Crown Court - The Death of Dracula (1973) - video Dailymotion

Jezza

Crown Court: the gripping courtroom drama from the 1970s and 1980s.  Rita Mattson is charged with the murder of her husband, a stage performer known as Count Alucard. Watch out for an appearance of Anthony Sharp, who will be known in the future in the role of another Brigadier in "To The Manor Born".

Transcript

00:00:00Count Alucard, real name Norman Mattson, a famous illusionist, claimed he couldn't be killed.

00:00:23At least, that's what his publicity said.

00:00:26Unfortunately, it turned out not to be true.

00:00:30Two members of the audience fired silver bullets at him from real guns.

00:00:34He'd performed the act thousands of times before, always successfully.

00:00:38This time, one of the silver bullets pierced his chest and passed right through his body.

00:00:44Norman Mattson died from internal bleeding.

00:00:46He died before the ambulance could arrive.

00:00:49The police arrested his assistant, Rita, who was also his wife.

00:00:53She was charged with murder and is appearing at Fullchester Crown Court today.

00:01:00Police and medical witnesses have been heard.

00:01:04The evidence has not been questioned by the defence.

00:01:06It's now the turn of Frank Tyler, manager of the nightclub where Norman Mattson died, to take the stand.

00:01:11What is your religion?

00:01:20A CV.

00:01:21Take the testament in your right hand and read aloud the words on this card.

00:01:24I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give should be the truth, the old truth, nothing but the truth.

00:01:29You're Frank Tyler of 15 Benson Drive, Fullchester.

00:01:31Yes, sir.

00:01:32And you're the manager of the 501 club, Chancellor Place, Fullchester.

00:01:35I am, Mr Elliot.

00:01:36It was at your club, was it not that Mr Mattson was killed?

00:01:39Yes, sir.

00:01:39Most unfortunate business, too.

00:01:41Mr Mattson, Norman Mattson was a performer, was he not?

00:01:44An artiste?

00:01:45Well, he was an illusionist, actually.

00:01:46It's a marvellous act.

00:01:47Would you describe the act for us, please, Mr Tyler?

00:01:50Well, actually, sir, he didn't work under the name of Norman Mattson, actually, because that wasn't his stage name like.

00:01:54What name did he appear under?

00:01:56Count Alucard, Your Honor.

00:01:58Alucard?

00:01:58Yeah, it's Dracula, spelt backwards.

00:02:00That's D-R-A.

00:02:01Oh, so it is, yeah.

00:02:02Yeah, I think he got the idea from some of those dreadful old films they show late at night on the box, you know.

00:02:06Dracula sometimes appears as Count Alucard.

00:02:09Indeed.

00:02:09It's a sort of disguise, I suppose, if you see what I mean, sir.

00:02:11Anyway, as I was saying, Norman had this marvellous act.

00:02:14I mean, he could follow a stripper and hold an audience like you've never seen.

00:02:17What form did his act take?

00:02:19Well, it used to vary, sir, but basically what happened was that Norman used to come on in this old Dracula gear.

00:02:25And what gear would that be, Mr Tyler?

00:02:27Well, it was a long black cloak, sir, and teeth.

00:02:31Teeth?

00:02:31Yeah, yeah, he used to use fangs.

00:02:33He used to put false fangs in his mouth, sir.

00:02:36I mean, he was a vampire.

00:02:37And he was dressed all in black and a white dickie.

00:02:40And, of course, he used all sorts of props, sir.

00:02:42He used the coffin and the wooden stake and, of course, the gun.

00:02:45He played the part of Dracula himself.

00:02:47Oh, and he was marvellous, Mr Elliot.

00:02:49You should have seen his entrance.

00:02:50The lights used to go down and a spot would come on and pick it up.

00:02:54The coffin, I mean, he always made his entrance in the coffin

00:02:56and then they'd put the coffin down

00:02:58and then gradually the lid would slide to one side

00:03:03and would come out and grip the side of the coffin.

00:03:06Oh, it really got the audience going, sir.

00:03:09And what part did Mrs Mattson take?

00:03:11Well, sir, Rita, that's Mrs Mattson,

00:03:13she used to take volunteers from the audience

00:03:15and they used two guns, sir, both muzzleloaders.

00:03:17The guns were not fakes, then?

00:03:19Oh, no, they were very real, sir.

00:03:21That was one of the reasons why Norman wouldn't let anyone touch his guns between the shows.

00:03:25He was very particular about his guns, sir.

00:03:27Fanatical, you might say.

00:03:28Members of the audience examined the guns?

00:03:30Yes, sir.

00:03:31What happened then?

00:03:32Well, then the guns were loaded, sir.

00:03:34By the audience?

00:03:35Yes, sir.

00:03:37What were they loaded with?

00:03:38With a black powder and then a silver bullet, sir.

00:03:42Rita used to take the bullets into the audience to have them marked

00:03:44so they could be identified later.

00:03:46Please go on.

00:03:47Well, then Norman, dressed up in this Dracula gear,

00:03:50used to throw his arms aside

00:03:52and he had a white shirt front, sir.

00:03:55Just this one flash of white with all that black.

00:03:58And the two men who were going to fire at him, sir,

00:04:00were told by Rita to aim very, very carefully

00:04:03at that piece of white shirt front, sir.

00:04:05And then they used to fire

00:04:06and Norman would sort of stagger.

00:04:09Oh, it was a marvellous effect, sir.

00:04:11Very, very...

00:04:12Well, you see, suddenly two blotches of blood

00:04:15would appear on that shirt front.

00:04:17It was really very lifelike, sir.

00:04:19And then Norman would sort of clutch at his chest

00:04:21and pretend he was hurt, you know,

00:04:23and people used to think that he was.

00:04:25They thought something had gone wrong, you know.

00:04:27And then he'd spit these two silver bullets out of his mouth.

00:04:30The same silver bullets that had been in the guns.

00:04:33Mr. Tyler, the same bullets?

00:04:35Well, they had the markings, sir.

00:04:36I mean, that was the puzzling part of the act.

00:04:38What used to happen next?

00:04:39Well, then Norman would rip away this blood-stained shirt, sir,

00:04:43and show the audience his chest,

00:04:44which was completely unmarked.

00:04:46Then he used to grab Rita,

00:04:48tear her dress half off,

00:04:49and sink his fangs into her throat.

00:04:52Blackout.

00:04:54A spectacular act.

00:04:55Oh, it was wonderful, Mr. Elliot.

00:04:57As I say, Norman was one of the greatest showmen

00:04:59I've ever seen in my born days.

00:05:01Did you know Mr. Matten well?

00:05:02Yes, I think so, sir.

00:05:03Did he ever tell you

00:05:04how he performed this illusion with the silver bullets?

00:05:07Well, he often said he would,

00:05:09but somehow he never did.

00:05:11Do you have any idea as to how it was done?

00:05:13Not really, no.

00:05:14I used to think it was something to do with the bullets.

00:05:17Yeah, but I don't see how it could have been.

00:05:19Do you?

00:05:21Mrs. Mattson was his permanent assistant.

00:05:23Oh, yes, sir.

00:05:24He wouldn't go on without us, sir.

00:05:25He said it was too dangerous

00:05:26to work with anyone who didn't know the act.

00:05:28The night Norman Mattson was killed,

00:05:29did the act go exactly as you've just described it?

00:05:32More or less, sir.

00:05:33More or less.

00:05:35Was there a change in the routine of the act?

00:05:37Well, not actually a change, sir,

00:05:38but this time, Rita, she did load one of the guns herself.

00:05:42This was unusual?

00:05:43Well, I hadn't seen her do it before, sir.

00:05:45And you've seen the act many times?

00:05:46Oh, yes, sir.

00:05:47I mean, Norman's played for two weeks, a year,

00:05:50for the last five, six years at my club.

00:05:52Always with his wife as an assistant?

00:05:53Yes, sir.

00:05:54Always with the same act?

00:05:55Well, he used to vary the act a bit,

00:05:57but whenever they did this illusion with the bullets,

00:05:59it was never changed.

00:06:00He said it was far too dangerous to mess around with.

00:06:02Let's go back to the night of the shooting, please.

00:06:04Now, you say Mrs. Mattson loaded the gun herself.

00:06:07Yes, sir.

00:06:08Did she also fire the gun?

00:06:09Oh, no, no, no.

00:06:10She gave it to the volunteer and said,

00:06:12make sure you get him.

00:06:13Did both members of the audience fire together?

00:06:16Yes, sir.

00:06:16And Mr. Mattson was shot?

00:06:18Yeah, he sort of fell, sir, you know.

00:06:21To start off with,

00:06:21I thought he'd done it to sort of build up the effect,

00:06:23but after a minute, he didn't say anything,

00:06:26and he was just groaning and all this blood.

00:06:29Well, I came on and helped drag him to the dressing room.

00:06:32Someone had rung up a doctor, sir,

00:06:33but Norman died before he got there.

00:06:36Did Mr. Mattson say anything to his wife?

00:06:38Yes, sir.

00:06:39He said what went wrong.

00:06:41Anything else?

00:06:43Well, yes, he did call Mrs. Mattson,

00:06:45if you'll forgive the expression, Your Honour,

00:06:46a bloody stupid cow.

00:06:48He thought it was her fault.

00:06:50Law, the witness cannot possibly answer that question

00:06:51and shouldn't be asked it.

00:06:52Yes, Mr. Fry, I agree.

00:06:54The question is quite improper.

00:06:55As it please, Your Lordship,

00:06:56Mr. Tyler, was there any other woman present

00:06:59where Mr. Mattson lay dying and said,

00:07:01you bloody stupid cow?

00:07:03No, sir, she was the only woman there.

00:07:04Are you aware of anything else

00:07:05to which he might have been referring

00:07:06apart from the shooting?

00:07:08No, sir.

00:07:09No.

00:07:10Now, you say you knew Mr. Mattson well.

00:07:13Yeah, pretty well, sir.

00:07:13What kind of man was he?

00:07:15Ah, he was the greatest performer I've ever seen.

00:07:17No, no, as a man, not professionally.

00:07:20I mean, did he have the reputation

00:07:21of being, say, faithful to his wife?

00:07:23Faith, faithful?

00:07:25What?

00:07:25Norman?

00:07:26Faithful, sir.

00:07:27Oh, God.

00:07:28Now, he couldn't have been faithful

00:07:30to hold our ream of wives, sir.

00:07:31Now, he was a right stallion,

00:07:33if you'll forgive the expression, Your Honor.

00:07:34Mr. Tyler, while not wishing to impair

00:07:36your natural fluency,

00:07:37I would be grateful if you would give your evidence

00:07:39in simple, unembellished language.

00:07:41Yes, sir, I'm sorry, sir.

00:07:43Was Mr. Mattson unfaithful with anyone at the club?

00:07:46Several.

00:07:47Several?

00:07:47To your certain knowledge?

00:07:49Yes, sir.

00:07:49I'm afraid to see how the witness can have

00:07:50certain knowledge of the deceased's sexual habits.

00:07:53Unless he watched.

00:07:55Yes, I'm inclined to agree with you, Mr. Fry.

00:07:57How can you have certain knowledge

00:07:59of Mr. Mattson's infidelities?

00:08:02Well, he used to borrow my office sometimes, sir.

00:08:05Borrow your office?

00:08:06Yeah, you know, he'd come up to me and he'd say,

00:08:07Frank, lend us your office for half an hour.

00:08:09I've got a birdie, although I want a...

00:08:11You understand, sir.

00:08:12But why your office, Mr. Tyler?

00:08:14Didn't he have a flat or his dressing room?

00:08:17Well, yeah, but you see,

00:08:18Rita was usually at the flat, sir,

00:08:19and my office had a couch

00:08:21and his dressing room didn't.

00:08:23I see.

00:08:24And then about four days before he was shot, sir,

00:08:27I'd forgotten that he borrowed the office, you know,

00:08:29and I walked in and...

00:08:30Well, there he was with one of the strippers, sir.

00:08:32Daisy Bratt.

00:08:34Do you make a habit of lending your office

00:08:36for immoral purposes, Mr. Tyler?

00:08:38Oh, no, Your Honour.

00:08:40But if I may be permitted to explain, sir.

00:08:42You see, every time we engaged Count Alucard,

00:08:44the business was marvellous, sir.

00:08:46I mean, you can say anything you like about Norman,

00:08:47but he was a real pro.

00:08:49He was a pleasure to work with, sir.

00:08:50I mean, you could always be sure

00:08:51that Norman would turn up on time

00:08:53and he'd be sober,

00:08:54and he'd give the audience

00:08:55a darn good show for their money, sir.

00:08:57I've known comics at Drink,

00:08:59I've known strippers who suddenly see God

00:09:00and refuse to go on at the last moment.

00:09:03I've had singers who feel they can't sing

00:09:05with anything less than a symphony orchestra, sir.

00:09:07Well, after all that...

00:09:09Well, all right.

00:09:10Norman couldn't keep away from the women, sir,

00:09:12but if it did mean by lending him my office

00:09:15for an odd half hour

00:09:16during the weeks he was working for me,

00:09:18if it meant it kept him happy, sir,

00:09:19well, it was worthwhile for me, too.

00:09:21Hmm.

00:09:24You said the deceased was unfaithful with several women.

00:09:27Did Mrs. Matts never say anything to you

00:09:29to indicate that she knew about this?

00:09:31Well, yeah, she caught him

00:09:32with one of the showgirls

00:09:34the night before he was shot, sir.

00:09:35In your office, Mr. Tyler?

00:09:37Oh, no, sir, no.

00:09:38I'm delighted to hear it.

00:09:40Rita and Norman had a big row about it.

00:09:42Which showgirl was it?

