Man Made Monster Page #4

something terrible.

Must have, to make him confess

a murder he didn't commit.

Now, Miss Lawrence,

your uncle died of a broken neck

caused by a brutal choking.

A powerful man did that.

Now, you yourself admit

that Dan and Dr. Rigas were alone

in the laboratory at the time.

Have you any reason to

suspect Dr. Rigas?

I'm all mixed up.

Maybe Dan did kill him,

but he wasn't himself.

Now, now, wait a minute.

Take it easy.

How long have you

known Dan McCormick?

Ever since he came to

work for my uncle.

Get along all right together?

Been out to dances and parties

and so forth?

Oh.

I see what you mean.

No, we've never been out together.

I'm engaged to Mark Adams

of the Globe-Dispatch.

I'm sorry I'm not more coherent

in telling my suspicions,

but don't treat this

like an ordinary killing.

There's something tragic behind this.

And now with this confession...

Of course, you must realize

that a confession

cannot be accepted by the court

as conclusive evidence

when the charge is first-degree murder.

I still have to prove my case.

I know, but you'll introduce the confession,

and it's bound to influence the jury.

Miss Lawrence,

I give you my word

that I will do everything I can possibly

to help Dan McCormick.

Then find out if Dr. Rigas

has actually been following

my uncle's instructions in the laboratory.

"The District Attorney,

moving swiftly through the preliminaries,

"promises a speedy trial

in the case of Dan McCormick,

"the so-called Electrical Man,

"accused of murdering Dr. John Lawrence,

noted scientist.

"To expedite matters, he has requested

the appointment of a commission

"to determine McCormick's sanity. "

Dr. Rigas, the District Attorney

would like to see you.

Of course, show him in.

How do you do, Dr. Rigas?

We're sorry to disturb you, sir.

I wasn't doing anything

of importance.

We'd like to have you explain

just what treatments

Dan McCormick was undergoing,

and what bearing, if any,

they might have on his condition.

Of course. Won't you sit down?

No, thank you.

Well, here is the case history.

A complete record

of the experiments and treatment

given in accordance

with Dr. Lawrence's instructions.

I see.

Just what was the purpose

of these experiments?

Dr. Lawrence was trying to determine

what furnished the immunity

that enabled Dan to escape

electrocution in that accident.

That called for quantities of electricity

to be given, did it not?

No, no, no,

just small amounts.

Enough to maintain immunity,

as that chart shows.

I see.

Did this application

effect any change in him?

Well, he did become

moody and irritable,

but I can't see what connection

there is between that

and the mild treatment

he received here.

What's this, Doc?

Looks like an operating table.

Oh, that's an electro-thermostatic table.

We've succeeded in curing many

malignant diseases with electrical heat.

Would you care to try it?

No thanks, Doc.

I'll take your word for it.

I wish he could

tell us what he thinks.

Oh, well, all dogs respond

to certain vibrations.

I remember

at my Aunt Hattie's house,

that's Aunt Hattie on my father's

side, she had a little dog...

Oh, it's no use, Mark.

I'm worried and I'm scared.

I feel sure that Dr. Rigas

did something to Dan.

And I'm worried about what it is,

and I'm scared that

we won't find out in time.

Yeah, so am I, sugar.

How about your paper? Won't they

help? Don't they want to know...

Yes, if we could go to them

with something definite.

I tried to tell the Chief

what we suspected,

and he started to

call a man in a white coat.

Of course, of course.

Anyone who commits murder

must be momentarily insane.

Otherwise,

they wouldn't do it.

Well, Dr. Rigas,

thank you for your courtesy.

Don't hesitate to call on me

anytime I can be of help.

Good day.

Good day.

Dr. Rigas?

Yes.

Dan was insane,

wasn't he?

They can't hold him legally responsible,

can they?

That will be determined tomorrow.

Yes, but those doctors, they...

Now, don't worry. Dan's

interests will be taken care of.

The District Attorney has invited me

to be present at the examination.

You have been reluctant to

discuss the night of the crime.

But I assure you that your reticence

will not prejudice us against you.

We want you

to feel perfectly at your ease.

You did kill Dr. Lawrence.

I killed him.

Perhaps if we go back

over your boyhood again,

we can find

some mental meeting ground.

As I remember your story,

you were brought up in an orphanage.

There was a man there.

He hit you, often.

He hit you hard.

He hurt you.

You cried,

nobody would help you.

All your life, you've been

anxious to get even with him.

In your mind,

Dr. Lawrence was that man

because he ordered the treatments

that hurt you.

You did get even with him,

didn't you?

You feel better. You keep

telling yourself you got even.

No!

I killed him.

And in conclusion,

I say without hesitation

that the accused, Dan McCormick,

suffers from acute melancholia,

induced by a persecution complex...

In your opinion, then, does that

make him mentally irresponsible?

In other words,

is he legally insane?

On the contrary,

he is decidedly sane.

And definitely responsible.

Thank you, Doctor.

You've already testified

that you're a newspaperman.

That's right.

A feature writer?

Well, my stuff carries a byline.

Then you'd do almost anything to

get a good story, wouldn't you?

I'd do anything I could to save an

innocent man, if that's what you mean.

Thank you, that's all.

And when I returned

to the laboratory,

the accused was standing

over the body of Dr. Lawrence.

What did he say?

He kept repeating,

"I killed him. "

The cause of death was a severe

dislocation and partial fracture

of the third and fourth

cervical vertebrae.

In other words,

a broken neck.

That is correct.

Thank you.

We find the defendant

guilty as charged.

...to be put to death

before midnight of the 29th of May,

in the manner prescribed by law.

Good evening,

ladies and gentlemen.

This is your local reporter bringing you

interesting highlights on the day's news.

First, let's consider the case

of Dan McCormick,

the man who used to do an electrical

act at fairs and sideshows.

Well, ironically enough,

the last act of his little drama

will find him dying in the electric chair,

where all the immunity in the world

won't help him.

All right, Dan.

Well, looks like he's on his way.

Be careful.

What's the matter,

getting jumpy?

I guess so.

These things always get my goat.

Yeah.

Hello, Joe?

Well, they just went into

the execution chamber.

Mark's inside to watch him go.

What? Sure, I can speak up.

No, there's nothing the matter

with my voice.

Did you ever cover an execution?

Well, that's what I mean.

Well, that's that.

I could do with a drink.

Me, too.

Hey, Charlie.

What's going on up there?

I don't know.

Joe, they gave him three shots

and he's still alive.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

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