A pair of detectives investigate the murder of an elderly millionaire who was the target of blackmail and death threats and find that there is no shortage of suspects, many of them in the victim's own family.
#comedy #crime #drama #mystery
#comedy #crime #drama #mystery
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00:00:37The End
00:01:07Henry, please keep away from that window.
00:01:09Don't take chances if you think we're in danger.
00:01:12Elsa, she's going to see that man next door again.
00:01:15I don't like it.
00:01:17Oh, I don't worry about her.
00:01:18It's all right, dear brother.
00:01:20Just don't take unnecessary risks.
00:01:38She's gone next door again.
00:01:39I know it.
00:01:40I saw her.
00:01:41Yes, sir.
00:01:43What you'd like to know, that's all.
00:01:49Good afternoon, Mr. Murphy.
00:01:50How are you doing?
00:01:50Fine, Miss Carson.
00:01:51Thank you for asking.
00:01:52Go right in.
00:01:54Hello, Mr. Bernard.
00:01:55Hello, Elsa.
00:01:56Sit down, please.
00:01:58I must have started something when I introduced you to Landis.
00:02:02Why?
00:02:03What do you mean?
00:02:04Did you come over just to have tea with an old man?
00:02:07Or is someone else coming?
00:02:09I don't know.
00:02:10Of course, a gym drops in.
00:02:12Oh, when now is it?
00:02:14Well, Landis is a fine chap, all right.
00:02:16But detectives shouldn't get married.
00:02:18Not until they retire.
00:02:20What do you mean?
00:02:21How about that lady who lives next door to us?
00:02:23Mrs. Talman, why, your aunt and I are just old friends.
00:02:27So I've noticed.
00:02:29Say, if you get any more crazy notions about me, you can meet Landis in your uncle's home
00:02:33instead of my garden.
00:02:36If you knew how I've hated my uncle's house.
00:02:38And now it's even worse.
00:02:41I've wanted to talk to you about this, Mr. Bernard.
00:02:43I don't feel that everything's right with my uncle's.
00:02:46Financially?
00:02:46Oh, no, it isn't that.
00:02:48It's just little things I noticed.
00:02:50Well, tell me some of the things, Elsa.
00:02:51Well, none of them seems anything by itself.
00:02:54Oh, I suppose it's natural enough for two elderly men not to venture out of the house after dark.
00:02:59Anyone might hate to sit in a lighted room unless the blinds were drawn,
00:03:02and anyone might be nervous of burglars or fly into a rage at the mere mention of peddlers.
00:03:07Well, how long have they seemed nervous?
00:03:09I noticed it about two weeks ago.
00:03:11Have you any idea what makes them so nervous?
00:03:14They're rather mysteries in the neighborhood, you know.
00:03:16Well, I've wondered about Deegan.
00:03:19Who's Deegan?
00:03:20He was the last man we had.
00:03:22He shouted all sorts of threats when Uncle Henry discharged him.
00:03:26I don't think he'd do anything really dangerous, though.
00:03:29I like Deegan.
00:03:30Much better, in fact, than our present man.
00:03:32Good.
00:03:42Good afternoon, Mr. Bernard.
00:03:44Hello, Elsa.
00:03:45Sit down.
00:03:45I'll pour you some tea.
00:03:46Are you all through?
00:03:47Yep.
00:03:47I have my man in jail, and my work here is finished.
00:03:49I'm going to town tonight.
00:03:51Give my regards to all the gang at headquarters.
00:03:53I surely will, sir.
00:03:55But don't think for a moment you're forgotten.
00:03:56The old-timers all hauled you up as a shining example to me.
00:04:00They call me Sherlock Jr.
00:04:01Well, the old ways have certain merits.
00:04:03Don't disregard them entirely.
00:04:07You're not finished already.
00:04:09What's a hurry?
00:04:09I was going to take you for a little drive.
00:04:11It's the last chance I'll have for a while.
00:04:12Don't mind me.
00:04:13I'll go for a stroll.
00:04:14Sit down.
00:04:15We have nothing to say that can't be said before you.
00:04:18Oh, haven't we?
00:04:19Hello, everybody.
00:04:20Having a little tea party?
00:04:21Mr. Landis, this is Mr. Blake.
00:04:23How are you?
00:04:24How are you?
00:04:24Mr. Blake is my, uh, paying guest.
00:04:27Calls himself a chemist.
00:04:29And if he's making horrible stenches as any criterion, he is.
00:04:34I'll surprise you one of these days and make Dr. Milliken take a back seat.
00:04:37I'll bet he's worried.
00:04:38Mr. Blake in?
00:04:39Oh, excuse me.
00:04:41What is it, sir?
00:04:43Excuse me, please.
00:04:44I want some carbon tetrachloride.
00:04:46What do you know about carbon tetrachloride?
00:04:49Oh, me one time a terror.
00:04:51Oh, yeah?
00:04:52Come on out to my laboratory.
00:04:53Oh, thank you very much.
00:04:56Let's go, but Blake gets back.
00:04:57Oh, he's not as bad as all that.
00:04:59But remember, this is my last day here.
00:05:01All right, run along then.
00:05:02I'll be seeing you again soon, sir.
00:05:04You don't have to tell me that.
00:05:11Ah, what a glorious thing you this.
00:05:14Pity it's wasted on the young.
00:05:16I beg your pardon, sir?
00:05:17Oh, nothing, nothing.
00:05:18Aren't you going to let Mr. Blake absentee?
00:05:21What's the matter, Blake?
00:05:22Oh, nothing?
00:05:23Is Miss Carson gone?
00:05:25That's your hated rival kidnapper.
00:05:27Who is he?
00:05:29Oh, a youngster who got on the detective force
00:05:31through a political pull,
00:05:32then upset all predictions by making good.
00:05:35I should think she's better than that.
00:05:37She'll inherit all her uncle's money, won't she?
00:05:39Yes, and the old misers are quite wealthy, too.
00:05:44You said you'd see the way was clear for me,
00:05:46and you haven't kept your bargain.
00:05:48Keep a civil tongue in your head, you pup.
00:05:52You'd better talk to her, or...
00:05:54Or what?
00:05:55You'll find out.
00:05:57Any more of this double-crossing,
00:05:58and I'll wring that scrawny old neck of yours.
00:06:13Won't you please say, yes, dear?
00:06:16I can't now.
00:06:17Oh, it's no use pretending I love my uncles.
00:06:19I don't.
00:06:20They wouldn't let me when my mother and father were killed
00:06:22and I first came to live with them.
00:06:24But they need me, Jim.
00:06:33I saw you, you rake.
00:06:35Under my very nose.
00:06:37Now get into the house, you baggage.
00:06:39Hold on, sir.
00:06:39You must be crazy.
00:06:40I'll show you a load of buckshot how crazy I am.
00:06:43Get out of here.
00:06:44Wait!
00:06:44Elsa!
00:06:49I'm going to marry your niece whether you like it or not.
00:06:52Over my dead body.
00:06:53That may be a prophecy.
00:06:54What's that?
00:06:54Excitement is dangerous to a man of your age.
00:07:04I'm glad to see you home again, Mrs. Stallman.
00:07:06Oh, that's very nice of you to say so.
00:07:08For two reasons.
00:07:10Have you seen Elsa's uncles lately?
00:07:12I'm as welcome in that house as a polecat at a garden party.
00:07:16I only moved here to be close to Elsa.
00:07:19Oh, you're not their sister then?
00:07:20Heaven forbid.
00:07:22But Elsa's mother was.
00:07:24They wanted her to marry a scoundrel,
00:07:26but my brother stole her right under their very noses.
00:07:29They've never forgotten it.
00:07:33Yes?
00:07:36Mr. Landis to see Mr. Bernard.
00:07:39Hello.
00:07:41Pardon me.
00:07:42I was next door and saw you come in here.
00:07:44You know Mr. Landis, Mrs. Stallman.
00:07:46So you're the young man Elsa wrote about.
00:07:49What's the matter, boy?
00:07:50Elsa's uncle.
00:07:51I'm not going to have us objective to those insults.
00:07:53What insults?
00:07:55What did he do?
00:07:56A couple of things that I won't stand for
00:07:57and said that I would marry her only over his dead body.
00:08:01That's not a bad idea.
00:08:04What have they got against me?
00:08:06Perhaps they don't like detectives.
00:08:07Just what do you mean by that?
00:08:09Well, nothing.
