All language subtitles for Перри Мейсон - 1x01 - Дело рыжеволосой официантки [WEB-DL 1080p by MIF]_Subtitles01.ENG

Paul Drake Detective Agency.

I wanted Mr. Mason.

Perry Mason.
Isn't this his night number?

Yes, it is,
but I'm not sure

that I can reach
Mr. Mason at this hour.

Perhaps if you'd call
in the morning.

I can't wait till morning!

This is terribly important.

You've got to--

I'll try and reach him, miss.

What is your name?

Evelyn Bagby.

Please hurry.

Hello?

Yes.

Evelyn Bagby?

No. What does she want?

All right, put her on.

Hello?

Yes, it is.

Where did you say
you found it?

I opened the cigarette box,
and there it was.

And you say
the gun is not yours?

I told you,
I never saw it before!

Check the cylinder.
See if it's been fired.

I think all the bullets
are there.

Now, be careful
with that gun,

but smell the barrel.

It smells oily.

Then it hasn't been fired,

or if it has,
it's been cleaned.

Why are you calling me?

Why not the police?

I'm afraid.

Of what?

Well, I...

just got out
of trouble in Riverside

only last week.

What kind of trouble?

I was tried
for stealing some jewelry

from Helene Chaney,
the movie star.

But I was acquitted.

Oh, Mr. Mason,
I'm so scared.

Where are you?

In the Valley.

The Villa España apartments.

Villa España?

You better not
stay there tonight.

Pack a bag and check into
a hotel in Hollywood.

Be at my office
at 10:00 in the morning,

and bring that gun.

Good night, Miss Bagby.

Hello.

It's Evelyn Bagby again.

Put her on.

Mr. Mason, that man,
he tried to kill me!

I was on Sunset Canyon.

I couldn't see his face!

It was awful!
He had no face! I-I--

Wait a minute.

You know where my office is?

Well...

If it isn't Della Street.

What took you so long?

It's 1:15.
We never close.

Who's the impatient client?

The girl's name
is Evelyn Bagby.

She's a waitress in a cafe
in the Valley.

Someone left a strange gun
in her apartment.

Why'd she call you?

Mm. Something she read
in the papers.

Remembered my name.

Evelyn Bagby.

I've heard that name
someplace.

She was involved
in the Helene Chaney

jewel theft in Riverside.

They were staying
at the same motel.

And they found
the jewels buried

behind her cabin
at the motel.

But she was acquitted.

Insufficient evidence.

Well, it went beyond
insufficient evidence.

As I recall, there were
some interesting highlights

to the case.

Della!

Easy does it,
Miss Bagby.

He tried to kill me.

Here, dear.

Feel better?

He tried to force me
off the road.

I was coming off
of Sunset Canyon.

Did you see his face?

He had a white hood on...

with eyes cut in it.

Where's the gun?

Here.

This gun has been fired.

I fired it...
to scare him.

I had to.

Did you hit him?
No.

How do you know?

He was coming up beside me.

I fired straight
out the window.

I had to watch
the road too.

But I heard something,
though.

Like maybe the second shot
hit the front of his car.

His car or him?

His car!

I wasn't aiming at him.

Don't you believe me?

I'll need a lot
of answers first, Miss Bagby.

You're in no condition
to give them to me right now.

I could take her
to my place.

No, no, I want her
to rest here for a while.

Let her rest on the couch
in the library.

Come on.

I'll just raise you
five more.

Hello.

Perry, for the love of Pete.

Paul, I've got a gun here
I want you to trace.

.38 Colt, snub nose,

serial number 17474LW.

Wait a minute.

17474LW. Right.

Find out who bought it,
where and when.

Perry...

won't this keep until morning?

You have plenty of time.

I'll be back at the office
in one hour.

I'd like it then. Bye.

Sorry, mister,
you can't stop.

Oh, Mr. Mason.

I didn't recognize you.

What happened, officer?

Accident.
Car went over.

Who's in charge?

Sergeant Holcomb.

Holcomb?

What's Homicide doing
on an accident case?

I don't know, Mr. Mason.

Hello,
Sergeant Holcomb.

