Public Defender "Knock Out Pills"
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
00:21legal aid without cost to any person who seeks it and is financially unable to employ private
00:27counsel.
00:28It is his duty to defend those accused of crime until the issue is decided in the court
00:33of law.
00:34The first public defender's office in the United States was opened in January 1913.
00:41Over the years, other offices were opened, and today that handful has grown to a network,
00:47a network of lawyers cooperating to protect the rights of our clients.
00:52Tonight I'd like to tell you about a rather touching case which began in the women's visiting
00:56area of municipal prison.
00:59Mrs. Barton?
01:00Yes.
01:01My name's Matthews.
01:02Won't you be seated?
01:08Mrs. Barton, I understand that you requested the services of the public defender at the
01:13time of your arrest this morning.
01:15That's right.
01:17I don't have any money.
01:20Everything happened so fast that I...
01:23I didn't know what to do.
01:25Most people don't at a time like this.
01:28Cigarette?
01:33Care to tell me about it?
01:39Well, I...
01:42I guess you could say it started about two months ago.
01:46My husband and I were on a picnic with our little adopted daughter.
01:51We were driving home and...
01:53We must do this more often.
01:58Oh, there'll be other picnics.
02:02Picnics and parties and boat rides.
02:05You know something, Mrs. Barton?
02:08That's why I picked out a baby daughter, so I could watch her grow up doing all the things
02:12her mother did when she was a little girl.
02:18Mommy!
02:22Fred!
02:42While Fred Barton was killed instantly in the crash, his wife and son were taken to
02:47the hospital.
02:48The wife and daughter had miraculously escaped serious injury.
02:53When the danger of shock reaction was over, Nancy was released from Cowdey Hospital to
02:57build a new life for herself and little Kathy.
03:00There now.
03:02My little girl's all sweet and clean and ready for a nap.
03:05Why do I have to take a nap, Mommy?
03:07So you'll grow up to be big and strong, like Mrs. Romano.
03:11Oh.
03:12Are you going to make her take a nap too?
03:15Just now, honey.
03:17Oh, why do people always pick times like this to ring your doorbell?
03:20I don't know.
03:22I'll take care of Kathy.
03:23You go and see who it is.
03:24You go to your room.
03:27Whoops.
03:30Just a minute.
03:35Hello, Nancy.
03:37Mrs. Beam, I wasn't expecting you for...
03:40Oh, come in, please.
03:46I suppose you're here to check on Kathy.
03:49Well, that's the nicest thing about these adoption cases, visiting all the children
03:53we've placed.
03:54But first, may we talk for a while?
03:57Oh, of course.
03:59Sit down.
04:05To begin with, I want you to know how sorry I am about your husband.
04:09If you don't mind, Mrs. Beam, I'd rather not talk about it.
04:13I'm afraid we must, since it concerns little Kathy's future.
04:17But Kathy's almost mine now.
04:19The adoption will be final in less than a month.
04:22I'll be perfectly frank, Nancy.
04:24Our investigations show your husband left very little in the way of insurance or savings.
04:31Fred didn't make much money.
04:34We were planning on taking out more insurance, but...
04:37Well, we just never got around to it.
04:40That's most unfortunate.
04:42Nancy, how do you intend to support the child?
04:45Well, I was a waitress before my marriage.
04:48I thought I'd go back to that.
04:50In fact, I've been offered a job at a drive-in.
04:52How much will you earn at the drive-in?
04:54$30 a week.
04:56But Mr. Powers said that the tip should bring it up to $50.
04:59I hope so, Nancy.
05:02I'd hate to see anything happen to you and Kathy after all you've been through already.
05:17$70, $75, $2. Thank you very much, sir.
05:25Thanks.
05:33What's the matter, kid?
05:35You look like the roof just caved in.
05:37It has.
05:39Mr. Powers, do you have any idea how much I've earned in tips in this last week?
05:43Oh, I figured that's your business.
05:45Exactly $6.85.
05:48About the same as last week.
05:50That's a long way from the $20 you promised.
05:53So I made a wrong guess.
05:55What about it?
05:57I've just got to have another $10 a week.
06:00I can work overtime.
06:01Sorry, kid. The other girl's got to earn a living, too.
06:06You won't get rich standing here.
06:31Domino Club. Let me speak to Nick.
06:35Nick, this is Lou.
06:37Yeah, Lou.
06:38I've got a new recruit lined up.
06:41Here. Brunette.
06:44About 25.
06:45Real hungry, huh?
06:47When can I take a look at her?
06:50In about a half an hour?
