 Suspense! On the wine lists of America's most distinguished hotels and restaurants, the honored wine featured is C-R-E-S-T-A B-L-A-N-C-A Cresta Blanca Cresta Blanca Yes, Cresta Blanca wines are featured in America's smartest dining places because these treasured wines are favorite selections of those who know fine cuvées. Let Cresta Blanca California wines lend gracious distinction to your dining too. Enjoy delightful Cresta Blanca burgundy, sautern, or any Cresta Blanca table wine soon. Shanley's Cresta Blanca wine company, Livermore, California. And now, Shanley brings you Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills Suspense! Presented by Roma Wines, that's R-O-M-A. Roma Wines for your everyday enjoyment. Tonight, Roma Wines of Fresno, California bring you Jerome Cowan in Mortmain, a suspense play produced, edited, and directed for Shanley by William Spear. Sitting in a chair across the table from me was a dead man. His stiff, cold finger still clutched a shotgun he thought would safeguard his life. Police Chief Martin couldn't seem to sit still a minute. He kept pacing the floor behind me, back and forth, back and forth. We've been waiting a couple of hours already for the coroner to arrive and examine Screed's body. Meanwhile, every cop in the city was out looking for George Perry, the obvious murderer. Where the devil was that coroner? You know, it's not the pleasantest thing in the world to sit around a dirty kitchen with nothing to do but stare into the face of a dead man and think. Think how it all started that day less than three years ago when George Perry, my law partner at the time, walked into our office and told me the good news. Sam, oh boy, congratulate me. What for? You're looking at the next district attorney. What? You? Yep, it's in the bag. I've just come from a talk with Harry Polkin. He told me that when the committee holds its meeting next month, they're gonna nominate none other than yours truly. I see. And that's as good as election in this town. Yeah, but I thought... You thought you were gonna get it, huh? I'm sorry, Sam. I just assumed you did get it, really. I didn't go looking for it. You know that, but they picked me for some reason. And what's the difference, Sam? What's good for me is good for you. We're partners, aren't we? And we'll stay partners. Oh, yes, yes, of course. Congratulations, George. You don't really mind, do you, though, about the nomination? Oh, no, no, it doesn't matter. Well, I thought not. After all, am I being the DA or bringing the firm a lot of business, Sam? Well, I gotta go tell Alice. She'll be tickle-pinked to hear the news, but keep it under your hat, Sam. It's not official until the committee meeting. I understand. I watched George leave the office. George, the smiling and the debonair, the most popular lawyer in town. But it was my work that made him look good in court. My brain had brought him every easy success at the bar. And I hated him for having so easily gotten what I'd have given half my life for. He'd gotten himself engaged to Alice, the girl I wanted almost as much as I wanted to live. Now he'd taken the first step in a political career that could lead anywhere. I'd tried by fair means to get the same things and failed. Now I would try other means. I picked up my hat and walked out of the office. I went down to the waterfront to see a certain misdiscreet. Yes. Let me in quick. I don't want to be seen. Sure, sure, come in, come in. Are you alone? I always am. It ain't quite right, is it, Mr. Boston, coming to see the foreman on a case you're going to try tomorrow? I'm not going to try that case tomorrow. I know I picked the jury today, but I won't be at the trial. My partner will be trial counsel. It still ain't right, it seems to me. Never mind that, Screed. I think you and I can get along. Always aim to get along. Not that I got rich at it, but I ain't complaining. Not too much. Listen, Screed, I know you're hard up. There ain't no secret. I guess everyone in the city knows that. I can put $10,000 in your waste, Screed. Cash. $10,000? Hey, that case don't rate no $10,000. Why, you could buy the complaining witness for a tenth of that. I know I'm not interested in the case as a case, but I am interested in your being the foreman of that jury. I don't get it. First, let's understand each other. I'm offering you $10,000 for certain services. Are you interested? You kidding? Why, for $10,000, I just about commit murder. I thought I had the right man. Now listen. A person's having business before this honorable court of criminal sessions. Draw on here and give your attention. You shall be heard. First case on the calendar, people against Henry Barron. Both sides ready. Your Honor, please. There's been a substitution of counsel for the defendant. I will try this case in place of Mr. Boston. I was taken ill yesterday afternoon. Very well, Mr. Perry. The clerk will note your appearance. Is the Assistant