00:09:43It was Dorothy Greenway, sir.

00:09:45Miss Greenway is the next witness

00:09:46for the prosecution, my lord.

00:09:48At the time of this row,

00:09:49were you in the club?

00:09:50Well, yes, I was, sir,

00:09:51because it took place in the bar

00:09:52and I was just having a quick one,

00:09:53you know, before we opened.

00:09:54You were then a witness?

00:09:56Oh, I was involved, sir.

00:09:58Because, you see,

00:09:58Rita threw a drink at Norman.

00:10:00It was, er...

00:10:01Well, it was gin, I think, sir.

00:10:02But it hit me.

00:10:04Well, of course, I had to go and change

00:10:05before I let the customers in.

00:10:06I mean, it was jolly lucky

00:10:07I had another dinner jacket

00:10:08hanging up in the office.

00:10:09Was Mrs. Mattsman very angry?

00:10:10She was steaming, sir, steaming.

00:10:14Mr. Mattsman, was he upset?

00:10:16Norman?

00:10:16Oh, no, no, he was very calm.

00:10:18He just drank his tomato juice.

00:10:20He would never have spirits

00:10:21before a show,

00:10:21so he'd like to keep his wits about him,

00:10:23you know.

00:10:24And he laughed.

00:10:25He laughed!

00:10:26Well, of course, that made her madder.

00:10:28I mean, he just stood there and laughed.

00:10:30Even when she said it.

00:10:31When Mrs. Mattsman said what?

00:10:33When she said she'd kill him.

00:10:47Mr. Tider, you say you'd known Mr. Mattsman

00:10:48for about five years.

00:10:50Yes, sir.

00:10:51He was a pretty regular performer at my club

00:10:52since 1968 when we opened, sir.

00:10:54How long was each booking?

00:10:56Oh, a week, sir.

00:10:57We couldn't get him for more.

00:10:58He was always in great demand on the continent, sir.

00:10:59And how many times would you book him during a year?

00:11:01Well, two or three times, sir.

00:11:02He was very popular.

00:11:03So, you said.

00:11:04Was this last occasion the only time

00:11:05he'd had a row with his wife in your presence?

00:11:07No, sir.

00:11:08No, they had a bus stub every time.

00:11:09And were his affairs with other women

00:11:11the cause of these bus stubs?

00:11:12Yeah, well, as I say,

00:11:13he couldn't keep away from it.

00:11:14Had Mrs. Mattsman ever threatened her husband

00:11:16in your presence before?

00:11:17Oh, several times, sir.

00:11:18Could you be more specific, please?

00:11:20Well, I'll try, sir.

00:11:21I mean, there was one time,

00:11:22it was last year, I think,

00:11:23that she went after him with a pair of scissors.

00:11:25Did she injure him at all?

00:11:25No.

00:11:26What happened?

00:11:27Well, he just grabbed her and belted her one.

00:11:28He struck her?

00:11:29Yes, sir.

00:11:30Were there other occasions?

00:11:31Yeah, lots.

00:11:32I don't know if I can remember them.

00:11:34There was once

00:11:34when she tried to hit him

00:11:35with a bottle of rubbing alcohol.

00:11:37Did Mr. Mattsman protect himself?

00:11:39He gave her a black eye, sir.

00:11:40She had to use a lot of extra makeup

00:11:42on that eye that night.

00:11:43That was the only time

00:11:44that any of their rows

00:11:44ever affected their performance.

00:11:46What do you mean, exactly?

00:11:47Well, as I say,

00:11:48she had to put an awful lot

00:11:49of extra makeup on the eye.

00:11:50Would it be true to say, then,

00:11:51that they never let their personal differences

00:11:52interfere with the act?

00:11:54Oh, no.

00:11:55Sir Norman was far too much of a pro.

00:11:56He always used to leave his private feelings

00:11:58in the dressing room.

00:11:59And what about Mrs. Mattsman?

00:12:00When she was on stage,

00:12:01would she ever allow her anger

00:12:02or jealousy to show?

00:12:04No, sir.

00:12:04Would you say that she was a real pro, too?

00:12:06Well, she had to be working with Norman, sir.

00:12:08I mean, she'd been with him for eight years.

00:12:10They'd been married for six.

00:12:12Now, about this question

00:12:13of the change of the routine

00:12:14of the act

00:12:15on the night that Mr. Mattsman died,

00:12:16you say that Mrs. Mattsman

00:12:17loaded one of the guns herself?

00:12:19Yes, sir.

00:12:19And that you'd never seen her do this before?

00:12:21I hadn't, sir, no.

00:12:22Did Mr. Mattsman object

00:12:23or give any indication

00:12:24that he was unhappy with her action?

00:12:26No, sir.

00:12:26Would you have expected him to do so

00:12:27if he thought there was any danger?

00:12:29My lord, my learned friend

00:12:30is asking the witness

00:12:30to make a comment.

00:12:31And besides, Mr. Tyler

00:12:32has already stated

00:12:33that he doesn't know

00:12:34how this particular allusion

00:12:35was performed.

00:12:37Yes, I agree with you, Mr. Elliot.

00:12:38But on the other hand,

00:12:39I think we should be grateful

00:12:40for any light

00:12:41that this witness can throw

00:12:42on the mechanics of the allusion.

00:12:45Mr. Fry,

00:12:46if you could rephrase your questions.

00:12:47With pleasure, my lord.

00:12:48Mr. Tyler,

00:12:49would you say that Mr. Mattsman

00:12:50was a very careful man

00:12:51when it came to preparing for his act?

00:12:53Oh, he was more than careful, sir.

00:12:54He was meticulous.

00:12:55I mean, he wouldn't let

00:12:56anyone touch his guns

00:12:57except on stage.

00:12:58Did this include his wife?

00:12:59It included everybody's.

00:13:01Did Mr. Mattsman

00:13:02ever explain why?

00:13:03Well, yes, sir.

00:13:04He said that with an act like his,

00:13:05he couldn't afford to take risks.

00:13:07Yet muzzleloading rifles

00:13:08are not in common

00:13:09everyday use, are they?

00:13:10I suppose not.

00:13:11Would you say that many of your customers

00:13:12were familiar with

00:13:13muzzleloading weapons?

00:13:14No.

00:13:15Then how did they know

00:13:16how to load Mr. Mattsman's guns?

00:13:17Well, Rita would tell them

00:13:18what to do.

00:13:19Just tell them?

00:13:20Well, sometimes she'd start

00:13:21to load one of the guns

00:13:22to show the volunteer

00:13:23what to do.

00:13:24So she would sometimes

00:13:25pour the powder

00:13:26into the barrel

00:13:27of one of the guns herself?

00:13:28Yes, sir,

00:13:29and then she'd hand it

00:13:30to the volunteer

00:13:30to finish off.

00:13:31Is this what happened

00:13:32on this occasion?

00:13:33No, sir, no.

00:13:34On this occasion, actually,

00:13:35she went through

00:13:35the whole rigmarole herself.

00:13:36She put the powder in

00:13:37and then the silver bullet

00:13:38and she tamped them all

00:13:39down with a ramrod.

00:13:40And what about the other gun?

00:13:41Oh, no, that was loaded

00:13:42by the other volunteers.

00:13:43Now, let's be quite precise

00:13:44about this, Mr. Tyler,

00:13:45because it may be important

00:13:46later on.

00:13:47The only change in the routine

00:13:48in the night that Mr. Mattson

00:13:50was shot was that

00:13:51Mrs. Mattson put the bullet

00:13:52into the gun herself

00:13:53and then rammed it down

00:13:55with a ramrod.

00:13:56That is correct, sir.

00:13:57But Mr. Mattson

00:13:58made no objection to this?

00:13:59No, sir.

00:14:00Thank you, Mr. Tyler.

00:14:02I wish to clarify

00:14:03one or two points, my lord.

00:14:04Mr. Tyler, when you say

00:14:05that Mrs. Mattson

00:14:06never allowed her jealousy

00:14:07or anger

00:14:07to show on stage,

00:14:08you're merely describing

00:14:09her behaviour.

00:14:11Yes, sir.

00:14:11So you cannot know

00:14:12how this actress,

00:14:14this real pro,

00:14:15I think you called her,

00:14:15you cannot know

00:14:16how she felt

00:14:16beneath her masquerade.

00:14:18Well, no, not really, sir.

00:14:20I bet she was a bit choked,

00:14:21but she never seemed to show it.

00:14:22Mr. Elliot,

00:14:23it is for the jury

00:14:24to make up their minds

00:14:25what the accused felt,

00:14:26if it is relevant,

00:14:27not for the witness.

00:14:28I'm aware of that, my lord.

00:14:30Now, the act you described

00:14:31to us with Mattson

00:14:32as the unkillable Dracula

00:14:33must have required

00:14:34a good deal of acting ability

00:14:36on the part of

00:14:37Mrs. Mattson.

00:14:38Well, yes, sir.

00:14:39I mean, she wasn't just

00:14:39any ordinary illusionist assistant, sir.

00:14:42You know, I mean,

00:14:42she had to do the patters,

00:14:44she had to act scared,

00:14:45and when her dress was torn off,

00:14:47she had to flash her,

00:14:48well, she had to die

00:14:49very effectively.

00:14:50when Mrs. Mattson took it upon herself

00:14:53to load the gun,

00:14:54what was Mr. Mattson doing?

00:14:56Well, he was waving his cloak about, sir,

00:14:59like wings, you know.

00:15:00He was doing his sinister bit,

00:15:01this sort of,

00:15:01the hideous laugh.

00:15:04He was trying to frighten the audience.

00:15:06Is it possible

00:15:07that he didn't see his wife

00:15:08loading the gun?

00:15:11I don't know.

00:15:13Please think carefully

00:15:14about your answer, Mr. Tyler.

00:15:15Well, I can't be sure, sir,

00:15:19but I suppose he might not have seen

00:15:21what Rita was doing.

00:15:22Thank you, Mr. Tyler.

00:15:25You may stand down, Mr. Tyler.

00:15:27Call Dorothy Greenway, please.

00:15:29Dorothy Greenway, please.

00:15:40What is your religion?

00:15:42Church of England.

00:15:43Take the testimony on right hand

00:15:44and read aloud the words on this card.

00:15:47I swear by almighty God

00:15:49that the evidence I shall give

00:15:50should be the truth,

00:15:51the whole truth,

00:15:52and nothing but the truth.

00:15:53You're Miss Dorothy Greenway

00:15:55of 17A, St. Bernard's Road, Birmingham?

00:15:57I am.

00:15:58What is your profession, please?

00:15:59I'm a dancer.

00:16:00How old are you?

00:16:0122.

00:16:02How long have you known the deceased?

00:16:04Oh, two months.

00:16:05And where had you first met?

00:16:07We met at the Vegas Club in Newcastle.

00:16:09Norman was performing there.

00:16:10And was Mrs. Mattson with him?

00:16:12Yes.

00:16:13What was your relationship with Mr. Mattson?

00:16:15In all respect,

00:16:15I really don't see how this can be relevant.

00:16:18I think I do, Mr. Fry,

00:16:19and I think it is advisable.

00:16:21I think the court should explore

00:16:22the deceased's affections for other women

00:16:26as well as his relationship with the accused.

00:16:28I'll repeat my question, Miss Greenway.

00:16:30What was your relationship with Mr. Mattson?

00:16:32We were going to be married.

00:16:34Mr. Mattson was married already?

00:16:36Yes, but he was going to get a divorce.

00:16:37The little cow's lying.

00:16:39Mrs. Mattson,

00:16:40I will stand for no interruptions

00:16:41when a witness is giving evidence.

00:16:42But she's lying!

00:16:44Norman wasn't going to leave me!

00:16:45Mrs. Mattson!

00:16:48I'm sorry, my lord.

00:16:50There will be no further repetition of this behaviour.

00:16:52No.

00:16:54Continue, Mr. Dealey.

00:16:55My lord.

00:16:56So, Mr. Mattson told you that he wanted a divorce?

00:16:58Yes.

00:16:59Do you know if he'd mentioned this to Mrs. Mattson?

00:17:01Well, he told me he had.

00:17:03Well, had he?

00:17:04Well, I'm not sure.

00:17:05What makes you uncertain?

00:17:07Well, it was a row Rita and I had

00:17:09two days before she shot him.

00:17:10Now, Miss Greenway,

00:17:12you must not prejudge the evidence.

00:17:14It's the jury's duty and not yours

00:17:16to decide whether or not

00:17:18Mrs. Mattson shot her husband.

00:17:20Oh, I'm sorry, my lord.

00:17:22How did this row between you and Mrs. Mattson start?

00:17:24Well, she found Norman and me together.

00:17:26And what happened?

00:17:27Well, she started to scream and shout

00:17:29and get hysterical.

00:17:30And Norman slapped her face.

00:17:31Did she mention a divorce?

00:17:33Well, no.

00:17:34Actually, I did.

00:17:35You did?

00:17:36Well, yes.

00:17:37She said something about

00:17:38how I shouldn't get any ideas about her husband

00:17:40just because we were...

00:17:41Well, anyway,

00:17:43I said we were planning to get married

00:17:45as soon as the divorce came through.

00:17:46And what was her reaction to that?

00:17:48Well, she screamed even more

00:17:49and said I was mad.

00:17:50Said Norman would never leave her.

00:17:52I said he was going to

00:17:53after they'd finished that week at the 501.

00:17:56She said I wasn't going off with her husband.

00:17:58She'd kill him first.

00:18:00She actually said

00:18:01that she would kill her husband first?

00:18:03Yes.

00:18:03How did Mr. Mattson take this threat?

00:18:06Well, he wasn't there to hear it.

