 Roma wines present suspense. Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. Salute! Your health, senor. Roma wines toast the world. The wine for your table is Roma wine made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. This is the man in black here to introduce this weekly half-hour of suspense. Tonight from Hollywood we bring you as star Mr. Alan Ladd. In the character Mr. Ladd assumes with us tonight he reveals the thoughts and through them the dramatic story of a young man on trial for the crime of murder. But before we take you to the scene of our drama let's imagine ourselves for a moment in flower garlanded Bermuda. Seated on the terrace of the exclusive Pearl Beach in Kennes Club a party of Bermudians and Americans are taking turns each paying compliments to the delights of the others native land. An American has just praised the famed Easter lilies of Bermuda. Then a Bermudian tops him with something like this. Among great American delights he says one of my favorites is right here on our table. It's this splendid wine we're all enjoying. Bermuda imports it from the justly renowned wine districts of California. It is your internationally esteemed Roma wine. Yes and Americans themselves have certainly not overlooked the great and enjoyable qualities of these fine Roma wines. Proof is Roma wines are America's largest selling wines. Such outstanding popularity must mean here are wines that are more taste-delighting more satisfying in their richness and fine wine quality. Yet with all that as your reward for specifying Roma wines you'll be amazed and delighted to hear your dealer say Roma wines cost only pennies a glass. That's because here in America you pay no high import duty or long void shipping charges for these fine Roma California wines. So wipe it off this taste treat another day. Be sure to ask for R.O.M.A. Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world. And now with the defense rests and with the performance of our star Alan Ladd as defendant Robert Tasker supported by John McIntyre as the noted criminal lawyer Max Krager. We again hope to keep you in suspense. The people versus Robert Tasker the defendant charged out of the indictment with murder in the first degree is counsel for the defense prepared proceed. I am your honor. Very well Mr. Krager your honor if the court please. I think it's fitting that for a moment I should speak openly to your honor and to the jury. The matter which has all be it indirectly nonetheless a substantial bearing on this case. I refer of course to the rather unique relationship existing between myself and the defendant Robert Tasker. It's true that my interest in him and in his fate is far greater than the normal interest of a lawyer and his client. It's true that that interest might reasonably be described as it has been so many times as fatherly. Yet I ask your honor and the gentleman of the jury to think of me in all fairness and without bias simply as a lawyer defending his client. It needs no expatiation on legal or practical ethics to demonstrate that I did not believe my name is Robert Tasker. I'm sitting in a courtroom on trial for murder. As Mr. Krager my lawyer stands there now telling the judge the jury about me and about him. I can't help thinking that if it weren't for him I wouldn't be here today. And thinking what irony it is too. Because Mr. Krager is the only friend I've ever had in the world. I'm an ex-con. My sentence was for 10 years. After I'd been there about a year I began to write just short stories, little things. I had lots of time. Finally I sent one to a magazine and they published it. Mr. Krager happened to read it. He wrote to me. Then he came to see me. He remembered my case and he said he tried to help me. Then one day I was called to the warden's office. Hello Robert. Hello Mr. Krager. Robert I've got some good news for you. I've got your parole. You're free. Well you're happy. I'm sure it's just that I still don't quite believe it. Yeah it's official Tasker. Your papers. Papers. That'll make everything easy won't it Warden. Passport to a brilliant future. Ex-con. Well Robert I know it's going to be a little hard to adjust at first but there's a job in my office that I would like. Thanks Mr. Krager but I don't want charity even from you. Charity Robert I need to clerk in my office or I wouldn't have offered you the job. You don't have to stay if you don't want to but you'll be doing me a favor if you try it. Well I guess I owe you at least one favor. Well Tasker good bye and good luck. Just remember that what's happened up here is water over the dam. Don't hold any grudges. I don't hold any grudges Warden. There's one man I hate that's all. A man you hate Robert. Let's see it's a kidding about it. His name is Arthur Hines and I hate him simple as that and I'll forget it son. Hines was D.A. then he was just doing a job that's all. Nothing against you. Yeah he was doing a job all right Robert you mustn't feel that way you get along with Hines all right. Get along with him in the office. Didn't I tell you Arthur Hines is my new partner. Well it certainly threw me a first