05x16 - The Case of the Shapely Shadow

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Therefore, I will expect your full support

in the forthcoming
shareholders' meeting,

and, in return, may anticipate
the same kind of support

under similar circumstances
in any corporation under your control.

Oh, by the way, thank him very much

for that bottle of whiskey
he sent me last Christmas.

Yours truly, et cetera, et cetera.

Oh, and, Janice,
no file copy on this as before,

and destroy your notes.

All right, who's next?

Northern California Realty.

Skip them. They don't have any votes.

Mr. Theilman, do you want
just the ones who have stock--

I want just the ones I tell you!

Yes, sir.

Uh, Standard Investments.

Ah, yes. Standard Investments.

Gentlemen--

No, no. Change that.

Address this one personally
to the president of the company,

what's his name,

and mail it directly to his home.
All right, what's next?

Mr. Theilman, couldn't I get you
a sandwich, please?

No, thank you. Let me see that list,
see who's next on it.

If you'd just have a cup of coffee,
or I could--

Janice, I already told you
I'm really not hungry.

[phone rings]

Don't answer that.

- Why? Why not?
- [ring]

Oh. All right, go ahead.

[ring]

Mr. Theilman's office.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Theilman.

I'm sorry, but your husband
just stepped out for a moment.

Could I have him call you back?

All right. All right.

She'll call you. It's something about
meeting her downtown for dinner.

I'm still not in.

Why don't you type those up?
I have something else I want to do.

But what?

I mean, well,
there's nothing on your calendar--

..urgent, that is...

And, Mr. Theilman,
you've been working so hard.

How about if I bring you in
that cup of coffee

- and some cake I have in my lunch?
- [chuckles]

Janice, you're going to make somebody
a wonderful mother some day.

Go on. Get out of here.

Go on.

[Man]
Well, there she is, Miss Hurry Hurry.

And she's blushing.

Fred, if you don't mind,
I'm busy just now.

Oh, yeah? Doing what?

What's old Morley T up to these days,
anyway? What's going on?

- Give, give, give, huh?
- Give me that.

[door opens]

Janice, Fred.

Your, uh, boss still busy, Janice?

Yes, he is, Mr. Troy. But if you're
expecting to have lunch with him--

Oh, no, no, never mind. I've got
to get back to Bakersfield, anyway.

Uh, you don't know what exactly
he's busy with, do you?

Oh, just the usual little details, I think.

Oh, yes, yes, of course.
Didn't mean to pry.

Goodbye.

Uh, goodbye, Mr. Troy.

[door closes]

Ah, there sits our perfect secretary.

"Just the usual little details," she says.

That to a former partner, yet.

What did you find in the boss'
wastebasket this morning?

I beg your pardon?

I saw you snooping around in there.

I was looking for my fountain pen.

Janice, I want you to go--

What the devil are you doing here?

Well, I was, uh--

Beat it, Fred. She has work to do.

Yes, sir.

[door opens, closes]

You've got to learn how to handle men.

You know what he's like.

Uh, come on back in here.

Yes, sir?

Oh, Janice,
I want you to buy me a suitcase.

A suitcase?

Oh, Mr. Theilman, what's wrong?

If you'd just tell me so I could help.

Now, Janice, don't look at me like that.
I'm not going anyplace.

I'm not running away or anything.
I just need a suitcase.

Yes, sir. A suitcase.

[Della]
Come in, Miss Wainwright.

Oh, Mr. Mason, thank you.

Thank you for seeing me.

Here. Won't you sit down?

I'm in a terrible rush.
I have a taxi waiting downstairs.

Miss Street tells me that you work
for a man named Morley Theilman.

Yes. I've been with him six years.

And that you're worried about him
and that you need a lawyer's advice.

Well, I'd like to know
if I can legally open that suitcase.

Well, that might depend
on to whom the suitcase belongs.

Oh, it belongs to Mr. Theilman.
And it's locked.

You see, I went out this noon
to buy it for him.

Uh, it has two keys,
and I kept one of them.

I usually keep extra keys and things.

Mr. Theilman is so absentminded.

Tell me, is Mr. Theilman married?

Yes, he's been married
nearly four years now.

Happily?

Why, I think so.
But what does that have to do with--

If Mrs. Theilman is young,
perhaps she's also jealous.

Are you afraid that if you wore
the right lipstick, she might notice you?

I'm afraid she might get me fired, yes.

But I'm not in love with Mr. Theilman,
if that's what you're trying to suggest.

Now will you be equally as frank as
to why you wish this suitcase opened?

