Public Defender "Wade Foster"
30min | Crime, Drama | TV Series (1954– )
Bart Matthews defends the poor and others who cannot afford an attorney. All episodes are based on actual cases from across the country.
Creators: Mort R. Lewis, Sam Shayon
Stars: Reed Hadley, Herschel Graham, John Close
30min | Crime, Drama | TV Series (1954– )
Bart Matthews defends the poor and others who cannot afford an attorney. All episodes are based on actual cases from across the country.
Creators: Mort R. Lewis, Sam Shayon
Stars: Reed Hadley, Herschel Graham, John Close
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00A public defender is an attorney employed by the community and responsible for giving
00:19legal aid without cost to any person who seeks it and is financially unable to employ private
00:25counsel.
00:27It is his duty to defend those accused of crime until the issue is decided in the court
00:31of law.
00:32The first public defender's office in the United States was opened in January 1913.
00:39Over the years, other offices were opened, and today that handful has grown to a network,
00:45a network of lawyers cooperating to protect the rights of our clients.
00:51One of the most important men in the public defender's office is the trained investigator.
00:56It is from him that the public defender receives the majority of the information used in the
01:02defense of his clients.
01:04One such man is Edward McGrath, investigator, public defender's office, Los Angeles, who
01:11worked night and day to get me the facts on case 37423.
01:17You versus Wade Layton Foster.
01:21You have an attorney?
01:22No, sir.
01:23Do you have the money to employ an attorney?
01:26No, your honor, I don't.
01:28Public defender appointed.
01:42That afternoon, I had my first interview with my client in the lawyer's room on the tenth
01:46floor of the Hall of Justice.
01:48His charge, armed robbery.
01:50His plea, not guilty.
01:51And so you see, Mr. Matthews, I wasn't even in California at the time they say the holdup
01:55took place.
01:56And that was on May 29th at about 11 a.m.?
02:00I was in Las Vegas.
02:01Have been since last Christmas.
02:03Did you have a job?
02:04Oh, yes, sir.
02:05I worked for Mr. Bascom.
02:06He owns the Desert Flower Land Development Company.
02:08I was a salesman, a good one.
02:10And why were you let out?
02:11Well, you can't sell much land when it's 120 in the shade.
02:14No, I guess not.
02:15So I sold my car and headed for L.A.
02:19What kind of car?
02:20Oh, it didn't get much for it.
02:21It was a 46 Ford Coupe.
02:23Color?
02:24Blue.
02:25And when did you get to Los Angeles?
02:28Well, uh, this is Tuesday, isn't it?
02:31Yes.
02:32It was four weeks ago today, July the third.
02:35Can you prove that?
02:36I mean with the ticket stub from the bus or train, you know.
02:39Oh, no.
02:40I hitch rides.
02:41Must have had about ten of them.
02:42And you can't remember any of the people who picked you up?
02:45No, sir.
02:48Now, it says here that you were picked up on a vagrancy charge
02:51in the Pershing Square area on July 10th.
02:54Your property file shows that you only had a dollar and 12 cents at the time.
02:58Well, you know how it is, Mr. Matthews.
02:59A fellow who lives in Vegas for a while
03:01thinks he's pretty good with the dice.
03:03Some boys on the east side proved me wrong.
03:05I see.
03:08How did the police tie you in with the robbery?
03:12Well, I guess I was in Lincoln Heights Jail about three days.
03:15They found out I was a two-time loser.
03:17Oh, but that was a long time ago, sir.
03:19So, every day they pushed me in the show up
03:21figuring somebody pinned something on me.
03:23There's the one.
03:24That one.
03:25The second one from the right.
03:27Foster, step out.
03:29He's the one who stole the money.
03:30He's the one who did it.
03:31I never forget a face.
03:34And she said there's the one who did it.
03:36But, Mr. Matthews, I didn't even know what I was being accused of
03:39until the preliminary hearing.
03:40At which time you pleaded not guilty.
03:42Yes, sir.
03:44Now, do you know anyone in Las Vegas whom we could contact
03:47who could testify that you were there on May 29th?
03:49Well, sure.