00:08:09But they won't even speak to me, and I'm retired.
00:08:13I've decided not to leave tonight.
00:08:26Henry, there's a man sneaking about the garden.
00:08:30What did you tell me about keeping away from the window?
00:08:32What are you trying to do?
00:08:33Make a target of yourself?
00:08:35But whom are you afraid of, Henry?
00:08:39You'll know soon enough if you're not more careful.
00:09:00Hello?
00:09:01Hello?
00:09:03Who is it?
00:09:04Who else is?
00:09:05Please come over.
00:09:07Something terrible has happened.
00:09:08I'll be over as soon as I get rest.
00:09:14Please, Mr. Bernard, tell me what to do.
00:09:16There, there, now, dear.
00:09:18Keep cool.
00:09:18Now tell me, what's happened?
00:09:20Uncle Henry.
00:09:21In there.
00:09:29Oh, no, no.
00:09:30I can't go in there again.
00:09:55Hello, doctor.
00:09:57Henry Carson was in there in the library, stabbed in the back.
00:09:59Great Scott.
00:10:01Murdoch?
00:10:15Good.
00:10:16Well, this is the one time I didn't expect to see you, as if you'd stepped out of a band
00:10:19box.
00:10:20Did you think I'd be wearing an old flannel night shirt?
00:10:29There, there.
00:10:30It was a dreadful shock, wasn't it?
00:10:37Come in and stay at the door, Jim.
00:10:40Well, I'm glad you're on this case, young fellow.
00:10:42Thanks.
00:10:43The body's in the library.
00:10:44There's Foote who first found it.
00:10:46Tell Mr. Landis all you know, will you, Foote?
00:10:47Unless you'd rather look in the library first.
00:10:49Anything you suggest.
00:10:50I suppose you'll take charge.
00:10:51Oh, no.
00:10:52I'm on the shelf, but I'll help you if you want me to.
00:10:55Thanks.
00:10:57What do you know about it?
00:10:58I woke about two o'clock, sir.
00:11:00It was very warm, so I got up and opened the window.
00:11:03I saw the light from the library shining on the lawn, so I came downstairs.
00:11:07I thought Mr. Henry was asleep.
00:11:10I shook him very gently.
00:11:12But he wasn't asleep.
00:11:14So I called Miss Elsa.
00:11:19Elsa, were you awake when the butler rapped on your door?
00:11:22Yes.
00:11:23I mean, no.
00:11:24I don't think so.
00:11:28Did you hear anything unusual before he rapped?
00:11:31No.
00:11:32I didn't.
00:11:35I see.
00:11:36Now may I be permitted to suggest that Mrs. Tallman take Miss Carson up to her room?
00:11:41You don't have to.
00:11:42I was going to do it anyway.
00:11:44On your way, young lady.
00:11:48Oh, Uncle Charles.
00:11:49Don't come down.
00:11:50Please.
00:11:51Why not?
00:11:53What's the matter?
00:11:56We hope to break it to you gently, Charles.
00:11:58But you'll have to know it sooner or later.
00:12:00What is it?
00:12:00Why don't you tell me?
00:12:03It's...
00:12:04It's Uncle Henry.
00:12:05He's dead.
00:12:08Dead?
00:12:09Henry.
00:12:12I knew it.
00:12:14My poor brother.
00:12:17I'll go next.
00:12:24Do you think the stab in the back was the cause of death?
00:12:27Naturally.
00:12:28But this was done with a fine instrument, which accounts for so little superficial bleeding.
00:12:34There was none.
00:12:36There was none.
00:12:37The edges of the cut in his shirt and undershirt were bloodstained.
00:12:41Yet if the instrument reached the heart, there would be blood on it when it was withdrawn.
00:12:45If it reached the heart.
00:12:48Young man.
00:12:50I'm short of sleep.
00:12:52Good night.
00:12:53If it reached the heart.
00:13:01Seems annoyed, doesn't he?
00:13:03Well, naturally.
00:13:04First you doubt the wound is the cause of death.
00:13:06Then you talk about it having reached the heart.
00:13:09That's right.
00:13:10So I think I'll be saying good night, too.
00:13:12Now listen.
00:13:13I don't want to bother you if you're not interested.
00:13:15But I'd be mighty grateful for your advice and assistance.
00:13:18Will you help?
00:13:20Well, if you put it that way, I'll do what I can.
00:13:22Okay.
00:13:23Would you prefer to work independently, or shall we compare notes as we go along?
00:13:27Well, we make notes as we go along, and then draw our own conclusions.
00:13:30Well.
00:13:31Now, if you don't mind, I'll start with this room.
00:13:35All right, young fellow.
00:13:36Go ahead.
00:13:36I'll follow you.
00:13:50I'll follow you.
00:14:13What do you make of it?
00:14:15I don't make anything of it unless someone cut himself accidentally.
00:14:18Carson's wound never bled like that.
00:14:20Look, there's a little mark here, too, in line with these spots.
00:14:24Where a sharp point scratched the shellac.
00:14:27That's interesting.
00:14:28Someone dropped a sharp instrument here.
00:14:31It had blood on it.
00:14:33And the blood gripped a little.
00:14:35Well, for the present, that explanation ought to serve.
00:14:41Where's the weapon?
00:14:42I haven't seen a sign of any possible weapon, blood-stained or not.
00:14:46What's that on the little table by the sofa?
00:14:55An empty scabbard.
00:14:58It doesn't look as though it would fit the weapon that inflicted the wound.
00:15:01Possibly not.
00:15:02And that's interesting, too.
00:15:04But where's the weapon that belongs to it?
00:15:06It might be worth finding out.
00:15:07Well, we'll look into that tomorrow.
00:15:10Meanwhile, is there anything more you want to do tonight?
00:15:13I don't want to keep you up, but I'd like to sleep on this with as much information as I
00:15:17can get.
00:15:17You know more about the household than you were here first.
00:15:20All right, come over to my house and I'll give you 15 minutes.
00:15:43I've only got to know Elsa through her aunt, Mrs. Tolman.
00:15:46Well, that about covers everyone.
00:15:47Well, except Peter Blake, my lodger.
00:15:50What has he to do with it?
00:15:51Oh, probably nothing.
00:15:53But he's had his eye on Elsa for some time and he knows she'll inherit her uncle's fortune.
00:15:57Well, as far as that goes, I could be suspected myself.
00:15:59Or Mrs. Tolman, you remember what she said.
00:16:02Well, now there's something else.
00:16:04Elsa was very agitated, of course.
00:16:06But wouldn't let me send for the police, which struck me as, well, unusual.
00:16:10She naturally wants to have the murderer punished.
00:16:12Yes, she thinks so.
00:16:14Yet when I suggested that she sent for her aunt, she stammered a very poor excuse.
00:16:19But you did send for her.
00:16:20Oh, yes.
00:16:21Now, don't misunderstand me.
00:16:22I don't for a moment suspect either one of these two women.
00:16:25But there's something peculiar at the back of Elsa's attitude.
00:16:28She's fond of her aunt, isn't she?
00:16:30Oh, devoted to her.
00:16:31Well, I guess that's all.
00:16:33Oh, yeah.
00:16:35Let me show you what I found.
00:16:40I found it beneath the dead man's hand.
00:16:47Interesting.
00:16:48What else?
00:16:54A dead mouse.
00:16:56That's interesting, too.
00:16:58It's crime-effacy evidence against the housemaid, but it's not just the kind of evidence we're looking for, is it?
00:17:03Maybe not.
00:17:04Who knows?
00:17:10Good morning, dear.
00:17:13I wanted a moment with you alone before Bernard arrives.
00:17:17Let's go to the sitting room.
00:17:18I'm afraid I had my washout this morning.
00:17:21I hardly slept all night.
00:17:22I know the shock must have been terrible.
00:17:30Jim, I'm terribly upset.
00:17:32There, there, don't worry.
00:17:33We found a number of clues.
00:17:39Mr. Bernard.
00:17:41Just wait outside.
00:17:44Well, good morning, dear.
00:17:46Good morning.
00:17:47Any inspirations in the night?
00:17:49No, but I've arranged for the autopsy and had a look over the grounds.
00:17:52I was just going to ask about this man, Deegan.
00:17:57Do you think he had anything to do with last night's tragedy?
00:17:59I don't think so.
00:18:02I don't know.
00:18:04Of course not.
00:18:06Elsa, were your uncles still engaged in business?