Call headquarters
and tell them

we need another winch.

As soon as they can get it.

Right.

What are you
doing here, Mason?

Just passing.

Anybody hurt?

Yeah, a man,
killed.

Accident?

Do you always drive up here
at 2 in the morning?

Not always.

Uh, dead man identified?

That's our business.

Sergeant Holcomb.

They haven't got
a winch available.

This is Holcomb.

What do you mean,
you haven't got a winch?

Well, let me talk
to Mac.

Got a match?

Thanks.

Good night, sergeant.

He just came in.

It's Paul Drake.

What'd you get, Paul?

All right. Call me as soon as
you can trace the serial number.

I'll be here.
I'm expecting company.

Company?

Lieutenant Tragg.

The minute Sergeant Holcomb
gets hold of him.

Miss Bagby, you said you
lived at the Villa España?

Yes.

Was your bed made up
when you came home tonight?

I made it before I went
to work this morning.

Was there a pillowcase
missing tonight?

I don't know.

It's a wall bed.

I didn't pull it down.

Open up, Mason!

It's Lieutenant Tragg.

Come on, Mason!

Let him in.

Now, stay in there.

Right this way,
lieutenant.

Well, working late?

Couldn't sleep.

Another coffee, Della.

You can do better
than that.

What were you doing
on Sunset Canyon Road

in the middle of the night?

What was Homicide doing,
same place?

Well, we have an unnatural
interest in murder.

You, uh-- You knew
there'd been one, didn't you?

No, I did not.

Then why did you go
up there?

Who was the victim?

Well, didn't your client
tell you?

Client?

The dead man's name
is Harry Merrill.

He had a .38 slug
in his head.

Now tell my why you were
at the scene of the murder.

I told you before,

I didn't know
there'd been a murder.

Where's the sugar,
Della?

On the desk.

Did you find a weapon?

No. Did you?

Any suspects?

Well, the, uh,
night janitor

said a woman came up here
an hour ago.

So?

Yes. She's, uh,
still here.

I'd like to talk to her.

I'm afraid not,
lieutenant.

Why? Has she got
something to hide?

She's a client.

I haven't heard
her story yet myself.

Oh. Well, then,
let's both hear it.

I'm sure you have
nothing to hide.

Unless you are prepared
to arrest her, lieutenant,

I can't let you
talk to her.

At least not
for the moment.

Oh, well, her name is on
the book in the elevator.

And if our
investigation shows

she was involved
in Merrill's death,

you'd better be prepared
to produce her

when the time comes.

You can count on it.

Oh. Well, thanks
for the coffee.

And I'll be back.

I know.

Yeah.

Della.
Yes?

Make sure
he leaves the building.

Right.

Come out.

Now, who is Harry Merrill?

I don't know.

He's lying at the bottom
of Sunset Canyon Road

with a bullet through
his head.

A bullet from a .38.

Now, this is a .38,

and that white hood
over his head

is a pillowcase
from the Villa España,

where you live.

Now, who is he?

He's a man I knew...

five years ago,

when I first came
to Hollywood.

His name then
was Lester Gladden.

He stole $1,500 from me.

It was all the money I had.

He told me
he'd get me into the movies.

What did he call himself?

Talent scout?

Drama coach.

He said he knew
a lot of people

who could give me a break.

He disappeared
after he had all my money.

Did you try to find him

to...report what he'd done?

I was too ashamed.

How did you find out
that Harry Merrill

and Lester Gladden
were the same person?

He came into the cafe
one night.

At first,
I didn't know who he was

because he looked
sort of different.

And then I saw him
looking at me.

I guess he recognized me,
because...

when I looked back again,
he was gone.

So you went after him?

I told him

if he didn't give me
my money back,

I'd go to the police.

What happened?

Well, he said if I'd meet him
the following Saturday night

at the Eucalyptus Grove Motel
in Riverside,

he'd give me back my money.

That was two months ago.

He never showed up.

Instead, you found yourself
charged with a jewel theft.

I didn't take
those jewels, Mr. Mason!

But you did have a score
to settle with Merrill,

so he decided
to get rid of you.

