Anatomy of a Murder Page #14

Yes, I heard.

Yes, it was the first time.

Would you raise your voice a little?

I said it was the first time.

I'm quite concerned about the lost panties.

Would you describe this article

of clothing to the courtroom?

They were nylon and had lace up the sides.

There was a store label in them

from the Smartshop in Phoenix, Arizona.

What was their colour?

- I believe white.

- You believe?

I have white and pink.

They may have been pink.

You're not sure. Haven't you checked

to see which pair of panties is missing?

When your husband came home late

and you had this little spat...

...were you already dressed to go out?

- No.

- When did you dress?

After dinner. When he was asleep.

It's been stated

you were bare-legged in the bar.

- Is that true?

- Yes.

In your anger and haste

to get out of the trailer...

...perhaps you forgot your panties?

Objection. She testified

as to what she was wearing.

Sustained.

Do you always wear panties?

Your Honour,

I object to this line of questioning.

Now, it's immaterial

what she does all the time.

The night of the attack,

she was wearing panties.

That's all we're concerned with.

Mrs. Manion seems a little uncertain about

what kind of panties she was wearing.

Since they've not been found...

...I submit that it's possible

she wasn't wearing any and has forgotten.

That's all I'm getting at.

You may answer, Mrs. Manion.

Do you always wear panties?

No.

On what occasions don't you?

When you go out alone at night?

Objection. He claims to go after

one thing and goes after another.

I'll sustain the objection.

Strike out the last two questions

and Mrs. Manion's answers.

Now, Mr. Dancer, get off the panties.

You've done enough damage.

Yes, Your Honour.

Mrs. Manion,

is your husband a jealous man?

He loves me.

I'm sure of that,

but is he excessively jealous?

How can the witness answer that?

What's the norm of jealousy?

Can you put your question differently,

Mr. Dancer?

Has your husband ever struck you

in a jealous rage?

Mr. Dancer's fishing now.

What's the relevancy of this question?

The shoe is squeezing Mr. Biegler's foot.

In his own words, this isn't a debate,

it's a cross-examination in a murder trial.

Proceed, Mr. Dancer.

Mrs. Manion.

Did you ever go out socially

in Thunder Bay?

A few times.

When your husband's outfit moved there...

...didn't Mr. Quill throw a cocktail party

for the officers and their wives?

Didn't your husband strike

a young second lieutenant at this party?

There was a little scuffle. It wasn't much.

- What was it about?

- I'm not sure I remember.

- Were you too drunk to remember?

- No, I was not.

I think it was because the lieutenant

was cutting in too much...

...when I danced with my husband.

Shortly afterwards, on the veranda...

...didn't your husband slap you hard

enough so that you fell against the wall?

He was drinking.

- Wasn't it a jealous rage?

- I don't know.

- Do you remember why he struck you?

- Yes.

Wasn't he enraged because he thought

you'd encouraged this young lieutenant?

He might have thought so.

There are witnesses to this.

I'll ask you again,

wasn't this a jealous rage?

I guess you could call it that.

Now I'll ask you:

On the night of the shooting,

what did you swear?

What oath did you take on the rosary?

It was about Barney Quill raping me.

Why did you swear on the rosary

that he'd raped you?

For the reason that he gave:

I was hysterical.

That is why he asked you to swear.

- Why did you swear?

- So he'd believe me.

Why shouldn't he?

Objection. The reason for the rosary

has been established.

These questions are immaterial.

No, I think I'll take the answer, Mr. Biegler.

I'll ask you again.

Why shouldn't he believe you?

Because I wasn't making much sense.

Did he think you'd lie about such a thing?

Objection. Lt. Manion has already testified

as to what he thought.

Sustained.

Did your husband strike you that night?

Did he hit you that night?

He may have slapped me

because I was hysterical.

Didn't you swear to a lie

to stop him hitting you?

No. I didn't.

Didn't he beat you at the gate

upon your return from...

...lovers' lane with Quill?

Objection. She testified

she was beaten by Barney Quill.

- Quiet.

- No more questions.

I think the witness has had enough,

Your Honour.

The witness may step down.

We'll recess for lunch.

Recess until 1:
00.

It's all right, you were fine.

Dr. Smith?

I've come to meet you, sir.

My name is...

Sorry, you're mistaken.

Maybe I'm the one you're looking for.

Are you Mr. Biegler?

No, I'm his associate in the case.

Don't tell me you're Dr. Smith?

That's me.

The Army psychiatrist?

Maybe you expected me to be in uniform.

No.

I didn't expect anybody so young.

I'm forty.

I sort of hoped you'd have a beard

and wear a monocle.

- Is that better?

- It helps.

You're on the stand this afternoon.

Have you formed an opinion

as to Frederick Manion's...

...mental and emotional state

when he killed Barney Quill?

- I have.

- And what is it?

He was temporarily insane

at the time of the shooting.

At that time, do you believe he was able

to distinguish right from wrong?

He may or may not have been.

It doesn't make much difference.

As clearly as you can...

...will you explain

Manion's temporary insanity?

It is known as "dissociative reaction."

A psychic shock which creates

an almost overwhelming tension...

...which the person in shock must alleviate.

In Lt. Manion's case, a soldier...

...it is only natural

that he would turn to action.

Only direct, simple action

against Barney Quill...

...would relieve this unbearable tension.

This is not uncommon.

For example, in combat,

some of the more remarkable heroics...

...take place in this state of mind.

Is there another name for this state

we might be more likely to recognise?

Yes, it has been known

as "irresistible impulse."

A man in the grip of irresistible impulse,

would he be likely to go...

...to his neighbour for advice,

or call up the police to come to his aid?

Completely incompatible.

Yes, but our man was able

to take out a gun and load it...

...before setting out to find Quill.

That was his conscious mind.

But if no gun were available,

he would've gone anyway.

How would a man look

in the grip of dissociative reaction?

He might appear to be deadly calm,

fiercely deliberate.

Would you describe his behaviour as being

like a mailman delivering the mail?

Yes. Like a mailman, he would have

a job to do and he would do it.

Your witness.

Did you find any psychosis

in Frederick Manion?

- I did not.

- Any neurosis?

I found no history of neurosis.

- Any history of delusion?

- None.

- Loss of memory?

- Not before this instance.

Can you spot Mary Pilant?

She didn't come back after lunch.

I think you'd better give up on that one.

Doctor, you stated that the defendant

might or might not...

...have been able to distinguish

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