04x20 - The Case of the Barefaced Witness

[bunniefuu]

( noirish jazz theme playing )

( upbeat western theme playing )

( barking )

Thanks, W.L.

So long, Swan.

( car door closes )

( car door closes )

( car engine starts )

MAN:
Uh, Mr. Swan.

Mr. Swan, isn't it?

I'm Dan Southern
of the Pinon City Advocate.

We try to run a few lines
about all former residents

who've come back
for the big celebration.

You're not being very funny.

No comment, Mr. Swan?

( chuckles )

But I gotta write something.

How does this sound:

Another distinguished visitor
back for Founder's Week

is Mr. Fred S. Swan.

Uh, former manager
of the local bank.

Since leaving Pinon City
three years ago,

Mr. Swan has resided
at San Quentin, California,

where we understand he's been
working in the library.

Mr. Swan's peculiar ability
with books is well-known here.

I served my time.

Is it necessary
to persecute me?

Persecute you.

Legally you may be clean,

but morally you're
still a thief.

What about Iris McKay?

She was never accused
in a court of law,

but thanks to you,

Pinon City has been
about as rough on her

as it was on you.

Oh, yes. Dan Southern.

You're the old
boyfriend, aren't you?

Well, your concern for Iris

is coming a little late,
isn't it?

I said even then
that you'd never give her

the embezzled money.

But she never hide it for you,

that was just crazy gossip.

Are you telling me or asking me?

You get out of here.

You get clear out of town.

Or maybe I'll do what I should
have done three years ago.

( dramatic theme playing )

( ominous theme playing )

Hello, Mr. Drake.

Remember me?

Anyone as lovely as you--

You made an investigation
for me three years ago.

I just moved
here from Pinon City.

That's right. Perry Mason
sent you to me.

Let's see. An embezzler,
hometown banker,

a man by the name of Swan,

came up a little short,
or something

and then tried
to make it look

like the bank had been robbed.

Thirty-three thousand
seven hundred and fifty dollars.

A lot short, excuse me.

Sure, you're Iris McKay.
Sit down, please.

Thank you.

Then the gossips said
that Swan gave you the money,

and that you either kept it
or hid it for him.

That's why I left town.

Everybody kept watching me,

following me.

I really only dated
Fred Swan a few times.

But unfortunately,
it was just at the wrong time.

I'm sorry.

I sure wasn't much help
clearing your name, was I?

But even the FBI hasn't
been able to find that money.

However,
if you have a new case

maybe I can be more help.

Heh. Well,
it's sort of the same one.

This is the Pinon City Advocate.

It was sent to me by mail.

"Another distinguished visitor

"to Founder's Week
is Mr. Fred S. Swan,

"former manager
of the local bank.

"Speculation is rampant

regarding the reason
for Mr. Swan's return."

"Suppose he's come
back for the money?"

IRIS:
It was clipped to the newspaper.

No signature.

Well, I've got a pretty good
idea who sent it.

Anyway, I'm going to find out.

You're going back?

I'm going back
and find Fred Swan,

and find out what
he did with that money.

At least he was always
polite to me.

And if I can just make
him tell people--

Iris,

maybe I'd better go with you.

We'll both talk to Swan.

I'm sure I can do this much
better alone, Mr. Drake.

I just want to make sure
you'd come to Pinon City

if I did need you.

Of course I will.

Heh. Thank you.

Iris.

Where will you be staying
in Pinon City?

I have one relative
in the world,

my Aunt Sarah.

I'm sure she also believes
the worst about me.

But at least
she has plenty of room.

Thank you, Mr. Drake.

( upbeat western theme playing )

( railroad bell clanging )

Hello, Aunt Sarah.

You needn't have come
to meet me.

I never avoid
the unpleasant, Iris.

You're much too pale.

Have you been ill?

No.

I've been fine.

Come along.

The car is out at the side.

Iris.

How are you, Miss Sarah?

Mr. Southern.

Uh, the Advocate likes
to run a few lines

of all former residents.

You know, where you've
been living,

what you've been doing,
any success you've had.

You'll soon notice
that the Advocate

has become
a scandal sheet.

Uh, we try to bring
all the news to our subscribers.

