Public Defender "Jewlers Housekeeper"
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
00:00The public defender is a public servant 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.
00:26It is his duty to defend those accused of crime until the issue is decided in a court
00:32of law.
00:34Sometimes decent men and women are panicked into taking that one misstep that can lead
00:39to crime, like Henry and Amy Britton, a couple employed in the home of well-to-do jeweler
00:45Chester Lamont.
00:46All right, hand it out.
00:47All right, get him up Henry.
00:48All right, get him up.
01:04All right, get him up Henry.
01:34All right, get him up Henry.
02:00All right, get him up.
02:27Amy, the police, get out of here, go to your room.
02:42Henry, how did they get in here?
02:47He had a gun.
02:48Gun?
02:49Are you kidding?
02:50This was an inside job.
02:51Sure it was.
02:52The three of us were in prison together.
02:54That's right.
02:55Do you think we got the combination to the safe?
03:00Did this man have a combination to your safe, Mr. Lamont?
03:02I'm afraid he did, Sergeant.
03:03I gave it to him several months ago.
03:04Come on, you.
03:05Dad!
03:06Dad, what happened?
03:07What are they doing to you?
03:08It's all right, honey.
03:27It's all right.
03:32You stay here.
03:33Take care of your mother.
03:34What happened, Mom?
03:35What is it?
03:36What is it?
03:43Several days later, when Henry Britton was arraigned by the court and found to be without funds, I was appointed to represent him.
03:50I looked at the date of the trial and the transcript of his record.
03:54My own court calendar was so crowded, I asked Judge Frey to continue the case until I could clear the others on my heavy docket.
04:01I thanked the judge and left without delay to interview my new client.
04:06In my first conference with him, I was impressed with his honesty and sincerity.
04:10Believe me, Mr. Matthews, it was no inside job, but prove it.
04:15I intend to prove it, Mr. Britton.
04:17But I need your help in getting my facts straight.
04:20Yeah, facts. It's just my word against the two of them.
04:23You first knew them in prison.
04:25Yeah, prison.
04:27Fool I was. Convinced myself I wasn't stealing the money, just borrowing it.
04:32Borrowing it?
04:33Yeah, it was for the kid.
04:35My daughter, Connie.
04:37Seems like everything we've ever worked for or got's been for her.
04:40We idolize her.
04:42So you committed larceny.
04:44That's the way it worked out.
04:46You see, Connie was just starting to grow up and we wanted to put her in a school.
04:50A private one, a good one.
04:52Well, first off, the school was filled.
04:55Then suddenly some kid couldn't go and they notified us.
04:58Well, it was one of those places where you have to have the full tuition in advance.
05:03I didn't have that much money.
05:05But I paid it back, Mr. Matthews. Believe me, I did.
05:08And it's so much a week.
05:10Now, neither your daughter or Mr. Lamont knew that you had served time?
05:14No. Amy, my wife, she told the kid I'd taken a job out of town.
05:19And since Connie was away at school herself, she didn't question.
05:22That's when Amy first went to work for Mr. Lamont.
05:25And when you got out, he hired you, too.
05:28Yes. And he's a wonderful man, Mr. Matthews. Believe me.
05:32And how did you ever get mixed up with Vic Sampson and Bunky Polidare again after being out six years?
05:37Well, it all happened last Thursday.
05:40Amy was in the library and I'd just come in from tending the garden.
05:50Look at these, Amy. All you have to do with flowers is just keep after them.
05:53Beautiful. Just lovely.
05:56Someday maybe you'll have a garden of your own.
05:59We'll get a little place like my sister's out in the valley.
06:02Sure we will.
06:03In six weeks, Connie graduates from college.
06:05Another year or two and she'll be married and settled down.
06:08Then, old girl, it'll be just you and I, huh?
06:12Did you call the kid? Tell her we dropped by tonight?
06:14Oh, of course.
06:16I almost forgot. What do you think?
06:19She finally got a bed to the senior prom.
06:21That boy she hoped would ask her.
06:24She says he's a big man on the campus.
06:27Well, what do you know about that? I guess class shows, huh?
06:30Did Mr. Lamont give you our check today?
06:33Yes, he left it here on the desk.
06:34I'll hand it over. Woman will want to get it cashed.
06:36What's the rush?
06:37Don't be so curious.
06:39Well, the banks are closed. It's almost five o'clock.
06:42Don't worry so much. George at the corner grocery will cash it for me any time.
06:45I'll see him after dinner.
06:47Why do you want it, dear?
06:49Never mind, never mind. This is my business.
07:00Well, Henry, imagine meeting you here.
07:02What? What is this?