00:18:07He had walked off.

00:18:08And did you take the threat seriously?

00:18:10Oh, yes.

00:18:11Rita's got a violent temper.

00:18:12You've no idea.

00:18:13She just goes mad.

00:18:15Miss Greenway,

00:18:16were you present

00:18:16the night that Norman Mattson was shot?

00:18:18Yes.

00:18:19Oh, it was awful.

00:18:20The bullet went right through him.

00:18:22Did you watch the act?

00:18:24Yes.

00:18:24Well, Norman had asked me

00:18:25to study the act

00:18:26so I could replace Rita

00:18:28when the time came.

00:18:29She's lying!

00:18:30Mrs. Mattson, I...

00:18:30But she is.

00:18:31I was married to Norman

00:18:32for six years

00:18:33and he would never have let

00:18:35a brainless idiot like that

00:18:36assist him in the act.

00:18:37Mrs. Mattson,

00:18:37you will have every opportunity

00:18:39of putting your view

00:18:40when you are giving evidence.

00:18:41Meanwhile,

00:18:42I will stand no more

00:18:42of these interruptions.

00:18:44Mr. Dean.

00:18:44Yes.

00:18:45Oh, Lord.

00:18:46Miss Greenway,

00:18:47we may take it, I suppose,

00:18:48that you had studied

00:18:48the mechanics of this act

00:18:49very carefully

00:18:50over a long period of time.

00:18:52Yes.

00:18:52Now, did you observe

00:18:54Mrs. Mattson

00:18:55load one of the guns

00:18:56that night?

00:18:57Yes, well,

00:18:58I thought she'd made a mistake

00:18:59or...

00:19:00Oh, I don't know.

00:19:01So it was not usual

00:19:02for Mrs. Mattson

00:19:03to load any of the guns?

00:19:04Well, no.

00:19:05The whole point of the illusion

00:19:06was to involve the audience

00:19:07as much as possible.

00:19:09Make them load the guns

00:19:10and fire them

00:19:10so there was no suggestion

00:19:12of any faking.

00:19:13Did Mr. Mattson

00:19:14make any sign to his wife

00:19:15that she might have made a mistake?

00:19:17No.

00:19:18Like a good pro,

00:19:19he just went on with the act

00:19:20as if nothing had happened.

00:19:21And the volunteers

00:19:21from the audience

00:19:22aimed and fired the guns?

00:19:24Yes.

00:19:24And Norman Mattson

00:19:25fell dying to the floor?

00:19:26Yes, but no one realized

00:19:28at first...

00:19:29What did Mrs. Mattson do?

00:19:31Well, nothing.

00:19:33She just stood there

00:19:34and looked at him.

00:19:35She did nothing?

00:19:36Well, she finally

00:19:38went across to him.

00:19:39And did you hear

00:19:39what Mr. Mattson

00:19:40said to his wife?

00:19:41No, well, I wasn't close enough.

00:19:43But one of the other dancers

00:19:44told me I wish she did that.

00:19:45You must not say

00:19:47what someone told you

00:19:48that somebody else said.

00:19:49It's not admissible

00:19:50in evidence,

00:19:51not in law.

00:19:52You must only say

00:19:53what you yourself

00:19:54saw or heard.

00:19:55I understand, me, lord.

00:19:57Good.

00:19:57Miss Greenway,

00:19:58did you have occasion

00:19:58to talk to Mrs. Mattson?

00:20:00Yes.

00:20:01Well, er,

00:20:02no, well,

00:20:02not actually talk.

00:20:03Well, what happened?

00:20:05Well, it was in Frank Tyler's office.

00:20:07Norman had been brought there

00:20:08because there was a couch.

00:20:09He was unconscious.

00:20:10Well, I think he was probably dead.

00:20:12Well, I went across to Rita

00:20:14and she was just standing there

00:20:16and staring into space

00:20:17and saying over and over again,

00:20:20what have I done?

00:20:21What have I done?

00:20:22Thank you, Miss Greenway.

00:20:25Miss Greenway,

00:20:26you say you first met

00:20:27Norman Mattson

00:20:28at the Vegas Club?

00:20:29Yes.

00:20:30How long was he playing there?

00:20:31Er, one week.

00:20:32Did you become lovers

00:20:33during that week?

00:20:34My lord,

00:20:35is my learned friend's

00:20:36question relevant?

00:20:37Yes, I think it is,

00:20:38Mr. Elliot.

00:20:39The witness will answer.

00:20:41Well, I...

00:20:41Answer yes or no,

00:20:42Miss Greenway.

00:20:42Did you become lovers?

00:20:44Yes.

00:20:45After the first day?

00:20:46No.

00:20:47Second day?

00:20:47Third day?

00:20:48Well, um,

00:20:50after about four days.

00:20:51Do you know

00:20:51if you were the only woman

00:20:52in the club

00:20:53with whom Norman Mattson

00:20:54was successful?

00:20:55I don't know what you mean.

00:20:57I would have thought

00:20:57the question was perfectly clear,

00:20:59Miss Greenway.

00:21:00In his evidence,

00:21:00Mr. Tyler said

00:21:01that while he was

00:21:01at the 501 Club,

00:21:03Mr. Mattson enjoyed

00:21:04several conquests.

00:21:05A certain stripper

00:21:06was mentioned.

00:21:07Daisy Pratt,

00:21:08you mean?

00:21:09Well, I wouldn't

00:21:09exactly call her

00:21:10a conquest.

00:21:11She threw herself

00:21:11at anything in trousers.

00:21:13So you did know

00:21:14he had other affairs?

00:21:16Sometimes.

00:21:17It was living with her

00:21:18that drove him to it.

00:21:19Miss Greenway.

00:21:20Oh, I'm sorry,

00:21:21my lord.

00:21:21I didn't mean that.

00:21:22So while he was

00:21:23at the 501 Club,

00:21:24Mr. Mattson indulged

00:21:25in what would appear

00:21:26to have been

00:21:26his favourite pastime.

00:21:28Now, you're not

00:21:28expecting the jury

00:21:29to believe that

00:21:30when he was at

00:21:30the Vegas Club

00:21:31in Newcastle,

00:21:31he suddenly took

00:21:32bows of chastity,

00:21:33aren't you?

00:21:33No, of course not.

00:21:35So you were not

00:21:36the only woman

00:21:36in his life

00:21:37in Newcastle,

00:21:38were you?

00:21:39I didn't know

00:21:39of any others.

00:21:41Were you and

00:21:42Mr. Mattson

00:21:42in love?

00:21:44Yes.

00:21:45And he proposed

00:21:46to you, did he?

00:21:47Yes.

00:21:47When was this?

00:21:49Well, um,

00:21:50about a month

00:21:51after we met.

00:21:52You're both

00:21:52working in the same club?

00:21:53No.

00:21:54Norman was working

00:21:55the clubs in Manchester

00:21:56and in Yorkshire

00:21:57and I used to come

00:21:58down from Newcastle

00:21:59to see him.

00:21:59And all the time

00:22:00he was presumably

00:22:01pursuing other women?

00:22:02I don't know.

00:22:03It doesn't sound much

00:22:04like the action

00:22:04of a man in love,

00:22:05does it?

00:22:06Well, Norman was like that.

00:22:07You just had to accept it.

00:22:09You accepted it?

00:22:10Yes.

00:22:11Mrs. Mattson

00:22:12doesn't seem to have done.

00:22:13Well, it was all right for her.

00:22:14She was married to him.

00:22:15Yes, but you said

00:22:16that you believed

00:22:16he was going to marry you.

00:22:17So why did you turn

00:22:18a blind eye to his affairs?

00:22:20What else could I do?

00:22:23You said you thought

00:22:24Mr. Mattson

00:22:25had asked his wife

00:22:26for a divorce.

00:22:27Yes.

00:22:27When did he do that?

00:22:29Well, I'm not sure exactly.

00:22:31But in your evidence

00:22:32you said that you

00:22:32had told Mrs. Mattson.

00:22:34Yes, but I already

00:22:35thought she knew.

00:22:36And did she?

00:22:37Well, I don't know.

00:22:38Well, if Mr. Mattson

00:22:38hadn't asked his wife

00:22:39for a divorce,

00:22:40surely that would suggest

00:22:41that he had no intention

00:22:42of doing so.

00:22:43Mr. Lotterby,

00:22:44the witness cannot possibly

00:22:45answer that question.

00:22:46My lord,

00:22:47my question was

00:22:48purely rhetorical.

00:22:49Yes, Mr. Lotterby,

00:22:50I dislike rhetorical questions

00:22:51that are disguised

00:22:52as statements of fact.

00:22:55As you know,

00:22:55the proper place

00:22:56for rhetoric

00:22:56is in the final speeches

00:22:58to the jury.

00:22:59I'm grateful

00:22:59for your lordship's guidance.

00:23:02Miss Greenway,

00:23:02it is true to say,

00:23:03is it not,

00:23:03that Norman Mattson's act

00:23:05was very successful

00:23:06and popular?

00:23:07Oh, yes.

00:23:08He was always offered

00:23:09more bookings

00:23:09than he could possibly accept.

00:23:11Did he tour abroad much?

00:23:12Mm-hmm.

00:23:13He toured a lot

00:23:14on the continent

00:23:14and he was very popular

00:23:16in Germany particularly.

00:23:17Did he tour anywhere else?

00:23:18Well,

00:23:18I believed he toured America

00:23:20and South Africa

00:23:22and Australia.

00:23:23He must have made

00:23:23quite a lot of money.

00:23:24Mm-hmm.

00:23:25I suppose so.

00:23:26You said he replied

00:23:26to my learned friend

00:23:27that Mr. Mattson

00:23:28had asked you

00:23:28to study the act

00:23:29so that you could

00:23:30take over from Mrs. Mattson

00:23:31when the time came

00:23:32as his assistant.

00:23:33Yes, that's right.

00:23:34So he must have told you

00:23:35how all the illusions

00:23:35were worked?

00:23:36Yes.

00:23:37Well, some of them.

00:23:39Including, of course,

00:23:40the shooting?

00:23:41Well, no, actually.

00:23:43But that was

00:23:43his greatest illusion,

00:23:44wasn't it?

00:23:45Yes.

00:23:46You say you were

00:23:47the woman that he was

00:23:48going to marry,

00:23:48his future assistant.

00:23:50Yes.

00:23:50And yet he didn't tell you

00:23:51how the illusion was done?

00:23:52Yes, but Norman

00:23:53was very secretive

00:23:54about the act.

00:23:55Perhaps it was your idea

00:23:56to study the act,

00:23:57your idea to pursue him

00:23:58from club to club,

00:23:59your idea to take over

00:24:00from Mrs. Mattson

00:24:01in an act which you yourself

00:24:02have said was successful

00:24:03and popular.

00:24:04But Norman wanted me to.

00:24:06He wanted to marry me.

00:24:07Are you sure, Miss Greenmay?

00:24:09Weren't you just another

00:24:10of Norman Mattson's conquests?

00:24:12Weren't you just a little

00:24:12more persistent

00:24:13than the others?

00:24:14But he loved me.

00:24:15I know he did.

00:24:16He wanted to marry me.

00:24:17No, Miss Greenmay.

00:24:19I very much doubt

00:24:20that he did.

00:24:21But it's true, it is.

00:24:22That's why she killed him.

00:24:36The case of the Queen

00:24:41versus Mattson

00:24:42will be resumed tomorrow

00:24:43in the Crown Court.

00:24:44This is the second day

00:25:02of the trial of the Queen

00:25:03versus Mattson.

00:25:04The charge is murder.

00:25:07The question facing the jury

00:25:08is did Rita Mattson

00:25:09kill her husband?

00:25:11Norman Mattson

00:25:12was a famous illusionist.

00:25:13As Count Alucard,

00:25:15he played clubs

00:25:15all over Europe

00:25:16and even toured America.

00:25:18The climax of the act

00:25:19came when Mattson

00:25:20was shot on stage.

00:25:22The guns were real,

00:25:23the bullets were silver.

00:25:25Miraculously,

00:25:26he survived.

00:25:27Until one night

00:25:28in the 501 club

00:25:29in Fulchester,

00:25:30a bullet blew a hole

00:25:31in Norman Mattson's chest,

00:25:33killing him.

00:25:34What went wrong?

00:25:36Did Rita Mattson

00:25:37kill her husband?

00:25:38In Fulchester Crown Court today,

00:25:40these questions

00:25:41may be answered.

00:25:42You are Miss Kathleen Nolan?

00:26:03Yes.

00:26:03You live at

00:26:04Shea Kathleen Pollock Road Nelson?

00:26:07Yes,

00:26:07with my mother.

00:26:08You're a dancer by profession?

00:26:10Exotic dancer,

00:26:11and model.

00:26:12Corsetry and underwear,

00:26:13mostly.

00:26:15I beg your pardon?

00:26:16Corsetry and underwear,

00:26:17that's what I model mostly,

00:26:18for mail order catalogues

00:26:20and things like that.

00:26:21I see.

00:26:22Thank you, Miss Nolan.

00:26:23Now, you were employed

00:26:24at the 501 club

00:26:25in Fulchester

00:26:25at the time

00:26:26that Norman Mattson

00:26:27was shot.

00:26:28Yes, that's right.

00:26:29Oh, it was awful.

00:26:31You've no idea.

00:26:32The gun went off

00:26:33and Norman fell to the floor

00:26:34and then the blood

00:26:35started coming.

00:26:35Miss Nolan.

00:26:37Yes, my lord?

00:26:37Try and answer

00:26:38Council's questions

00:26:39as simply and briefly

00:26:40and, of course,

00:26:41as truthfully as you can.

