Original subtitles

(dramatic instrumental music)

(gun fires)

- Are you sure there wasn't a letter for me today Mrs. Foss?

- I told you there was none Miss Petrie,

none at all.

Why were you in the dining room?

- I came in the back way as usual.

Who are those two men in there?

- That is my business Mr. Johnson

- Oh yes, yes of course.

- I'm sorry I thought my father had returned.

(laughing)

- Why don't you stop?

- Hiya gorgeous.

- You're selling a line.

- Not me, Miss Evans, had a swell trip

and I'm glad to get back to where I'm sure is

seeing good-looking girls, how are you June?

Yes sir it's grand to get back

to all you beautiful girls, oh oh.

Oh well we can't all look good.

- Your laugh, Mr. Danvers,

splits more eardrums than a mules hee-haw.

- Oh I'm sorry, from now on I'll laugh up my sleeve.

- And probably blow out an elbow.

- Always giving me the needle,

she puts me in stitches.

- Dad!

Excuse me please.

- Hello darling

- Well what's your excuse?

Here I pass up a heavy date to have dinner

with my father and he shows up four hours late.

- Oh I'm sorry June, but I couldn't--

- [Man] Hello, Mr. Harley.

- Yes why? - Let's go.

- What do you want me for?

- For robbing the Citizen State Bank

and murdering a guard less than an hour ago.

- No you're lying, dad.

- Gentlemen I can prove that you're wrong.

- Of course.

- I don't see how with the fingerprints

in the bank vault and beside the murdered man.

- They can't be my fingerprints,

for the last four hours I've been locked up

in the Carey's Theatrical Warehouse.

- Locked up?

How?

- I don't know I got in alright but there's nobody there.

I started out but the only door was locked.

- For four hours?

You could have telephoned.

- I tried to use the telephone but it was out of order.

I can prove what I say.

Read this.

- It's no good honey.

- Get Dave Wyatt he can prove my innocence.

- We can't get Wyatt, he's been dead eight years.

- Wyatt, dead?

- Yeah.

When did you know him?

When you were both convicts

in state prison 20 years ago?

- Dad, tell them you were never in prison!

- It's true June, but don't worry,

it's all a mistake as these men will soon learn.

I'll be back quickly.

(dramatic instrumental music)

- I'm glad you dropped in Charlie,

but you never stay long enough.

- Only come to say goodbye.

government work keep me hopping like

dissatisfied flea from dog to dog,

even now automobile and assistance

outside loaded for trip to distant city.

Automobile loaded not assistants.

- Tony, dad's final appeal has been denied,

why didn't you tell me?

Why did you let me learn it from the newspaper?

- June, dear, I phoned you several times,

you were out.

- [June] We've got to keep trying.

- [Tony] June I know the strain you're under but

breaking down won't help.

- [June] Dad has only nine days to live,

you know that he's innocent.

- [Tony] I've always believed that,

or as public defender

I never have carried the case so far.

- [June] If dad dies, the law will have killed

an innocent man.

- The law convicts only on evidence of guilt.

June, this is an old friend of mine Charlie Chan.

Miss Harley.

- Miss Harley, oh I followed Thomas Harley case

all through trial.

- What did you think of the case against Mr. Harley?

- They seemed quite perfect, almost too perfect.

- Dad is innocent, no matter what anyone says!

- June dear.

- We have only a few days left,

we've got to do something.

Where can I get a good private detective.

- That idea is useless.

- Tell me if you won't give me the name of a detective,

ill find one myself.

- June, we having haven't the chance,

my entire staff tracked down every bit of evidence

that might help, was no use.

I'm sorry than you'll ever know to have to say it

but there's nothing we can do.

- One thing can be done.

- What's that Charlie?

- Give young lady name of detective.

- Who would you suggest?

- Young fellow who Mister Morgan recommend,

call on detective tonight.

- Charlie what can one man do against

the entire legal force of the state?

- Ancient proverb say one small wind

can raise much dust, excuse please.

- What name did he give you?

Whoever the man is, he hasn't the ghost of a chance.

- Then I admire him for trying to do the impossible.

- All packed Mr. Chan,

padded the two phase of the tooth.

- We worked for all hours at it pop.

- Excellent excellent.

It is finest job of packing you I've ever done.

- Thanks pop. - Thank you.

- Car okay? - Oh yes,

all oil and grease.

- Yes and the tank full of gas.

- Good now we will go back to hotel.

- What for?

- To unpack baggage.

- I will sit in car while you two enjoy

nervous breakdown.

- Aint that something?

After we pack the bags

better than we ever pack them before,

now that's what your pop said.

- Yep.

Then we had to unpacked everything,

it took us four hours of hard work.

- Yeah.

You know what told me I got a headache.

- A headache?

- I don't know where I got it, but I got one.

- Always sitting, wish you would wear out brains

instead of seat of pants.

- Pop we have been thinking--

- Most impossible.

- Oh yes sir Mr. Chan we've been thinking--

- And now you have a headache.

- How did he know that?

Now in a case like this, what would confusion say?

- It's not confusion, it's Confucius.

- Every time you open your mouth

is confusing to me.

(door knocking)

Hey you hear that one brain knocking?

That's you.

- That's the door!

- Oh that's me.