00:18:09I believe Uncle Henry wasn't away.
00:18:11They seldom went out, but Uncle Henry wrote a good many letters.
00:18:14It was he who handled the details, then?
00:18:16I suppose so.
00:18:18But you know nothing of the nature of their business.
00:18:22They never talked much of it.
00:18:24Some real estate investments, I think.
00:18:26You never overheard them mention an enemy?
00:18:29No, I never have.
00:18:30Would it be possible for us to see your Uncle Charles for a moment?
00:18:34Oh, no, you mustn't.
00:18:35Please, don't disturb him now.
00:18:42You know what he meant when he said,
00:18:44I knew it.
00:18:47Only that he's been afraid of something for weeks.
00:18:50You know of any quarrels your uncles may have had with anyone?
00:18:52Anyone at all, recently?
00:18:55Oh, don't mind me.
00:18:56If I'm guilty, I'll kill myself.
00:19:00Did anyone else call at the house yesterday or last night?
00:19:04Well, what was that?
00:19:06Did anyone else call yesterday or last night?
00:19:10I don't think so.
00:19:12Won't you let me go now?
00:19:14Before you go, may I ask you one more question?
00:19:18What is it?
00:19:19I just want to know whether you saw anyone other than the regular household about the place
00:19:23last night before the tragedy.
00:19:26No, I did not.
00:19:39Come in, Fudd.
00:19:45Sit down.
00:19:52I have a few questions to ask you.
00:19:53This is unlocked, Fudd.
00:19:54Did you lock it last night?
00:19:56No, sir.
00:19:57Miss Elsa is in the habit of doing that before she retires.
00:20:00But you locked up the rest of the house.
00:20:01Yes, sir.
00:20:04When I retired, the cook was reading in the kitchen.
00:20:07Mr. Henry was in the library.
00:20:09And Miss Elsa was in her room.
00:20:11I believe.
00:20:12Is there anyone else in the household?
00:20:14A housemaid, Helen Smith.
00:20:16Thanks, that's all.
00:20:17Send the cook in to us.
00:20:19Oh, wait.
00:20:22Did you see or hear anyone last night?
00:20:24Not exactly.
00:20:25What do you mean by that?
00:20:28Nothing, sir.
00:20:30Okay, send the cook in.
00:20:35A little experiment in psychology.
00:20:37Foot knows that we know he's holding something back.
00:20:40You'll have a good alibi.
00:20:41All the better.
00:20:42We'll check it and place him in the case one way or another.
00:20:46Come in.
00:20:51I'm afraid I don't know your name.
00:20:53Miss Dubbin, sir.
00:20:55Now, Miss Dubbin, I want you to tell me what happened last night.
00:20:58Sit down, please.
00:21:01Well, it was after dinner, when the dishes was washed up, with the help of Helen Smith, who
00:21:08is always neat and helpful, with a quiet tongue and tidy ways.
00:21:12Not like that Mr. Foot, who thinks he owns the house.
00:21:15Skip that.
00:21:16Go ahead.
00:21:18Mr. Foot had some silver to polish in the pantry.
00:21:20So I settled down to read a book called Passions in the Purple.
00:21:25And, sir, while I don't go much for princes or princesses in a room, I must say, those two
00:21:31was as deserving a pair of young lovers as you could ever hope to find.
00:21:35Exactly.
00:21:36And after you've read about them for a while, you went to bed.
00:21:40Yes, sir, but it was quite late.
00:21:43And then I had such a fright.
00:21:45What frightened you?
00:21:47It was nearly midnight, when suddenly I looked up from the book page, as if some power outside
00:21:54myself had drawn my eyes to the window.
00:21:56And there was a man's face, right up against the glass.
00:22:01I nearly fell off at the chair, because in the book, the prince has been captured.
00:22:06Did you recognize the face?
00:22:08No, sir.
00:22:09I was much too scared.
00:22:10Did you warn Mr. Henry?
00:22:12Me warn Mr. Henry?
00:22:13With his terrible temper?
00:22:15No, sir.
00:22:16But I told Mr. Foot this morning.
00:22:18Quite right.
00:22:19We won't detain you any longer.
00:22:20You may go.
00:22:26Well, that's that.
00:22:28What do you make of it?
00:22:29I think I'd like to have a few more words with our friend Foot.
00:22:38Foot!
00:22:43We'll find we have a few more questions to ask you.
00:22:45Yes, sir.
00:22:47Have you put down any poison against rats or mice lately?
00:22:50No, sir.
00:22:51I didn't know of any having been put down.
00:22:54Say, by the way, why didn't you tell us about the face at the window last night?
00:22:59Slip my memories.
00:23:01A few minutes ago, I asked you whether you saw or heard anyone last night.
00:23:04And you answered, not exactly.
00:23:07Well, sir, I told you that I woke up shortly before two o'clock.
00:23:12But I woke before that, around midnight, I believe.
00:23:17I was awakened by voices.
00:23:20A voice, anyway.
00:23:21Did you recognize the voice?
00:23:24Did you recall any words?
00:23:25No, sir.
00:23:27And I felt sure I'd been awakened by a voice.
00:23:29Did you get up?
00:23:30No, sir.
00:23:32Why did the murdered man fire Deacon?
00:23:34I'm sure I don't know, sir.
00:23:36What hold did you have on Henry Carson to make him fire a good man without cause just to make
00:23:40a place for you?
00:23:42You'll excuse me, sir, but I don't know what you're talking about.
00:23:46Did you ever hear of Foxy Wilder?
00:23:49Do, sir.
00:23:51That's all.
00:23:51Send in Miss Smith.
00:23:58What was all that about?
00:23:59A shot in the dark that hit home.
00:24:01Did you see a foot taken?
00:24:02I certainly did.
00:24:03Who's the man?
00:24:04Forger that I haven't seen for 15 years or so.
00:24:06He was arrested twice, but wiggled out of both convictions.
00:24:09We have his fingerprints, though, and I'm practicing.
00:24:11I'm practically certain he's the same.
00:24:13The idea that he might have had a hold on Carson on the past is interesting.
00:24:17Yes, very interesting.
00:24:24Take a seat, Miss Smith.
00:24:27I know nothing about the murder of Henry Carson.
00:24:30I was in bed and asleep by 10 o'clock.
00:24:33Miss Smith, did you sweep the library this morning?
00:24:36I did not.
00:24:37It was swept the day before.
00:24:39Did you dust the little table by the couch?
00:24:41Of course I did.
00:24:43Did you see the dagger there in its scabbard?
00:24:45Of course.
00:24:46To whom does the dagger belong?
00:24:47To...
00:24:49Why?
00:24:50We're asking questions.
00:24:51To whom does the dagger belong?
00:24:56I haven't any idea.
00:24:58Does it belong to Miss Elsa?
00:25:01If you're trying to accuse that poor innocent guy...
00:25:03It does belong to Miss Elsa, eh?
00:25:06I haven't the faintest idea.
00:25:09That's all Miss Smith, you may go.
00:25:16Well, you found out what you wanted to know.
00:25:19Now look here.
00:25:20You don't imagine that Elsa...
00:25:21I imagine nothing.
00:25:22There's a lot of things I want to know.
00:25:30Hello, what's up?
00:25:34Who?
00:25:34Henry Carson.
00:25:36He was a friend of yours, I believe.
00:25:39Well, I just knew him also.
00:25:42What are you, uh, doing here, Mr. Blake?
00:25:46Oh, uh, just experimenting.
00:25:53You have a lot of poison gas, I see.
00:25:55Why, yes.
00:25:57Oh, no, not exactly.
00:25:59But say, Mr. Landis, I wouldn't think of killing old Carson.
00:26:02Oh, of course not.
00:26:03He'll be ready in a few minutes.
00:26:05Why, I'm going out to lunch.
00:26:06I have an engagement.
00:26:08Going far?
00:26:09Oh, no, just around here.
00:26:22Hello, well, you've just missed lunch.
00:26:24What's the bag for?
00:26:25Uncle Charles insisted I come to stay with you.
00:26:28Well, wonders never cease.
00:26:30Well, you're welcome, my dear.
00:26:32Take any room you like upstairs and make yourself at home.
00:26:35Are you acting as convoys?
00:26:36Well, no, we just met outside.
00:26:38Landis wanted to call on you, so I came to take care of him.
00:26:41Well, a lot of help you'd be.