He followed you
in his car.

Tried to force you
off the road.

You shot at him
and hit him.

I didn't hit him!

And how could I know
who he was

with that hood
over his head?

That's a point
in your favor.

You know, Evelyn,

I'm half-tempted
to believe you,

but if this is your gun

and you have lied
to me about it,

I can't help you.

All right.
That should work it out.

Right.

Okay.

Well?

The gun was bought
in Riverside.

As a matter of fact,
there were two guns.

Same make, same caliber,

bought by the same person.

Here, read.

Mervyn Aldritch?

The Mervyn Aldritch.

Yeah, that's what I said.

How did one of them
happen to get

in Evelyn Bagby's
cigarette box?

I don't know.

She has a clean
record locally,

until that robbery rap.

Also in Riverside.

Paul, I want all
the information you can get

on Mervyn Aldritch.

That's gonna be tough.

That guy works overtime
avoiding publicity.

That's why I'm turning to you
instead of the newspaper.

Here.
Okay.

Gertie, have the parking lot
send my car around,

will ya, please?

Thank you.

Hello, Mr. Mason.

What's the matter?

Miss Bagby,
you're giving me trouble.

What?

You didn't tell me
you knew Mervyn Aldritch.

I don't know him.

The gun you found
belongs to him.

Did you know that?
No.

Did you kill Merrill?
No!

Do you know who did?
No!

Do you know if Aldritch did?

Kill Harry?
A man like him?

I thought you said
you didn't know him.

I-- I don't know him...

except that
he was in Riverside

when I was arrested
for robbery,

at the Eucalyptus
Grove Motel.

I never stole anything
in my life,

and I didn't kill anybody!

The police are gonna
trace everyone

remotely connected
with Harry Merrill,

and your connection
isn't exactly tenuous.

You wrote him a letter
demanding money.

Shortly thereafter,
Mr. Merrill is found dead.

Shot with a .38.

And he has a pillowcase
over his head.

A pillowcase from
this very apartment house.

I suggest, Miss Bagby,
that you killed him,

then telephoned me

and depended
upon your big blue eyes

to convince me
you were innocent.

Maybe you'd better forget
about me, Mr. Mason.

Forget about
those big blue eyes!

Company.

Who's there?

It's police.

Tell them to come up.

All right, lieutenant,
you can come up.

What'll I tell them?

Tell them
just what you told me.

It's the truth.

I don't care
how bad it sounds.

Then don't change
a word.

Miss Bagby?

Come in, lieutenant.

Well!

Looks like
old-home week.

Yes, doesn't it?

However, I wasn't aware
there was a law

forbidding an attorney
from seeing his client.

Oh, maybe I can do
something about it

next session
of the legislature.

How well did you know
Harry Merrill?

I met him...
several times.

Meet him last night
on Sunset Canyon Road?

Well, I--
How would she know?

Assuming she had been
on Sunset Canyon Road,

he had a pillowcase
over his head.

Keep out of this.

You're forgetting,
lieutenant,

Miss Bagby is
a client of mine.

What did you do
with the gun?

I--

All right, Mason.

You said last night

you wouldn't let me
talk to Miss Bagby

unless I was prepared
to arrest her,

and I'm prepared now.

Get your things together.

Park it for me,
will you, Joe?

Perry!

Training for the Olympics?

This is a Photostat
of a marriage contract

between Lester Gladden
and Hester Charles.

Well, you know
who Lester Gladden was.

The late Harry Merrill,
but who's Hester Charles?

Maybe you know her better

as the pride and joy
of Magnum Pictures:

Helene Chaney.

Very interesting.

It gets better
as it goes along.

Miss Chaney is now engaged
to Mervyn Aldritch.

Joe!

Joe, leave it there.

Find any record of divorce

between Merrill
and Miss Chaney?

Not in California.

Leave this with Della.

I'll check
with her later.

Thank you, Joe.

Oh, yeah.

Harry's a wonderful actor.

Miss Chaney!

Miss Chaney, I know
you've heard this before,

but I'm a fan of yours.

My name is Perry Mason.

The attorney?
Mm-hm.