03:50The guy I worked for,
03:51the lady who runs the motel I lived at,
03:53and my girlfriend.
03:54She'd remember.
03:55Fine.
03:56Could I have their names and addresses?
03:57You believe me, Mr. Matthews.
03:59You believe I'm innocent.
04:01If I didn't, Wade,
04:02I'd advise you to change your plea to guilty.
04:07Owen, will you make a reservation
04:09for the 30 flight tonight for Las Vegas?
04:12Come in.
04:13No, Ed McGrath is, Jane.
04:16I'll have him pick up the tickets from you.
04:18Yes, right.
04:21Mrs. Blair,
04:22I'm sorry to bring you all the way downtown,
04:24but since you're the one who identified Mr. Foster...
04:27Well, I'm getting quite used to it.
04:29You'll know Mr. McGrath, my investigator.
04:32Oh!
04:33A private eye!
04:35How nice!
04:36Mrs. Blair,
04:37I've been going over the crime report,
04:39and your description of the suspect
04:41and the man now being held for the crime
04:43does not coincide.
04:44But that's not possible!
04:46Would you mind telling us once again,
04:48Mrs. Blair, what really happened?
04:50Well, it was the 29th of May, wasn't it?
04:53Yes, that's right.
04:54And we were having our annual charity golf tournament.
04:57I'm co-chairman, you know.
04:59And there were thousands of people.
05:01Well, it was about 11 o'clock,
05:04because the last foursome had just teed off,
05:06and we were left quite deserted at the gate.
05:09Mr. Mooney, the treasurer of the club,
05:11was helping me put the money away
05:13when this man walked up.
05:15That'll be $2, please.
05:17You'll have to hurry if you're going to get your money's worth.
05:25I'll never forget it.
05:26There was a gun pointing right at me.
05:28I couldn't take my eyes off it.
05:30Now, that being the case,
05:31how were you able to identify the man?
05:33How were you able to identify my client
05:35and the police show up?
05:37Mr. Matthews, you're twisting my words.
05:39No, Mrs. Blair.
05:41I just want to know why you say here
05:43that the suspect was blonde,
05:45and yet you identified my client who was dark-haired.
05:48Well, he was wearing a hat.
05:50That's not in your report, Mrs. Blair.
05:52It doesn't?
05:53No, it's not.
05:55Well, he was young,
05:57and I thought he was wearing a hat.
06:00Is that better?
06:02Why didn't you call for help?
06:04We did, but by that time he was in his car and away.
06:07Do you know the make of the car?
06:09These new models, they all look alike to me.
06:12Do you remember the color?
06:14Oh, that I remember.
06:16It was red.
06:17Did you get the number of the plates?
06:20Plates?
06:21The license number.
06:23My dear man, without my glasses,
06:26I could barely see the car.
06:28Oh, Mrs. Blair,
06:30your estimated loss was $2,700
06:33in small bills and silver.
06:35Were there any checks?
06:37No, it was all in cash.
06:39You've been a big help, Mrs. Blair.
06:41Thank you for coming down.
06:58Well, Ed, I think we're making a headway.
07:01What's the next step?
07:03Here's a list of names and addresses in Las Vegas.
07:06I want you to check on Foster's alibi.
07:09Las Vegas in August? It's hot, Barry.
07:11It cools off in the evening.
07:13You're on the 930 plane tonight.
07:28Excuse me, could I see you a minute, miss?
07:52Yeah.
07:56You Margot Lane?
07:58You're a cop or do I owe you money?
08:00Do you know a Wade Foster?
08:02Yeah, he used to come in here.
08:04When did you see him last?
08:06Listen, mister, why all the questions?
08:08Oh, uh...
08:10Here's one reason.
08:12What's he done?
08:14We hope nothing.
08:16Maybe you can help us prove it.
08:18That table...
08:20We can talk over there.
08:23I'm sorry, Mr. McGrath.
08:25You get a lot of questions from a lot of characters in a place like this.
08:29Sure, I know how that is.
08:31You work here, huh?
08:33Sort of. I'm a show.
08:35I play on the house money when things get slow.
