" [Man Narrating] In theyear 1871..." " [Alarms Blaring] the great fire nearly destroyed Chicago." "But out ofthe ashes ofthat catastrophe rose a new Chicago... a city ofbrick and brawn, concrete and guts... with a short history ofviolence beating in its pulse." "That history is on record, and the record is kept by the newspapermen... who have made Chicago's papers great." "No period in Chicago 's history was more violent... than the years ofProhibition." "The rise and fall ofthe bootlegging empires... was written in blood and bullets." "In 1932, there were 365 murders committed in Chicago-- one for each day ofthe year." "Eight policemen were shot down in the line ofduty." "One ofthe most ruthless ofthese murders... occurred on December 9,1932, on South AshlandA venue... in a place operated by a woman named Wanda Skutnik." "Wanda Skutnik's store in the Polish district... was the front for a speakeasy." "[ Wind Whistling ]" " You got change for 20?" " That's al I right." "Pay me next time." "[ Bell Dinging]" "Wanda, you're lookin' at a guy that's comin' down with a cold." " Sit down." " Oh, thanks." " Hi." " Hi." "[ Sighs ]" " For a cold, this is good." " Thanks, Wanda." "[DoorChimes Chiming]" "[Engine Starts ]" " [ Speaking In Polish ]" " The police, Wanda." "Get the police." "Quick." "Hello." "Hello, Central." "Get me the police." "Yeah." "Quick, please." "[Narrator] This cornered, frightenedbootlegger... gave information that pointedsuspicion towards a man named Tomek Zaleska." "Tomek Zaleska couldn't be found." "But two weeks later, a tip from another source... revealed that Zaleska had spent the night ofthe murder... with his friend Frank Wiecek." "The police closed in on the home ofHelen and Frank Wiecek." "Helen and Frank were taken into custody for questioning." "Frank Wiecek admitted that Tomek Zaleska... had spent the night ofthe murder at his home... but insisted he knew nothing about the crime." "Why did T omek want to sleep at your house?" "Well, he was having trouble with his old man." "He was afraid to go home." "When did you last report to your probation officer?" " Last Friday." " You're sure it wasn't Thursday?" "No, I know it was Friday, because that was the day... mywife told me she was gonna have a baby." "You went to the probation officer on Thursday, not Friday." " There's your report card." " You're confused, son." "Try to be a little more accurate." "Where were you at 3:30 on December 9?" "I was" " I was with mywife." "I remember because I was helping her shell walnuts for a cake she was making." "You were wrong about the day you saw the probation officer." "Maybeyou're wrong about being home shelling walnuts foryourwife on December 9." "I" " I know I made a mistake about the probation officer... but I know I'm right about the other thing." "This statement was signed byyourwife an hour ago." ""My husband was home with me on the ninth of December." "I remember because he was helping me pit dates for a cake. "" "Yousure it was walnuts?" "I don't know." "I'm sure she must be mistaken." "[Narrator] His wife, Helen, was released." "But because ofFrank's confused testimony on insignificant points... and his minorpolice record... he was held as a suspect." "Eventually, after hiding out for six weeks..." "Tomek Zaleska, protesting his innocence, surrendered to the police." "You knew we were looki n' for you." "You knew we'd picked up your good friends Helen and Frank Wiecek." "Then why didn't you give yourself up ifyou were innocent as you claimed?" "I was" " I was scared." "Sometimes I used to hang around Wanda's place." "When I heard theywere picking up everybody she knew... well, I figured nobodywould miss me, so I just beat it." "I know now I made a mistake." "But I came in on my own hook, didn't I?" "When you went to Wiecek's house that night... what reason did you give forwanting to sleep there?" "I-I didn't give any reason." "I used to spend the night there once in a while." "[Cop] You didn't give them anyreason?" "[Zaleska ] No, Ijust asked them to let me staythere and they did." "And you're sure you gave them no reason?" "No." "[Narrator]After identification by an eyewitness..." "Frank Wiecek and Tomek Zaleska... were indicted for the murder ofOfficer Bundy... and swiftly brought to trial." "I wi I I ask you, Mrs. Skutni k, ifyou see i n this courtroom... the two men that murdered Policeman John Bundy." "Yes, sir." "Him... and him." "[Prosecutor] Hadyou everseen either ofthese men priorto the time ofshooting?" "Oh, sure." "Tomek used to come around myplace all the time." "The other fel la, I never saw before." "And the first time you saw Frank Wiecek..." " was on the day of the murder?" " Yes, sir." "And the next time you saw him was the day you picked him out ofthe police lineup." "Yes, sir." "Thankyou, YourHonor." "The People rest." "[Narrator] Both men received a sentence of99years... to be served in Stateville Penitentiary." "This happened in November 1933." "Frank and Tomek went to prison." "The case was forgotten for 11 years." "Forgotten until October 10,1944... when a small advertisement appeared in the classified section ofthe Chicago Ti mes." "Boy!" " Yes, si r?" " Get me the file on J ohn W. Bundy..." " cop killed in '32." " All right." " And get at McNeal." " Yes, sir." "Kelly wants you." "[Typewriters Clacking]" "Check this." " What doyou make ofit?" " Well, I want to know why it's worth 5,000 bucks... to someone to find out who killed a cop 11 years ago." "Well, 1932 was open season for cops." "Over on the Northside, theywere shooting' 'em in pairs, like a brace of ducks." "This is all I could find on that cop killed in 1932-- that Bundy guy, Mr. Kelly." "Now, you see what I mean?" " He didn't rate much." " It wouldn't hurt to check it." "You might getyour name in the paper." "This is sucker bait!" "Every grifter and mooch in town'll be after that five grand." "They'll frame their brothers to get it." "Maybe this is a frame." "There's a lot of angles in this city." "You see what I mean?" "Just takes you longer to catch on, that's all." "I was just thinkin' about it." "I'm lookin' forTillieWiecek." " Uh, whatyou want?" " I called Northside 777..." " and they said I'd find her here." " I'm Tillie." "You run this ad?" "Yes." "That's for me." " You know something?" " No." "No, no." "No, I'm a reporter for the Chicago Times." "We'd like to know whyyou're so interested in finding the killers ofthis cop." "Frank Wiecek is my son." "I his mother." "My son's in prison for killing him." "He didn't do it." "Myfriends, theytell me ifl offer big money... maybe somebodywill tell who killed the policeman." "Now, you mean, your son's in prison for killin' the cop, that right?" "Yes." "But he don't do it." "My Frank's a good boy." "He don't do this thing." "I" " About this $5,000... where'd you get it?" " Is that important?" " Oh, yeah." "Yeah, it's very important." "Where he got it, whereyou got it, might have a lot to do with the case." "He might have had it hidden away someplace." "Maybeyou got it from some mob that's tryin' to spring him." "No." "No." "I work." "I scrub floors." "Eleven years, I never miss a day's work." "I earned it, every penny." "Eleven years?" "That's a long time." "Yes." "You just say it." "My boy, he lived it." "Believe me, mister." "You don't know my Frank." " But me, I his mother." " You mean, you got some new evidence..." " something that wasn't brought up at the trial?" " No." "Uh, no." "That's why I try to buy new evidence." "Oh, now, you're just" " You're just wasting your money." "You'll get cheated out ofit." " No." "Not me." " Look." "Look, lady." "He's in for 99 years." "Now, ifyou want to make good use ofthat money... send him lots of cigarettes and candy, try and keep him happy." "You very kind." "But I not use my money for candy or cigarettes." "Ifyou not able to help..." "I get my Frank out someday, somehow." "I dream ofthis day." "$5,000 