Marked Woman Page #9

to stay away from the law...

...and threatened to tell me

all you knew about him, what did he do?

- He slapped me hard right across the mouth.

- And then what happened?

He ordered all the other girls

to leave the room.

And after they left?

Charlie and another member

of the gang went to work on me.

And by that you mean?

They started slapping me around.

They'd keep crashing their big fists

in my face.

And threatening me with worse...

...if I didn't keep my mouth shut

like Johnny said.

Then when I fell down,

they started kicking me.

Oh, I begged them to lay off,

but they wouldn't stop.

Then when I saw Charlie...

...lean over me

and take out his knife...

...I screamed and fainted.

And you don't remember anything

that happened after that?

No, not until I woke up in the hospital.

Was there any particular reason

why Charlie cut that cross on your cheek?

Sure.

Sure, that's Johnny's little trademark

for anyone who double-crosses him.

Emmy Lou Eagan, take the stand.

Then Betty pleaded with Vanning

not to make her go with Mr. Crandall.

And that only made Johnny mad.

He grabbed her,

and when she tried to fight him off...

...he hit her

and she fell down the stairs.

- She fell down the stairs?

- Yes, sir.

Then Vanning didn't deliberately push

or throw her down the stairs, did he?

Well, no, sir. He hit her so hard

she lost her balance and...

Accidentally fell down the stairs,

isn't that right?

- Yes, sir.

- Then Vanning didn't kill her?

- He did. He did.

- But you said it was an accident.

- Now, which is it?

- He killed her, I'm telling you.

I saw him, and that's why

he wanted to kill me too.

And in summing up, I cannot

impress upon you too strongly...

...you must never lose sight

of the background of this case...

...a viciously ruthless background

from which sprang the motive...

...for this killing of an innocent girl.

You should consider not only

Vanning the murderer...

...but also Vanning the vice czar...

...who at this very moment is exacting

his staggering tribute...

...from a supine and cowardly city.

To defend this empire of vice

and crime...

...Vanning is pursuing the same methods

he used in building and maintaining it:

Insidious bribery to corrupt,

brutal violence to intimidate...

...and cold-blooded murder

to silence any who dared protest.

Had all these succeeded

as they had so often in the past...

...I wouldn't be here prosecuting Vanning

for murder.

And why did he fail?

Was it because our leading citizens

had risen in righteous indignation...

...to rid the city

of this criminal racketeer?

Ladies and gentlemen...

...these leading citizens, men of reputation,

men of standing, men of righteousness...

...who cried to high heavens that the city

was overrun with crime and corruption...

...when they were called upon to testify,

to do something about it...

...to risk even a little, did they? No.

They were either too busy or too afraid.

Out of all the teeming millions

of this great city...

...only five girls had the courage

to take their very lives in their hands...

...and accuse Johnny Vanning.

In spite of all threats of reprisals,

the horror of which they knew too well...

...they were ready

to appear before you to testify.

And let me be the first to admit

the truth of the accusations...

...that were brought against these girls

in a desperate effort to discredit them.

Frankly, they're... They're everything

the defense has said they are.

Their characters are questionable.

Their profession, unsavory and distasteful.

Oh, it's not been difficult to crucify them,

but it has been difficult to crucify the truth.

And that truth is that these girls...

...in the face of sheer, stark terrorism,

did appear in court...

...exposed themselves to the public gaze,

told the truth about themselves...

...told the world what they really are.

Then surely you must believe that

they were telling the truth...

...when they testified that Johnny Vanning

was responsible...

...for the death of Betty Strauber.

And if you do believe that...

...there is but one verdict you can reach,

and that is guilty.

Be seated.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

have you reached a verdict?

- We have, Your Honor.

- Hand it to the clerk.

Read it.

"We, the jury, in the above

entitled cause...

...find the defendants guilty

on counts one, two, three and four."

Your Honor, at this time we give

oral notice of our intention...

...to move for a new trial.

An intelligent, courageous

and discriminating jury...

...has found you, Vanning,

guilty of heading a combination...

...to commit and profit from

every vicious and reprehensible crime.

This makes you responsible, in law

and morals, for every foul and cruel deed...

...performed at your command

by your henchmen.

The evidence against you

is overwhelming.

Your previous record shows you

to be an incorrigible criminal...

...a low and brutal character...

...an unprincipled and aggressive egotist.

It is my sworn duty to administer

to each of you...

...the justice and punishment

of an outraged community.

But before I do, let me warn you...

...that should any of the people's witnesses

be injured or harassed...

...specifically, if anything should happen

to those five girls...

...the court will request

the parole authorities to retain in prison...

...the defendants against whom

such witnesses testified...

...for the maximum terms

of the sentences to be imposed.

Since all of you have been found guilty

on every count in the indictment...

...it is the judgment and sentence

of this court that you be imprisoned...

...for a term of not less than 30 nor more

than 50 years in the state penitentiary.

Well, that's that.

Come on, kids.

Let's go.

- Congratulations.

- Nice work, Dave.

Just a minute, Mr. Graham.

Look this way, please.

Joe.

Johnny says to lay off.

Okay.

Mary.

Yes.

Aren't you gonna wait?

What for?

- It's all over, isn't it?

- Over?

Why, sure.

You better go back inside.

They all wanna congratulate you.

Oh, no, you're the one that should

be getting the congratulations, not me.

I don't want them.

- But where will you go?

- Places.

- But what will you do?

- Do?

Oh, I'll get along. I always have.

Mary, I'd like to help you.

- Why?

- Why? Because I...

Because I think you've got

a break coming to you.

And?

And I'd like to see that you get it.

What's the use of stalling?

We both live in different worlds,

that's the way we gotta leave it.

I don't want to leave it that way.

I said to you that

if you ever started helping yourself...

...I'd be the first one

to go to bat for you.

And that still goes.

No matter what you do

or where you go...

...we'll meet again.

Goodbye, Graham.

I'll be seeing you.

- Here's Graham.

- Been looking all over for you.

How about pictures of our next DA?

What do you mean DA?

He'll be our next governor.

Come on.

Give that old personality smile.

You know, Graham, the old chin out.

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