- 3 days ago
Hello and welcome everyone. In today's feature called Lady in the Death House from 1944 we have an interesting story, a story that is a race against time. Tell me if you were dating someone and they told you that one of their jobs was an executioner for the state, would you still be with them. Even if you were totally in love with them. Our little story starts out with our leading lady Mary Logan. Who is on her way to the electric chair and guess who the executioner is. A friend of hers who is a psychologist/criminologist named Charles Finch, tells her story. Mary is seems was tried and convicted of a murder, the murder of a blackmailer who just so happened was killed in her apartment. Finch tells how Mary and her executioner boyfriend Bradford met and fell in love. Short story long, Finch finds out that Mary's younger sister named Suzy knows something about the murder. Can Finch get Suzy to tell what she knows? Can the governor be reach in time? and can Bradford stall the execution till then. This and more will be answered. Staring in this tall of we have....the lovely Jean Parker as Mary Kirk Logan, the wonderful Lionel Atwill as Charles Finch, Douglas Fowley as Dr. Dwight 'Brad' Bradford, Marcia Mae Jones as Suzy, Robert Middlemass as the State's Attorney, Sam Flint as Governor Harrison, Dick Curtis as Willis Millen and a few more. So if you like let's make some Hurricanes and maybe have some potted beef with some jam spreads. Thanks so much for watching and visiting my little channel.
(No copyright infringement intended, this film is in the public domain. If Dailymotion wishes me to remove this film for some reason, I will. For entertainment only)
(No copyright infringement intended, this film is in the public domain. If Dailymotion wishes me to remove this film for some reason, I will. For entertainment only)
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FunTranscript
00:00.
01:23Oh, please, just a few minutes more.
01:26I'm almost finished.
01:33Will you please give this letter to the warden?
01:35It's for Mr. Finch.
01:37I will.
01:43The last mile, the last long walk to the death chamber and eternity.
01:49An eye for an eye, a life for a life, it is so written.
01:54The state which cannot give life demands a right to take life.
02:00Mary Kirk walked those 39 steps unafraid, leaving behind a letter, a document of courage.
02:11In one hour, I shall be dead, killed by the hand of the man I love.
02:16I can hear the preparations for my execution.
02:19I can feel the expectant hush through the cold walls.
02:24The time element made this case tough.
02:26I saw Fence tonight at the grotto about 7, still trying to solve the case, even at that late hour.
02:30I don't deserve so much credit.
02:32Dr. Bradford's the one you boys should feature.
02:34Well, give us a story.
02:35That's why we're here.
02:36Oh, sorry, Finch.
02:37Well, this is the key that unlocked the Mary Kirk murder case.
02:44It belongs in here until it becomes Exhibit A.
02:48Something to remind me that you're never licked until you give up.
02:52I remember that case, Finch.
02:54A pistol-packing mama.
02:55Was she tough?
02:56That Ace of Spades was the killer's calling card in the Macomber murder.
02:59Boy, was she torrid.
03:00I thought you were falling for her, Finch.
03:02How about the little blonde who met you in the grotto tonight?
03:06Susie, you're a wolf in criminologist clothing.
03:10I'm supposed to be a psychologist.
03:12Well, boys, here's the story.
03:14Starting at the beginning.
03:15Some of you may not know that part.
03:17Well, none of us knew you were in on it until after the trial.
03:20I'll begin with the night I met Brad, Dr. Bradford.
03:23I dropped it at the grotto for a drink.
03:34I got it.
03:46No ice.
03:48So after all that, what could I do?
03:51I just had to accept the mink coat.
03:54I got it.
03:57I got it.
03:58I got it.
03:59I got it.
04:01I got it.
04:02I got it.
04:03I got it.
04:09oh I'm sorry that's all right anyone with me you know about the bird trying to fly with one wing
04:18Bradford's the name Dr. Dwight Bradford when I had friends they'd call me Brad my name is Finch
04:29waiter waiter two more the same Bob we've had enough I want a drink
04:39put that thing down and get me a drink
04:49office around here no I'm not a practicing physician I'm doing some research
04:55you're lucky doing something you like aren't you Charles Finch the criminologist I've seen
05:00your picture in papers I keep insisting that I'm a psychologist I say I'm a scientist but
05:07I haven't proved it yet that's not all I've got another job have to scientists really make a
05:13living but I don't talk about it oh please Bob I wish you wouldn't oh that's good Lord oh look
05:41are you all right yes yes I'm all right thanks very much two-man fire department you do all right
05:51as a one-woman fire you were pretty good yourself I'll fix that for you huh and we are sorry
06:00to do
06:01this to your coat oh yes you'll have to come along that's all right you better go back and finish
06:07your drink here excuse me good night the fire department is taking me home
06:45you
06:45the fire department is taking me home
06:51you
06:53you
06:53you
06:53you
06:53you
06:53you
06:53you
07:07you
07:07you
07:07you
07:07Come on in. We're inspecting the damage.