second to hear I was going to work side by side with that. But well I figured they were right and that I shouldn't hold grudges and I made up my mind to play ball. The work wasn't hard and I was able to do some writing on the side. Mr. Krager always encouraged me in that and Peggy helped me a lot too. She helped me to believe in myself all that time I never saw Mr. Hines he was out of town or something and then one day he came back I was nervous at the idea of seeing him but I thought I was over my resentment then he was in his office with someone he'd come in the private entrance I was out in the end of room with Peggy by the switchboard when I heard the commotion. You're going to give it to me. No I don't understand the English language. No you're a liar. No you get out of here. Get out. Don't give me that Hines. You'll be the gunner that you know. I don't learn anything about it and I don't want to know. What do you think I got enough trouble nowadays keeping mugs like you out of the pen without being a fence for what you stole. Now you get out of this office and stay out. OK but I'll be back. Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money. Well what do you want. Why Robert works here Mr. Hines. My name is Robert Tasker. Did Mr. Krager tell you about me. I knew I'd seen you before. You're that punk kid I set up to San Quentin. That was for 10 years. What do you mean you're working here. Well Mr. Krager got me out. He gave me a job. Job of what snooping outside my office. I wasn't don't talk back to me your daddy little jail rat. Why you don't. Come on let me go. What's the trouble here. Let me go. Stop it. Now calm down calm down. What's the matter. What's the idea of bringing this kid into the office Max and the battle not to have to work with criminals all day. Robert's not a criminal. He's here because I want him to be here because I believe in him and trust him. Oh yeah. You don't still have anything against Robert do you. Just don't like anybody hanging around outside my door and I'm having a private conference that's all. Robert Tasker is one of the finest most gifted young people I've ever known. I want him to get along here. I want him to get along with you too Arthur. See me I can get along with anybody. I got to be in court. Wait a minute. Shake hands both of you will you. Anything to keep peace in the family. That's fine. Everything forgotten start off on a clean slate right. Sure. I'll see you later in the afternoon Max. Robert to come into my office for a minute will you. Sure. I'm terribly sorry I don't know how to begin to apologize. Why should you apologize. It was all my fault I don't know how I could have been stupid enough not to tell him beforehand for both your sakes. I know but I just don't like him and he doesn't like me. No Robert you're wrong. Just things been happening lately to upset him like this fellow Marvin and his fifty thousand dollars. You know about that. Well Robert you know we have to deal with some peculiar people in this business as a poor fellow has been in prison himself for the last five years. He had quite a lot of money when he went in. Oh he stole it I guess. He thinks Heinz hide jacket on him. He ever really had it. He says he left it with a pal of his and later the pal was killed in a gunfight. You remember the case. Yeah I remember something about anyway just before he died he told somebody left the money with Heinz. That's how the story goes. You know how those things travel on the grapevine it's all nonsense of course that guy meant business just the same probably explains the whole thing. I'm just a little scared. But don't let it worry you Robert you will stay won't you believe me it's for the best. Well I've got to trust somebody I guess trust me Robert I've never given you a bomb steer have I know. Okay that's the spirit. Any other little troubles you just bring him to me see thanks. Well I guess I better leave Peggy on the board if you're chin up kid sure. Sorry I kept you waiting back that's all right. Hey Peggy what's the matter please don't say anything about Peggy what is it Robert I'm scared of what Heinz don't be silly no no it's not him what is it Robert I shouldn't but I've got to tell someone we'll show you have I'm not taking it easy what is it I've never told anyone before me the Mr. Heinz Mr. Craig I know I die if they did you wouldn't tell anyone would you well of course I won't come on spell it you saw that man who was in here was arguing with Mr. Heinz about the fifty thousand dollars yeah well it's true there is fifty thousand dollars somewhere yeah well how do you know all this I know and I'm scared Robert he's a killer that guy well I wouldn't be surprised but how do you know because he's my own brother I had a hunch to land out of there right then I knew something was going to happen but I hated to run out on Peggy when she was in a jam and might need help and I I didn't want to let Mr. Craig or down either so I stayed and one day about two weeks later it came I hadn't had any more trouble with Heinz he was out of town most of the time anyway he's still out of town that day the day that he