Chapter IV
Lieutenant Martin Kirk shoved the pile of mimeographed pages aside. Three hours spent in going through the complete transcript of the Cordell trial and nothing to show for it but stiff muscles and an aching head.
Give it up, a small voice in the back of his mind urged. You haven't got a leg to stand on as far as getting any action out of the authorities. Troy and his gang put the fear of God in that purple-eyed dame and shipped her out of the State. You lose, brother—and so does that poor devil up in Death's Row.
He drummed his fingers over and over on the arm of his chair and listened to the every-day sounds of a normal day at the Homicide Bureau. A new day, a new set of problems, and why knock yourself out over something that doesn't concern you? Thing to do was go down to the corner tavern and have a couple of fast ones and watch an old movie on television. Yes sir, that's exactly what he'd do!
He went back to the mimeographed pages.
For the fourth time he read through Cordell's testimony of what had happened that October afternoon. And it was there that he came across the first possible break in the stone wall.
Once more Martin Kirk went over the few lines, although by this time he could have come close to reciting them from memory. It was an excerpt from Arthur Kahler Troy's cross-examination of the defendant after Cordell's counsel, in a last desperate effort to swing the tide of a losing battle, had placed him on the stand.
Q: (by Troy): Now, Mr. Cordell, I direct your attention to the point in your testimony at which first entered Professor Gilmore's outer office. At what time was this?
A: At about 5:45 p.m.
Q: Who was in the office at that time?
A: Alma Dakin, the Professor's secretary. And a couple of students—although they were at the other end of the room and I didn't pay much attention to them.
Q: But you did pay attention, as you call it, to Miss Dakin?
A: Well, I spoke to her, if that's what you mean.
Q: That's exactly what I mean, Mr. Cordell. And what was it you said to her?
A: Something about it was too late in the day to be working so hard.
Q: That was all?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Remember, Mr. Cordell, you're under oath. Now I ask you again: Was that all you said to her at that time?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: It isn't possible you've forgotten some additional remark? Think carefully, please.
A: No, sir. That's all I said. I swear it.
Q: Very well. Now how well do you know Miss Dakin?
A: Just to speak to.
Q: Have you ever seen her outside Professor Gilmore's office?
A: No, sir.
Q: Ever ask her for a date?
A: No, sir.
Q: Did you ever have an argument with her? A discussion of any kind that may have become a bit heated?
A: No, sir.
Q: Then to your knowledge she'd have no reason to dislike you?
A: No, sir.
Q: Very good. Now, Mr. Cordell, I want to read to you an excerpt from the testimony given by Miss Dakin in this court. "Mr. Cordell was looking very angry when he came in. He came up to me and bent down over the desk and said so low I could hardly hear him: 'Hi, Alma. You think the Prof's through making love to my wife?'" I now ask you, Paul Cordell, isn't that what you said to Alma Dakin? Not that she was working too hard, or whatever it was you claimed to have said.
A: No, sir. I didn't say anything like she said I did. I wouldn't insult my wife by saying such a thing to a third—
Q: Just answer the questions, Mr. Cordell. Then you contend that Miss Dakin deliberately lied in her testimony.
A: She was mistaken.
Q: Oh, come now! Miss Dakin is an intelligent girl; she couldn't misunderstand or twist your words to that extent. Now could she?
A: Then she lied. I never said anything like that.
Q: What reason would she have for lying, Mr. Cordell? By your own statement she hardly knew you, always greeted you pleasantly on the times you came to the office, never got into any arguments with you, and never saw you outside the office. She had worked for Professor Gilmore for five or six months, has excellent references, and is well liked by her friends. Yet you're asking us to believe that she coldly and deliberately lied to get you into trouble. Is that true?
A: All I know is she lied.