- 7 years ago
30min | Crime, Drama | Episode aired 10 June 1954
A woman confesses to shooting her ex-husband and is to stand trial for murder. Her boyfriend tells the public defender what really happened.
Creators: Mort R. Lewis, Sam Shayon
Stars: Reed Hadley, John Close, Brick Sullivan
A woman confesses to shooting her ex-husband and is to stand trial for murder. Her boyfriend tells the public defender what really happened.
Creators: Mort R. Lewis, Sam Shayon
Stars: Reed Hadley, John Close, Brick Sullivan
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00A public defender is an attorney employed by the community and responsible for giving
00:19legal aid without cost to any person who seeks it and is financially unable to employ private
00:25counsel.
00:27How close a confession is to the truth, even a full confession?
00:32Does it represent the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
00:38This then is the story of one such confession.
00:41You can call me whenever you're ready.
00:46We've got your address and telephone number, Miss Pearson.
00:48Mrs. Selby.
00:49That's better.
00:50All we're going to do is to ask you a few questions.
00:56Try to get a clear picture of what happened.
00:58I'll tell you what happened.
01:00She pulled a gun on Jack, shoved it in his chest and pulled the trigger.
01:03That's the fourth time you've told us that, Miss Pearson.
01:05Now why don't you let us handle this investigation our own way?
01:08I don't see what has to be investigated.
01:11You've got the body, your partner's got the gun and there's a girl who killed him.
01:17Is there anything I can get you, Mrs. Selby?
01:19Wouldn't you like a glass of water?
01:22No thank you, I'll be all right.
01:24Oh, I love water.
01:26You guys sure go out of your way to be nice to a dame who just plugged a guy.
01:29If you ever find yourself in this kind of a fix, Miss Pearson, we'll try to be nice
01:33to you too.
01:35Don't strain yourself.
01:36We'll go now, Mrs. Selby.
01:50Let me have the gun.
01:55Mrs. Selby, have you ever seen this gun before?
01:58Yes.
01:59It's a Smith & Wesson, serial number 11784, .38 caliber.
02:06It contained one empty cartridge, Remington, and three live rounds.
02:10It's booked under tag number A7813.
02:16Is this the gun you used to shoot your husband?
02:17I didn't mean to do it.
02:19Now, now, I just want to know if this was the gun you used.
02:21Yes, yes, it was.
02:23I feel sick.
02:25Can I get you a doctor?
02:28No, I'll be all right.
02:31Bill, see if you can scout up a cup of coffee for Mrs. Selby.
02:35Now, Bill, you better get one from Ash here too.
02:40You all right now?
02:41Yes, I'm all right.
02:44Mrs. Selby, where did you first see this gun?
02:48I don't remember.
02:49Now, try and remember.
02:50I'll help you.
02:51Was it just lying around the living room?
02:53No.
02:54In the kitchen?
02:55No.
02:56In the dining room?
02:57Please!
02:58Well, it was in the bedroom then.
02:59Yes, yes, the bedroom.
03:00Where in the bedroom?
03:01I don't remember where.
03:02What difference does it make?
03:03I told you I killed him.
03:04What more do you have to know?
03:05Jack and I had an argument.
03:06What about?
03:07He brought this girl, this Flo Pearson, home with him.
03:11They'd both been drinking.
03:13Flo spilled a drink on the rug.
03:16I told him to get out and to take her with him.
03:18Well, how did he take that?
03:19He lost his temper.
03:20He said it was his house as well as mine.
03:22Well, I take it he didn't go then.
03:25No.
03:26So, you went into the bedroom, you saw the gun, you picked it up,
03:31you came back into the living room and used it on your husband.
03:34Is that right?
03:35Yes, I guess so.
03:37Well, will you sign your name to that statement?
03:39Yes, I'll sign my name.
03:41Oh, thanks, Bill.
03:46Yes, Alice?
03:47Philip Nevins is here, sir.
03:49Philip Nevins?
03:50The Patricia Selby case.
03:51The Patricia Selby case.
03:53We'll send him right in.
03:59Hello, Mr. Nevins.
