing expeditions.

Court will sustain the objection.

I have no further questions of the witness.

And I have no further questions on this subject.

But, just a moment.

Thereís another matter, Ms.

Belan. Did you ever see the defendant in possession of any other articles beside

that revolver? Articles of some extraordinary value?

Yes, sir, I did.

She had a large number of precious gems.

Where were you when you saw these?

I started into her bedroom.

The door was slightly ajar and she didnít hear me.

And some of the gems were on the bed and she was counting them.

And for all you know these gems could have been contained in the luggage, which Mr.

Paul Drake and Ms.

Della Street, acting on behalf of Perry Mason, removed from that apartment.

Objective two is argumentative, assuming in fact not in evidence, leading and

suggestive and utterly incompetent to relevant immaterial.

Sustained. Cross-examen.

Now you stood in the doorway of the room and you saw the gems on the

bed. How far was it from the bed to the doorway?

Perhaps ten feet.

What kind of gems were they?

Diamonds, emeralds, few rubies.

These rubies, were they genuine rubies or imitation?

Oh, they were quite genuine, Iím sure.

Have you ever owned a genuine ruby, Ms.

Belan? Oh, no, but I do.

Bet you say you stood ten feet away, looked at an assortment of gems and

you one hesitatingly testified that the rubies in that assortment were genuine.

Is that right?

Oh, then you put it that way.

I know it sounds absurd, but I...

It sounds a good deal more than absurd, Ms.

Belan. No further questions.

Your honor, I realize weíre approaching the hour of adjournment, but I have a matter of

the utmost urgency to present to the court.

I request the indulgence of the court and ask with the coronerís physician, Dr.

Oberon, to be recalled to the stand.

Dr. Eustead is that the cause of death was a thirty-eight caliber bullet lodged in

the brain. Had you examined the body to determine if there was any contributing

cause of death?

What do you mean?

Well, this photograph taken at the time of autopsy, shows

the right arm of the deceit.

I call your attention to the two little spots on that right arm.

Was this photograph taken because of those spots?

Yes. In homicide cases, I believe there should be a record of every abnormality

noted. This abnormality, doctor, was it your belief that the two spots were

puncture marks caused by a hypodermic needle?

There was always that possibility.

Did you test the body for morphia?

For any other drugs?

No. It wasnít necessary.

I had already determined the cause of death.

If the body of Douglas Heppner were to be assumed at this time, and morphine was

present, that fact could be determined, could it not?

I think there might be a very good chance.

Your Honor,

the decedent at the time his body was discovered had no matches, no lighter, no

knife. Nothing in his possession that could start a fire or cut through bonds.

That fact leads me to believe that Douglas Heppner was held captive prior to his

death. I believe that at the time of his death, Douglas Heppner was under the

influence of morphine given to restrain him.

I now ask the court to order the body of Douglas Heppner exhumed.

Paul. Hi, Perry.

How did you make out on the order to have the body exhumed?

The judge said no.

Unless we get enough evidence to tie up the relevancy of anything that might be

discovered. What do you want me for?

Remember when you tried to open Heppnerís apartment, only the third key would work?

Well, I discovered later that one of these other keys is almost identical to it.

You mean, Heppner had a key to the second apartment in his domain?

Heppner not only had a key that would open his own apartment, twenty.

But one that also will open apartment twenty-one.

We work, Paul.

Who occupies apartment twenty-one?

The occupant of apartment twenty-one is a Miss Pason.

A Miss Sadie Pason.

Mr. Heppner? What?

You are the Suzanne Granger who occupies apartment number 208 at the Sierra Vista

apartments? Yes, I am.

You recently returned from a trip to Europe, Miss Granger.

While on shipboard you met the deceitant Douglas Heppner and you became friendly

with him. Did you continue this friendship after the conclusion of the voyage?

Well, not right away.

But a few weeks later I ran into Doug.

He asked me for a date and I had dinner with him two or three times.