07:13This is my sister, Susie Kirk, Mr. Finch.
07:15How do you do?
07:16Nothing exciting like that ever happens to me.
07:18It's always merry.
07:20Don't bother, Doctor. It's completely ruined.
07:24Susie, didn't you come in just before we did?
07:27Oh, why, no. I've been home all evening.
07:35I knew Susie was lying.
07:37I thought no more about it.
07:39In fact, the incident had been almost forgotten.
07:42When one night, I received a call from Dr. Bradford.
07:46He wanted me to meet him in his laboratory,
07:49saying there was a special reason for requesting it.
08:00Mr. Finch, I wanted to tell you some of the things I'm doing.
08:05Bourbon and soda, isn't it? And no ice?
08:06I know, I know I have.
08:08Oh, perfect.
08:09A few months ago, the papers and magazines carried some surprising stories about the celebrated Dr. Ziegfeld, who has since
08:16died.
08:17Mm-hmm.
08:17He claimed he had revived animals after they had been dead for some time.
08:22Yes, I read about it.
08:23Now, from my own research, I'm convinced he was right.
08:26And I'm determined to carry on his work.
08:29The very essence of life, I believe, clings to cells and is held in the heart of atoms for an
08:34indefinite length of time, depending somewhat upon how we meet our end.
08:38If you could find some way to bring people back from that borderland, you'd be one of the world's great
08:44benefactors.
08:45Take, for instance, a case of death by drowning.
08:48Or electrocution.
08:50I told you I had a job I dislike, that I hate.
08:55I'm the executioner for the state.
08:59I'm the man who throws the switch to kill those condemned to die.
09:05That's, uh, not what one might call a present job, but, uh, in your case, I can understand it.
09:12Not only that, but I must work.
09:13It costs quite a lot to run this laboratory, and I have to have money.
09:16And I suppose you have opportunities to study those who have been legally put to death.
09:21Only with inmates.
09:22Permission must be obtained.
09:24There's a lot of red tape, and properly so.
09:27This is undoubtedly an imposition, but I simply had to talk it all with someone.
09:31You're a criminologist and a psychologist.
09:33Here's to Mary.
09:37And to me.
09:39You don't mean it.
09:42My congratulations.
09:44Not so fast.
09:45What will she think when I tell her about my, my job?
09:49I don't believe any psychologist could answer that without knowing Mary better.
09:53Depends entirely upon her temperament.
09:55She might understand.
09:57Regard the matter with a complete objectivity.
10:00And she might loathe me.
10:02Finish your drink and come with me.
10:03I can't stand the suspense any longer.
10:06I want you to have dinner with us tonight at the grotto, if you will.
10:09Of course.
10:11Here's to luck.
10:13Good luck.
10:16Good luck.
10:41I'm sorry to be late.
10:43How are you, Mr. Finch?
10:44Glad to see you again.
10:46A man named Richard was telephoning Susie,
10:48and he was so insistent that I was trying to find out where she was.
10:51Did you leave a message for her?
10:53Yes, I did.
10:54I left her to where she could find me.
10:58Mary, I...
11:00Would you...
11:02Would...
11:02Would you care for a drink?
11:05I'd like a cup of coffee.
11:07Coffee?
11:07Waiter?
11:09Bring the lady a cup of tea, please.
11:10I said coffee.
11:13She said coffee.
11:17Mary, this is probably the strangest that...
11:21This is probably the strangest...
11:25Proposal?
11:27Yes, that's...
11:28Proposal?
11:30What kind of proposal?
11:32Why, you know, a proposal.
11:36Yeah.
11:39It's probably the strangest proposal,
11:41because, I mean, it's rather odd
11:43that the guy who's going to propose
11:45invites a third party to be president
11:47at such a time.
11:49Mary,
11:50I want you to...
11:53to...
11:54Is, uh...
11:55to marry the word?
11:57Yes, it is.
11:59Yes, that's the word.
12:00I love you.
12:01Well, perhaps I'd better leave.
12:02No, no, no.
12:04Don't you leave.
12:06There are some things about me
12:08that Mary must know.
12:09She might want to talk tomorrow with you.
12:12Well, I have an idea.
12:14Suppose you go to the bar
12:15and finish your drink,
12:16and I'll stay here
12:17and talk to Mary.
12:18All right.
12:19I'll go to the bar.
12:25Give me a high-ride ball.
12:30But I'll have a high-ride ball.
12:32How about a gerbin with binger ale?
12:34Gerbin, then.
12:37Gerbin.
12:38Yeah.
12:40If you could look upon Dr. Bradford
12:42merely as an instrument of the law.
