The Secret Six Page #5

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to be afraid of, Metz.

We know you're not

a deaf-mute.

And we're in no hurry.

We can wait just as

long as you can.

You remember Delano,

don't you, Metz?

He died in the prison

hospital last week of T.B.

Swearing he never

killed Johnny Franks.

That he was framed by

slaughterhouse and Newton.

That he was railroaded to the pen because

he couldn't talk as fast as Scorpio,

that he was afraid to talk.

Ah, your hand goes to your neck.

Well, that's natural.

You want to save your

neck, don't you, Metz?

And you can save it

if you're willing to talk.

I'll talk. I'll talk!

Let me get out of here!

I can't stand it any longer!

I'll talk! I'll talk!

Silence in the court!

If there is

any further disturbance,

I will have

the courtroom cleared.

Proceed,

Mr. district attorney.

Now, then...

Don't be intimidated

by anyone's threats.

Just continue with your story, Mr.

Metz.

You say that on the night

of November 2, 1927,

Scorpio handed you a revolver?

Yes, sir.

Have you ever seen

this gun before?

Yes, sir, that's it.

Are you sure?

Yes, sir.

He always carries it.

He was very superstitious

about that gun.

Was Joe Colimo still

in the building

when Scorpio gave you this gun?

I object, your honor,

to the district attorney asking

this witness leading questions.

This is an unfriendly,

an unwilling witness,

and if your honor please, I shall

ask him leading questions.

- Objection is overruled.

- You may proceed.

After the murder of Colimo,

did you return

this gun to Scorpio?

Yes, sir.

That's all, Metz.

Your honor, I'd like to ask

this witness a few questions.

Were you ever employed by the late Mr.

Joe Colimo?

Yes.

Why did you leave his employ?

He fired me.

What for?

Nothing.

And you threatened, in the presence

of witnesses, to get even.

I tell you, he didn't have

any reason to fire me.

How long have you known

Mr. Scorpio?

About, uh...4 years.

How did Mr. Scorpio happen to discover

that you were not a deaf-mute?

Well, I...I lost my temper with

him one day and called him a--

oh...That was the first time

he'd ever heard you speak?

What did he say?

He says,

"what's your racket?"

Meaning by that that no man

would pretend to be a deaf-mute

- unless he was hiding out.

- I don't know.

I object to that

question, your honor,

and ask that the answer

be stricken out.

- Objection sustained.

- Let the answer go out.

Then what excuse did you give him

for pretending to be a deaf-mute?

Well...I said I was married to a

dame that was on the hunt for me,

and if she found me,

she'd send me up for a rap.

And what did

Mr. Scorpio say to that?

He says...He was sorry

for all married men

and wouldn't spill the beans.

And he continued to befriend

you, expecting, of course,

that you would repay his loyalty

and kindness with service.

Well...

I don't remember.

Your honor,

if I may suggest,

I think it would be

a very wise move on the part

of the police department

if they would investigate the

criminal record of this man fink,

alias Hagen, alias Metz,

alias the dummy...

And they'll find out

that right now

he's wanted in San

Quentin for jailbreak.

Don't believe him!

I object!

Silence!

Silence in the court!

That's that,

gentlemen of the jury.

Mr. district attorney,

call your next witness.

Miss Courtland.

Miss Courtland, please.

This way, miss Courtland.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear the evidence

you're about to give

in this case before the court

is the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,

so help you God?

I do.

Now, we want you to

tell your story frankly

and without fear.

Did you ever hear Mr.

Scorpio discuss Mr. Rogers?

- Yes.

- When?

It was the night

of Mr. Rogers' death.

What did he say?

He said he was going

to kill Mr. Rogers.

Did you know to whom

he was speaking?

No. The man

never answered.

Did you warn

Mr. Rogers?

Yes, I followed him to tell him.

I object, your honor,

on the grounds

that calls for hearsay.

Objection sustained.

Strike it out.

Miss Courtland, do you believe

that Mr. Scorpio

killed Mr. Rogers?

I have every reason

to believe it.

I object!

I request both the answer and

question be stricken out.

Objection sustained.

Strike them out.

That will be all

for the present.

Miss Courtland, if you please...

I'd like to cross-examine

the witness, your honor.

You may proceed.

I have known miss Courtland

for a good many years...

Casually, of course,

but long enough to know

that she's

at all times truthful.

So I expect a Frank and honest reply

to a few very simple questions.

I think I heard you say that

you resided at 118 park drive.

Yes, the clarendon arms.

Oh, yes, yes.

Uh, what yearly rental do

you pay on that apartment?

20,000.

Rather an exclusive

neighborhood.

Uh, you were

in Mr. Scorpio's rooms

the night you say you

overheard this threat?

Yes.

You drove there in your

limousine, didn't you?

Yes.

- A gift from Mr. Scorpio?

- Yes, sir.

But not the first gift

he'd given you.

No.

Uh, pardon me, may I ask...

That 8-carat square-cut

diamond you're wearing...

That is an engagement ring from Mr.

Scorpio?

No, we were never engaged.

Well, did you ever--

that is, in the

presence of witnesses--

ever protest any real affection for Mr.

Scorpio?

No, I loathed and despised him!

I'm very sorry if I've said

anything to upset you.

Of course, to be compelled

to accept gifts

aggregating $100,000 from a

gentleman one loathes and despises,

that naturally puts one in a

very unhappy frame of mind.

But you were engaged

to Mr. Rogers?

Yes.

Well, did you ever-- that

is, in front of witnesses--

profess any real

affection for him?

Yes, I loved him, and I wasn't

ashamed to say I loved him!

That's why I warned him!

Oh, if he...If I...

Ah, yes. Thank you.

Don't let that dame get away from

you, and get right back here.

We might have to use the rods

to get out of this joint.

Scram.

Your honor

and gentlemen of the jury,

in spite of the rather unconvincing

testimony of the last witness,

she has unconsciously

revealed to you

one of Mr. Scorpio's

finest traits--

an unselfish generosity.

It has been endeavored

to prove to you

that Mr. Scorpio is

a blackguard, a hoodlum,

a gangster,

and a public enemy...

And yet I can prove

to you, gentlemen,

that Mr. Scorpio is

an established businessman.

As American citizens,

we represent law and order,

as opposed to the destructive

forces of gangland.

Therefore, I ask you to go

into that jury room and,

after due deliberation,

to return a verdict of guilty of

murder in the first degree...

And to fix the penalty...

At death.

I thank you, gentlemen.

So you're sticking up for

these bootleggers, are you?

The public is as guilty

as the bootleggers!

Who buys the liquor?

Do you?

No, I make my own.

Oh, that's got nothing

to do with it!

Oh, Mr. Jones... please, would

you come here a minute?

Gentlemen of the jury, have

you arrived at a verdict?

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