Why don't you come in
and watch us shoot for a while?

I wish I could,
but I wanted to talk to you.

It concerns
a client of mine.

A girl by the name
of Evelyn Bagby.

Uh...would you get
the other evening dress, Doris?

I'll change on the stage.

I believe you know
Miss Bagby.

I know of her.

She stole
some jewelry of mine.

She was acquitted.

She was fortunate.

Meaning you think
she was guilty?

Meaning exactly that.

Right now
she's even in more trouble.

She's accused of murdering
a man named Harry Merrill.

Did you know him?

No.

He also used
the name Lester Gladden.

Does that mean something
to you?

Thank you, Doris.

I'll be right in.

Would you get that
to Wardrobe?

You haven't answered
my question.

Obviously,
I don't intend to.

Well, I'm sorry
you're tied up.

I would have invited you

to take a drive
with me to Riverside.

Riverside?

Yes.

Very interesting place,
Riverside.

Excuse me.

Where could I find
Mr. Boles?

Why?

I'd like to talk
with him.

About what?

I might want a cabin.

Just sign a card.

I... I don't want
a cabin.

Then why are you here?

A legal matter.

Perjury.

Are you out of
your mind?

I've a client
named Evelyn Bagby.

She's a thief.

Miss Bagby was acquitted.

She might sue you for slander.

Mr. Boles gave some very
damaging testimony against her

which turned out
to be doubtful.

I finished fixing
that lock, Vinny.

Uh, Mr. Boles?

Yeah?

He's that Bagby
girl's lawyer.

That's right,
Mr. Boles.

We're thinking of filing
a suit for false arrest.

It was dark that night.

A man can make
a mistake, can't he?

Who paid you to frame her?

Nobody.
Get out of here!

Did Mervyn Aldritch
pay you?

No!
Harry Merrill?

So you know Merrill.

No!

Read about him being killed.
That's all.

I think you're lying.

I told you to get out!

Not before I've seen
your registry cards

for the night
of April 12th.

We'll show you nothing.

Would you prefer
to produce them in court?

We don't want to get
in any trouble, Vinny.

Thank you.

"Mervyn Aldritch,
cabin number four."

"Helene Chaney,
cabin number eight."

"Evelyn Bagby,
cabin number ten."

These all the cards
for that night?

Yeah.

You have a master key
for all the cabins,

don't you, Mr. Boles?

Well, uh...

Of course we do.

Any motel does.

Then, of course, you could
enter any of the cabins.

Meaning what?

Meaning that either of you
could have stolen

Helene Chaney's jewelry
and framed Evelyn Bagby.

Us!

Why us?

Something I haven't
worked out.

Yet.

Goodbye.

Louis Boles.

You're a fool.

Mr. Mason,
sit down, please.

Thank you.

I can give you
just ten minutes.

I won't take long,
Mr. Aldritch.

Uh, this is yours,
I believe.

A man by the name
of Harry Merrill

was killed
with a gun like this.

So I read.

Merrill was once married

to the woman
you're now engaged to,

Helene Chaney.

Mr. Aldritch...

were Miss Chaney and Merrill
ever properly divorced?

That's none
of your business.

It is when a client of mine
is in police custody

and charged with the murder
of Harry Merrill.

I regret the embarrassment
to your client.

Who was also charged

with the theft of jewelry
from Miss Chaney.

That's beside the point.

Is it?

Did Merrill ever blackmail
you and Miss Chaney?

Not in the legal sense.

Merrill wanted money.

I agreed only for Helene--

For Miss Chaney's sake.

Was he in a position
to have caused her trouble?

Helene divorced him.

He told me that
he'd been improperly served,

and because of that,
she was still his legal wife.

And?

For a consideration,
he agreed to stipulate

he had been properly served
and the divorce was final.

So you met Merrill
at the Eucalyptus Grove Motel

in Riverside to pay him off
the night of April the 12th.

After buying
two identical guns.

You seem to be in possession
of a great many facts, Mason.

Did Merrill suggest
the place, or did you?

Have you seen the motel?

Yes.

Then you know I'd hardly
suggest such a place.