00:26:42Yes.

00:26:43If either counsel

00:26:44wishes you to go into detail,

00:26:45he will phrase his question

00:26:46in an appropriate manner.

00:26:48You mean I mustn't talk

00:26:49too much, my lord?

00:26:50Just try and keep to the point.

00:26:52I'm sorry.

00:26:53It's the first time

00:26:54I've given evidence

00:26:55anywhere before.

00:26:56I quite understand it,

00:26:57Shea.

00:26:58Miss Nolan,

00:26:58you are, I believe,

00:26:59a friend of the accused,

00:27:01Mrs. Rita Mattson.

00:27:02Yes.

00:27:03Have you known her long?

00:27:04About nine or ten years.

00:27:05How did you meet?

00:27:07We started as dancers

00:27:08together in a pantomime

00:27:10in Bradford.

00:27:10It was put in...

00:27:12Do you want to know

00:27:13the name of the pantomime?

00:27:14Please tell us, Miss Nolan.

00:27:15It was put in boots.

00:27:18So you knew the defendant

00:27:19when she first met

00:27:20Norman Mattson?

00:27:21Yes.

00:27:22Where did she first meet him?

00:27:24At a club.

00:27:25We were both in the troupe

00:27:26that was dancing there,

00:27:27although I was already

00:27:28starting to do

00:27:29some solo exotic dances

00:27:30with some lovely fans.

00:27:32Mattson.

00:27:33Sorry.

00:27:35That's all right.

00:27:36Mr. Mattson was a bachelor?

00:27:38Yes, I think so.

00:27:40Did he have an assistant

00:27:41at the time?

00:27:42Yes, Stella her name was.

00:27:44But he replaced Stella

00:27:45with the accused.

00:27:46Now, when was that?

00:27:47When we were in Newcastle.

00:27:48In fact, just after they'd met?

00:27:50Yes.

00:27:51You've remained friends

00:27:53with Mrs. Mattson?

00:27:54Yes.

00:27:55In fact, I used to see

00:27:56quite a lot of her

00:27:56when we were working

00:27:57the same clubs.

00:27:58Or if she was working

00:27:59in a town nearby,

00:28:00she'd come over and see me

00:28:01or vice versa.

00:28:02You must have seen

00:28:03quite a lot of their marriage

00:28:04over the years.

00:28:05Yes.

00:28:06Not that it was much

00:28:06of a marriage if you ask me.

00:28:08Why do you say that?

00:28:09Well, it wasn't Rita's fault.

00:28:12It's just that Norman

00:28:12was such a...

00:28:13Well, he didn't want a wife.

00:28:15He just wanted

00:28:16an unpaid assistant

00:28:16for the act.

00:28:17Would you say

00:28:18that the marriage

00:28:18was unhappy?

00:28:20Well, I don't know.

00:28:22So long as Rita

00:28:22let Norman carry on

00:28:24with whoever he fancied,

00:28:25whenever he fancied,

00:28:25they seemed to get on

00:28:26well enough.

00:28:27But if she ever complained

00:28:28about his girlfriends

00:28:29or made some mistake

00:28:30in the act,

00:28:31he'd knock her about.

00:28:32Now, how do you know that,

00:28:33Miss Nolan?

00:28:34That he knocked her about?

00:28:35I've seen him hit her

00:28:36on several occasions.

00:28:38Did the accused

00:28:38ever tell you

00:28:39why she continued

00:28:40to stay with him?

00:28:41Yes.

00:28:41She once told me

00:28:42that no matter

00:28:43what kind of a swine

00:28:44Norman was,

00:28:45he had a top-class act

00:28:46and always played

00:28:46the best places.

00:28:48She was never short of money.

00:28:50Now, did you see her

00:28:51just prior

00:28:52to Norma Madsen's death?

00:28:53Yes.

00:28:54Did the defendant

00:28:54say anything to you

00:28:55about Miss Greenway's

00:28:56association with her husband?

00:28:58Yes.

00:28:59She said to me,

00:29:00Rita, that is,

00:29:01she said that she'd had

00:29:02enough of Norman's

00:29:03messing about with other women.

00:29:05She said that no one

00:29:06was going to take

00:29:06Norman away from her,

00:29:07not even Dorothy Greenway.

00:29:09She said she'd rather

00:29:10kill him first.

00:29:12On the night of

00:29:12Norma Madsen's death,

00:29:13were you in the 501 club?

00:29:15Yes.

00:29:15Did you notice any change

00:29:16in the routine of the act?

00:29:18No.

00:29:19Except that Rita loaded

00:29:21one of the guns herself.

00:29:22You're sure?

00:29:23Yes.

00:29:23And that was not

00:29:24a normal part of the act?

00:29:26No.

00:29:27Thank you, Miss Nolan.

00:29:27Please remain there.

00:29:30Miss Nolan,

00:29:30would you describe yourself

00:29:31as a friend of Mrs. Madsen?

00:29:32Oh, yes.

00:29:33I'm probably her best friend.

00:29:35Poor Mrs. Madsen.

00:29:36Mr. Fry.

00:29:36I'll withdraw that remark, my lord.

00:29:38Miss Nolan,

00:29:39you described how

00:29:39you and your friend

00:29:40first made the acquaintance

00:29:41of Norman Madsen.

00:29:42Yes.

00:29:43What kind of a man

00:29:44was he then?

00:29:45Very attractive.

00:29:46Would you describe him

00:29:47then as a womaniser?

00:29:48Well, he certainly

00:29:48wasn't queer.

00:29:50I mean, yes,

00:29:51he was after all

00:29:52the girls in the club.

00:29:52Including the defendant?

00:29:54Oh, yes.

00:29:55How was it that he came

00:29:55to replace his assistant

00:29:56Stella with Mrs. Madsen?

00:29:58Well, Stella wasn't

00:29:59exactly what you call

00:30:00a bonus for the act.

00:30:02In what way

00:30:02was she inadequate?

00:30:03Well, she had

00:30:04shocking legs to begin with.

00:30:05I mean, if an illusion

00:30:06act needs anything,

00:30:07it's an assistant

00:30:08with good legs.

00:30:09Besides,

00:30:10she was beginning

00:30:11to hit the bottle a bit.

00:30:12She was often drunk?

00:30:13Well, not exactly

00:30:14what you call drunk.

00:30:16It's just that, well,

00:30:16she made mistakes.

00:30:18And if there's

00:30:18one thing Norman hated,

00:30:20it was working

00:30:20with someone who drank.

00:30:21I mean, he was

00:30:22a perfectionist.

00:30:23Everything had to be

00:30:24100% exactly

00:30:25as he planned it.

00:30:26So Mr. Madsen

00:30:27chose the defendant

00:30:28to replace Stella?

00:30:29Well, not exactly.

00:30:30What do you mean,

00:30:31Miss Nola?

00:30:31It was more like

00:30:32the other way round.

00:30:33Rita did the choosing.

00:30:35In what way?

00:30:36Well,

00:30:37she fancied him strongly.

00:30:39We all did.

00:30:40Anyway,

00:30:40he was always

00:30:41after all the girls.

00:30:42But she went

00:30:43out of her way

00:30:43to get him.

00:30:44She pursued him,

00:30:45you might say.

00:30:46I'm going to get him,

00:30:47Kath, she told me.

00:30:48And she did.

00:30:49How?

00:30:51Well, it wasn't

00:30:52right what she did.

00:30:53What did she do,

00:30:53Miss Nolan?

00:30:54She got Stella

00:30:55really piss...

00:30:56Drunk one night.

00:30:59Deliberately?

00:30:59Oh, yes.

00:31:00She knew Stella

00:31:01had been drinking already

00:31:02and she took half a bottle

00:31:03of vodka into their

00:31:04dressing room.

00:31:04She told Stella

00:31:05it was her birthday

00:31:06and she was celebrating.

00:31:07It wasn't.

00:31:09Her birthday's in August.

00:31:10Are you sure

00:31:11about this half bottle

00:31:12of vodka?

00:31:12Oh, yes.

00:31:13She asked me to go out

00:31:14and buy it for her.

00:31:14You knew this was her

00:31:15intention at the time?

00:31:16No, she told me afterwards.

00:31:17Was her plan successful?

00:31:19Oh, yes.

00:31:20Stella made a right

00:31:21mess of things on stage

00:31:22and Norman was raving mad.

00:31:24Like I said,

00:31:25he was a perfectionist.

00:31:26And so the defendant

00:31:27replaced Stella?

00:31:28Yes,

00:31:29for the very next performance.

00:31:31We all wondered

00:31:31why she'd been studying

00:31:32his act so closely.

00:31:34Of course,

00:31:34we realised later.

00:31:36Tell me, Miss Nolan,

00:31:36was Mr Mattson

00:31:37your lover

00:31:38this time when you all

00:31:39met in Newcastle?

00:31:42Do I have to answer

00:31:43that, my lord?

00:31:45Yes, Miss Nolan.

00:31:49All right, yes.

00:31:50Did your association

00:31:51with Mr Mattson continue?

00:31:52Continue.

00:31:53Continue up to

00:31:54and after his marriage

00:31:55to Mrs Mattson?

00:31:56Yes.

00:31:57It wasn't a regular thing,

00:31:59though.

00:31:59Oh.

00:32:00Were you in love

00:32:01with Norman Mattson?

00:32:02No.

00:32:03He was a very attractive man,

00:32:05that's all.

00:32:05So you've described yourself

00:32:05as an exotic dancer

00:32:07and model.

00:32:09That's right.

00:32:09How much exotic dancing

00:32:11and modelling

00:32:12do you do?

00:32:13Well, it depends

00:32:14on how often I'm working.

00:32:15And how often is that?

00:32:16I don't know.

00:32:17For example,

00:32:17are you working this week?

00:32:18Well, no.

00:32:19Were you working last week?

00:32:20No.

00:32:21Do you have any jobs

00:32:21coming up next week?

00:32:22Not that I know of,

00:32:23but you see...

00:32:23The week after next?

00:32:24Yes, I'm doing

00:32:25some corset modelling.

00:32:26And how much

00:32:27will that pay?

00:32:27About £20, I suppose.

00:32:29So you spend

00:32:29a considerable portion

00:32:30of your career

00:32:30resting, I believe

00:32:32the term is.

00:32:33Well, I mean,

00:32:33show business is like that.

00:32:34Would my learned friend

00:32:35like to see

00:32:36the witness's insurance card,

00:32:37my lord?

00:32:38I would be grateful

00:32:38if you would come

00:32:39to the point, Mr Fry.

00:32:40We're almost there, my lord.

00:32:41Ah.

00:32:42Mr O'Neill,

00:32:42would you say that the Mattsons

00:32:44had to rest very often?

00:32:45No.

00:32:46No.

00:32:46Norman was working all the time.

00:32:48A top-class act,

00:32:49you said?

00:32:50Very successful.

00:32:51Yes.

00:32:51And your friend, Rita,

00:32:52was part of that act

00:32:53and she played

00:32:53all the best clubs

00:32:54here and on the continent.

00:32:56Yes, but if you're suggesting

00:32:57that I was jealous...

00:32:58Weren't you, Miss Nolan?

00:32:59No.

00:33:00Isn't it jealousy

00:33:00that's coloured all your evidence

00:33:01in this court today?

00:33:02Certainly not.

00:33:03You said, and I quote you,

00:33:04Rita pursued him.

00:33:06That's right.

00:33:06Was it only Rita?

00:33:07I don't know what you mean.

00:33:08Well, I'd love to know

00:33:09who bought this half-bottle of vodka

00:33:11that got Stella drunk.

00:33:13Whose idea was it?

00:33:14Rita's.

00:33:14Do you seriously expect

00:33:15the majority to believe

00:33:16that Rita turned around

00:33:17and said to you,

00:33:17go out and get half a bottle of vodka,

00:33:19I want to get Stella drunk

00:33:20so that I can take her place

00:33:20in the act?

00:33:21Oh, no, it didn't happen like that.

00:33:22I'm sure it didn't, Miss Nolan.

00:33:24Rita went after Norman Mattson

00:33:26with every intention

00:33:27of taking Stella's place

00:33:28in his act.

00:33:29She'd told you that?

00:33:30As good as.

00:33:30Did she tell you

00:33:31or did she not, Miss Nolan?

00:33:33Not in those words.

00:33:34Were you competing with her, Miss Nolan?

00:33:36No.

00:33:36Were you yourself hoping

00:33:37to replace Stella

00:33:38as Norman Mattson's assistant?

00:33:39No.

00:33:41Now, what about

00:33:41Mrs Mattson's threat

00:33:43to her husband's life?

00:33:44Was this as vaguely expressed

00:33:45as her other

00:33:45alleged declarations of intent?

00:33:48She said she'd rather

00:33:48kill him first.

00:33:49Were those her precise words?

00:33:51Near enough.

00:33:52You'd have to do better

00:33:52than that, Miss Nolan.

00:33:53Did she say,

00:33:54I'll kill my husband first

00:33:55before I let him

00:33:56go off with another woman?

00:33:57Well, perhaps not

00:33:58in those exact words, but...

00:34:00And what about

00:34:01your assertion

00:34:01that for Mrs Mattson

00:34:02to load the gun

00:34:03was a complete change

00:34:04in the routine of the act?

00:34:05Is that also an exaggeration?

00:34:06No.

00:34:07You sure?

00:34:07Yes.

00:34:08How many times

00:34:09have you seen the act

00:34:09performed, Miss Nolan?

00:34:10Well, dozens of times.

00:34:11What do you mean

00:34:11dozens of times?

00:34:1224, 36, 48?

00:34:14I've told you

00:34:15dozens of times!