Did you ever have a discussion with Alan Corbin about Douglas Heppner?

Yes, I did.

On the fifteenth of August.

What was said, please?

Doug was calling on me.

When he left, I noticed the door of apartment 210 open just a crack, as

if someone was watching.

I was aware that the defender had moved in with Ethel Belan.

I also knew that every time Doug left my place, that door opened.

So this time after Doug got into the elevator, I walked over and pushed it open.

Alan Corbin, the defendant, was standing on the other side of that door.

And that was when you had your conversation with her?

Yes. She, Alan Corbin, said that I tried to steal Doug

away from her.

She said that she planned to marry him and if she couldn't have him, no one

would have him.

Did she make any specific threats?

Yes. She threatened to kill both him and me if I tried to take him away

from her. Did the defendant indicate how she intended to carry out these threats?

Yes, she did.

She opened her purse and showed me a revolver.

Miss Granger, I direct your attention to people's exhibit G.

I ask if you've ever seen this revolver before.

It looks very much like the one I saw in the defendant's handbag.

I think that'll be all.

Thank you very much.

You're with us.

Did anyone else hear this conversation?

Was Miss Belan present?

Miss Belan was away.

The defendant was alone in the apartment.

In other words, it's only your word against the word of the defendant that this

conversation did take place.

In that you are wrong.

I was the only person present beside the defendant.

True. But Mr.

Richie overheard the conversation.

He told me so.

Mr. Richie, honor about the fifteenth day of August of this year.

Did you overhear a conversation between the defendant and Suzanne Granger?

I did, yes sir.

Where did the conversation take place?

At the door of apartment number 210.

And did the defendant at this time exhibit a weapon?

Well, I couldn't exactly see what was going on.

But I did hear the defendant open her bag and say, as you see, I am

prepared to make good my promise.

Or something of that sort.

Thank you Mr.

Richie. That'll be all.

You may inquire Mr.

Mason. Since

you weren't in the hallway where you would have been seen, I gather you overheard this

conversation from inside one of the nearby apartments.

Now by any chance were you in Miss Granger's apartment when she had this

conversation with the defendant?

Well, I... Yes, I was.

Why is it so difficult for you to tell us that you were inside Miss Granger's

apartment? It might be embarrassing for Miss Granger.

You see, Miss Granger had once reported that when she was away on a trip to

Las Vegas, someone had broken into her apartment.

Go on. Naturally, I checked the apartment quite often after that.

So you were keeping an eye on it when Mr.

Heppner brought her home from a date.

And you were still in her apartment when Mr.

Heppner left and she confronted the defendant.

Yes, I was.

After Miss Granger had returned to her apartment.

After you overheard this conversation.

Did you let her know that you were there?

Well, no. Frankly, I slipped into a closet.

It was an embarrassing situation.

I was a tiny bit confused at the time.

You become confused when you're embarrassed.

Now since you're obviously embarrassed now, I take it you're also confused now.

That doesn't follow.

I'm telling the truth.

You are?

I have no further questions.

Mr. Parker? No, director.

The witness may step down.

Do you have any more witnesses, Mr.

Burger? No, your honor.

The prosecution feels at this point that it has presented a prima facie case.

And I therefore move that this defendant be bound over for trial in superior court on

a charge of first degree murder.

Mr. Mason?

Your honor, I should like to present a defense at this time.

Before its first witness, the defense calls Mr.

Sadie Pason.

Doug and I were partners in recovering smuggled gems and reporting them to the

customs service for the 20% reward.

And what way did you work together?

On a ship when Doug spotted a girl he thought was smuggling, he'd play up to

her. And followed her after they landed and give her a fast proposal and rush her

off on a weekend elopement.

But first he'd always phoned mother.

That was my cue.

I'd get into the girl's apartment and if I found anything extremely valuable and the

prospects looked better for making more money by a blackmail than by

reporting the smuggled goods, why then I'd show up later as a customs agent.

