Public Defender "All That Glitters"
30min | Crime, Drama | TV Series (1954– )
Bart Matthews defends the poor and others who cannot afford an attorney. All episodes are based on actual cases from across the country.
Creators: Mort R. Lewis, Sam Shayon
Stars: Reed Hadley, Herschel Graham, John Close
30min | Crime, Drama | TV Series (1954– )
Bart Matthews defends the poor and others who cannot afford an attorney. All episodes are based on actual cases from across the country.
Creators: Mort R. Lewis, Sam Shayon
Stars: Reed Hadley, Herschel Graham, John Close
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00A public defender is an attorney employed by the community and responsible for giving
00:19legal aid without cost to any person who seeks it and is financially unable to employ private
00:25counsel.
00:27It is his duty to defend those accused of crime until the issue is decided in the court
00:32of law.
00:33The first public defender's office in the United States was opened in January 1913.
00:40Over the years, other offices were opened, and today that handful has grown to a network,
00:46a network of lawyers cooperating to protect the rights of our clients.
00:51I wonder how many times you and I have said after glancing at the headlines, too bad.
00:57I feel sorry for the man, but it could never happen to me.
01:01That's what Carl Hopkins would have said.
01:04He was an average man with an average outlook.
01:06He lived a narrow existence in a deep rut.
01:09Carl never had much to say.
01:11Smells like rain.
01:14Hope Roberta got the wash in.
01:26I'm home, honey.
01:31I was right.
01:32If you get the wash in, paper says it's gonna rain.
01:36Oh.
01:41Ah, those thumbs.
01:43Lost another one.
01:47Roberta, where are you?
01:50Guess she's mad about this morning, giving me the silent treatment.
01:55A husband and wife are entitled to an argument once in a while.
02:00Maybe she's getting the wash.
02:02Roberta, you out there?
02:04Ah, women.
02:05Always getting their feelings in an uproar over nothing.
02:09Burnt.
02:10Now we'll have to eat out.
02:12If there's anything I hate, it's to eat out.
02:15The prices they get nowadays.
02:17Maybe she's putting on her face.
02:20I guess I never will understand women.
02:26Baby, I'm sorry about what happened this morning.
02:31Roberta.
02:34I'm sorry.
02:49They'll think I did it.
02:51They'll think I shot her.
02:53I gotta get out of here.
03:04I didn't do it. I've got to get away.
03:15Put it on the table. Drop it.
03:21Yours?
03:22I wasn't here. I didn't shoot her.
03:24Front door locked?
03:25I don't know. You've got to believe me.
03:27Inside, inside.
03:34Sit down there.
03:41Thanks.
03:42Is that him?
03:43Yeah.
03:43Did you find anything?
03:44He had his gun on him. Take a look in there.
03:46I'll stay with him.
03:51Can we come in now?
03:53I told the other policeman Henry was just getting over a cold
03:55and that he shouldn't be out in the night air.
03:56I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait outside. Regulations.
03:58Well, I don't see what harm it'll do.
04:00After all, you wouldn't even be here
04:01if I hadn't heard the shots and called you.
04:03We appreciate your cooperation.
04:05You knew right away what had happened.
04:07Been expecting it for months.
04:09She is dead.
04:12I suggest you wait at home.
04:14We'll call you when we need more information.
04:15A Mrs...?
04:16The name's Bell. Mertis Bell with an E.
04:19Yes, Mrs. Bell.
04:24Look at him sitting over there blubbering.
04:26And after what he's done.
04:28What's he got to be crying for?
04:30I don't know. How would you feel if you just shot your husband?
04:33I don't know.
04:45Yeah. Of course, put him on.
04:48Yes, Harris.
04:50They did, huh?
04:52No other prints?
04:54Good. Send one of your boys over with the report.
05:00You know who that was, Mr. Hopkins?
05:02You know what he told me?
05:04That your wife died from two bullet wounds
05:06received from your gun, and that on the gun,
05:08there were two sets of fingerprints,
05:10yours and your wife's.
05:12I don't know.
05:14Maybe she shot herself.
05:15Really?
05:17Which hand does he claim he found the gun in?
05:18He said it was the left hand.
05:20Check your notes.
05:21Yes, sir.
05:23Yes, I have it.
05:25Mr. Martin, what did you see when you entered the bedroom?
05:28Mr. Hopkins, Roberta was lying across the bed, face down.
05:32I thought she was crying.
05:34I went over to the bed.
05:35She didn't move.
05:36I rolled her over.
05:37There was a gun in her left hand.
05:39That's enough.
05:40That's enough.