04:01Good afternoon, Mr. Matthews.
04:02You're handling Mrs. Selby's case, aren't you?
04:04I am.
04:06But why the public defender?
04:08She must have some money of her own, hasn't she?
04:10Well, at the moment, she's completely without funds.
04:12Everything is tied up in litigation.
04:14I came as quickly as I could.
04:16I canceled the rest of my tour.
04:18I saw her today at the county jail
04:20and told her I'd like to help her,
04:21but she refused to listen to me.
04:23Won't you be seated?
04:26Now, tell me, Mr. Nevins,
04:28what is your interest in this case?
04:30Hasn't Patricia told you anything about me?
04:33This is the full transcript of the preliminary hearing.
04:37There isn't a single mention of anyone named Philip Nevins.
04:40She obviously avoided mentioning my name.
04:43Mr. Nevins, what is your interest in Patricia Selby?
04:47I love her, Mr. Matthews.
04:49I want to marry her.
04:51Then you would like to help her.
04:53More than anything else in the world.
04:55All right, then, suppose you tell me
04:57everything you know about Patricia Selby.
05:00As he talked, the whole tangled emotional story began to emerge.
05:05Who is it?
05:07Who do you think?
05:08Your husband.
05:11What do you want, Jack?
05:13I want to see you about something.
05:15Come on, baby, open up.
05:16Please, Jack, I'm not feeling very well.
05:19I don't want to see you, Jack.
05:21Honey, only for a minute.
05:23I won't bother you, I promise.
05:25You always promise.
05:27Look, Pat, it's important.
05:29I promise I won't bother you.
05:37All right.
05:39What's so important?
05:41You look great, honey.
05:42Don't call me honey, it's a little late for that.
05:45Just because people get divorced
05:46doesn't mean they can't be friends.
05:48You said it would only take a minute.
05:52You've done something to the room.
05:55I put up new drapes.
05:57You always had a knack for decoration.
05:59I think that's one of the first things I liked about you.
06:04Please, Jack, let's stop pretending.
06:07We're divorced, it's all over between us.
06:09Can't you get that through your head?
06:11Pat, can't we make another go of it?
06:14We've been over that a dozen times.
06:17Why not?
06:18Why do you want to get rid of me?
06:20Jack, you've been drinking again.
06:22You'll never get rid of me, you hear that?
06:24Nobody's going to make a fool of me.
06:26My arm, you're hurting my arm.
06:28Next time I'll break it.
06:30You think anybody can stop me, you're crazy.
06:34Six more weeks for the final decree, huh?
06:36A lot of good it's going to do you, baby.
06:38Six weeks or six years,
06:40you're never going to get rid of me.
06:44I guess I was a little rough the last time.
06:47Went out and got yourself a court order
06:50prohibiting me from molesting you.
06:58Now, why'd you want to do a thing like that?
07:01Jack, I'm begging you.
07:03Go away, leave me alone.
07:06The court says I'm not supposed to bother you.
07:09All right, there's the phone, call the cops.
07:11Tell them I'm violating that order.
07:12Please, Jack, please.
07:14Call the cops, I'll kill you.
07:16Understand?
07:17What do I have to do to be free of you?
07:19As long as you live, court orders, final decrees,
07:21anything else, you'll never be free of me.
07:23We both know what a mistake our marriage was.
07:25Why do we go on like this?
07:27I did too much for you to have you walk out on me.
07:30You did too much for me.
07:32I suppose your drinking and your other women
07:34made you an ideal husband.
07:36A man's entitled to a little fun.
07:38Fun.
07:39Your idea of fun.
07:41What's the matter with you, Jack?
07:43You're not human.
07:44Because you married me, does that mean you own me?
07:47That's right.
07:48I own you, baby.
07:50Just like I own this house and every stick of furniture in it.
07:53You have no right to say that.
07:54Got every right in the world.
07:55I paid for it every last cent.
07:57Well, you didn't pay for me.
07:58Oh, no?
07:59Who stakes your old man when he wanted to go into business?
08:02Nobody else would lend the old thief a dime.
08:04I staked him to $10,000.