07:04Take a good look. You should recognize me.
07:07Even outside of Stern.
07:09Yeah, I recognize you, Samson.
07:11I've got something to do with you.
07:14Go on now. Lean back. Relax.
07:17You remember Bunky.
07:19What are you two doing? Looking for trouble?
07:21That's the one thing we don't want. Trouble.
07:24That's why we found you.
07:26Take him to the parking lot.
07:34What do you want? Money?
07:36Should we tell him, Bunky?
07:38Or should we make him guess?
07:40You know, you're doing pretty good for an ex-con, Henry.
07:43Working for a rich jeweler like Henry Lamont.
07:46Any ideas you got because I work for a jeweler, forget them.
07:49Okay, Henry. Anything you say, we'll forget all about it.
07:54Right after you help us clean out his wall safe tomorrow night.
07:59You lay off of me, Vicar. I'll call the police.
08:02You're not gonna call anybody.
08:04What do you think Lamont would say if he knew he had an ex-con working for him
08:08and running all over his house?
08:10Go ahead. Tell Lamont.
08:12You won't because you know I'll tell the cops about you.
08:15Better think it over, Henry. I'm warning you.
08:18I'm warning you.
08:20I don't want to see either one of you again.
08:28Think you're gonna let him wrestle us around like that?
08:30No, I'm not, Bunky.
08:32Maybe the jerk isn't afraid of Lamont.
08:35But I'm not giving up.
08:37If one thing don't spring him, something else will.
08:40And I'm gonna find out what that something else is.
08:49For goodness sake, Amy, if we're going, let's go.
08:51It's 8.30 already. You know that Connie's waiting for us.
08:53Darling, I know those men upset you, but don't take it out on me.
08:57What do you expect me to do, make believe it didn't happen?
09:00No, and I don't expect you to go to pieces either.
09:03Just because two cheap crooks tried to bluff you.
09:05Any bluffing that was done, believe me, I did it.
09:07You don't know those two.
09:09They're rotten, dirty rotten, and mean clear through.
09:12You didn't see the face of one man after they got through with him.
09:16Dear, let's not be afraid.
09:18Let's go right to Mr. Lamont and tell him the truth ourselves.
09:21I can't bear to think of what'll happen when Connie finds out.
09:24She's got to find out sometime.
09:27We can't go on all our lives like this with this over our head.
09:30I know, I know.
09:32Are we going or aren't we?
09:33I'll get my coat.
09:35I'll get my coat.
09:46He's honest, he's the best-looking thing.
09:48Sort of reminds me of you, Daddy.
09:50Listen to that, will ya?
09:52What did you say his name was again?
09:53Frank Lloyd Robertson, Jr.
09:55Do you think it might be serious, dear?
09:58Well, I haven't met anyone I liked better.
10:01Oh, I guess Frank's sort of special.
10:04The real McCoy.
10:05Well, that's great, honey.
10:06It's just great.
10:07And how does your Frank feel about it?
10:09I wouldn't know, but he did ask me to the prom.
10:12Well, you'll want to make a good impression,
10:15and the mother and I'd like to help a little.
10:17So we'd like you to take this money
10:19and buy a new dress for the dance.
10:21Oh, now listen, Dad.
10:23I don't need it.
10:24I've got a good dress.
10:25Honey, how many of your sorority sisters
10:27are going to this prom?
10:29Oh, I don't know.
10:3010, 12 maybe.
10:32And how many of them will have a new dress?
10:34Most of them, I guess.
10:36Well, you're going to have one too.
10:39Dad.
10:40Mom, please.
10:41You've done enough.
10:42I just won't let you sacrifice one more thing for me.
10:46Darling, it's never been a sacrifice.
10:49Never.
10:50You know who needs a new dress, don't you?
10:52You've had that suit as long as I've been in college.
10:56It's all right.
10:57We don't go many places.
10:59Well, you should.
11:00Both of you.
11:01When will you last to a show, a movie?
11:04Honey, if we wanted to go to shows or nightclubs
11:06or take a trip, we would.
11:07That sort of thing just doesn't happen to appeal to us.
11:10That's all.
11:11You see, dear, it's our pleasure to see
11:13that you have everything you need
11:14and everything to make you happy.
11:16Is it asking too much that we should want to be proud of you?
11:19Oh, Dad.
11:21Mom, I'll never be able to.
11:25Oh, well, we've got to be going, darling.
11:29Goodbye, Mom.
11:30Goodbye, my darling.
11:31Here, here.
11:32My turn.
11:33Have a good time at prom now.
11:35We want to meet this young man of yours someday.