I'll wait
for you at the car.

Hello, Iris.

Hello, Dan.

I've wondered what
you've been doing.

Well, I've been
living in Los Angeles.

I model clothes for a living,
and I pay my own expenses.

Isn't that
a success story?

It sure is.

I, uh--

I hear Fred Swan's
back in town too.

I heard
he was here yesterday.

You mean he's gone again?

Is that why you came back?

Because of Fred Swan?

Maybe.

Yeah, it figures.

Okay, you might try
the Plantation Motel, Cabin .

I saw him go in there.

He's drives a blue camper.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Aunt Sarah, would you
do me a favor, please?

I'd like to borrow your car
later this afternoon.

Now, Iris,

you know very well
I've never permitted

anyone else to drive it.

I haven't wanted
to question you,

but what do you want?

Why are you here, Iris?

I came back to dig
up the missing money

from where I buried it.

Perhaps I deserve that.

Oh, Aunt Sarah, admit it.

You never believed me.

You never believed
there was nothing between

Fred Swan and me.

I never said
I didn't believe it.

But things haven't changed
in Pinon City.

All right.

You may borrow the machine.

I just hope you know
what you're doing, Iris.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Yes?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I thought someone else was
staying in this cabin.

I, uh, heard
he was here yesterday.

Yesterday?

No. I've been staying
here for a week.

I'm Marta Wiltern.
San Francisco.

Iris McKay.
Los Angeles.

Oh, um,
won't you come in?

Thank you.

Didn't you used
to live in Pinon City?

Yes. I'm here
visiting my aunt.

Miss Sarah.

I have
vague memories of her.

I was a child, but even then
she was a grand lady.

Sit down.

Thank you.

I visit here
occasionally.

Do you know
the Buskirk farm?

Well, I know where it is.

I used to work for a real
estate man, W.L. Picard.

He handled the sale
for that farm.

Heh. How things
have changed.

When I knew that farm
it was nothing

but a lot of dried-up,
worthless land,

like most of the valley.

Miss Wiltern,
do you know Fred Swan?

Why, yes.

I've met him a couple of times.

Is that who
you thought was here?

Yes.

He dropped in to see me.

Do you know where he's staying?

No, I don't, Iris.

As a matter of fact,

he mentioned something
about leaving.

Not being particularly
welcome here.

It was important to you,
wasn't it?

Oh, no.

I just want to check an old
business matter with him.

I'm sorry I bothered you.

Nonsense.

I enjoyed your visit.

She couldn't possibly remember
I was such a child,

but give my regards
to your wonderful Aunt Sarah.

I will. Thank you.

( ominous theme playing )

MARTA:
Fred?

Fred.

Marta,
what are you doing here?

I thought
you ought to know

that little friend
of yours is in town.

Who do you mean?

Iris McKay.

She seems to be under
the impression

that you're staying
in my cabin.

That reporter the other day.

I had no idea that the girl
in your past

was quite so attractive.

Oh, no. Real small town stuff.

Forget it.

You know who I'm
really interested in.

Do you know what she's
interested in, Freddie?

Money.

Oh, that old story.

Well, I'm glad you're
not interested in money.

( chuckles )

Why do you suppose that I
visited you so often in prison?

My handsome face.

Okay, you're mercenary.

Now, let's have a drink, huh?

You, uh, really ought to worry
about her, Freddie.

Aren't you afraid if
somebody doesn't stop her,

she'll poke around and upset
some very expensive apple carts?

Maybe you're the one
that needs to be stopped.

( dramatic theme playing )

Well, Miss McKay,
it's been a long time

since you've
been in my place.

Hello, Mr. Needham.
Sit down.

You're looking just fine,
beautiful as ever.

Thank you, Mr. Needham.

I got the newspaper
and your note.

Note? What do you mean?

The note you sent me

about Fred Swan coming
back for the money.

Mr. Needham,
I seem to remember

when I worked
for W.L. Picard,

seeing some
correspondence from you.

I don't follow you.

The note I got in the mail

was in the same
fancy type as this.

Just like your menus.

Okay, so you know it was me.

Maybe I shouldn't
have played games but

I never believed you and Swan
were romancing,

even though you came
here together.

