( dramatic theme playing )
Will you sign here
Mr. Livingston?
Would you like us to mail you
your monthly statements
or will you pick them up here?
LIVINGSTON: I'll pick them up.
BANKER:
And how much will you open
the account with?
LIVINGSTON:
One hundred dollars.
Well, perhaps you would
prefer to take advantage
of our special checking account
for people who don't expect
to maintain very large balances?
There will be a large balance.
You will receive
in excess of $,
each week during January.
By the second day of February,
my balance will exceed $,.
Oh, uh, yes, sir.
Will you excuse me?
( ominous theme playing )
BANKER:
One hundred and twelve
Uh, this closes out
your account, Mr. Livingston.
Right.
But, uh-- But you just
put the money in
during this past month.
Uh, it's all right, Phil.
It's okay it for cash.
You can honor the check.
Yes, sir.
Uh, how would you like it, sir?
In my briefcase.
( suspenseful theme playing )
( dramatic theme playing )
I'm sorry, Sylvia.
No matter how many times
you try,
I'm going to contest
the divorce.
You're forcing me to do
something very distasteful.
You gave me a block
of Nelson Company stock
when we were married
four years ago.
What about it?
There's going to be
a stockholders' meeting
the end of this month.
I'm going to give my proxies
to Frank Avery.
You know Avery and I are having
a fight over control.
Your proxies
might swing it for him.
Yes, I know.
He's just waiting to milk
the company dry. He'll ruin it.
It's my company. It's been in
my family for three generations.
Yes, I know.
And yet you'd do this
just out of spite?
Out of desperation.
It seems the only way
I can force you
to give me my divorce
and my settlement.
All right, Sylvia.
I'll give it to you.
My lawyer says
we need a witness.
Arthur, will you come in
a minute, please?
Who's the man, Sylvia?
There is no other man.
Why is it ever husband seems to
think there's always another man
when his wife wants a divorce?
Perhaps to soothe his ego
a little?
Here are the proxies.
Yes, sir?
Oh, Arthur, I'll, uh--
I'll need your signature
for something.
( dramatic theme playing )
You sunk pretty low, Avery,
going behind my back
to get my wife's proxies.
Did I do that?
It won't do you any good.
I've got them,
and since the other stockholders
vote with me,
that means you're finished.
Now?
Now.
Well, I was under the impression
the Board has to vote me out.
That's merely a formality.
But so much can happen
between now and the board
meeting, Nelson.
Uh, by the way, uh,
how's the divorce going?
I understand your wife is asking
for a tidy financial
arrangement.
I think I'll stick around.
Your tricks won't do you
any good,
so why don't we make this
as painless and pleasant
as possible?
Oh, when the time comes, I will.
( door opens )
( door closes )
Doniger?
( pushes button )
Yes, Mr. Avery?
What we were talking about
earlier today,
go ahead with it, Doniger.
Check the books.
But going through the whole
month of January
is going to be a long job.
I don't care how long it takes,
just so it's done
before tomorrow morning.
Yes, Mr. Avery.
( releases button )
( dramatic theme playing )
( door closes )
Norma.
Morning already?
Oh, well of course,
Mr. Doniger. Everybody's here.
Oh, gee, you look tired.
Yeah, I guess I do.
Norma, I found at least
six errors here
all pointing to the fact
that you still can't add.
Oh, isn't it terrible?
Is that why you were up
all night?
Then it's true, isn't it.
What is?
They say there's a--
There's a big fight on
between Mr. Nelson
and Mr. Avery
and that the company's gonna
suffer. We may all get fired.
Nobody's going to get fired.
And I don't you to listen to
any more of that kind of talk.
Well, I bet it's all because
of Mrs. Nelson.
Well, she has nothing
to do with this.
Well, the things I've heard
about her.
Mr. Doniger, you've been
to see her a couple of times
and, well, did you ever see--?
Well, you know,
another man there?
Norma, I--
Of course I've never seen
another man there.
You'd better pay a little more
attention to your own work
and less to other people's
business.
Now, as for anything wrong
happening here,
I've worked here
almost years.
I've known Mr. Nelson
all that time.
He's not going
to let anything happen.
Well, I believe you,
Mr. Doniger.
Yes.
Now, you run along.
Morning, Siddons.
Doniger.
Mr. Nelson in yet?
Mm-hm.
( knocks )
Good morning, Robert.
Mr. Nelson.
Mr. Nelson?
You look as if you've been up
all night.
I have, sir.
You have? Why?
I've been going over
the books company and records,
Mr. Nelson.
Why?
One hundred and twelve
thousand dollars
of the company's funds
is missing
and unaccounted for, sir.