Agreed.

You gave him how much?

Ten thousand dollars.

Did he sign any papers
or releases?

No, not then.

I was having my attorney
draw them up.

You paid him before
the papers were drawn up?

I did it for Helene.

Of course.

Now, you better think

before you answer this,
Mr. Aldritch.

Prior to that night...

did you know Evelyn Bagby?

I never set eyes on her
before in my life.

But this is your gun.

May I see it?

I bought two guns
like it.

One for Helene,
one for myself.

And which one is this?

Yours or Miss Chaney's?

I keep mine in the glove
compartment of my car.

Is it there now?

I don't know
unless I look.

Would you look?

Just put that
in my car, Doris.

I'll take that.

Yes?

Darling, I'm calling
from a booth.

I just had to talk to you.

I'm afraid that's not quite
possible just now.

Is, uh, someone there?

Yes. You run on home.

I'll call you just as soon
as I'm free.

Sorry.

That's all right.

These things will happen.

Well, is it yours
or Miss Chaney's?

Mine.

I'll see
that you get it back.

I remember putting it
in the glove compartment,

and now it's gone.

It must have been stolen.

I wanna thank you
very much, Mr. Aldritch.

You've been a great help.

You'll swear, of course,
that this is your gun?

If it's necessary.

It might be necessary.

Good night.

Hello, Mason.

Well, hello.

I'm, uh-- I'm gonna
search you, Perry.

Why?

I'm looking
for the murder weapon.

It's not in your office.

I hope you had
a search warrant upstairs.

Yes, I did, but, uh,
for this, I don't need one.

A little thing
like withholding evidence

can make life just miserable
for ya.

For a long time.

Who says that gun
is evidence?

Why, Evelyn Bagby
gave you this revolver.

Did she?
She says so.

Well, I advised her
to be truthful.

She killed Harry Merrill
with it.

Did she tell you that?

You don't believe
that cock-and-bull story

she told you...
and us.

I always believe my clients.

Mason, maybe there's
something you didn't know.

Probably.

You remember that pillowcase
over Merrill's head?

Yes.

It didn't have
a bullet hole in it,

which means
that Merrill was dead

before they put him
in the car.

Good night, counselor.

This is a preliminary
examination,

not a regular trial.

The purpose of this examination
is only to find out

whether a crime
has been committed,

and if so, whether there is
reasonable ground to believe

that the defendant participated
in the commission of that crime.

If that's clear,
we'll proceed.

Mr. Burger, you may open
for the prosecution.

Lieutenant Tragg, please.

And, lieutenant,

you gave this weapon

to the ballistics department,
didn't you?

Yes, sir.

Did you try to trace it
through its serial number?

Of course.

What did you find?

That the weapon had been sold
to one Mervyn Aldritch.

Thank you.

Your witness.

May I have the exhibit,
please?

Thank you.

Now, Lieutenant Tragg,
I presume you questioned

this Mervyn Aldritch.

Naturally.

What statements
did he make?

Well, that he, uh,
bought the weapon

for his protection,
and that it was stolen.

Now, just a moment.

I think that evidence should
come from Mr. Aldritch himself.

Your Honor.

As far as introducing
this weapon is concerned,

it's only necessary to prove

that it was in the possession
of the defendant,

and that it was the weapon
that killed Harry Merrill.

I'd like to hear
from the defense on that.

The prosecution
hasn't proven

the weapon was in possession
of the defendant.

You gave the weapon
to Lieutenant Tragg yourself.

Lieutenant Tragg
took it from me.

In any case,
I am not the defendant.

You were representing her.

Your Honor, I want to have it
definitely established

that this is the weapon

with which
the crime was committed.

Mr. Burger,
Do you have photographic

and ballistics evidence?

Just one moment,
Your Honor.

What about the other one?

Your Honor, the fatal bullet
was badly mushroomed

when it was taken
from the body

at the time
of the postmortem.

You mean the fatal bullet
cannot be identified?

I'm afraid not, Your Honor.

But the prosecution
can prove that the weapon

was in the defendant's
possession.

That she had the motive.

One moment.

This weapon?