And I don't believe you hid
that money for him either.

Well, that makes you
a minority of one in Pinon City.

But why did you want me to know
he was back in town?

Well, maybe there's
nothing to it but...

That last night
you were here together,

that was the day after he'd

supposedly been robbed
at the bank.

Before the police discovered

he was just faking to cover
his own embezzlement.

You remember?

Go on.

Well, that night,

Swan excused himself,

left you for a few minutes?

Remember that?

Vaguely. What about it?

Well, he had a small package
with him,

wrapped in white paper
with a ribbon on it and--

Package?

As a matter of fact, he said it
was a present for his landlady.

Alf, do you think--?

The money was in that package?

Yes, I think maybe it was.

The way he hung onto it.

You didn't see, but I did.

But as I remember,

he said the package
was just a nuisance

and he was going
to leave it here

before we went dancing.

He didn't check it with me.

I know because I saw him give
it to somebody else, outside.

Who?

Iris,

that's one of the reasons
I sent you that note.

I've never mentioned
this before

because it seems
so unbelievable.

But I suppose if it'll
help really turn up the money,

clear up the whole thing--

Uh, clear up
what whole thing?

Hello, everybody.

I wanna see
your name cleared, Iris.

Oh, very generous.

What's in it for you,
Alf?

I don't
have to kid anybody.

There's a little reward

that goes along
with finding the money.

That'd be for me.

Mm-hm.
A $ , reward.

If it's Mr. Swan's money
you're talking about.

Maybe I'm talking
too much.

Excuse me.

All right, Alf.

Who did Fred Swan
give that package to?

Now,
you won't take offense.

It's the gospel truth,
I--

Your Aunt Sarah.

You must be
out of your mind.

You think I could mistake that
crazy old chariot of hers?

I tell you,
Swan meet her car

and when he come back
he didn't have the package.

And she drove
off in a hurry and--

I don't believe it!

What did you say to her?

Maybe you'd
better explain, Alf.

Like they say in the newspapers,
Danny, "no comment".

( ominous theme playing )

Iris. Ha-ha.

Well,
how nice to see you.

Hello, W.L.

Let me look at you.

You know, she's still
the prettiest girl

we ever raised
in this town.

( chuckles )

And the thing that
has always bowled me over:

You've got brains
in that beautiful head.

Yes sir, you're the best
secretary I ever had.

Haven't found anyone since who
could do the job half as good.

Can I have my job back?

Oh, now, what chance would
I have of getting you back

now that you've been
to Hollywood?

( sighs )

I've paid off
my back taxes.

You don't know
what a relief that is.

With all these outsiders
crowding into town

because of the new valley dam,

and every one of them looking
for a place to live,

the house could have been
sold out from under me.

Now, you be sure
and keep these papers

in a nice safe place.

Here, Iris, maybe you'd
better take them.

Put them
with your folder.

What?

SARAH:
The one I sent you
last year, dear,

with the family things,

with the sealing wax
on it.

A-Aunt Sarah, will you
excuse me for a moment?

I think
I left something outside.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Operator,
I want long distance, please.

Hold on, I'll see
if Mr. Mason's available.

Yes, hold on, please.

It's a Miss McKay
from Pinon City.

She wanted to get in touch

with Paul
about something or other.

And thought he might be here.

Hello, this is Perry Mason.

Mr. Mason, this is Iris McKay.

You recommended Mr. Drake
on a matter three years ago.

Oh, yes, I remember.

Uh, Mr. Drake won't be
back until later tonight.

Is there some way
I can be of help?

Well, I wanted to ask Mr. Drake

to go to my apartment
in West Los Angeles,

Deauville Street.

I can call the manager
to let him in.

Deauville Street.

Right, well, Paul should
be back by midnight.

A what?

A folder sealed
with sealing wax.

Of course, Miss McKay.

Well, I'll be free later.

I could, uh, probably
be of some help

if Paul doesn't show up.

And then please,
please call me back

and tell me what's inside.

I'll give you the number.

Miss McKay,
you sound quite upset.

What do you think
is in that folder?

Well, it just might
include some money, Mr. Mason.

And if it does,
it's stolen money.

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( jingling )

( dialing )

( knock on door )

Oh, hello, Paul.