12:44Oh, but surely he could get another job.
12:46If he loves me.
12:47He does love you.
12:49And we might get him another job,
12:50if you suggest.
12:52In fact, I already have an idea
12:53that might work out.
12:54But Mary,
12:56try to understand
12:57that his chief reason
12:59for holding this position
13:00is because through his prison association,
13:03he had opportunities for investigation.
13:05Oh, but I couldn't, Finch.
13:07I simply couldn't.
13:10Look, he'd be leaving me at night
13:11and I'd wait,
13:13watching the clock,
13:15knowing that when the hour came,
13:17Brad would...
13:19Oh, I couldn't.
13:35I've got to speak to you
13:36for just a moment.
13:38Excuse me.
13:39What happened?
13:41I'll be right back.
13:44Did you tell her?
13:45Yes.
13:46What did she say?
13:47You could if you wanted to.
13:49You just won't help.
13:50Sylvie, I can't.
13:51Why don't you tell me
13:52who's in trouble?
13:53He's a friend of mine
13:55and I...
13:55I feel I'm responsible.
13:58The one who was calling this evening?
14:00I don't know.
14:01Who are you talking about?
14:02Sylvie, I'm sorry.
14:03I haven't the money to...
14:05You would if it wasn't for...
14:06If it wasn't for what?
14:09Nothing.
14:17Your sister seems upset.
14:19Can I be of any assistance?
14:21No.
14:22Thanks.
14:23Susie's always taking somebody else's troubles
14:25on her shoulders.
14:27Sit down, Mary.
14:30Well,
14:31I'm sorry, Brad.
14:34There's nothing more to be said.
14:36Is there...
14:37Mr. Finch has probably told you
14:39how I feel about things.
14:41But somebody has to do it.
14:43It doesn't have to be the man I...
14:46Oh, give it up, Brad.
14:48Please.
14:50I...
14:50I can't, Mary.
14:52Not yet.
14:58Take me home, Brad.
15:04Some time passed.
15:05I used to see Brad now and then.
15:08He was quite depressed,
15:09dejected.
15:10One night,
15:11we were dying together
15:12at the grotto when...
15:15But, uh,
15:16let's get back to this letter
15:17for a moment.
15:20In a few minutes,
15:22I must answer with my life.
15:24Because out of my father's past,
15:26a specter has come back
15:27to haunt me.
15:28To provide a motive
15:29for murder.
15:31Now,
15:32in order to better understand this,
15:34we should know a little more
15:35about Mary.
16:00Yes,
16:01it's all right.
16:02Oh, Miss Kirk?
16:04Mr. Gregory,
16:05I've got to find
16:06some filing space.
16:07And these papers
16:08are very old.
16:09Can't we destroy them
16:10or store them someplace?
16:17My, my,
16:18Tom Logan.
16:20I was too smart
16:21for that crook.
16:23I was appointed head
16:24of the civic committee
16:25to clean up the city.
16:26Picked the right man,
16:28busted the racketeers
16:29in jig time.
16:30Logan was killed.
16:32That was a dozen years ago.
16:35How'd you know that?
16:38The complaint stated.
16:40Oh, of course.
16:42I thought you were
16:42too young to remember.
16:44About the age of
16:45Tom Logan's oldest girl,
16:47I should guess.
16:49And there was a younger one.
16:51One that died
16:52when she was born.
16:54I tried to find them both,
16:56plunk them in a reform school.
16:58that some relative
16:59of the mother's
17:00took her out of the state.
17:03Two little crooks,
17:04I suppose.
17:06Couldn't be anything else.
17:07Blood will tell.
17:09I pride myself
17:11on the fact
17:11that everyone working
17:12for me in my bank
17:13comes from the right people.
17:15I've personally examined
17:16their backgrounds
17:17and know they can all
17:17be trusted.
17:19What about me?
17:21You're the one exception.
17:24However, Frank Ross,
17:26my oldest friend,
17:26recommended you.
17:27His word's good enough
17:28for me.
17:30You've been with me
17:31for five years.
17:32And you wouldn't be
17:33in this confidential position
17:34if you hadn't shown
17:35the right stuff.
17:36Thank you, Mr. Gregory.
17:39What about the papers?
17:40You can get rid of them.
17:42No use of cluttering up
17:43things with these records.
17:44I've got a whole scrap
17:45of newspaper clippings
17:46at home.
17:47I'll take care of these
17:47the first thing
17:48in the morning.
17:49And if there's nothing more,
17:50I'll go home now.
17:51All right, good night.
18:15I told you never
18:16to come here again.
18:18I don't want Susie to know.
18:20Ah, slow down.
18:20I've got good news
18:22for you.
18:24I'm leaving town.
18:26I'm taking up
18:28a little collection
18:28from some of my friends
18:29and thought maybe
18:31you'd like to contribute.