- Mr. Chan?

- He'll be right with you, ma'am.

- Thank you

- [Charlie] Good evening Miss Harley.

- Mr. Chan I don't know how to thank you.

- I feel the same way Mr. Chan.

- Please you must not mention thanks

until I have done something useful, Mr.?

Oh, this is Hugh Kenzie, Mr. Chan.

I phoned him at the prison

immediately after you took the case.

- I'm a sergeant guard at the state prison,

I drove to town as soon as possible

to congratulate June on obtaining your services.

- I wanted Hugh to tell Dad.

- Mr. Harley feels that he has a chance

with you on his side.

- I'm detective not magician.

You must not expect too much on short notice.

but we have only nine days.

- Honorable grandmother always say,

"Do not think of future, it come too soon."

Police report on Harley case show very little

upon which to work.

- You mean there's nothing you can do?

- Really mean we've look somewhere else.

- But where?

- Place where you live.

- Why look there?

- Mr. Harley taken from there.

He is like tooth which has been pulled.

Tooth is missing but gap remain,

from gap we may deduce why tooth is gone.

We go now to Foss Hotel.

Sitting assistants, you will please get back

containing exhibits and follow me.

- Okay pop,

boy a murder case come on let's hurry.

- Hurry why do you always have to

hurry to a murder?

Why can't you just ooze on down to one?

I ain't ever see nobody.

Every time we got to hurry to a murder.

- I've told you that's all I know.

- Very sorry but urgency of case

require I ask few more questions.

- Being a detective is an ugly trade.

- Ugliest trade sometimes have moment of joy.

Even gravedigger know some people for whom

he would do his work with extreme pleasure.

- I'm sorry I said that, it just slipped out.

- Many such slip might solve mystery.

Please continue.

- That's all I have to say.

- That's what woman always say

yet go right on talking.

- You are social worker?

- [Foss] Yes.

- You sometimes taking loger who is ex-convict

hoping to rehabilitate same?

- Often, what's wrong with that?

- Nothing very fine civic duty,

Mr. Harley lived in this house for 15 years,

so you must have known he was ex-convict

when he first entered this house.

- I did, I tried to help him.

- You tried to help him by informing police

he is ex-convict.

- He betrayed my trust in him

by committing robbery and murder

after he said he meant to go straight.

- 15 years after.

What about note which Mr. Harley received

asking him to go to Carey's Theatrical Warehouse?

Same was written on your typewriter Mrs. Foss.

- It was but Tom Harley borrowed my typewriter

two days before the bank robbery.

- Even so you could have written note

before crime occurred.

- So could anyone else in this house.

- Thank you so much.

Mr. Kenzie you were please

ask all others to come inside.

You have no other ex-convict living in this hotel?

- [Foss] No I have not.

- You work for a social foundation, Miss Petrie?

- Afternoons as a typist.

- Strange note received by Mr. Harley

asking him to come to Carrie Theatrical Warehouse

was written by someone who was

excellent typist.

- Oh go on, leave her alone mister.

She uses a second sock system,

I've seen her practicing.

- On Mrs. Foss's typewriter?

- You make much money as typist?

No, yet you wear most expensive clothes.

- Most of my clothes are given to me

by people at the foundation.

- Mr. Johnson you are public accountant.

- Yes.

- You have own business?

- Yes I do all the bookkeeping for several small

business firms.

- One of your business pharmacies

Carey's Theatrical Warehouse.

- But the police knew that,

they proved that while Harley was in the Carey place,

I was across the city working for another client.

- Now, Mr. Danvers you were in both

cities of Lamont and Rodan

shortly before banks were robbed there.

- You had me worried for a minute

but you're right I was in both cities, often.

- You also visit banks which were robbed

including Citizens State Bank here.

- I visit banks all over the state on business.

The police got those for me

during the Harley trial.

- You sell tear gas bombs

and burglar alarm equipment to banks.

- Yes sir, it's my job to protect banks.

- With your knowledge of banks

could you not be a very great assistance

to someone wishing to rob same?

- Wait a minute if you're trying to accuse me--

- Merely suggest what you could do

if dishonest.

- Speaking of clothes miss Evans.

- Listen I buy my own clothes,

nobody gives me anything,

of course if somebody was to offer me a mink coat

I wouldn't refuse it.

- During a investigation of Carey Warehouse

dress with your name on it was found there.

- A dress of mine?

- Very small dress consisting of few feathers.

- I remember, Mr. you should've seen me in that outfit.

But I had nothing to do with Harley.

I wore that costume in Frivolous Follies

but the show finally flopped.

Carey's must have bought the props, scenery

and all the costumes for junk.

- But your show play cities of Lamont and Rodan

at same time banks were robbed there.

In identical manner which Citizens State Bank robbed here.

- Listen are you trying to pin something on me?

- No merely at moment

trying to figure how you pin upon yourself

such very few feathers.

- Very cute.

- That would be sufficient for present,

all may go now.

- Did you learn anything that will help, Mr. Chan?

- No tomorrow will visit prison

and interview your father.

- Tell him not to worry

and tell him we're doing everything--

- I said all may go which include you, Miss Evans.

- I heard you the first time.

- Are you going to leave now Mr. Chan?

- Invitation to depart also include you, Mrs. Foss.