I think there's money in it.

Money?

I think Mr. Theilman's being blackmailed.

Here. Look at that.
I found that in his wastepaper basket.

He'd torn it up but I put it
back together again.

"Failure will be fatal."

And this is the envelope it came in.

It's properly addressed
to Mr. Theilman.

Return address General Delivery.
A.B.-- Who's A.B. Vidal?

I haven't the slightest idea.

Do you want me to call the police?

Why, no. That's why I'm here,
don't you understand?

Mr. Theilman obviously got
those telephone instructions,

and that's when he told me
to go out and get the suitcase.

Then he took it into his private office,

and when he came out,
it was locked and heavy like this.

Then he told me I was to take it
down to the Union Depot,

to the place where they have lockers--
baggage lockers.

And leave the suitcase there?

Yes. In a certain numbered locker

or one right next to it,
whichever's open.

Then I'm to take the key,
put it in an envelope,

and mail it to that same person.

A.B. Vidal, General Delivery.

That's right.

Well, if that doesn't sound
like blackmail, Mr. Mason.

Uh, Miss Wainwright, do you happen
to have any of your own money with you?

If I'm to represent you,
there will be a retainer.

I guess I have a few dollars.

One will be enough.

Della will make you out a receipt.

Now, may I have the key to the suitcase?

Oh, yes.

Will you swear to me that you
haven't yet opened this suitcase?

I swear.

Oh, my good heavens.

All $ bills.

There must be over $ , there.

Now I'd like both of you
to read off the numbers

on as many bills during the next
five minutes as you can.

Della, get the tape recorder.

I shouldn't stay much longer than that.

Someone may be watching that locker
or watching me, don't you think?

I'm sure of it.
There is going to be someone.

Della's going with you.

I want her to make sure that this suitcase
stays closed after I've closed it,

also that you leave the suitcase
in the right place.

But Mr. Theilman expects me to--

To follow his instructions to the letter.

And that's exactly
what you're both going to do.

Sure I know somebody
down at the post office.

Mr. Mason asked me to tell you

that Della mailed the envelope
at a quarter to .

That means it won't reach General Delivery
downtown till morning.

He thought there might be some way

for you to find out
when the letter is picked up.

I know. He wants me to see
if I can spot this guy A.B. Vidal.

David, tell Perry

that this time I'd like my expense checks
signed in advance.

- What do you mean?
- He'll get the message.

Tell Judge Evans I'm very interested
in this particular meeting of the Bar

and I'm certainly looking forward
to seeing him.

- [phone rings]
- I'll get it.

Mason speaking.

Mr. Mason, Mr. Theilman's disappeared.

Who's disappeared?

My boss Mr. Theilman.
He's just vanished in thin air.

Oh, but, Mr. Mason, I'm not at the office.
I'm still at home.

You see, the police
have been here. They just left.

Della, get Paul back in here.

What did the police want from you,
Janice?

Well, I guess they came here
looking for him.

I told you what his wife thinks of me.

Yes. She's the one who reported it.

She called them because
he didn't return home last night.

Suppose I get in touch with you
later today, Janice?

Yes. Don't worry, I will.

Perhaps David ought to go over
and pick up Janice right now.

We'd better have a little longer talk.

Why is it?

Every time a beautiful girl
walks into this office,

my normally intelligent friend--

She wasn't so beautiful, Paul.

That's what intrigued me.

You're worse off than I thought.
What's her story now?

I'll tell you on the way to Union Station.

Now, understand, Mr. Mason,

it wouldn't be right for me to let you
touch anything inside a locker.

Not when somebody's still got the key out.

Don't worry, Smitty. We just want a look.
The stationmaster said it was okay.

Section O.

Yes. Here it is.

These are hour locks, you know.

But the whole business can be lifted,
lock and all, for repairs.

You're sure that envelope
that contains the key is still unclaimed?

Still in the post office.
Hasn't been touched.

See? Lifts right out. Just like this.

Excuse me, Smitty.

Empty.

Surprised?

Mr. Mason?

Were you successful, David?

No, I can't find Janice Wainwright.

I went to her apartment
as Della said you asked,

but she must have skipped out
just before I got there.

And her office said that she told them
not to expect her in.

So now they've all disappeared--
man, money, girl.

Oh, brother.

Mrs. Theilman, I'm sorry I can't ethically
tell you just who my client is,

but I assure you I'm just as anxious
as you are to find your husband.

Just what is it you want to know
from me, Mr. Mason?

A little more about how
and perhaps why he disappeared.