00:26:43Step into the drawing room.
00:26:45Chong, take Miss Elsa's bag upstairs.
00:26:48We'll just see what they want.
00:26:52Sit down.
00:26:58You want to talk to me?
00:27:01Did I or did I not kill Henry Carson?
00:27:04That'll do for a start.
00:27:05Well, what do you think, you're in, Detective?
00:27:08You'd be surprised at the number of charming-looking women
00:27:11that permit themselves the luxury of murder.
00:27:13You know, I'm beginning to like you.
00:27:15But you haven't answered my question.
00:27:17I'm not going to, young man.
00:27:19Find out for yourself.
00:27:21I'll admit I once shot a man.
00:27:23But it was a very poor shot, and I was terribly ashamed of it.
00:27:26Carson's death was no great grief to you, was it?
00:27:29No.
00:27:30I'm a good hater, as anyone who is unkind to Elsa will find out.
00:27:34Have you been in touch with the Carson house lately?
00:27:37Let's see.
00:27:38We talked it over last night.
00:27:41But we couldn't imagine who might have done it.
00:27:44I mean, were you in touch with the Carson house, Mrs. Tallman?
00:27:47Why, I haven't seen Aunt Marianne for days.
00:27:51But you talked to her.
00:27:54After we found Uncle Henry, Aunt Marianne came over again.
00:27:58Don't be silly, child.
00:28:00You telephoned me last night about 10 o'clock and asked me to come over.
00:28:04Why didn't you tell us that, Elsa?
00:28:07What has telephoning my aunt to do with a murder?
00:28:09It might have a lot to do with it.
00:28:11Did you go?
00:28:12No.
00:28:13I knew that a row with her uncle would just make matters worse for her.
00:28:17Was it because of the incident between your Uncle Henry and me?
00:28:20Yes, he was much worse after you left.
00:28:23You mustn't let Arbis was upset either.
00:28:25Oh, certainly not.
00:28:26But on the other hand, Mrs. Tallman, I must ask you not to attempt to leave town.
00:28:30I have no intentions of leaving town.
00:28:32You'll find it very hard to arrest me while Chong is still with me.
00:28:37Good afternoon, gentlemen.
00:28:49I'll inform Mr. Carson that you're here, sir.
00:28:56Say, Foote seems like cocky.
00:28:57Did you notice the change?
00:29:06What's the matter?
00:29:07Never going to speak to me again?
00:29:08Look here, young fellow.
00:29:10What is the idea of that last crack to Miss Stout?
00:29:12Too bad if it turns out to be her.
00:29:16You go chase yourself.
00:29:19Well, gentlemen, here I am.
00:29:25Be seated, gentlemen, please.
00:29:38It's very kind of you to give us the sentence.
00:29:41We have no definite clue as yet, so we've been forced to come to you for help.
00:29:45I'm afraid there's little help that I can afford you.
00:29:50You see, my brother was a good man, but he had a violent temper, which made him many enemies.
00:29:58Cause for your nervousness of late.
00:30:00Figure sneaking about the grounds.
00:30:03Yeah.
00:30:03And at what time?
00:30:05I was reading in my room late at night.
00:30:09When I put out the light and opened the window, the figure there by the hedge.
00:30:14Would you describe the man at all?
00:30:16No, it was too dark.
00:30:18Did you hear anything last night?
00:30:21I was very tired, and I didn't wake up until Foote called me.
00:30:24I'm sorry I can be of your little assistance, but I'm here.
00:30:27You've experienced yourself lately, haven't you?
00:30:29You said something about being the next to go.
00:30:32Yes.
00:30:33I regretted those words the moment I had spoken them.
00:30:36I had wished to frighten Elsa more than she'd been frightened already by the tragic fate of other.
00:30:44Mr. Carson, what do you know about Foote, your butler?
00:30:49Why, almost nothing.
00:30:52My brother hired him, I think, because of a letter that he wrote, asking for a position.
00:30:57Foote is a friend out of the past.
00:31:02Yes.
00:31:03I suppose so, Mr. Bernard.
00:31:06I felt that sometimes he presumed upon it a little.
00:31:14Mr. Carson, I have one more question to ask.
00:31:19We found no trace of the weapon yet.
00:31:20Which the house?
00:31:21Of course, gentlemen.
00:31:23Search wherever you will.
00:31:37No use looking in there.
00:31:39If it were hidden among her clothes, she'd have found it herself.
00:31:55Curious?
00:31:57Look at it.
00:31:58What about it?
00:31:59Why, look at it.
00:32:00Elsa never wore a dress like that in her life.
00:32:02Well, maybe it belonged to a mother.
00:32:04Take a good look, will you, Landis?
00:32:06This dress has been worn recently.
00:32:08Look, the bottom of the skirt is muddy.
00:32:10The mud isn't quite dry, see?
00:32:11See, you're right.
00:32:13There's another odd thing.
00:32:15Look at that cuff.
00:32:17Singed.
00:32:18Quite recent, too.
00:32:20Elsa must have been doing some cooking.
00:32:22Yes, and put her whole arm on the stove.
00:32:24Look at the length of that skirt.
00:32:26And another thing that's too big for her.
00:32:28Looks more like a dress Mrs. Tolman might wear.
00:32:30I believe it would fit her.
00:32:32I'm going to have a look at that stove.
00:32:34Meet you downstairs.
00:32:57Excuse me, sir.
00:32:58No, no, no.
00:33:15I thought foot was here.
00:33:26Foot, do you remember anything more about the voice
00:33:29that awakens you earlier in the evening?
00:33:31I really don't remember anything more than I told you so.
00:33:34Well, do me a favor and try hard to remember now, will you?
00:33:38I'll try so.
00:33:44It's no good, sir.
00:33:45I really can't remember.
00:33:47And I don't want to lie about it.
00:33:49All right, keep on trying.
00:33:50I'll do that with pleasure, sir.
00:33:59No, I can't say that I noticed anything peculiar
00:34:01about the library chandelier.
00:34:03Well, I did.
00:34:04When we were waiting in there for Charles Carson,
00:34:07I happened to look up at it.
00:34:08One of the gas jets was fully open and parallel with the pipe.
00:34:11With Grace Scott, man, we would have smelled it.
00:34:13Oh, no, we wouldn't.
00:34:15The cook tells me that Henry Carson
00:34:16had had a scrap with the gas company
00:34:18and it was shut off all over the house.
00:34:20She uses a coal stove.
00:34:21That's how I found out about it.
00:34:22Well, what harm could it do then if it were open?
00:34:26When I went in to speak to Foot, it was closed again.
00:34:30But who would have touched it?
00:34:32It was put in there long enough to have turned it off.
00:34:35Oh, quiet.
00:34:36What on earth has that got to do with the case?
00:34:38You don't see the connection?
00:34:39Well, frankly, I don't.
00:34:42Well, possibly not.
00:34:43It was just a crazy idea I had about Blake.
00:34:46Mm-hmm.
00:34:47I don't take much stock
00:34:48in this affected humility of yours, young fellow.
00:34:51Come on now, watch the connection.
00:34:54We'll see.
00:34:56Oh, the facts out of the cook
00:34:57that the man at the window looked like a foreigner.
00:35:00Wore a cap, had gray or blue eyes,
00:35:03an unshaven face,
00:35:04and a black mustache.
00:35:06A complete description.
00:35:08Either she was lying in the first place
00:35:10or she's made it all up.
00:35:11No, she didn't know she knew it.
00:35:13And we'll have no difficulty in finding it.
00:35:14Want me to do it?
00:35:15I'd be glad if you would.
00:35:20And now, before I leave,
00:35:21I think I'll pay Mr. Blake another little visit.
00:35:32Look here.
00:35:32What do you want to know all this for?
00:35:34Do you prefer not to answer?
00:35:36No, I don't mind.
00:35:37I was only joking.
00:35:39The fact is,
00:35:39I'm working on a new infallible gas disinfectant
00:35:41in rooms where people have had contagious diseases.
00:35:44You have a number of gas containers here.
00:35:46What are they?
00:35:47Well, there's natural gas.
00:35:49There's...
00:35:49And in those carboys?
00:35:51Ether, ammonia, and chloroform.
00:35:56Is this the company that supplies you?
00:35:58Bar Chemical Company?
00:35:59Yes.
00:36:05Anyone come in here?
00:36:07Well, there was Chong, you know.
00:36:09The weight.