- This is my house and I'll do as I like.

- Mr. Chan if I can be of any help I'll

get a leave of absence from my job

and come down--

- No, Hugh, you can't afford to do this.

- Miss Harley is right.

- You return to job, I send for you

when I need you.

- Mr. Chan I'm scared, we only have--

- Take it easy dear please.

- Excellent advice.

Remember old saying earthquake may shatter the rock

but sand upon which rock stood

still right there in same old place.

You relax and you survive great ordeal.

- Mr. Chan if this is shortest way to prison?

- No, shortest way is to commit crime.

- We'll have to try that sometime.

What am I saying?

- You surprised yourself, usually you surprise me.

- Did you see that bee come through here

with that dead job motor?

(bullet whizzing)

- Someone's shooting at us, pop.

It was Birmingham, the car's going by itself.

- No I was steering by remote control.

- You know who was shooting at us, pop?

- Only persons know we come this way

are people living at Foss Hotel.

- This is gonna be very very dangerous.

(dramatic suspenseful music)

- I'm awfully glad to see you, Charlie.

- I think as old friend, Warden Cameron,

you think what?

- You're throwing away your reputation,

I mean it you haven't a chance in breaking this case.

- But if I fail Mr. Harley will die,

what is my reputation compared to man's life?

- Oh I know how you feel

but I still think you're being foolish.

- Then why someone shoot at me on way here?

Because they think I'm on right track.

Perhaps I am not so foolish.

- Oh this is guard Kenzie, Mr. Chan.

- Oh I've already met Mr. Kenzie.

- Mr. Hartley's anxious to see you sir.

- You should get resigned to the fact

that he hasn't got a chance.

- You're sitting.

Sit again, remain where you are.

- Oh warden,

Mr. Barker wanted the print files

on that new batch that just came in, sir.

- Oh yes in my office go right ahead Kenzie.

- [Charlie] One moment, I have seen you before?

- I don't know but I've seen you,

you're Charlie Chan.

- [Charlie] And you are?

- Number eight two five one.

- He's Jimmy Slade, a forger,

he's a trustee in the fingerprint file room now.

- Did you see that man get popped the eye?

- You mean that tough guy?

- Yeah.

- Oh you mean the convict?

No.

- [Benjamin] Well Birmingham Brown.

- Well look at old Benjamin.

Hey there boy.

- Not much, man is sure good to see

a new face around here.

- Yeah but this face ain't staying.

- Neither it's mine.

- Mr. Chan to see you Mr. Harley.

- [Thomas] I've been waiting to see you Mr. Chan

- Sorry to see you here Mr. Harley

but great pleasure to meet you anywhere.

- I don't know what I'm going to say.

- Please sit down.

- Yeah Birmingham, you're always late.

Even coming to see me.

Don't you ever do anything on time?

- Sure I bought a car once.

- How? - On time.

You know what made me late Benjamin?

- What?

- I had to take my girl over--

- No beauty shop can help her--

- No?

- Why no why she's got a face that--

- Not that bad, then later the beauty parlor

said that she was going--

- They can't recap that wrinkle.

- No?

- No.

Now what they should do--

- They did.

And while we was over there, do you know--

- I know I know.

Now look, is that the same gal--

- No, she don't weight that much now.

- No?

- No all she weighs now is--

- That's still too heavy.

Why don't you get her to go on the same diet

my gal use?

Get her to take too long--

- They don't make that stuff anymore.

- No? - No.

Now what I want to give her is--

- That'll give her Hay Fever

- Yeah?

- Why sure.

Look, in that case, why don't you take her--

- I did.

And you know who I saw over there?

- Who?

- I saw-- - Is she still out there?

- Yeah.

- I thought he was--

- He was, but he got out.

- Is that so? - Yeah.

He's staying over with Miss.

- Is that so?

- They must be charging him.

- No not that much.

- No?

- No, all he's paying is--

- That's a fair price.

- Yeah.

Well lookie here, I got to go now,

I'll be over to see you.

- I'll be working there.

- Okay well I'll be seeing you.

- Who is that man?

- Oh he's a fella used to hang around my house.

That's my brother Bill.

- Oh your.

- Your wife died while you were in prison

20 years ago?

- When June was born.

I never told June because I,

I meant to go straight

and I have Mr. Chan.

- But your fingerprints found in bank vault.

- Yes I know, I saw the photographs in court.

They were my prints but

I was never in that bank in my life.

You don't believe me.

well I'm beginning to think that

maybe I did commit the crimes

they sentenced me for.

- Never believe nightmare no matter how real

it may seem.

When you here 20 years ago,

was Warden Cameron here also?

- Yes he was.

- Ready to go Mr. Chan?

- Yes please.

- Don't you worry Mr. Harley.

- Mr. Chan,

do you think there's any hope?

- There is possibility you may

suffer for someone else's crime.

- But if someone else committed the crime then--

- [Thomas] Mr. Chan, what are you going to do?

- At moment I'm like man trying to set clock

by guess and this time does not stand still

perhaps better not stand still myself.

- Are you sure you know what you're talking about

when he says now let's turn to one corner

and uses another?

I don't,

I wonder where this parade is going.

- I don't know let's follow it and see.

- Oh better not.