District Attorney ready to proceed? Ready, Your Honor. Call your first witness. Just a minute, Judge. What is it, Mr. Screed? Before this case begins, I've got something to say. Does it pertain to this trial? You're not seeking to be excused from jury duty at this late hour, are you? Well, that depends, Your Honor. Maybe I'd better not serve on this jury. Why not? Because the defendant's attorney tried to bribe me last night. That's a lie! My partner would do no such thing. I ain't talking about your partner. I'm talking about you, Judge Perry. What? Come out of that jury box, Mr. Screed. Step up here. Clerk, swear him. You soundly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you, God. I do. You charge Mr. Perry with an attempted bribe, Mr. Screed? I do. Your Honor, I protest. You have your opportunity to defend yourself, Mr. Perry, in the proper place and at the proper time. Just now I'm interested in this charge. Mr. Screed, you understand your under oath. I want your entire story. Well, there ain't much to tell. Last night, about 10 o'clock, I was home having some coffee. I heard a knock at the door and I go to answer it. It's Mr. Perry. He comes in and he tells me that his partner is sick and that he's taking over the case. I tell him maybe he oughtn't be talking to me, but he winks at me and he says it'll be all right. So I let him talk, just to see what's in the wind. I was never at his house. The man's lying. Quiet. Proceed, Mr. Screed. He tells me he's out to make a reputation for himself. And while this case is peanuts, still he wants to win it. He knows he can't unless he's got someone on the jury to cooperate. And he thinks maybe I'm his man. He offered me 200 bucks to hold out for an acquittal. Did you take the money? Well, sure. Sure, I played right along, Your Honor. I told him I'd do what he wanted. But all the time, all the time, I was just kidding him. See, I was going to tell you what happened just as soon as court opened. Here, here, Your Honor, here's the 200. Brand-new $100 bills. Why didn't you notify the authority sooner? Well, there wasn't no hurry, was there, Judge? He wasn't going to run away. And I knew I could spill the beans this morning instead of wasting half the night down at headquarters. Your Honor, may I question that man? You may not. But he's crucifying me with a wicked lie. I should have the right to defend myself to cross-examine him. You will have that right in the proper forum. I declare a missed trial in the case before me. The Assistant District Attorney will obtain a copy of the minutes for preparation for the presentation to the grand jury. Bailiff, you will place Mr. Perry under arrest. Court's adjourned. I showed the proper expected astonishment at the news. I expressed my sympathy in a hundred different ways. I even arranged Bail and took on my partner's defense personally. And when I spoke to George, you already have broken under the strain. And to Alice, filled with worry and doubt, I was as calm and assured as a retired bank president. Why, it's as plain as the nose on your face, George. It's a political trick. The opposition somehow heard about your being the next DA and were out to spike you before you even got started. But who did it? You leave that to me. I'll get him, whoever he is, and when I do, the case will fall apart. Sam, I don't know what we'd do without you. You've been like the Rock of Gibraltar to both of us. If we didn't have you to turn to, I... You leave everything to Sam, Alice. He'll get your George out of this jam another reason why. I know it, Sam. Darling, you see, everything will be all right. But we haven't gotten anywhere, Sam. Not a single clue to the man behind this. Something will turn up. We still have three weeks before the trial. Now, if you're innocent, George, you're not going to jail. If I'm innocent? There's no question of that in your mind, is there? It doesn't really matter. You're going to beat this rap, now don't you worry. No, Sam, no, you can't believe it. You can't really think I tried to bribe him. You know me better than that, Sam. Sure, George. Sure, I don't believe it. Now, I'm naturally going to give my full time to getting up your defense. And Alice can help me. Oh, Sam, I don't know how to thank you for standing by us. I'll never forget this. Never. Would you do the same for me, wouldn't you? All right, now, you two, don't worry. You've got an awfully good lawyer, you know. I got George to go away up the field stone for a few weeks. I spent a lot of time driving Alice around in search of non-existent witnesses. My zeal and devotion to George were unbounded. And if I failed to find any proof of his innocence, it hurt me as much as it did Alice. In time, even she began to wonder to have annoying doubts. It doesn't look good, does it? No, not too good. Sam, what are we going to do? Oh, now, don't you get to worrying Alice? A smart lawyer can do a lot, even without witnesses. Don't