The System Page #8

or Mr. Bruno has committed perjury.

Now, Mr. Chairman,

Mr. Merrick was asked if he knows

how Angelo Bruno earns his living.

His answer is that he does not know.

Did you put Bruno into

business as a bookmaker?

I loaned him some money,

I didn't tell him what to do with it.

Did he use that money to

start a bookmaking operation?

I don't know what money he used.

Didn't you supply him with wire service

information and take his lay off bets?

Well, that's what he says.

- Was he telling the truth?

What?

- Is Bruno telling the truth?

Is it not the duty of my client to

pass on the veracity of Mr. Bruno.

Rephrase your questions, Mr. Wiley.

Very well.

Did you have any

business dealings with Bruno?

I loaned him some money.

- Why?

He was broke.

You make it a habit of giving

money to anyone who might be broke?

Have you ever heard of the LMG

Wire Service of Chicago and St. Louis?

I might have.

You might have?

Can't you do better than that?

Of course you can, you own

the Clarkton franchise for the LMG!

Well, that's what you say.

Have you ever heard of

a man called Mr. Marty?

I know a lot of people named Marty.

- From Chicago.

Hmm.. I've heard of him.

But you don't know him though?

This is very serious, Mr. Merrick.

Please think carefully before you answer.

I'll ask you the question once more.

Have you ever heard..

or did you ever meet..

a man called Mr. Marty of Chicago?

No.

Big Ruben?

- No.

Didn't you do a big lay off business

with the syndicate in Chicago

owned by Mr. Marty?

I own a truck line, a wholesale liquor

business, a hotel and a laundry.

You haven't answered my question!

Do you do a lay off business

with Marty's syndicate in Chicago?

Mr. Chairman, my client has

already answered that question.

I think the records will show

he has denied being a gambler.

This is a not a question about gambling.

It refers to a monetary

interstate transaction.

The witness is directed to answer.

I have no business dealings

with Chicago or St. Louis.

And you stand on that answer?

- Yes.

The witness is excused

until further notice.

Perhaps under the circumstances,

it's advisable to give an explanation.

Mr. Merrick, I have bad news for you.

Your son has just committed suicide.

Mr. Johnny, they took him away!

Buster.. they took him away!

Alright, Charlie. Alright, alright.

I was going to find him something.

What the hell have they done!

They took him away!

Me.. it was me!

I let them do it.. it was me!

Charlie, it's not your fault.

You had nothing to

do with it, understand?

He was my boy, my Buster!

Why shouldn't.. why did he?

Try not to think why.

From Rex, this letter.

Why, this kid of mine is smart!

Tells me that he's got his program

with the university arranged so he'll go

through law school in 3 years instead

of 4. He's going to go summer school.

Rex Merrick, Attorney at Law.

Better watch your step, Brady,

there's tough competition ahead.

Inspector Gordon?

- He's in his office.

You sent for me?

- Yeah, sit down.

Cigarette?

I'm sorry about your kid, Merrick.

Sorry for Liz Allen too.

On the Allen job,

we got a couple of suspects.

Picked up on a roadblock

couple of hours ago.

They don't know nothing.

They don't even know each other.

You sent for me, now tell me why.

Maybe you can introduce

these citizens to each other.

They're putting them through lineup again.

Take a look?

Yeah.

I heard they sent for you, Johnny.

What's the charge, Gordon? - No charge.

It's all for free.

They want me to look at a couple of

punks they picked up in the Allen case.

Any objections, Mr. Counsel?

On my mother's grave, I swear it!

He comes into my store and

he says to me, he says, "Maxie,"

"Hold for me these watches,

rings and cigarette lighters."

"I got a new job and these

here are my samples."

A favor?

- Just a favor.

How should I know this guy has

given me stolen goods to hold, huh?

Tell us about your arrest, Maxie.

- Look,

I'm in the fruit and vegetables.

I'm clean.

No arrests.

It's hard working in

the fruits and vegetables.

No arrests, huh?

- No arrests.

Alright, you lying tramp,

1937:
arrested in Slade,

suspicion of burglary.

1939:
arrested in Greenville,

possession of stolen goods.

1944:
arrested in Winthrop, possession.

1950:
arrested in Slade as a pickpocket.

No arrests, eh?

I thought you meant this year!

Step down!

Alright, alright, come on, get a move on.

Come on, get up there.

Alright, both of you, take your hat off!

Held for questioning in the Allen murder.

On the left identified by a driver's

license is Morton Kovik, Chicago.

On the right, no identification.

What's your name?

Where you're from?

Anybody here ever see

these two guys before?

OK, Mister. Tell us your story.

I tell it five times.

Well, OK then, tell it to us again!

I'm driving back home to Chicago,

I pick up this tramp hitchhiking.

I don't know him from Adam!

I want a lawyer.

Outside!

Alright, we'll get you a lawyer, Mister.

Come on, step down!

Alright, Maloney, move those two guys in

the next room. Come on, get a move on!

I know him. - Listen to me, Johnny..

- Specs Kovik.

The idiot nephew of the LMG Wire

Service. The other one is Little Harry.

Gunrunner from Chicago. Likes

to kill people, makes him feel good.

Yeah, they got Allen.

But I got no witnesses, no nothing.

You follow?

But I can think I get to Little Harry

if you let me talk to him alone.

Bring him into my office.

- You fool..

You get him to talking,

you hang yourself.

Ketteridge will hit him a subpoena. Roping

you in with the Specs, Marty, Big Ruben.

Everything you denied on the stand!

They'll hit you with 16 counts.

Federal rap, perjury..

Do you understand what you're doing?

I understand a lot more

than I did yesterday.

Ketteridge and Wiley..

those guys, they're right. I'm wrong.

My whole life I've been wrong.

Maybe that's why Rex and Jerry..

You can't run a clean sewer.

So it figures, doesn't it?

A heavy rap. Specs is a nephew.

Who do you think is going to take it?

Specs? Big Ruben? Marty?

No, you!

You're gonna take the fall alone.

But you're bigger than they are, Harry.

You can make them burn.

Just lift a finger, that little finger

and the state will strap them

in the chair and kill them.

You say the word.

And they're dead.

No gun, no trouble, nothing.

Just lift that little finger,

they're dead and you kill them!

That's power, Harry.

That's real power.

And they know it,

that's why they're afraid of you.

They're afraid that you'll make them burn.

Just by lifting that little finger.

Will they let me watch?

From the front row.

This committee is not directly concerned

with the legal question of your guilt

or innocence.

We're only interested in the fact that you

were brought to Clarkton to commit a crime.

You understand that?

- Yeah.

Do you solemnly swear that the evidence

that you're about to give is the truth?

Yeah. - The whole truth and nothing

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