18:33I haven't got much.
18:34You've taken almost every...
18:35I helped Tom Logan plenty
18:36when the going was rough.
18:38And that's something
18:39you wouldn't want me
18:40to tell Mr. Gregory.
18:43I'd think it over.
18:44It'd be worth a lot to you,
18:45wouldn't it,
18:46if you never saw me again.
19:11That money I've saved
19:12is for Susie,
19:13her education.
19:14She's going to college this fall.
19:16Susie can go to work.
19:18I've got to have 500 more
19:19and then I'll never come back.
19:21You can tell Mr. Gregory
19:22if you want everything.
19:24Good evening.
19:31Come on.
19:59Come on.
20:27Come on.
20:28What happened?
20:29Mary.
20:31Why did you...
20:39He says somebody named Mary done it.
20:53Get me the police, quick.
20:56I may have some news for you.
20:58Good news.
21:01It'll take a little time, but...
21:07Mary, what's happened?
21:09Oh, I was hoping I could find you here.
21:11Something dreadful has happened.
21:13Please come with me right now.
21:18You say you found the man before he died,
21:20and he said something about this girl.
21:21He said, Mary, why did you?
21:24Who was the man?
21:27Who was he, Mary?
21:28You better tell us.
21:29The police can find out.
21:34Oh, Brad.
21:47Who are you?
21:53She's my sister, Suzanne.
21:56What do you know about the man that was murdered here tonight?
22:02Was it that blackmailer?
22:10His name was Willis Millen.
22:13Good.
22:14Now we're going places.
22:16Millen, huh?
22:18Millen.
22:20I know.
22:21No.
22:22He was a front man for Tom Logan when he was running that pinball racket.
22:26So he was blackmailing you, was he?
22:30Yes.
22:31And you stood as long as you could, but tonight you rebelled,
22:33and you hit him over the head with that statue.
22:35I didn't kill him.
22:37I wasn't even in the room.
22:42Brad, you believe me, don't you?
22:44Of course I do.
22:46We'll get your fingerprints off that statue.
22:49You'd rather expect to find her fingerprints on him, wouldn't you?
22:52This is her home.
22:55You know, every so often we bump into you, Charlie Finch,
22:59you've probably forgotten that I have a couple of witnesses who saw her hit him over the head.
23:11I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to come to headquarters, Miss Kirk.
23:22Have you found any other clues?
23:24I didn't search the place.
23:26One of the boys did.
23:27He didn't find anything.
23:29This isn't one of those tough cases that depends on clues.
23:32Perhaps.
23:33In my experience, there's no such thing as a sure conviction.
23:37Not even when there's a confession.
23:38The girl claims she didn't do it.
23:41Perhaps you'll need a key to unlock a mystery before you're through, Sergeant.
23:44It'll take more than a key to get her out of jail.
23:54I had a key all right.
23:56But a key without a door to unlock.
23:58It wasn't difficult to find out where Millen lived.
24:00But the key didn't fit his lock.
24:03Then I questioned Susie regarding her boyfriends.
24:06And she was reticent.
24:07She was more than that.
24:09She was cagey.
24:10Sometimes I thought she didn't care what happened to Mary.
24:14Then, one day, I discovered the thumbprint on the key.
24:18Which maxed exactly with one I had found on the statue.
24:22There were plenty of Mary's prints there.
24:24So they disregarded the only important one.
24:28Mr. Gregory, of course, will always believe that I'm guilty.
24:32He will probably witness my execution with a smile.
24:36Well, he won't have long to wait.
24:38They will come for me soon now.
24:42I went to see Gregory.
24:45Your interest in this case, Mr. Finch, is in my opinion entirely unwarranted.
24:50The shame and humiliation this has brought upon me is almost unbearable.
24:53I can't hold my head up again.
24:55I can understand your emotion, Mr. Gregory.
24:58But it's the girl who's going on trial for her life.
25:01Tom Logan's daughter.
25:03That's the bitter I have to swallow.
25:05If you could in some way help me to clear her,
25:07you'll be helping your own case at the same time.
25:10Will you?
25:11Well, being human, I feel very sorry for Mary Kirk.
25:16Much more to be said.
25:18I don't blame those people at the trial.
25:20It was all against me.
25:22I lived a nightmare of days.
25:44I first met Mr. Millen one night when my sister was out.
25:48He came to the house.
25:49Did he mention money?
25:52Yes.
25:52He supposed I knew Mary was paying him.
25:55Did you tell her about the visit?
25:58Yes.
25:59But I never mentioned I knew about the money.
26:02Robbery couldn't have been the motive.
26:04We found a large roll of bills in his pocket.
26:09If I had known she was using an alias,
26:11that she was Tom Logan's daughter.
26:13Objection.
26:14Objection sustained.