00:34:15But you didn't see the act

00:34:16every time it was performed,

00:34:18did you?

00:34:18Well, no, of course not.

00:34:19So how can you be sure, then,

00:34:20that on occasion

00:34:21Mrs Mattson did not load

00:34:22one or even both

00:34:23of the guns?

00:34:25I suppose I can't.

00:34:27Thank you, Miss Nolan.

00:34:29Miss Nolan,

00:34:30as a professional yourself,

00:34:31would you say

00:34:32that it's usual

00:34:32for a carefully drilled

00:34:34act like the Mattsons

00:34:35to vary greatly

00:34:36from performance

00:34:37to performance?

00:34:38No.

00:34:39They rehearsed

00:34:40several variations

00:34:41using different illusions

00:34:42and so on,

00:34:42but the basic framework

00:34:44didn't alter

00:34:44and the build-up

00:34:45to the shooting

00:34:46was always the same.

00:34:48Miss Nolan,

00:34:49is there any reason

00:34:49why you should be jealous

00:34:50of Rita Mattson?

00:34:52No.

00:34:53Have you ever been

00:34:54envious of her success?

00:34:56No.

00:34:57She didn't really have any.

00:34:58I mean,

00:34:59he was the star.

00:35:00She was merely

00:35:01his assistant.

00:35:02The success was his.

00:35:04Thank you very much,

00:35:05Miss Nolan.

00:35:07You may stand down,

00:35:08Miss Nolan.

00:35:09That concludes the case

00:35:09for the prosecution,

00:35:10Your Lord.

00:35:17I call

00:35:18Mrs Rita Mattson.

00:35:31You are Mrs Rita

00:35:34Elaine Mattson

00:35:35of 22 Lavender Ways,

00:35:37Scarborough.

00:35:37I am.

00:35:38Widow of Norman Mattson.

00:35:40Yes.

00:35:40Mrs Mattson,

00:35:41you were on stage

00:35:41with your husband

00:35:42when he was shot.

00:35:43Yes.

00:35:44Did you load the gun

00:35:44that shot him?

00:35:45So I believe.

00:35:46Why did you do this,

00:35:47Mrs Mattson?

00:35:48It was something

00:35:48of a change

00:35:49in the routine of the act,

00:35:50was it not?

00:35:50We usually didn't do it

00:35:52like that.

00:35:52Norman always preferred

00:35:53a member of the audience

00:35:54to participate,

00:35:55but I had loaded both guns

00:35:57on odd occasions

00:35:58in the past.

00:35:59Why was that, Mrs?

00:35:59Sometimes the audience

00:36:00wouldn't cooperate,

00:36:01or even if they did,

00:36:02they didn't load

00:36:03the gun properly.

00:36:04Why did you decide

00:36:05to load the gun

00:36:05on this particular evening?

00:36:06One of the volunteers

00:36:07looked as if he'd had a few.

00:36:09You mean he was drunk?

00:36:10Not exactly stone,

00:36:11but pretty high.

00:36:12I could see him

00:36:13taking hours

00:36:13to load the thing

00:36:14or not doing it properly,

00:36:15so I did it myself.

00:36:16Now, the gun used

00:36:17was a muzzle loader.

00:36:19That's correct.

00:36:20What was it loaded with?

00:36:21Black powder,

00:36:22a round silver bullet

00:36:23and a wad.

00:36:24A wad being

00:36:25a small paper

00:36:26or felt disc?

00:36:27Yes, it's used

00:36:28to keep the powder

00:36:29and the bullet

00:36:29packed tightly

00:36:30at the bottom

00:36:30of the barrel.

00:36:31Mrs. Mattson,

00:36:32how many times

00:36:33had you assisted

00:36:33your husband

00:36:34in the performance

00:36:34of this particular illusion?

00:36:36I can't give

00:36:36the exact number,

00:36:37but it must be

00:36:38well over 2,000 times.

00:36:39Had anything ever

00:36:40gone wrong with it before?

00:36:41No, never.

00:36:41Mind you,

00:36:42that was probably

00:36:43because Norman

00:36:43was absolutely meticulous

00:36:45about all his props

00:36:46and equipment.

00:36:47He did all his own

00:36:48maintenance

00:36:48and he wouldn't allow

00:36:49anybody to touch

00:36:50anything.

00:36:51Not even you?

00:36:51Certainly not me.

00:36:52He wouldn't even

00:36:53let me in the room

00:36:53when he was cleaning

00:36:54the guns.

00:36:54So it is a fact

00:36:56then that you never

00:36:57got to examine

00:36:58the guns closely?

00:36:59No, I used to hand

00:37:00them over to be loaded

00:37:01during the act

00:37:02or load one myself

00:37:03but that's as far

00:37:03as it went.

00:37:04Did you know

00:37:05how all his illusions

00:37:06worked?

00:37:06Some of them I did

00:37:07but not all of them.

00:37:08Did you know

00:37:08how his trick

00:37:09with the guns was done?

00:37:10No.

00:37:11But surely,

00:37:12Mrs. Mattson,

00:37:12in order to assist

00:37:13in the act

00:37:13you must have known

00:37:14what to do.

00:37:15Oh, I knew

00:37:15what I had to do,

00:37:16my lord.

00:37:17Norman saw to that

00:37:18but I never knew why.

00:37:20But you mean

00:37:21to say that

00:37:21after six years

00:37:22of marriage

00:37:22eight years

00:37:23acting as his assistant

00:37:24he never told you

00:37:25never hinted

00:37:26in any way

00:37:27how the illusion

00:37:28was done?

00:37:28No, my lord

00:37:29and that's the truth.

00:37:31It must have made

00:37:32the work of an assistant

00:37:33extremely difficult.

00:37:34Oh, he did

00:37:34because you were

00:37:35never sure

00:37:35why you were

00:37:36doing a certain thing

00:37:37whether it was

00:37:37for dramatic effect

00:37:38or because an illusion

00:37:39wouldn't work

00:37:40if he didn't do

00:37:40a particular thing.

00:37:42Well, didn't you

00:37:42ask your husband?

00:37:43Yes.

00:37:44But Norman

00:37:45was unbelievably

00:37:46secretive.

00:37:47He was terrified

00:37:48that somebody

00:37:49would steal his ideas.

00:37:50what you don't know

00:37:51you can't tell

00:37:52he used to say.

00:37:53Mind you

00:37:54it wasn't as daft

00:37:55as it sounds.

00:37:56What do you mean

00:37:56Mrs. Batson?

00:37:57If an assistant

00:37:58isn't sure

00:37:59what is or isn't

00:38:00important in an act

00:38:01then you've got to

00:38:01go right through

00:38:02the whole thing

00:38:03every performance

00:38:04exactly as laid down.

00:38:05You can't start

00:38:06cutting corners

00:38:07improvising

00:38:08or getting careless.

00:38:09So you feel

00:38:10that perhaps

00:38:11his excessive fear

00:38:12of plagiarism

00:38:13actually helped the act?

00:38:14Yes, in a strange

00:38:15way it did.

00:38:16Hmm.

00:38:18Thank you, my lord.

00:38:19Mrs. Madsen

00:38:19you've heard

00:38:20Miss Nolan

00:38:20and Miss Greenway

00:38:21admit to having

00:38:22affairs with your husband.

00:38:23Yes.

00:38:24Did you know

00:38:24about these affairs?

00:38:25Yes.

00:38:26What was your reaction?

00:38:27Well, I didn't like it

00:38:28if that's what you mean.

00:38:29Did you do anything

00:38:30about them?

00:38:30Yes, I complained

00:38:31to Norman.

00:38:32And what happened?

00:38:33He hit me.

00:38:34Did your husband

00:38:35often strike you?

00:38:36Not often.

00:38:37I mean, to hear people

00:38:37talk you think

00:38:38that Norman

00:38:38beat me up

00:38:39all the time

00:38:40and laid off

00:38:40every woman in sight.

00:38:42But it's all

00:38:43a big exaggeration.

00:38:45Most of the time

00:38:45Norman was generous,

00:38:46affectionate

00:38:47and easygoing man.

00:38:49He was fun.

00:38:50He was wonderful

00:38:51to work with

00:38:51and a great artist.

00:38:53Were you in love

00:38:54with your husband?

00:38:55Well, I suppose

00:38:55I must have been.

00:38:56I stayed with him

00:38:56for eight years.

00:38:57I'd still be with him

00:38:58now if he hadn't

00:38:59been killed.

00:39:00Did you ever

00:39:00contemplate divorce?

00:39:02No.

00:39:03Did you ever

00:39:03think of leaving him?

00:39:05Frequently.

00:39:06But you didn't?

00:39:07No.

00:39:08Mrs. Madsen,

00:39:09you've heard

00:39:09Miss Nolan's description

00:39:10of your first meeting

00:39:11and involvement

00:39:12with Norman Madsen.

00:39:13Yes.

00:39:14Is that an accurate

00:39:15description?

00:39:15Is that how it all

00:39:16happened?

00:39:16No.

00:39:18Well, yes,

00:39:19it's part of the truth.

00:39:21You and Miss Nolan

00:39:22were dancing in the

00:39:22same club where

00:39:23Norman Madsen

00:39:24was topping the bill.

00:39:25Yes.

00:39:25Did you plan to

00:39:26replace his assistant

00:39:27at the time,

00:39:28Stella,

00:39:28in the way that

00:39:29Miss Nolan

00:39:29has suggested?

00:39:30By means of the vodka?

00:39:32Yes.

00:39:33Yes and no.

00:39:34What do you mean

00:39:35exactly?

00:39:35I went out

00:39:36and bought the vodka

00:39:37but it was

00:39:37Miss Nolan's money

00:39:39that paid for it

00:39:40and the whole idea

00:39:41was dreamed up

00:39:42by another dancer

00:39:43in the show,

00:39:44Julie something or other.

00:39:45I can't remember her name.

00:39:46None of us liked Stella

00:39:47and we all fancied Norman

00:39:49but in the end

00:39:51when it came down to it

00:39:52Norman chose me.

00:39:54It was his choice.

00:39:56You've heard

00:39:56Miss Greenway suggest

00:39:57that she was being

00:39:58groomed,

00:39:59I think the word is,

00:40:00to replace you

00:40:01as his assistant.

00:40:02Groomed by

00:40:03Mr. Madsen.

00:40:04Yes,

00:40:04well,

00:40:04Dolly Greenway

00:40:05has a very vivid imagination.

00:40:08So you've no reason

00:40:08to believe

00:40:09that your husband

00:40:09was planning

00:40:10to replace you?

00:40:10I know he wasn't.

00:40:11How can you be so sure,

00:40:13Mrs. Madsen?

00:40:13Because I knew my husband.

00:40:15Would you explain, please?

00:40:16Look,

00:40:16Norman spent years

00:40:17polishing and perfecting

00:40:19the act.

00:40:19There wasn't an illusionist

00:40:21in Europe

00:40:21who could touch him.

00:40:22We played the Lido

00:40:23in Paris,

00:40:23Las Vegas,

00:40:24all over.

00:40:24He was the tops.

00:40:26But it was a difficult act

00:40:27to perform.

00:40:28It needed precision,

00:40:29split second timing.

00:40:30There was so much

00:40:31that could go wrong.

00:40:33Now do you think

00:40:33for one minute

00:40:34he's going to throw

00:40:35that all away,

00:40:36all those years of work

00:40:37because he wanted

00:40:38to make some little scrubber

00:40:39who he'd only known

00:40:40for a couple of months

00:40:41into his assistant.

00:40:42Oh, no.

00:40:43If Norman had been

00:40:45planning to replace me

00:40:46in the act

00:40:46with this little

00:40:47Miss Greenway,

00:40:49he would have been

00:40:50rehearsing with her

00:40:51every morning

00:40:52and afternoon

00:40:52for months,

00:40:53not having it off

00:40:54with her

00:40:54in Frankie Tyler's office.

00:40:56Norman would have

00:40:57made her learn

00:40:58all the moves

00:40:59and all the patter

00:40:59of the act

00:41:00until she could

00:41:00do it in her sleep.

00:41:01His career came

00:41:02before everything else?

00:41:03Yes,

00:41:04even before sex.

00:41:05I was with him

00:41:06for eight years

00:41:07and I knew him

00:41:07better than anybody.

00:41:09Now, Mrs. Mattson,

00:41:10various witnesses

00:41:11have testified

00:41:11that on several occasions

00:41:12you threatened

00:41:13to kill your husband.

00:41:14Yes.

00:41:15You admit making

00:41:16those threats?

00:41:16Yes, I also threw

00:41:17things at him

00:41:18but it didn't mean anything.

00:41:20Would you describe

00:41:20your marriage

00:41:21as unhappy then?

00:41:22No, not really.

00:41:23It was just that

00:41:23we both needed

00:41:24to let off steam occasionally.

00:41:26We shouted at each other,

00:41:27said things that

00:41:28we didn't mean.

00:41:29That's the way we were.

00:41:31Thank you, Mrs. Mattson.

00:41:32Would you stay there, please?

00:41:34Mrs. Mattson,

00:41:35would you describe yourself

00:41:36as a woman of violent temper?

00:41:39No, not violent.

00:41:40Yet in the course

00:41:41of various marital rows

00:41:42you've threatened

00:41:43to kill your husband.

00:41:44Yes, I've already explained that.

00:41:46Yes, yes, that you wanted

00:41:46to let off steam occasionally.

00:41:48Yes.

00:41:48That would suggest

00:41:49the existence

00:41:50of considerable pressure.

00:41:52Well, there was bound

00:41:52to be some pressure.

00:41:53Because of your husband's infidelities?

00:41:55Not only that,

00:41:56we were two people...

