Good evening, Creed, and welcome to the Mystery Playhouse. As a return engagement, your Mystery Playhouse brings you tonight a story by one of the great authors of crime fiction, Agatha Christie. This ingenious drama entitled Witness for the Prosecution is one of the prolific Ms. Christie's very best. Ms. Leslie Wood, star of the recent Broadway play The Assassins, will play the leading role. Witness for the Prosecution is a brilliantly original narrative of the fight for a man's life with a double surprise at the end. So stand by, Creed, for Agatha Christie's fast-moving yaw of sudden twists and turns. Witness for the Prosecution. Our story begins in a little house in the suburbs of the great city. Great eccentric old Miss Emily Frank, who passed building into rocking chairs. And then, someone enters her room, walks up the rocking chair, looks down on Miss Frank, and then... Hello, hello operator, what are you doing? What are you doing? Please hurry, send me to police. Hurry, Miss Frank has been murdered. All right, men, get all the pictures you can. The murder weapon, rocking chair, the corpse. Okay, Inspector, we're getting... Miss Frank wouldn't listen to me, Inspector Einstein. I used to be more than the maid doer. I was her best friend until he came and now see what happened. All right, Miss Mackenzie, relax. Who are you talking about? Mr. Vole, Leonard Vole. I told Miss Frank no good would come of it, but you wouldn't listen to me. He entrusted all her business to him. He even made out a new will, leaving him all her money. Was he here tonight? He was here every night since he met her three months ago. He must have been here tonight. You remember if anyone else came to see Miss Frank tonight? Not that I know of. Oh, I wonder no good would come of it. Him, 33, and she at least 70. And he killed her. Leonard Vole killed her. I'm no easy. Leonard Vole. That's right. Inspector Einstein, Homicide Squad. I'd like to talk with you down at headquarters. What about? Emily Francis has been murdered. Murdered? For who? What do you want with me? We're bugging you on suspicion. But, Mr. Mayhern, you're my attorney. You've got to believe me. I didn't do it. Take it easy, Vole. Take it easy? I'm going crazy cooped up in this jail. Listen, why would I kill her? I tell you frankly, I was broke. I hoped to borrow some money from Miss Frank. So why would I kill her? Don't you know that Miss Frank left her will, leaving all her money to you? What? What are you trying to say? Didn't you know about that? No. Oh, this gets worse every minute. They'll say I got Miss Frank to make out a will, leaving her money to me, and that I killed her. Sure, I admit I was there that night, but... As of May, Janet Mackenzie said you were there until half past nine. You said she heard voices in the sitting room, where Miss Frank isn't out of her mind. Half past nine? Yes. Half past nine. Then I'm saved. What do you mean, saved? Why, half past nine, I was at home again. My wife, Romaine, can prove that. The voice the maid heard must have been someone else's. I left Miss Frank about five minutes to nine. I arrived home about twenty past nine. My wife was there waiting for me. That proves I'm innocent, doesn't it? Yes, it does, my boy. The first thing I'm going to do is see your wife, and have a talk with her. And that's the whole story, Mrs. Roll. No one else saw Leonard return at nine twenty. There'll be no one else to confirm your testimony. I see. Leonard wants me to say that he came in at twenty minutes past nine that night. Is that right? Yes. He did come in at that time, didn't he? That's not the point. Will my saying tell a crime? Will they believe me? Well, there's a great deal of evidence against him, and testimony of a devoted wife sometimes... Well, I can't promise your testimony will save him. Now, I know what you must feel, but... Do you? I wonder. Well, I mean, all this must be difficult, you being so devoted to your husband. Devoted? Devoted? I hate him. What? I tell you I hate him. I hope he drops dead if I don't convict him. What the death? Supposing I tell you that he did not come in that night at twenty minutes past nine, but at twenty minutes past ten. What? You say that Leonard claims he doesn't know anything about the money coming to him. Yes. Well, supposing I tell you that he knew all about it, and counted on it, and committed murder again. But... Supposing I tell you that he admitted to me that night when he came in what he had done. That there was blood on his coat. What then? Suppose I stand up and pose and say all these things. You mean you testify against your husband? Why not? I detest him? He hasn't a chance. Not a chance. Of course he does. Did you honestly think he was innocent when you came here to see me today? Yes, I did. I see. And what do you think now? I still think he's innocent. And I think you're lying. Good evening, Mrs. Fowler. Mayor, I'm speaking. Mr. Maitre, my name is Mark Steele. Mrs. Mark Steele. Yes? Now you don't know me, but if you want that painted brazen woman torn up for what she is, a liar, you'll come to 1122 Hudson Street tonight. What? You mean Mrs. Wall? Come and find out. Or load your head and raise $300. Now, now, wait a minute. Goodbye. Mrs. Marksons. Hello. Hello. If I can prove Mrs. Wall is lying, Leonard still has a chance. Yes? Mrs. Marksons, I'm Mr. Mayharns. Oh, so you decided to come in. Well, come on in, come on in. I see you're looking