05:41You see, Mr. Hopkins, her left hand, your own words, right?
05:48I guess so.
05:49Would you then tell me how it was possible for her
05:52to shoot herself in the right side, under the ribs,
05:55holding the gun in the left hand,
05:56and have the bullets travel upward
05:58through the lungs and the heart and stop in the left shoulder?
06:01I don't know.
06:03Why should I shoot her?
06:04Mr. Hopkins, when you're arraigned in superior court,
06:07do you know what you'll be charged with?
06:10Murder in the first degree.
06:12And do you know what your sentence
06:13will be if one found guilty?
06:15Death, Mr. Hopkins.
06:17But you can't.
06:18On the other hand, if you will admit your guilt
06:21and throw yourself on the mercy of the court,
06:24I will make a recommendation for leniency.
06:27At the very worst, your sentence would
06:29then be life imprisonment.
06:31But how can I say I did it when I didn't?
06:34By avoiding a long and involved trial,
06:36the state will be spared untold expenses.
06:39Now, this could all act in your favor.
06:43I don't understand.
06:46What do you want me to say?
06:47Just tell us how and why you shot your wife.
06:51It's as simple as that.
06:53What is it?
06:55Well, tell him the district attorney is out of town
06:57and I don't want to.
06:58What?
06:59Whose client?
07:01My client, Mr. Martin.
07:04Oh, I'm sorry to break in on your meeting.
07:07Since when is he your client?
07:08Well, Judge Nunley's clerk formed me
07:10to be at the preliminary tomorrow.
07:12Now, you know as well as I do that this man
07:14can't afford an attorney.
07:15And what difference will one day make?
07:17You're a lawyer, Mr. Martin.
07:19You're a lawyer, Mr. Martin.
07:20Well, I haven't got any money.
07:21I couldn't pay you.
07:22You don't have to.
07:24The city supports the public defender's office.
07:27Public defender?
07:28I never heard of that.
07:29Well, your boss had.
07:30He's the one who phoned Judge Nunley.
07:32All right, Matthews.
07:33If you're through, you can leave.
07:35I'd like to get a statement from this man.
07:37Statement?
07:38What statement?
07:39He said if I'd tell him I shot Roberta,
07:41he'd get me off with life.
07:43All I'm trying to get from him is why he did it.
07:46Well, I don't know.
07:47I don't know what he's talking about.
07:48All I'm trying to get from him is why he did it.
07:50But I can't do that.
07:52I'd be lying.
07:53Martin, when is the DA due back?
07:56He didn't tell me.
07:58Now, this means that you'll handle the case?
08:00That's right.
08:01And this will be your first important case
08:02since your appointment, won't it?
08:04What are you driving at?
08:05Oh, nothing, except that I'll try
08:07to make things as easy for you as I possibly can.
08:10Easy?
08:11Yes, so that you can have your statement, Martin.
08:13Quote, not guilty, unquote.
08:17Come on, Mr. Hopkins.
08:18Now, see here, Matthews.
08:19As his attorney, that's all I want him to say.
08:23You know, Hopkins, I don't think I can put up your bail.
08:26But I'm quite sure that I can get the chief jailer to hang
08:29a do not disturb sign on your cell.
08:32All right, let's go.
08:34Now, I ask you, how can I see who's coming and going
08:37and serve up supper at the same time?
08:40This will look quite nice on Angie, don't you think?
08:43Oh, yes, very.
08:45Now, Mrs. Bell, what makes you think that Hopkins
08:49was home that night?
08:51Well, I don't know.
08:52I don't know.
08:53I don't know.
08:54I don't know.
08:55I don't know.
08:56I don't know.
08:57I don't know.
08:58I don't know.
08:59I don't know.
09:00I don't know.
09:01I don't know.
09:02I don't know.
09:03Roberta told me once.
09:04She told me a hundred times.
09:06Every night, home at 6, you could set a clock by him.
09:10But why would he want to kill her?
09:12Why would any husband want to kill his wife?
09:15Henry, smoke your cigarette.
09:17I'll answer the question.
09:19I'll tell you why.
09:20It was fight, fight, fight, every waking hour of the day.
09:24Never surprised me none when it happened.
09:26Mr. Hopkins said that he gave her
09:28everything that he earned.
09:30She sure never spent her money on clothes.
09:32Never saw a woman dressed so poor.
09:35Well, I'll get it.
09:36It's probably the newspapers again.
09:39Henry, get the man a glass of cider.
09:41It's good and fresh.
09:42You'll like it.
09:45Well, would you, Mr. Matthews?