is a lot for a dream." "Yes." "Eleven years!" "I dream and I work." "First, I try $3,000." "Nothing." "Now I try $5,000!" " Suppose nothing happens?" " Then I work 11 more years." "I get $10,000!" "But my boy, someday he get out." "Well, I got to hand it toya, Mrs. Wiecek." "You got a lot of courage." " You help me?" " [ Chuckles ] No, I'm afraid I couldn't do that." "I'm only a reporter." "I just write the story." "Well, good luck toyou." "Good-bye." "[Typewriters Clacking]" " Great job, Mac." " Thanks, Johnny." "Mac." "Hey, this story on the scrub woman-- pretty good." "How'd you like to follow it up by goin' out to Stateville..." " and interviewing' her son?" " Well, now, wait a minute." "I didn't write this story to glorify the son." "He's a cop-killer." "Well, you got any proof he's a cop-killer?" "Well, they didn't give him 99 years for playin' hooky." "He had a record." "He was on probation when he shot the cop." "Yeah, I know." "I read the record too." "He's Public Enemy Number One." "He and a couple of other kids broke into a grocery store." "He got two bucks and a record." "But in this case, an eyewitness... identified him as one ofthe killers." "The Supreme Court reviewed the trial." "The conviction was upheld." "Well, so what?" "It wouldn't hurt anything to hearwhat the guy has to say, would it?" " Well, why" " Ifyou go out there" " Well, look, Mac." "Let's put it this way... maybe I'm interested for personal reasons." "Maybe I'm interested 'cause my mother did the same thing." "She scrubbed floors on her hands and knees for more than 11 years to send me through school." "Okay, I'll go out to the pen tomorrow and see him." "How about expenses?" " [Machine Clicks ]" " Here's a voucher." "Take it to the cashier." " Kelly?" " Hmm?" "I happen to know your mother had a small annuity." "She never scrubbed a floor in her life." "You never got past the fifth grade." "But I figure ifyou pull such a corny gag as this, you must want me to go pretty bad." "So I'm going." "But I" " I wantyou to know that you didn't get awaywith it." " Jim?" " Yeah!" "You're earlytonight." "What happened?" "Oh, I got to get up 8:30 in the morning, go out to Stateville... and see that scrub woman's boy." " Got something to eat for me?" " Mm-hmm, it's all ready." "Hey!" " Hi." " Hi." "Hey!" "Got a new one, huh?" "Isn't a beauty?" "Five hundred pieces." "Say, I can't see how a smart girl likeyou... can spend so much time on these things." " Oh, I noticed you worked on the last one." " Mmm." "You know, that was a marvelous yarn you wrote about that Polish woman." "Had a lot offeeling." "What a magnificent thing that old lady did." "Yeah." "Everybody's touched." "Especially Kelly." "I was too." "Makes you feel warm." "Well, I hit it pretty hard." "But don't start believin' it." "I read the files on the case." "That kid killed the cop." "He got what was comin' to him." "Now, I need a branch ofa tree right in there." "See one around?" "No, that's sky." "That's sky." "I-I wasn't thinking about the boy." "I was thinking about his mother." "I hammer out a sob story, and everybody's blubbering' all over me." "You know what it is?" "It catches your imagination." "Nobody knows whether she's right or not, but... she's worked so hard-- she's had such faith-- that..." "[ Chuckles ] well, I want her to be right." "Honey, I love ya." "Wouldn'tyou scrub floors for me ifl shot old Kelly in the head?" " Oh, I don't know." " You don't know." "You don't" " Jim" " Oh, here's one." "Here's one looks like it." " No." " Jim." "Look, I'm goin' out to see him tomorrow." "Whyyou" " You women are suckers for sentimentality, aren'tya?" "I guess that's how I gotyou." "All I had to do was dangle an orange blossom in front ofyou." "Oh, it took a little more than that, Mr. McNeal." " It did, huh?" "Mm-hmm." " Hmm." "[Locks Rattling]" " What kind ofa guy is he, Warden?" " I like him." "Oh." "Frank, this is McNeal ofthe Chicago Times." "Hewants to interviewyou." "[Warden ] Now, you don't have to consent to this interview..." " oranswerany questions ifyou don't want to." " [ Wiecek ] But I do want to." " Sure, I want to." " Okay." "That's fine." "He's yours." "Sit down, Frank." "The Times has taken an interest in your case." " I came out to ask you some questions." " Yes, sir." "I'd like more ofyour story, your side of it." "I need an angle, something to hit the public with." "You understand?" " Yes, sir." " Now, you knew about the ad your mother ran in the papers..." " and the $5,000 reward?" " Yeah." "Did ya know she was scrubbing' floors to earn that money?" "Yes, I did." "All she lives for is to get me out." "I guess that's all I've got to live for too." "Well, that's a very good angle to play up-- your faith in your mother, her faith in you." "You know, ifyou're guilty... you're just letting her slave her life away for nothing." " She knows I'm not guilty." " Uh-huh." "I read the news clips... the transcript ofthe trial." "They don't whitewash you, the way I see it." "Butyou only read what convicted me." "All the true facts didn't come out." "Even Judge Moulton said I was innocent." "The judge that gaveyou 99 years?" "Well, the jury said we were guilty." "He had to." "But in his chambers, he said he knew we were innocent." " When was that?" " Well, after he sentenced us" "Oh, after." "Well, maybe we'd better duck that." "What else?" "My lawyerwas a drunk." "He wouldn't even let me take the stand." "He was afraid I'd get the chair." "Uh-huh." "Go on." "Well, when they question you hour after hour... you're bound to get mixed up on a lot oflittle things the way I did." "That's another good angle-- railroaded, huh?" "Then they took me from one police station to another... every few hours-- taking me "around the horn," they call it-- so my lawyer couldn't get me out." "And this Wanda Skutnik-- the first two times she saw me, she said I wasn't the man." " Then, all ofa sudden, she said I was." " Fingerwoman, huh?" "All right." "We'll play that up too." "I was homewith mywife the night the policeman was killed." "Does yourwife visityou regularly?" "Mywife?" "Yeah." "We're divorced." "Well, we... better duck that angle too." " You duck so many things." "You don't believe me, doyou?" " Listen." "I talked toyour mother." "She's a very fine old woman." "She believes you." "I need proof." " I got no proof." " Yeah." "Yeah, I know." "All right." "Now, what we'll do with this thing is this." "We'll play up this mother angle and the fingerwoman..." " and maybe a little police and political corruption too." " I didn't saythat." "Well, what difference does that make?" "It's a good angle." "Probably true anyway." "See, you don't want a wishy-washy story." "This thing's got to have sock-- mass appeal." "It's the onlywaywe'll be able to helpyou-- get sympathy, public support." "You leave it to me." "Okay, Warden." "Thankyou." "That's all, Frank." "Are there any guilty men out here?" "Not ifyou hear them tell it." "They sure make a hard pitch, don't they?" "Ninety-nineyears is a long time." "Maybe he'd been better off ifhe got the chair." "Mr. McNeal is busy." "But I'll tell him you liked the story." "You're welcome." "Yes, the Times is going to continue with the Wiecek case." "You're welcome." "[TypewriterClacking]" "Yeah." "Yes." "Well, thankyou very much for calling." "That's right, lady." "I guess the Times is gonna follow up the case." "Yes." "Good-bye." " Say, what are you gonna use for a follow-up?" " What follow-up?" "Well, the thing is snowballing." "I want more of it." "Well, do you wanna give me a raise, or do I just get... the 5,000 from Wiecek's mother?" "Look, Mac." "Myjob's to print the news that's fit to print." "Did it ever occur toyou that we might be sellin' this dead cop short?" "Maybe he had a mother that scrubbed floors too." "[ Ringing ]" "[ Ringing Continues ]" "And another thing, rememberwhat Wiecek said... about that judge that promised him a