And this made the blackmail possible?

Yes, I'd do it when Doug was there so that he could suggest the possibility

of buying me off.

Now, what happened with Eleanor Corbin?

Just before Doug started out with her to Yuma, he phoned me.

He was very excited.

He said he was on the trail of a regular professional smuggling ring, that if we

broke it, it could mean a fortune for us both.

Did he know who was in this smuggling ring?

Yes, at least one name, Suzanne Granger.

He found out that at least once, about a year ago, her paint tubes had been

used to smuggle in gems.

He wasn't sure whether she was a part of the ring or just an innocent carrier.

And he was suspicious of somebody else.

Go on, tell us the rest.

Well, Doug and I talked it over and we figured out a plan, a real wild

one. I wonder that Corbin girl pulled the phony amnesia stunt.

No one in a million years would believe what she agreed to do for Doug.

Exactly how was the defendant to have been used?

She was supposed to get into the apartment next to Suzanne and watch the place.

She'd meet Doug in the park and report to him when Suzanne was home, who went

in and out and so on.

In the meantime, Doug made his usual play for Suzanne.

He was good at that.

He got her to go to Vegas with him a week later.

Doug phoned me from Barstow and put Suzanne on.

An hour after that, I was on a plane.

I went through that girl's apartment with a fine tooth comb.

What did you find?

Not a thing.

Suzanne wasn't in on the smuggling, so it had to be the other person Doug had

suspected. On the morning of the 16th, the day he was murdered,

did Douglas Hepner call you on the phone?

Yes. He was very excited.

He said, I was wrong about Suzanne.

I found the gems the professional ring smuggled.

What a sweet set up they had for hiding them.

I've disposed of the gems, now I've got Eleanor's gun.

And if I can get out of here without being killed, we'll both be sitting

pretty. From where was Douglas Hepner calling?

From the apartment of the other person he had suspected.

Ethel Belan.

No. No, that's a lie.

A lie, Miss Belan?

Hepner had Eleanor Corbin move in with you because he suspected you as well as Suzanne

Granger. Here.

Here in your apartment, the one closet that was three and a half feet shorter than

any of the closet in the building.

That was the sweet set up Hepner mentioned on the phone.

You can't prove a thing.

That closet is empty.

Where are the gems?

You never saw Eleanor with those gems.

She never touched them.

Those gems were just where Hepner had disposed of them before he left your

apartment. Those gems were practically under your nose, hidden in the cosmetic

jars in Eleanor's overnight bag.

The bag you allowed Paul Drake to remove from your apartment.

I don't believe you.

Do you believe me now?

When you found the gems missing, Hepner was faced to his apartment, drugged with

morphine and the apartment was searched.

When the gems didn't turn up, Eleanor's gun was taken from Hepner's pocket, put to the

back of his head and he was killed.

His body was dumped in the park along with Eleanor's gun.

But I didn't kill him.

I swear it.

I didn't kill him.

But your accomplice did.

The person who headed the smuggling ring did.

Walter Ritchie did.

You fool. You stupid fool.

We'd have given you a cut.

You thought you were writing to Jay or why?

Why? Douglas Hepner was my husband.

I loved him.

Hi, Perry. What's up?

I have something for you, Paul.

Here it is.

Your fee from the Corbin family.

Hey, this is a small fortune.

You sure you haven't made some mistake?

This must be your fee.

No, Paul. Without the work you did, Eleanor Corbin might very well have been convicted

of murder and on her way to the gas chamber.

Wow. That's poodle-crat.

Perry, isn't there somebody that I could sue for the scratch on my finger when I

found those diamonds in Eleanor's face cream?

Well, you could sue.

However, the customs service is paying you the 20% reward for finding those smuggled

gems. Your kid?

Yeah. It's right here.

What again?

Small change. It come along, gentlemen.

I'll buy the dinner.

Paul, you can leave the tip.