08:06$10,000 right down the drain.
08:08He would have paid you back.
08:10He didn't die intentionally.
08:12I'm not so sure.
08:14All I know is I'm out the dough.
08:17And that's the last time anybody puts anything over on me.
08:22Will you leave now?
08:24No.
08:25Why should I?
08:27This is my house.
08:29My way.
08:32Even my liquor.
08:34I think I'll settle down to a nice, old-fashioned evening at home.
08:53Some of her friends, understanding what she was going through, tried to help.
08:57Tried to get her out occasionally, have a little fun.
09:00Oh, Patricia, I'm so happy you could drop by.
09:04I haven't seen you for so long.
09:06Well, Millie, I guess I haven't been seeing very many friends lately.
09:09Place looks lovely.
09:11Oh, it's just an overstuffed barn.
09:13Well, come on.
09:14Let's see the people.
09:15Hi, everybody.
09:16Look who's here and out of the cocoon.
09:18That's Elvie.
09:19Gene?
09:20Where's that person of mine?
09:22Oh, darling, look who's here and stunning as usual.
09:25Baby, come to papa.
09:27Hello, Gene.
09:28It's good to see you again.
09:29Well, now that you're a free woman again,
09:31some of these gals around here had better start putting leg irons on their husbands.
09:34Oh, you're too housebroken to wander.
09:37Gene, stop staring and get Patricia a drink.
09:40It'll be a pleasure.
09:41Patricia, I want you to meet an old friend of Gene, Philip Nevins.
09:45Philip's been traveling in Europe these past two years studying music.
09:48Phil, this is Patricia Selby.
09:50Looks like I got back to America just in time.
09:52How do you do, Mr. Nevins?
09:54Europe must have been an exciting experience.
09:57Alone can be an exciting experience too, Miss Selby.
10:00Phil, Paula, Patricia were old friends.
10:02I think I'll leave you two alone for a while.
10:05I should know what happens when I send Gene for drinks.
10:08He pours one and takes one.
10:11Millie should have warned me that she has such a charming friend.
10:14You're very kind.
10:16And here I'd always suppose that all Millie's friends were old, heavily married people.
10:21Well, I was married.
10:22I'm divorced.
10:23I'm sorry.
10:24I didn't mean to pry.
10:25I love to hear you play.
10:26Would you mind?
10:27Not at all.
10:33Any preference?
10:38Darling, where do you think you're going?
10:40Taking a drink to Patricia, what else?
10:42Patricia is doing very nicely, thank you.
10:49See what I mean?
10:50But out.
10:51I see what you mean.
10:55There's one little girl you'll never miss.
10:58Darling, I wish I could say the same about you.
11:03Poor thing, she looks like she's been locked in a vault.
11:06Yeah, if I know Jack Selby, that's just what happened.
11:10Three years of marriage must have really been a nightmare.
11:13It's so wonderful to hear you talk about music and travel and so many other things.
11:21I've never met anyone like you before.
11:25I've never met anyone like you either, Patricia.
11:29I'm going to see a lot more of you, aren't I?
11:33Well, Philip, you'll be busy preparing for your recital.
11:36And after that, I'm sure I'll see you again.
11:38Well, Philip, you'll be busy preparing for your recital.
11:41And after that, your tour.
11:42I'm not going to be busy day and night.
11:47Philip, your music is so important to you.
11:49Patricia, music isn't a cold scientific thing.
11:52It's alive and real.
11:55You're going to be awfully good for my music, Patricia.
11:59It becomes richer when there's happiness.
12:03When there's love.
12:08That's funny, the lights aren't in there.
12:10That's nothing.
12:11Everyone forgets to turn lights out.
12:14But I didn't forget.
12:15I turned them all out before I left.
12:21Jack, what are you doing here?
12:24Good evening, my dear.
12:25May I say you look ravishing, as usual.
12:27How did you get in here?
12:28Darling, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?
12:30I want to know how you got in here.
12:32Well, I'm not going to tell you.
12:34I'm Jack Selby, Patricia's husband.
12:36You're not my husband.
12:37We're divorced.