09:47Oh, no thanks.
09:48I'll have to be going.
09:49Say, maybe you want to talk to Grandpa before you leave.
09:52Grandpa?
09:53Mrs. Bell's father.
09:55He's in the back bedroom.
09:56And kind of an invalid.
09:58I think that would be a very good idea.
10:00Forget the cider, Henry.
10:02Mr. Matthews is leaving.
10:04But I haven't finished my...
10:05You're finished as far as we're concerned.
10:08Here's the door.
10:14I'm sorry if I said anything.
10:16You're working for the defense, ain't ya?
10:18That's right.
10:19Well, we're working for the prosecution.
10:22Was that Mr. Martineau called?
10:24That much I'll tell you, yes.
10:26And he said...
10:27Henry, you listen to this.
10:29And he said we wasn't to talk to nobody
10:31connected with the defense.
10:33But I only wanted to talk to your father for a minute.
10:36Grandpa?
10:37This didn't help you none.
10:39Why not?
10:40Well, he ain't seen anything for 20 years.
10:42He's blind.
10:46Blind?
10:50Conrad Martin had started his counterattack.
10:53Everywhere in the neighborhood, I got the same answer.
10:56No statement for the defense.
10:59My last stop was the Hopkins house.
11:02Oh, hello, Davis.
11:04What are you doing here?
11:05Captain assigned me here.
11:06Hopkins gave me his key.
11:08I'd like to take a look around.
11:09I'm sorry, Mr. Matthews, but I can't let you in.
11:12Who told you that?
11:13Captain.
11:14I'd like to help you, but I...
11:15Oh, I know, Davis.
11:16It's not your fault.
11:17Besides, I don't know what you'd find new inside.
11:20The lab boys gave the place a good going over,
11:22top and bottom.
11:23Did they look around back?
11:25What would they be looking for out there?
11:27That's a good question.
11:28Maybe I'll find a good answer.
11:42You big talker, ain't you, stranger?
11:45Huh?
11:46Are you talking to me?
11:48That crow drag kept you from falling, didn't it?
11:52Yeah, that's right.
11:54Hey, you're talking in the wrong direction.
11:58I'm over here.
12:00Oh, hi.
12:02You must be Mrs. Bell's father.
12:04That's right.
12:06How did you know that I was new around here?
12:08Oh, Mertes told you about me, huh?
12:13Oh, I'm sorry.
12:14I didn't mean...
12:15Don't bother me, none.
12:17I've still got mighty good ears.
12:20The minute you started back here,
12:22I could tell you was a stranger.
12:25How could you tell?
12:26By the way you walked.
12:28I said to myself,
12:31wait till he hits that bit of broken concrete.
12:35They all do.
12:37And you did.
12:39That's right.
12:40Say, did you hear about the shooting last night?
12:45Shooting?
12:46Yep.
12:48I was sitting right here listening to the radio.
12:52Saw the whole thing.
12:54You saw it?
12:56Well, you know what I mean.
12:59Mighty good set of ears.
13:02Did you tell anybody?
13:04Nope.
13:05Nobody asked me.
13:07But I heard these shots,
13:09and then about two minutes later,
13:13I was sitting...
13:14Grandpa?
13:15Who you talking to?
13:17Here she comes.
13:19Oh, it's you, is it?
13:21I thought I told you to leave us alone.
13:24What's he done, Murky?
13:26He's the man that Mr. Martin told us we couldn't talk to.
13:29I'm coming in and close your windows.
13:33I'm sorry, mister.
13:36I thought I'd found...
13:39a friend.
13:41Yes, so am I, Grandpa.
13:44I thought I'd found an alibi.
13:55Conrad Martin was a man young in years
13:58and young in experience.
14:00He didn't intend to lose this case.
14:02Not only did you tell Mr. and Mrs. Bell
14:04and everyone else to withhold information,
14:06but then you give orders to keep me out of my client's house.
14:09I'm completely within my rights, Matthews.
14:11Your rights?
14:13I'd like to know what gives you the right
14:15to tell witnesses what to do.
14:17They don't belong to you any more than they do to me.
14:19I knew you were going to say that.
14:21I'm quite prepared.
14:23I think this will give you the answer.
14:25In the case of the People v. McCallum,
14:27Judge Dean of the Superior Court
14:29handed down the following opinion that...
14:31I'm not interested in Judge Dean's opinion.
14:34Now, whether you know it or not,
14:35there's a Supreme Court ruling that states
14:37that a witness is in the public domain
14:39and as such belongs exclusively
14:41to either the prosecution or the defense.
14:43Supreme Court.