forget, the law assumes that a man is innocent until he's proved to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Sam, I've never asked you this. I've always wanted to go on thinking that George was innocent. But I must know, did he do it? Alice. Did he, Sam? You would know. No, I, uh... Oh, well, if I did know, I wouldn't tell you. Why, Sam? Why should he have done a thing like that? It wasn't an important case. It didn't really matter if he lost it. Well, he'd just been offered denomination for district attorney. Maybe that had something to do with it. Who knows? All I can say is I'll do my best to get him off. Sam, you've been just wonderful. I've never really known how wonderful you could be until this past month. You've worked so hard. You've been so understanding, so sympathetic. That meant for you I couldn't have gone on. No matter how this turns out, I... I want you to know I'll always be grateful. Thanks, Alice. Well, tomorrow is our big day in court, and I want to be on my toes. For George and for you. Good night, dear. I was brilliant in court that day. Every legal dodge, every technicality that the law allowed, I made use of. From the last spectator in the last crowded road at the judge on the bench, they all knew that I was putting up the greatest legal fight they'd ever witnessed. But I couldn't break the keystone of the prosecution, the testimony of Screed. No matter how much I went over his testimony, his story stood up. There was no longer every question I hammered home. And when I put George Perry on the stand in his own defense, he still had no alibi for the hours during which he was supposed to have visited Screed. His story that he'd been riding in his car seemed almost ridiculous. When the jury came in with its verdict, I knew very well what it would be. Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon a verdict? We have, Your Honor. And how do you find guilty or not guilty? The defendant, George Perry, guilty as George. No! I'm innocent! I'm innocent! And so say you all. And so say we all. The clerk will record the verdict. George Perry, rise and place the bench. Your Honor, this is a grave miscarriage of justice. The court fully appreciates Mr. Boston, your tireless energy and diligence on behalf of your partner and friend. However, George Perry, you have been found guilty of bribery of a judicial officer. Under Section 371 of the Penal Code, which defines a juror as a judicial officer. As provided by law, you are subject to imprisonment for not more than ten years and fine of not more than $5,000. Because of your previous record of good conduct, I shall impose no fine and shall not subject you to the polled term of imprisonment. But you are sentenced to serve five years in the state's prison. You're remanded to the custody of the warden of such prison at once. For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Jerome Kahn in Mortemaine. Roma Wines' presentation tonight in Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills. Suspense! Suspense, Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills is being brought to you by Roma. That's R-O-M-A. Roma Wines. America's largest selling wines. This last day of July is a warm reminder that after a hot day's work or play, the tasty refreshment of a tall, frosty Roma wine and soda is so cool to come home to. Yes, Roma wine and soda gives you quick, thirst-quenching pleasure on the hottest day. A cooling treat that your family and friends will cheer to the echo. To prepare, simply have filled glasses with robust Roma California burgundy for delicate Roma sautern or any Roma wine. Fill with ice and sparkling water, sweetened to taste. In less time than it takes to tell, you're enjoying America's smartest summer drink. For delicious low-cost refreshment or entertainment, enjoy Roma wine and soda made with better tasting Roma wine. America's favorite wine. And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood soundstage, Jerome Kahn as Sam Boston in Mortmain. A play well-calculated to keep you in suspense. So I lost the case, but losing that one, of course, helped me. I gained a swift popularity not only with the public, but with the politicians who have an eye open for brilliant lawyers. It wasn't long before I was having a little talk with Harry Polk and was being offered the nomination that should have been mine in the first place. For the next year and a half, I was after her. Until finally, she said yes and our engagement was announced. The whole town congratulated us. And then George, with time of the good behavior, came home from prison. One afternoon, I went to call on Alice. He was there. Hello, Sam. George, you're crazy to have come back here. You should have gone where you're not known, started new, where your record won't be held against you. I don't want to start new. I came back here for a purpose. And that? I'm going to find a man and when I do, I'll kill him. That's not good. Not