died Craig Green Heinz I'm sorry he's out of town you might try later this afternoon yes I'll tell Mr. Heinz say Peggy you know when Mr. Craig will be in he didn't say he's still over in the court and Harry where is he who you know who Heinz oh Harry I told you not to come I begged you're not sure sure always a little pal always it hey wait a minute what does this guy know I told him that we were that you were my brother but nobody else knows sure okay what do I care I only care about one thing but you promised you promised where's Heinz I don't know he's out then I'll wait till he comes back Harry you mustn't I'm staying I'll get it out of him Harry your sister says you should leave you keep out of this punk I don't like that word pal Robert listen will you watch the board for a few minutes sure it's lunchtime anyway Harry I've got some things I want to talk over with you privately yeah what things about Heinz and well you know come on we'll go downstairs to the grill in the lobby you wouldn't be trying to ease me out of here would you know honest I've got to talk to you Harry come on okay and listen pal yeah if Mr. Heinz comes in you tell him I was here and tell him he better come across or rails is that all well that's enough ain't it you know what I mean plenty sure pregnant Heinz hello Robert this is Max Krueger oh yes Mr. Krueger yes she is well I tell you what I want you to do yes sir I'm across the street in the courthouse judge Andrew's court the Ellsworth case now there are some notes I've got to have over here right away they're in my own handwriting pencil and clearly marked elsewhere yes sir now you'll find them in Mr. Heinz office pages all clipped together I don't know exactly where in his office it may be on his desk it may be on one of the drawers are in the file or under the blotter but keep looking see keep looking until you find it all right sir then bring it over to me right away yes I left the switchboard when in the Mr. Heinz office I started looking around for the nose I looked everywhere the desk drawers the filing cabinet I even tried to look in the safe but it was locked and I noticed some yellow papers on top of the bookcase I reached up and took them down I was standing there with my back to the private entrance looking the papers over to be sure that they were the right ones Mr. Krueger wants some papers Mr. Heinz I thought I told you stay away from my office what are you snooping around in here for well Mr. Krueger told me to look in here and I somebody funny going on around this office oh there's nothing funny Mr. Krueger said there is what's a switchboard girl doing sneaking around the lobby with Harry Marvin tried to duck me but I saw him first the switchboard girl turns out to have a crazy ex-convict for a boyfriend and now I that's a lie he's our brother brother oh so that's it oh I shouldn't have said that Mr. Heinz I I don't know anything about it really don't know well I do I get it now I knew there was something and all of a sudden I get it Mr. Heinz there's nothing to get so the girl and her brother go down to the lobby and set themselves an alibi because they know I'll suspect them then they get you to do that dirty work for nice fat cut I suppose that's what you think please Mr. Heinz don't talk that way you didn't find it did you and you won't not get out of here you little punk I said don't talk that way why you dirty thief and little stuff I told you not to talk that he fell and just lay there for a minute I didn't know what to do then I knew I'd have to tell Mr. Krager I knew I was all washed up there anyway I couldn't very well expect it a man even like Mr. Krager to choose between his law partner and me and I couldn't stay in the same office with Mr. Heinz after what had happened somehow I wanted to tell Mr. Krager myself before anyone else did I went out to the switchboard dialed the courthouse number I want to speak to Mr. Max Krager this is office calling I know but try to locate him will you it's important I sat there waiting for them to find Mr. Krager all of a sudden I remembered the papers he wanted cut off the call in the switchboard had to take the papers over to him anyway and I thought I might as well go over and give him the papers and tell him what had happened then and I'll get it over with I was starting for the front door of the office and I heard a sound from Mr. Heinz's office behind me at first I thought he was just coming to and I kept going and something sort of clicked in my mind I stop sound hadn't seemed quite right for a man just coming to listen but I didn't hear anything more and that didn't seem quite natural either I went back and opened the door to Mr. Heinz's office you he was lying there just side left him and yet there was something different I went over and looked at him more closely his face was a terrible gray color I touched his feeling for his pulse next thing I knew I was down to my knees tearing open his collar but even even then I know it wasn't any use Mr. Heinz was dead how long I stood there in that room might have been hours it might have been only a couple of minutes I just stood there