new trial?" "Well, thejudge died threeweeks afterthe casewas closed." "He's been dead for 11 years." "That Wiecek's a pretty smart cookie, you know." "He gives me a lead and knows I can't check up on it." "Well, why don'tyou take a different lead?" "Look, Mac." "You know we're getting more than 20 phone calls per hour from our readers." "Yeah, and every time that phone rings, you see those great big juicy headlines." "I know, "Chicago Times Clears Innocent Man."" " Well, why not?" " Well, why not?" "It's impossible, Kelly." " You can't do a thing like that." " Listen, Mac." "Ifyou don't like the story, ifyou think he's guilty, end it." " Write a finish piece, and kill it." " I'll take that deal." "I'll interview his wife." "She believed in him so much, she divorced him." "That ought to kill it for good." "[Children Shouting]" "[Train Whistle Blaring]" "[Knocking]" " I'm looking for Helen Rayska." " Yes." "I'm McNeal of the Times." "I'm doing a series on the Wiecek case." "Oh, yes." "I read them." "Please come in." "This way, please." "Oh, excuse me." "Just a minute." "I gotyour address from your former mother-in-law, Tillie Wiecek." "I haven't seen her since the divorce." "I guess she doesn't feel very kindly towards me." " Uh-huh." " Will you sit down, please?" "Doyou think there is a chance that Frankwill get free?" " Doyou want him to?" " Sure, I want him to." "Would you bewaiting for him?" "No." "No, I wouldn't." " I married again." " Oh." "But I'd be glad for Frank... because he's a fine man." "And because he's innocent." "He was at home with me when the policeman was killed." "Yeah." "Yeah, I know." "You were baking' a cake." "Uh" " You loved him-- then, I mean." "I did... very much." "But the lonely nights were too much foryou." " You couldn't go on that way." "Was that it?" " Oh, no, no." "No, that's what Tillie might think." "I loved him." "I would have stuck to him." "But Frankwanted me to get the divorce." "Hmm." "Did he pick out your new husband foryou too?" "It's the truth." "Did you contribute to the reward money, or did Tillie earn all that by herself?" "No, I couldn't help." "I haven't anything." "My husband, Mr. Rayska... takes care of me and my boy" " Frank's boy." "I can't ask more than that." "He is a good man, and he loves me and he loves the boy." "We're lucky." "Yeah." "You seemed to have got out of it all right." "Mr. McNeal, I told you the truth about the divorce." "Frankwanted it." "Well, it's going to very hard to make people believe it." "Frank's wife says he's innocent and shows her faith by divorcing him, you know." "But that's just the way it was." "[Helen ] I went up to see him that day... wanting him to keep up hope, wanting to cheerhim up." "He looked depressed, the wayyou do when you're terribly worried." " How have you been?" " Fi ne." " How's Ma?" " Fine." "And the boy" " How's the boy?" "Oh, he is fine." "Always fine." "Everything's fine." "We have nothing to say anymore." " Oh, Frank, darling, please." " I know." "I know." "So many things you don't say." "You don't want to talk about the outside, because I'm in here." "You don't want to remind me." "But I remind myself." "I think oflots ofthings." "Helen, tell me, how-- how's the boy doing in school?" "He's doing verywell, Frank." "Butwhat about the other boys?" "Kids can hurt him bad." " They're only kids, Frank." " Yeah." " They do not know what they are saying." " They know-- son of a jailbird, cop-killer's son." "Oh, it's nothing, Frank." "I was thinking about moving to a new neighborhood anyway." " He'll go to a new school." " No, it's no good." "A new school is no good, Helen." "A new name, that would be good." " Frank!" " I'm--I'm just like dead, Helen." "In 30 years, maybe I can get a parole ifI'm lucky." "Thirtyyears." "Helen, you've" "You've got to divorce me, Helen." " You can't mean that, Frank." " Yes." "Love's not for us anymore, Helen." "It's finished." "Now we must think ofthe boy... only the boy." "My boy must live for me." "But I couldn't do it, Frank." "I just couldn't." "And for over a year, I wouldn't do it, Mr. McNeal." "[ Sniffles ] But Frank kept begging me and begging me." "Then I met Mr. Rayska." "He loved me, and he was fond oflittle Frank." "He understood everything about us." "Well, what about the boy?" "Does he know?" "Yes." "He knows." "But now, everyone calls his father Uncle Frank." " We've made a point ofthat." " [DoorSlams ]" " [Boy] Mom!" " [Running Footsteps ]" "Look, Mom!" "Brand-new" "He lost the other one." "This is Mr. McNeal of the newspaper." "And that's my husband, Mr. Rayska." " Rayska." " And that's my boy, Frank." " Hello." " How are you?" "Say, I'd like to get..." " a couple of shots ofyou and the boy." " That's all right." " Come on, son." "Sit right there." " Come over here, Frank." " Hereyou are." " [Train Whistle Blowing In Distance ]" "Hey, Pete." "Mr. Rayska, you mind if I askyou a couple of questions?" " Certainly not." " Were you in Chicago in December of 1932?" " Yes, why?" " Did you know Helen then?" "What doyou mean, asking such a question?" " Any objections to answering?" " No." "No objections." "He's got to ask everything, dear." "I know that." "I didn't meet Helen till after she was divorced." " This can be proved by our friends." " I see." "I see." "You understand I have to ask a lot of questions." "I" " Sorry." "What's he askin' all the questions for anyway?" "What's the big idea?" " It's aboutyour Uncle Frank." " He's not my uncle!" "He's my father!" "Well, thankyou, folks." "Good-bye." "[Groans ]" "Darling, wake up." "What's the matter?" " Huh?" " Hungry?" " Want a nice sandwich?" " No, no, no, no, no" "You've been gnashing your teeth and making an awful noise." "I've never known you to be like this, Jim." "Well, maybe it's something I ate." "I ate the same things." "Well, maybe it's something I wrote then." "[ Sighs ]" "Hey, you look nice." "Will you marry me?" " I did." " Oh, yeah." "Yeah, that's right." " Thanks." " You're welcome." "Just remember, I'm here." "Well, come on over here." "Maybe we can work this out together." "What's the matter?" "Won't the pieces fit together?" "Some of'em, but they make the wrong picture." "Pieces never make the wrong picture." "Maybe you're looking at them from the wrong angle." "Sometimes it's mighty hard to figure." "Why don'tyou let go?" "You want him to be innocent." "You want him to be free." " Admit it." " Well, maybeyou're right." "Maybe I do want him to be free, but that doesn't make me believe he's innocent." "Ifyou want to believe, that's enough." "Believe it." "Will you marry me?" "Oh, that's right." "You did." "Will you fix me that sandwich then?" "Hey, hey, hey, hey." "Yeah." "[ No Audible Dialogue ]" "Hey, Kelly?" "Haveyou seen this item on the warehouse fire?" "Might be a firebug, arson ring." " You think there's anything to it?" " There might be." "Well, follow it up." " Is that an assignment?" " Sure." "Okay." "Oh, Mac." "I know there's nothing more to the Wiecek case." "It's all washed up, but beforeyou tackle this warehouseyarn" "The warden called me this morning." "Wiecekwants to seeyou again." " Well, forwhat?" " I don't know." "Maybe he wants to confess." "Well, I was just up there." "Don't I get time offfor good behavior?" "Wiecek's been up there for 11 years, Mac." "That cop's been buried longer than that." "Hello, Wiecek." "Mr. McNeal." "I sent foryou to tell you that..." "I don't wantyou to write anymore... about me or my family." "I've read whatyou've written." "I've seen the pictures of my mother... mywife and my boy." "We've poured our hearts out to you..." " unashamed." " Well, you wanted help, didn'tya?" "That's the onlywayyou can get people interested in the case." "Nobody's gonna read a little two-line ad likeyour mother ran in the paper." "A halfa million people have been followin' this story." "Now somebody might know the killers and get in touch with us." "I don't want that