Hi, Perry.
I just called Della.

She, uh, said you were
cutting in on my racket.

Well, you can
have it all back.

Might not be
a bad idea at that.

You lack the, uh, light touch
necessary in this business.

But thanks for trying.

Iris McKay seemed so upset
when you didn't show up,

I thought I'd better
take a look.

Della mentioned
a sealed folder.

Said Iris thought
there was a possibility

that part of that $ ,

might have been right here
in the apartment all this time.

Who knows?

Anyway, it's gone now.

Of course, there might--

Might have been
something else

besides money
in that folder.

What do you think?

I think I'd better find out.

You know, there's a celebration
going on up there--

A celebration.
A mystery.

A girl in distress.

Paul, I think you're going
to enjoy Pinon City.

( upbeat western theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Iris? Miss McKay.

( chuckling ):
Excuse me.

Iris is much prettier
than that.

No, no.
But do you know her?

A little.

You seem very anxious
to meet her.

Just got off the train?

Mm-hm, and she was
supposed to meet me here.

Have you seen her?

All right, mister,
you're under arrest.

Come along peacefully.

Wait a minute.
You're making a mistake.

That's what
they all say.

Oh, it's quite
all right, officer.

He really
wasn't doing anything.

We caught him
barefaced, didn't we?

What?

This is Founder's Week, friend.

What was good enough
for our forefathers,

is good enough for us.

This week everybody
gets dressed up.

A beard or five bucks,
that's the law.

Well, not having
any fast hair--

Don't try to bribe us,
mister.

First the paddy wagon,

then you get mugged,
then you pay.

Excuse us, miss.

Really, friend,
uh, no offense.

The dough goes for charity.

It's okay.

I guess I missed the person

who was supposed
to meet me here anyway.

You mean Iris McKay?

I heard you call her name.

She hasn't been around
the station all morning.

Oh, wait a minute, I've got
a rental car here some place.

Is it all right
if I pick it up?

We'll get it later.

( upbeat western theme playing )

Yes?

I beg your pardon.

I'm looking for Miss McKay.

I'm Miss McKay. Who are you?

My name's Paul Drake.

It's Miss Iris McKay
I wanted to see.

That's strange.

Excuse me?

Well, this morning
she rented a bicycle.

And, oh,
at least an hour ago,

she rode off to the station
to meet you.

I see.

Well, if she left
here that long ago,

she might have been wanted
to go somewhere else first.

Some shopping
or maybe some friends

she wanted to say hello to?

Friends? In Pinon City?

No.

Unless W.L.

W.L.?

W.L. Picard, real estate.

She used to work there.

He did say something about,

wouldn't she drop in to see him.

But if she was going to meet
you, I don't understand why--

I'll find her,
Miss McKay. Thank you.

( suspenseful theme playing )

She was here, all right.

But not for long.

She got all excited
about something and left.

Didn't even wait
for Mr. Picard to come back.

That's Iris for you.

Uh, excited about what?

Search me.

Mr. Beller was in here
and was talking to her.

Beller?

The surveyor
from the steel company.

He said something.

Don't ask me what.

And Iris just popped
up and ran out.

PAUL:
Can you remember
in what direction?

SECRETARY:
Good afternoon, Mr. Picard.

Can I help you, sir?

I'm looking for
Iris McKay.

Oh?

Oh, well, I haven't seen
Miss McKay since last evening.

Uh, Dora,
I've got some letters

I'd like to get
out this afternoon.

Yes, sir.

Miss.

I really don't know where
she was going, Mr. Drake.

Can you tell me where
I find this man Beller?

Well, I think he said something
about getting a haircut.

W.L.:
Dora.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Well, all I had mentioned was

that I had been working near
that old Buskirk farm,

and how surprised
I was to look through my transit

and spot this truck-bed camper
parked inside the empty barn.

Inside, mind you.

What did the girl say?

She asked me the color
of the camper,

and I told her blue
and, pfft,

off she went
on her bicycle.

Not too short
in the back, please.

The Buskirk farm.
Thank you, Mr. Beller.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

Iris?

Iris.

( wood clatters )

( tense theme playing )

( dramatic theme playing )

Who are you?
And what's going on here?