26:15I can say what I think.
26:16Not in this court.
26:18Mr. Gregory.
26:19It is Mary Kirk Logan who is on trial, not her father.
26:22But I...
26:23You will confine your answers to the questions asked.
26:28Susie.
26:30Do you believe your sister is guilty?
26:35Yes.
26:37Why do you think that?
26:39I heard Mary threaten him once.
26:42When I was in the bedroom and she didn't know it.
26:47Then I seen her bring something down over his head and he fell.
26:50You could identify her?
26:52You are sure it was the defendant?
26:54We went in.
26:55Yes, we know Mr. Avery.
26:56But you mean to tell the judge and this jury that you could be sure it was the defendant?
27:01That the figures on the window shade were so distinct you couldn't be mistaken?
27:06I'm positive.
27:07I gotta believe my own eyes.
27:20There's only one thing to do but Mary on the stand.
27:24Perhaps the sincerity will convince some of them.
27:27When I came out of the bedroom, I saw no one.
27:32He was lying there.
27:35I wanted to get help.
27:51In all of my sixteen years as attorney for this county, I've never tried a case so clear cut.
27:57Everything is there.
27:59The alias under which the defendant was known.
28:02The blackmailer from out of her past.
28:05The growing desperation.
28:07The final demand and the killing.
28:13Why should I waste your time pointing out the little things that go to prove her guilt?
28:19We've presented witnesses to the crime.
28:22This is a question of honesty.
28:25Human beings can be mistaken.
28:27Two witnesses have sworn they identified the defendant.
28:30But it is possible through the confusion of rapid action silhouetted on the window shade,
28:36that they could be wrong.
28:37I put the defendant on the witness stand so you could judge her honesty.
28:42If she were dishonest, she could have claimed Millen attacked her and she struck him in self-defense.
28:48She didn't claim it because she was telling the truth.
28:52We find the defendant guilty as charged.
28:56On the night of April 15th at 11 o'clock.
29:39I don't suppose, up to that moment, that the thought occurred to either Mary or Brad,
29:45that the fate was so conspired to make him the executioner.
29:48Of the girl he loved.
29:50Yet fantastic, inhuman, call it what you will.
29:54Each read the thought in the other's eyes.
29:57Bradford could have refused.
29:58That is true.
30:00However, he didn't.
30:01Perhaps he hoped to bring her back to life after she'd been declared legally dead.
30:05Up to this point, there was nothing unusual as murder cases go.
30:08But a strange psychological change was taking place, as you will see.
30:13Except for Brad and me, I don't suppose there was a single person who believed her innocent.
30:18Neither did the boys who've been covering murders for years.
30:21Now, if you've been in my place and believed her innocent, what would you have done?
30:27Gone after Susie?
30:28That's exactly what I did.
30:30Susie was an interesting psychological study.
30:35Although emotionally unstable, she was not vicious.
30:38Now, mind you, when I say Susie lied, she did.
30:41But she was convinced that Mary was guilty.
30:43Why shouldn't she protect her boyfriends?
30:45They were innocent.
30:47However, there was one who wasn't innocent.
30:49But someone Susie, by no stretch of the imagination, could connect with the crime.
30:54And like many adolescents, her defense mechanism made her evasive.
31:00I know you're anxious to help your sister.
31:03Of course, but how can I help her?
31:05Someone might have killed Mirren while she was in the bedroom.
31:08I suppose they could.
31:10But Mary said she didn't see or hear anyone.
31:13Someone who got in the back door, through the kitchen.
31:17One of your boyfriends, perhaps.
31:19Mr. Finch!
31:21If you'll forget your indignation, perhaps I can save your sister from the electric chair.
31:26What do you want to know?
31:28To start with, the first night I met you, the night that Dr. Bradford and I brought your sister home,
31:34I saw you get out of a coupe in front of your house.
31:38You told your sister you've been home all evening.
31:42I was home, no matter what you think.
31:45I just went out when I heard someone honk.
31:47Who was the man?
31:49I don't remember.
31:51Let's see.
31:52Who was it?
31:55Oh, yes.
31:56Bill Ellsworth.
31:57That's who it was.
31:58Where can I find him?
31:59Oh, I haven't the remotest idea.
32:01He's a boy I met at a dance.
32:03You might give him the name of all the other boys you know,
32:06that you go out with.
32:08All of them?
32:10I hope you've got plenty of paper.
32:13Well, I could believe there'd be a long list.
32:15Oh, Mr. Finch.
32:21Good morning.
32:23Does Bill Ellsworth live here?
32:24He does when he's home, but he's been in South America for over a year.
32:28I thought so.
32:30Excuse me.
32:43There wasn't a clue in the whole list.
32:45A lot of youngsters, most of them, many of them like Ellsworth,
32:48not even in the country.