00:36:10That fellow, Foot,
00:36:10from over at Carson's,
00:36:11was in here one day.
00:36:12What did he want?
00:36:13Well, I'd promised Elsa
00:36:15a good cleaning fluid for her gloves,
00:36:16and she sent Foot over for it.
00:36:19That was three days ago.
00:36:21What time did you go to bed last night?
00:36:24Oh, about 20 minutes after 11, I think.
00:36:27You didn't go out?
00:36:28No, of course not.
00:36:30You're lying, you know.
00:36:32What makes you think so?
00:36:33What time did you go out?
00:36:37Oh, about 10.30, I guess.
00:36:40No harm in going out for a breath of air.
00:36:42Where'd you go?
00:36:44Look here,
00:36:45you haven't any right to come here
00:36:46and find a third-degree me.
00:36:47You don't care to answer?
00:36:48No, I don't.
00:36:49Very well.
00:36:50Well, wait a minute.
00:36:51What are you going to do about it?
00:36:52Nothing for the moment.
00:36:53But when you get ready to tell me
00:36:55what you were doing
00:36:55on the night of the murder,
00:36:56let me know.
00:37:07Good morning, good morning.
00:37:09You're an early bird.
00:37:10Where happens you've been to bed?
00:37:11Do you realize this is the third day now
00:37:14and we're just about where we started?
00:37:16Oh, I wouldn't say that.
00:37:17Well, I'm anxious to hear
00:37:18what you found out yesterday.
00:37:20Good.
00:37:20Sit down then.
00:37:21Oh, by the way,
00:37:22I checked on Deegan.
00:37:24The people who employ him
00:37:25were giving a party that night
00:37:26and he was on duty
00:37:27until four in the morning.
00:37:28So that eliminates him.
00:37:29Well, I had better luck.
00:37:31I expect to produce the face
00:37:33at the window today.
00:37:34How?
00:37:35Through Briggs,
00:37:36the man Henry Carson was writing to.
00:37:38He's their real estate agent
00:37:39and none too honest, I fear.
00:37:42I found out through Briggs
00:37:43that the Carsons own a number of tenements
00:37:45that he bought for them
00:37:46under an assumed name.
00:37:48He also admitted
00:37:49that there have been a number of fires
00:37:50in those buildings lately.
00:37:53Obviously, Sapphire.
00:37:54The building's heavily insured?
00:37:56Yes, but that doesn't seem to be the angle.
00:37:58In fact, Henry Carson told Briggs
00:38:00to take steps to stop the fires.
00:38:02Briggs engaged a private detective,
00:38:04but the fires didn't stop.
00:38:05There was an attempt at firing
00:38:07one of the buildings
00:38:07on the very night Carson was murdered.
00:38:09What time?
00:38:10A little before midnight.
00:38:12Well, then the same man
00:38:13couldn't have killed Henry Carson.
00:38:14Well, she'd have had time,
00:38:16only it wasn't a man.
00:38:17A woman?
00:38:19The private detective
00:38:20described her as being tall,
00:38:21dress of some dark material,
00:38:23small hat and a veil.
00:38:25She moved with a free-swing stride,
00:38:28like a woman who'd been used
00:38:29to an outdoor life.
00:38:32But that's extraordinary.
00:38:34The description fits Mrs. Torn.
00:38:43I knew you'd say that.
00:38:46I asked Charles Carson
00:38:48if he had any clue to the firebuck.
00:38:51He's got someone in the back of his mind,
00:38:53but he wouldn't say.
00:38:54Though he hinted that the firebuck
00:38:55and the murderer might be the same person.
00:38:58You think Mrs. Tornman
00:38:59couldn't have done it?
00:39:01That dress in Elsa's room.
00:39:03Well?
00:39:05If she had just escaped arrest
00:39:07and thought somebody was following her,
00:39:10and instead of making for her own home,
00:39:12she made for the Carsons.
00:39:13Henry Carson admitted her
00:39:15and swore at her for disturbing him.
00:39:17His voice, or hers, woke foot.
00:39:20In the heat of the moment,
00:39:21she picked up the dagger,
00:39:22stabbed Carson,
00:39:23then hurried to the hall.
00:39:25Now let's say that by that time,
00:39:27Elsa had come out into the upper hall,
00:39:29and so Mrs. Tornman
00:39:30pulled herself together,
00:39:31went upstairs to the girl,
00:39:33and borrowed another dress to go home in,
00:39:35leaving hers
00:39:36with the cinched cuff.
00:39:38So you figure that you put two and two together, eh?
00:39:40His attitude?
00:39:41Yes, but it wouldn't explain the face
00:39:43at the kitchen window,
00:39:44which is an execription
00:39:46of one of Carson's and our tenants,
00:39:48a man who lost his wife and child
00:39:49in one of the fires.
00:39:51Let's go see what.
00:39:56Good morning, Doctor.
00:39:57Yes, and I was here very late last night.
00:40:00Carson's in pretty bad shape.
00:40:02Now, what's the matter with those servants?
00:40:04I've rung three times.
00:40:06Oh, good morning, Doctor.
00:40:10Takes you a long time to answer that bell.
00:40:13It isn't my job to open the door to Foots.
00:40:15Will you send Foots to us, please, Miss Smith?
00:40:17Yes, sir.
00:40:19Will you wait in the library?
00:40:25Ah.
00:40:42What's the matter?
00:40:44What happened?
00:40:45Foots!
00:40:46Foots!
00:40:47Oh, Mr. Landis.
00:40:49What's the matter?
00:40:50Foots isn't here, sir.
00:40:51What?
00:40:52The fact is, Mr. Carson,
00:40:54Foots has been injured.
00:40:55Why?
00:40:55How could he be?
00:40:57He had no business leaving the house
00:40:58at this hour of the day.
00:40:59What's dead?
00:41:01Dead?
00:41:03Foots?
00:41:04Oh, nonsense!
00:41:05Now, don't get excited, Mr. Carson.
00:41:08Foots was killed last night.
00:41:10Murdered?
00:41:11Was he killed here?
00:41:13Mr. Landis, was he killed here?
00:41:14That's right.
00:41:17What does it mean?
00:41:33Look here, Landis.
00:41:35What do you make of this?
00:41:37Looks as if some very muddy article
00:41:39was dragged across the sill.
00:41:43See that out there?
00:41:44Yes.
00:41:46Flower bed is covered with footprints
00:41:47that have been carefully cropping out.
00:41:56Did you look at the...
00:41:58Oh, the praises of...
00:41:59Your eyes are better than mine, young fellow.
00:42:03He must have dropped his dagger in the mud.
00:42:05Or buried it after the first murder
00:42:07and dug it up again for this one.
00:42:09Another murder, all right.
00:42:11Exactly.
00:42:12He's been dead probably seven or eight hours.
00:42:15He died instantly.
00:42:16Or very nearly so.
00:42:18The wounds are very similar
00:42:20and were probably made
00:42:22with the same instrument
00:42:23with which Henry Carson was stabbed.
00:42:25Hey, just a minute.
00:42:26Where are you going?
00:42:26Let me go.
00:42:27Keep your hands off me, Jim Brooks.
00:42:29What do you mean poking your nose
00:42:30into other people's business?
00:42:31Asking me where I'm going and...
00:42:33Stop that noise!
00:42:34You want Mr. Carson down here again?
00:42:36Well, I'm not going to stay in this house
00:42:38to be murdered, too.
00:42:39Go back to the kitchen.
00:42:40If you try to leave this house
00:42:41before I give you permission,
00:42:42I'll put you in jail.
00:42:54Helen Smith is gone
00:42:55and there's only the cook,
00:42:56so I had to come back.
00:42:57Yes, dear.
00:42:58We'll let her go home.
00:42:59I've questioned both of them
00:43:00and they can't throw any light on the case.
00:43:03Now, I want you to trust me, Al, sir.
00:43:06I...
00:43:07I do trust you, Mr. Bernard.
00:43:08Then I want you to tell me
00:43:10how you knew
00:43:10that your aunt came here
00:43:11at a late hour
00:43:12the night your uncle died.
00:43:17I can't.
00:43:18You'll tell Jim
00:43:19and he already suspects Aunt Marian.
00:43:21She told me so.
00:43:22Now, my dear,
00:43:23you've asked me to help you,
00:43:24but you won't help me.
00:43:25I want to prove a record is clear,
00:43:27but I can't do it
00:43:28unless I know everything.