- Hey Punchy you know what I heard through the grapevine.

Don't be always interrupting me, Punchy.

Charlie Chan is here, you know what I'm gonna do

when I see that Chan?

- Did you hear what the man said about pop?

- I did.

- I think we better follow them.

- What did you say just while ago

when outside let's follow them?

- Come on. - No, that ain't

what you said.

(energetic instrumental music)

- Right this way, men.

- They went in here, come on.

- Hey you don't want to go in that, do you?

- Look, you heard what they said about pop,

we gotta find out what they're up to.

- Okay, okay.

- [Tommy] There they'll see.

- [Birmingham] Yeah.

- The men we were following are hiding

behind these bales.

- Maybe we better hide

to keep him from following us.

- Let's sneak up on them.

- There you go, we'll sneak up again.

= Punchy, how many times do I gotta tell you

that ain't the way to do it,

you slash once.

When you want to finish something,

do you want to know how to do it?

Don't interrupt, you take the stabber like this.

Once the job is done and it is neat,

do you hear me Punchy?

that's the way you do it.

One slash.

- They are planning a murder,

we gotta find out who he's gonna kill.

- We won't find out, you gone find out.

Wait a minute.

(dramatic music)

- Good gracious, they got a knife on them!

- They're still coming, they're right behind us.

- They're in the crowd we can't see them, let's go.

(dramatic music)

Look, here they come now.

- Do you see them?

- Yeah!

- [Tommy] Let's go this way, down the hall.

- [Birmingham] Come on, let's go.

- [Tommy] Let's get out of here.

- [Birmingham] Here they come again.

- Burglars!

- You better count your money!

Don't be always interrupting.

Punchy come, come on you guys.

Are you two guys following me?

- No sir, we got here first, but you can have it.

- Listen Mr., it's all a mistake.

- What do you mean a mistake?

- [Tommy] Look here Tommy, this door's locked.

- Locked? - Hey how can we

get out of here?

- [Prisoner] Hey fellas, there's a visitor here

and he wants to know how he can get out!

- This ain't that funny, Mr. Chan!

- Hey pop! - Mr. Chan!

- Then you're not quitting the case.

- No, after talk with Mr. Harley,

I'm convinced the man is innocent.

- But Charlie the law doesn't frame men.

- Accidents can happen if planned that way.

- But Harley's fingerprints were found in the bank.

- My theory his fingerprints were forged

and placed at scene of crime.

- No Charlie that's impossible.

- Nothing is impossible.

Forgery is only solution.

Must find out how same as done

before too late for Mr. Harley.

(buzzer buzzing)

- Pardon me, Charlie.

Karen, what's up?

(mumbling)

What started the rioting?

- [Karen] Just the reception of some strangers

who got the wrong cell.

- What strangers?

- [Tommy] Pop, pop!

- [Birmingham] Mr. Chan, Mr. Chan!

- Oh oh which way, which way?

- [Cameron] Cellblock four.

(yelling and chattering)

- [Guard] Come on, quiet down.

Quiet down.

Right this way, warden.

- He wants to get out!

- Pop, I'm sure glad to see you.

- [Birmingham] Who that, Mr. Chan?

- Yep. - So.

Even in prison you cause trouble.

- But it wasn't our fault, pop.

- Mr. Chan we followed the wrong parade.

- First time I hear cuckoos outside of clock.

- But pop we heard them talking about--

- Charlie I heard you was here,

when I saw you I want to shake your hand.

- Mr. Foggy my very great pleasure to see you again.

- Thanks.

- I trust you are enjoying vacation.

- Oh sure he put me in here,

it took one of the greatest detectives

in the world to do it.

Oh Mr. Chan I want you to meet me pal, Punchy.

- [Punchy] Mr. Chan this is undoubtedly the most

supreme moment of my entire life.

I stand here--

- Hey, Punchy you said--

- [Punchy] Don't interrupt.

Thank You Mr. Chan.

- What are we gonna do now pop?

- You will get out of here

before they put you in garments

suitable to your personality.

- What kind of garmets is that?

- Straitjackets.

- [Birmingham] That did I.

- Punchy, you've been going in for a literature.

- You know, Mr. Thompson, in this department

has been most kind and helpful.

- I'm glad Charlie.

We're proud of our staff.

- Hello.

How are you coming with experiment so far, Mr. Thompson?

- No luck yet, Mr. Chan.

- I was afraid it couldn't be done.

- While the forging of fingerprints

has been tried before but it's never worked

however Mr. Chan's theory of how it might be done

has possibilities.

I cut some rough ridges in the whirls

in these rubber pads but

same thing, no distinguishable fingerprints.

- No oil.

That's right, sir.

- [Man] What do you mean oil?

- There's always natural oil in the hands.

- And that oil is what causes the fingerprint

to remain after the hand touches the surface.

I tried using regular fingerprint ink

but the lack of oil caused the blurring of the ink.

- [Man] No one would take that for a fingerprint.

- Perhaps if we obtain oil more like natural oil.

- Well I tried using a thin

mixture of olive oil but the oil ran

and smeared the result was no fingerprints.

- Looks like we're up against the stonewall, Charlie.

- I don't promise anything

but I'm going to keep on trying.

- The old man can do more.