kind ofhelp." "I'll stay here a thousand years." "Butyou must not write anymore... about mywife and my mother and my boy." "My mother is doing this for me, not to sell your papers." " Oh, now, wait a minute." "Wiecek." " I made mywife divorce me... so my boy has a new name." "Nowyou put his picture in the paper, spoiled everything for him." "I don't know." "I thought I was doin' a good job." "No!" "This is writing without heart... without truth." "Before, I thought maybe some crook lawyer... would try to get the $5,000 from my mother." "But this, I never figured." "Yes, I say it." "I'll stay here." "I'll stay here a thousand years." "But neverwrite anymore about my family." "Leave them alone." "Leave alone mywife and my boy." "What doyou make ofthat?" "Well, I guess he figured you pitched him some pretty low curves." "Why, it was a story." "I wrote what I saw." "You know, up here every man claims to be innocent." "But the prisoners are the harshest judges ofthemselves." "And they believe we have only two men who don't belong here" "TomekZaleska and FrankWiecek." "All right, Warden." "Say, I-I wonder ifyou'll let me try something else?" "I'd like to talk toTomekZaleska." "Okay." " [Warden] I'dlike to talk to Zaleska." " [Man ] Yes, sir." "[Lock Rattling]" "Tomek, this is McNeal ofthe Times." " He'd like to talk to you." " [Zaleska ] Yes?" "Warden, would it be stretching' the rules too much if I talk to him alone?" " Well, no." "Oh, go right ahead." " Thankyou." " Areyou familiarwith thework the Times is doin' forWiecek?" " Yes, sir." "Now, look, Tomek." "We want to clear up this Bundy case one way or the other." "We don't think Frank was in it with ya." "Now, ifyou confess and name the man that was reallywith you that night... the Times will do everything in its power... to getya a parole for turning state's evidence." "The chances are you'll be outta this place in a fewyears." "Now, wh-what haveyou got to lose?" "You're in for life now." "Come on." "Tell us the truth." "Sure." "I could say I did it." "Then maybe have a chance of getting out likeyou say." "But ifl confessed... who would I name as my partner?" "Joe Doakes?" "I couldn't make it stick for one minute." "That's the trouble with being innocent." "You don't know what really happened." "I didn't do it." "Me and Frank had nothin' to do with it." "Okay, Tomek." "[Cell DoorClatters ]" "Well?" "You must run a nice jail." "This guy doesn't want to get out either." "I'm gonna get this outta my system ifl neverwrite another line." "Warden, doyou think Wiecek'd talk to me again?" "Yeah." "Yeah, I imagine hewould." "I'll takeyou overto the hospital." "Heworks there." "Frank, Mr. McNeal would like to talk toyou again ifit's all rightwith you." "Look, Frank." "I've decided to go on with this case." "I'll slant the storyyourway." "I alsowantyou to know I'm still not convinced you're innocent." "But I'm willin' to dig-- get the facts." "But rememberthis." "Ifl ever catch ya lyin'..." "I'll blastyou so hard, you won't even get a parolewhen your 33 years are up." "Is it a deal?" "I've nothing to be afraid of." "It's a deal." "Okay, Frank." "I wantyou to give me some information." "This, uh" " This judge you told me about." "You know, the one that died?" "Were there anywitnesses when he told you he'd try to getyou a new trial?" " Yeah, there was a bailiff." " Uh-huh." " What was his name?" " I don't know." "Well, I'll find out." "What was the name ofyour lawyer?" " His name was Underwood." " Underwood." " Where does he practice?" " He's disbarred now." "That's great-- a disbarred lawyer and a dead judge." " All right." "What else?" " There's Wanda Skutnik." "It was she alone who put me where I am." "She identified me." "But the other two witnesses" "Gruska and the mailman-- said no." "Then there was the police captain." "He was the one who got Skutnik to say I was the man." "He stood right alongside ofherwhen she picked me out." " She was afraid ofhim." " What was his name?" "I never found out." "He wasn't at the trial." " Well, where can I find this Skutnik dame?" " I-I don't know." " That's nice material." " That's all I got, but it's the truth." "Would you be willing to take a lie-detector test?" "Mr. McNeal, for 11 years..." "I've been waiting for a chance to get at that box." "You know whatyou're up against?" "Ifit turns out bad, you're cooked." "Ifit turns out good, it's only Leonarde Keeler's professional opinion." " Doesn't count legally." " I'll take the test." "Okay, I'll fix it up forya." "Listen, kid." "Take it from me." "Keep away from Keeler and that lie detector." " Oh, I'm not afraid ofit." " That's what I said." "Why, I had the cops, the state's attorney, even my own lawyer believing' in me." "I was a cinch." "Then they talked me into going up against that box." " Well, what happened?" " What doyou mean, what happened?" "I'm doin' life, ain't I?" "Well, the onlything the machine is for... is to record the emotional reactions ofan individual." "Uh, we place a blood pressure cuffabout the upper arm ofthe subject." "And then, through the impulses to the timer system... record the variations in blood pressure and pulse on this stylus." "Then the pneumograph is fastened about the subject's chest... and we record the changes in the respiration." "And the electrodes fasten on the palm and the back ofthe hand... to record the changes in the electrical conductivity ofthe skin." "It's a very sensitive criteria for emotional reaction, emotionality." "Mr. Keeler's all ready foryou, Frank." "Sit down, Frank." "[Keeler] Just take it easyandrelax." "[Wiecek] I'll do the best I can, Mr. Keeler." "[Footsteps ]" "Hello, Mac." "What are you doin' here?" "I was drivin' out to Decatur to see my brother and... thought I'd stop by." "I've never seen a lie test before." "Decatur's out the otherway." "Yeah, well, I-I took the detour, the long way around." "Yeah." "Yeah." "These are a pair of electrodes." "I've clipped them to the palm and the back ofyour hand... to pick up the electrical changes in the nervous system." "I'm gonna try an experimental test now." "I wantyou to take one ofthese cards, look at it... remember the card thatyou chose, and then place it back in the group." "I'm going to askyou one card at a time... and I wantyou to say "no" to each card that I ask... including the chosen card." " Doyou understand?" " Yes, sir." "Now, just face forward." "Don't watch the machine..." " and sit quietly as you can." " [ Clears Throat ]" "Hey, what's he doin' that for?" "Oh, he's forcing him to lie so it'll show on the graph." "Gives a good basis forjudging Wiecek's reactions." " Did you choose the seven of clubs?" " No." "Did you take the three ofspades?" "No." "Did you take the queen ofhearts?" "No." " Didyou take the ace ofhearts?" " No." "Did you take the five of diamonds?" "No." " Did you take the six of clubs?" " No." "You took the five ofdiamonds, Frank." " Did you?" " Yes, sir." "Now, I have a prepared list of questions..." "I'll askyou." "And I want you to answer all these questions now by "yes" or "no."" "And ifyou have anything to explain, do that after I askyou all the questions." "Just turn around and face forward." "Sit as quietly as you can all the way through the test." "Now, don't forget, just "yes" or "no" all the way through." " Yes." " Is your name FrankWiecek?" "Yes." " Didyou have breakfast this morning?" " Yes." " Doyou know Tomek Zaleska?" " Yes." " You're 6 feet tall. aren't you?" " I'm 5 foot 9." "J ust a minute now, Frank." "J ust "yes" or "no" all the way through." " I'm" " I'm sorry, sir." " And sit quietly." " Yes, sir." " I'll have to begin again now..." " and just askyou some ofthese questions." " Yeah, I'm sorry." " Isyourname Frank Wiecek?" " Yes." " Wereyou in Wanda Skutnik's store on December9?" " No." "[ No Audible Dialogue ]" "Were you home at the time of the robbery?" "Yes." "That's all I'm going to askyou." "Just sit