00:43:31I suppose I ought to trust you.
00:43:33I know you wouldn't say that,
00:43:34just find out.
00:43:35No, no, I wouldn't.
00:43:38All right.
00:43:40I got up to get a drink of water
00:43:42and I heard the library door close
00:43:44and looked downstairs.
00:43:45What time is it?
00:43:46A little after one in the morning.
00:43:48What did you see?
00:43:50It seemed so treacherous.
00:43:52I saw my aunt.
00:43:54Was there a light down?
00:43:55It was a dim nightlight,
00:43:56but I called out Aunt Marian.
00:43:58Yes, what did she say?
00:44:00She didn't say anything.
00:44:01She put her fingers to her lips.
00:44:03Then she waved me a kiss
00:44:05and hurried out the front door.
00:44:06What sort of clothes was she wearing?
00:44:09Something dark.
00:44:10A dark brown or green dress
00:44:11and a small hat.
00:44:12Could you see her face?
00:44:14Not clearly.
00:44:15There was very little light
00:44:16and her face was in shadow.
00:44:17Could it have been
00:44:18the figure of the housemaid?
00:44:20I suppose it might.
00:44:22Oh, no, it couldn't.
00:44:24Aunt Marian waved a kiss to me.
00:44:25Helen would never do that.
00:44:26Could it have been the cook?
00:44:28No.
00:44:30Oh, Mr. Bernard,
00:44:30do you suppose it wasn't my aunt after all?
00:44:33She didn't speak.
00:44:35And then one might have the presence of mind
00:44:36when you called out Aunt Marian
00:44:37to play the part of your aunt.
00:44:39I hope you're right.
00:44:41I couldn't believe Aunt Marian
00:44:42would do anything so horrible.
00:44:44Oh, neither could I.
00:44:46But in the meantime,
00:44:47don't say anything about her to anyone,
00:44:48especially Mrs. Tolman.
00:44:50And don't worry.
00:44:51You are a comfort and a darling.
00:44:58I want you to promise me
00:45:00that you won't arrest Mrs. Tolman
00:45:02for two or three days.
00:45:03I'll call her the hunt if you like.
00:45:05All right, sir.
00:45:06I'll take a chance in your judgment.
00:45:07What are we doing here?
00:45:08I'm going to have another look at that dress.
00:45:17Gone.
00:45:18Gone.
00:45:19I'll have a chat with Elser about it.
00:45:31There's your man, sir.
00:45:36Is this the man you saw at the window?
00:45:38It's the very man, sir.
00:45:41We have a few questions to ask you.
00:45:43Come in here.
00:45:52Sit down.
00:46:01Honest gentleman,
00:46:03I don't know nothing about it.
00:46:04Don't worry about that now.
00:46:06Sit down.
00:46:07We haven't accused you of anything yet,
00:46:09you know.
00:46:11Now, you tell us your story
00:46:12in your own way.
00:46:15Well,
00:46:17it was like this.
00:46:19A month ago,
00:46:20I was a contented man
00:46:21with a wife and a baby.
00:46:24He was as pretty a kid as...
00:46:27Well, I'd been working one night
00:46:29and I was getting home late.
00:46:31I saw a lot of people
00:46:32running towards my street,
00:46:33so I ran too.
00:46:40I was getting home late.
00:46:52But my wife and kids,
00:46:53they're in fire.
00:46:54Everybody's out.
00:46:56My wife and kid are up.
00:46:58There was a woman and kid,
00:47:00but they took him to the hospital.
00:47:04to the hospital.
00:47:15Excuse me, gentlemen.
00:47:17I ain't been the same since that night.
00:47:23Well, I rushed over to the hospital,
00:47:26and there was Alice and little Bill
00:47:29lying on the bed together
00:47:32with a sheet pulled over their faces.
00:47:35So you set out to find the owner of the building?
00:47:38That's it, sir.
00:47:40All I was asking was the price of a tombstone,
00:47:42like Alice had wanted, that's all.
00:47:44But Briggs, he wouldn't tell me.
00:47:46So a friend of mine in the fire department,
00:47:49he made him stole the names of the owners
00:47:52and their address.
00:47:53So you came out here?
00:47:55That's right, sir.
00:47:56But I couldn't get here till late
00:47:58because I got mixed up finding the place.
00:48:01Must have been about half past 11 by the time I got here.
00:48:06What did you do after you got to the house?
00:48:09Well, I looked in the back window.
00:48:11There was a woman there sitting and reading.
00:48:14Well, she let out a yell, so I ducked.
00:48:17You mean you went home?
00:48:18No, sir. I wanted my rights.
00:48:21I came round this window here,
00:48:22but all of a sudden the lights upstairs went out.
00:48:25So I ducked, scared somebody might look down and see me.
00:48:28That's just what happened.
00:48:30You were seen.
00:48:31I'll come clean.
00:48:32Sir, help me. I'm telling the truth.
00:48:36After a while, I crept back and looked under the shade.
00:48:40At this desk here, there was an old man looking over some papers.
00:48:44Did you wrap on the window?
00:48:46Not me, sir. I wasn't looking for trouble.
00:48:49I just walked along the house to see what kind of a car they had,
00:48:52to see if they was rich.
00:48:55The garage was empty, sure.
00:48:57So I went home.
00:48:59Is that all?
00:49:01I guess that's all.
00:49:03But I didn't murder the old man.
00:49:06You better tell us everything, Bell.
00:49:09Oh, what's the use?
00:49:10You wouldn't believe me.
00:49:13Why don't you try?
00:49:18Well, it was like this, sir.
00:49:21The garage was all dark inside.
00:49:24But I carry a torch, and just as I took it out,
00:49:27something hissed at me from the back of the garage.
00:49:31Hissed at you?
00:49:32Yes, sir. I'll swear to it.
00:49:33It scared me so bad that I ducked again.
00:49:37Then how did you know there was no car there?
00:49:39Well, after a while I came back and I fleshed on the torch,
00:49:42and that time I saw it.
00:49:44Well, what was it?
00:49:45I said you wouldn't believe me,
00:49:47but I'll take my oath it was a snake,
00:49:49wiggling away toward the back.
00:49:51You sure it wasn't a long red herring?
00:49:53I'll take my oath it was a snake.
00:49:56So you went home?
00:49:57Yes, sir.
00:49:58I went straight home as fast as I could.
00:50:00You're never near this place more?
00:50:01Well, I never found out the address till the day before.
00:50:03How could I come?
00:50:04You came again?
00:50:05I never did, sir.
00:50:06I never came near that place again.
00:50:07You came here last night.
00:50:08That man stabbed another man at that desk
00:50:10just as you stabbed Henry Carson.
00:50:12I didn't, sir.
00:50:13I didn't.
00:50:13That's where I didn't.
00:50:14Where were you last night at the midnight?
00:50:16I was in the picture show.
00:50:18Anybody with you to prove it?
00:50:19No, sir.
00:50:20I went alone.
00:50:22I'm going to send this fellow home now,
00:50:23but don't lose track of him for a few days.
00:50:29All right, Val.
00:50:30You can go home now.
00:50:32Home?
00:50:33And I'm going to see what I can do
00:50:34about raising the price of that tombstone.
00:50:40Thank you, sir.
00:50:43Well, what do you make of it?
00:50:45Well, that was a shot in the dark that didn't strike home.
00:50:49Let's see else about that dress.
00:50:51I'm convinced that that dress was worn by the woman she mistook for her aunt.
00:50:55Do you really think it possible that it was Helen Smith or the cook?
00:50:58I didn't take the Helen Smith.
00:51:00She showed a vicious temper and is quite careless of leaving Elsa alone.
00:51:04And for a good cook, Miss Devins strikes me as being unconvincingly brainless.
00:51:10She told the truth about the man at the window.
00:51:13Yes.
00:51:14And she was the only person in the household that was up late the night that Henry Carson met his
00:51:18death.
00:51:20And so far as we know, she was alone downstairs with Foot last night when he died.
00:51:33Where are you going with this?
00:51:35To the kitchen, Sarah.
00:51:36And the incinerator, I suppose.
00:51:38No, sir.
00:51:39Miss Elsie thought I might be able to wear it.
00:51:42Elsa!
00:51:48Did you give this dress to the cook?
00:51:51Why, yes.
00:51:51I found it at the bottom of Foot's trunk.
00:51:54Foot?
00:51:57Well, Foot must have planted that dress in here.