This gun?

That's the one
that you gave--

I mean that Lieutenant Tragg
took from you.

Lieutenant Tragg,

are you sure
this was the weapon?

Positive.

Outside of the fatal bullet,
did you find any other bullets

that had been fired
from this gun?

Yes, sir.
Where did you find them?

One went through
the hood of the dead man's car

and flattened
against the engine block.

Mr. Burger,

what about
this second bullet?

It can't be identified
either.

In other words,
neither the fatal bullet

nor the one which went
through the hood

can be said positively to
have been fired from this gun.

No, Your Honor.

But it's only necessary
to establish possession,

and the gun was
in the defendant's possession.

Just one moment.

These are photographs taken
at the scene of the crime?

Yes. Yes, sir.

Your Honor, I've studied
these photographs.

I ask you
to take a good look

at this one in particular.

What am I supposed to be
looking at, Mr. Mason?

That tree
at the side of the road.

Ah, yes.

When were
these photographs taken?

Yesterday morning, sir.

We thought it would save
the court's time

and avoid a trip
to the scene of the crime.

I suggest the peculiar mark
on that tree

may be a bullet hole.

We'll recess,
go to the scene of the crime,

and reconvene
at 3 this afternoon.

Mr. Redfield,
as ballistics expert,

a qualification
I most certainly admit,

you examined
these two bullets?

Yes, sir.
When?

Before court reconvened
this afternoon,

just after we returned
from the scene of the crime.

From where were
these two bullets taken?

One from a post
and one from a tree.

And what did you learn
from your examination?

The bullets you're holding
in your hand

came from the gun
over there.

This gun?

Yes, sir.

Would you say
the bullet from the tree

was fired from the same gun
as the fatal bullet?

How can he say that

when we can't identify
the fatal bullet?

Then how can he say

the fatal bullet was fired
from this gun?

Very well, Mr. Mason.

The prosecution will concede

that this is the gun
that fired the fatal bullet.

Your Honor,
the prosecution contends

that this is
the murder weapon.

A gun which has been
in police possession

since Lieutenant Tragg
took it from me.

I contend that the fatal
bullet came from another gun.

That's conjecture!

It certainly is, Mr. Mason.

Do you intend to prove
your statement?

The prosecution
knows there are two guns,

identical guns,
both bought by the same man.

What do you say about that,
Mr. Burger?

Well, Your Honor--

If the court please,

I appreciate
Mr. Burger's reluctance

to introduce a certain
personal relationship

that borders this trial.

I share that reluctance.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

However,
it is vital to the defense

that we prove the existence
and ownership

of two particular guns.

Very well, sir.

As long as it's come up.

The prosecution will prove
that the defendant,

Evelyn Bagby, was in possession
of the fatal gun

on the night of April 12th.

Have you finished
with this witness?

I have.

Call Mervyn Aldritch
to the stand, please.

And, Mr. Aldritch,

what happened when your
fiancée looked for the gun?

It was gone.

You're absolutely sure
of that?

Absolutely.

Thank you, Mr. Aldritch.

You may cross-examine,
Mr. Mason.

Mr. Aldritch, you testified
for the prosecution

that you bought two guns.
These.

In Riverside.

Yes.

These are the guns?
Yes.

Why twoguns?

I kept one for myself,
and I gave one to...

To my fiancée.

But which one did you keep,

and which one did you
give to your fiancée?

I don't know.
They're exactly alike.

Are they?

Your Honor, defense counsel

is going over ground
he's already established.

Except for
the manufacturer's numbers,

those two guns
are identical.

Your Honor, one of the guns
has a small file mark

on the lower part
of the barrel.

The other has no such mark.

That's correct, Mr. Mason.

But what bearing
does that have on this case?

This is the one
with the file mark.

The one Mr. Aldritch
brought into court today.

True, Mr. Aldritch?

I don't know.

It's the one marked
"exhibit five."

The one marked so
in the presence of the court

no more than
half an hour ago.

Isn't that so, Mr. Aldritch?

Yes.

Did you put the file mark
on this gun?

Did you, Mr. Aldritch?

No, I did not.