I have more work to do yet in your department.

- Afraid it's no use Charlie,

but what do you want done?

- Please have police quietly

check back 10 to 15 years on all persons

now living at Foss Hotel.

- Okay, but why?

- Skeletons in closets always speak loudest to police.

- I've been thinking, Tommy, you are wrong.

- You mean you are,

you don't even know what a lawsuit is.

- Sure I do, it something of the police wear.

- Are you kidding?

- [Birmingham] Then tell me.

- This is the last one, pop.

- No more.

- Today's the 14th and Harley scheduled to die the 17th.

- What can you do reading all this stuff, pop?

- Police reports show

three banks robbed in past two years.

- Do you think Harley robbed all three of them, pop?

- Son Tommy is noisy woodpecker on family tree.

- Woodpecker, I gotta remember that.

- Rodan Bank robbed and man named Stanley Gray

convicted, Lamont bank robbed,

man named Stephen Briggs imprisoned.

- And Harley was set up for the bank job in this city.

- And all three banks robbed in identical manner.

- And no money was ever recovered.

- Also curious coincidence is

each man arrested in each case swear

he left no fingerprints in bank

because he never there.

- Do you think Harley was in with a gang, pop?

- Oh he finished school, now he tried to finish me.

- But pop.

- Macho, also in each case

each men have former prison record.

- Yes Harley had been in state prison.

- Gray and Briggs also former convicts there.

It is only prison where all three men served time.

- Want a good suggestion, pop?

- Yes, but let me make suggestion first,

keep quiet.

- Oh sure pop.

But if I do I won't be able

to give you my suggestion.

- That is idea.

- Very good idea.

- I believe there is some connection

between bank robberies, fingerprints

and the state's prison.

- What about your idea of forging fingerprints?

- Oh for time I nurse theory,

very excellent, theory but

now instead of nurse I fear theory need undertaker.

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

For you Charlie.

- Charlie Chan speaking.

- We have that information you asked for,

do you wish to take it now?

- Yes go ahead.

- Miss Petrie is actually the wife of Jimmy Slade,

a convict trustee employed in the fingerprint bureau

at the state prison.

She has been visiting him there every month.

- Thank you, thank you.

Instead of undertaker, doctor arrived,

and theory now very healthy again.

I see.

Another thing Miss Petrie,

why you lie about clothes?

- I didn't, they were given to me.

- I learn different.

Where you obtain money to buy fine garments?

I've done nothing wrong.

- [Charlie] Please, where you get money?

- [Miss Petrie] Just because my husband's in prison,

I'm not gonna say another word.

- [Charlie] You will talk at police headquarters

get your hat and coat.

Miss Harley you go with her.

- You think she's mixed up in this?

- We soon find out,

Mrs. Foss, why you lie when I asked you

of any other convict live in this house.

- I didn't, Miss Petrie's never been in prison,

you didn't ask me about her husband.

- When young lady bare title Miss,

she usually have no husband to be mentioned.

- I've seen miss Petrie often,

she's timid and shy.

(loud screaming)

- That's June!

What happened?

- Someone choked me.

- Miss Petrie?

- I don't know,

I don't know who it was.

It was someone in that room.

- Clothing undisturbed.

What have you there?

- Nothing pop just some old telephone numbers.

Name of Carey's Theatrical Warehouse

appear often in this case.

- Find anything Mr. Chan?

- Mr. Kenzie you will ask police

to locate Miss Petrie, I will try warehouse.

- Must be a woman driver, pop.

- Woman too sweet and gentle for that,

no license plates.

Perhaps Miss Petrie arrived already.

Take a look around quietly.

(soft tense music)

- Didn't you hear what pop said?

- Sure your pop said look around quietly

and that's just what I'm gonna do,

look around quietly right here in the light.

See there no harm to that.

Always wanna go in the dark.

See I'm gonna look right around here in the light.

See that, ain't nothing there.

Tommy, see go ahead, go in the dark and get lost.

Okay I'm gonna stay out here in the light.

Always running around.

That ain't real.

Oh boy, oh boy that ain't real,

but if anything happened,

I want you to stay with me, be dependable.

Hey Tommy,

Tommy!

Tommy!

Oh oh oh don't get excited now,

he ain't real, he was real.

Don't get excited now he's in a trance, not us.

Just stay with me and I let you know when to go.

It's an old one, now you don't have to worry now.

Everything is alright, just stay with me.

I've never seen them to have a cage

or something, putting lions around here.

This house shorty is terrible.

I ain't no fool.

A Gila monster.

This place is getting crowded.

Brother will you just move over just a little bit?

Just over a little bit.

Thank you that's plenty.

I'd never seen nothing like this before in my life.

Tommy?

Give me my hat.

Tommy, is that you got my hat?

Tommy, please say yes you got my hat.

It ain't no kitten neither.

- Well all of this warehouse you can see,

get together cause I'm more sure to you.

Yeah now let them come.

I got them now where they can't get me.

Now ain't this alright.

Wish I could have found this place

a long time ago.

Oh good gracious.

Tommy, Tommy!

Mr. Doorman, Mr. Doorman!

You better open that door,

if you don't you're gonna lose it.

Mr. Chan!

Good gracious.

Tommy, Tommy, Mr. Chan!

