Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Page #2

once in 10 years, yet here it is.

A burlesque dancer

found strangled with a stocking

In a ravine

just outside of town.

Now, the police

apparently have no clues.

And you think we could have

someone who is innocent

Arrested, convicted,

and sentenced for this?

Don't you?

I don't know.

But I'll admit,

if we could pull it off,

It would make

a great story.

Who can we get

for a guinea pig?

You.

Me?

Well, why not?

It requires someone

with imagination,

Ingenuity,

Someone who would be

believable

As the unwitting

victim of circumstances.

You could do it.

That's a weird,

crazy idea,

But maybe

that's the reason it intrigues me.

What about the risks?

There wouldn't be any.

Of course,

you might be acquitted,

But if we're lucky,

you'll get the chair.

That's the part

that bothers me.

And that is where

I would come in.

After you were convicted

and sentenced,

I would reveal

the details of our plan.

I have some standing

in this community.

You would be pardoned

automatically.

You make it all sound

very simple.

Oh, it would be.

Everyone knows

that I have been trying for years

To have this law

on capital punishment changed.

Of course, we might be

criticized for the way we do it,

But that wouldn't

bother me

If we accomplish

something.

How can we be sure

the police have no suspects?

Mmm.

That's easy.

[Ring]

Charlie Miller.

Uh, yes, sir.

Just a moment.

Yes. The Patty Gray case.

Lieutenant Kennedy's

handling it.

Looks like a good story.

Do you think

you can find out

What they really

have on it, if anything?

I think so, but Kennedy

may want it off the record for the time being.

That's all right.

We'll cooperate.

But I want to know,

step by step, what they're doing.

Yes, sir.

If they haven't

got a suspect,

We'll give them one.

We've got 50 suspects.

That gal kept pretty busy.

Guy at the stage door

couldn't keep track of them.

Huh.

Any prospects

among them?

Ah, doesn't look

too good.

We've got a few descriptions

we're checking out now.

The only thing

we really know

Is that she lived alone

at a rooming house.

Strange thing

about that.

Why?

Well, after

her body was found,

We went over her room.

It obviously

had been ransacked.

We couldn't

find a thing.

No letters,

no papers,

No address book,

No fingerprints.

Nothing.

Those girls from the club

are here, lieutenant.

Send in...

Joan Williams first.

Miss Williams.

Sit down,

Miss Williams.

According to this,

At one time you lived

with Patty Gray.

Is that correct?

For a little while.

You two were

pretty good friends.

I hardly knew her.

Then how did you come

to be living with her?

When I, uh, came to town

to work at the club

A few weeks ago,

I didn't have

anyplace to stay.

Patty offered to let me

live with her

If paid her $15 a week.

I think she needed

the money.

I understand

that you moved out

A few days

before she was murdered.

Why?

You two have a fight?

Oh, no.

She just came home

one night

And told me to get out,

just like that,

For no reason.

I thought she needed

the money.

That's what I thought,

too.

And I asked her

about it.

But she just laughed

And said she didn't need

my, uh, uh...

My lousy 15 bucks

anymore.

She had an awful lot

of money with her that night.

Did she, uh...

Did she say

where she got it?

She didn't say anything.

Just told me to get out.

Is there anything

you can tell me

That might help us

find out who murdered her?

Aw, gee, I wish I could,

But I'm afraid

I can't help.

Like I say,

I only been here a couple of weeks.

This is only

my first job.

Thank you for coming in,

Miss Williams.

[Presses intercom button]

Send in those

two other girls.

What do you

want with us?

Well, I'd like

to ask you girls a few questions.

In the middle

of the night?

It's a quarter

of 3:
00.

We're artists.

We need our sleep.

Yeah, we got to keep

in shape.

You're doing

a very good job.

Gee, thanks.

What about

some breakfast?

Yes. How about

some coffee?

What, no doughnuts?

No doughnuts.

Huh.

Ucchh!

You girls shared

a dressing room with Patty Gray.

What sort of a girl

was she?

All right, I guess.

All right?

She was a creep.

What do you mean,

a creep?

A creep.

A conniver.

A tramp.

What about

her private life?

Nobody knew much

about that.

But she wouldn't have won

any popularity contests.

If nobody knew much

about her private life,

Why was she so unpopular?

Well, it's like this.

She was one of those kind of people

When you knew her

a little bit, you didn't like her.

You had to know her

real good to despise her.

We're trying to find out

who killed Patty Gray.

If there's any cooperation

you can give us...

For pete's sake,

tell him!

I can't stay here

and drink any more of this coffee.

There's nothing

to tell.

I never even got

a good look at him.

Who?

The guy

who picked her up

The night

she was bumped off.

Somebody picked her up

that night?

Yeah. Patty and me

left the club together that night.

There was a fella

waiting for her in the car.

They drove off together.

What did he look like?

Well, he was sort

of average build.

He had a gray tweed

topcoat

And a brown hat,

And he was smoking

a pipe.

You see his face?

Uh-uh.

They drove off

too quick.

What kind of a car

was he driving?

It was a sort

of a...

Dark, new sedan.

I don't know

what kind.

Did you get

the license number?

What for?

Well, it's six days,

And the police apparently

don't have any more now

Than when they started.

Only a vague

description

Of the man

who picked her up that night.

Think they'll be able

to develop anything from that?

I doubt it.

That's not very much

of a lead to work on.

Well, I think I'm ready

to risk it now.

What about you?

Well, I can easily

make myself

The man

in the gray coat and the brown hat.

I even drive a dark,

late model car.

Now, we must

remember this.

Any evidence we plant

Must be things

that could happen

To any innocent,

unwitting suspect.

What about Susan?

Do we let her in

on this?

Oh, I'd rather not.

If you're arrested,

the police are certain to question her.

Under pressure,

she might let something slip.

Seems like

an awful thing to do to her.

She loves you, Tom.

She'd never believe

that you did it.

I hope you're right.

If I know Susan,

she'd even try to help.

Just you see

that she doesn't try to help too much.

If she starts

to fight for me,

We might have

a little difficulty in getting me convicted.

Well...what's

the next move?

What about an evening of

cultural entertainment?

Didn't a couple

of these girls

Share a dressing room

with Patty Gray?

Yes, this one,

Terri Larue,

And this blonde,

Dolly Moore.

How do you know?

Charlie Miller said so.

Oh.

[Whistling

and cheering inside]

May I take

your things?

Anytime.

The hat.

Oh.

[Lounge combo plays]

Hubba hubba!

Awooo!

[Laughter]

What impression did you

get about this girl

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