12:38Wouldn't you say that's something of a technicality, my dear?
12:42I'm afraid I didn't get your name, sir.
12:44Nevins.
12:45Philip Nevins.
12:46Just how did you get into the house, Mr. Selby?
12:49The usual way.
12:50Through the front door.
12:51But I had all the locks changed.
12:52How'd you get a key?
12:53I got a key.
12:54I got a key.
12:55I got a key.
12:56I got a key.
12:57I got a key.
12:58I got a key.
12:59I got a key.
13:00I got a key.
13:01I got a key.
13:02I got a key.
13:03A man doesn't like to be locked out of his own house.
13:07Don't you agree, Mr. Nevins?
13:10I'm not sure I know what this is all about.
13:13Then I suggest you leave, Mr. Nevins.
13:15Perhaps the next time you see my wife, she'll explain certain things to you.
13:20Patricia said...
13:21Philip, perhaps you had better leave now.
13:23Excellent idea.
13:25You're sure everything's all right?
13:27Yes, everything's all right.
13:28Call me in a day or two.
13:30I will.
13:31Remember, I want you to come to the recital.
13:33I'll be there.
13:35Good night, Mr. Nevins.
13:45Jack, what do you want of me?
13:48That's what you've been doing behind my back.
13:50Found somebody to take my place.
13:51Don't touch me!
13:52Don't tell me you really prefer a run like that to a guy like me.
13:55You're hurting me.
13:56Sure.
13:57What does Philip do to you?
13:58Play music for you?
14:01Sure.
14:04That's my kind of music.
14:06Nobody's going to take my wife away from me.
14:10Look at that, baby.
14:12There's your answer.
14:14I don't know what you're saying.
14:17You're crazy.
14:18There's your answer to Philip Nevins.
14:20A big fat 38 slug right in the chest.
14:25You know what that can do to a man.
15:01You know what that can do to a man.
15:22You were wonderful, Philip.
15:24Good night, everybody.
15:26And thanks for everything.
15:27This young lady and I are going to have a little conference.
15:29Can't we have it in public?
15:30Decidedly not.
15:37How was I, darling?
15:38Seriously.
15:39Philip, you were magnificent.
15:41I've never heard music sound like that before.
15:44Patricia.
15:45Patricia.
15:48I had to wait until tonight.
15:50Until I could prove to myself that I was ready.
15:53Before I felt I could ask you.
15:56Patricia.
15:57Will you marry me the very first day your divorce is final?
16:01Philip, you've got more important things to think of.
16:04Your music.
16:06Music isn't everything, darling.
16:09There's life to be lived after all.
16:11We'll talk about it when you get back from the tour.
16:14Patricia, is there anything wrong?
16:16Are you afraid of anything?
16:18Why should I be afraid of anything?
16:21Then why wait?
16:23Darling, the timing's perfect.
16:25In three weeks you'll have your final decree.
16:27I'll be in San Francisco.
16:28Fly out.
16:29We can get married there.
16:31Philip, your plane leaves in a couple of hours.
16:33You've got so much to do.
16:36I'm sorry, darling.
16:38Maybe I should have given you more time to...
16:41You'll think it over, won't you?
16:44Patricia, maybe in six weeks when I come back from my tour.
16:47We'll talk about it then, Philip.
16:50In the meantime, goodbye and good luck.
16:54Wait a minute.
16:55I'm going to take you home.
16:56You've got time to pack and make your plane.
16:58I'll call a taxi.
17:00Not so soon.
17:10Well, look who just blew in.
17:13My little wifey.
17:15Hello, little wifey.
17:17How's about a kiss for the guy that pays all the bills?
17:20What are you doing here? You're drunk.
17:22I got a surprise for you.
17:26Here she is, baby.
17:28Here's the little wifey I was telling you about.
17:31Go on, tell her.
17:33How would you act towards the guy who gave you a house like this?
17:36Clothes, all the money you could spend.
17:41I could get to love it.
17:43You hear that?
17:44That's appreciation.
17:46There's a gal who appreciates a good provider when she sees one.
17:51Well, it's the truth, isn't it?