14:44That's right.
14:45Where did you look that up?
14:47I didn't have to look it up.
14:49I learned it in law school.
14:51Oh, and another thing.
14:52There's a matter of ethics.
14:55I withhold comment.
14:58Do you mind if I ask you a simple question?
15:00That all depends.
15:02What are you trying to prove?
15:04I'm going to win this case.
15:06Even if Hopkins is innocent?
15:08He's guilty and you know it.
15:10Hopkins looks pretty circumstantial if you ask me.
15:12I didn't ask you.
15:14Then I'm telling you.
15:16Now, Conrad, I've seen a lot of eager beavers
15:18so anxious to win a conviction that they lose their case.
15:21What do you mean?
15:22I mean that it's your job and mine
15:24to see that people like Hopkins got a fair shake.
15:26Was Hopkins fair when he pumped two bullets into his wife?
15:30You're taking an awful lot for granted
15:32when you haven't even talked to a key witness.
15:34Witness?
15:35What witness?
15:37Why don't you wait until we get into court?
15:39You'll find out then.
15:41Wait a minute.
15:42What for?
15:44I had a couple of questions.
15:46I thought you had all the answers.
15:49Look, Bart, I've got a tough job to do.
15:53The DA's away and I feel it's my full responsibility to...
15:58To see that Hopkins gets a fair trial?
16:01Well, yes.
16:04All right then, get your hat.
16:06I've got a witness I want you to meet.
16:10Oh, you come back.
16:13Marquis ain't going to like that.
16:15I wouldn't worry about that, Grandpa.
16:17It's all been taken care of.
16:19Don't want her coming in here closing the window again.
16:22Can't see what's going on.
16:24Who's your friend?
16:26Never seen him before.
16:30Didn't you say he was blind?
16:32How did he know I was here?
16:34Simple, he saw you.
16:36He ain't as tall a man as you be, Mr. Matthews.
16:39And he's heavier set.
16:41That's right, Grandpa.
16:43I wonder if you'd tell us what...
16:45Mr. Matthews, if you want me to call the police, I'll...
16:48That won't be necessary, Mrs. Bell.
16:50Oh, Mr. Martin.
16:52Well, I was only doing what you told me to.
16:55Grandpa, a while back you started to tell me
16:59that you heard something right after the two shots.
17:03Just a second.
17:05Marquis, can I talk now?
17:08You can talk now.
17:12Well, sir, I was sitting right here
17:15listening to the news on the radio
17:17when I heard the two shots.
17:19First off, I thought they'd got the announcer.
17:23But when he kept talking, I knew it wasn't him.
17:26Go on.
17:28Then a couple of minutes later, I heard the screams
17:31door on Hopkins' back porch open and slam with a bang.
17:36There's somebody come rushing down the back stoop.
17:39Oh, he was in an awful hurry.
17:42I knew he'd never been around here before
17:44because he hadn't gone more than two steps
17:46when he ran smack dab into the clothes pole.
17:49Did he say anything?
17:51Yep.
17:52Said, ouch.
17:53Did you say anything?
17:55Nope.
17:56He was off and around back before I could get a word out.
17:59Why didn't you tell this story before?
18:01Nobody asked me but Mr. Matthews.
18:03And Marquis shut him up.
18:05Are you sure that wasn't Mr. Hopkins
18:07who came down those stairs?
18:09Why, of course I'm sure.
18:11First place, I know Mr. Hopkins.
18:13In the second place, Mr. Hopkins should know
18:16that pole was there and duck under it.
18:19Now, where do we go?
18:21I'd call the crime lab.
18:23What for?
18:24Has that pole been checked for fingerprints?
18:27I don't know.
18:28Why would they come out here in the first place?
18:30Last night, they didn't have a reason.
18:32No, they had.
18:41When the clothes pole was dusted,
18:43Lieutenant Harris found three prints.
18:45Enough for identification, but not enough
18:48for positive proof in court.
18:50This meant that when we found the suspect,
18:52we'd have to prove his guilt some other way.
18:55A run was made through R&I.
18:57We learned three things.
18:59That the prints belonged to a man named Victor Breslow.
19:03That he was on parole, which made him easy to find.
19:06That he had a long record and a short memory.
19:12I tell you, I was never in that bedroom before.
19:15Or this living room, or this house, or this neighborhood.
19:18You say you've never seen this woman before, Mr. Breslow.
19:21I've never seen her before.
19:23How can you explain your fingerprints
19:24on that clothes pole in the backyard, then?
19:26I told you.
19:27I don't know what you're talking about.
19:29Can I go now?