What?
There are five checks
totaling that amount
made out to someone by the name
of, uh, George Livingston.
Is he one of our suppliers?
No, sir.
Then why did we pay him?
I don't know, sir.
Who authorized the payment?
You must have, Mr. Nelson.
You signed the checks.
( dramatic theme playing )
Now, you certainly must remember
signing these checks.
I sign a hundred checks a day
automatically
without even looking at them.
Carelessness doesn't relieve you
of responsibility.
I know.
It's all Avery's doing.
I don't know how
he engineered it, but he did.
He's stolen $,
from the company.
Now he's put the blame on me
and he'll go to the stockholders
and tell them I'm the thief.
There are some avenues
we can explore.
The bank, the possibilities
of who could have put the checks
on your desk for signature.
The office girls do,
Doniger does, Arthur does.
I'll tell you, Mason, I've been
going almost out of my mind
these last couple of hours.
I've even tried to think of ways
of putting my own money in
to make up the deficit.
No, that would have been almost
an admission of guilt.
Ah, I can't do it anyway.
My wife has frozen
all my funds.
And they will be until we effect
a legal settlement.
Let's see if there isn't
something we can do.
A professional investigation
of this mysterious
George Livingston
might turn up something.
I'll want to talk to your
accountant, Mr. Doniger.
I sent him home early.
He was up all night.
Mr. Doniger.
Mrs. Nelson.
I-- Well, I-- I've been walking
around for over an hour.
Can I talk to you?
Of course. Come in.
What's the matter,
Mr. Doniger? Is something wrong?
With Mr. Nelson.
Did he send you here?
Oh, no, no, no.
He doesn't know I'm here.
He's in financial trouble.
You can help him out
if you'd release his money.
Oh, that's out
of the question.
It-- It will be helping
the company too, Mrs. Nelson.
I'm sure it will.
I don't know any company
or any person
that can't be helped out
with money, including me.
Goodbye, Mr. Doniger.
( dramatic theme playing )
( rummaging )
Pat?
Hi, honey.
When did you get here?
I didn't expect you.
About an hour ago.
I thought I'd surprise you.
Oh, Robert,
you look so exhausted.
You're very good to me.
I like taking care of you.
( doorbell buzzes )
Well, I'll get on
with the dinner.
( door opens, closes )
Hello, Mr. Doniger.
I, uh, got off work early.
Norma, I'm very tired.
If it isn't important--
Oh, it's very important.
It's, uh-- It's about $,.
What?
Well, that's just half
of the , you stole.
See, I-- I found the torn pieces
in your wastepaper basket.
I'm not very bright,
as you know,
but I wondered why you'd want
to practice signing
"George Livingston"
with your left hand.
Then-- And then
the office started buzzing
with the news this morning
and I suddenly realized that--
Well, you know?
Can I talk to you
about this later Norma?
Oh, sure, sure.
But I just want you
to know something.
This will be our little secret.
As long as we have
something in common...
like all that money.
Half and half.
So you think it over, huh?
Yes. Yes, I will, Norma.
( ominous theme playing )
Robert?
You stole $,?
For you.
But why?
To give you all the things
you've never had.
But I have you.
Don't you see, Pat?
Things I'd never be able
to give you.
I thought we'd wait a while.
Maybe a year.
Then we'd take a trip
around the world.
See New York, London,
Paris together.
There's so many things
I want you to have.
Oh, Robert.
I don't need it.
I don't want it.
Give it back.
I was going to.
When I figured out
how to steal the money,
I thought that Mr. Nelson
could make up the deficit
and it wouldn't hurt.
And then?
And then I found he couldn't
and it would.
His wife has the money
all tied up
and she wouldn't release it.
So...
( scoffs )
...I couldn't keep the money
anyway.
I have to give it back.
Oh, Robert.
I love you for wanting it
for me.
But I love you twice as much
because you're going
to give it back.
( dials )
( suspenseful theme playing )
Well, let's get some dinner.
We can come back later.
Wait a minute.
Perry, look at the door.
If he doesn't want to be
disturbed, why is it open?
Stay here, Della.
( dramatic theme playing )
He was shot to death.
Small hand.
( sniffs )
Samadhi.
What's that?
A new perfume.
It smells like that,
anyway.
( sniffs )
Well, I have to call the police.
( footsteps approach )
( sighs )
Hello, Nelson.
He was that way
when I found him.
I got here
just before you did.
Who is he? Doniger?
Doniger,
alias George Livingston.
When I returned his call, he
told me he'd stolen the money.
The looks of the room,
whoever k*lled him has it now.
Or was looking for it.