I told the police. I think Morley
was being blackmailed!

What gave you that impression?
Was he in trouble of some sort?

No, no, nothing I know about,
but I saw a note in his jacket pocket.

Well, you see, he was in a hurry
and wanted me to empty his pockets

and to put his things in a clean suit
while he showered.

He drove up to Bakersfield yesterday
afternoon, you know, unexpectedly.

What about the note?

It was made up of words
cut out of a newspaper.

I'll never forget them.

It said, "Get money. Instructions
on telephone. Failure will be fatal."

The note was just loose in his pocket?

Well, there was an envelope.

Return address?

Yes, it was typed--

someone named A.B. Vidal,
General Delivery, Los Angeles.

Did your husband have any explanation
about this Vidal person?

Well, I didn't talk to my husband about it.

You didn't talk to him about it?

Well, don't look so surprised.

I was shocked, of course. I was frightened.

But I'm not the sort of wife
to go demanding explanations.

- Not even when--
- Mr. Mason,

I know my husband.
He divorced his first wife Carlotta

because she wouldn't let him
out of her sight.

She wouldn't leave him alone.

And she let herself go
till she looked like an absolute barrel.

Well, I've tried not to make
any of the same mistakes.

All right. So you, uh...

kissed your husband goodbye,

and sent him on his way to Bakersfield.

Yes, about : .

Then he phoned about
and said he was having dinner

and wouldn't start home
till about nine or ten,

so I shouldn't wait up.
But of course I did.

Do you know why he went to Bakersfield,
Mrs. Theilman?

To see just one person, so far as I know.

An old partner of his. Mr. Cole B. Troy.

We did some speculating together,
Morley and I.

We started a subdivision
between here and Palmdale.

But it didn't do so well,
so we closed things down last year.

Is that what he came up to see you
about yesterday, Mr. Troy?

Yes.
That and some little investment things.

I'd been in Los Angeles in the morning,
but Morley was all tied up then.

Later he found time, I guess,

because he phoned and said "Let's get
things cleaned up and out of the way."

So he drove up here to Bakersfield.

Yes, we met here in the office,

then we went to dinner.

That's when he phoned his wife.

Came back here for half an hour or so,

and then he left about : .

Maybe this isn't anything, but maybe it is.

I told the police. They sort of shrugged,
but I guess they were curious.

Told them what?

Well, there just might have been someone

either following Morley
or waiting to meet him.

You see out there?

That street at night is deserted,
and it's pretty dark.

I don't know why, but I happened
to glance out there just after Morley left.

I noticed him walking
across from the building.

His car was parked up that side street,
out of sight.

Go on.

Well, the only other person on the sidewalk
was someone over past the corner.

Nothing much more than a shadow, really.

Then I noticed
she must have been waiting

because she walked after him,
and then she disappeared too.

She? Could you recognize her?
Describe her?

Well, I couldn't see her face.

But you know how it is.

A pretty young thing
walking across the street.

A man's never too old.

Perry, it's Janice, all right.

In Las Vegas?

I just talked to my operative
on the phone again.

Janice is at the railroad station

checking on when the City of Los Angeles
comes through, headed east.

He figures she's expecting
to meet somebody who's on it.

That would be in about two hours.

Guess who she's meeting.

A certain man with a suitcase?
Say, uh, Morley L. T.?

Who else?

And all this "Mail the key
to General Delivery" stuff

was just so much red herring.

All right.

Anyone using newspaper clippings
to put together a blackmail note

would hardly have used his own
name on the envelope

as a return address.

This thing has just been phony
since the word go.

Della, call the airport.

We're going to beat
that train to Las Vegas.

Did you keep the taxi waiting?

I promised him a . Is she still here?

Down the platform.

Oh, Mrs. Theilman. Here I am.

Janice, dear!

My, you look so lovely.
You look beautiful.

Well, I guess there has been
a little improvement

since we last saw each other.

About pounds of it, in fact!

Oh, darling,
you remember my brother.

- She sure better.
- I certainly do. Hello, Henry.

[Mason]
Hello, Janice.

Oh.

Uh...

this is Mrs. Theilman
and her brother Mr. Battle.

Miss Street, Mr. Mason.

- Hello.
- How do you do?

- The first Mrs. Theilman, I take it.
- Yes.

I'd like to talk to Mr. Mason alone.
Would it be all right?

Oh, of course, dear.
We have to see about our rooms anyway.

So why don't we just run along
to the Little Casino and you catch up?

Thank you, Mrs. Theilman.
I have a taxi waiting, if you'd like.

