“I do have proof,” Kittering said.
“Very well,” Judge Knox observed. “Go on with your cross-examination, Mr. Mason.”
“Did you tell the district attorney at first that the time was ten o’clock?” Mason asked.
“I didn’t mention any time.”
“I see,” Mason said. “You told the officers that you had called Hogarty. They then explained to you that it was important to fix the time of that call because if it was after ten-twenty, it would mean they couldn’t convict Alden Leeds of the murder. Isn’t that right?”
“Well, we had a talk. They told me some things and I told them some.”
“Did they explain to you the importance of the time element before you mentioned the exact time of that telephone conversation to them?”
“Well, yes.”
“And you were shrewd enough to realize that this might give you an advantage, so you made some statement to the effect that you saw no reason why you should co-operate with the officers if they were going to raid your place of business, and arrest you on a felony charge, did you not?”
“Well, naturally, I didn’t feel any too cordial.”