Who knew you were coming here?
AVERY:
I knew, Mr. Mason.
Well, Mr. Mason, aren't you
going to call the police?
( dramatic theme playing )
What I found out
about George Livingston
only ties in
with what happened.
And the description of him
I got at the bank
would fit Doniger if Doniger
wore a hat, coat, glasses
and a walrus moustache.
Well, in that getup,
almost anybody would fit.
Well, there's no more guesswork,
anyway, Perry.
Tragg has a witness confirming
the fact
that Doniger
was George Livingston.
Oh, who's the witness?
I don't know. He's under wraps.
Identity unknown.
I'd follow through on that,
Paul.
That glove. It means a woman.
Check that out.
What else at headquarters?
Mm. I found out
they didn't find the money.
Still have Nelson
down there?
Uh-huh. And they're still
questioning him.
Material witness.
They should have released him
by now or booked him.
Did he ever tell you what he was
doing in Doniger's apartment?
Doniger phoned Nelson
and left a message.
When Nelson returned the call,
Doniger confessed stealing
the money.
Paul, I'd like you to continue
your investigation
of the firm personnel.
Include Sylvia Nelson
and find out if she's been
running around with another man.
All right.
Della, after I've gone,
call Lieutenant Tragg
and ask him if it'll be
necessary for us
to get a writ of habeas corpus
for Edward Nelson,
or is he gonna release him?
After you've gone where?
I'm going to
the Nelson Company offices.
( tense theme playing )
Oh, can I help you?
Thank you. Uh, I'm looking
for Mr. Nelson's secretary.
Oh, Mr. Siddons. Yes, well,
he's right over there.
Thank you.
Mr. Siddons?
My name is Mason.
Where's Mr. Nelson? I understand
you're representing him.
Well, last I heard, he was down
at police headquarters.
I hope he'll return here
shortly.
You, uh, work late last night?
Well, I came back after dinner
to work quite late.
Mr. Doniger was k*lled
between and :.
What time did you leave
the office for dinner?
About ,
perhaps a few minutes after.
I'd left a message
for Mr. Nelson
telling him that Doniger
had called.
And what time did you return?
Roughly, again, uh,
about a quarter to .
And the message you had
left for Mr. Nelson?
He had picked it up.
Was a Mr. Franklyn Avery here
in the office when you left?
I don't know.
Was he here
when you returned?
I don't know that either.
Why would Mr. Avery have, uh,
gone to Doniger's apartment?
Well, I didn't ask him, but, uh,
to be quite fair about it,
Mr. Avery wanted to use
the theft as a w*apon
to force Mr. Nelson
out of the company.
We're not on the best of terms.
I suggest you talk
to Mr. Avery yourself.
Well, I have.
He offered nothing.
Nothing remotely civil.
Sounds like him.
So it does.
So it does.
Well, that's quite a trick.
Materializing behind
a person's back?
And this is the second time
I've done it now, isn't it?
Yes, it is.
You see, I also eavesdrop
whenever I can.
I'm no sportsman.
I don't like competition.
I, uh, came back here
last night
and saw you drafting
this letter,
so I know what you're doing,
Siddons.
I'm still working
for Edward Nelson.
Well, you hang on
to his coattails,
even though they're flinging
into the gutter.
I could end up there anyway with
you in control here, Mr. Avery.
What are you doing,
Mr. Siddons?
Well, these are requests
for proxies
for an upcoming
stockholders' meeting.
Oh, I see.
Well, thank you
for your time.
That was Perry Mason, wasn't it?
You know, he spoke--
Norma.
Oh, did I do something wrong?
No, no, no, no. These letters
contain a complete explanation
of Mr. Nelson's position
on the theft
and I want you to get them out
immediately.
Oh, yes, Mr. Siddons.
Ten, .
Thank you.
Yes, sir?
I'm trying
to identify a scent.
I believe this is the name
of the perfume. Samadhi?
Oh, yes.
A heavenly fragrance
with a very sweet background.
Rather oriental.
And yet the character
is down-to-earth,
don't you think?
Are these, uh, perfumes
very expensive?
Expense is relative.
We carry only the very best.
I wonder,
do you have a customer
by the name of Robert Doniger?
The name is familiar.
Would you mind checking on it
for me?
Yes, I can check
the last several weeks.
Um,
Doniger. Doni--
Robert Doniger. Here it is.
Oh, he's made several
purchases.
Mm. Did he take them
with him?
Well, the last one
he had delivered
to a Patricia Martin.
Yes, Mr. Mason.
Robert stole the money.
He thought he needed it to--
To win me.
When did you find out
that he'd stolen the money?
I overheard them talking.
