Anatomy of a Murder Page #16

...and asked us questions about Lt. Manion.

Were you promised a lighter sentence

if you went on the witness stand?

- The People object...

- Overruled. Answer.

I wasn't promised anything.

You just thought it would help you...

...if you dreamed up this story

to please the D.A.

I didn't dream it up.

- You're sure that's what he said?

- I'm sure.

As sure as you were about your record?

I guess I kind of goofed on that one.

I don't feel I can dignify this creature

with any more questions.

Take the witness away.

Would you like a conference

with your client?

I can see how the last witness

was quite a surprise.

No, we don't need a conference.

I'll recall Lt. Manion to the stand right now.

You've heard the testimony of this Miller.

Is any part of it true?

None.

Do you have any idea why he might come

here with a tale like that?

No, sir.

Have you ever talked with this man?

Yes.

What did you talk about?

Nothing important.

Certainly nothing about my personal life

or my feelings.

That's all I wanted to know.

Lt. Manion.

Have you ever had any trouble with Miller?

What do you mean?

An argument, something like that?

Did you ever attack Miller?

Physically attack him?

Your lawyer can't answer the question

for you.

Did you ever attack Miller?

I wouldn't call it an attack, exactly.

I pushed his head against the bars once.

- Why?

- He said something ugly about my wife.

Do you remember pushing or bumping

his head against the bars?

Sure. I just told you.

Then this was not dissociative reaction?

- The defendant isn't qualified to answer.

- Sustained.

Lt. Manion.

Wasn't your action against Quill

the same as your action against Miller...

...and against the lieutenant

you struck at the cocktail party?

All in the heat of anger, with a wilful,

conscious desire to hurt or kill?

I don't remember my action against Quill.

How long had you known

your wife was running around with Quill?

I never knew anything like that.

I trust my wife.

I suppose you beat her up occasionally

just for fun?

Nothing has been established

to permit such a question.

He implies things

without getting to the point.

Let him ask, "Did he ever beat his wife?"

I'll sustain the objection.

Would you like to rephrase your question?

No, thank you.

I've finished.

Then I'll ask it.

Did you ever beat your wife,

on the night of the shooting...

...or at any other time?

- No.

Is there any doubt in your mind

that Quill raped Mrs. Manion?

- No, sir.

- That's all.

Step down, Lieutenant.

- Are we hurt?

- We're hurt bad.

Paul.

I know time is pressing,

I don't want to ask for a recess.

I'd like to leave the courtroom briefly.

If it's important,

we can be at ease for a minute.

Thank you, sir.

This is highly irregular, Your Honour.

There's no reason

to make a federal case out of it.

Thank you, Your Honour.

We now have another rebuttal witness.

The defence calls Mary Pilant.

We must protest this whole affair.

The noble defence attorney

rushes to a secret conference...

...and the last-minute witness

is brought dramatically in.

It's obviously been rigged

to unduly excite the jury.

It's just another cornball trick.

Your Honour, I don't blame Mr. Dancer

for feeling put upon.

I'm just a humble country lawyer,

trying to do my best...

...against this brilliant prosecutor

from the big city of Lansing.

Swear the witness.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear the testimony you give...

...shall be the truth, the whole truth

and nothing but the truth?

- I do.

- Sit down, please.

- Where do you live?

- At the Thunder Bay Inn, in Thunder Bay.

- How long have you lived there?

- For two years.

- What's your profession?

- I manage the inn.

Miss Pilant.

How is the laundry handled at the inn?

It's chuted down to the laundry room.

Where is that chute on the second floor?

Between Room 42 and 43.

Who lives in those rooms?

I live in 42, Mr. Quill lived in 43.

Would Mr. Quill,

coming up from the lobby...

...have to pass by that chute

on the way to his room?

- Yes.

- Would it be easy for him...

...to drop something

into that chute as he passed?

Yes.

Have you ever had occasion

to go down into the laundry?

Yes. Part of my job is to sort

various pieces of laundry...

...as they come out of the machines.

Would you tell us

what you found among the laundry...

...the day after Mr. Quill was killed?

I found a pair of woman's panties.

- What did you do with them?

- I threw them in the rag bin.

When did you learn the significance

of those panties?

Here. This morning in the courtroom.

- You went and got them out of the rag bin?

- Yes.

- Did you bring them with you?

- Yes.

I offer this article of lingerie

as "Exhibit Number 1" for the defence.

They're white.

They have lace up the side...

...and they're badly torn.

As if they'd been ripped apart

by powerful hands.

The label reads:

"Smartshop, Phoenix, Arizona."

If there is no objection,

the exhibit will be received in evidence.

That's all.

Did you ever talk to Mr. Lodwick

about Quill's death?

Yes. He came to the hotel several times

after Mr. Quill was killed.

Did you tell him you didn't believe

Quill raped Mrs. Manion?

Yes, I told him that.

- Did you ever talk to Mr. Biegler?

- Yes.

- In connection with Quill's death?

- Yes.

Did you tell him

you didn't believe Quill raped her?

- How many times did you talk with him?

- Twice.

- When was the last time?

- Last night.

Have you now changed your mind?

Do you now believe

Quill raped Mrs. Manion?

I don't know now. I think he might have.

When did you change your mind,

last night?

No, it was here, this morning.

When were you given the panties?

Last night?

- Just wait a minute!

- Use the proper form of objection.

On second thought, I don't object.

I'd like the jury to hear her answer.

The witness may answer.

No. I was not given the panties,

last night or any other time.

I found them exactly as I said.

Do you know that Quill

put the panties in the chute...

...or did you assume it?

- I assumed it.

Had you thought someone else

may have put them there?

Someone who wanted them found

in the laundry?

I hadn't thought of that.

In the grip of what Mr. Biegler

might call "irresistible impulse"...

...you rushed in with the panties...

...wanting to crucify Quill's character?

- No, it was my duty.

- Your pride was hurt, right?

- I don't know what you mean.

He's trying to confuse the witness.

Let him ask a question she understands.

Yes, Mr. Dancer. I, myself,

would like to know what you're driving at.

When you found the panties...

...was your first thought that Quill

might have raped Mrs. Manion...

...or was it that he might have been

stepping out with Mrs. Manion?

I don't know what he means.

Mr. Dancer, once again, I must ask you...

...to put straight questions to the witness.

Here is a straight question, Your Honour.

Miss Pilant,

were you Barney Quill's mistress?

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