06:53Sure.
06:56In about a half an hour?
06:59Sure. I know where to park.
07:01Yeah.
07:03Okay.
07:23Will there be anything else, sir?
07:25Yes. As a matter of fact, there is.
07:27How long have you been working here?
07:29Why, two weeks. What...
07:31Starting with tips, that's about $35, maybe $40 a week at most.
07:35How would you like to double that?
07:37I don't understand.
07:39Excuse me. I'm Nick Edwards.
07:42Owner of the Domino Club downtown.
07:44Can always use a good cocktail waitress.
07:47That is, if you're interested.
07:49Gee, I don't know.
07:51The money's fine, but I've never worked in a nightclub.
07:54Serving a martini's no different than serving a malted.
07:57Except the pay is better.
07:59You think it over.
08:01If you decide to give it a try, give me a call tomorrow.
08:04Keep the change.
08:06Thanks.
08:08Maybe I will.
08:16This is Nancy Barton, the new girl I was telling you about.
08:19Hi, honey.
08:20And this is Sherry, our hostess.
08:22And Harry, the world's best bartender.
08:24How do you do?
08:25Hi, kid. Glad to have you with us.
08:27Thanks. I'm glad to be here.
08:29Nancy's a little green at this.
08:31I'm depending on both of you to shore the ropes, huh?
08:33Sure thing, Nick.
08:34Suppose we get started now before the joint starts hopping.
08:41What do you think?
08:43Nice kid, Nick.
08:44Maybe a little too nice, huh?
08:46That's just it.
08:48No one could suspect anything coming from a kid like that.
08:58It wasn't more than a week before Nancy found
09:01that her job involved a lot more than she had anticipated.
09:05We've been palsy-wowsy all night.
09:08You're not going to give me the brush off now.
09:11Well, honey, I only wanted a couple more for the road.
09:15And this time they're on me.
09:17Well, that's more like it.
09:21Hey, waitress, come here.
09:24Yes, sir?
09:25My friend and I are leaving.
09:27Would you ask Harry to mix up a couple of specials on me?
09:30You're going to buy me a drink.
09:33You're cute.
09:40Well, it'll be.
09:41Sherry wants a couple of specials, whatever they are.
09:44She says she'll pay for them herself.
09:46Coming right up.
09:49Uh, where's your car parked?
09:51Out in the back.
09:53Why?
09:54Well, the boss doesn't let us date customers,
09:56so I'll grab my things, sneak out,
09:58and you meet me there in a couple of minutes, huh?
10:00All right, I'll do that.
10:03Goodbye now.
10:08Hold it, kid.
10:11Hold it, kid.
10:28What's that?
10:29Oh, it's help sober him up.
10:31Won't do Sherry any harm, either.
10:33Are you sure it's all right?
10:35Well, it's the least we can do.
10:37If he tries to drive in that condition,
10:39he's liable to get killed.
10:41Well, since you put it that way.
10:55What's she got?
10:57Special of the house.
10:59Try it.
11:06There, feel better?
11:08I feel great.
11:11Say, where is that dame?
11:15If she thinks she can stand me up,
11:18she's got another thing coming, believe me.
11:22What's wrong?
11:24All of a sudden, I feel dizzy.
11:26I can't breathe.
11:28You better sit down.
11:29Gotta get out the air.
11:31I feel...
11:34Harry!
11:39Nick!
11:41We better get him out of here.
11:43I'll get an ambulance.
11:44He's had too much to drink.
11:45He'll sleep it off.
11:46But he was all right until I gave him that last drink.
11:49He's had too much to drink, I tell you.
11:51Here, grab a cab.
11:53Go home and forget it.
11:54We'll take care of him.
11:55I don't want your money.
11:57I'm quitting.
11:58I never want to see this place again.
12:09Mrs. Nancy Barton?
12:11Yes?
12:12You work at the Domino Club?
12:14Well, I did, but I quit the job last night.
12:19I'm afraid you'll have to come with us.
12:22I don't understand.
12:24We found a man in the alley near the club this morning.
12:26He'd been drugged and rolled.
12:28He claims you did it.
12:34I didn't do it.
12:37No matter what they say, I had nothing to do with it.
12:41You've got to believe me.
12:43I believe you, Mrs. Barton.
12:45The question is, will a jury?
12:47Then you...
12:49You don't think there's much chance?
12:50All I can say is that we'll do everything that we can
12:53to see that you get a fair trial.
12:55Yes?
12:56There's a visitor for Mrs. Barton.
12:58He says it's important.