Why are you looking for Iris?

She's got nothing
to do with this.

Nothing to do with what?

DAN:
His name's Fred Swan.

( dramatic theme playing )

( car horn honks )

Chief Hagerty, I've known
you since you were a boy.

You had very little brains
then and even less now.

Why have you
arrested my niece?

Now, Miss Sarah, Fred Swan's
been k*lled and it's our job--

I'm going to talk to Iris.

Oh, Aunt Sarah.

Mr. Drake,
what is this nonsense?

Why haven't they arrested
Dan Southern for m*rder?

If, as they say,
he was out there.

Aunt Sarah, no.

The police seem to feel

that Swan was dead
at least an hour

before Dan got there.

However, your niece's
bicycle was there.

Her scarf was there.

And she admits she was there.
( phone ringing )

IRIS:
I didn't k*ll him.

Tell us the truth, child.

He'd--
He'd been drinking.

When I asked him
where the money was

he just laughed at me.

Then he--

He tried to grab me and--

And he tried to...

I managed
to shove him away.

And I just ran.

All right.
Half an hour later,

you stumbled
into the Diamond farm.

When Al Diamond got
back from the fields,

he drove you into town.
Is that right?

Yes, and after that
the police came--

Iris, if you don't mind,

can I talk to you
in my office now?

She can't tell you any more
than she already has, chief.

It seems to me--

Never mind, Drake.
( phone ringing )

We just did some matching.

The doc says it was
that jack handle

that k*lled Swan,
all right.

And Iris's fingerprints
are on it.

( gasps )

Will you come with me,
Iris, please?

( dramatic theme playing )

I'm sorry, Miss Sarah.

What--? What do we do now?

If you have no objections,
I'll call Los Angeles.

Los Angeles?

An attorney.

Perry Mason.

( dramatic theme playing )

Now, Mr. Needham,

we've got all of the
preliminaries out of the way,

we've established
the corpus delicti,

as they say
in the big cities.

I'm gonna ask you
to tell the court

exactly in your own words,

what took place in your café

the day Iris McKay
returned to town.

Uh, this might seem
a bit informal,

but we like to keep
things simple here.

Well, let's see.

It was just that
Iris McKay wanted to know

about Fred Swan
being in town,

and that he hadn't
really given her

all that money to hide.

Mr. Needham, please relate just
to what the defendant said

to you
and you said to her.

I told her about
a package Fred Swan had

when he came to my place
one night with her.

That was three years ago.

But I got the idea later
that that package

might have contained
some of that $ , .

HALE:
Well, now, uh, what happened
with that package?

ALFRED:
Swan gave it to somebody.

HALE:
Not the defendant?

No, sir.

To her aunt,
Miss Sarah McKay.

I recognized her car,
out in my parking lot.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Needham,

did you send the defendant

a copy of the local newspaper

on which you'd marked
with crayon

an item announcing Fred Swan's
return to Pinon City?

Yes.

And in a note
sent along with it,

did you infer that Fred Swan

had probably come back
for the missing money?

Yes, I did.

Now, then, did you know
that on the day

Iris McKay received
your message,

her apartment in Los Angeles

had been broken
into and ransacked

after she had left Los Angeles
for Pinon City?

No, I didn't know that.

But you did know that she'd
be away from home at the time

you were looking
for that missing money?

Yes, sure. But--

No more questions.

Being as charitable
as possible,

I can only say that Mr. Needham
must be mistaken.

I most certainly never
received any package

from Mr. Swan.

In fact,
I barely knew the man.

I believe the witness
qualified his statement

by saying it was
your car he saw.

You know perfectly well,
Jonathan Hale,

I never permit anyone
else to drive it.

And you know perfectly well,
Miss Sarah,

that you still haven't directly
answered my question.

I simply don't remember
the episode.

All right, we'll try
something else.

Do you, uh, recognize
this photograph?

My grandmother's sister.
My great Aunt Hattie.

And, uh--

And this folder here?

You know very well
it's my folder.

You also know
that it was stolen

from my niece's apartment
in Los Angeles.

What was in it?

Papers.

Miss Sarah, you were present

when both the folder
and the photograph

were introduced as evidence?