good to talk that way, George. I know you both think I'm guilty. Everyone else thinks so. But I know I'm innocent and I'm going to prove it if it takes me the rest of my life. How are you going to live? No job, no money. I'll get something to do. Shine shoes if I have to. I wish I could help you, George. But you realize my position. I'm not looking for help from anyone. OK, George. But if you want my advice... I'm not taking advice anymore, Sam. Not from you or anyone else. You mustn't see George. Why not? I can't allow it, Alice. My fiancé consorting with a jailbird. My reputation doesn't permit such things. George may have been in jail, but he's not a jailbird. We're at a loss of the same thing. I demand you stop seeing him. Sam. What? I'm going to break our engagement. George needs me. He needs me desperately and I want to help him. Alice! You can't mean you're still in love with him. Oh, I don't know. After all these months, it's hard to say whether I'm in love with him or not. I need your help and I'm the only one he can turn to. Well, what about me? You don't need me, Sam. I don't need you the way he does for a prop and a consolation prize. I love you. Isn't that enough? You don't love me, Sam. I've always been second to your career. And now you're doing your best to ruin that career for me. How so? Don't you see what it'll mean? You're breaking your engagement at this time just while I'm about to get the nomination for judgeship? Nobody respects a man who's been jilted. It's not nothing that happened. Afterward, we can break off gradually. Yes. All right, Sam. Now I think you'd better go. Evening, Mr. Prosecutor. Come in. All right, Screed, what is it? Can I talk? Ain't nobody going to hear me. No, the servants are off tonight. You can talk. Yeah, he's been around to see me. George? Perry? Mm-hmm. He wants to know who was behind it. Well, naturally, you said it about his business. Uh, not quite. Said I might have something for him, maybe. What do you mean? He showed me a roll of bills. Came close to 5,000. It was mine for just one name. That's all he wanted, just the name. Do you know what would happen to you if you so much as hinted at it? I know I get 5,000 dollars from Mr. Perry. And 10 years in jail for perjury and accepting a bribe. I still have your written statement, you know, right here in my safe. You couldn't use it. Oh, couldn't I? Why not? A confession that you'd been bribed to frame Perry, bribed by an unknown man representing Perry's political opponents. How would you explain you're not using it before this? Oh, very easily, Mr. Screed. It just came into my possession. Came to me in the mail. I still don't think you'd use it. You see, I kind of figured you'd be dead before that. That, uh, that Perry, he means business. Got it all figured out, haven't you? Mm-hmm. Yes, I reckon I'm sitting pretty. All right. How much? Well, now I won't be a hog. Let's, uh, let's see another 10. Now, you can sweep that much together, I reckon. On one condition. Yeah, what's that? That you go away and never come back. Oh, I like it here. Then it's no deal. Okay, I can still get that 5,000. Wait, wait, wait. I do. When do you have your appointment with Perry? I don't have one. I told him I'd get in touch with him. I'll have the money for you tomorrow night. Don't come here. I'll bring it to your house. Don't try any cute tricks. I'll see you tomorrow night, okay? Okay. Good night, Mr. Prosecutor. After he left, I wore the rug in my library while I thought about it. I knew this payment was only the beginning. I had to run with this black male until he bled me white. Something had to happen. And it did. I've got to talk to you. George, sure. Come in. Well, it's on your mind. Two things. Alice, the man who framed me. Yes? I know how it is with you and Alice, Sam. She told me you'd let her out of her engagement after the election. What else could I do? What about the man you say framed you? Do you have anything on that? I've been putting the pressure on Screed. I think he'll talk. But I need 5,000 to pay him. I don't have that kind of money. I could get it from Alice, but I'd rather not. You want me to give it to you? Would you? If I thought paying him 5,000 would do any good, I'd let you have it. But it won't. Let me finish. You know what would happen to him if you shot off his mouth? He knows that, too. He's not going to talk for 5,000 to 50,000. Forget it, George. Maybe you're right, Sam. I know you're willing to grab at any straw. And there's another thing. You're loose talk about killing the man who framed you. The police know about it, and if it went for me, you would have been picked up. I understand you've gone and bought yourself a gun. Yes, I did. Give it to me. I'll turn it in. All right, Sam. Here it is. Just put it on the desk. Now, you follow my advice. Get out of town, leave as soon as you can. Oh, I've been a fool. Sam, someone promised me a job out at Maccosa. I'll go tomorrow