13:00But I don't know anybody who would...
13:02Now, you see, you probably have more friends than you think.
13:05You'd better go see him. It'll do you good.
13:08But you were going to ask me some questions.
13:10They'll keep until you get back.
13:12This way, please.
13:23You've got ten minutes.
13:28Mrs. Barton, won't you sit down?
13:30I'm Raymond Crandall.
13:32I've been retained as your attorney by Mr. Edwards.
13:35But I thought after last night...
13:37Oh, you don't think Mr. Edwards would let you down, do you?
13:41I don't know what to think.
13:43All I know is that I want to get out of here.
13:46That shouldn't be too difficult.
13:47I'm sure we can have bail set at $2,500.
13:50$2,500?
13:52But I couldn't raise that much money in a million years.
13:55There's no reason why you'd have to, if you play it smart.
13:59What do you mean?
14:00Whether you realize it or not,
14:02Harry was acting on his own last night when he drugged that drink.
14:05But, uh, unfortunately,
14:07that still doesn't take Nick or the club off the hook.
14:10What's all that got to do with me?
14:12Just this.
14:13Inasmuch as you haven't got a previous record,
14:16if you do exactly as I say, I'm sure you'll come out better.
14:20Now, Nick will make complete restitution to Harry's victim.
14:23And in return, I'm sure we can get a suspended sentence.
14:28If you plead guilty to being Harry's accomplice.
14:31Oh, the contemptible...
14:34I won't do anything of the sort.
14:37I'm innocent.
14:38Well, just how do you hope to prove that
14:41in view of the victim's own testimony?
14:44Not to mention that of the corroborating witness
14:46who actually saw you serve the drink.
14:49I'll leave the legal details to the public defender.
14:52Public defender?
14:53You are naive.
14:55At least he won't ask me to plead guilty to a crime I didn't commit.
14:58Mrs. Barton, let me ask you this.
15:01Who pays the district attorney?
15:03The state.
15:04And who do you suppose pays the public defender?
15:07The same state.
15:09However, you think that over, Mrs. Barton.
15:15Well, I...
15:17I don't know what to do.
15:19Of course you do, Mrs. Barton.
15:21You do exactly as I say,
15:23and you will go home with your daughter by noon.
15:26Or stick to your public defender
15:28and hope that your child will still remember what you look like
15:31by the time you get out of state penitentiary.
15:41Mr. Matthews?
15:42Yes?
15:43I have a message for you from Mrs. Barton.
15:45Yes, what is it?
15:46She asked me to tell you that she won't need a public defender.
15:48She's made arrangements for her own attorney.
15:59Is the accused represented by counsel?
16:01She is, Your Honor.
16:02Do you wish to make your plea at this time?
16:05We do.
16:06The accused pleads guilty as charged.
16:09Due to the special circumstances of this case,
16:13as contained in this recommendation for clemency
16:16from the office of the district attorney,
16:19I hereby sentence the accused
16:21to a term of 90 days in the county prison.
16:25Said sentence suspended.
16:34You thought that girl might need our help?
16:36She still might, someday.
16:40Crandall did a great job for Nick Edwards.
16:44I don't get it.
16:45Well, with the bartender on the run
16:47and the girl admitting that they pulled the job
16:49without his knowledge, Nick is in the clear.
16:51Well, it's the DA's problem.
16:53And ours is to guarantee everyone,
16:55innocent or guilty, full protection of the courts.
17:00And I'm not so sure she got it.
17:04But you can't take Kathy away from me
17:06because of what happened at the club.
17:08I didn't do anything wrong.
17:11You've got to believe me.
17:13I'm sorry, Nancy.
17:15It's out of my hands now.
17:17I have a court order to take the child with me.
17:20I don't care what you have.
17:22I'm not going to give Kathy up. I won't.
17:25You should have thought of that
17:26before pleading guilty to the charge.
17:28What else could I do?
17:30They threatened to give false testimony.
17:34Oh, I know it was foolish, but...
17:37All I could think of was getting out of that awful place
17:41and home to Kathy.
17:46It isn't as though you were giving Kathy up forever.
17:49There'll be a hearing.
17:51You'll have a chance to prove you're a fit mother for the child.
17:54Sure.
17:56I'll have a chance.
17:58Like last time.
18:00With two strikes against me before I start.
18:03I'm sorry you feel that way,
18:04but it doesn't alter the situation.
18:07For the time being, at least, Kathy must come with us.
18:10But there must be some other way.
18:12I'm afraid not until after the hearing.