So therefore you know
that both items

were found in the barn where
Fred Swan was k*lled?

Now, I ask you again,
Miss Sarah,

what was in that folder
you gave your niece?

Answer the question,
Miss Sarah.

I cannot be forced
to testify against myself.

Or to reveal anything
that would tend to expose me

to public censure
or to destroy my reputation.

So I'm not going to answer.

Well, no more questions.

Cross-examine.

As I understand it,
Miss McKay,

you sent a sealed folder
to your niece some time ago

for safekeeping?

Yes.

MASON:
Was there any money
in that folder?

No. There was absolutely
no money in it.

Thank you. That'll be all.

Yes, it was the day
before Mr. Swan's m*rder

that Iris McKay
came to my cabin

at the Plantation Motel.

She said she was looking
for Fred Swan.

Did she say why
she was looking for him?

No, but she seemed
disappointed to find me

instead of him there.

Thank you.

Cross-examine?

Mrs. Wiltern,

I take it you knew
Fred Swan fairly well?

Yes, I met him
once or twice here,

several years ago.

And then I saw him again
in San Francisco.

Don't you mean, Mrs. Wiltern,

that you visited with him

while he was in prison
at San Quentin,

near San Francisco?

Yes.

Mrs. Wiltern, would you please
tell this court

your maiden name?

Marta Buskirk.

Then it was your family

who originally owned
the Buskirk farm?

The farm where Fred Swan
was found m*rder*d?

It was my family.

All the Buskirks
are dead now.

Mrs. Wiltern,

when did the Buskirks
sell their farm?

A little over three years ago.

To whom did they sell it?

Well, I don't remember exactly.

Yes, it was a woman
from San Diego.

A Letitia Cochrane.

And who handled
the sale of the farm?

MARTA:
W.L. Picard, he handled
the whole transaction.

Your Honor, I won't make
a formal objection

to this extraneous type
of cross-examination,

but the weekend's
coming up and--

Mr. Mason, it does seem
you are going afield.

I've just one more question,
Your Honor.

It's a matter of record,
anyway.

Now, Mrs. Wiltern,

for how much did Mr. Picard
sell the, uh, Buskirk--?

Your family's farm?

Forty-five thousand dollars.

Listen, how many times
do I have to tell you, I--

HALE:
Mr. Southern.
Mr. Southern, now, please.

the court has already ruled
you a hostile witness,

so you don't have
to go losing your temper.

Just answer the questions
"yes" or "no."

All right.

Now, you found out from
police officer Gene Barr

that he saw Iris McKay
bicycle out the east road

toward the Buskirk farm?

Correct?
Yes.

And knowing Fred Swan
was camping out there,

you hurried
out to the farm,

and so found
the remains of Fred Swan?

Yes.

Now, the day
before the m*rder

you told the defendant where
she could find Fred Swan,

or where you thought
she could find him.

Now, on the day
of the m*rder,

you knew where he was
but you didn't tell her.

Now, was that because
you were afraid

of what might happen
if Iris McKay found Fred Swan?

No. Why should I be afraid?

That's not true.

Are you trying to say--?

That's all.
That's all, thank you.

Cross-examine.

Mr. Southern, on the day
of the m*rder,

did you neglect to tell
Iris McKay where Swan was

because you were jealous

of a possible intimate
relationship between them?

No, of course not.

There was no relationship.
There never was.

But nevertheless
you were jealous?

Of course I was jealous.

I hated Swan.

I threatened him too.

I told him to get
out of town and he didn't.

I could have swung
that tire iron at him

with a great deal of pleasure.

MASON:
No further questions.

Yes, I drove up to the field
adjacent to the Buskirk farm

that same afternoon.

The afternoon of the m*rder.

What were you doing
there, Mr. Picard?

Well, some surveyors who've been
working for the steel company

have been using
my office and records.

I just wanted to see if they
needed anything, that's all.

But apparently they'd
already finished work.

Would you tell
the court what you saw

out there
that afternoon?

I saw Iris McKay bicycle up

to the entrance
of the Buskirk farm

and then turn in toward
the barn area.

HALE:
Anything else?

No. I didn't see
the surveyors,

I just kept on driving
toward town.