Good gracious, Tommy!

- Quiet, here I am.

- Tommy, how did it happen?

- How did what happen?

- You ain't got no clothes on,

don't you know you'll catch cold?

- Birmingham.

- Goodness gracious.

Tommy don't do that without you saying something.

- Hey is this you, or is this who is this?

- This is me, be quiet.

- Oh that's you?

I just can't help it Tommy, I'm all upset.

Good gracious I never. I'm nervous.

I just got to surround, I'm telling you, I'm just, ow!

A snake, Mr. Chan!

- Please please, didn't I tell you

to look around quietly?

I mean quietly, go watch door.

- Yes sir that's the best thing I heard you say.

- Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson.

- [Tommy] Hey pop, hey pop!

Oh here you are, pop.

- I didn't hear you come in.

- Strange you not hear us,

my assistant make very much noise.

- Sorry I didn't hear what you said,

I have sinus trouble,

at times like tonight, it affects my hearing,

makes me slightly deaf,

- You not hear assistants make noise in warehouse?

- No, I didn't.

I couldn't.

- I'm very sorry for you, I say

I'm very sorry for your reflection.

- Oh thank you.

If you'll excuse me I have a bit of work.

(coin clatters)

- Your deafness too convenient, Mr. Johnson.

- Good idea, huh pop?

- Yes your idea my dollar, give.

Miss Petrie arrive here yet?

- Miss Petrie?

I know she's never been here.

- Well we expect her very soon.

- Mr. Chan come quick!

Mr. Chan!

Mr. Chan come here quick!

That truck just went around and here come back again.

- Miss Petrie! - Look out!

- Miss Petra is dead, call the police.

- Yes, sir.

- Here's her purse, pop!

- No, wish only police to examine lady's purse.

- No Mr. Chan she didn't have her purse

when she left,

well no one went by me into her room.

No I won't say anything, goodbye.

- I was right Miss Petrie

not have purse when she leave hotel.

- You mean she was murdered.

- By same truck which earlier

tried to run down myself an assistants.

- But Charlie why was the purse left at the scene?

- To leave fingerprints and provide police

with convenient murderer.

- Mr. Chan. - Yes.

- I thought I recognized these prints

they were in my files,

they belong to Luis Mac ex-convict.

- Luis Mac convict, where?

- [Man] He served two sentences at state prison.

- I'll have the police send out a call on him.

- No not necessary.

Instead I myself will go to state's prison

early tomorrow morning.

- What for?

- To prove someone there is helping to forge prints

which convict innocent men.

I will telephone you.

- Here are the cards you wanted

from the fingerprint files Mr. Chan.

- [Charlie] Four of them?

- Yes the cards of Stanley Gray,

Steve Briggs, Thomas Harley and Luis Mack.

- Was not expecting card on Luis Mack today.

- Why not?

I got the cards on Graham Briggs from the dead file

and day after tomorrow

Harley's card goes into that file.

- Believe Mr. Harley will live longer than you think.

- You got something, Charlie?

- Bad men leave marks wherever they go.

You will please have all of these cards

examined for fingerprints

other than those photographed here.

- Oh there won't be anybody but mine.

And maybe a couple of the trustee Jimmy Slade.

- And mine perhaps.

- Can examine cards quickly.

- Right away.

- But Charlie, this business

of forging fingerprints can't be done.

- Believe same has already been done

through use of these cards to wrongly convict

three innocent men.

Briggs, Gray and Harley.

- Gray went out of his head,

he died in the psycho ward here.

- Briggs was in bad health when he was sentenced.

Two months here finished him.

- I learned both men died protesting innocence.

They swear fingerprints found in banks

at Lamont and Rawdon not placed there by themselves.

And now Mr. Harley say--

- But Charlie, our prison guards couldn't be

used to frame these men.

- We'll see soon as Mr. Barker finish his examination.

- [Tommy] Okay okay,

this looks okay huh, let's sit down.

- Yeah let's stay right here

and keep out of trouble and away from Mr. Chan.

- [Man] Well Birmingham Brown.

- Oh no, not again.

- Well look at old Billy.

- Hi boy, hi.

I'm sure glad to see you.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

Lookie here, is you still in?

- Is you still out? - Oh sure.

- While you were out, did you run into?

- Oh yeah, I went over and I saw him.

You see, nobody introduced us

so I walked up to him and I say--

- That's the wrong approach.

- Yeah? - Sure.

Why didn't you ask--

- I did.

And we killed it.

So I tried to borrow his--

- I thought the finance company got that.

- Oh they did but he got another one.

- Oh I see.

Say, is he still--

- No I'm keeping company with her.

- No. - Yeah.

- I thought all the time--

- Oh she's married.

- No. - Yeah,

she met her fella by the name of--

- He's a nice fella.

- Oh yeah? - Yeah.

Wait a minute.

Let me tell you something.

- What's that?

- You know what I heard?

- What?

- I heard-- - Not until Christmas.

- No? - No.

I never did believe that--

- I don't believe anything he says either.

- No.

- In fact I don't believe that he--

- Who? - He.

- He, who's he?

- Whatchamacallit.

- Oh him! - Sure.

- Oh I didn't know you were talking about--

- No? - No.

I never did know him.

