The Unknown Man Page #7

Yes, I do. I mean it.

I mean our love.

You are sacrificing everything.

Everything.

Into a blind obsession.

You can't go back now and

say it makes no difference:

"Here I am, take me. I'm guilty."

If you won't think of yourself, Brad.

Think of me.

Of .. Bob.

Oh, please.

Please ..

Stella darling, listen.

I know all the arguments.

I've gone over them again and again

and there is only one that matters.

Do you honestly want me to let another

man die for something I've done?

Who says that he will die?

He may be acquitted.

He probably will be. He's innocent.

Why should they convict him?

Wait, Brad.

There is no harm in waiting, surely?

Wait for the trial.

Please.

Brad, do you believe

Wallchek killed Layford?

No.

You must.

You'd take the case. If you

didn't you couldn't refuse.

I am refusing.

You defended him once.

You believed he was innocent and

you, Bradley Masen, spoke for him.

That swung the verdict.

Without you, he hasn't a chance.

And I'm asking you, what are

you going to do about it?

The superior court of Blake

County is now in session.

The Honorable James B.

Hulbrook, Judge presiding.

The people versus Wallchek.

Be seated and remain quiet.

Members of the jury,

give me your attention.

There is.

Just one point that I particularly

want to stress before we begin.

Whatever you've heard or read concerning

the defendant's previous trial ..

You must put out of your mind.

That case was decided

by a previous jury.

And no concern of yours.

You must base your verdict in this

case solely upon the evidence ..

You are about to hear in this court.

At this trial. Nothing else.

The people's witnesses are here.

Mr Bucknor?

All here.

Defence witnesses, counsel?

We .. we have none, Your Honor.

You ..

Mean that you are not calling

any witnesses for the defence?

I shall call the defendant. That is all.

I see. I see.

Well.

We may as well begin.

Your Honor it's a bit warm in here. May

we have a window open, do you suppose?

Yes, yes. A good idea. Bailiff.

Open one of the windows.

Thank you.

The deceased lay in a supine position.

The weapon had penetrated

the gladiolus piercing the ..

Pericardium and entering the

organ by the left ventricle.

Uhuh.

Could it perhaps be

put more simply, sir?

Well you could say he

was stabbed in the heart.

Thank you.

Dr Palmer, I have here a dagger

which has been marked as ..

People's Exhibit number

One for identification.

Do you recognise it?

Yes, sir.

When did you first see it?

It's the same weapon I removed

from the body of Andrew Layford.

Would you describe it, please.

Wooden handled blade, six inches

in length, triangular shaped.

Triangular shaped.

Tell me doctor, would this particular

weapon inflict a special kind of injury?

I don't follow.

I mean, is an injury

inflicted by this weapon ..

Easily recognisable as

having been caused by it?

Could it perhaps be

put more simply, sir?

Well, this weapon caused a certain,

specific wound. Isn't that so?

Yes.

Have you seen a similar wound, doctor?

Recently, about three months ago?

Think a moment.

You must mean the

murder of young Hulderman.

Yes, certainly. That must be

the same dagger which ..

Objection, Your Honor.

Utterly irrelevant and immaterial.

The District Attorney is trying

to influence the jury ..

By dragging in charges of which

the defendant was acquitted.

Objection sustained.

I was summoned to the apartment of the

deceased by his manservant at 11:04 pm.

I remained there

approximately 40 minutes.

Then I took Sergeant Walker and went at

once to the apartment of the defendant.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Now will you please tell the court what

made you go at once to the defendant.

That you found a certain article on the

floor of the deceased's apartment.

Yes, sir.

What was this article?

A laundry bill, dated

May 2nd of this year.

Made out by the Melway

Laundry to R. Wallchek.

Is this the bill, Lieutenant?

Yes, sir.

A laundry bill made

out to Rudi Wallchek.

Just a moment.

The witness said

"R" Wallchek, Mr Bucknor.

Not "Rudi".

Thank you, Your Honor. "R" Wallchek.

Lieutenant, did you show this bill

to the defendant? Yes, sir.

How did he explain its

presence so close to the body?

He couldn't .. he said it had

been on his desk that morning.

And that someone must have

broken in his place and stole it.

Oh? Had he reported a burglary?

No.

Was there any sign of one?

A forced lock, a broken window?

No, sir.

So, some unknown person

effected an entrance ..

In a mysterious manner without leaving a

sign or trace of his coming or going ..

For the sole purpose of

stealing a laundry bill.

Your witness.

No questions.

Naturally, we check and

double check everything.

The prints on the handle

of the dagger and ..

The fingerprints of the defendant.

Are identical.

There is no doubt at all?

No, sir. Absolutely none.

Your witness.

Did you find any other

prints on the handle?

No sir, just the defendant's.

But there were other prints in the

room where the body was found?

Yes, sir.

Whose were they?

The deceased's and his manservant's.

Any others?

Yes, sir. Several.

And .. do you remember ..

A glass .. a brandy glass ..?

On a long, low table in front of

the couch in the living room.

There was a glass, yes sir.

With fingerprint on it?

Yes, sir.

The defendant's?

No sir.

The deceased's?

No, sir.

Whose were they?

Well, they weren't clear

enough to identify.

You couldn't identify them?

No, sir.

Thank you.

Why were you detectives

following this man?

Orders of the D.A.'s office, Your Honor.

Proceed.

Just after 9 pm Wallchek

came out of the restaurant ..

And walked slowly towards Markus Drive.

He reached the apartment

house, Seven Gables ..

At 9:
25.

He stood under the street lamp

a while, smoking a cigarette.

And then he entered the building.

Did you see him go in?

Yes.

And come out?

Yes.

What time was that?

9:
35.

Then he was in the building

approximately five minutes?

Exactly five minutes.

The defendant was take to headquarters

and I proceeded to search his apartment.

In the closet in his living-room

found Exhibit Three.

Your witness.

No questions.

Exhibit Three.

Found in the apartment

of the defendant's.

Exhibit One.

Found in the body of the deceased.

Alright. It's mine, but it was stolen.

I'm innocent! You've got to believe me.

Silence, silence!

The defendant will be seated.

Any further disturbance and I will

order the courtroom cleared.

Counsels will join me in my

chambers immediately.

Court recesses for five minutes.

Well, I suppose you know

what you've done, Joe.

You've just made it impossible for this

jury to keep an open mind in this case.

I have, sir?

Oh, don't.

Don't be so innocent.

You've proved whether or

not Wallchek killed Layford ..

He certainly killed young Hulderman.

The jury knows now they are dealing with

a murderer who was wrongly acquitted.

Bound to influence them.

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