Then who did?
I don't know!

Defense counsel is asking
the witness to conjecture.

The witness
could have bought the gun

with the file mark on it,
without noticing the mark.

Very true.

Mr. Aldritch, you've stated

that you gave one
of the guns to your fiancée.

For the third time, yes.

Was your fiancée's gun
stolen?

Yes.

From where?

From her overnight bag.

Where was the overnight bag?

In a motel cabin.

In the Eucalyptus Grove Motel
in Riverside?

Yes.

Was something else taken?

Some jewelry.

Was the defendant,
Evelyn Bagby,

accused of stealing
that jewelry?

Yes.

But she was acquitted.

Yes.

Now, Mr. Aldritch,
was Harry Merrill

at that same motel
on the night

the gun and jewelry
were stolen?

He was.

Did you give Harry Merrill

any money that night
in Riverside?

Ten thousand dollars.

Yet when Harry Merrill's
apartment was searched,

no money was found.

He had no bank account.

Mr. Aldritch, why did you give
Harry Merrill that money?

To prevent him
from causing a scandal

about my-- My fiancée.

Did your fiancée kill him?

No!

Did I visit you at your home
a few nights ago?

Yes.
I showed you a gun?

Yes.

You took it from me,
left the room, returned,

and gave the gun
back to me again?

Yes.

Was it the same gun
I gave to you?

Yes.

The same gun I gave you?

No, it was not the same gun.

You switched guns, I know.

Because the gun I gave you
had a file mark on it.

The gun you returned to me
had no mark.

This gun,
the gun withthe file mark,

is the one you brought
into court today.

But the one with no mark,

this is the gun
the ballistics expert says

fired two bullets

which were taken
from the tree and the post.

This is the gun
Lieutenant Tragg took from me,

and which
the prosecution claims

was in the possession
of Evelyn Bagby

on the night of the murder.

Your Honor,
the prosecution contends

that Evelyn Bagby was
in possession of thisgun,

the gun
without the file marks,

on the night of the murder.

And yet we know
it was in the possession

of Mr. Aldritch at that time.

You may step down, Mr. Aldritch.

But don't leave
the courtroom.

To further establish
the innocence of my client,

I should like to call
another witness.

Go ahead, Mr. Mason.

I call Mr. Louis Boles
to the stand.

Raise your right hand,
please.

Do you solemnly swear
the testimony

you are about to give
in the case will be the truth,

the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?

I do.
Be seated.

Your name?

Louis Boles.

Occupation?

Motel owner.

Eucalyptus Grove Motel
in Riverside.

Mr. Boles,
you were the chief witness

for the prosecution
in the robbery case

against Evelyn Bagby,
were you not?

Yeah.

And you knew Harry Merrill?

No.

No?
Mm-mm.

A short time ago,

I went to see you
in Riverside.

I looked through
your registry cards

for the night of April 12th.

I found those of Evelyn Bagby,

Mervyn Aldritch
and Mr. Aldritch's fiancée.

Is that not so?

Mm-hm.

Did you hear the testimony
just given by Mr. Aldritch?

Yeah, I did.

Did you hear him say
that Harry Merrill

had been at your motel
that night?

Yes.

Yet there was no registry card
for him, why not?

He might have registered
under a different name.

What name?
I don't know.

Mr. Boles, did you destroy
Harry Merrill's card?

No.

Did Harry Merrill
promise you money

if you testified falsely
against Evelyn Bagby?

No!

I'll object to that,
Your Honor.

Defense counsel
is not only assuming

a fact not in evidence,

he's attempting to
cross-examine his own witness!

Your Honor, Harry Merrill
was given $10,000.

Not one cent of that money
has been found.

Where is it?

That doesn't have anything
to do with this case.

$10,000 is the motive
for murder.

- Gentlemen.
- Gentlemen.

If you have any remarks,
address them to the court.

Very well, Your Honor.

As you've stated,
this is a preliminary hearing.

The defense
merely wishes to establish

that more than one person
had reason and motive enough

to kill Harry Merrill.

That's all, Mr. Boles.

Your witness, Mr. Burger.