I was in the kitchen
and I couldn't believe it.
So after Norma left,
I went out and asked him
about it.
Norma?
Norma Williams,
the girl from his office.
She wanted to blackmail Robert,
Mr. Mason.
She wanted half of the money
to keep quiet.
And what did Mr. Doniger
have to say to that?
He told her
he wanted to think about it.
After she left,
Robert told me about how
he stole the money.
And then?
Then he called the office
to tell Mr. Nelson.
Do you remember
what time this was?
About half past . But he didn't
speak to Mr. Nelson.
He was out.
Then he called somebody
by the name of Avery.
Oh? Did he speak
to Mr. Avery?
Yes. He told him he,
and not Mr. Nelson,
had stolen the money.
He told him he was going
to confess to the whole thing
and give the money back.
What time did you leave
his apartment?
Right after his call
to Mr. Avery.
Did you actually see the money,
Miss Martin?
Yes.
He had it in his briefcase.
You know, the police
did not find the money
in Mr. Doniger's apartment.
Yes, I know they didn't.
Then you've told the police
all this?
Of course, Mr. Mason.
And I'd tell anybody anything
if it would help catch
the person who m*rder*d Robert.
( mysterious theme playing )
Della,
will you come in please?
DELLA ( on intercom ):
Yes, sir. Be right there.
Edward Nelson was released
at :.
He said he'd go home
and shower and shave
and then he'd come in.
Fine, Della. Paul call in?
Mm-hm. Nothing to report
except he put on three men.
Oh, and he said indications
are that Robert Doniger,
despite his dull appearance,
had quite a way with women.
Oh?
I'll want Paul to check out
Norma Williams.
She works in the Nelson Company.
There's someone waiting
to see you.
Uh, Mrs. Sylvia Nelson.
Have her come in.
Mrs. Nelson,
will you come in, please?
Mr. Mason.
Won't you sit down,
Mrs. Nelson?
Mr. Mason,
you must know
that Edward and I have agreed
to a divorce and a settlement.
I would be glad to talk to you
about your husband's case,
Mrs. Nelson.
But I cannot discuss
your divorce in any way,
except in the presence
of your attorney.
Well, I'm not concerned
with legal ethics,
particularly since I've decided
to withdraw the divorce action.
I can't add
to Edward's troubles this way.
Well, I have the impression
that Edward
will be delighted
to know about this,
if he doesn't misinterpret
your motives.
How misinterpret?
Well, for instance,
you could be thinking
that he'll be tried
and convicted of m*rder,
in which case all of his estate
would go to you,
as his widow,
instead of just part of it for
the divorce settlement.
That would be very cruel
and callous of me, wouldn't it?
Uh, Mrs. Nelson.
That's a very haunting
perfume you're wearing.
Is it?
Yes, Gertie?
Do you mind telling me
what kind it is?
All right.
I can't see what
difference that makes.
You're not going to send
me a bottle.
Mr. Nelson is waiting.
Gertie put him
in the law library.
Mr. Nelson.
Quite a session down
at police headquarters?
Yes. I think they let me go
more from getting tired
of looking at me
than anything else.
Do you ever buy perfume
for your wife?
Perfume?
No. Why?
Did your wife know
Robert Doniger very well?
Doniger?
Of course she did.
Very well? Intimately?
I, uh--
I'm-- I'm sorry
to break in like this,
but I have a warrant to serve.
Mr. Nelson, it seems that we
released you prematurely.
What changed your mind,
lieutenant?
It wasn't exactly
a change of mind, Perry.
Mr. Nelson's car
was being serviced.
Yes,
after I drove home I left it
at the service station
around the corner.
And instructed them
not to deliver it.
Well, what does that mean?
Well, I guess it means
he didn't want it delivered,
but the service station forgot
and they did deliver the car.
And guess what we discovered
in the luggage compartment?
One hundred
and twelve thousand dollars.
And something else
we discovered.
Doniger not only stole
your client's money,
he also stole his wife.
( dramatic theme playing )
Well, I didn't think
anything at all
when I found
that piece of paper
with "George Livingston"
written all over it.
I mean, until I heard about
the money being missing.
And then I just kind of--
I don't know,
I put two and two together
and all the scraps,
and I went to see him.
And when was this,
Miss Williams?
Wednesday.
The day he was k*lled.
And what did you say to him?
Well, Mr. Doniger admitted
he had taken the money, and--
Well, I pleaded with him
to return it
so Mr. Nelson and the company
wouldn't be ruined,
and he said
he would give it back.
BURGER:
Thank you.
Oh, Miss Williams.
What time of day was this,
please?