No more questions.

Court is adjourned until
: Monday morning.

( dramatic theme playing )

Hi.

Thanks.

Well, I found out that
Letitia Cochrane doesn't own

the Buskirk farm anymore.

She sold it to, uh,
Intersolidated Steel.

Did you speak to her?

No, I couldn't find her.

I just got the records.

Here's all there is on her.

Her living in San Diego
dates back years.

Hm, what's this?

It's a list of all those
arrested and fined

for not wearing beards.

What about them?

I have a hunch
one of them is our thief.

Oh, nine names here.
Our thief?

You mean the one that busted
into Iris's apartment?

How do you figure that?

I admit it's a,
uh, long shot.

But unless the thief
came up here prepared,

he arrived in town
barefaced.

Oh, in which case
he would be arrested,

and mugged.

Hey, they even
took my picture.

Better get going.

See you later.

( dramatic theme playing )

During the weekend,
Your Honor,

certain new evidence
has been uncovered

and I believe,
with the court's indulgence,

we can clarify
certain aspects

of this case by recalling
several witnesses

for further
cross-examination.

Oh, Your Honor,
this is highly irregular.

If the counselor wishes to put
on a case for the defense--

It was Mr. Hale who wished

to keep this hearing
simple, I believe.

If recalling a few witnesses

will help us, Mr. Mason,

uh, let's get
on with the business.

I would like to recall
W.L. Picard to the stand.

CLERK:
Mr. Picard, please.

I remind you that you're still
under oath, Mr. Picard.

A little over three years ago,

you handled the sale
of the Buskirk farm

for the family of Marta Wiltern,
is that correct?

Yes.

You transacted a sale which
amounted to, uh, $ , .

The purchaser was one
Letitia Cochrane of San Diego.

I've been trying
to reach Miss Cochrane,

but without success.

Now, when was the last time

you saw her, Mr. Picard?

Three years ago.

Three years ago.

That was when
she bought the farm.

I understand
she just sold the farm

to Intersolidated Steel.

Did you also handle
that transaction for her?

Yes, but by mail.

Now, when she bought
the farm,

there was, um,
some sort of option

connected with the sale,
wasn't there, Mr. Picard?

I-- I believe so.

Are you then saying
that an option

to purchase that property
was given to

Intersolidated Steel
three years ago?

Yes, I think so. Uh--

Uh, y-yes.

An option to purchase
the Buskirk farm

for $ , .

Nearly a quarter
of a million?

W.L.:
Y-Yes.

But of course it was only
an option to buy.

Isn't it also true,
Mr. Picard,

that the steel company's
interest in that property

was based on
advance knowledge

of a federal dam
being constructed

here in this valley?

A dam created
by a federal commission.

A commission on which you alone
from this area served.

And of which only
you could have know,

and from which only
you could have profited?

Well, of course,
I was on that commission.

And of course I would
know about the plans

for building the dam.

But you have no right
to insinuate that--

Now, tell us,

that option we just spoke of,

how much did it cost
the steel company?

I don't exactly remember.

Eleven thousand two hundred
and fifty dollars.

Is that figure correct?

I think so.

Now, the Buskirk family wanted
, for the property.

Intersolidated Steel
was willing

to pay $ ,
for an option.

That left $ , .

Yes, I-- I suppose so.

Now, that's a figure that sticks
in my mind, Mr. Picard.

Wasn't that the exact sum
Fred Swan stole from his bank?

Or rather, embezzled and tried
to make it look like theft?

Well, now, of course,
you're making it seem--

Fred came to me with a deal.

We had to close it in a hurry.

I told him if he could raise
that amount of money,

that I would take care
of everything else.

So he brought me
the money in cash.

I never asked him
where it came from.

Afterwards, when I found
out that the police

did not believe his story
about the bank and the robbery

well, it was too late
to do anything then.

But you and Swan
still remained partners.

And it was you
who supplied the middleman.

Uh, in this case,
Letitia Cochrane.

Yes.

I did it through her.

And so that $ ,

never at any time had one thing
to do with Iris McKay?

W.L.:
No, it didn't.

Now, would you,
uh, just tell this court

where we can find
Letitia Cochrane.

I told you.