my mind days and yet at the same time racing through a thousand half-warm plots and schemes of escape of what I could say of some way out of it then the switchboard began to buzz when then coming call it sort of brought me to my senses and more out of a habit than anything else I would have to answer it Craig and Heinz Robert Mr. Craig I wear those yeah I I found them all right need them right away Mr. Craig right what's the matter with you I I just kill Mr. Heinz you're just making it hard for yourself Taskin I've told you what happened in a pig's eye you have well I don't have to talk if I don't want to oh no I'm waiting for Mr. Craig I told you that Craig what do you think he's gonna do for you I don't know well I do gonna see that you burn that's what he's gonna do for you maybe what do you expect you kill a man's law partner right in his own office and you think he's gonna help you are you crazy now he told me I'd come down sure of course he'll come down to give evidence against you I'll listen Tasker to give a full confession we may be able to get your break Mr. Craig is outside captain you want to see it sure send him in okay Mr. Craig thank you hi boys hello mr. Craig hello Robert hello mr. Craig they've been treating you all right pretty good fine I don't like to have people get rough with my clients you're what you heard me captain while you're at it you might as well take those handcuffs off him because from this moment he's out on bond released in my custody I've got the papers right here say are you crazy certainly not I simply don't believe the boy did it that's all well I'll be all right Hawkshaw who do you think did it that captain is your department my job is simply to defend an innocent man love Craig I don't try to kid us it's an open and shut case Tasker's the only person who had the opportunity the only one I had a motive mm-hmm well not to speak ill of the dead captain and although Arthur Heinz was my law partner it's unfortunately true that quite a number of people at least thought they had a motive sure so maybe this ex-con Harry Marvin had a motive maybe even the day when the switchboard had a motive for all I know but they couldn't have done it 50 people saw him together downstairs in the lobby of the building at the time the murder was committed oh you've talked to him have you sure so what listen this kid admits he had a quarrel with Heinz he always hated him anyway he admits he hit him so he picks the paperweight off the desk and smashes him over the head a minute you didn't say anything about that Robert no I didn't even know about it before I I didn't hit him with a paper way stop it will you the back of the man's head is bashed in with that paperweight this kids fingerprints are all over what's so funny this is murder mister I'm sorry but you will find out if you ever try to bring this boy to trial for killing Arthur Heinz with a paperweight listen Crager I know you're pretty smart and I know you go around bragging about you never lost a case and that goes for this one double but you're not going to make a jump out of me this boy is going to be indicted for murder he's going to be convicted of murder and he's going to burn for murder indicted convicted burned three promises and the first ones already happened the second one well even I can see we don't stand much chance and the third one now I just try not to think about it there is Mr. Crager up before that jury acting as though it was an absolute certainty that I'd be cleared pleading for me as though I were the only guy in a world because well that's the kind of a man he is it's my firm conviction that when you've heard this boy's story from his own lips and went through it you have in some measure as I have in large measure gained insight into the depth and integrity of his character and spirit you will also believe him innocent he is innocent now Robert I'll ask you to take the stand raise your right hand you swear to tell the truth or hold truth nothing but the truth to help your God I do now Robert just for the record will you tell the court your full name Robert Loring Tasker your age twenty four your mother and father are dead you have no living relatives no one before you begin your story there are one or two extremely important points that I particularly wish to emphasize to the court now tell me Robert how long was it between the time you quarreled with Mr. Heinz and the time you went back into his office and found him dead not long six or seven minutes perhaps but it was long enough for someone who entered Mr. Heinz's office by the back entrance struck him and left again was it not yes it was long enough for that to have happened now concerning this famous paperweight the prosecution has talked about so much I have it here do you recognize it yes it was always on Mr. Heinz's desk now when you went into his office at my order to look for certain papers you touched this paperweight did you not yes I touched just about everything on the desk exactly in other words your fingerprints would be found not only on this paperweight but on practically everything else in the room yes they would