08:38How's Wade?
08:41Oh, here's his latest picture.
08:49You like Wade Foster, don't you?
08:53I like him better without a number.
08:56What's he up for?
08:58Armed robbery in L.A.
08:59Oh, no!
09:01When?
09:02Last May. May 29th.
09:04May 29th?
09:07May 29th in Los Angeles?
09:09Mm-hmm.
09:10Why, he couldn't have. He was with me here.
09:13You sure about that? That was over two months ago.
09:15Oh, I remember. I had the day off because of a holiday weekend coming up.
09:19Wade said if he closed the deal, we'd do the town that night.
09:22A deal?
09:24Yeah, he had a date with some rich guy at the Peacock Inn to sell him some land.
09:28That was about five o'clock in the afternoon.
09:31What time did you meet him?
09:33About eight.
09:34How about the deal?
09:36Oh, he closed it.
09:37We spent the commission that night.
09:39Fifty bucks.
09:42We did the town.
09:44Well, what about the night before? May 28th?
09:47No, he was in here with another prospect.
09:50That guy lost his shirt before he could sell him enough land to stand on.
09:54Miss Lane, would you be willing to testify to what you just told me in court?
09:58Sure.
10:00All I want is my husband back.
10:04Your husband?
10:06Well, you might as well know everything.
10:09We were married last March in Boulder City.
10:12Go on.
10:13Well, I had to keep it a secret.
10:15I don't hire married gals for my kind of work.
10:18I need them to study money.
10:20Sure, I understand how that is.
10:23Look, I've got to go. Business is getting slow.
10:26All right.
10:28Anything you want me to tell Wade?
10:30Would you?
10:31Sure.
10:32Well, tell him, if he gets home for Christmas,
10:36to bring a present for the baby.
10:46Ed McGrath was hot but happy when he called the next morning
10:49to report on his interview with Margo Lane.
10:52He was almost certain she could provide us with the airtight alibi we needed for our client.
10:58The picture became even better when Ed learned at Harry's Garage
11:01that my client's car had been laid up for repairs from May 27th until June 2nd,
11:07and that he never had seen Wade Foster driving a red car.
11:11His next stop was to see Horace Bascom,
11:14Wade Foster's former employer.
11:16Well, Mr. McGrath, glad you dropped in.
11:19But I don't want you to say yes or no until you take plenty of time to think it over.
11:22I will not high-pressure a man.
11:24I didn't come out to buy a lot in your development, Mr. Bascom.
11:26I tell you that I would have a guilty conscience if I let you pass up that golden opportunity.
11:31Why, you can double your money in a year.
11:33I don't want to double my money.
11:35You don't? Why?
11:38I'm out here, Mr. Bascom, to try and help Wade Foster.
11:41Was he working for you here in Las Vegas last May 28th and 29th?
11:45May 28th?
11:46Yes, that he was, but just to be sure, I'll look in the appointment book.
11:49Keep an appointment book, huh?
11:50Oh, yes, it's a necessary function in the real estate business.
11:53May 28th, huh?
11:55Well, here we are.
11:57Yep, he had an appointment at 10, 1.30, and 3.
12:01Yeah, he didn't make a sale.
12:03What about the next day?
12:04May 29th.
12:05Yep, had an appointment at, uh, 10.
12:09No, that is canceled.
12:11Fool lost his money in a crap game.
12:13Then?
12:14Ah, then he met Mr. March at 5 and sold a lot 4.12 for $2,000.
12:19What's his commission?
12:20Two and a half percent.
12:22$50, huh?
12:23Yeah, that's $50.
12:24Mm-hmm.
12:25Okay, Mr. Bascom, thanks for your trouble.
12:27No, no trouble at all.
12:29May I have to ask you to give a deposition?
12:31Be glad to, always glad to help a client.
12:33Oh, uh, one more thing.
12:35Yes, sir?
12:36Do you have a company car?
12:37Company car?
12:39A foster's car was laid up at the time.
12:41Now, whose car was he driving when he brought his client out here?
12:43Well, I don't know where he got it, but it certainly made a good impression.