I haven't seen her
in over three years.

That's enough,
Mr. Picard,

I certainly wouldn't want you
to perjure yourself.

Your Honor,

at this time
I would like to

recall Sarah McKay
to the stand.

JUDGE:
You may step down, sir.

Miss Sarah, will you step
to the stand, please.

Miss McKay,

have you ever used
the name Letitia Cochrane?

I've been known
as Sarah McKay for years.

In Pinon City, yes.

But I refer to San Diego,
years ago.

Isn't it true
that you once lived

in San Diego
for approximately five months

under the name
of Letitia Cochrane?

Yes.

It's true.

And three years ago
you allowed

Mr. Picard to use that name?

Oh, I didn't willingly
allow him to--

I know it-- It was wrong.

But I had no idea
of everything that was involved

when I signed that name.

Why?

Were you afraid of Mr. Picard?

Were you afraid because
of something he knew about you?

Miss McKay,

I call your attention

to, uh, that sealed folder.

The folder you sent
to your niece,

and which was later stolen.

I ask you now,

would you please tell this court
just what was in that folder.

Now,
you've already testified

that there wasn't
any money in it.

A copy of my will,

some insurance papers.

Just-- Just personal
family things.

What else?

What knowledge
did Mr. Picard have of you

that enabled him to coerce
you to such an extent?

What else was
in that folder, Miss McKay?

A birth certificate...

...for Mary Frances Cochrane.

My daughter.

( courtroom murmuring )

( gavel tapping )

( sobbing )

If she'd lived,

she would have been
a young lady now.

Almost the same age
as my niece

and very like her, I think.

She died at childbirth.

That's why I could never
bear to be close to Iris.

She reminded me so of--

I'm sorry, Miss McKay.

But there must have
been something more.

You must have had more reason

for keeping everything
so secret.

It isn't as though
I were a child.

I was at the time.

Go on.

Well,

just before the baby was born,

my husband left me.

He ran away.

Your husband?

I think it's called
common-law husband.

( sobbing )

( courtroom murmuring )

( gavel tapping )

We were talking
about the folder

stolen from
the defendant's apartment.

If Picard and Swan

were partners and knew where
they'd spent that $ , ,

then obviously
both of them knew

there was no money
in that folder.

But no other person would have
known that fact, would they?

In particular,
a person who was anxious

to find that money.

A person who
was watching all the time.

A person who followed Iris

and knew she'd called
my office in Los Angeles.

A person who then hired
a man named Eugene Liston,

to go to her apartment
and steal that folder.

All right. All right.

I was after that folder.

But all I wanted was the reward.

I mean-- I mean, at first
I didn't know anything

about land deals.

Only in that folder

when I discovered
about Letitia Cochrane.

And when I went out and tried
to make a deal with Swan,

when I tried to cut
in on him and Picard,

well, h-he went crazy.

He'd been drinking.
He was like a crazy man.

He lunged at me with a board.

I knocked him down. I had to.

I-It was self-defense.

Was it self-defense when you
then crushed his skull

with a jack handle?

( dramatic theme playing )

When Swan
tried to molest me,

I grabbed the jack handle
to protect myself.

Well, he backed away and I just
threw it down and ran.

But Needham saw you.

He'd been talking
to Swan before you arrived.

While you were there
he kept out of sight.

After you left,
Swan became ugly,

and Needham knocked him down.

Then using the same w*apon
he'd seen you touch,

he finished him off,

being careful not to leave
any prints of his own.

What about Marta Wiltern?

What did she have to do with it?

Well, she must have suspected
what was going on

when she learned
the steel company

had had an option
on her land.

So she either tried
to cut herself in,

or she wanted to get
even with the men

who'd swindled her family.

Thank you, Mr. Mason.

I'm so very, very grateful.

Aunt Sarah,
may I borrow the car?

Whatever for?

You know I don't allow--

Well, if the young man
doesn't have a surrey,

I guess a horseless carriage
is the next best thing.

Heh. Thank you, Aunt Sarah.

Miss Sarah, just how old
is that machine?

Twenty-two years.

But I think it's time to
trade it in for a new model.

Don't you?

( dramatic theme playing )

( noirish jazz theme playing )