Uh, about a quarter after .
Cross-examine,
counselor.
Miss Williams, you say you
put two and two together
and reasoned that Mr. Doniger
stole the money.
Why did you go to him instead
of an official of the company?
Well, I liked Mr. Doniger.
And I thought maybe
he'd put the money back
before anyone would know.
And besides, I didn't want him
to get into any trouble.
But isn't it true that you
threatened him with trouble?
I wouldn't thr*aten him.
Isn't it true that you tried
to blackmail the decedent
into sharing that stolen money
with you?
No! Of course not!
Miss Williams, when you left
Mr. Doniger's apartment,
where did yo
Home.
Do you live alone?
No, I have a roommate.
Was your roommate home
when you arrived there?
Well, no.
She doesn't get off work un--
Until :.
Thank you.
That's all.
JUDGE:
You may step down.
BURGER:
Miss Martin, you were a close
friend of the deceased,
Robert Doniger,
weren't you?
Yes.
He was a very wonderful,
warm man.
Would you tell us, please,
what happened on the afternoon
of his m*rder?
Well, after Miss Williams left--
And I don't care
what she says,
she did try to blackmail Robert.
I was right there
in the kitchen!
( spectators murmuring )
( rapping )
Miss Martin.
I'm sorry. I--
I know I shouldn't
talk like that.
Well, after she left,
Robert told me about
stealing the money.
And did you see the money?
Yes.
He had it in a briefcase.
I see.
What happened then?
We talked
and he decided
to give the money back.
So he called Mr. Nelson
to tell him.
And spoke to him?
No. No, Mr. Nelson
wasn't in his office.
But Robert said he'd call again.
Thank you, Miss Martin.
Cross-examine.
Miss Martin, what time did
you leave the apartment?
A little before :.
And where did you go?
To my place.
Do you live alone?
Yes.
Now, did Mr. Doniger make
any other telephone calls
after he failed
to reach Mr. Nelson?
Yes. He called
a Franklyn Avery.
He's the vice president
of the company.
MASON:
And he confessed
stealing the money?
Yes, and told him he was
going to put it back.
Mr. Doniger showed you the cash
and then he put it, uh,
into the briefcase.
What then did he do
with the briefcase?
He put it away in a drawer
in the buffet.
Thank you, Miss Martin,
that'll be all.
I call Arthur Siddons,
please.
I received a phone call
from Robert Doniger.
At what time?
Well, the first one
was at :.
Oh, there was more
than one call?
Yes, he called back
about :.
But Mr. Nelson
wasn't in then either.
SIDDONS:
I left a message on his desk
before going out to dinner.
And when you returned
from dinner,
the message that you had left
on his desk
had been picked up,
is that correct?
That's right, but I don't see
how it makes any difference.
Maybe somebody
went into his office--
Just a second!
--and took it off his desk.
Your Honor!
I move that that outburst
be stricken from the record.
So ordered.
Mr. Siddons,
as Mr. Nelson's
executive secretary,
was it customary for company
personnel to go in and out
of Mr. Nelson's office
without invitation?
No.
And had you told anybody
about the message?
No, sir.
Proceed, Mr. Burger.
As executive secretary
and personal assistant,
you were in a position to know
a great deal about Mr. Nelson,
weren't you?
Yes, I suppose so.
And then did you know that he
was about to be divorced
and that he accused his wife of
being in love with another man?
I object, Your Honor.
The prosecution is leading the
witness with improper questions.
I withdraw the questions,
Mr. Mason.
Your witness.
Mr. Siddons,
about that telephone call.
Did he say anything
about the missing money?
Yes. He said he had to talk
to Mr. Nelson about it.
Did he tell you
that he'd stolen the money
or that he had the money
in his possession?
No, sir.
Thank you, that'll be all.
JUDGE:
You may stand down, Mr. Siddons.
Well, yes. You see, my mother's
the manager of the building
where Mr. Doniger
had his apartment.
Well, now, I usually
don't pay any attention,
but I was waiting out in the
hall just then for my date
and I saw this lady.
What lady?
Well, her.
Mrs. Sylvia Nelson.
She a beautiful mink coat on.
Just beautiful.
Yes,
and what time was this?
Well,
this was just about :,
because that was the time
of my date.
I see.
Uh, then what happened?
Well, then this man
came in through the front
and said, "Sylvia!"
Was that all he said?
Well, he managed to get out,
"Have you been
seeing Robert Doniger?"
But she just sailed
right on out out past him
without even looking at him
or answering him.
And what did
the man do then?
Well, he just kind of stared
after her, thinking like,
then he got into the elevator
and went up.