- Oh, good.
- I'll show you out.

Here. I probably owe you
much more than this.

I, uh, I guess I've caused you
a good deal of trouble.

Yes, you have.

I'm sorry.

As a matter of fact,

there wasn't any blackmail,
there wasn't any blackmailer.

Am I correct?

I guess so.

Uh, Mr. Theilman hasn't quite
told me everything yet,

but he did tell me I could take some money
from his desk to pay you.

Never mind him. What's your story?

Oh, it's not a story. It's the truth.

When I first came to your office,
I actually thought he was being threatened.

But evidently it has to do
with this stock thing.

What stock thing?

Well, that's why I'm here
to meet his first wife.

He'll join us later. He's driving down
from the Palmdale subdivision.

That's where he stayed last night.

He asked you to give me a song and dance
about his disappearing

and then to disappear yourself?

Oh, no. I didn't know anything about this

until after I talked to you on the telephone.

He called just after you hung up,

and he asked me not to tell anybody

but to get some cash

and spend the day
in the beauty parlor if I wanted

because I was to drive here
in the evening to Las Vegas

to meet Carlotta, and then I--

Well?

Do you know those men?

Well, Tragg.
What are you doing in Nevada?

Probably the same thing you are, Perry.

I want to ask this young lady
some questions

concerning the m*rder of her employer,
Mr. Morley L. Theilman.

Mr. Theilman is-- is dead?

I used the word m*rder*d, I believe.

Oh, no.

But-- But it can't be.

He was alive, he was all right when I--

Janice, I know how you feel.

But please don't say one more word.

You're not on your own bailiwick here,
Mr. Mason.

This is the State of Nevada.

Excuse me, Perry. This is
Lieutenant Sophia, Las Vegas Police.

Better come along with us,
Miss Wainwright.

Terribly sorry, Perry.

Mrs. Theilman.

Oh, Mr. Mason, I just heard
about my husband-- I mean Morley.

Yes, I know. We've been trying
to find you for nearly an hour.

Mrs. Theilman,
would you mind telling me

what brought you to Las Vegas?

Do you really want to know?

I came here to get my husband back.

Why do you think I lost so much weight

and bought all these new clothes?

For weeks, people have writing to me,
wanting to buy my stock.

They used all kinds of strange names.

There was obviously
some sort of thing going on.

Then someone telephoned me.

I knew he must be representing Morley,
and I told him so.

I also told him I wouldn't
sell or give proxies or anything

unless Morley would agree to meet me
and talk it over with me.

I understood there were reasons
for being secret about it,

and so I suggested we meet here
in Las Vegas.

It's where we spent our honeymoon.

[Tragg]
Suppose you just save that
for us, madam.

Look here, Tragg--

Mr. Mason, you're not even
admitted to practice law

before a traffic court in Nevada.

Now goodbye. Oh, my car
will take you to the airport.

Uh, terribly sorry.

Theilman was shot.

. caliber g*n
which hasn't been found yet.

Body was in a bedroom.

This building was a display house.

The company used it as an office,
but it's been closed for some time now.

And that blackmail note signed A.B. Vidal.
The one Mrs. Theilman saw.

- Was it still in his pocket?
- Mm-hmm.

And oh, did you know that his present wife
once called herself "Day Dawns"?

Her legal name was Agnes--
Agnes Baker Vidal.

A.B.

Huh.

But she certainly wouldn't use
her own name on those envelope.

No, no, she wouldn't have sent them.

But why would someone else
have used the name?

I have a hunch the police
will figure it out. Look.

See those tire tracks?

There was a thundershower
there during the night.

Now, two cars must have arrived
before the rain started.

One of them was Theilman's car,
and it's still there.

- It's parked around back.
- [Mason] And the other car?

It's the one that left the tracks,

but just going away,
leaving after the rain

and after the time
Theilman apparently was k*lled.

And there's just no argument about whose
car that was-- Janice Wainwright's.

Perry talked to her downtown.

Janice insists she's just never been
to that subdivision place. Never.

You want to bet? And want to bet
she wasn't the shapely shadow

that guy saw up in Bakersfield?

Paul, I want to believe Janice,
but obviously you don't know

the police just subpoenaed our records.

They what?

Including the recorded tape

with the numbers from the $ bills
in the suitcase, remember?

But how did Tragg find out about that?

Oh, no. You mean Janice spilled?

Told them everything?

Suitcase? Money? Baggage locker?
The works?

Oh, Perry, you're not going to stick
with a client like that!

Yes, Paul, I am.