night. Alice can follow me after election. And, Sam, thanks. Thanks for pounding some sense into my head. Oh, you know how I feel about you, George. Yes, I know. And I wish you ever success in the election, Sam. I know you'll make it good, George. Goodbye, George. And luck to you. You'll need it. It was shortly after 10 the following night that I drove out the screeds with George's gun wrapped in a handkerchief in my pocket. I parked the car a short way down the road and walked quietly toward the house. I looked into the kitchen window and saw screeds sitting at the table. His chin was on his chest. He was breathing slowly and regularly through his sleep. He was prepared for me, waiting with a shotgun in his hands. But I wouldn't ring the doorbell to wake him. Oh, no. I quietly opened the kitchen door, tiptoed across the floor, and placed George's gun, which I held in my handkerchief against the back of screeds' head. His head barbed forward, and that was all. His body didn't move. His finger remained motionless on the cock trigger of the shotgun resting on the table. Oh, that was that. Two birds with one stone. Scream dead. George Perry, the obvious murderer. I dropped the revolver on the floor and went out. When I got home, my phone chief Martin, he said, Martin, I'm worried. George Perry has been over at my house, making all sorts of wild threats about killing the man who testified against him. I wish you'd send someone out there and get the old man to take precautions. Oh, I don't think you can. I hope you have a good idea to give Screed a bodyguard until I can have another talk with Perry. I'll tend to it right away. And then I went to bed. I didn't have very long to wait. Hello? Mr. Boston, I've got some bad news for you. Our man got out there too late. What do you mean? Screed's dead. Shot right through the head. Go to Heavens. Better come out here. I'll be there in half an hour. Screed must have been tipped off that Perry was out to get him. I don't know. He won't get away. I'm having the gun traced and examined for Prince. We'll have the report pretty soon. When is the coroner coming? In a couple of hours. He's tied up. But you don't have to wait. I may as well while I'm here. I sat down in the kitchen chair across from Screed. Now he'd never talk. And Alice, in a last vest, did you feel she had for George to disappear with his arrest? Everything was working out fine. I looked at Screed. His position hadn't changed. I touched the shotgun and I smiled. Thinking how much he'd like to pull that trigger if he was still alive. And even as the smile crossed my face... Mr. Boston! Mr. Boston! Oh my gosh, what's happened? The gun went off. My chest. Give it to me straight, Doc. Well, I live or won't I? A couple of hours more or less. You're certain? I'm sorry, Mr. Boston. Okay, I've got something to say. Take it all down. All right, Boston, we got it all. Don't talk anymore. So old Screed got to use his shotgun after all. Mortmain. What's that? Mortmain, the dead hand. It's a lawyer's joke, Doc. You wouldn't understand. Can't say I do. Oh, never mind. By the way, what was it? You know, divine justice acting through corpse. If you want to call it that, really, just tightening of the finger muscles that cause the trigger to be pulled back. We doctors call it rigor mortis. Suspends! Mortmain, starring Jerome Cowan and presented by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A. Roma, California Wines. Selected from the world's greatest reserves of fine wines for your pleasure. If you were to see how Roma Wines are grown, you would readily understand why Roma is America's favorite wine. First, you would see how Roma selects and presses the choicest California grapes. Then, how these finer natural juices are guided unhurriedly with ancient skills and America's greatest wine making resources to peak taste richness. Finally, you'd see these Roma Wines placed with mellow Roma Wines of years before to await later selection for your pleasure. Only a few can see how Roma creates better tasting wines, but everyone can enjoy this better taste. Whether your favorite wine is not like Roma, California Sherry, Ruby, Roma Port, or Gold and Roma Muscatel, you'll find any Roma wine your best buy in better taste for everyday enjoyment for friendly entertaining. So, when you buy wine tomorrow, insist on Roma. Jerome Cowan may currently be seen in the 20th Century Fox production, Miracle on 34th Street. Tonight's suspense play was by George and Gertrude Fass. Next Thursday, same time, you will hear Walter Abel as star of Suspense, produced and directed by William Spear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno, California. In the coming weeks, suspense will present such stars as Donald O'Connor, John Lund, Edmund O'Brien, Lloyd Nolan, and others. Make it a point to listen each Thursday to Suspense, Radio's Outstanding, Theater of Thrills. This is CBS, the Columbia Broadcasting System.