at a star around my face. Are you wondering why I hide my beauty here? Would you like to see? Oh, I wasn't. You're a charity. Here. Never mind me. Never mind. I'll cover my face with a scarf. But you don't feel like kissing me, do you? And I don't blame you. And yes, I was a pretty girl once. And not so long ago, as you'd think either. Vitria, my dear, Vitria. That's what did that to my face. But I'll be even with her. I can give you proof that Romaine Vore has lied about her husband. Proof? What kind of proof? What if your face were better? A messier from her? Well, how did you get hold of her? Never mind how I got hold of her. That's my decision. I think I'll do the trick, all right? Now, three hundred dollars. All right. But first, the letter, if you please. Yes, they're right here in this section. Here they are. A whole bundle of them. Put at the top when you want. Thank you. Now, come on. Go on and read it. Max, I don't know what it says. Well, these are love letters written by Romaine Vore. But they're not written to Leonard. Yes. This one is dated the day of Leonard's arrest. How did you get hold of this, correspondent? That's what they're telling. These letters are addressed to Max. Max who? Who is he? Read the letter. And I know something more, too. You'll find out where she was at twenty past ten the time she said she was at home. Huh? Asked at the Pingle Barn dance in school. You asked Mr. Pingle Barn. Mr. Pingle Barn. How do I ask? Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Don't go yet. Where's my money? Here you are. Three hundred dollars. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Good night. Follow the rhythm now. One, two, one, two. Pull in your stomach. Kick. That's it. Mrs. Faritan, please pull in your stomach. Oh, that woman will never learn. One, two, gracefully now. Left arm coming over your head and touching the floor so gracefully. So come in gracefully now. Rhythmically. Mr. Pingle Barn. Oh, please. Mr. Pingle Barn, I'm sorry to intrude, but it's about the Leonard Boe murder case. Oh. Frederick, stop the piano. Well, what can I do for you? I have a photograph here. Would you identify this woman? Let me see. Why, yes, that's Romaine Boe. Oh, she's one of my advanced students. Very artistic. In fact, she used to be an actress. Never mind all that. Was she here the night of the murder? Why, yes. I remember we all discussed it the next day. What time did she leave? Well, I think the class broke up at 10.30 or so that night. Oh, class, please. Mrs. Perot, hand me your stomach. How many times have I told you? Pastor, pastor! Mr. Pingle Barn, you may be called upon at the trial tomorrow to testify that Mrs. Ball was here at 10.30 that night. Me? A witness in a murder trial? Yes. Oh, I'd love it. Order, please, or I shall have this courtroom cleared. Call the next witness, please. Miss McKenzie to the stand. You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, to help you garden? I do. Sit down. You may proceed, Mr. Cross, even. Thank you, Your Honor. Oh, Miss Janet McKenzie, what was your relationship to the French? I was her maid. Then you were in her confidence? Oh, yes. We kept no secrets from each other. Didn't she tell you that she had made out a will, leaving all her money to Leonard Ball? Yes. Now think carefully, Miss McKenzie. Did Mr. Ball know that such a will had been drawn up? Yes, he did. Oh! Ah, Miss McKenzie, will you please tell this court, in your own words, what French fired in the home of Miss French on the night of your mistress' death? Well, I, I was to go out for the evening. I did go out, but about half past nine I returned. I heard voices in the collar. One was Miss Fenton, and the other was a man. Did you recognize that man's voice? Yes, it was Mr. Ball. That's all? Thank you. Just a moment, Miss McKenzie. Yes? You say that you heard a man's voice in the sitting room that night. Did you see that man? No, I didn't. Then how can you be sure that it was Mr. Ball who was there? Yes, I think it was Mr. Ball. You think it was? That's all, Miss McKenzie. Oh! And Mr. Ball, you want us to believe that you visited this rich old lady, Miss Fenton, out of pure kindness of heart? A woman forty years your senior? You want us to believe that, Mr. Ball? I only want to... You look pale, Mr. Ball. Would you like a glass of water? No, it's my heart. Will you please tell this court where you were at nine thirty on the night of the murder? But I told you! I left Miss Fenton's house about five minutes to nine. I arrived home about twenty past nine. My wife was there waiting for me. Ask her, she'll tell you the truth. I swear to you I'm telling the truth. I'm innocent, I tell you. As God is my witness, I'm innocent. The prosecution calls as its next witness Mrs. Romaine Ball. Romaine Ball to the stand, please. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to help you God? I do. Sit down. Your name is Romaine Ball? Yes. Did your husband ever tell you that he knew that the money was coming to him? That he knew about the will? Yes, he knew about the will. Now, Mrs. Ball, you were sworn to tell the truth. Mr. Ball says that he was home by nine thirty that night. Is that true? No, it is not true. Will you tell the court what you know about the night in question? Yes. Leonard was with me early in the evening. About eight o'clock, he put on his hat and coat and left the house. He returned at twenty minutes past ten. And when he came in, I knew something terrible had happened. He wouldn't look at me. He just walked into the kitchen. His coat was stained with blood. I realized then that he had murdered Mr. Ball. No, no, no, Romaine, why are you lying? Order, order. That will be all, Mrs. Ball. One moment. I have a few questions for the witness of the prosecution. Mrs. Ball, you heard Mr. Ball cry out in his torment that you were lying. Are you? I am not lying. You are. Now I'll tell you why, and I'll prove it. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I want you to understand that this woman's story is a malicious fabrication from start to finish. I want you to know that she wasn't even in her own house at the time in question. I want you to know that she is in love with another man and has been deliberately seeking to send Ball to his death for a crime he did not commit. First of all, Mrs. Ball, do you still claim that you were at home when it passed? Yes, that's when Linda came home. I want you to look at the witnesses sitting at that end table. And Mr. Pingle Barn, will you stand up, please? Gladly. Mrs. Ball, do you recognize this man? Yes. Mr. Pingle Barn runs a dancing school. Will you deny that you were at one of his classes until 10.30 on the night in question, or shall I take this court's time to call Mr. Pingle Barn and his class to the stand to prove that you were with them? No. No, I was not at home. Then you were not at your home at 10.30. I... You were home at 9.30 when Linda came home, but you hurried away to your class and you were there until after 10.30. Is that right? Well, I'm afraid Mr. Pingle Barn and his class and... Exactly. And now, now I should like to place in evidence this letter written by Romaine Voll to another man. Clark, you may read the letter. Here you are. Max Pelovis. The fates have delivered him into our hands. He has been arrested for murder, the murder of an old lady, Leonard who would not hurt a flower. At last I shall have my revenge. I shall say that he came in that night with blood upon him, that he confessed to me. I shall hang him, Max, and when he hangs, he will know and realize that it was Romaine who sent him to his death. And then, happiness, Pelovis, happiness at last. Oh, Max. Mrs. Voll, look at this letter. Yes? You deny having written this letter? I... Will you admit it or shall I be expert to a present proved that this letter is in your handwriting? Mrs. Voll, did you write this letter? I... Yes, I wrote it. This is my chance to get rid of it. That's why I made up the whole story. I'll tell you, he did return to the house in twenty minutes, that's not... But when I realized that only my testimony could prove his innocence, I... I decided to invent a story out of whole sorts of ruin and... And now I've ruined everything, I've ruined everything. And so, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we have proven that Romaine Voll's evidence was a tissue of lies from beginning to end. We have shown that she evolved it out of her passionate hatred for the defendant. And since the chief witness for the prosecution has confessed to her false story, confirming Mr. Voll's statement that he was not at Miss French's house at nine thirty, I ask that you bring in the only possible verdict. Not guilty. We the jury find the defendant not guilty. Congratulations, Voll. Did you hear that? You're a free man again. Free? That's the most exciting I... My heart... What is it, man? I can't breathe, Voll. It's not guilty, I... Voll! Stand back. Stand back! Give him air, please! Please! Dennis! Dennis, somebody do something! Will you all stand back and be quiet, please? I think... Yes, he's dead. He's up there, the part in there. I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Voll. I know you loved him very much. You know? Yes. I know you didn't hate him. But how did you know? We're all creatures of habit. And you have a habit, a gesture of your hand that you use when you're excited. Gesture of my hand? Yes. Mrs. Mogson in Hudson Street had that same gesture. Oh. Oh, you did? Yes. And you were formerly an actress. I learned that from Mr. Tinglebaum. I can see now how you did it. Well, it was easy enough. Makeup for my face. The night of that death, it was too bad for you to see the makeup. But why, Mrs. Voll, why? Mr. Mann. I had to save him. The evidence of a wife devoted to him would not have been enough. He said his muscle felt. That's right. But I know a little something of psychology. And I thought, let me, his wife, testify against him and then let it be proven that I had deliberately lied. Well, I was the star witness for the prosecution. When you destroyed my testimony, you destroyed the prosecution's entire case. And the bundle of letters? Oh, one alone, the vital one, might have seemed like a put-up job, so I just don't remember. Then the man called Max. He never existed. I still think that we could have gotten him off by the normal procedure. I didn't dare risk it. You see, you thought he was innocent. And you knew it. I see. My dear Mr. Mayhand, you do not see a problem. I knew he was guilty. Well, Creeps, that brings down the curtain on witness for the prosecution. Tonight's performance in the Mystery Playhouse. Miss Leslie Woods was starred in tonight's play by Agatha Christie. Until next time, Creeps, good night. Sleep tight. This was the Armed Forces Radio Service. The Armed Forces Radio Service. The Armed Forces Radio Service.