00:52:00And it would be the logical place for him to hide anything else.
00:52:03While Elsa was away.
00:52:16We need it.
00:52:22This is the line.
00:52:23We can save him now.
00:52:24There you are.
00:52:26If you have a bed in the house, I'm waiting for this one.
00:52:28I have a bed.
00:52:31It has a bed.
00:52:33I have a bed.
00:52:37No, sir.
00:52:38It was a bed.
00:52:49you you found it yes Elsa where you hit oh I know I shouldn't have done it but it
00:52:55lay there where it lay on the floor of the library foot hadn't seen it so I
00:53:00sent him for water then I ran upstairs and threw it in my wardrobe that's why
00:53:05you call mr. Bernard from upstairs but why did you hide the dagger Elsa oh don't
00:53:09you understand I thought I had seen aunt Mary and leaving the library when I
00:53:14saw that dagger covered with blood then you washed it and later hit it in the
00:53:18draw you did a very foolish and dangerous thing oh it wasn't as bad as all that
00:53:21dear there are other clues you know I'm sorry but I'm not frightened anymore
00:53:31the gentleman from the chemical company wants to see you mr. Landis oh thank
00:53:35you will you come too excuse us dear did you see Blake no I didn't what new theory is
00:53:47this it's not a theory I had the chemical company send out mr. Watson here to
00:53:51examine Blake's laboratory what you find mr. Watson the pressure is good and all the
00:53:55gas tanks except the carbon monoxide which means that most of the gas has
00:54:00been drawn off well could it have leaked out our tanks don't leak somebody might
00:54:06have left the tap open a little but if he did he'd be lying around there
00:54:09somewhere well that's all I want to know thank you I'm glad to help you if I
00:54:13can
00:54:16you've been holding out on me yeah not on facts only theory Carson's wound didn't
00:54:22bleed that's why I made such a point of whether it reached the heart or not my
00:54:26idea was that when Henry Carson was stabbed he was already dead the autopsy
00:54:30showed the scarcity of oxygen in the lungs in that case the wound wouldn't
00:54:33bleed at all it didn't let's take the evidence in order first there's the mouse
00:54:38the little beggars never die out in the open unless they've been poisoned but
00:54:42nobody had put down any poison where's the connection suppose that Henry Carson
00:54:46had been sitting quietly at his desk and mr. Mouse ventured into the middle of the
00:54:49room then let's suppose that death suddenly gathered both man and mouse at
00:54:53the same instant carbon monoxide suppose we see if your lodger is in
00:55:05well it looks like he skipped I'll broadcast his description we'll soon pick
00:55:09him up I say Landers how do you figure the gas got in the library from the gas
00:55:16jet in the chandelier Blake tapped the pipe and let in the carbon monoxide from the tank
00:55:22sounds interesting but I'm applying to think it's all moonshine and coincidence how that hook up with
00:55:27the stabbing of Henry Carson and the stabbing of foot and the dagger and the
00:55:30disappearing dress and the woman in the hallway were they all in the plot together
00:55:37we're not even sure that foot and Carson were stabbed with the same dagger we're sure they
00:55:43weren't Elsa hit it long before foot was murdered oh quite so that doesn't prove that both men were
00:55:48not stabbed with one in the same dagger in the love of Mike man you don't suspect Elsa I don't
00:55:54think Henry Carson stabbed the dagger at all it was planted there on the evidence of Elsa the dagger was
00:56:00covered with blood dripped on the floor and yet the womb did not bleed whatever blood was on the
00:56:06weapon came off on the clothes when it was withdrawn that's right well then we can eliminate it runs
00:56:12both Arthur Bell and Peter Blake or neither of them had the intelligence to conceive such well-planned
00:56:17crimes well I'm not eliminating Blake and I'm not eliminating mrs. Tallman all right but there's an
00:56:22experiment I'd like to try is your experiment well it's quite simple all I ask is that you place yourself
00:56:30at
00:56:30my disposal tonight and possibly tomorrow okay if you still have a man watching mrs. Tallman I want
00:56:38you to call them off and let me convey to mrs. Tallman in a roundabout way that you've done so
00:56:42you agree I do
00:57:00hello Elsa I think I have some good you and this has agreed to remove the man who's watching mrs.
00:57:05Tallman and he
00:57:06doesn't suspect her anymore oh may I tell her so oh I don't see why I shouldn't tell her I
00:57:12don't think
00:57:13there's any secret about it well I wouldn't be surprised if we had the real culprit anytime now
00:57:20oh it's a pleasure goodbye all right I've called off my man what next I want you to go back
00:57:27to your
00:57:27hotel and stay there quite open about 11 tonight slip up creep up to my back door without letting
00:57:34anyone see anyone at all can you do it I think so all right then I'm going to impress you
00:57:50wait here until
00:57:50I come out again
00:58:24so
00:58:29you
00:58:31you
00:58:33you
00:58:34you
00:58:49you
00:58:50you
00:58:50you
00:58:56you
00:58:57what's the idea that's the experiment don't talk not sound
00:59:24you
00:59:34you
00:59:54That's safe. Come on.
00:59:56Are you hurt bad?
00:59:57No, just wait. Hurry, we must catch it.
01:00:03Where the deuce are you going?
01:00:08What is all this?
01:00:09This is my show, Landis. Bruce here is the detective working for me.
01:00:13You identify the firebug, Bruce?
01:00:14All by the dresser. Same height, carriage and walk.
01:00:16Uh-huh.
01:00:22Mr. Landis, I know that I've done wrong.
01:00:25Would you tell me, please, if I'm to be incarcerated tonight
01:00:28or permitted to sleep here?
01:00:30What do you think we're going to charge you with?
01:00:31Well, dressing as a woman, I know it's illegal,
01:00:33but I wanted to find the murderer of my brother.
01:00:37We're saving you the trouble.
01:00:39We're charging you with the murder of your brother
01:00:41and the murderer of foot,
01:00:42setting fire to your tenements
01:00:44and the consequent death of Martha Bell's wife and child.
01:00:47Ridiculous.
01:00:48You know that I was in my room
01:00:49and at what hour I put out my lights.
01:00:52Yes, I found the clockwork arrangement that put out your lights.
01:00:54Now I'm going to find the dagger with which you stabbed your victims.
01:00:58That was a smart idea of yours,
01:00:59planting the dagger smeared with your own blood.
01:01:02You see, I saw the first morning
01:01:03that you had adhesive tape on one of your fingers.
01:01:06Lies, lies, Mr. Landis.
01:01:09How long is this farce to continue?
01:01:10Until you confess.
01:01:12Come on, Landis.
01:01:13Let's find that dagger.
01:01:14I think I know where to look.
01:01:15One moment, gentlemen, please.
01:01:19I admit I'm the firebug.
01:01:21Unfortunately, I'm the miserable victim of a pathological mania.
01:01:25But I know nothing about the murder of my brother or a foot.
01:01:29That woman next door, Derek.
01:01:31You murdered them both.
01:01:33You fired your buildings for the insurance.
01:01:35Then you came home that night
01:01:36and found your brother as you thought asleep.
01:01:38With him out of the way,
01:01:39you would possess his fortune as well as your own.
01:01:42You saw the letter he was writing to Briggs
01:01:44and you stabbed him
01:01:45to put an end to him and his interference.
01:01:47You're mad.
01:01:48The Delta's cry awakened Foot
01:01:49who came down and found you in famine and attire.
01:01:52He proceeded to blackmail you.
01:01:53You lured him into the library
01:01:55where you stabbed him as you did your brother.
01:01:57Pray, tell me.
01:01:58Where is the weapon
01:01:59with which you imagine I killed my poor brother and Foot?
01:02:02It isn't in the house.
01:02:03So it must be somewhere in your course
01:02:05between the front door and the side door
01:02:06where you re-entered the house.
01:02:08Come on, Landis.
01:02:09We looked around over again.
01:02:10Right.
01:02:11So, you've got your flashlight?
01:02:13Well, we'll take Carson along.
01:02:29Look there, Landis.
01:02:31Doesn't it seem strange
01:02:32that such a tall plant
01:02:34should be tied to such a short stake?
01:02:36That stake?
01:02:37That wouldn't help it any.
01:02:40Bruce, pull it up
01:02:41and let's have a look at it.
01:02:48That accounts for the mud on Foot's back.
01:02:52You win, Bernard.