00:41:57Well, it wasn't help...

00:41:57I'm sorry, please go on.

00:41:59We were two people

00:41:59who lived and worked together.

00:42:01Some friction's bound

00:42:02to be expected.

00:42:03But it wasn't helped

00:42:04by your husband's fondness

00:42:05for the opposite sex,

00:42:06now, was it?

00:42:07No, I suppose it wasn't.

00:42:08No.

00:42:09Now, throughout your evidence,

00:42:10Mrs. Mattson,

00:42:11you've been at pains

00:42:11to impress the court

00:42:12that your husband

00:42:12was a showman first

00:42:14and only incidentally

00:42:16a lecher.

00:42:17Yes.

00:42:18A perfectionist,

00:42:19he's been described.

00:42:19Yes, that's true.

00:42:20He would sacrifice anything

00:42:21or anyone

00:42:22to improve the act.

00:42:25Yes.

00:42:25Even you,

00:42:27Mrs. Mattson?

00:42:28I don't know what you mean.

00:42:30How old are you,

00:42:31Mrs. Mattson?

00:42:32Thirty-one.

00:42:33How old?

00:42:35Thirty-one.

00:42:36How old was Stella,

00:42:38the assistant you ousted?

00:42:39I don't know.

00:42:41Mrs. Mattson,

00:42:42surely you studied her

00:42:43very carefully

00:42:43in order to learn

00:42:45how to replace her.

00:42:47Well, I suppose...

00:42:47Or was she in her teens?

00:42:50No.

00:42:50Was she in her twenties?

00:42:52No.

00:42:52Well, let's try thirties.

00:42:54Yes, I suppose so.

00:42:57Would you, um...

00:42:58Would you say

00:42:59that your physical attraction

00:43:00played an important part

00:43:01in your act?

00:43:02I don't know.

00:43:03Everything helps, of course.

00:43:04You're being much too modest,

00:43:06Mrs. Mattson.

00:43:07Much too modest.

00:43:08I have here a photograph of you

00:43:09taken by a club photographer.

00:43:13Exhibit number one, milord.

00:43:15Now, it shows a point

00:43:16in your act, does it not,

00:43:18when your husband,

00:43:18as Count Dracula,

00:43:19prepares to tear your dress off

00:43:21and bury his fangs

00:43:22in your neck?

00:43:23Yes.

00:43:24It would seem to necessitate

00:43:25a considerable exposure

00:43:26of your person.

00:43:27Yes.

00:43:28When was this photograph taken?

00:43:30I don't know.

00:43:32Don't you?

00:43:33I do, Mrs. Mattson.

00:43:34Six years ago

00:43:35at a nightclub in Brussels.

00:43:36That's right, isn't it?

00:43:38Yes, I think so.

00:43:39Yes.

00:43:40Now, you knew your husband

00:43:41was looking for a younger

00:43:42and more attractive assistant,

00:43:43didn't you?

00:43:44No.

00:43:45I put it to you, Mrs. Mattson,

00:43:46that Stella was replaced

00:43:48for precisely that reason.

00:43:49And you were terrified

00:43:50of proving equally expendable.

00:43:53I was his wife.

00:43:55Miss Greenway says

00:43:55he wanted a divorce.

00:43:56She's lying.

00:43:58You wouldn't be the first wife

00:43:59to have eliminated her husband

00:44:01so as to prevent another woman

00:44:02from marrying him.

00:44:03But that's murder.

00:44:05Just what you're charged

00:44:06with, Mrs. Mattson.

00:44:08I've also been at pains

00:44:10to impress this court

00:44:11with the intricacy

00:44:12of your husband's illusions.

00:44:13That's right.

00:44:14No one, you've said,

00:44:14could hope to learn

00:44:15how to become

00:44:16your husband's assistant

00:44:17without months of rehearsal.

00:44:18Well, you try being shot

00:44:20at six nights a week

00:44:21with live bullets.

00:44:22Yet you took Stella's place

00:44:23at very short notice,

00:44:24didn't you?

00:44:27The act was much simpler

00:44:29in those days.

00:44:30Yes, but the gun routine

00:44:31was still a part of the act,

00:44:32wasn't it?

00:44:33I can't remember.

00:44:34It may have...

00:44:35Mrs. Mattson,

00:44:35was the gun routine

00:44:37a part of the act then

00:44:38or was it not?

00:44:39Yes.

00:44:39Yes, thank you very much.

00:44:40A routine that you insist

00:44:42that even after eight years

00:44:43does, you still don't understand.

00:44:45I don't know

00:44:46how the illusion is done.

00:44:48You can't have it both ways,

00:44:49Mrs. Mattson.

00:44:49What do you mean?

00:44:50If you don't know

00:44:51how the illusion was done,

00:44:52then it follows, does it not,

00:44:53that no great skill

00:44:54or intelligence

00:44:54was required

00:44:55of your husband's assistance.

00:44:57Now, if on the other hand,

00:44:59months of rehearsal

00:45:00were required

00:45:00plus skill and intelligence,

00:45:02then it also follows,

00:45:04does it not,

00:45:05that you must have known

00:45:05how the shooting illusion

00:45:06was performed

00:45:07and when you loaded

00:45:08the gun that night

00:45:09in the 501 club,

00:45:10you thereby intended

00:45:11to kill your husband.

00:45:13Good-bye.

00:45:15Good-bye.

00:45:33Good-bye.

00:45:37Good-bye.

00:45:39Good-bye.

00:45:41The case of the Queen versus Mattson will be resumed tomorrow in the Crown Court.

00:45:51An accident or murder?

00:46:09That's the problem facing the jury on this last day of the trial at Fulchester Crown Court.

00:46:14Did Rita Mattson kill her husband, nightclub illusionist Norman Mattson,

00:46:18or did something go fatally wrong in the spectacular act that made his reputation?

00:46:23The climax of the act came when Mattson, dressed as Count Dracula,

00:46:27was shot at with silver bullets by two members of the audience.

00:46:31The guns were real. So were the bullets.

00:46:34One night, something went wrong.

00:46:36The gun fired as usual. Norman Mattson fell dead.

00:46:39Today, the jury decide, murder or accident.

00:46:48Now, you've testified that there was considerable friction in your relationship with your husband,

00:47:07and not merely because of his somewhat cavalier sexual habits.

00:47:09No, I wouldn't have said considerable.

00:47:12Well, you said, and I quote,

00:47:14there was bound to be some pressure, some frictions only to be expected.

00:47:18Yes, I suppose I did.

00:47:19And this pressure, this friction, was exacerbated by his attachment to a girl

00:47:23whom you saw as a younger, prettier rival, all ready to replace you.

00:47:28I told you yesterday there was no chance of Dolly Greenway replacing me in the act.

00:47:32Well, Miss Greenway thought there was.

00:47:33I can't help what she thought.

00:47:37Could her attitude have influenced you?

00:47:39No.

00:47:41Did you ask the jury to believe that you weren't annoyed or irritated

00:47:43by Miss Greenway studying your moves, learning your lines,

00:47:47all with the obvious intention of replacing you?

00:47:49All right.

00:47:50Yes, it was irritating.

00:47:53But I knew that it meant nothing.

00:47:55No, no, you can't have known it, Mrs. Mattson.

00:47:57You might have wished it, but you cannot have been 100% sure.

00:48:01I knew my husband.

00:48:02That's precisely my point.

00:48:04You knew exactly what he would be capable of,

00:48:07how ruthless he could be when he was professionally involved.

00:48:10You are twisting my words.

00:48:12Well, you broke the routine of the act and loaded the gun yourself.

00:48:14What was your intention?

00:48:15What did you want to do?

00:48:15Frighten your husband?

00:48:16No.

00:48:17It's strange, is it not, that it was the gun you loaded that killed him?

00:48:20It was pure chance.

00:48:21Was it only chance?

00:48:23I didn't mean to kill him.

00:48:24What did you mean to do, then?

00:48:25Nothing, nothing at all.

00:48:27You saw a rival ready to replace you.

00:48:29You saw the end of the good times,

00:48:31trips to Europe and America,

00:48:33the end of the big money.

00:48:34No.

00:48:34And for that reason,

00:48:36you departed from the usual routine,

00:48:37you loaded the gun yourself,

00:48:38and you killed your husband.

00:48:40No, I told you!

00:48:44No more questions.

00:48:45Mrs. Mattson,

00:48:46you often had rows with your husband

00:48:48during the years you were married.

00:48:50Yes.

00:48:50Sometimes he struck you.

00:48:52Yes.

00:48:53He was often unfaithful.

00:48:54Yes.

00:48:55Sometimes you threatened to kill him.

00:48:57Yes.

00:48:58On occasion,

00:48:59during performances,

00:48:59you loaded the gun in yourself

00:49:01when necessary.

00:49:02Yes.

00:49:03Was your husband ever injured

00:49:04on any of those occasions?

00:49:06No.

00:49:06Did you ever injure your husband

00:49:08during the performance before?

00:49:10No.

00:49:10Thank you, Mrs. Mattson.

00:49:13That is all.

00:49:14You will return to the dock,

00:49:16Mrs. Mattson.

00:49:17Thank you, Lord.

00:49:25Call Brigadier Tennyson Pusey.

00:49:27Brigadier Tennyson Pusey, please.

00:49:32What is your religion?

00:49:36Atheist.

00:49:36Did you say atheist, Brigadier?

00:49:40Atheist.

00:49:41Oh.

00:49:42Please read aloud the words on this card.

00:49:44Ah, let's just hang on a sec.

00:49:48I do solemnly, sincerely and truly

00:49:51declare and affirm

00:49:52that the evidence I shall give

00:49:53shall be the truth,

00:49:54the whole truth

00:49:55and nothing but the truth.

00:49:57You are Brigadier Sir Ferdinand Tennyson Pusey?

00:50:00Yes.

00:50:00Of McGuay Castle, Drummond?

00:50:02Yes.

00:50:02Brigadier,

00:50:03you've examined the guns

00:50:04employed by the late Norman Mattson

00:50:05in his act.

00:50:06When the Home Office

00:50:07finally consented

00:50:08to release them, yes.

00:50:10Would you be kind enough

00:50:10to tell us something

00:50:11about these guns?

00:50:12Yes.

00:50:12Have we the weapons in court?

00:50:14Could we see Exhibit 2 first, please?

00:50:15You don't object, my lord?

00:50:17No, Brigadier.

00:50:18It might prove helpful to the jury.

00:50:20Good.

00:50:22Ah,

00:50:23this is a weapon

00:50:24made specially for Mr. Mattson

00:50:25by Patterson and McCready

00:50:26of Edinburgh.

00:50:28It's a copy of an early

00:50:2819th century fouling piece.

00:50:31A very nice weapon.

00:50:32Is it a shotgun, Brigadier?

00:50:34Yes, of course.

00:50:35A muzzleloader.

00:50:36And being a shotgun,

00:50:37the barrel is smooth-bought,

00:50:38is it not?

00:50:38Yes, of course it is.

00:50:40Brigadier,

00:50:40what is that rod for

00:50:41underneath the barrel?

00:50:42This?

00:50:44This is the ramrod

00:50:45used for loading the weapon.

00:50:47And how does the gun work?

00:50:50Simple.

00:50:51May I demonstrate?

00:50:53Yes, very well, Brigadier.

00:50:54Good.

00:50:54Well, first,

00:50:56you load the weapon

00:50:57by pouring a quantity

00:50:58of black powder

00:50:59down the barrel.

00:51:00Powder.

00:51:01You got the powder there?

00:51:03Ah, good chap.

00:51:06Ah.

00:51:06There we are.

00:51:15Next,

00:51:16you put in the ridiculous

00:51:17silver bullet.

00:51:20Sorry, my lord.

00:51:21Rather weak chest.

00:51:23The ridiculous silver bullet

00:51:24he used.

00:51:25Actually, I think it's a

00:51:26steel ball bearing.

00:51:28No wonder it blew a hole in him.

00:51:31Right.

00:51:31Now we tamp that down

00:51:33with the ramrod.

00:51:37There we are.

00:51:39And next,

00:51:40we put in the wad.

00:51:41You know what a wad is?

00:51:42Yes, Brigadier.

00:51:43Mrs. Matson explained that

00:51:45to the court.

00:51:45Really?

00:51:46Good.

00:51:47Ah.

00:51:48Well, there's the wad going in.

00:51:50And now we tamp it down.

00:51:55There we are.

00:51:58Now, to fire the thing,

00:51:59you need

00:52:00a copper percussion cap.

00:52:04One of these things.

00:52:05This goes on this nipple here

00:52:06upon which the hammer

00:52:07of the gun strikes.

00:52:10There we are.

00:52:12Ah.

00:52:12Sandbox.

00:52:13Sandbox.

00:52:14Put the sandbox

00:52:14a little bit further away

00:52:15from me, will you, old chap?

00:52:16Just by that bench there.

00:52:19You're surely not proposing

00:52:20to fire the gun

00:52:21in this courtroom, Brigadier.

00:52:23A little practical demonstration,

00:52:25my lord.

00:52:25Absolutely relevant,

00:52:26I do assure you.

00:52:27Was it safe?

00:52:28Yes, yes.

00:52:29That sandbox is

00:52:30off a .5 machine gun bullet.

00:52:32Believe me, my lord,

00:52:33I know what I'm doing.

00:52:34Very well, Brigadier.

00:52:36Right.

00:52:37Now, to fire the gun,

00:52:38all we do is

00:52:38cock the hammer,

00:52:40aim into the sandbox,

00:52:42and squeeze the trigger.

00:52:45Well, surely the gun

00:52:48hasn't fired?

00:52:49No, my lord.

00:52:50That was only the percussion

00:52:51cap going off.