quietly now for a few moments..." " and I'll take it off." " Yes, sir." "Well, we're all through, Frank." "Good-bye, and I'll probably seeyou later." "Seeyou later, Frank." " What's the verdict?" " Well, there's the record." "What was that?" "What's that jump there?" "[Keeler] Well, he reactedin all three curves... uh, very specifically." "He lied to that question." " Is that where you asked him ifhe killed Bundy?" " No." ""Are you married?"" "Well, he" " But he-he didn't lie." " He-He isn't married." "He's divorced." " Yes, but he's-he's a Catholic." "And he still thinks he's married." "And he feels within himself that he's married." "And so, he reacted in deception." "But doyou think he lied about anything else?" "Well, we've run so many records today-- four or five ofthem-- and I'd like to take a little time to go over them... and compare one record with another and the reactions." "And, well, I'll call you later on this afternoon..." " and letyou know." " All right." "Hiya, McNeal." "What can I do foryou?" "Say, Larson, I'd like to check on the date ofarrest... of a fellow by the name of FrankWiecek." " You mean, the cop-killer?" " I'm just trying to do a job." "I'm afraid I can't helpyou, McNeal." "Our arrest books for 1932 are in the warehouse." "They're not available." "What doyou want me to do, go to the commissioner?" "You know whereyou can go, as far as I'm concerned." "Here it is." ""Booked for murder December 23."" " [ Shutter Clicks ]" " That makeya happy?" "One ofthe things I was lookin' for." "He was booked on the 23rd." "Now, ifl could just find out ifhe was arrested before then." "What difference would that make?" "Well, ifhe was arrested before the 23rd... it'd prove that this Skutnik dame could've seen him a couple oftimes... before she identified him." "Captain Norris ofthe New City Precinct handled the Skutnik identification." "He never operated that way." "Captain Norris, huh?" "Say, let me see the arrest books for December 1932, will ya?" " I can't helpyou on that." " Look, all I'm trying to do is to find out... whether this fellow Wiecek is a cop-killer or not." "Back during Prohibition, the police department got tough when a cop got killed." "Nowyou're talkin' like the guy in the street." "Always thinks we're runnin' around with rubber hoses beating' up innocent people." "Look." "You seem to think the cops framed Wiecek." "You're the one that's doing the framing." "You're framing the best police department in the country." "Bundywas a good cop and a good man." "Why don'tyou write about his wife and son?" "And about the other 357 cops killed in the last 20 years?" "Back in 1932, they did a lot ofthings." " Maybe they did, but theyweren't always wrong." " How doyou know?" "Wereyou in the division at the time?" "No." "All I can say is... it's awful hard for a man like me to be fair to a cop-killer." "And supposing he isn't a cop-killer?" "Maybe I ought to helpya, but I just can't." "You've helped me plenty." "Don't worry." "Captain Norris, huh?" "Had charge ofthe Skutnik identification, huh?" "Well, it looks like he's sort of mixed up in this himself." "Maybe I'd better go over and talk to him." "You'dbettertake ashovel withya." "You'll have to dig him up." "He died in '38." "[ All Chattering ]" " Hi." " Hi, Mac." "Offyour beat, ain'tya?" "Yeah, yeah, sort of." "I need some help." "Nah." "Lay off of me, Mac." "The word's gone out to keep away from you." "I've doneyou a lot offavors, Matt." "Is there anyplace I can find some records... of people that come in here and look at the police show-ups?" "Material witnesses." "Somebody might have been subpoenaed... to come in here and identifyWiecek." "Ifwe kept that kind of stuff, the books would fill Soldier's Field." "Would there be any photographs, anything like that?" "We don't take no pictures in station houses." "Press boys might get a shot ofthe witnesses on the steps... but never inside." "Now, look, Mac, ifI'm seen talking toyou..." "I'm gonna be back walking my old beat." "Why not be a good guy and don't be here when I get back." " Can I useyour phone?" " Yeah." "Use that line." "Don't touch those." "Uh, this is McNeal." "Give me Kelly." "Say, check through our files and see ifany of our boys took pictures... at the Wiecek arrest in 1932." "Get someone to check the Tribune and the rest ofthe papers." "And listen, Kelly." "A photographer takes maybe 10 shots, prints one ofthem." "I want to see the other nine." "And listen." "The Herald Examiner" "Theywere still in business then, weren't they?" "This is just their kind of picture." " I'll check on that myself." " [Buzzing]" "Hey, uh, I just thought of something." "Seeya later." " [ Buzzing ]" " New City Precinct." "This is McNeal over at headquarters." "You got the book in the Wiecek arrest, 1932?" "Yeah." "But we've been told to pull it out ofthe files." "I'll drop over and see it." "Okay, be right over." "Right." "Yeah, I'm McNeal." "I just phoned you from headquarters." "You got that book on the Wiecek arrest?" "Come in." "Thankyou." "What did you find?" "Wiecekwas arrested in the morning ofthe 22nd." "But he wasn't booked until the afternoon ofthe 23rd." " Norris took his time, didn't he?" " What did you sayyour name was?" " McNeal." " What division?" "I'm McNeal ofthe Chicago Times." "This is confidential information." "This is public information, and I'm entitled to use it." "We've got our orders." "You got a beef, you talk to the state's attorney's office." "That's a good idea." "I think I will." "In the meantime..." "I wouldn't let anything happen to that book ifl wereyou." "[Keyboard Clacking]" "Mac." "Hey, Mac." "Hey, this is hitting him pretty hard, isn't it?" "I haven't even started on him yet." " I think this whole thing stinks." " [ Buzzing ]" "Kelly speaking." "Yeah." "Yes, sir." "Right away." "That's the boss." "He wants us both." "Let's go." "Let's go." "Go right in, Mr. Kelly." "Mr. Palmer's waiting." "Mr. Kelly, Mr. McNeal, I believeyou know the commissioner." " How doyou do, sir?" " Mr. Faxon, from the state's attorney's office." " And this is Robert Winston, representing the governor." " How do you do, sir?" "Ofcourse, you know Mr. Burns." "Mr. Kelly, these gentlemen object... to our handling of the Wiecek story." "Mr. Kelly, we feel that the Times, through you and Mr. McNeal... is slinging mud on one ofthe finest police departments in the United States." "And specifically, we object toyour efforts... to arouse sympathy for a man who killed a police officer." "We'd just like to point out, gentlemen... that FrankWiecekwas convicted by a jury." "His case was reviewed by the Supreme Court... and the conviction was upheld." "All these legal authorities believed in FrankWiecek's guilt." "Well, a long time ago, a lot of people believed the world was flat." "Well, at this late date, doyou wish to impugn... the integrity of thejury and the court?" "Iftheywerewrong, yes." "Back in 1932... a steady stream of convictions made good publicity." "Remember?" "FrankWiecekwas found guilty, and he belongs where he is." "Wereyou in the state's attorney's office in 1932?" "Why, uh, yes, I was, but I didn't have anything to do with the Wiecek case." "I have no ax to grind, Mr. McNeal." "But I believeyou're unnecessarily discrediting this regime." "Furthermore, your stories may be holding out false hope ofa pardon... to both FrankWiecek and his mother." " I'm not so sure it's false." " We are." "Look, up until now, what we've printed was based on interview and investigation." "We've invented nothing, and we don't intend to." "A great deal of emotion and color can be lent to simple facts." "The governor feels this entire matter is undermining law and order." "But Wiecek is innocent!" "It'd be criminal for us to stop now!" "Well, you must remember, Mr. McNeal... that another political party was in power at that time." "We're not to blame, but the public tars us with your brush." "You