- I didn't know him myself,

he's been saying this for years.

- Yeah?

You know what, Benjamin?

- What? - That's why

I like to talk to you.

- Yeah?

- Because you and me seem to agree with each other!

- We sure do. - Yeah!

- You sure you're right, Bart?

- Absolutely, our file cards have been tampered with.

This one has been wiped clean

and this one--

- That's Lewis max card.

- Yes sir,

and on it are a thumb and index print

made by someone not in this prison.

- Preserve this card, it is proof

that someone tried to falsely accuse Lois Mac

of Miss Pretri murder.

- When Kenzie gets back here with Slater

I'll get to the bottom of this if I have to make--

- Warden the guards can't locate Slade.

- He must know why we want him.

- I'll find him,

I'll call a general work up.

Damn it!

(alarm ringing)

- Uh oh, gotta go can't be late and miss school!

- No.

Well so long Ben!

- Be good! - Sure a lot of bells.

- Yeah, wonder what they celebrating.

- I don't know.

- Maybe there's another one of them parades.

- This is one we're gonna stay out of.

- That's the best thing I've heard you say yet.

- Look, let's play (speaking in foreign language).

- Okay.

(speaking in foreign language)

I got you that time.

(energetic instrumental music) (alarms ringing)

(speaking in foreign language)

- That's a lot of sirens.

- We're gonna stay right here.

- [Cameron] Sergeant!

Slade missing?

- Yes sir,

we're checking to see if any of the others are.

- One of the guards located Slade,

he's heading for the bailing shed

- Come on.

(energetic suspenseful music)

(speaking in foreign language)

- Siren stopped,

we better go fight pop.

Let's find pop, come on.

(guns firing)

- Watch out warden, he's up on the bail!

(gun fires)

- Hold your fire boys.

Salde, you better give up, you haven't got a chance.

- Yeah?

Come and get me.

- [Cameron] He's hit!

- He still may be able to talk.

- You're not gonna make me take the rat for all this.

- Slade is dead.

- Just as well for him.

- Gun barrel plugged, gun explode.

He killed self.

- Hiya pop, did something happen?

A dead man, something did happen.

- Yeah we better go before something happen to us.

- It is too bad.

Mr. Slade was only one who could tell us

how prison cards used in fingerprint forgeries.

- But if there was something wrong.

- State's attorney demand absolute proof.

At present I have no proof at all you.

- You mean there's nothing more you can do.

- [Charlie] Only convincing proof now

would be real murderer.

- What do you want now?

- [Charlie] Your fingerprints, please.

- Why?

- I'm looking for murderer.

- Well that lets me out.

- One moment Miss Evans.

I desire your fingerprints also.

- Look mister, I never let policemen hold my hand.

Have you got a warrant?

- No but--

- Are you gonna book me for something?

- No.

- Okay.

Then I'm standing on my rights and not giving you my prints.

- Excuse please.

- So you work for the government,

who doesn't these days?

You should see my withholding tax.

Okay, tuts.

When you get a warrant give me a buzz.

- Miss Evans too smart for our own good,

I have her fingerprints now here.

I desire fingerprints of everyone else in this house.

- Everyone else is out.

- No matter, this gentleman is expert

at finding fingerprints in rooms.

We go upstairs please.

You two not afraid?

- Afraid of what, pop?

- That you sit down so often, you get concussion of brain.

- Pop, I got a swell idea.

- Good, save it for old age.

- Look-- - Save one for me too.

- Any luck?

- Not yet sir.

- Has anything been heard from Foss Hotel yet?

- Nothing.

The prints on Lois Max prison card

were those of Johnson

but he hasn't shown up at the hotel yet.

- Excuse please.

Hello.

- Oh Mr. Chan, no Mr. Johnson hasn't come back yet.

why Mrs. Foss said Dan went away

on one of his regular trips.

But I'm worried it's getting--

- Please please you must not worry,

everything now in lap of gods.

Very soon I give very hearty shove

perhaps clue fall off of backs.

- Your idea is partly right, Mr. Chan.

As you suggested I photographed and engraved

a set of fingerprints on these pads.

Those are genuine fingerprints.

- But when pressed against an object,

they still leave no print mark.

- That's right.

- A lack of oil.

I tried using vegetable oil and mineral oil

and if this test doesn't work,

I'm afraid the experiment is failed, sir.

- No experiment is failure

until last experiment is successful.

- Now this is a combination of animal oil.

Now if the print remains after the powder is blown off.

Now those are forged fingerprints,

but any expert not knowing what we did

would swear that they were the real thing.

- Then we can clear Harley.

- No no we make successful experiment,

but this is no proof that Mr. Harley was convicted

through forgery.

- But pop if the detective at the Foss Hotel

arrest Johnson.

- I fear Mr. Johnson gone by this time,

this engraving and photography on rubber

you do all of that here?

- No sir, I used an engraving plant.

I had to have cameras, engraving tools

and several vats for the acid.

- Such things could not be hidden in small space.

- No sir they'd have to be stored

in a pretty large place large place.

- Large place, large place.

You remain here and try contact

governor of state,

if detectives that Foss Hotel

arrest Mr. Johnson, telephone me to Carey Warehouse.

- Carey's?

What are you going out there for?

