The story of Mert and Marge.
In our last episode, the jury had reached a decision. The clerk of the court read the verdict.
We, the jury, find the defendant, Myrtle Spear, guilty.
No! No! No!
Our scene shifts. A few miles from the courtroom, a privately owned airplane that has been winging its way from Mexico City to New York is about to land at LaGuardia Airport.
There's an important passenger aboard, a friend of Myrtle Spear.
In just a moment, we will pick up the story of Mert and Marge.
We flash back an hour before the clerk of the court read the verdict. At the airport, we hear our old friend Slim, the taxi driver, saying...
Hello, Duke. Say, I'm glad you got here. I got you wired to meet you.
Hello, Slim. How are things going?
Well, boss, the last news flash I got on the radio in my taxi was the jury's still out.
Guess I got here in time then, eh, Slim?
Yeah, it looks like it, boss.
That's a relief. How's my friend Jack Arnold?
Well, him and I had a very interesting little talk over at Luigi's one day last week.
That's what I understand from the wire he sent me. What'd you tell him, Slim?
I didn't tell him nothing. I just told him he ought to wire you.
I see.
He wasn't so sure he ought to do it at first. He wanted to drag me in as a material witness or something, but I convinced him it wouldn't do no good.
Now, let's check up on things, Slim. We have to move fast.
I got something out of the report you sent me. The rest are read in the papers, but let's get everything right before we commit ourselves.
Sure.
Who's been on the stand? You say you've been there every day?
Well, Captain O'Toole and Arnold made a sap out of him. And then he had this Pilly DeVille woman.
The judge slapped her in the jug, you know, for lying on the stand and say, I wish you'd have heard Arnold that day.
Did he raise the roof?
Did he raise the roof? Hey, he moved it three blocks downtown.
I don't know what's behind all this stuff this DeVille told, but boy, she lied like a trooper.
Said she'd heard Miss Spear threaten to kill Hunt and...
Yeah, go on.
Well, they had all the rest of the gals from the show and old Pat the doorman, Hayfield himself.
As I understand it, the prosecution's case rested on two things.
Whether Miss Spear had the motive for the murder and whether she had time to kill him between the time she left the dressing room and the time Hunt was found dead. Is that right?
Yeah. Yeah, and when they brought up the defense witnesses, them was the only points that Archer made in his cross examinations. And he sure done a job of it.
That's bad. How'd Arnold take it?
He looked pretty worried.
Things looked like they were all coming his way after the time they put the prosecution witnesses on the stand, didn't they?
Mm-hmm. I thought myself it was an open and shut case for the defense till I got checking up what actually happened.
And then I got kind of worried and I decided I'd better get hold of Arnold.
How'd your work at Slim? You didn't do or say anything that would incriminate us?
No, I just happened to be hanging around outside the courtroom one day when Arnold was coming out and he just happened to see me and chased me in a taxi cab to Luigi's joint and followed me inside.
I was a little surprised when I got his wire several days ago. I'd phone him only three days before to tell him I knew some things about the case. He was supposed to call back if he needed me. He didn't.
When I kept hearing from you that things looked good, everything would blow over.
Well, Arnold was kind of worried, but he kept covered up all right.
I see.
He made a big splash with his discredit and the witnesses, but it didn't mean nothing.
You know, I bet I was the only guy in New York that seen he was worried.
Slim, what do you think? Is he going to be convicted? Tell me the truth.
I'm afraid so, boss. It looks bad.
Well, then I guess we'll have to go to the rescue, huh?
Yeah, yeah, but not you, boss. Me. Let's go. Here, hop into the old bus. Still runs.
Okay. You're running this old taxi without a license, aren't you, Slim?
No, no, I borrowed one off a car this morning, boss.
I often wonder how you keep out of jail, Slim.
It's easy. Listen, boss, honest, do you think we ought to get ourselves mixed up in this mess?
If Miss Spare is convicted, we'll have to, Slim.
Yeah.
Yeah. We're the only ones who can save her.
Well, I hope I'm wrong about her chances, boss.
So do I, Slim. But if you are wrong...
I know, boss. I know. Whatever you say goes.
Well, we'll hope for the best. We're ready to step in if we're needed.
Yeah. Say, boss.
Yes, Slim?
You know, I... I kind of wish I could blow to South America.
I'm afraid we'll need you, Slim. She's convicted.
Well, I still wish I could blow to South America.
Forget it, Slim.
Okay, boss.
Uh, well, what are you gonna do, boss? You didn't tell me.
I don't know yet, Slim. It all depends.
On what?
A number of things. Whether she's convicted, the attitude Arnold takes, all several things.
Uh, and you'll need me, huh? You're sure you'll need me?
Slim, you're not turning yellow, are you?