No questions, Your Honor.

I now wish to call
Mrs. Mary Thompson

to the stand.

Raise your right hand,
please.

Do you solemnly swear
the testimony

you are about to give
to be the truth,

the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?

I do.
Be seated.

Your name, please?

Mrs. Mary Thompson.

Occupation?

I manage the Villa España
apartments in the Valley.

Does the defendant,
Evelyn Bagby, live there?

Yes, sir.

Mrs. Thompson, is there anyone
else in this courtroom

who's rented an apartment
from you?

Yes, sir.

Would you point them out?

Him.

You mean Louis Boles?

Yes, sir.

When did Mr. Boles rent
his apartment?

About two weeks ago.

That was before
Harry Merrill was killed.

Yes, sir.

Before
Harry Merrill's death,

did you notice anything
odd or different

about Mr. Boles' behavior?

Yes, sir.

Would you tell the court,
please?

Well,
he rented the apartment,

but he never slept there.

I only saw him three times,
but each time,

he was hanging
around Miss Bagby's door.

Did you ever question
what he was doing

or did he ever explain?

No, sir.

Once, he said
that he had mistaken it

for his own apartment.

Thank you,
Mrs. Thompson, that's all.

Just a moment.

Mrs. Thompson, this man that
you say rented an apartment,

did he register
as Louis Boles?

No, sir.

He called himself
Lawrence Benson.

You say that you've only
seen him two or three times?

Yes, sir.

And you could be mistaken
in your identification of him.

No. I couldn't.

That's all.

I'd like to recall
Louis Boles to the stand.

Mr. Boles, why did you rent
that apartment

at the Villa España?

I didn't. Never.

Why did you take
a pillowcase

from that apartment?

I didn't.

You ever see thisbefore?

No.

You sure
you didn't take this gun

the same time you took
the jewelry?

I didn't take the jewelry.
I never saw that.

Why did you destroy
Harry Merrill's registry card?

I didn't!
He didn't sign one!

He...

He didn't sign one?

He promised me $500

if I'd make trouble
for Evelyn Bagby.

And he didn't pay me.

Did he tell you
why he wanted trouble

for Evelyn Bagby?

He said she was gonna make
serious trouble for him.

He didn't give me a nickel.

He just showed me all the money
he got from Aldritch and...

then he said
I could whistle and wait.

He said I was stupid.

That she got acquitted.

So, what did you do?

I figured it out.

If I killed him,
I could get the money.

I could get the money
and get away from her!

I've wanted to get her
off my back for 25 years.

I'd do anything
to get away from her.

Did Mrs. Boles have anything
to do with the murder?

No.
I did it alone.

I killed him
in that apartment I rented.

I figured it out all by myself.

All she was worried about

was the stinking motel
getting a bad reputation.

She always said I was dumb.
Called me stupid.

Well, I got $10,000,
that's what!

Oh.

Your Honor?

I think that's enough,
Mr. Mason.

The case against Evelyn Bagby
is dismissed.

Mr. Burger, you will take
the necessary steps

about Mr. Boles.

Oh, Mr. Mason,
I'm so grateful!

Mm, careful
with those big blue eyes.

But why did Boles rent
that apartment

at the Villa España?

So that he could watch you,
learn your habits,

when you worked,
when you got home.

Then he planted the gun
in your apartment.

That night when he tried
to force me off the road--

He figured you'd use the gun
and wouldn't hit him.

He must've been crazy.

Didn't he realize
he could get himself killed?

Yes, but he felt
he had to take the chance

so that later on,
when he planted Merrill's body,

the police would assume
that Evelyn had done it.

Then her story would sound
as phony as the devil.

Mr. Mason,
I can't thank you enough.

Well, Mr. Aldritch did.

This is for not implicating
Helene Chaney

and for clearing Aldritch
of a murder charge.

Wow!
Mm-hm.

And half of it
belongs to Evelyn.

To me?

He wanted you
to have some compensation

for that trouble
in Riverside.

And then too,
you have red hair.

What does that
have to do with it?

Well, Helene Chaney
has red hair.

He must be partial
to redheads.

Oh.