[Burger]
Prosecution intends to prove

that the deceased, Morley Theilman,
for reasons of his own,

had amassed nearly $ , in cash.

We propose to show
that the defendant knew about this,

that she actually had in her possession

a suitcase containing all that money,

and that she used it to dupe
her attorney, Mr. Perry Mason,

into believing that he was helping her

protect the interests of her employer

when in actual fact
she meant to k*ll Mr. Theilman

and to steal the money.

We intend to demonstrate further

that this young woman
met her employer in Bakersfield,

that they then drove together
to the scene of the crime,

where they spent most of the night.

And by circumstantial evidence
which cannot be refuted,

we will prove that Janice Wainwright
left that rendezvous

only after murdering her employer,

and that she drove later,
the following evening, to Las Vegas

in hopes of maintaining the pretense

that Morley L. Theilman was still alive.

It's impossible, of course,

to estimate the exact amount
of precipitation that occurred.

It was only a brief shower.

But it was certainly sufficient to moisten
the ground for several hours.

And what time did this rainfall occur?

Oh, about : ,
according to my estimate.

a.m. in the morning.

[Man]
Exhibit is the impression
of the track in that mud.

Exhibit is an impression
which I made at the police laboratory,

using the right front tire
of the defendant's car.

And, as everyone can see, I'm sure,
these are identical?

Absolutely identical.

Now, did you make a similar check
of the tracks of the left front tire?

Also identical.

Doctor, you have testified
that you arrived to examine the body

at about : on the evening
following the m*rder.

That's correct.

And that in your opinion,
Mr. Theilman's death occurred

between the hours of midnight
and a.m. the preceding morning?

I've said that several times, Mr. Mason.

Yet you also have conceded
that rigor mortis is not a constant factor.

That from the evidence of rigor mortis,

death could have occurred as late as
or : that morning.

There were other factors, I told you.

Post-mortem lividity, I believe.

That's one I mentioned.

And it was fully developed
in the body you saw?

Yes.

But isn't there some question
as to the longevity of such lividity?

It varies in many cases.
However, in this case--

There were still other factors. Yes.

Tell me, Doctor, was one of those factors
the evidence of the tire tracks?

I beg your pardon?

You were there
when the police discovered them.

Can you honestly say that your opinion
wasn't influenced by that evidence?

By knowledge of the time of rainfall?

Most certainly not!
I stated my expert opinion

that death occurred between
the hours of midnight and--

Doctor--

Doctor, did you write an article

for the October issue of
the Journal of Forensic Medicine?

I have written several articles.

Oh, Doctor.

You've written many articles.

But in this particular article...

did you say that "When the medical
examiner is unable to view a body

"until six or eight hours after death,

then determination of exact times
is well-nigh impossible?"

Did you say "Many a so-called expert
has been trapped into errors

of as much as hours
by unusual conditions of one thing"--

I was talking about exact times,
Mr. Mason.

Did you write that article?

Yes.

Well, Mr. Burger, I'm only the assistant
company bookkeeper, really.

Yes, but you heard the testimony
of the banker

that during recent weeks
Mr. Theilman had been making

substantial withdrawals
from his private accounts.

He asked for this money in cash.

Specifically,
he asked for it in $ bills.

I found he took out everything he could
in $ bills.

Why didn't anyone from the company
realize what he was doing at the time?

That was a separate fund,
set up for his private use.

We didn't handle the books on it.

Who did handle the books?

Who would have known
about those withdrawals

except Mr. Theilman himself?

His secretary-- Janice Wainwright.

His secretary?
His personal secretary?

She sure was.

What do you mean by that?

Well, I mean she did everything for him.

She followed him around
like a sl*ve or something.

She went out with him at night.

Everyone in the office
has seen him kiss her.

Objection, Your Honor!

Sustained. That's hearsay.
Strike that last answer from the record.

Mr. Carlyle, did you ever see Mr. Theilman
kissing his secretary?

Yes, sir. Several times.

Yes, Mr. Burger,
I knew perfectly well

that Janice Wainwright
was in love with my husband.

Objection!

Sustained.

I believe that's enough on that subject.

Now, Mrs. Theilman,
you testified previously

that you once danced professionally
under the name of Day Dawns,

but that your true maiden name
is Agnes Vidal.

Returning to the subject
of this blackmail letter,

I ask you to tell us, please, how you felt

when you saw the name A.B. Vidal

used as a return address
on this envelope.

Well, it's obvious.

I felt that some blackmailer
was using my name

to impress my husband
that he knew all about me.

I think that'll be all, Mrs. Theilman.
Thank you.