can't destroy the confidence we've built up in this regime just to sell newspapers." "It may have started like that, but it isn't that way anymore." "Now, look, gentlemen, believe me, this man is not guilty." "I don't know ifhe's guilty or not... but we don't want this police force persecuted anymore." " What's the difference" " Just a minute, gentlemen." "The governorwants this cleared up." "We're not asking you to forget the man ifhe's innocent... but we don't want this dragged on and on just to promote circulation." "We have a proposition to offeryou to settle this once and for all." "I can suggest to the governor that he set up a hearing in the Pardon Board." "IfWiecek is exonerated, he'll get a pardon." "But ifyou can't clear him, you're to drop this matter once and for all!" "Is that a deal?" "What doyou say, Mac?" "It's a deal if Mr. Palmer says so." "Okay." "It's a deal." "I'll ask the governor to set up a special hearing next week." " Areyou ready to accept that?" " Yes, I am." "There's just one thing, Mr. McNeal." "Ifyou go before a pardon board and they turn him down... it'll go on Wiecek's record." "Then when he's eligible for parole... that record may hurt his chances." "Now, mind you, there's no regulation... there's no law... but the very fact that he was investigated by the Pardon Board... and turned down... may have a prejudicial effect upon his application." "Whatyou're doing is gambling with Wiecek's parole." "Well, that's a chance we'll have to take." "Well, gentlemen, that's settled, then." "We're agreed." "Thankyou very much, gentlemen." "We'll live up to our end ofthe bargain." " Good-bye." "Good-bye." " Good-bye, sir." "Good-bye." "Well, you two seem to be satisfied, but Mr. Burns doesn't seem to be." "I'm not." "As your attorney, I thinkyou've made a bad deal." "While I have read the transcript ofthis case... and am familiarwith some ofthe things Mr. McNeal found..." "I am not at all certain thatwe have sufficient evidence to obtain a pardon." "Butyou haven't seen all ofthe evidenceyet, Mr. Burns." " What, for instance?" " Well, in the first place..." "I've talked to the bailiff ofthe court." "He corroborated Frank's statement that the judge promised him a new trial." " What basis did the judge have for making that promise?" " I don't know." " Ifhe made it." " He made it, all right." "Here's an affidavit from the bailiff." "That's not proof." "It's inconclusive." "All right." "All right." "Forget about that." "I have a lie-detector test and Keeler's sworn statement that the fellow is innocent." "Inadmissible." "Gruska and Decker, the other two witnesses in the crime... maintain that Wiecek is not the man." "And they also testified that this Wanda Skutnik... couldn't possible have recognized anybody." "Well, haveyou found her?" "What does she say?" "Gruska and Decker contradict it." "But it's inconclusive evidence." "Now, what new admissible evidence haveyou?" "Well, there's a whole lot of new stuff!" "." "The state's attorney's office tried to keep me out ofthe record books." "That's the reason they had that fellow Faxon up here." "And another thing" " Why is this Wanda Skutnik dame keeping undercover?" "A couple of mobsters might have killed that cop... and threatened her for not playing ball... or maybe she's trying to keep in good with the law, I don't know." " She ran a speakeasy." " Now, look here, McNeal." "I'm an attorney." "I know what it is to go up before the Pardon Board." "They go on facts." "Facts?" "Okay." "I'll give you something better than facts." "I'll giveyou a picture." "Take a look at that." "Now, Wanda Skutnik testified that she didn't see Wiecek from the time ofthe murder... until the time she identified him on the 23rd of December." "Now, Frank maintains that she did see him several times on the 22nd of December... when the cops were taking him around from station to station." "All right." "That-That bears out Frank's story right there." "There's a picture ofFrank and Wanda going in to one ofthe stations." "Where'd you get this, Mac?" "I got it out of the files of the old Herald Examiner." "Kinda figured they'd go for a picture like that." "When was this taken?" " Well, obviously on the 22nd." " Oh, now look here, McNeal... you can't just say that obviously it was taken then." " You have to prove it." " Well, I have the photograph" "When you go before the Pardon Board, the burden of proof is with you." " But the picture" " After all, it could have been taken after she identified him." "McNeal, you've done a wonderful job... in assembling all this evidence." "But the law ofthe State oflllinois requires only one eyewitness... for an identification and conviction." "So far, that witness has not altered her statement... and that fact still stands." "Mr. Palmer, in view ofthis, I'm afraid I must recommend... thatyou permit me to get in touch with those gentlemen... who were just here, and ask for more time... or until I've had an opportunity to go over the case." " Then your advice is to call the whole thing off." " That's right." "Oh, now, Mr. Palmer, I realize that Mr. Burns.... knows more about the law than I do." "But I want to tell you some things about this caseyou don't know." "I went into this thing believing nothing." "I was skeptical." "I'd figured Wiecek is using his motherto spring him." "But I've changed my mind." "This man is innocent, Mr. Palmer." "I know thatwithout any doubt." "Now, it's true I haven't found Wanda Skutnik, but I want a chance to find her." "I want a chance to get this guy out ofjail." "Now, ifyou call offthis hearing, I'll never get that chance again." "The bargain stands." "Thankyou, sir." "Just a minute, McNeal." "Let me giveyou one last piece ofadvice." "Even ifyou do find this Wanda Skutnik..." "I don't believe she'll ever change hertestimony." "There's only one thing foryou to do-- discredit her, prove she's a liar." "Otherwise, you're wasting your time." "Just great." "Great speech, Mac." "Nowyou've really got to find Wanda Skutnik." "Now, listen, Kelly." "I haven't been wasting my time." "I know a lot about Wanda Skutnik." "She used to run a speakeasy." "She's probably still in the liquor business." "She's Polish, and she used to run around... with a guy that works in the stockyards." "Don't letyour enthusiasm getyou into trouble." " The stockyard's a tough neighborhood." " Don't scare me, Kelly." " Can you speak Polish?" " No, I can't speak Polish." "But ifl have to learn to speak Polish to find her, I'm starting right now." " ##[Orchestra:" "Lively] - [Bell Clanging]" "## [Woman Singing In Foreign Language ]" "What'll you have?" "Say, did you ever see that woman before?" "Her name's Wanda Skutnik." " You a copper?" " No, no." "No, no." "Her uncle died and left her a little money." "I hear she's remarried." "I'm having a hard time finding her." "Money, huh?" "I don't know." "I'll see ifthe boys in the back room know about her." "[ Chattering ]" "[ Speaking Polish ] Wanda Skutnik?" "[ Polish ]" "Much obliged." "No problem." "[Narrator] McNeal divided the district back oftheyards... into blocks andsections... and for days and nights, systematically combed every beer parlor and saloon." " [ Pol ish ] - ## [ Lively]" " ## [ Piano ] - [ Man Speaking Polish ]" "[ People Laughing, Chattering ]" "## [ Orchestra ]" " Give me a bourbon." " Yes, sir." "[ Keyboard Clacking ]" " What'l I ya have?" " Give me some rye, wi I I you?" "Say, did you ever see that woman around here?" "No, I don't think I have." "Her name's Skutnik-- Wanda Skutnik." "A lot ofwomen come in here, but I don't know 'em by name." " Your name McNeal?" " Yeah." "Why?" "I've been wondering when you'd hit this neighborhood." "I've been reading your stories in the paper." " About Wanda Skutnik?" " Yeah." " You know her?" " Used to." " Used to be good friends." " You know where I could find her now?" " I might." " Where?" " What's in it for me?" " What doyou