12:46You remember what it looked like?
12:48Why, of course I do.
12:49Brand new Plymouth Sedan.
12:51Must be hundreds of those cars around.
12:53Why do you remember that one?
12:54Because it was my favorite color, red.
12:57Yes, sir, fire engine red.
13:01Okay, thanks, Mr. Bascom.
13:03Well, now, look here, 412's gone, but that 411 lot next door to Jim and Danny,
13:07if you don't get back in an hour, it'll be gone!
13:13Sure, there are lots of shades of red.
13:15That doesn't prove anything.
13:17Well, good, Ed, you keep right at it.
13:19Where are you calling from?
13:20I can hardly hear you.
13:22I'm at Mabel's Motel, where Foster used to live.
13:26Look, Bart, I'll call you back later, okay?
13:29All right, goodbye.
13:31Listen, Ryan, will you turn that thing off just a minute?
13:34I can hear you all right.
13:36When you've got ten rooms to clean and nobody to help with the work,
13:38you ain't got time to stop and talk.
13:40Well, how long did Foster live here?
13:41Oh, about six, seven months.
13:43Nice boy, always paid his rent on time.
13:46Mind moving your feet?
13:48Did he ever stay out all night?
13:50No, sir, on that you can be sure.
13:52How's that?
13:53Well, lots of people stay in here getting divorced.
13:55Lots of them used me as a witness.
13:56They've been here six weeks.
13:57You ain't never been divorced?
13:58No, ma'am.
13:59It takes that long, and you can't be away for more than 24 hours at a time.
14:02I got a front room and a bad case of insomnia.
14:05I know when you're in, and I know when you ain't.
14:08Well, do you own a red Plymouth sedan?
14:10Don't have a car.
14:11Why would I have time to drive one?
14:13Did Mr. Foster own one?
14:15No, owned an old Ford.
14:17Sold it the day he left here.
14:19Well, that does this room.
14:20Anything else you want to know?
14:22Yes, are you positive Mr. Foster was here the night of May 28th?
14:25Look, mister, like I told you before,
14:27it's my business to remember when they ain't here.
14:30We have to call you as a witness in this case.
14:32I get 25 a day in expenses.
14:34Mrs. Leroy, this is not a divorce trial.
14:36Well, he's been hitched to a crime, ain't he?
14:37Yep.
14:38And you're trying to separate him from it, ain't you?
14:40That's right.
14:41That's divorce in my book, 25 a day in expenses.
14:44Good day.
14:45Standing on the court.
14:47Sorry, sorry.
14:48Thanks a lot, Mrs. Leroy.
14:50Hey, that 25 has got to be in cash.
14:58Oh.
15:04Yes, sir, may I be of service?
15:06Yeah, I want to ride a car.
15:08Well, here's our stable.
15:10They're all brand new in perfect condition.
15:13How about this one?
15:14A sedan.
15:15A sedan?
15:16In this weather?
15:17A convertible would be the kind of car that...
15:19I don't like convertibles.
15:20What color is the sedan?
15:22Well, you won't like that either.
15:23It's red.
15:24Red?
15:28Do you recognize this man?
15:31No.
15:32No, I don't think so.
15:34Should I?
15:35How long have you worked here?
15:36Only since June the 15th.
15:38You keep a record of all the cars you rent?
15:40Certainly.
15:41That's the law.
15:42How about the names of everyone who rented this car last May?
15:51There you are, Lieutenant.
15:54You are a policeman, aren't you?
15:58What's the mileage from here to L.A.?
16:00Exactly 289 miles.
16:02Public defender's office, huh?
16:04Uh-huh.
16:05I'm driving about 5, 5 1⁄2 hours, huh?
16:07We recommend 6 1⁄2.
16:10May 28th.
16:12Went out at 5 p.m.
16:14Returned May 31st, 9 a.m.
16:16Total mileage, 722.
16:18Signed, W. Foster.
16:20I'd like to rent this car for a few hours.
16:23Yes, sir, I'll make out the papers.
16:24Mind if I keep this long enough to have a photostat made?
16:27Well, what's the matter?