Your witness.

What was there in your past

that would have made the use
of your maiden name

have connotations of blackmail?

Now just a minute.

You opened the door, Mr. Burger.
Answer the question, please.

What was it, Mrs. Theilman?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I testified that I saw Mr. Theilman
cross the street and enter the side street

and then I lost sight of him.

Exactly. You also told the prosecutor

that you were watching the shadowy young
woman as she followed Mr. Theilman.

That's right. She was about
feet behind him.

Then which one were you really watching?

Well, both of them.

Your eyes were focused
on two moving objects feet apart?

No, of course not.

Then where were they focused?

I guess sort of between
Theilman and the girl.

In other words,
while a good-looking young woman

with a figure you have described
as distinctive and shapely

was crossing the street, you kept
your eyes feet ahead of her?

[laughter]

I didn't mean that. I looked
back and forth at both of them.

Naturally. I must have.

Can you describe the way
this young woman walked?

I've already done so. It was graceful.

Yet you took your eyes
off this graceful, swaying young woman,

not once but many times,
to look at Morley L. Theilman?

No, of course not.

I looked mostly at the woman.

I said that before without thinking.

You answered a question
without thinking while under oath?

Well, I--

Tell me, were you thinking

when you suggested
that the woman joined Mr. Theilman

when you've just now admitted
she only followed him?

That's what I meant to say.

Were you thinking
when you told the prosecutor

that in your opinion
Janice Wainwright's figure is identical

with that of the young woman you saw?

I merely said--

Couldn't the figure you saw just as likely
have been that of Miss Street?

Or that young lady there? Or that one?

I expected to meet my former husband
in Las Vegas, yes.

And you were surprised
to see his secretary there?

Well, when I saw her alone.

Had you been told that she'd be there?

Well, you see, I--

Answer my question, please.
Had Morley Theilman in any way--

through a message,
through his lawyer,

in any manner whatever--

even faintly indicated
that his secretary would accompany him

on this stock-buying rendezvous?

No.

Thank you, Mrs. Theilman.
That'll be all.

Then Miss Della Street-- her, over there--

she said, "Stick around at the railroad
station." They'd be needing me.

I says okay, so later on she slipped me
a bill for waiting several places.

- She gave you a bill?
- Yes, sir.

What kind of a bill?

.

Mr. Roberts, I show you now this $ bill,

serial number LA B.

I ask you if you have ever
seen it before.

Yeah, it's got my initials
right there in the corner.

Very well. I now ask you
to compare this serial number

with a number on one of these lists
just received in evidence

and confirm for us that this $ bill
given you by Miss Della Street

was one of those
from Mr. Theilman's suitcase.

I said she gave it to me! Miss Street!

But you admit you had
many other fares that night.

She gave it to me!

You admit you had a pocket full of bills.

It was her!

You admit the police told you
of the significance of the bill

before asking where it came from!
Now how can you possibly swear--

Because I can swear, and I just did,
and that's it!

Yes, that's the blackmail message

first seen by Mrs. Theilman
in her husband's pocket,

and, um, then later found on his body.

Would you tell us what you had done
to this message

at police headquarters, Lieutenant?

I had experiments made
in duplicating the message.

I bought the Los Angeles Chronicle
and a Los Angeles Bulletin

under the date preceding the m*rder.

I found it was possible
to duplicate that identical message

with words from the headlines
of the two papers.

I have it with me right here.

Well, you see, uh,

my newsstand is downstairs
in the same building.

And, uh, I-- I know Miss Wainwright.

She came downstairs that day to buy
a copy of the Chronicle and the Bulletin.

How do you happen
to remember this so clearly?

Well, because about--
it was about a half hour later,

she came back down again

and bought another copy
of the Chronicle and the Bulletin.

Really?

But you've done so well.

You got them to laugh at Mr. Troy
and his shapely shadow,

and you even got the doctor to admit

he might be wrong
as to the time Mr. Theilman died.

Janice, I've just been throwing sand
in their eyes.

But now their case is finished,

and look at all the facts they're going
to be able to assemble.

You knew about the money.

You prepared those blackmail notes
yourself.

Oh, no.

I went down to get those newspapers
because Mr. Theilman asked me to.

We were always cutting out real estate ads.

I know. You were always acting
under his instructions,

even after the time
they figured he'd been k*lled.

Mr. Mason, listen.

He called me just after I talked
to you that morning,

and he asked me to stay out of sight,

to spend the day
in the beauty parlor if I liked.

That certainly sounds like an employer.