- To try and prove Mr. Harley's fingerprints forged

exactly as we do tonight.

Thanks to Mr. Thompson, very fine job.

- You know pop, believe it or not

that's the same idea I had.

- Tommy, now I've heard everything.

- Pop, that's the truck that almost ran over us.

- Shrewd observation, this is truck

which kill Miss Petrie, look inside.

- Full bed cameras.

- Hey what is them tubs doing in there?

- That is paraphernalia used in forging fingerprints.

You to remain here on watch

if I call come quickly.

- Yes sir.

- You know I think pops got something.

There must be some clues around here.

Let us do some investigating on our own.

Come on. - Let us you go,

let us me stay here.

I'm gonna wait right here.

You always talk about let us do some investigating.

I think I'll follow Mr. Chan, it's safer.

- Birmingham, it's me!

I wonder where pop is.

Hey pop, hey pop!

- No I know you ain't real.

Couldn't be real.

Oh boy, not now,

but when I asked you to make your departure,

do not leave me here.

- [Tommy] Birmingham!

This is exactly what I mean.

A removable photo.

It's real.

Now is the time.

Oh my goodness, it can't be, I know it ain't true.

Don't nobody believe it.

I don't believe it.

- It was you though.

(gun fires)

- I see where the bullets are coming from.

- Yeah but I don't look no bullets in the eye.

- Look, in the truck!

I got an idea. - Good idea!

Good idea, Tommy!

That's right Tommy, ride it out,

ride straight through that door!

- I'm gonna run down that shooter.

- What?

Get him Tommy, don't miss him, Tommy.

What am I saying?

Good gracious what are you doing?

- You are traveling salesman,

this time no sale.

Assistants do very fine job.

- Thanks pop.

- Yeah, you put murderer right in my hands.

- I guess we're pretty good huh?

- Yeah!

- How did we do it?

- Hello, Charlie where have you been?

Yes I sent the police right over.

It'll be only a couple of hours, what about Harley?

- Yes Mr. Morgan please telephone warden,

I have complete evidence to exonerate Mr. Harley.

When police arrive we'll drive to prison,

pick you up on way, okay.

Fast talking salesman unusually quiet.

- I'll talk plenty.

- You killed Mr. Johnson to prevent him from talking.

This way please.

So that is why I slightly detained last night.

- [Cameron] Mr. Harley you'll be out of here

the moment the state's attorneys papers arrive.

- Oh dad.

- Everything's all right June.

Your dad's free.

- Oh you are wonderful to us, Hugh.

- [Cameron] Well it's over, I'm glad you settled it Charlie.

- Whole case not settled yet.

- Why, wasn't Danvers the guilty man?

- Convict Slade is one who steal fingerprint cards

from prison files.

- And he sent them to Johnson,

who photographed and engraved them on rubber.

- And Danvers cased each bank before the robberies.

- But all work for third man who is missing.

Man responsible for most of crimes.

How was Slade able to get fingerprint cards

out of prison and back again so easily?

Good question warden?

- It is.

You got any more?

- Yes, who give Slade gun?

Who fix gun so it explode when fired

and murder Slade?

Man who do all these things is third missing man,

must be someone inside prison, correct warden?

- You may be right.

- Many contemptible persons in prison,

but worst of all is you Mr. Kenzie.

- You're accusing me?

- My suspicions confirmed after talk with Mr. Danvers.

- Got you covered.

- Thank you, Charlie.

- [Charlie] Excellent excellent.

you will put weapons back in pockets.

- I guess we are good, huh?

- [Birmingham] I know how we did it that time.

(laughing)

- Charlie, I at least thought Kenzie loved June.

- Oh he ego maniac, he think only of self.

- He want money so he steal it.

He tried to get rid of you because you opposed

daughter's marriage to him.

- How did you find that out?

- I talked with chorus girl Miss Evans.

- Oh Charlie,

next time you're in town drop in and see us.

See us?

Oh oh.

- We sure pulled a good one.

- Yeah your pop sure got a good sense of humor.

- You should know that by now.

- Yeah.

- [Benjamin] Well Birmingham Brown.

- Oh no this is too much.

- Well hello there Benjamin.

- Hello Birmingham.

Hey I was just gonna tell ya.

Do you know you owe me--

- I don't owe you nothing.

All I owe you is--

- Oh no, you're forgetting the time that--

- No I ain't.

Do you know I had to spin around--

- You ain't never spent that much in your life.

Look, my uncle Ropin told me--

- Oh no no Birmingham not do that,

he go see landlady and she tell him--

- She lied, I don't know her a cent.

Listen Mr. Chan, did you know her--

- Yeah I met him last time--

- That's right Mr. Chan,

that's the time that I took it over to--

- Took what over to where?

- The check to the tailor.

- That's what happened to that suit I never got to wear.

- Birmingham go out rain,

suit shrink tailor refused same,

so Birmingham must pay for suit.

- Well where's the suit now?

- It's still shrinking,

my little nephew got it on his teddy bear.

- You know that's why I like you two boys,

we understand each other so well.

(chattering and laughing)

- Pop, I don't get it,

I never get that kind of a talk.

- How do you do it?

- You are familiar with Pidgin English?

- Oh sure.

- Same difference.

(dramatic instrumental music)