19:30Sit down.
19:31Relax, Breslow.
19:32Mr. Matthews may be a few minutes yet.
19:34What's he doing?
19:35He's next door talking to the man who saw the killer escape.
19:38Man?
19:39What are you trying to give me?
19:40Old fellow in a wheelchair.
19:42He says he can identify the man.
19:44Oh, yeah?
19:46You always keep your hat on in the house?
19:48Well, it's cold in here.
19:50You can run him through anytime you want.
19:52Grandpa's ready.
19:53Well, it's about the same time and about
19:55the same amount of light.
19:57All right, Breslow, on your feet.
19:58What do you want me to do?
19:59All you have to do is run out the door, down the steps,
20:02and into the backyard.
20:07Just run down the steps and around to the driveway.
20:10Run?
20:11It's dark out there.
20:12I might break my neck.
20:13You might save it.
20:14Davis, you stay with him.
20:15I'll tell you when.
20:16Yeah.
20:17I think you're nuts.
20:18Make it a good performance, Breslow.
20:20It may be your last.
20:27You all set, Grandpa?
20:28Yeah, we're a bit of sugar.
20:30Watch him when he comes out.
20:31He may try to make a break.
20:32I'll keep him covered.
20:33All right, Davis.
20:34On the double, Breslow.
20:39Just a minute, Breslow.
20:40Do you call that running?
20:41Now, do it again, and this time run.
20:44All right, Davis.
20:45Send him out again.
20:53Well, Grandpa?
20:55That's him all right.
20:57Only this time he hit the clothes pole with his hand
21:00instead of his head.
21:02I think he's not going to make it.
21:08I'll see you later.
21:09I'll talk to you later.
21:10See you later, Grandpa.
21:11with his hand instead of his head.
21:15You're right, Grandpa.
21:17That's him all right.
21:19Same fellow I seen the other night.
21:21What's he babbling about with the cuffs on him?
21:24What for?
21:25I didn't do nothing.
21:25Hold out your hands.
21:26I want you to be sure, Grandpa.
21:28Will you swear that this is the same man?
21:31Don't need to swear.
21:33I said it's him, and it is.
21:37Well, Breslau?
21:38It was an accident.
21:40I didn't want to kill her, honest.
21:41Not when you were doing so well blackmailing.
21:43You find that out too?
21:45You'd figure.
21:46How long had you been doing it?
21:47Oh, a couple of years.
21:49She didn't have any money the other night.
21:51I said I'd tell her husband how she'd spent
21:53two years in the state pen.
21:55She pulled a gun on me.
21:56I tried to take it away from her, it went off.
21:58I wiped the gun clean and ran out the back.
22:00That's it.
22:01Yeah.
22:03You kind of feel better after getting it off your chest, son.
22:06Well, if it hadn't been for you,
22:07they'd have never pinned it on me.
22:09All right, take him in and book him.
22:10Oh, just a minute.
22:12Conrad, I think that confession is good for the soul,
22:14don't you?
22:15Yeah, that's right.
22:16Well, before Mr. Breslau departs,
22:18don't you think that he ought to know about the man
22:20who put the finger on him?
22:21What about him?
22:23Well, take a good look at your accuser.
22:26Do you see anything?
22:28Nope.
22:29Neither does he.
22:30He's been blind for the last 20 years.
22:32Blind?
22:33Why, you dirty, you trapped me.
22:36No, you trapped yourself.
22:38You're a liar.
22:44I want to thank you for your help, grandpa.
22:47Glad to help you.
22:50Sure broke the monotony.
22:54Nice old guy.
22:55Sure is.
22:56Bart, I'd like to thank you too.
22:59Oh, what for?
23:00Oh, for helping an eager beaver see a couple of things.
23:03But I hope you didn't let yourself in for something.
23:06I don't understand.
23:07So if he can't afford an attorney, you'll have to defend him.
23:15Take care of yourself, Mr. Matthews.
23:18And drop by again sometime.
23:21Yeah, thanks, Grandpa.
23:23I will.
23:24Thanks, Grandpa.
23:25I will.
23:38When Victor Braslow was brought to trial, he was found guilty.
23:42But since the shooting was not premeditated, the charge was changed to manslaughter.
23:47He is now serving a sentence in the state penitentiary.
23:51The case you have just seen was brought to a fair and just conclusion through the efforts of a public defender.
23:58Tonight, Philip Morris salutes public defender Herman S. Allen, Knox County, Galesburg, Illinois,
24:05and his staff for outstanding achievement in the cause of justice.
24:51© BF-WATCH TV 2021