in due course your honor we shall demonstrate that such is in fact precisely the case now Robert Mr. Heinz found you in his room he was high rate and highly suspicious was he not yes he was in fact he even suspected that there was some plot against him involving Peggy the switchboard girl and the client of his named Harry Marvin yes he did you denied this saying that in fact they were brother and sister yes I that's right how was that again I said you denied the charge of a plot saying that Peggy and Harry Marvin were brother and sister and then Mr. Heinz went so far as to your honor yes your honor there's something I've I just thought of some new evidence I'd like a few minutes alone my lawyer please well council has no objection Robert what is it it's just something that I I think I ought to tell you in private your honor please then by all means perhaps you would like to use my chamber thank you your honor well I wanted to be private all right but Robert you mustn't worry like this let me do the worry they can't convict you if there's a reasonable doubt that's the law and there is a reasonable doubt someone did come in and hit Heinz in those six or seven minutes it must have been that way yeah I know of course you do we've been over the whole thing now let's go back into that courtroom and continue there's something I haven't told you something you haven't told me that's a little thing but it's kind of important because it's something I never told anyone what is it I never told anyone that Peggy was Harry Marvin's sister except Mr. Heinz by mistake and he's dead Robert don't you think that's a little trivial to be bringing no because you know about it you just said so in the courtroom well there's only one way you could have found out you must have been in your office when I had to fight with Heinz and heard me tell him that's ridiculous oh no it isn't because you're right somebody did come in those six or seven minutes and kill Heinz you did well you're crazy must have been for that fifty thousand dollars you hijacked the hijacker and you knew they'd pin it on me with my record maybe that's why you got me out of the pen in the first place it is isn't it listen to any such nonsense oh yes sir because I'm gonna get that truth out of you now you planned it that way didn't you you sent me into Heinz's office that day and you probably sent him and you figured you were such a hot lawyer that you might even get me off at twenty years or so to ease your dirty conscience didn't you talk Krieger don't get anywhere using violence with me no talk no talk no whatever even if I did confess it wouldn't hold up as evidence talk don't postpone the trial I can get you out of the country I'll give you money that's all I wanted to know and I'll come on you talk no you're dead to me you killed him talk no that's where you went I followed the court I couldn't find you you're killing Heinz right now yes I did I did it I killed him but okay okay I guess we're gonna lock that door now grab him he's crazy he attacked me so I gather he accused me of murder yes I heard him tell me Krieger where were you when this boy phoned you here at court when they couldn't find you why but in fact I was right here right in this very room some work to do I wanted your court was in recess you were out of town yes I know but there's something you don't know I what on the day of the murder the floor of this room was being repainted and the paint Mr. Krieger was quite wet your honor the defense rests and so closes the defense rest starring Alan Ladd tonight's tale of suspense Alan Ladd appeared through the courtesy of Paramount Pictures producers of Lady in the Dark John McIntyre played lawyer Max Krieger before Mr. Ladd returns to our microphone here is a definition of yourself that may interest you Connoisseur, one competent to act is a critical judge of an art or in a matter of taste that's what Webster says so that makes you a wine Connoisseur because certainly you are competent to act as a critical judge of a wine's taste matter of fact all you have to know to be a true wine Connoisseur and the opinion of your friends and guests is a single word Roma R-O-M-A to get the proof make your own taste test of the tangy appetizing Roma sherry the hearty satisfying Roma burgundy the heavier sweeter Roma port for any of the many different delicious Roma California wines if your favorite dealer is temporarily out of the kind of Roma wine you prefer ask for it again please just be sure to say R-O-M-A Roma wines made in California for enjoyment throughout the world this is Alan Ladd it was a pleasure to make another appearance on this program which is a great favor to my next week they tell me Ladd Krieger will be your star and I know you'll want to be listening as I will good night thank you Mr. Ladd suspense is produced and directed by William Spear tonight's play was written by Roland Brown and Robert L. Richards don't forget then next Monday for Ladd Krieger in suspense presented by Roma wines R-O-M-A made in California for enjoyment throughout the world this is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System