01:02:54But it took you a year to do it.
01:02:58But I got you.
01:02:59You're in the last trap.
01:03:01Okay, Bruce.
01:03:11cleared at last
01:03:12and you're foiled again, Jack Dalton.
01:03:15I'm sorry, Mrs. Dollar.
01:03:17Oh, forget it.
01:03:18I suppose you want to talk to the mastermind.
01:03:20Yes, but I wondered...
01:03:21Oh, I know what you're wondering.
01:03:23I'll just see if she's presentable.
01:03:25She's had quite a shock, you know.
01:03:26Yes, she must have had.
01:03:27You'll find Sherlock in there.
01:03:32Good morning.
01:03:33Oh, good morning.
01:03:33Oh, don't get up.
01:03:35See, now that it's all over,
01:03:36do you mind telling me
01:03:37how you happened to suspect Carson?
01:03:39Not at all.
01:03:40You took it for granted
01:03:41that Carson wouldn't murder his own brother
01:03:43and you never looked his way.
01:03:45I didn't and did.
01:03:47That's all.
01:03:48Well, that's not all by a long shot.
01:03:49But I believe congratulations are in order.
01:03:51Oh.
01:03:52But don't forget,
01:03:53you must congratulate me too.
01:03:54For what?
01:03:56Because I've got the man
01:03:57who really killed Carson.
01:03:58Blake?
01:03:59Yes, again.
01:04:00So what is this again?
01:04:02Where is the real murderer?
01:04:04I have him by the hand.
01:04:06Are you trying to kid me?
01:04:07I'm not kidding.
01:04:09You killed Henry Carson.
01:04:12I never could figure
01:04:13why Foote should turn back
01:04:14that gas jet in the library.
01:04:15It didn't make sense.
01:04:16But you were there too.
01:04:17It was easy for you
01:04:18to enter the library
01:04:18while I was talking to the cook.
01:04:20Go ahead.
01:04:21Carson's last words
01:04:22when he was caught
01:04:23implied that you had known
01:04:24each other before
01:04:24but you were certainly
01:04:25not old friends.
01:04:26So you must have been enemies.
01:04:28You on the side of the law,
01:04:29he against it.
01:04:30So far you're right.
01:04:32But not once could I get evidence
01:04:33to justify an arrest.
01:04:35Now what else, young fella?
01:04:37There was Arthur Bell
01:04:38and the hiss of the snake.
01:04:40I took another look
01:04:41at the Carson garage
01:04:42this afternoon.
01:04:43In the back wall
01:04:44behind the firewood
01:04:45is a small hole
01:04:46recently bored
01:04:47leading to your garage.
01:04:49And there were yards
01:04:50of rubber tubing
01:04:50in the backseat
01:04:51of your car.
01:04:52Naturally.
01:04:54It's no dice.
01:04:59You'd already opened
01:05:00the gas jet
01:05:00in the library
01:05:01that day you called
01:05:02about the fence.
01:05:04What else?
01:05:08You made sure that
01:05:09Henry Carson
01:05:09was at his desk.
01:05:10Then you connected
01:05:11the tube
01:05:12with the gas jet
01:05:13in the garage.
01:05:14You then went back
01:05:15to your own garage,
01:05:15connected the tube
01:05:16to the tank
01:05:17and turned on the gas.
01:05:18That was the hiss
01:05:19that scared Bell.
01:05:20You let in enough gas
01:05:22to kill a dozen men
01:05:23and a mouse.
01:05:25Then you drew back the tube
01:05:26and it was the end
01:05:27of that riding tube
01:05:28that Bell saw.
01:05:29Of course,
01:05:29he thought it was a snake.
01:05:30And the confessed
01:05:31stabbing of Henry
01:05:32by Charles.
01:05:34Henry Carson
01:05:34was as dead
01:05:35as that mouse
01:05:36when his brother
01:05:36stabbed him.
01:05:37An interesting
01:05:38bit of reasoning.
01:05:39How long have you
01:05:40believed it?
01:05:41I suspected it
01:05:41days ago.
01:05:42You were so down
01:05:43on my theory of gas
01:05:44and so unwilling
01:05:46to involve Blake.
01:05:47Landers,
01:05:48you've done some
01:05:48fine reasoning.
01:05:49I never thought
01:05:49you'd figure it out.
01:05:51But you don't know
01:05:52the harm those
01:05:52two men have done.
01:05:53I came here to live
01:05:54with no idea
01:05:55but to trap them.
01:05:57You see,
01:05:57we never actually met
01:05:58but they knew me
01:06:00as well as I knew them.
01:06:04Hello.
01:06:05Are you two still
01:06:05congratulating each other?
01:06:07We're pretty good.
01:06:08Well, there's someone
01:06:09outside who thinks so too.
01:06:10Oh, you'll pardon me
01:06:11if I carry this investigation
01:06:13a little further.
01:06:13that.
01:06:15Won't you sit down,
01:06:16Mrs. Tottenham?
01:06:17Certainly.
01:06:19Well, I suppose
01:06:20you're very busy now.
01:06:21It's shown gone
01:06:21and also on your hands
01:06:22but if you have a minute
01:06:24I've got something
01:06:25to tell you
01:06:25and something to ask you.
01:06:26An hour if you like.
01:06:28Well, I thought
01:06:29you'd like to know
01:06:30that Landers has traced
01:06:31the murder of Henry Carson
01:06:33to me.
01:06:34What?
01:06:35But you didn't do it.
01:06:37Oh, of course not
01:06:37but I've practically
01:06:38confessed it
01:06:39and Landers has
01:06:40let the matter drop.
01:06:41Well, I'll be...
01:06:43Shh, shh.
01:06:43It's all right,
01:06:44it's all right.
01:06:45What else could I do?
01:06:47You see,
01:06:48I found some rubber tubing
01:06:48that belonged to you
01:06:49hidden behind the firewood
01:06:50in the garage.
01:06:51I parted over
01:06:52to hide your fingerprints
01:06:53and leave my own
01:06:54then I hid in the back
01:06:55of my car.
01:06:56But will you tell me,
01:06:58please,
01:06:59in confidence,
01:07:00how you got that tank
01:07:01of carbon monoxide
01:07:02to asphyxiate Henry Carson
01:07:03that night?
01:07:04That's the only thing
01:07:05I don't understand.
01:07:06The only thing
01:07:06that doesn't fit.
01:07:08Do you mean to say
01:07:09that you confessed
01:07:10to such a crime
01:07:11to shield me?
01:07:12Well,
01:07:13what else could I do?
01:07:14But I didn't do it.
01:07:16What?
01:07:17Then who the heck did?
01:07:19Well,
01:07:20you're just in time,
01:07:21children.
01:07:21For what?
01:07:23You accused Mr. Bernard
01:07:24of killing Carson.
01:07:26Now I'm going to tell you
01:07:27who really came.
01:07:29Two weeks ago
01:07:30I was fool enough
01:07:31to remark in Chong's hearing
01:07:32that if somebody
01:07:33would only murder
01:07:34Henry Carson,
01:07:34I'd be the happiest
01:07:35woman in the world.
01:07:36The morning after
01:07:37Henry was killed
01:07:38I remembered.
01:07:39And knowing Chong's
01:07:40devotion to me
01:07:41I accused him of it.
01:07:43He blandly admitted
01:07:45that he pried
01:07:45open a window,
01:07:46sneaked into your house,
01:07:47stole the gas
01:07:48from Blake's laboratory
01:07:50and asphyxiated
01:07:51the old scoundrel.
01:07:52Well,
01:07:53I'll be...
01:07:54But he'll have
01:07:55to be arrested.
01:07:56Why,
01:07:57certainly.
01:07:57Where are you?
01:07:58On his way to China.
01:08:00Nevertheless,
01:08:01we'll get him.
01:08:01You were wondering
01:08:02where we'd spend
01:08:02our honeymoon.
01:08:03Well,
01:08:03it looks like China
01:08:04to me.
01:08:09You're a man,
01:08:10Forbidden.
01:08:10No fool.
01:08:11Well,
01:08:11have it your own way.
01:08:12But I'll tell you
01:08:13what I'll do.
01:08:14I'll marry you.
01:08:15Who asked you?
01:08:16Hold your tongue.
01:08:17I'm not asking you,
01:08:18I'm telling you.
01:08:19Oh,
01:08:29Who asked you.
01:08:32Who asked you,
01:08:37who asked you,