11:38Thanks for the money.
11:39Bye, darling.
11:44You know, Amy, sometimes we tell ourselves
11:47we never got many breaks in life,
11:48but that's the biggest break a man and his wife
11:51could ever have right in there.
11:52Hello, Henry.
11:53I thought you were going to introduce me to the wife.
11:56Are these the two?
11:58So Henry told you, huh?
12:00Well, that's going to make it real easy.
12:03It'll save time.
12:04If you cause any trouble, we'll have you arrested.
12:07Mrs. Britton, maybe you better just listen
12:09and do as you're told,
12:10or somebody's going to get hurt.
12:14I think I'm warning you.
12:16You remember Bunky's knife up in the pen,
12:18don't you, Henry?
12:19And now that we know what a pretty kid your daughter is,
12:23well, I guess you know we're not bluffing.
12:26You wouldn't do a thing like that.
12:27You wouldn't dare.
12:28Shut up, Amy.
12:29All right, you're talking, Henry.
12:31Real smart.
12:33And if you're just as smart about everything else,
12:36well, everything's going to be okay.
12:39What do you want?
12:40Tomorrow's the fourth Friday in the month,
12:42the night that Lamont brings home
12:44a couple hundred grand in bracelets and wings
12:46so he can take them down to Hot Springs in the morning
12:48and show them to his clients.
12:50He locks them in the safe.
12:51He's the only one that knows the combination.
12:53It's 10 o'clock Thursday night.
12:55That'll give you 26 hours to get the combination.
12:58Let me and Bunky in tomorrow night
13:01when we get there at 12.30.
13:03No, you won't do it.
13:05Amy, I told you, keep out of this.
13:07Attaboy, Henry.
13:09Show her who's boss.
13:11And don't try and arrange any surprises
13:14because now that we know where your kid is,
13:17we can get her any time we're ready.
13:19You two better be getting on home.
13:21You better let her think a little
13:23before tomorrow night at 12.30.
13:36Then you did let them in Friday night
13:38and you opened the safe for them.
13:40It's like I told you and the police and everybody
13:42a hundred times.
13:43Vic had a gun in my back.
13:45I had to open the safe for him.
13:47But as you also said,
13:48it's your word against the two of them.
13:50Sure, sure.
13:52But what more can I tell you?
13:54Well, I was hoping there would be a little more.
13:57For example, the police found no gun.
14:01Blame them, not me.
14:03And then your daughter coming there
14:04in the middle of the night.
14:06Don't you think that calls for some explanation?
14:10I've told you everything I know.
14:12I don't think you can do anything more for me.
14:15I guess I just haven't got a chance.
14:18It seemed reasonable to assume
14:20there was something more
14:21which might help Henry Britton.
14:23But since I couldn't learn it from him,
14:25I decided to go out to see his daughter.
14:27It isn't often a public defender
14:29gets into a fashionable sorority house.
14:32That is, on county business.
14:34But I did.
14:36And I found Connie Britton every bit as attractive
14:39as her father had said she was.
14:41At first she was reluctant,
14:43but she finally told me just how she happened
14:45to go to the Lamont house
14:46at that hour of the morning.
14:48One aspect of the Britton case
14:50had me completely puzzled.
14:52He claimed he was held up at gunpoint.
14:54Yet no gun was found at the scene of the crime.
14:57I questioned him again,
14:59but he still insisted that Vic Sampson
15:01had forced him with a gun to open the safe.
15:04The arresting officer was just as insistent.
15:07Both his department and the fingerprint man
15:09had made a thorough search of the premises
15:11and found no evidence whatsoever
15:13of a gun.
15:15Confronted with this problem,
15:16I decided to call on Mrs. Britton
15:18and get her version of the story.
15:20Whatever Henry told you, that's the truth.
15:23And that's every bit I know, Mr. Matthews.
15:25Except I have a feeling that your husband
15:27didn't tell me everything.
15:29What do you mean, everything?
15:32Well, things like your daughter told me
15:35about a phone call from you
15:36that got her out of bed in the middle of the night.
15:39All right, Mr. Matthews.
15:41All right, Mr. Matthews.
15:42What do you want to know?
15:44The truth, Mrs. Britton,
15:45exactly as it happened.
15:48Well, the next day,
15:50after they stopped us in front of Connie's sorority house,
15:54I kept after Henry
15:55and I begged him to call the police
15:57and tell them everything.
15:59But it didn't do much good.
16:01He just kept telling me
16:02that he knew what he was doing.
16:04Well, that night, he wasn't in our room.
16:08It was about 11.30.
16:10Well, I found him here
16:13by the fire here.