32:49And I had caught Susie in another lie.
32:51Well, what about Millen's friends?
32:52Millen was always a cheap grafter, a coward.
32:55I tried through his friends to get a clue,
32:57but even the underworld despised him.
32:59Well, he was no friend of Tom Logan's.
33:01And while we're on the subject, Gregor was out to make a name for himself.
33:04That's why he went after Logan on his pinball machine.
33:08To hear Gregory tell it, you'd think Mary's father was a gangster.
33:12He was running a legitimate business.
33:14Did the city council ban the games?
33:16That was my chief reason for investigating Millen's friends.
33:20I hoped I might be able to hang something on Gregory.
33:24Well, as you know, there was an appeal.
33:27Motion for a new trial was denied.
33:29But anything to gain time.
33:32However, we lost.
33:34Once more, I went to see Mary.
34:03Not yet.
34:09Do you remember the night you came out of the grotto to meet Brad and me, and you were late?
34:14You said some man had been telephoning Susie.
34:18Do you recall his name?
34:20No, I don't.
34:22It was a first name.
34:24I never heard Susie mention him before.
34:27Try what it was.
34:29What did he say?
34:31Well, he didn't say much.
34:33He was excited and said, tell her...
34:37Tell her...
34:38Yes?
34:42I can't remember.
34:44Perhaps this will help.
34:45When Susie came into the grotto, what did she say?
34:48Did she use his name?
34:50No, all she said was that she had to have some money.
34:55And I tried to find out what it was for, but she wouldn't say.
34:59She wanted me to lend it to her.
35:01How much did she want?
35:02A thousand dollars.
35:04Hmm.
35:04You and Brad were there at the time.
35:06I didn't feel I could pursue the subject.
35:09I just told her I couldn't let her have it.
35:12Someone, a man Susie knew, had to have a thousand dollars.
35:16Maybe she'll remember that.
35:19I'll come again, dearie.
35:22Call me tonight, will you?
35:27Anything new from Finch?
35:30No.
35:31But...
35:31He's still at it.
35:33And he's the best man in the country.
35:35It's good to have a friend like him.
35:37I wish I could help as much.
35:39If I could only do something.
35:41You've done everything anybody could.
35:46You know I love you, Mary.
35:49And you believe me, don't you?
35:51I do.
36:04The matriarch has come for me now, and I must close this.
36:08But I want to tell you something it will be difficult for you to believe.
36:13Incredible as it may seem, as the hour of our execution approached,
36:19Mary became resigned to the fact that Brad was the executioner for the state.
36:24To quote her,
36:27I wanted to be Brad.
36:29I know now how the women of our Western Plains must have felt
36:33when facing death at the hands of savages.
36:37By a process of reasoning, she became to regard Brad, the executioner,
36:42as but one small cog in the machinery of the law by which she was doomed to die.
36:47The jurors that voted for conviction, and the judge who passed sentence,
36:52were far more responsible, in her opinion.
36:54Well, she's right. But who'd expect a woman to be that logical?
36:57That brings us to tonight.
36:59Uh, at the grotto.
37:00And Susie.
37:03The usual.
37:04No ice.
37:05Yeah, just a man I want to see.
37:07Any last-minute developments in the Mary Kirk case?
37:09Nothing.
37:11Seven o'clock.
37:12Guess the executioner will come off on schedule.
37:15At eleven.
37:16You asked me to meet you here?
37:18Oh, yes.
37:19And you're right on time.
37:21Come on.
37:21Let's find a booth.
37:25Finch is still trying.
37:27I talked to that little dame, and she doesn't know anything.
37:30And I mean anything.
37:32And coffee.
37:37Susie,
37:38I don't believe you are consciously sending your sister to the electric chair,
37:42but I am positive that you hold the key to the murder.
37:48If you bring that subject up again, I'll leave.
37:50You've lied to me several times.
37:54Who are you protecting?
37:57Sit down.
37:58If you attempt to leave, I'll take you to jail for questioning.
38:02Jail?
38:03Yes, jail.
38:04Now, whom are you protecting?
38:07You're protecting someone.
38:09And I believe that that man killed Millen.
38:12I'm not protecting anyone.
38:14I've got a right to some privacy.
38:16Oh.
38:17Do you think I'd keep anything back if I thought it would save Mary's life?
38:21Let me be the judge of that.
38:25Susie.
38:28Seemingly unimportant things are sometimes of the greatest importance of the trained investigator.
38:32Of course you want to save Mary.
38:35But you're working on the assumption that she's guilty.
38:37You told me that.
38:39I don't believe she is.
38:42Well, I'll tell you tomorrow.
38:45Everything I know.
38:46You'll see then how unimportant.
38:48Oh, please don't do that.
38:51It makes me nervous.
38:53Oh, of course.
