Call Northside 777 Page #7

- Well, in the first place...

I've talked to the bailiff of the court.

He corroborated Frank's statement

that the judge promised him a new trial.

What basis did the judge have

for making that promise?

I don't know.

If he made it.

- He made it, all right. Here's...

...an affidavit from the bailiff.

That's not proof.

It's inconclusive.

All right. All right.

Forget about that.

I have a lie-detector test and Keeler's

sworn statement that the fellow is innocent.

Inadmissible.

Gruska and Decker,

the other two witnesses in the crime...

...maintain that Wiecek is not the man.

And they also testified

that this Wanda Skutnik...

...couldn't possible have

recognized anybody.

Well, have you found her?

What does she say?

Gruska and Decker contradict it.

But it's inconclusive evidence.

Now, what new admissible

evidence have you?

Well, there's a whole lot of new stuff..

The state's attorney's office

tried to keep me out of the record books.

That's the reason they had

that fellow Faxon up here.

And another thing-- Why is this

Wanda Skutnik dame keeping undercover?

A couple of mobsters

might have killed that cop...

...and threatened her for not playing ball...

...or maybe she's trying

to keep in good with the law, I don't know.

She ran a speakeasy.

- Now, look here, McNeal. I'm an attorney.

I know what it is to go...

...up before the Pardon

Board. They go on facts.

Facts? Okay. I'll give you

something better than facts.

I'll give you a picture.

Take a look at that.

Now, Wanda Skutnik

testified that she didn't...

...see Wiecek from the time of the murder...

...until the time she identified him

on the 23rd of December.

Now, Frank maintains that she did see him

several times on the 22nd of December...

...when the cops were taking him around

from station to station.

All right. That-That bears out

Frank's story right there.

There's a picture of Frank

and Wanda going in to one of the stations.

Where'd you get this, Mac?

I got it out of the files

of the old Herald Examiner.

Kinda figured they'd go

for a picture like that.

When was this taken?

Well, obviously on the 22nd.

- Oh, now look here, McNeal...

...you can't just say that

obviously it was taken then.

You have to prove it.

- Well, I have the photograph--

When you go before the Pardon Board,

the burden of proof is with you.

But the picture--

- After all, it could have been...

...taken after she identified him.

McNeal, you've done a wonderful job...

...in assembling all this evidence.

But the law of the State of Illinois

requires only one eyewitness...

...for an identification and conviction.

So far, that witness

has not altered her statement...

...and that fact still stands.

Mr. Palmer, in view of this,

I'm afraid I must recommend...

...that you permit me to get in touch

with those gentlemen...

...who were just here,

and ask for more time...

...or until I've had

an opportunity to go over the case.

Then your advice is to

call the whole thing off.

That's right.

- Then your advice is to call the whole thing off.

- That's right.

Oh, now, Mr. Palmer,

I realize that Mr. Burns....

knows more about the law

than I do.

But I want to tell you

some things about this case you don't know.

I went into this thing

believing nothing. I was skeptical.

I'd figured Wiecek is using

his mother to spring him.

But I've changed my mind.

This man is innocent, Mr. Palmer.

I know that without any doubt.

Now, it's true I haven't found Wanda Skutnik,

but I want a chance to find her.

I want a chance

to get this guy out of jail.

Now, if you call off this hearing,

I'll never get that chance again.

The bargain stands.

Thank you, sir.

Just a minute, McNeal.

Let me give you

one last piece of advice.

Even if you do find

this Wanda Skutnik...

I don't believe

she'll ever change her testimony.

There's only one thing for you to do--

discredit her, prove she's a liar.

Otherwise, you're wasting your time.

Just great. Great speech, Mac.

Now you've really got to

find Wanda Skutnik.

Now, listen, Kelly.

I haven't been wasting my time.

I know a lot

about Wanda Skutnik.

She used to run a speakeasy.

She's probably still in the liquor business.

She's Polish, and she

used to run around...

with a guy that works

in the stockyards.

Don't let your enthusiasm

get you into trouble.

- The stockyard's a tough neighborhood.

- Don't scare me, Kelly.

- Can you speak Polish?

- No, I can't speak Polish.

But if I have to learn to speak Polish

to find her, I'm starting right now.

- ##[ Orchestra.:Lively ]

- [ Bell Clanging ]

##[ Woman Singing

In Foreign Language ]

What'll you have?

Say, did you ever

see that woman before?

Her name's Wanda Skutnik.

- You a copper?

- No, no. No, no.

Her uncle died

and left her a little money.

I hear she's remarried.

I'm having a hard time finding her.

Money, huh?

I don't know. I'll see if the boys

in the back room know about her.

[ Chattering ]

[ Speaking Polish ]

Wanda Skutnik?

[ Polish ]

Much obliged.

No problem.

[ Narrator ] McNeal divided

the district back of the yards...

into blocks and sections...

and for days and nights, systematically

combed every beer parlor and saloon.

- [ Polish ]

- ##[ Lively ]

- ##[ Piano ]

- [ Man Speaking Polish ]

[ People Laughing, Chattering ]

##[ Orchestra ]

- Give me a bourbon.

- Yes, sir.

[ Keyboard Clacking ]

- What'll ya have?

- Give me some rye, will you?

Say, did you ever see

that woman around here?

No, I don't think I have.

Her name's Skutnik--

Wanda Skutnik.

A lot of women come in here,

but I don't know 'em by name.

- Your name McNeal?

- Yeah. Why?

I've been wondering when

you'd hit this neighborhood.

I've been reading

your stories in the paper.

- About Wanda Skutnik?

- Yeah.

- You know her?

- Used to.

- Used to be good friends.

- You know where I could find her now?

- I might.

- Where?

- What's in it for me?

- What do you want?

I owe him a buck, seventy-five.

Okay.

Where is she?

- I ought to have one to talk on.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey. Couple of drinks here, huh?

What happens to Wanda

if you find her?

Oh, not a thing.

I'm just gonna ask her some questions.

- There ain't no warrant out

after her or nothin' like that?

- No, nothing like that.

Leave the bottle

here, too, will ya?

She hadn't ought to have

thrown them bricks at me.

- You know Honore Street?

- Yeah, yeah. Sure.

You go down there.

- 725.

- 725.

- What's her name now?

- Siskovich.

Wanda Siskovich.

But don't tell her I said so.

She's got a bad temper.

I don't want her throwin'

no more bricks at me.

Won't tell her a word.

There you are. Thanks.

[ Train Whistle Blowing ]

[ Train Whistle Blowing ]

[ Train Whistle Blowing ]

[ Clattering ]

[ Knocking ]

[ Woman ]

Come in.

- Who are you?

- I'm from the Times.

- Get out of here!

- So you're Wanda Skutnik.

Yeah.

I've been wonderin'

when you'd show up.

Now, look, lady, l-I'm not gonna

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