17:54Go on, say something.
17:56Don't just stand there.
17:59All right.
18:01I'll show you a gal that really appreciates what a guy like Jack Selby can do for her.
18:10There you are, baby.
18:12How do you like it? How does it feel?
18:15Appreciate it, huh?
18:18How about that?
18:20That's appreciation.
18:21Real appreciat...
18:26Go on.
18:28Say something.
18:30Go on, say something.
18:32Come on, Jack. Let's leave.
18:34I don't think we're exactly welcome around here.
18:37Don't worry, baby. I'm boss around here. What I say goes.
18:39Oh, come on, hon. We can go somewhere else.
18:41What do you mean somewhere else? This is my house.
18:43Did she get it in divorce?
18:45I got it all tied up in the courts.
18:48Nobody gets anything until little old Jack says they can have it.
18:53You'd better be nice to me, baby.
18:54Maybe one of these days...
18:56Go on. Now's another drink.
18:58Go ahead. Help yourself.
19:06All right.
19:08I'll make you talk.
19:11I'll make you talk if it takes all night.
19:20You ain't exactly a friendly type, are you?
19:22Get out of my house, you tramp.
19:25Who are you calling a tramp?
19:32Hello?
19:34Darling, my plane leaves in just about two minutes. I had to call you.
19:37Won't you change your mind?
19:39Philip, where are you?
19:41At the airport. I just said my plane leaves in a couple of minutes.
19:44Darling, it doesn't have to be San Francisco.
19:47We can get married in Denver, Salt Lake City, any place you say.
19:50Philip, it's no use.
19:53I can't marry you.
19:55That's absurd.
19:57Why can't you marry me?
19:59Please understand, darling.
20:01I'm not your kind of person.
20:03You've got a great career ahead of you.
20:05Nothing must interfere with it.
20:07Last call, flight 27.
20:09Chicago, St. Louis, Denver and San Francisco.
20:12Darling, you mean more to me than anything else.
20:15Don't you understand?
20:16Last call, flight 27.
20:18Chicago, St. Louis, Denver and San Francisco.
20:20I've got to leave.
20:22I'll write you. I'll call you.
20:30Goodbye, Philip.
20:32Goodbye, darling.
20:34So that's what's behind it.
20:36That piano player.
20:38You talk to him, but you won't talk to me.
20:41Here you are, baby.
20:43Try these on for size.
20:44Plenty more where those came from.
20:49Get out!
20:51Both of you!
20:52Get out!
21:02I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget.
21:05What are you going to do?
21:07When I get through with you, your own mother won't recognize you.
21:11Don't touch me.
21:12I'm warning you, don't touch me.
21:14Don't try and stop me.
21:16I'll kill you if you do.
21:18Don't try and stop me!
21:24What are you going to do?
21:27Who are you calling?
21:29The police. I'm going to tell them how you tried to kill me.
21:32You're crazy.
21:34Isn't she crazy, baby?
21:36Yeah, she sure is.
21:38Operator! Operator!
21:42Operator!
21:49Patricia Selvey was tried for murder with her own confession staring her in the face.
21:54But the real facts of her life came to light as a result of our investigations.
21:59Flo Pearson, the only eyewitness to the actual crime,
22:03finally corroborated Patricia's story.
22:06And the jury voted for an acquittal on the grounds of justifiable homicide.
22:12That explained the case of a girl who would not fight in her own defense,
22:16who was willing to die rather than hurt the career of the man she loved.
22:26That's why, as the jury voted for an acquittal on the grounds of justifiable homicide,
22:31the jury voted for an acquittal on the grounds of justifiable homicide.
22:35And the jury voted for an acquittal on the grounds of justifiable homicide.
22:38That's why, as the public defender, we've learned to check all confessions carefully.
22:43Sometimes they may not mean all they say.
22:47The case you have just seen was brought to a fair and just conclusion
22:51through the efforts of a public defender.
22:55Public defender Thomas W. Vinson, Joliet, Illinois,
23:00and his staff for outstanding achievement in the cause of justice.
23:08♪
23:38♪
Comments