Now, would you look around
this courtroom, Miss Ford,
and tell us if you see
that man here?
Well, sure. That's him
right over there.
The one that's on trial.
Mr. Nelson, his name is.
Thank you, Miss Ford.
Your witness.
Miss Ford, how long did you
remain in the hall?
Oh, no time at all,
because just then
my Wednesday-steady came
and we took off.
Your Wednesday-steady?
Well, sure.
My steady on Wednesdays.
( spectators laugh )
That'll be enough, thank you.
Yes. This is the m*rder w*apon.
Registered to the deceased,
Robert Doniger.
Thank you, lieutenant.
I show you now this glove
and ask if you can identify it.
Yes. It has my mark on it.
It was found in the m*rder room.
You had it examined,
of course?
And analyzed by
the police laboratory.
And this bottle of perfume,
do you recognize it?
Yes, that has
my mark on it too.
Did you have
its contents analyzed?
Yes, sir.
The police laboratory found
that the perfume
in this bottle
matched characteristics
of the perfume on the glove.
I see. And where was
this bottle found, lieutenant?
Well, when we made a search
of the defendant's home.
BURGER:
Thank you. Now, in connection
with that same search,
I show you this pair of gloves.
Yes, they also bear
my identifying mark.
They're the property
of Mrs. Sylvia Nelson.
They were found in her home.
They are the same size and make
as the single glove.
This pair is grey,
the other pair, black.
And this sales slip, of course.
Yes, sir.
Two pairs of gloves,
black, grey,
purchased by
Mrs. Sylvia Nelson.
BURGER:
Thank you, lieutenant.
And, finally,
I show you this briefcase,
and ask if you can identify it.
Yes, sir.
It was secreted
in the luggage compartment
of the defendant's car.
And when it was found
in the defendant's car,
what were its contents?
A hundred and twelve
thousand dollars.
BURGER:
Thank you, lieutenant.
If it please the court,
I offer these items:
this g*n, this single glove,
this perfume bottle,
this pair of gloves,
this sales receipt
and this briefcase,
which contained the money.
I ask that they be
entered in evidence,
and marked for the people
Exhibits A, B, C, D, E and F
respectively, and in that order.
No objection.
Thank you, counselor.
Your witness.
Lieutenant, when you arrived
at decedent's apartment,
you found
the defendant there?
Yes.
You made a search
of the decedent's apartment?
Yes.
You did not find the money
or the briefcase
in that apartment?
No, no.
But you did find the money
and the briefcase
in Mr. and Mrs. Nelson's car?
That's right.
MASON:
Thank you, lieutenant.
That'll be all.
JUDGE:
You may step down.
( dramatic theme playing )
What were you doing
at Mr. Doniger's apartment
the day he was k*lled,
Mrs. Nelson?
I went there
on business.
What business?
Mr. Doniger had
come to me earlier
to ask me to release
Edward's funds.
I was rather
short with him.
So I went to his apartment
to find out more about it.
You were entertaining the
thought of changing your mind?
Yes.
Did you speak to him?
No.
There was a note on the door
asking not to be disturbed.
So I left without knocking.
How did your glove
get inside the room?
I don'
I may have dropped it
in the hall.
Was he dead or alive
when you found the money?
I didn't go inside the room.
And I didn't know anything
about the money
at that time.
Mr. Mason, I don't have
to answer your questions.
Mrs. Nelson,
the prosecution contends
that your husband
k*lled Doniger,
took the money and drove away.
That he left the car
at the garage,
hiding the money in the trunk.
That he remembered
that he'd seen your glove
in Doniger's room
and went back to get it.
Your husband contends
that Doniger
was dead when he arrived.
Now, I suggest that your
husband could've returned
to retrieve the glove
he recognized as yours
thinking you had k*lled Doniger.
Mrs. Nelson,
that may or may not be true.
But I believe your husband
tried to help you.
Don't you want to help him?
Yes.
Of course.
All righ
What was your relationship
with Doniger?
You haven't answered that.
If you're talking
about a relationship
other than business,
I'll deny it.
Now, if you'll excuse me,
Mr. Mason,
I have some things to do
before court resumes at :.
Good day,
Mrs. Nelson.
( ominous theme playing )
( dramatic theme playing )
Perry.
Good afternoon, Hamilton.
Perry.
Hm.
And, uh, this.
Here's a copy of the letter
Arthur Siddons
has been sending
to the stockholders.
And here's a background
on Siddons:
College graduate, excellent
tennis player, unmarried.
I haven't been able to get
a line on his women friends yet.
He's certainly loyal
to our client.
The letter flays
Avery alive.
Well, most of what
it says is true.