16:28Did the fella get in trouble of some kind?
16:30Stayed sure that he paid for it.
16:32He paid the first installment.
16:34I beg your pardon?
16:36Unless I'm wrong, you'll be paying for it for a long time to come.
16:50And that's all the cars up until midnight, May the 28th.
16:53Now, this page is for May 29th.
16:55From 12.01 a.m. on.
16:57What was that license number again?
16:59Uh, Nevada plate 69544.
17:02Nevada, Nevada.
17:03Oh, yes, here it is.
17:05Now, that car was logged going through here at 7.44 a.m., May the 29th.
17:10Would you give me an affidavit of that effect, inspector?
17:12I'd be glad to, Mr. McGrath.
17:13Do you have any record of the car leaving California?
17:15No, sir.
17:16Only the cars that come into the state.
17:18Oh, hi, Charlie.
17:19Hot enough for you?
17:20Not too bad.
17:21Say, do you belong to that red Plymouth parked outside?
17:23Yeah, why?
17:24Anything wrong, officer?
17:25Ah, you don't look like the same fellow.
17:27What?
17:28I'll bet it's the same car.
17:29I should know it.
17:30I chased it for nearly 20 miles.
17:32Oh?
17:33Caught up with it just outside Barstow.
17:35He was doing nearly 90.
17:36When was this?
17:37Oh, a couple of months ago.
17:38Yeah, it was around the end of May.
17:40Gave him a ticket, but he never showed up in court.
17:42Was he headed east or west?
17:43Toward Vegas.
17:45I guess he was in a hurry to get there and lose his money.
17:49I'm afraid he was in a hurry to get there and save it.
17:51I'll wait for that affidavit, inspector.
17:53Oh, from the public defender's office.
17:57Well, it looks pretty bad now.
17:59I figure he left Vegas about 5 in the morning.
18:01That would put him into the Irma inspection station at 744.
18:04Pretty fast going.
18:05Well, it's all desert country.
18:06There's not much traffic.
18:08Anyway, he could easily get from there into Los Angeles by 11 o'clock in the morning.
18:12Go on.
18:13Well, if he left here a little after 11,
18:15that would give him almost six hours to get back to Vegas to keep his 5 o'clock appointment.
18:19You're cutting it pretty thin.
18:22How about that speeding ticket he got here?
18:24Oh, we don't know it was Foster.
18:26We're not even sure it was his car.
18:28Suppose it has his name on it.
18:29Officer said he signed it.
18:30He could have used a phony name.
18:32I'd like to bet he didn't.
18:34Who are you working for, Ed?
18:35Me or the district attorney?
18:37Now, wait a minute, Bart.
18:38You told me to get the facts, and I did.
18:39I don't like them any better than you do.
18:41Yeah, I know, Ed.
18:42Better to find them out now than learn them from the prosecution in court.
18:46Yeah.
18:47If he did get the ticket, I wonder what he did with it.
18:51What do you do with a ticket when you get one?
18:54Put it in my wallet.
18:55Most people do.
18:56Let's see if Foster did.
19:13Sure carries a lot of business cards.
19:15Uh-huh.
19:16Helps in the real estate business.
19:21His wife?
19:22Yeah.
19:23Pretty, huh?
19:24Yeah.
19:32What do you think?
19:33I don't know.
19:34I don't know.
19:35I don't know.
19:36I don't know.
19:37I don't know.
19:38I don't know.
19:39I don't know.
19:40I don't know.
19:41I don't know.
19:45What time did you figure you'd have to get this in order to be in Las Vegas at 5 p.m.?
19:50Between 2.15 and 2.30.
19:522.25, May 29th.
19:54Look at the signature.
19:57W.L. Foster.
20:00I don't think the chief was too happy about letting us in after hours.
20:03I told him I had a good reason.
20:04I don't ask too many favors.
20:05Yeah.
20:08Oh, Sam.
20:09Why, glad to see you.
20:11Oh, what's up?
20:12Something big must have happened to bring you down here this time of night.
20:14You'll know, Mr. McGrath.
20:16Well, sure.
20:17He's working on my case.