38:54But tomorrow will be too late.
38:56I just happen to know something which doesn't concern anyone in the world, but...
39:07But who?
39:09Someone you wouldn't know.
39:11It has nothing to do with me or you or Mary or anyone else.
39:19You better put that car key back in your pocket before you forget it.
39:24How do you know it's a car key?
39:25It would just as well be a house key.
39:27Oh, I don't know.
39:29I just supposed.
39:37No message for me?
39:38No, sir.
39:39Mr. Finch hasn't telephoned.
39:41Not since early this afternoon.
39:43It was nice of him to give me hope.
39:46Nothing from no doctor.
39:49She didn't ask for someone else to take my place?
39:51No, sir.
39:58Susie, I'll let you keep your secret if you tell me the name of the man who was in the
40:02coupé.
40:03The one you said was Bill Ellsworth.
40:05I said that because it was none of your business.
40:10I never dreamed you'd check up on me.
40:13Who was it?
40:17That key belongs to the man who was in the coupé.
40:19I'm sure of it.
40:21What's his name?
40:31Ah, I remember his name.
40:33You tried to borrow money from your sister for him.
40:36His name is Richard.
40:39You wouldn't tell me because you were afraid it might involve you in some personal scandal.
40:44He was very close to you, wasn't he?
40:49Am I right?
40:51No.
40:52No.
40:52But I promise to keep you out of it, Susie.
40:55Look at it my way.
40:57Richard had a key to the back door.
41:01How did you know that?
41:03I didn't.
41:05You just told me.
41:07Oh.
41:08Needing money desperately, he got into the kitchen.
41:11He saw the roll of bills that Millen had and...
41:13He couldn't possibly have done it.
41:15I'm convinced that he did.
41:18Otherwise, how could his car key have been on your floor?
41:23Oh, how horrible.
41:26But it's too late.
41:28He's leaving town tonight.
41:29Alone?
41:31Or with somebody else?
41:33Oh, he wouldn't do that.
41:35Don't be too sure.
41:37Do you think we can find him, Susie?
41:39We can't.
41:41It's too late, I tell you.
41:43We can't.
41:44Come on.
41:44Let's try.
41:47Here's where he keeps his car.
41:49Is he getting away in it?
41:50Yes, that's what he said.
42:07That's his car.
42:08Good.
42:08We're in time.
42:09Where does he live?
42:10Around the corner.
42:11Ah.
42:37The key fits all right.
42:39Now, there's nothing to do but wait.
42:41And pray.
42:43Pray that he comes in time.
42:55What time is it?
43:02You've got half an hour.
43:03Half an hour.
43:32Richard.
43:33Susie.
43:36What are you doing here?
43:37I just had to see you before you left.
43:40I needn't have gone if you'd got me that money.
43:43Why didn't you grab Millen's money when you had a chance?
43:46Where were you?
43:47I protected you.
43:49Now you're discerning me.
43:50You're letting my sister die.
43:51Why, you...
43:52Stand where you are.
43:56All right, out.
43:57Quick.
44:03Snells proved to be a coward at heart.
44:05He wasn't hard to handle.
44:07He was stalling as much as I suspected.
44:09He worked at Gregory's bank and wanted to be a big shot.
44:12So he stole some money and tried to cover it up.
44:14Then he stole some more to make his first theft good and so on.
44:18Susie was flattered by his attentions.
44:20And tried to get some Mary money for Mary for him.
44:22Heaven knows what reason.
44:24What really happened was...
44:46I told you never to come here again.
44:49I don't want Susie to know.
44:51Ah, slow down.
44:52I got good news for you.
44:54I'm leaving town.
44:56I'm, uh, taking up a little collection from some of my friends and, uh, thought maybe you'd like to contribute.
45:03You've taken all of us...
45:03I helped Tom Logan plenty when the going was tough.
45:06And that's something you wouldn't want me to tell Mr. Gregory.
45:08That money I've saved is for Susie.
45:11Her education.
45:12She's going to college this fall.
45:14Susie can go to work.
45:15I've got to have 500 more and then I'll never come back.
45:19You can tell Mr. Gregory if you want to.
45:21Everything!
45:49You can tell Mr. Gregory.
45:58Mr. Millen.
46:28All right.
46:30Go.
46:32Come on.
46:34Come on.
46:37Come on.
46:40Come on.
46:43I've got to go.
46:55until Gregory hears this hello let me governor Harrison on the phone what and
47:01hurry it's a matter of life and death try the executive mansion told me he
47:05needed hello out or find him all right we'll try there governor Harrison had a
47:14broadcast tonight his wife doesn't know where he went from there oh yes is
47:19governor Harrison there left 10 minutes ago did he go home did he have anybody
47:27with him just his chauffeur thank you Susie get on that telephone and keep
47:35trying the police he will help you tell mrs. Harrison who you are and we have a
47:38confession we're fighting against time get me a motorcycle escort I'm gonna try
47:43and convince that ward if I can get there in time oh couldn't you telephone he
47:47won't listen to anybody but the governor that's the law but if I can see him I
47:51might get him to delay the execution I'll get the governor somehow
48:02stay in prison
48:30Oh, my God.