Avery operates
by buying into a company,
then worming his way
into control.
Through proxies?
Whenever he can.
And, uh,
other ways when he can't.
Any tie-in with Doniger?
No, not that I could turn up.
What about a tie-in
with Sylvia Nelson?
Not that I know of.
( indistinct chattering )
BAILIFF:
All rise, please.
And then what did you say
to the defendant, Mr. Avery?
Well, I said a lot could happen
before the board meeting,
that he was embroiled
with a wife
who was making
large financial demands
and, well, actually,
I was worried.
I object, Your Honor.
Sustained.
The witness will refrain from
testifying as to his feelings
and confine himself
as to what happened,
what was said
and what was done.
Very well. Uh, Mr. Avery,
did you tell the defendant
that you were worried?
Yes, sir.
I told him I was worried.
And what were you worried about?
About the business.
He just wasn't putting in the
time and attention he should.
Then I was approached
by Robert Doniger.
He told me some
cancelled checks had come in
he couldn't justify.
Yes, we've already established
that this was part
of the decedent's plan
for stealing the money.
Please, let's go on from there.
Well, frankly,
I suspected at the time
that Doniger was the thief,
but I still believe
he had an accomplice.
Exactly what do you mean, sir?
Well, I don't believe Doniger
got those blank checks
signed by accident.
I think Edward Nelson
signed them knowingly.
Objection, Your Honor.
I move to strike the answer of
the witness as to his beliefs.
Motion granted.
Mr. Avery,
what happened at :
on the afternoon
of the m*rder?
I went to Robert Doniger's
apartment.
And who was there,
Mr. Avery?
Well, Edward Nelson.
And his attorney, Mason,
and Miss Street.
And Robert Doniger?
Yes.
But he was dead.
So he was.
Your witness.
Mr. Avery, why did you go
to Robert Doniger's apartment?
I received a telephone
call from him.
What did he
have to say?
He said that he had
stolen the money
and wanted to return it
to the company.
What time did you get that call?
About :.
How long does it take to go
from the Nelson building
to Doniger's apartment?
Oh, I don't know. I would judge
about ten or minutes.
But you didn't arrive
at the apartment until :.
That was an hour
and minutes later.
That's right.
Would you please explain
the reason for the delay?
I had an errand or two
to take care of.
Where did these errands
take you?
Oh, they had nothing to do
with this case.
Will you please tell
this court where you were?
Your Honor.
Answer the question, Mr. Avery.
I went to call on a man.
What man?
His name
is Charles Evans.
Was he a business
associate?
In a manner of speaking.
Uh, was he a...
private investigator,
Mr. Avery?
Yes.
Then he can verify
that you were at his office
between half past
and half past ?
No.
No? Why not?
He wasn't in his office.
Well, then, his secretary
could verify it.
No.
He doesn't have a secretary.
He was just doing a little job
of checking for me.
It isn't important. It has
nothing to do with this case!
Something to do with the company
proxy fight, Mr. Avery?
I'll tell you what has to do
with this case.
What has to do with
this case is the fact
that nobody can verify
where you were
at the time the m*rder
was committed.
All right. Nobody can.
You weren't very pleased
to hear Mr. Doniger confess
to stealing the money,
were you?
I was happy the company
would get the money back.
MASON:
Oh, but you would have been
happier if Mr. Nelson
had turned out to be the thief?
Well, yes.
It would've helped me
get control of the company.
And it must've occurred to you
that if Doniger didn't confess,
Mr. Nelson could still
have been blamed for the theft.
And didn't you therefore visit
Doniger immediately after
his telephone call to you?
No.
No?
Was one of those errands
you had to take care of
a trip to Sylvia Nelson's
apartment?
No.
Hadn't you been seeing
Mrs. Nelson socially,
without her husband's knowledge?
No.
Hadn't you spoken together
about getting from her proxies
for her company's stock?
No.
Didn't you use a similar
maneuver with the wife
of one of your fellow board
members in Chicago, Mr. Avery?
A fellow board member
of a concern
you later took over?
Someone had to get
into Doniger's apartment
and k*ll him
and steal that money
in the briefcase.
It had to be someone
who knew that Doniger
had stolen the money.
That means someone who Doniger
had spoken to:
Mrs. Nelson,
Miss Williams,
Miss Martin,
Mr. Siddons,
or you, Mr. Avery.
It wasn't me.
In the second place,
it had to be someone
who had access to the luggage
compartment of the Nelson car,
Oh, how would I know that?
Perhaps a private investigator
gave you the information.
No, he didn't.
Also it had to be someone who
had good and sufficient reason
to sacrifice $,.