want?" "I owe him a buck, seventy-five." "Okay." "Where is she?" " I ought to have one to talk on." " Yeah, yeah, yeah." "Hey." "Couple of drinks here, huh?" "What happens to Wanda ifyou find her?" "Oh, not a thing." "I'm just gonna ask her some questions." " There ain't no warrant out after her or nothin' like that?" " No, nothing like that." "Leave the bottle here, too, will ya?" "She hadn't ought to have thrown them bricks at me." " You know Honore Street?" " Yeah, yeah." "Sure." "You go down there." " 725." " 725." " What's her name now?" " Siskovich." "Wanda Siskovich." "But don't tell her I said so." "She's got a bad temper." "I don't want her throwin' no more bricks at me." "Won't tell her a word." "Thereyou are." "Thanks." "[ Train Whistle Blowing ]" "[Train Whistle Blowing]" "[ Clattering]" "[Knocking]" "[Woman ] Come in." " Who are you?" " I'm from the Times." " Get out ofhere!" " So you're Wanda Skutnik." "Yeah." "I've been wonderin' when you'd show up." "Now, look, lady, I-I'm not gonna giveyou any trouble." "I'd just like to askyou a few questions." "You want to cry in my beer?" "All I want to know is this:" "Is there any possibility thatyou might have been mistaken... when you identified Wiecek?" "No." "Well, ifyou're so positive, we can prove it." "Will you take a lie test?" "A lie test?" "You think I'm crazy?" "Look, will you give me a sworn statement?" "I did my swearing' in court." "How many times did you see Frank beforeyou identified him?" " Never." " You didn't see him before the police show up?" "No." "Onlywhen he killed the cop." "Look, I said all I got to say." "That's all there is, see?" "What doyou mean, "That's all there is"?" "There's a lot more than that." "This kid's been up in the pen for 11 years." "Now, look." "I got to go before the Pardon Board day after tomorrow." "Frank's got a good chance to get off ifyou help him." "I got no reason to help Wiecek... and I got no reason to help you, neither." "You're the one that wrote them lies about me." "I've been thinking of suing for libel!" "That's the reason I wrote 'em." "I called you a liar... and a bootlegger and a fingerwoman." "I insulted you everyway I could think of." "And I'm gonna keep on doin' it, see?" "Go ahead and sue us for libel." "I'd just like to getyou up on a witness stand under oath" "Yeah, and you still wouldn't get nothin' out of me!" "[Train Whistle Blowing]" "Whyyou bother her?" "Put that down!" "You want to go tojail?" "Now, you get out ofhere!" "Now, listen, maybe there's something you didn't think of." " There's a $5,000 reward, you know." " Five thousand dollars!" "And what's more, you don't have to do anything about it." "Just tell me enough to clear things up, get Wiecek out, and you get the 5,000." " So what do I gotta do?" " Just tell the truth." "Who gotyou to identify him?" "Who areyou afraid of?" "Nobody." "Nothin'." "Nobody." "I ain't afraid of nobody, and I ain't got nothin' to say." "Wanda, it's $5,000." "Shut up!" "Now, you get out ofhere!" "You ain't gonna get nowhere." "I identified him." "I told the truth." "It's him!" "I ain't never gonna change my mind." "It's him!" "Now, get out ofhere!" " Boris!" " [Train Whistle Blowing]" "[Keyboard Clacking]" "Well, Mr. Burns has given us a clear picture of the situation." "IfWanda Skutnik can defy the Pardon Board... ifthe board has no authority to subpoena her... the power to make her talk, then we're helpless." "What do we do now?" "The thing for us to do now is for me to appear... before the Pardon Board ofSpringfield this afternoon... present our apologies, and ask that the case be withdrawn." "Will that appear on Frank's record?" "Will it spoil his chances when he becomes eligible for a parole?" "No." "His name simply will not come before the board." "All right." "That's it, then." "I'm sorry, Mr. Palmer." "I want to apologize toyou, too, Mr. Burns." "I thought ifl found this woman, I could make her talk, but I missed it." "I'm sorry." "Okay, Mac." "Kelly, write a finish story... on this Wanda Skutnik and end the whole thing." "Get the paper offthe hook." "I can get a train forSpringfield in about a half-hour." "Good." "Big day for the Wieceks." ""Write a finish story."" ""Get the paper off the hook."" "How do you end it?" "First, you better go out and see Wiecek's mother." "I couldn't do that." "I just couldn't do that, Kelly." "What do you want her to do, read it in the paper?" "[ElevatorDoorOpens ]" " [ Children Chattering] - [Train Whistle Blowing]" "[Knocking]" " Mr. McNeal!" "Come in." " Thankyou." "Oh!" "[ Chuckles ]" "I've got to excuse myself." "I was not expecting company." "Oh, you mustn't regard me as company, Tillie." "I was baking a pie for Frank." "Please sit down." "I getyou some coffee." "I-I really can't stay, Tillie." "I just came out to talk toyou about something." "About the Pardon Board, yes?" "Oh, I pray for this day!" "I want to tell you about it." "Come over here and sit down." "And now-- now it has come!" "It is here!" " Tillie, I must tell you this." " Yeah?" "We're going to call offthe hearings." "We don't have a chance in the world of getting Frank his pardon." " No chance?" " No." "Butyou work so hard." "You do everything." "Everything I could." "You got lawyers." "He tell Pardon Board." "We have the best." "But don'tyou see, Tillie?" "Ifwe go before the Pardon Board now... it'll just be hurting Frank's chances for a parole later on." "We can't get a thing out ofWanda Skutnik... and without her, we have nothing." "I saw her at the trial." "She will never tell." "Like a rock." "She will never tell." "But she knows." "Yes, she's afraid." "She will not talk." "Never." "And without her, we have no evidence." ""Evidence"?" "They got no evidence when they sent my Frank to prison... for 99 years." "I got no evidence when I scrub floors every night." "Go without supper." "Walk to work... so I save a nickel for Frank." ""Evidence."" "What is this "evidence"?" "I can't tell you how sorry I am, Tillie." "You try to help." "You're a good man." "But ifthis thing happen... then we fight some more." "We fight more and more." "Yes?" "No, Tillie." "We're calling offthe hearing." "The Times is dropping the case." "No." "But ifyou go, I got no friend left." "Sorry." "[ Weeping ]" "No friends left." "No friends no more." "Big fool, me." "Sure I got a friend." " [ Children Shouting] - [Horn Honking]" "Where to?" "Ah, the Chicago Times." "You're the fellow that's writing those stories, ain't you?" " [ Mouths Word ]" " Seen the paper?" "[Bell Ringing]" "Hey, change that, will ya?" "Get me down to police headquarters fast as you can!" "Right away!" "McNeal ofthe Chicago Times." "First door on your left, Mr. McNeal." "Say, uh, did you make the enlargement of the photograph ofthis forged check here?" "Yes." "Why?" "I got a picture here." "I just wondered... could you blow that section ofthe picture up right there?" " Sure." " Would all the details come out on it?" " That depends." "You got the negative?" " No, that's all I got." " Well, then, I'd have to make a dupe." " How long would that take?" " Oh, couple ofhours." " What doyou think?" "Could you get started on it right away?" "Yes." "Butyou're McNeal at the Times, aren'tya?" " Been working on that Wiecek case." " That's right." "I'm McNeal." "At first, I thought this guywas guilty." "Now I don't know." "Let me take a look at it." " Hey, could I useyour phone?" " Sure." "Right over there." "I want to put in a person-to-person call to Mr. Martin J. Burns." "He's up at the state capitol in Springfield, Illinois." "That's right." "Yeah." "Sorry, gentlemen." "The Pardon Board is in special session." "The case of FrankWiecek." "Gentlemen, I feel somewhat at a loss... because I came here to ask that the petition of FrankWiecek be withdrawn." "However, about an hour ago, I received a telephone call... from James McNeal ofthe Chicago Times... who informs me he has uncovered the evidence