48:45What are we doing here, Jennings?
48:48Oh, this is it?
48:50Good.
48:51It's not a very nice place for a governor to be seen, but it's...
48:54Harsh Jennings.
48:55Nice places, as you call them, never have the kind of sandwiches I like.
49:08What can I do for you fellas?
49:10Oh, excuse me.
49:12I just listened to you on the radio, Governor Harrison.
49:15It sure was a swell speech.
49:18Now, could you make us a couple of Denver sandwiches?
49:21Smothered an onion.
49:23I'll make you the best ones you ever eat.
49:25Yeah.
49:36About time, Dr. Bradford?
49:38Yes, I... I know.
49:40Of course you know how I feel.
49:41How we all feel about it.
49:53There's always the millionth chance the governor will intervene.
49:56I'll be right by the telephone, sir.
50:26I'll be right back.
50:47We're late.
50:48Get on with it, doctor.
50:50Come, come.
50:51No one wants to see that girl die.
50:53But the law says she must.
50:55No word from Finch?
50:57No.
50:58And none from the governor.
51:00She's innocent, Warden.
51:01You know she is.
51:03I believe she is.
51:04It's coming to know her.
51:05But it's...
51:06We can't kill her.
51:07We can't.
51:09We have no choice.
51:12Maybe you have no choice.
51:13But I have.
51:15I'm not going to throw the switch until I hear from Finch.
51:18Think of the girl.
51:19Well, you can't let her sit there waiting.
51:22It's torture.
51:23I can't.
51:24I can't.
51:25Pull yourself together.
51:27You're a doctor.
51:28I'm human.
51:30Listen, Warden.
51:30I thought I could.
51:32I refused to give up this job when she asked me to.
51:35This is different.
51:36I love her.
51:37I can't kill her.
51:38Law or no law?
51:39Stand aside.
51:40I'll throw the switch.
51:41No, you won't.
51:42No one will.
51:45I'll give you one more chance.
51:46If you refuse, I'll call the guards with orders to shoot.
51:51Call them.
51:52That'll give her a few more minutes.
51:54And it'll take them some time to get me.
51:57Call them.
52:03Listen to me and you'll have the scoop of the year.
52:05We've got Snell's confession.
52:07My sister's innocent.
52:08Help me.
52:09Please, please.
52:14I'll give you one last chance.
52:17Come out.
52:33I'm glad you like it, Governor.
52:39We are interrupting this program for an important announcement.
52:43We are trying to reach Governor Harrison.
52:45If Governor Harrison hears this, please call Warden Lewis at once.
52:50Snell, a bank teller, has confessed to the murder of Willis Millen.
52:54Mary Kirk Logan is innocent.
52:57Governor Harrison, please call Warden Lewis immediately.
53:09Just keep him here until I come out.
53:12Yes.
53:13Yes, sir.
53:14It's the Governor.
53:17Stop, Warden.
53:18The Governor has stayed the execution.
53:20A bank teller for the name of Snell has confessed.
53:22The Governor has known all the facts, but it satisfied itself.
53:24Thank heaven, Dr. Bradford saved her.
53:26Is the Governor on the wire?
53:27Yes.
53:28Release her.
53:32Hold this up together, Brad.
53:34And bring Mary to me as soon as you have her released.
53:39The Warden gave me this when I was leaving.
53:42That letter would be worth a nice piece of change to my paper.
53:46Sorry, Max.
53:47It doesn't belong to me.
53:59Now, now, let's not be some solemn.
54:01It's a rare thing for the ghost elect to be able to destroy her last will and testament.
54:05It reminds me, this letter is your appointment to the staff of the Chicago Research Foundation, and Professor Michelson.
54:15Thanks for everything.
54:17Well, here's to the new job, a lovely wife.
54:22Here's your friend.
54:23I prefer my toast this way.
54:28Waiter!
54:29Waiter!
54:33Put that thing down and get me a drink.
54:36Please, Bob.
54:37You've had enough.
54:37I want a drink!
54:40Darling, I think we'd better leave.
54:42This is where we came in.
54:44Is he coming?
54:45No, no, I think I'll stay.
54:49I still have my overcoat.
54:51And you never can tell.
55:21All up.
55:21I still have my overcoat.
55:22But you who was what I thought was cool.
55:22mountain.
55:22In the middle of my auch.
55:22If we love her, I'll stay.
55:22I'll stay.
55:23How about this?
55:23Bye-bye.