Someone who stood to gain
much more
by nailing Edward Nelson
for the m*rder.
I didn't!
I wouldn't get mixed up
in m*rder.
Wouldn't you?
Your Honor, I would like
to recall Mr. Arthur Siddons
in an effort to resolve
this case immediately.
Mr. Burger?
I have no objection, Your Honor.
Mr. Siddons.
The witness may stand down.
MASON:
Now, Mr. Siddons,
at approximately half past
you received the first telephone
call from the deceased.
Yes, and the second one at :.
Then you left a message
for Mr. Nelson
to the effect that Robert
Doniger wanted to see him
about the missing money.
Right.
Then you went to dinner
and returned to your office
by
Yes, sir.
Did Doniger tell you
that he'd stolen the money
and was going to make
restitution?
No.
Or that he had the money
in his apartment?
No.
You mean "no" at
Both times.
Well, why would he tell
Mr. Avery and not you?
I'm just Mr. Nelson's secretary.
I'm not an officer
of the company.
Hm, that's true.
Now, I have here a copy
of a letter you were sending
to selected stockholders.
It's a militant exposé
of Mr. Avery
and his business ethics.
I think the stockholders
are entitled to know the truth
about their company's officers.
It's also a spirited defense
of Edward Nelson
and includes information
that the $,
was stolen by Doniger
and not Nelson.
Yes, sir. Avery had already
sent out telegrams
telling the stockholders
he had proof
of Mr. Nelson's responsibility.
Yes, Mr. Siddons,
therefore haste was essential
on your part.
That's right.
But you prepared this letter
on the night of the m*rder when
you returned from your dinner
to continue
with your work.
Now, how did you know at that
time about Doniger's confession?
You stated he hadn't
told you about it.
Had Norma Williams
told you about it?
Oh, uh, no.
No, those letters didn't go out
till the following morning.
But the letters were written
the night before?
Mr. Avery said he'd seen
your draft of it.
Well,
as a matter of fact,
uh, Doniger did tell me.
Yes, yes, Doniger did.
MASON:
So he told you
that he had stolen the money
and that it was
in his apartment?
Yes.
t you write that'
in your message to Mr. Nelson?
I didn't think of it.
You didn't think of it?
Well, it was of vital importance
to Mr. Nelson, wasn't it?
Mr. Siddons,
is it true that you were
on Mr. Nelson's side
in this controversy
with Franklyn Avery
over control
of the Nelson Company?
Well, yes I was.
Of course I was. I still am.
In the event Mr. Nelson
is convicted of the m*rder
of Robert Doniger,
control of the Nelson company
passes to Mrs. Nelson,
does it not?
I don't know.
I suppose so.
Isn't that why you didn't mind
sacrificing the $,?
It would go back
to the company.
When you and Mrs. Nelson
were married,
it would come right back to you.
That's not true about Sylvia--
( dramatic theme playing )
I've tried to be so careful.
MASON:
So you gave her the briefcase
with the money in it
and she placed it in the luggage
compartment of the Nelson car.
Then you both sat back
and waited
for the law
to do your dirty work.
Sylvia had no part in it.
I brought the briefcase to her.
I told her how it would work.
That she was just to let the law
take its course.
That's what's going to happen,
Mr. Siddons.
The law is going
to take its course.
( dramatic theme playing )
You should have no trouble with
the stockholders' meeting now,
Mr. Nelson.
No.
Avery is already
moving out.
Sylvia lied about not having
been in Doniger's room?
She couldn't admit
it even though
she had dropped her glove there,
because Doniger was dead then.
But she wasn't in on the m*rder?
Except after the fact,
Mr. Nelson.
And then she jumped in with
a vengeance to involve you.
And all the while
you were protecting her.
Sorry, Mr. Mason.
I should've told you about
seeing her in the building.
But Burger didn't really believe
she was having an affair
with Doniger, did he?
No, he didn't.
Neither did I.
But it didn't matter
what we believed.
If you believed that she was
carrying on with Doniger,
there would've been
sufficient motive for you.
She went to Doniger's room just
to find out about the business?
That's right.
Well, I want to thank you,
Mr. Mason.
I, uh...
I think this should
cover your fee.
Hm, more than.
You're very generous.
I want
to thank you again.
Good night.
Good night.
Come on, Perry.
You can buy us dinner
with some of that
"more than."
( phone rings )
Ah, let it ring, let it ring.
If it's important, they'll
call back during business hours.
Uh...
Well, what if it's--?
Hello.
( woman speaking indistinctly )
Yes, it is.
Uh, just a moment, please.
( mellow theme playing )
Yes, miss.
( noirish jazz theme playing )