we have been seeking." "It is conclusive evidence... that supports the petition of FrankWiecek." "You may present the evidence, Mr. Burns." "Unfortunately, gentlemen... my telephone conversation with Mr. McNeal was necessarily brief." "He's flying down to Springfield." "He should be here at any moment." "What evidence does he have?" " I'm afraid I don't know." " Mr. Chairman." " Mr. Faxon." " I object." "The state's attorney's office has the right to demand... orthodox conduct of this hearing." "Ifyou have conclusive evidence, present it." "Otherwise, we ask that the petition be denied here and now." "Mr. Faxon, we certainly intend to follow... orthodox procedure in this board of pardons." "[ No Audible Dialogue ]" "[ Whispering ] Kelly's sending it over the A.P. wire." " Haveyou got anything at all?" " I don't have a thing." "We'll just have to stall them." " Let me talk to them." " All right." "Mr. Chairman, gentlemen..." "I'd like to askyour permission to have Mr. McNeal ofthe Chicago Times... address the board." " Granted." " Thankyou, sir." "Mr. Chairman, gentlemen, I'd like to apologize for being late... but it was just impossible for me to get here sooner." "I, uh" " I don't know how much Mr. Burns has told you." "Strictly from a reporter's point ofview, understand..." "I've assembled what I feel is a very solid case." "And ofwhat does this case consist?" "Well, it consists of such debatable items as a lie-detector test." "Now, I realize thatyou're unable to accept that." "You want evidence." "But sometimes the weight of evidence, just because it's in the record... is heavy enough to crush the truth." "We'll discuss the shortcomings of our judicial system some other time, Mr. McNeal." "Yes, sir." "I'm sorry." "I realize that at the present time you want facts." "We have a notarized affidavit... from the bailiff ofJudge Moulton's court... that the judge felt that Wiecek did not receive a fair trial." "We have those documents before us, Mr. McNeal." "They could hardly be called conclusive." "Yes, sir." "But as you probably know from those documents..." "Gruska and Decker contradicted Wanda Skutnik's testimony, and those affidavits bear them out." "The board is aware ofthat, too, Mr. McNeal." "But Wanda Skutnik has not altered her testimony, has she?" "Wanda Skutnik lied from beginning to end!" "She lied about everything!" "You know, it's a veryfunnything about the statue ofjustice up there." "She has a sword in her hand." "It's a double-edged sword." "Cuts both ways." "It keeps cutting the ground out... from under everything in favor of Frank Wiecek... but the other side of it, that isn't so sharp." "It doesn't cut the ground out from underWanda Skutnik... and she's the only one responsible forWiecek's conviction!" "Now, I have a police record here that proves that Wiecekwas arrested... on the 22nd of December." "I have another one here... that proves he wasn't booked until the 23rd of December, one day later." "Okay." "Wanda Skutnik testified... that she didn't see him from the time ofthe murder... until the time she identified him in the police lineup." "Here's a photograph of FrankWiecek... and Wanda Skutnik together... going into a police station." "Now, take a look at that, gentlemen." "That's new." "And that's the basis of my conclusive evidence." "The two photostats ofthe police records... merely indicate that some time elapsed... between Wiecek's arrest and the time he was booked." "As a reporter, you know verywell that this is a common occurrence at police stations." "Yes, sir, but what about that photograph?" "It must be perfectly obvious toyou, Mr. McNeal... that we have no way ofknowing when this picture was taken." "Was it on the 22nd or the 23rd?" "Or during or after the trial?" "Yes, sir." "I know." "Gentlemen, that's what delayed me." "Now, ifl do prove that that photograph was taken on the 22nd of December... one day before Wanda Skutnik identified FrankWiecek in the police lineup" "How about that?" "What then?" "In that event, Mr. McNeal... we might be obliged to render a favorable decision." " But can you prove it?" " Yes, sir." "I think I can." "I just need a little time." "Time?" "Doyou mean to say thatyou still have no corroborating evidence?" "No, I'm not sure." "The police laboratory down in Chicago is enlarging... this section ofthe photograph." " Now, ifthe enlarging process" " Yes, I know." "But how long will this take?" "As soon as the enlargement is developed, they're gonna send it... over the wire photo system from the Chicago Times... to the Illinois StateJournal, which is just a few blocks down here." "Now, all I ask, gentlemen, is that you go down there..." " and see that thing with me." " I object!" "The methods of publicity previously used in behalf ofthe plaintiff... indicate that this may rightly be regarded as an attempt... to make journalistic capital ofthis hearing." "Iam authorizedbythe state's attorney's office to state categorically... that in the opinion of our office, the facts set forth in Wiecek's behalf.... do not indicate that he was a victim of a miscarriage of justice." "We're here to protect the interests of the people ofthis state..." " not to sell newspapers." " Mr. Chairman... gentlemen... the governor ordered this hearing for the purpose... of arriving at the truth." "Ifyou fail to consider every item of evidence... no matter how improperly presented... you have defeated the very purpose ofthis hearing." "What is your decision, Mr. Chairman?" "Gentlemen, we'll go." " Areyou clear to Springfield?" " Yes, sir." "The wire's open." "Well, hold it open." "I'll have the picture in a minute." " Which one's McNeal?" " Yeah, right here." "Here are a couple of prints that came in a while ago from Kelly ofthe Times." "This one's blown up a hundred times." "This one 140." " He said you'd understand." " Okay." "Thanks very much." "Excuse me." "Ask them ifthey're ready." " Springfield, areyou ready for this picture?" " We're ready." " Okay." "Here's the final lineup." " Okay." "All ready, Mr. McNeal." "Gentlemen, let me explain toyou what's happening here." "As you remember, this is the picture I showed you before." "And this is the area we're working on right here-- the newsboy." "All right." "Now, this print is that area... enlarged a hundred times." "And this print is that same area... enlarged 140 times." "Now, the picture coming in now... is this area right in here... blown up as big as possible." "Well, what doyou expect to find in the enlargement?" "The date on the newspaper held in the newsboy's hand." "Is that possible?" "Frankly, I don't know, sir." "It depends on a whole lot ofthings-- the condition ofthe dupe negative, the density ofthe print, the" "I've been doing a little praying too." "That's it, Mr. McNeal." "Excuse me, please." " How long will this take?" " Oh, it's a positive print." "Shouldn't take long." "You can come along with me ifyou want." "This way, gentlemen." "Remember, this is the area I showed you." "There." "It's beginning to come through." "Now, what's the date?" "What's the date?" ""December"" "There it is! "December 22."" "Twenty-second of December!" "There it is!" " Good-bye, Warden." " Good luck, Frank." "Thankyou." "A new suit and ten bucks." "Almost a dollar a year." "Oh, look, Frank." "It's a big thing when a sovereign state admits an error." "Remember this" " There aren't many governments in the world that would do it." "That's my daddy!" "Daddy!" "[ Polish ]" " Helen." " Frank." " Frank, this is" " Yeah, I know." "I want to thankyou for everything you've done for Helen and the boy." "And I wantyou to know, you can have the boy with you wheneveryou want him..." " and for as long as you like." " Thanks." "It's a good world... outside." "[Narrator] Yes, it's a good world outside." "And Frank Wiecek is free-- free because of a mother's faith... the courage ofa newspaper... and one reporter's refusal to accept defeat."