00:52:53Did something go wrong?

00:52:55No, my lord.

00:52:56This gun can't fire,

00:52:58nor can the other one.

00:52:59Yes, but I don't understand.

00:53:01According to the medical evidence,

00:53:03Madsen was killed

00:53:04by a bullet from that gun

00:53:05which pierced his chest.

00:53:06Yes.

00:53:08Let's have those drawings

00:53:09of the mechanism,

00:53:10shall we, ale chair?

00:53:11This is exhibit three, my lord.

00:53:12Yeah.

00:53:12We'll have them on the easel,

00:53:14I think.

00:53:14Brigadier,

00:53:15would you explain to the jury

00:53:16why the gun didn't fire?

00:53:18Simple.

00:53:19It couldn't.

00:53:21Why?

00:53:22The gun was never designed

00:53:23to be fired.

00:53:24Look.

00:53:24When you press the trigger,

00:53:27the hammer is released

00:53:28and strikes the percussion cap.

00:53:30Bang!

00:53:31It's exactly the same principle

00:53:32as a child's cap pistol.

00:53:35Now,

00:53:35what should happen

00:53:36is that

00:53:38the flash from the percussion cap

00:53:41goes down an aperture

00:53:44in the nipple

00:53:45and ignites the powder

00:53:46in the barrel.

00:53:48Powder burns,

00:53:49gases build up

00:53:50against the pressure

00:53:51of the wad in the barrel

00:53:52until they're strong enough

00:53:54to blow the wad

00:53:55and the bullet

00:53:56out of the business end

00:53:57of the gun.

00:53:58Understand?

00:53:59But, Brigadier,

00:54:00you still haven't explained

00:54:01why the gun didn't fire.

00:54:03I'm coming to that, my lord.

00:54:04Now,

00:54:04in both these guns,

00:54:06the aperture

00:54:07to the chamber

00:54:08was sealed off.

00:54:09The flash

00:54:10from the percussion cap

00:54:11could not ignite

00:54:13the powder in the chamber.

00:54:14QED,

00:54:15the guns couldn't fire.

00:54:17All the same it did, Brigadier.

00:54:18It had to,

00:54:19otherwise Mr. Mattson

00:54:20didn't have an act

00:54:20with which to entertain

00:54:21his public.

00:54:21I've studied reports of that

00:54:24and, in my opinion,

00:54:25the illusion could only

00:54:26have been worked one way.

00:54:27How is that?

00:54:28Before going on stage,

00:54:30Mattson must have put

00:54:32a small quantity

00:54:33of black powder

00:54:34in the base

00:54:35of the ramrod casing.

00:54:36This is a diagram

00:54:38showing,

00:54:38in a very formalised way,

00:54:39of course,

00:54:40the way Mattson's guns

00:54:42were doctored.

00:54:43As you will see,

00:54:44the aperture

00:54:45of the percussion cap

00:54:46nipple

00:54:46bypasses the chamber

00:54:48and goes right through

00:54:50to the interior

00:54:51of the ramrod housing.

00:54:53And what would

00:54:53the effect of that be?

00:54:54A bloody great bang

00:54:55as the powder

00:54:56in the ramrod housing

00:54:57was ignited,

00:54:58some black smoke

00:54:59and that's all.

00:55:00Unless, of course,

00:55:01he'd replace the ramrod

00:55:02in the housing,

00:55:03but obviously

00:55:03he wouldn't do that.

00:55:04And Mattson himself

00:55:05would have a second

00:55:06silver bullet

00:55:07somewhere about his person

00:55:08which he would then

00:55:08produce from his mouth.

00:55:10Precisely.

00:55:10So, I understand

00:55:12the bullets were marked

00:55:13by the audience

00:55:13before being inserted

00:55:14in the gun.

00:55:15Now, it's a bit difficult

00:55:17to mark a round bullet

00:55:18unless you do it

00:55:19with an X.

00:55:20So he would have been

00:55:21quite safe to have

00:55:22the second bullet

00:55:22already marked,

00:55:24which he could then

00:55:24show to the audience.

00:55:26This is all very interesting,

00:55:27Brigadier.

00:55:28I can understand

00:55:28how the illusion was done,

00:55:30but you still haven't

00:55:30explained how Mattson

00:55:32was killed.

00:55:32Did something go wrong?

00:55:34Yes, my lord.

00:55:35And what was that,

00:55:35Brigadier?

00:55:37Well,

00:55:38Norman Mattson

00:55:38may have been

00:55:39a great showman,

00:55:40but he was a rotten armourer.

00:55:41In what way?

00:55:42Well, as you'll appreciate,

00:55:44once the act was over,

00:55:45Mattson had to unload

00:55:46the wad,

00:55:47the powder,

00:55:48and the bullet.

00:55:49He'd do this,

00:55:49I imagine,

00:55:50in the secrecy

00:55:50of his dressing room.

00:55:51How would he unload

00:55:52the gun?

00:55:53Well, he should have

00:55:54unloaded it

00:55:54in the way you always

00:55:55unload muzzle loaders.

00:55:57And that is

00:55:58by means of

00:55:59what is called

00:56:00a worm's screw.

00:56:03A worm's screw,

00:56:03it's a kind of worm

00:56:04which is fitted

00:56:05to the top

00:56:06of the ramrod.

00:56:07Now, here we are.

00:56:08I've got one

00:56:08already prepared for you.

00:56:09There you are,

00:56:10that's the worm's screw,

00:56:11you see?

00:56:12It's the sort of screw

00:56:13which enables you

00:56:13to draw out the charge.

00:56:15But in your opinion,

00:56:16Mr. Mattson

00:56:16did not use a worm.

00:56:18No.

00:56:19This is, of course,

00:56:20only my opinion,

00:56:21but I suspect

00:56:21that he didn't use

00:56:22the proper equipment

00:56:23for the job

00:56:24because the worm

00:56:26would have scratched

00:56:26the bullet

00:56:27already in the barrel

00:56:28when he needed

00:56:29perfectly matched

00:56:30marked bullets.

00:56:32It was a false economy

00:56:33and he ought to have used

00:56:34fresh bullets

00:56:35at every performance.

00:56:36Is there any other way

00:56:37in which you could

00:56:38unload this gun,

00:56:38Rigaudier?

00:56:39There is,

00:56:40but I wouldn't recommend it.

00:56:41And what way is that?

00:56:43To unscrew

00:56:44the breech plug

00:56:45which lies

00:56:46at the base

00:56:47of the barrel.

00:56:48There we are.

00:56:49That's the breech plug.

00:56:50That black thing there.

00:56:52He could have

00:56:52emptied out

00:56:53the powder

00:56:53and the bullet then.

00:56:54You say you wouldn't

00:56:55recommend this method

00:56:56of unloading

00:56:56the gun,

00:56:57Rigaudier.

00:56:57Why not?

00:56:58Because no one

00:56:59but a fully qualified

00:57:00gunsmith

00:57:01would ever remove

00:57:02a breech plug.

00:57:02That's the cause

00:57:04of a lot of accidents.

00:57:05Amateurs messing

00:57:06about with things

00:57:07they don't understand.

00:57:08What effect

00:57:08would the constant

00:57:09removing and replacing

00:57:10of the breech plug

00:57:11during the performance

00:57:12have?

00:57:13It killed him.

00:57:16Pass me the other gun

00:57:17will you,

00:57:17old chap?

00:57:18This is exhibit

00:57:18form, Lord.

00:57:20Come along,

00:57:21man,

00:57:22come along.

00:57:24Thank goodness me,

00:57:25thank you very much.

00:57:28Now this,

00:57:29in fact,

00:57:29is the gun

00:57:30that killed Mattson.

00:57:31It's absolutely

00:57:31identical with the first.

00:57:32gun.

00:57:34The aperture

00:57:34to the chamber

00:57:35has been sealed off

00:57:36and an aperture

00:57:38made right through

00:57:39to the base

00:57:40of the ramrod casing.

00:57:43He would have used it

00:57:44exactly the same way

00:57:45as the other,

00:57:46loaded it

00:57:47with the marked bullet.

00:57:50There we are,

00:57:50tamping down

00:57:51the marked bullet

00:57:52and the wad.

00:57:57There we are.

00:57:59Having previously

00:58:00placed a small charge

00:58:02of powder

00:58:02in the ramrod housing.

00:58:06Sandbox ready.

00:58:07Good.

00:58:09Percussion cap

00:58:10in position.

00:58:12Draw back the hammer.

00:58:14Aim into the sandbox.

00:58:16And fire.

00:58:17Well, that was not

00:58:19the percussion cap.

00:58:20No, my lord.

00:58:22The gun fired.

00:58:24As it must have done

00:58:25on the night

00:58:25Mattson was killed.

00:58:26Yes, but brigadier,

00:58:27how did it fire?

00:58:28Simple.

00:58:29With the constant removal

00:58:30and replacing

00:58:31of the beech plug,

00:58:32the threads

00:58:33of the plug

00:58:34became warm.

00:58:36So,

00:58:37the flash

00:58:38from the powder

00:58:39igniting in the ramrod housing

00:58:40was able to travel

00:58:42upwards

00:58:43through the gaps

00:58:44around the plug

00:58:45and ignite

00:58:46the powder

00:58:47in the chamber.

00:58:47The result,

00:58:49a hole

00:58:49the size

00:58:50of an egg

00:58:50through Mattson's chest.

00:58:52Brigadier,

00:58:52how many times

00:58:53did you test this gun?

00:58:5435 times.

00:58:55Did it fire every time?

00:58:56No, sir,

00:58:57it did not.

00:58:58How many times

00:58:58did it fire?

00:58:5912 times.

00:59:00I found it

00:59:01dependent

00:59:01on the type

00:59:02of powder

00:59:03used.

00:59:03Would you explain,

00:59:04please?

00:59:04Certainly.

00:59:05If you use

00:59:06a coarse-grained

00:59:07powder,

00:59:07the gun

00:59:08is absolutely

00:59:09safe.

00:59:10That is to say,

00:59:11the powder

00:59:11in the ramrod housing

00:59:13does not ignite

00:59:14the powder

00:59:14in the chamber.

00:59:15but if a fine

00:59:17powder is used,

00:59:18grains of it

00:59:19can get into

00:59:20the threads

00:59:21of the plug,

00:59:22thereby acting

00:59:23as a fuse

00:59:24to the powder

00:59:25in the chamber.

00:59:27Did Mattson

00:59:28use a fine-grained

00:59:29powder?

00:59:29Apparently he'd

00:59:30use both

00:59:31fairly indiscriminately.

00:59:32If he'd taken

00:59:33the trouble

00:59:33to consult

00:59:34a decent gunsmith,

00:59:35he'd still be alive

00:59:36today.

00:59:36My lord,

00:59:37I must object

00:59:37to the witness

00:59:38making a series

00:59:39of assumptions

00:59:39and thereby usurping

00:59:40the function

00:59:41of the jury.

00:59:41Yes,

00:59:42Brigadier,

00:59:42that is a matter

00:59:43for the jury

00:59:43to decide.

00:59:45As you wish.

00:59:46Thank you,

00:59:46Brigadier.

00:59:47No more questions.

00:59:49I have some

00:59:50questions,

00:59:50Brigadier.

00:59:51What?

00:59:54Very well.

00:59:55If I understand

00:59:56it correctly,

00:59:57Brigadier,

00:59:57Mattson had sealed

00:59:58off the real barrel

00:59:59and was using

01:00:00the ramrod housing

01:00:01as a second barrel.

01:00:02Yes.

01:00:03Now,

01:00:03would anyone firing

01:00:04the gun

01:00:04realise that

01:00:05what had gone off

01:00:05was merely a charge

01:00:06of gunpowder

01:00:07in the ramrod housing

01:00:08and not the real charge?

01:00:10An expert would,

01:00:12but not many people

01:00:13have ever used

01:00:14the muzzleloader

01:00:15and in any case

01:00:16the average chap's

01:00:17knowledge of guns

01:00:18has derived solely

01:00:19from John Wayne films.

01:00:21Quite.

01:00:22But let us consider

01:00:23the case of someone

01:00:24who was taking part

01:00:25in the act regularly,

01:00:26Mrs. Mattson in fact.

01:00:28Now,

01:00:28she was required

01:00:29to remove the ramrod

01:00:30on each occasion.

01:00:32Yes.

01:00:33Now,

01:00:33could it have been possible

01:00:34for some specks

01:00:34of gunpowder

01:00:35to have stuck

01:00:35to the ramrod

01:00:36as it was withdrawn

01:00:37from its casing?

01:00:38Possibly.

01:00:41Hard to say.

01:00:42Let me put the question

01:00:43another way,

01:00:44Brigadier.

01:00:44Could you say definitely

01:00:45that some gunpowder

01:00:46could not have stuck

01:00:47to the ramrod?

01:00:49Of course I can't.

01:00:50And if some gunpowder

01:00:51had stuck to the ramrod,

01:00:53would it have been noticeable

01:00:53to someone using the gun?

01:00:55Could they have seen

01:00:56the black specks

01:00:56on the ramrod?

01:01:00Yes,

01:01:00I suppose so.

01:01:01And in your opinion,

01:01:02Brigadier,

01:01:02would this have been sufficient

01:01:03to have given the game away

01:01:04to someone

01:01:04with any knowledge of guns?

01:01:06Could they have guessed

01:01:07how the illusion was done?

01:01:08That's a damn silly thing

01:01:10to ask me.

01:01:10How am I supposed

01:01:11to answer a hypothetical?

01:01:11Mr. Dealey,

01:01:12I don't see how the witness

01:01:13can answer that question.

