The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse Page #10

tried to force him to continue.

And did he?

But he suddenly realized that he lacked

the chapter on the ultimate crime.

- Not murder?

- Yes.

- And he has?

- In fact, he was obliged to.

- You mean, he removed the blackmailer?

- Yes.

Yes, he would, of course.

Why do you say that?

- Never mind. Go on.

- Well, that's all.

Except that he's afraid

the police will be after him?

- Yes, Grant.

- They will, you know.

Why do you say that?

Because that kind of man would make

mistakes, fatal errors. He'd miss things.

- How can you be so sure of that?

- His every thought and action...

...would be focused on the end

and not on the means to it.

- No.

- He would be intent solely upon his idea.

So obsessed,

that he could commit murder.

Yes, but his hand was forced.

Clitterhouse, are you stating

a hypothetical case...

...or has all this actually happened?

- Assume that it has happened.

- Well?

If it were discovered,

what would his chances for acquittal be?

- It isn't a matter of chances at all.

- Isn't it?

With the plan of defense I'd use,

he'd get off inevitably.

- What? Why?

- Because the fellow's as mad as a hatter.

- Mad?

- It's obvious.

- You could get him off? You're certain?

- As I am of my own name.

I'd stake my professional reputation

on it.

- Yes, but he's not mad, Grant.

- He may not go around...

...with straws in his hair, but he isn't

sane. Therefore, not legally responsible.

What about his book?

Would that be considered...?

Your friend's book might be quite

coherent and perfectly sensible.

He probably writes, talks, looks

and acts like anybody else.

- Just like you and me.

- Yes.

In the course of

your medical experience...

...you've probably

run across such persons...

...perfectly sane except on

the subject of their monomania.

And a monomaniac is legally insane?

Well, this one is

if the facts you've given me are correct.

I don't want to suggest

any breach of confidence...

...but does it happen to be

anyone I know?

Yes, you do know him.

- Indeed. Who?

- Me.

Inspector Lane would like to come in,

Dr. Clitterhouse.

I'm awfully sorry, doctor.

You needn't be, old man.

There's nothing to be upset about.

Everything's quite all right.

Isn't it, Grant?

Of course.

- I wouldn't say very much, if I were you.

- Would you mind taking care of this?

- What is it?

- All my research notes.

- Miss Randolph?

Yes, doctor?

You don't really think that I'm, uh...

You know, do you?

- Of course not, doctor.

- Be honest now.

You've been overworking that's all.

You'll be all right in a little while.

Oh, Grant, may I retain you

to represent me?

- Why, naturally.

- And you'll insist that I'm not quite...

You may be sure I'll insist on whatever

may be best under the circumstances.

Splendid.

Very well, inspector, at your service.

Oh, Grant, you won't forget that

your professional reputation is at stake?

I shall be very upset if you lose it.

But, of course, we are not dealing with

relatively simple psychiatric pathology...

...such as, uh, manic-depressive

psychosis, involution melancholia...

...or any other elementary psychosis.

Exactly what are we dealing with,

Professor Ludwig?

- That's what I should like to determine.

- So should I, sir.

Which is my reason for explaining

so carefully Wundt-Farbhalf's theory...

...of the symptoms of hyper-amnesia

and the hypnagogic state.

Well, do such hypnagogic states

have any bearing on this case?

Perhaps, but perhaps not.

We must realize that psychiatry

is still far from an exact science.

In fact, such solid authorities

as Gerhardie, Pendugast and Picard...

...have characterized the entire

Wundt-Farbhalf theory as sheer nonsense.

Professor Ludwig, I'm sorry to confess...

...that I don't know

what you're talking about...

...and haven't known for the past hour.

Naturally, I don't believe there

are more than six men in the world...

...capable of understanding

the Wundt-Farbhalf theories.

Are you telling us that the prisoner

was or was not insane...

...at the time of committing the crime?

Your Honor, I'm telling you

as clearly as possible...

...that sufficient glandular and nervous

imbalance may have occurred...

...to justify an hypothesis

of pseudo-schizophrenic tendencies.

And then again it may not have.

Thank you.

- Thank you so much, Professor Ludwig.

- Not at all, Your Honor.

All right. All right. Quiet.

Quiet all this babble.

This has been going on for 72 hours

and I can't stand much more.

Now, was he or wasn't he?

How many of you

still think he was insane?

I do.

- One, two, three, four, five, six.

All right, all those I counted

come over at this side of the table.

The rest of you still think he was sane?

Yes.

He's sane.

All right. You five come over

at this side of the table.

That's it. Fine.

Now, now I think

we're getting some place.

I vote that he was... He, uh...

Oh, I don't know.

Didn't I tell you?

The man is sane.

Wouldn't it be a good idea if we recall the

prisoner and asked him a few questions?

I don't care what you do.

This is driving me crazy.

That's a good idea.

Question number three:

Were you or were you not

in full realization...

...of the consequences of your actions?

I object to the defendant answering.

He is prejudiced in his own behalf.

Objection overruled.

The defendant will please answer.

Certainly I was aware

of the consequences of my actions...

...but not of the extent and...

...the far-reaching possibility

of those consequences.

Your Honor,

may I clarify this entire problem?

- Yes, Mr. Grant.

- Dr. Clitterhouse...

...as regards Rocks Valentine,

do you remember distinctly...

...the processes of thought which made

you determine to do away with him?

But certainly, and granting my premise,

I would say that my logic was perfect.

Yeah, but, Dr. Clitterhouse, you heard

Miss Keller's testimony to the contrary.

Yes, and I'm sincerely grateful to her

for testifying on my behalf.

In fact, her unfailing kindness

and concern for me...

...have put me eternally in her debt.

Nevertheless, I must repeat

that my logic was perfect.

Your Honor,

could we have a short recess?

I'm sorry, but that's impossible.

- But, Your Honor...

- That will be all, Mr. Grant.

Question number four:

Dr. Clitterhouse,

as a competent medical authority...

...do you believe it possible

for an insane man to write a sane book?

- Emphatically not.

- Then you admit that your book...

...is irrational and of no scientific value?

- I admit nothing of the sort.

My book is completely rational

and of definite scientific value.

- You're positive about that?

- Of course I am.

Say what you please about me.

Do anything to me the law allows.

But you cannot, you must not question

the sanity of my book.

Thank you, Dr. Clitterhouse.

And so, Dr. Clitterhouse, assuming...

...that it is impossible

for an insane man...

...to write a sane book, in your

own opinion you are perfectly sane?

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