Well, I asked him if I could,

and he said it would be all right
if I wanted to.

Where was your car at that time?

I told you. Down in the parking lot.

The beauty parlor's right next door
to my apartment building.

In the daytime, your car could have
been taken without your knowledge.

But that night, at the time it rained,

the parking lot was locked up.

Your car could only have been
taken by you.

Now,

these tracks here in this photograph
were made by your car.

On top of which,
they've now linked the money

from my office back to you
and then to Las Vegas.

But that isn't the way it happened.

Mr. Mason, everything they have
against me is just circumstantial.

Of course.

Everything that's happened
can be explained by a dead man.

And by you.

Janice, you're simply going to have
to tell them what you know.

You mean on the stand?

You've got to testify in your own behalf.
There's just no other choice.

But I'd be terrified.

All those questions coming at me.

I'd get all mixed up.

I can't, Mr. Mason. I just can't do it.

They'd never believe me.

If the Court please,
a matter of some importance

has occurred to me
since last night's adjournment.

I would like to recall
one of the prosecution's witnesses

for further cross-examination.

- Oh? Which witness?
- Mrs. Carlotta Theilman.

What question do you wish to ask
the ex-Mrs. Theilman?

Whether she paid a taxi driver
in Las Vegas with a $ bill.

Oh, if I could just remember.

I mean, yes, I did use that same
taxi driver-- that Mr. Roberts over there--

but so many things happened
that night that--

I mean, I just hate to swear
to anything that--

Perhaps it would help
if you could tell me this.

Have you ever had dealings
with someone calling himself A.B. Vidal?

Oh, yes.
That's the name the man used

who phoned me the day
before I went to Las Vegas.

Did you recognize his voice?

No, but I heard someone in the background
giving him instructions,

and I was pretty sure
that was my husband-- I mean Morley.

This man who called,
what did he say to you?

It was another invitation
for me to sell my stock.

Well, I told him in no uncertain terms

that if the man behind him
wanted to meet me in Las Vegas,

that's the only way I'd consider it.

So then Morley agreed.

What about money? Were you expected
to pay your own way to meet him?

Oh, no. I received an envelope
by messenger,

and it had a couple of hundred dollars in it.

Were there any $ bills
included in that money?

It was all $ bills.

Thank you, Mrs. Theilman.

Thank you.

You may step down, Mrs. Theilman.

Mrs. Theilman,

you never told me that you spoke
to anybody in this case named Vidal.

You never asked me.

Mr. Burger, does the return of that witness
in any way change your plans?

Do you still wish to rest your case?

Yes, Your Honor.

Yes, if we have any additional
evidence to introduce,

we can always do so by way of rebuttal.

Very well.

Now is the defense
ready to start its case?

We have no evidence on the part
of the defense, Your Honor.

The defense rests.
Let's proceed with the argument.

What?

All right, Mr. District Attorney,
you may open the argument.

Well, Your Honor, I hardly expected--

Yeah, so I gather.

But since the defense is not
introducing any evidence,

now there can't be any additional evidence
from you in rebuttal.

Yes, I'm aware of that, Your Honor.

It's just that to present a full day's
argument without--

Excuse me, Your Honor.

What happened? What did Mr. Mason do?

He's gambling, Janice.

I don't have to go on the stand, then?

No. You won't have to go on the stand.

Your Honor.

The prosecution will waive
its opening argument.

Very well.

Mr. Mason, you may proceed
for the defense.

Now, the court will instruct you

that in a case depending
upon circumstantial evidence,

if there is any reasonable hypotheses
other than that of guilt

upon which the evidence can be explained,

it is your duty to acquit the defendant.

Therefore, in review:

Morley Theilman was engaged in a fight
to retain control of one of his companies.

His only hope was to obtain stock
held by his former wife.

For reasons of secrecy,
he wished to make it a cash deal,

and he tried to approach her
through proxies.

He had a representative
use the name A.B. Vidal.

Why? Because stock
transferred to that name

would be in the name
of his present, legal wife

and therefore under his joint
ownership and control.

Now, we know Mr. Theilman
assembled the necessary cash,

but he was afraid
his moves had been discovered,

so he put together a couple of blackmail
notes and made sure they were seen.

This would explain
and cover what he was really up to.

Mr. Theilman
then went through the pretense

of having the money delivered
to a luggage locker

from which he, of course,
removed it himself.

When Carlotta Theilman insisted
that he come to Las Vegas personally,

he was still prepared for the meeting.

He sent her money for the trip,

and one of those $ bills
ended up in the hands of a taxi driver.