No, but just monkeying around with the electric chair is something I don't go for.
You don't need to worry.
Oh, no?
No.
You know, I bet everybody in New York's in that courtroom.
The case has had a lot of publicity, hasn't it?
Yeah. There'll be lots more before we get through with it.
Slim, how would you like to have a drink?
I'd like one. I need it.
I do, too. There's a tavern. Let's make a stop here.
I want a few minutes to think.
Yeah.
Well, I think I'll, uh, have a rye, boss.
Hey bartender, two double ryes, plain water.
There we are. Well, here's, uh, good luck, boss.
Thanks.
That helps.
Say, I haven't been a gentry in years.
You know, I feel just like I used to before a kickoff in one of our big games.
You used to play a lot of football, didn't you, boss?
Yeah, Slim. Did you know that Jack Arnold and I went to school together?
Oh, is that right?
Yeah. He was a year or two behind me, but we, uh, we knew each other pretty well.
I used to be quite the little hero when I was in school.
And you think you're going to be a hero again as far as Jack Arnold's concerned and Miss Spear?
Maybe.
Look, boss, I ain't going to let you do it. It ain't safe.
Come on, Slim, let's get going. That jury can't stay out forever.
Drive right to the criminal court building.
Well, if you say so. Okay, boss.
Here we are, boss.
Got a paper, will you, Slim? Okay.
Give me one of the papers, kid.
Let's see it, Slim. What's it say?
It says, uh, jury still out in Myrtle Spear murder trial, expected to return momentarily.
What's this? Huh?
Possible jury disagreement foreseen. Jury out 48 hours.
Here's a statement for Jack Arnold.
What's Arnold say, boss?
Jack Arnold, former ace of District Attorney Walker's staff in an exclusive interview,
expressed his confidence that the jury will acquit Myrtle Spear,
glamorous chorus girl accused of the murder of Broadway director Ray Hunt.
Mr. Arnold told a New York Post reporter today,
the innocence of Myrtle Spear has been established beyond a reasonable doubt.
She could not have killed Ray Hunt. She's not the kind of woman who kills.
That's a lot of baloney. Some reporter had a pipe dream.
You're really convinced she's going to be convicted. Aren't you, Slim?
Yeah. Here, step in front of me, quick, Slim.
What's the matter, boss? I don't want to be seen, that's all.
I thought we'd come down here to be seen.
Okay, only if we have to, Slim. I'm not even going to see Arnold unless it's necessary.
I see. Well, let's try and get through the crowd, boss.
All right, come on.
And don't try that old football stuff. We might get pinched.
That would be a joke, wouldn't it?
It wouldn't be no joke to me.
Well, come on. Oh, I almost forgot. Give me that revolver.
No, no, boss. I'll keep that little thing if you don't mind.
Give me that gun, Slim.
Now, listen, boss, I ain't going to let you have it.
Shut up, Slim, and give me that gun.
Well, okay. Here you are, boss.
Let's stand here, way in the back. I hope no one recognizes us.
What's coming off, boss? Can you see?
I don't know. Wait.
Yeah, yeah, the jury's coming in, boss.
Excuse me, sir. I've got to get in here.
I'm sorry. May I get past, please? Come on, Slim.
I'm doing my darnest, boss. Keep on.
You push him to one side and I'll be right behind you.
Come on, Slim.
May I read the verdict, please, Mr. Clark?
We, the jury, find the defendant, Myrtle Spear, guilty.
No! No!
Jack! Jack Arnold! Jack!
Let me down this aisle, please.
Sandfield Malone, oh, Sand.
Jack, I've got something to tell you.
Wait till we get out of here. Oh, good Lord, man.
I can't wait, Jack.
Mr. Arnold, you wish to move for a new trial.
Well, I, uh, Your Honor, I...
Ask the judge to wait a minute, Jack. I can fix it. I can. Go on.
May I ask Your Honor's indulgence for just a moment before I make my decision?
I... Well, there's something else, Your Honor.
Would you like a recess, Mr. Arnold?
Tell him no, Jack. It'll only take a minute.
No, thank you, Your Honor. If I may be allowed to consult with this gentleman for just a moment...
Very well, Mr. Arnold. Thank you.
I tell you, Jack, I can clear. I know she's innocent.
I know who killed Ray Hunt.
Believe me, Jack. I can prove it.
Go on. Ask the court to set aside the verdict.
Your Honor, I move that this verdict be set aside...
and the defendant Myrtle Spear be acquitted by this court.
Sandfield Malone's last-minute appearance in the courtroom has added another sensational development to an already sensation-packed case.
Does he really know who killed Ray Hunt? Is he too late?
Don't miss the next thrill-filled chapter in the story of Mert and Marge.
This is Andre Barou speaking.
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