01:01:14I shall rephrase

01:01:15the question, my lord.

01:01:16Brigadier,

01:01:17if you had seen

01:01:18black specks of gunpowder

01:01:19sticking to that ramrod,

01:01:21would you have guessed

01:01:21what was going on?

01:01:22Yes.

01:01:23Would any gun expert?

01:01:24Anyone with a haphaz

01:01:25of intelligence?

01:01:26Yes.

01:01:27Brigadier,

01:01:28do you know any women

01:01:28knowledgeable about guns?

01:01:31Knowledgeable enough

01:01:31to have come to

01:01:32the same conclusions

01:01:33that you have come to?

01:01:34Quite a few.

01:01:38Thank you, Brigadier.

01:01:40Brigadier,

01:01:40I won't keep you much longer.

01:01:44Just one more question,

01:01:44in fact.

01:01:45Without examining the guns,

01:01:47with only the act itself

01:01:48to go on,

01:01:49would you have known

01:01:50how the illusion

01:01:51was achieved?

01:01:52You mean,

01:01:54had I been in the audience?

01:01:55Yes,

01:01:55having watched the act

01:01:56a dozen times or more.

01:01:59Hard to say.

01:02:01Possibly not.

01:02:02Thank you, Brigadier.

01:02:04That is all.

01:02:06You may stand down,

01:02:07Brigadier.

01:02:08Thank you, my lord.

01:02:09That concludes

01:02:10the case for the defence,

01:02:11my lord.

01:02:12Then I will adjourn

01:02:14the court here

01:02:14before hearing

01:02:15the closing speeches.

01:02:17All stand.

01:02:31All stand.

01:02:32Mr. Elliot.

01:02:43Please, my lord,

01:02:45members of the jury,

01:02:47the first and foremost duty

01:02:49before this court

01:02:50is to seek out the truth.

01:02:53The truth in a case

01:02:54such as this

01:02:54is more elusive

01:02:55than usual.

01:02:57The defendant

01:02:57is an actress.

01:02:59How good?

01:02:59It's difficult

01:03:00to ascertain.

01:03:02But judging from her performance

01:03:03in this court,

01:03:04you may think her convincing.

01:03:07I would suggest

01:03:08a convincing

01:03:09performance.

01:03:12Now,

01:03:12for our fragments of truth,

01:03:13let's go back

01:03:14to the witnesses.

01:03:15Number one,

01:03:16Miss Greenway.

01:03:16Now,

01:03:17she maintained

01:03:17that Norman Mattson

01:03:18wanted her to become

01:03:19his future wife

01:03:20and assistant.

01:03:21On the night

01:03:24of the killing,

01:03:24she says she expressed

01:03:25concern to Mattson

01:03:26regarding the defendant's

01:03:27threat to kill him.

01:03:29And she had never before

01:03:30witnessed the defendant

01:03:31loading the gun.

01:03:34Number two,

01:03:34Miss Nolan,

01:03:35she maintained

01:03:36there was no real marriage

01:03:37between the deceased

01:03:38and his wife,

01:03:39that just prior to the killing,

01:03:41Mrs. Mattson

01:03:41had confessed her concern

01:03:42that her husband

01:03:43would leave her

01:03:44and that she would

01:03:46rather kill him first.

01:03:49Over a period

01:03:50of eight years,

01:03:51she said that she

01:03:52had never before

01:03:53witnessed the defendant

01:03:54loading the gun.

01:03:57Number three,

01:03:57Frank Tyler,

01:03:58the club manager.

01:03:59Now,

01:03:59he gave us a picture

01:04:00of Mattson

01:04:00as a man with

01:04:01no interest

01:04:03in his marriage,

01:04:04a picture of a violent

01:04:05and jealous wife

01:04:06who threatened

01:04:07to kill her husband

01:04:08just prior to his death.

01:04:10Over a period

01:04:11of five years,

01:04:12he also had never

01:04:13known the defendant

01:04:14to load the gun.

01:04:18As to the accused herself,

01:04:20now,

01:04:20she's endeavoured

01:04:20to present her marriage

01:04:21as normal

01:04:21with just a little friction,

01:04:23a little pressure.

01:04:25She even goes so far

01:04:26as to tell us

01:04:26that she wasn't concerned

01:04:28about Miss Greenway

01:04:28and her husband.

01:04:30But a part of her performance,

01:04:32too incredible for words,

01:04:34is her insistence

01:04:35that she doesn't know

01:04:36how the shooting illusion

01:04:38was performed.

01:04:40Now,

01:04:40can you believe

01:04:40that in the course

01:04:42of eight years,

01:04:42sometimes two

01:04:43and three performances

01:04:44a night,

01:04:45she remained unaware

01:04:46of the props

01:04:47that her husband needed?

01:04:49I mean,

01:04:49how could she possibly

01:04:50assist her husband

01:04:51without a working knowledge

01:04:53of the effects?

01:04:54Now,

01:04:54the gun expert,

01:04:56the brigadier,

01:04:57he said that anyone

01:04:57with intelligence

01:04:58would realise

01:04:59how the illusion

01:05:00was performed

01:05:01and he further stated

01:05:01that when used

01:05:02with a fine powder,

01:05:04the gun would become lethal.

01:05:06Now,

01:05:06Mrs. Mattson,

01:05:07she handled the weapons

01:05:09nightly.

01:05:10At some time or another,

01:05:11she became aware

01:05:12that one of the rifles

01:05:13could fire.

01:05:15And frightened

01:05:15of being discarded

01:05:16by her husband,

01:05:18I put it to you

01:05:19that she deliberately

01:05:20loaded that particular weapon

01:05:22with fine powder

01:05:23and caused her husband's death.

01:05:26So,

01:05:26based on the evidence

01:05:27and on the balance

01:05:28of probabilities,

01:05:30I urge you

01:05:30to find Mrs. Mattson

01:05:32guilty of murder.

01:05:35Thank you,

01:05:35my lord.

01:05:35Mr. Frye.

01:05:38May it please,

01:05:38your lordship,

01:05:39members of the jury,

01:05:41guesswork

01:05:42has no place

01:05:43in a court of law.

01:05:45We are not concerned

01:05:45with the balance

01:05:46of probabilities.

01:05:48It is our duty

01:05:49to examine

01:05:50what evidence

01:05:50we can find

01:05:51and draw our conclusions

01:05:52from the facts

01:05:52alone.

01:05:54My only friend's speech

01:05:55was, as always,

01:05:57eloquent

01:05:57and impressive,

01:05:58but we must not

01:05:59allow this eloquence

01:06:00to disguise the poverty

01:06:01of his case.

01:06:01His speech

01:06:02was full of conjecture.

01:06:03Proof, however,

01:06:05he totally failed to bring.

01:06:07And yet,

01:06:07the facts are clear.

01:06:09Mrs. Mattson

01:06:10did load the gun

01:06:11that killed her husband,

01:06:12but it was by no means

01:06:13the first time

01:06:14that she'd done so.

01:06:15Norman Mattson

01:06:16was killed

01:06:16by a bullet

01:06:17from that gun,

01:06:18yet his wife

01:06:19neither aimed it

01:06:19nor pulled the trigger.

01:06:21The gun was defective,

01:06:23but the prosecution

01:06:24had been unable

01:06:25to prove

01:06:25that Mrs. Mattson

01:06:26knew of the defect,

01:06:27and this is vitally important,

01:06:28members of the jury,

01:06:29since her husband,

01:06:30who was obsessively careful

01:06:31about his props,

01:06:32and she was clearly

01:06:33unaware of it.

01:06:34How can Mrs. Mattson

01:06:35have known

01:06:36that the gun mechanism

01:06:38was defective?

01:06:40Her only hang-long

01:06:41of it came

01:06:42during the act on stage,

01:06:43when she passed it

01:06:44to a member of the audience

01:06:44and sometimes

01:06:45helped to load it.

01:06:47She would have been

01:06:47astute indeed

01:06:48if she could have

01:06:49worked out

01:06:50during this

01:06:51that the gun

01:06:51could be made to fire

01:06:53if it was primed

01:06:54with one sort of powder

01:06:55rather than another.

01:06:57Anything else you've heard

01:06:58is, I submit,

01:06:59irrelevant.

01:07:00Mrs. Mattson's character,

01:07:01her husband's infidelities

01:07:03have no bearing

01:07:04on the case,

01:07:04or certainly

01:07:05she threatened him,

01:07:06and with cause,

01:07:07his treatment of it

01:07:08was appalling,

01:07:09and yet the marriage

01:07:09had survived

01:07:10for six years,

01:07:12during which,

01:07:12from all we've heard,

01:07:14Mr. Mattson

01:07:14persistently had affairs

01:07:16with other women,

01:07:17and we only have

01:07:18Miss Greenway's

01:07:18unsupported testimony

01:07:19that he was looking

01:07:20for divorce.

01:07:22But to return

01:07:23to the central fact

01:07:24that the mechanism

01:07:25of the gun

01:07:25was faulty

01:07:26and therefore

01:07:27capable of firing

01:07:28the bullet,

01:07:29do you not think

01:07:30that anybody

01:07:30sharp enough

01:07:32to work out

01:07:32how the gun

01:07:33could be made to fire

01:07:34would also be sharp enough

01:07:35to realise

01:07:36that the police

01:07:36would have this gun

01:07:37expertly examined,

01:07:39and that such an examination

01:07:40would be bound

01:07:41to draw attention

01:07:42to the one person

01:07:43besides Norman Mattson

01:07:44regularly in a position

01:07:45to handle the gun?

01:07:47Do you not think

01:07:47that anybody

01:07:48that sharp

01:07:49would take care

01:07:50to avoid suspicion,

01:07:51not invite it?

01:07:53In any case,

01:07:54members of the Georgia,

01:07:54you've seen the defendant,

01:07:55you've heard her speak.

01:07:56She is direct,

01:07:57open,

01:07:59quick-tempered,

01:08:00but she's not cunning.

01:08:01You can imagine

01:08:02her rowing

01:08:02with an unfaithful husband.

01:08:03You can believe

01:08:04that she said,

01:08:05I'll kill you

01:08:06if you'll go off

01:08:06with that little girl.

01:08:08I do not think

01:08:09that you can see her

01:08:10working out

01:08:11and executing

01:08:11an ingenious scheme

01:08:13of murder.

01:08:14Does it make sense

01:08:15that she would even

01:08:15contemplate it?

01:08:17Do you think

01:08:17that after eight years

01:08:19of putting up

01:08:20with her husband's infidelities,

01:08:21eight years

01:08:22in which she had

01:08:23perfected her function

01:08:24in his stage act,

01:08:25she would choose

01:08:26to destroy her means

01:08:27of livelihood

01:08:27by killing the man

01:08:29who so brilliantly

01:08:30provided it?

01:08:32Members of the jury,

01:08:33there is no proof

01:08:34that my client

01:08:35was accepted

01:08:36in the most unfortunate

01:08:37and incidental way

01:08:38even involved

01:08:40in her husband's death.

01:08:41In the absence

01:08:42of any proof,

01:08:42therefore,

01:08:43I submit there is

01:08:43only one verdict

01:08:44open to you.

01:08:46Not guilty.

01:08:51Members of the jury,

01:08:52you have heard

01:08:53the case

01:08:53for the prosecution

01:08:54and the defence.

01:08:57I do not propose

01:08:58to repeat

01:08:58counsel's arguments

01:08:59which have been

01:09:00cogently presented.

01:09:02My duty

01:09:02is to instruct you

01:09:04on points of law

01:09:05which may arise.

01:09:07Firstly,

01:09:07members of the jury,

01:09:09let me impress upon you

01:09:10that in order

01:09:11to find the defendant

01:09:12guilty,

01:09:13you must be convinced

01:09:14beyond all reasonable doubt

01:09:16that Mrs. Mattson

01:09:18intended to kill

01:09:19or cause grievous

01:09:21bodily harm

01:09:22to her husband.

01:09:23Now, you're not required

01:09:24to accept the evidence

01:09:26of the defence.

01:09:27It's enough to doubt

01:09:28the evidence

01:09:29of the prosecution.

01:09:32So the questions

01:09:33really are,

01:09:34did Mrs. Mattson

01:09:36know that secret

01:09:37of the trick?

01:09:38Did she further know

01:09:40that the gun

01:09:40could be made to fire?

01:09:43And did she load

01:09:44the gun with fine powder

01:09:45in order

01:09:47to make it fire?

01:09:50Or,

01:09:51was his death

01:09:52the result

01:09:52of pure accident

01:09:53for which she was

01:09:55in no way responsible?

01:09:57Only you,

01:09:58members of the jury,

01:09:59can decide.

01:10:01We will now retire

01:10:02and consider your verdict.

01:10:06All stand.

01:10:15The prisoner will remain standing.

01:10:22Members of the jury,

01:10:23will your foreman please rise?

01:10:26Just answer this question,

01:10:28yes or no.

01:10:29Have you reached a verdict

01:10:30upon which you are all agreed?

01:10:32Yes.

01:10:33Do you find the prisoner

01:10:34at the bar,

01:10:34Rita Elaine Mattson,

01:10:36guilty or not guilty

01:10:37of murder?

01:10:38Not guilty.

01:10:40Very well.

01:10:41Mrs. Rita Mattson,

01:10:44you have been found

01:10:45not guilty

01:10:46of the murder

01:10:46of Norman Mattson.

01:10:49You are free to go.

01:10:50The court will rise.

01:10:51Next week,

01:11:06you can join another jury

01:11:07and assess the facts

01:11:08when our cameras return

01:11:09to watch a leading case

01:11:10in the Crown Court.

01:11:11The court will rise.

Crown Court - The Death of Dracula (1973)

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