18:15Now, will you get her ready to go, or must I?
18:22I... I think I'd rather do it myself.
18:26Kathy.
18:28How would you like...
18:29Shh.
18:30I'm trying to make Teddy take his nap.
18:35Honey.
18:37I don't think Teddy needs a nap today.
18:40He'll be all right.
18:42He'll be all right.
18:44He'll be all right.
18:46He'll be all right.
18:48He'll be all right.
18:50He'll be all right.
18:52He'll be all right.
18:54I'm afraid not today.
18:56In fact, there's a nice lady outside
18:59who's come to take Teddy and you to her house for a visit.
19:03Won't that be fun?
19:05Are you coming too?
19:07Not this time.
19:09But there'll be lots of other little girls there for you to play with.
19:12I don't want to play with other little girls.
19:14I want to stay here and play with you.
19:20Oh, Kathy.
19:24Oh, I can't. I can't.
19:31Candy, honey, you've got to listen to me very carefully.
19:34We're going to play a little game, honey, and you've got to promise me to be very quiet.
19:38All right, Mommy.
19:40Now, first of all, tiptoe over to that window while I get our coats.
19:43Go on.
19:49Please, we can wait a few minutes longer.
19:55Sure.
20:07Are you out of your mind coming in here with every cop in town on the lookout for you and that kid?
20:11Where else could I come?
20:13I need money. Enough to get both of us out of the state.
20:16What do you expect me to do?
20:18You owe me a week's back salary. I never did get paid.
20:21You got sprung, didn't you?
20:23Let's just say it went for legal fees.
20:26I'm warning you, Mr. Edwards.
20:28If I don't get that money, I'll...
20:30You'll go to the police? Tell them you were framed?
20:32Why don't you get with it?
20:34You had your chance in court and you muffed it.
20:37Now, you take the kid and get out before I call the police.
20:52I thought we'd find you around here.
20:54I'm sorry, Mrs. Barton, but you'll have to come with us.
21:05Nancy Barton was booked on a technical charge
21:08of endangering the health and well-being of a child.
21:11She was found dead at the scene of the crime.
21:14She was found dead at the scene of the crime.
21:17She was found dead at the scene of the crime.
21:20Endangering the health and welfare of her daughter.
21:23This time, she had no hesitancy
21:25in seeking the assistance of the public defender.
21:28Let's put it this way.
21:30You were framed for one reason.
21:32To protect Nick.
21:34Now, if we can only connect him somehow with the actual crime,
21:37it might be a different story.
21:39Yes, but how do you do that?
21:42Are these pills that you saw the bartender put in the drink,
21:45do you remember exactly what they look like?
21:48Just like any ordinary bicarbonate of soda tablet, I guess.
21:52There's a dispensing machine behind the bar.
21:54Well, then, did you see him actually take the tablets from that dispenser?
21:58No. He was standing beside the cash register.
22:02And now that I think of it,
22:04I saw the tablets in his hand when he closed the register drawer.
22:09Are you sure of that?
22:12Yes, fairly sure.
22:14But what's all that got to do with it?
22:17We'll let you know as soon as we take a look for ourselves.
22:20Call Harris at Bunko.
22:27Kind of slumming, aren't you, Harris?
22:29You might call it that.
22:37All right, Hogan.
22:41Hey, what is this, a roust?
22:43Relax, Nick. We've got a warrant.
22:46I'll ring up no sale.
22:48Are you going to do it, or am I?
22:52Sure.
22:54I've got nothing to hide.
22:58Take out the trays one at a time.
23:00Now, look...
23:01What is this?
23:02Start at the front, Nick. One at a time.
23:09All the way out, Nick.
23:16I'll have the police lab run a check on this.
23:19You know something, Nick?
23:21You don't look so good. What you need is a good bicarbonate of soda.
23:26All right, let's go.
23:34As a result of the evidence uncovered at the nightclub,
23:37both Nick Edwards and Sherry Drake were sent to prison.
23:40Attorney Raymond Crandall was disbarred,
23:43and the previous misdemeanor conviction of Nancy Barton was set aside.
23:48Today, through the dedicated efforts of the public defender's office,
23:52Nancy Barton and her daughter share a normal, happy life together.
23:59The case you have just seen was brought to a fair and just conclusion
24:03because of the efforts of a public defender.
24:06We congratulate public defender Francis T. McCurry,
24:10Cook County, Chicago, Illinois,
24:13and his staff for outstanding achievement in the cause of justice.
24:40© BF-WATCH TV 2021
25:10© BF-WATCH TV 2021