20:18How's it going?
20:19Not so good, Wade.
20:20Oh, what do you mean?
20:21Didn't you go to Vegas, like you said?
20:22Just got back.
20:24Oh, that's swell.
20:25Well, what'd you find out?
20:26Plenty.
20:27Yeah, I know, but what?
20:29I found out you were a good planner.
20:31Huh?
20:32And a better liar.
20:35Is this a rib or something?
20:37It's no joke, Wade.
20:39Well, didn't you talk to Margo?
20:40I saw her.
20:41And Mr. Baskin?
20:42He was a big help.
20:43And all those other people I told you to see.
20:45Harry and Mrs. LeRoy.
20:46You forgot about the Desert Auto Rental Company.
20:49I don't know anybody there.
20:50You should.
20:51Paid them a lot of money.
20:53$82.98.
20:56This is your signature, isn't it?
20:59What's it for?
21:00A red Plymouth sedan.
21:05We have other copies.
21:07What about this speeding ticket you got outside Barstow?
21:09The afternoon of the robbery.
21:13Whose side are you on, anyhow?
21:15Yours.
21:17What did you do with the money?
21:19You'll never find it.
21:21What about the gun you used?
21:22Wouldn't you like to know?
21:24Want me to tell you how you did it?
21:25I don't want to hear nothing from you.
21:27Now, let's get one thing straight.
21:29Are you working for me?
21:31I'm your attorney, yes.
21:32Well, then start acting like one and help me beat this rap.
21:35You aren't going to beat it, Wade.
21:37Huh?
21:38Remember this, you're a two-time loser.
21:40If you're found guilty, you're liable to get ten years to life.
21:43Well, I'm not going to be found guilty.
21:45Then take my advice.
21:47Yeah?
21:48Change your plea to guilty and throw yourself in the mercy of the court.
21:51What?
21:52You might get off with five to ten.
21:56Tell me something, Mr. Matthews.
21:58All this information that you and your buddy here found out,
22:01who does it belong to?
22:03The public defender's office.
22:05The DA doesn't have it?
22:06I don't know what information the district attorney has.
22:09But you could give it to him.
22:11No.
22:13Now, what we know remains with us.
22:15It cannot be subpoenaed.
22:17Well, then I got news for you, Mr. Public Defender.
22:20As of one minute ago, you're fired.
22:22I don't need a lawyer. I can defend myself.
22:24And in case you didn't know it, I'm married to Margo.
22:27And she'll testify I wasn't out of her sight the 29th of May.
22:29And the state can't make a testify against me.
22:31Now, what do you say to that, Mr. Matthews?
22:33That's your privilege, Wade.
22:35The public defender can never be a party to perjury.
22:38With my record, why do I care about perjury?
22:40Hey, copper!
22:42Unlock the golden gate and let me back with the nice people.
22:48All that time and work,
22:50and yet it turned out like that.
22:52You did your best, didn't you?
22:54Yeah, sure, but I feel like such a sucker.
22:56I believed him.
22:58Yeah, so did I.
23:00But what would have happened if we didn't do our best
23:01and an innocent man was found guilty?
23:03Yeah.
23:05Sure, I know you're right.
23:07Well, at least there's one thing I can be thankful for.
23:10What's that?
23:12I won't have to represent him again.
23:14I wouldn't be too sure of that.
23:16I'm planning to retire in 15 years, remember?
23:18So?
23:20Well, he's gonna be out of circulation for at least 20.
23:22Wade Foster, acting on his own behalf,
23:24went to trial four weeks later.
23:26He was found guilty of armed robbery
23:27and was sentenced to 20 years to life in the state prison.
23:30You see, the district attorney's office
23:32also has trained investigators.
23:35The case you have just seen
23:37was brought to a fair and just conclusion
23:39through the efforts of a public defender.
23:43Public defender George Gilman,
23:45New London County,
23:47New London, Connecticut,
23:49and his staff for outstanding achievement
23:51in the cause of justice.
23:57© BF-WATCH TV 2021
24:27© BF-WATCH TV 2021
24:57© BF-WATCH TV 2021