16:30What are you doing, waiting up for them?
16:32What else can I do?
16:33What else?
16:34Did you ever think of doing what's right?
16:36What is right, Amy?
16:38What's right for one person is wrong for another.
16:41How right will you be if you disgrace us again?
16:43Oh, Amy, believe me, I know what I'm doing.
16:46I don't think you do.
16:47You don't even know the combination to the safe.
16:50Mr. Lamont gave me the combination
16:51to that safe months ago.
16:53All I ask of you is that you keep out of this
16:55and go to bed.
16:56Henry, for the last time,
16:57will you call the police?
16:58Let them handle it.
16:59What can the police do?
17:00Arrest them for thinking about robbing a safe?
17:03Those two would be out of jail in 24 hours.
17:05Then what would happen to Connie?
17:07Wake up, Mr. Lamont.
17:08At least tell him.
17:10Amy, for your sake and mine,
17:11get one thing through your head.
17:12Connie graduates in six weeks.
17:14Do you want to upset the whole thing?
17:16She has to find out sometime.
17:18Yeah, she's got to find out if she lives long enough.
17:22We can't let anything happen to her.
17:24She's just a kid.
17:27Well, then let's go get her.
17:29Let's get her out of town.
17:30We'll take her to my sister in the valley.
17:32They don't know where that is.
17:34I don't know, and we can't.
17:35There isn't time.
17:38But you'll find time
17:39to spend the next five years in jail.
17:50Amy, please don't call them.
17:51Leave me alone or I will call the police.
17:56Hello?
17:57Hello?
17:58I'm sorry to disturb you at this hour,
18:00but this is Mrs. Britton,
18:01and I must speak with Connie.
18:02It's an emergency.
18:04Yes, please.
18:13Hello?
18:15Connie, darling, now just listen to me.
18:18Mom, are you all right?
18:20Connie, don't interrupt.
18:21Just listen.
18:23Now get dressed.
18:24Pack enough for a few days.
18:26Your father and I will be over
18:27to pick you up in 20 minutes.
18:29But Mother, what's happened?
18:32Darling, don't say anymore.
18:34I'll explain everything when I see you.
18:36All right, Mother.
18:40Amy, this is crazy.
18:41We'll never get away with it.
18:42Yes, we will.
18:43But we haven't time, I tell you.
18:44All right, then let me go, and I'll get Connie.
18:46You can't go driving around town this time of night.
18:49All right, then come with me.
18:50But please, please, they'll be here any minute.
18:53We've still got a chance.
19:02Well, Henry, I bet you just knew we'd be early.
19:06OK, we're all here.
19:08Let's get on with it.
19:09The deal's off, Vic.
19:10You're even dumber than I thought you were.
19:12Come on, let's get going.
19:24All right, where's the freight?
19:26He told you he's not going through with it.
19:28It's up to you if anybody gets hurt tonight, and how many.
19:31I couldn't get the combination.
19:33I'd believe that if we hadn't been standing outside those windows
19:35and heard everything you said.
19:37Your missus was such a help.
19:52No, Henry, don't.
19:58Vic.
20:01All right, hand it out.
20:08If we can prove the things you told me, Mrs. Brittney,
20:10your husband may not even have to stand trial.
20:14But how can you prove it?
20:15Those other two, all they've done is lie.
20:17Both you and Henry said that Samson was carrying a gun,
20:21forced his way in with it.
20:23He did.
20:24He did.
20:25Funny thing.
20:26I checked again today with the sergeant and the officer who made the arrest.
20:30They tell me that neither one of them was carrying a gun.
20:34That's what I mean.
20:35How can we prove it?
20:36Well, we can try by doing a little backtracking.
20:40Well, first of all,
20:43my husband knocked it out of his hand up here at the safe.
20:47And then they fought.
20:49All right, get him up, Henry.
20:56Get him up.
21:26Get him up.
21:56Get him up.
22:10In the library.
22:19They fought all the way down here to the fireplace.
22:23Well, then finally I got a hold of the gun,
22:25and I came down here, too, to the fireplace.
22:29And that's when Samson came down, he knocked it out of my hand,
22:32and he hit me.
22:34And that's all I remember until the police came.
22:53You know, Mrs. Britton, there's an old biblical expression.
23:13The truth shall make you free.
23:17Vic Samson and Bunky Palladere are back in jail.
23:21They'll be there 10 years from now.
23:24Henry and Amy Britton are still fixtures
23:26in the Chester Lamont household,
23:28but now they have some additional responsibilities,
23:31being proud grandparents to Frank Lloyd Robertson III.
23:46They'll be there 10 years from now.
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