All that is quite obvious.

Now, let's consider the m*rder itself.

The m*rder took place
in a deserted subdivision office

an office in which the prosecution
has tried to suggest

the defendant and the decedent
had an amorous interlude,

after which she k*lled him and left,
following a thundershower.

Now, the only evidence to support
the fact that she supposedly was there

is that her automobile left tracks
in the soft ground while driving away.

However, let's re-examine
this photograph of the house.

Now, suppose Mr. Theilman
did spend the night there, but alone.

Evidence shows

that after talking to him
on the telephone the following morning,

Janice Wainwright went to a beauty parlor,

where off and on she spent
nearly the whole day.

It was only necessary for someone
to have taken her car during that time,

drive out to the real estate office

where by then
Theilman no doubt lay dead,

and return the car.

In order to frame
the case against the defendant

by confusing the time of death,

the m*rder*r had only to see

that the ground at the real estate office
was in some way softened.

Now, the prosecution has assumed

that the ground could only
have been softened by rain.

But look more closely.

This is an enlargement of a section
of that photograph of the house.

You'll notice the hose,

the hose attached to a water faucet
in front of the house.

A brand-new hose, ladies and gentlemen,

left at a house which hadn't been
used for over a year.

All the m*rder*r needed to do
was to drive the defendant's car up there,

drive it into the dirt

which by now must have had time
to dry up after the rain,

wet down that soil
with water from the hose,

and then drive away,

leaving the tire tracks
we have discussed here.

Thus, every bit of circumstantial evidence
in this case can be accounted for.

And that, ladies and gentlemen,
is a reasonable hypothesis.

We ask and expect a verdict
of acquittal at your hands.

All right, Mr. Burger,
you may proceed for the prosecution.

Very well, Your Honor.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

Mr. Mason has indeed surpassed himself.

He has created for you
a story which is pure poppycock!

Absolute and complete nonsense.

The defendant in this case
is a shrewd, scheming woman.

She seduced her employer,
she stole from him,

and finally she m*rder*d him.

And as for Mr. Mason's
ridiculous theory about a hose--

this is an abandoned
real estate office we're talking about.

The water's been shut off
for over a year.

How could anyone possibly--

Your Honor, the District Attorney
is stating facts not in evidence.

Since he lost the opportunity to get
these matters in legitimately, in rebuttal,

he is now trying to do it
through prejudicial misconduct.

I ask the court to declare a mistrial.

A mistrial? How can you--

Mr. Burger, Mr. Mason's point
is well taken.

I doubt that the effects of your remarks
can be removed

by mere admonition of the jury.

Yes, but--

[paper rustles]

But, Your Honor-- P-Please, Your Honor,

within one hour, I can have
water company records here in this court.

No, I'm sorry, Mr. Burger,
but your behavior--

I can have a witness
from the water company here in court.

Your Honor defense is willing
to withdraw its motion for a mistrial.

I beg your pardon?

You're what, Mr. Mason?

Now, it would seem to me
in the best interests of your client--

Your Honor, defense is very interested
in hearing such a witness.

Yes, that's right, sir.
The water was shut off one year ago.

But wasn't it turned on again?

Uh, yes. Yes, it was.
The morning of the th.

The day of the m*rder.

I guess that's right.

Do your records show
who requested that it be turned on?

Oh, yes.

It's here.

It was billed to Mr. Cole B. Troy
of Bakersfield.

I...

I did it.

I k*lled him.

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

Mr. Troy must have been
cheating your boss for a long time, Janice.

That's right. Troy just about managed
to steal the whole company

without Theilman
realizing who was doing it.

Then Theilman made
the awful mistake of confiding in Troy.

Early next morning, Troy followed Theilman
out to the subdivision to settle things.

There was a lot of money involved.
They got into a fight, and Troy k*lled him.

And Mr. Troy just made up the story

about the woman
who followed Mr. Theilman.

That's right, Janice.
There never was a shapely shadow.

Well, I wouldn't say there isn't one.

Janice, one thing I couldn't figure

is why you spent that time
in the beauty parlor.

It seemed kind of suspicious.

Paul, you just don't understand women.

Oh. Well, I think it's about time
I figured out.

Janice, suppose you and I go to dinner.

I know a lovely little restaurant
down at the beach.

And after that--

Excuse me, folks. I was--

Oh. Hi, Janice. You ready to go?

Yes, Henry. I'm ready to go.

Would you excuse us?

Goodbye, Mr. Mason.
And thanks again.

Bye, folks.

And that...explains that.