A Departmental Case's primary photo
  • A Departmental Case (1917)
  • Short | Short, Comedy, Drama
Primary photo for A Departmental Case
A Departmental Case (1917)
Short | Short, Comedy, Drama
Luke Coonrod Standifer, a stern but warmhearted old pioneer Texan, has been appointed Commissioner of Insurance, Statistics and History, and though his knowledge of these subjects is meager, he sets about his task conscientiously. One day ...See moreLuke Coonrod Standifer, a stern but warmhearted old pioneer Texan, has been appointed Commissioner of Insurance, Statistics and History, and though his knowledge of these subjects is meager, he sets about his task conscientiously. One day Luke is surprised in his office by the visit of a young but faded woman who came for state relief. Luke discovers she is the daughter of an old friend, Amos Colvin, and that her husband is the notorious "bad man" Benton Sharp. Benton had insured his life, paying a year's premiums in advance. Amos Colvin had died, meanwhile, and Sharp had immediately sold and gambled away the small holding Colvin left. Afterward he struck Amanda because she could not comply with his demand for more money. Luke becomes agitated and righteously indignant. Leaving Amanda he enters the office of the Treasurer, "Uncle Frank," a great friend of his. Luke learns none of the state appropriation can be secured for Amos Colvin's child without a lot of red tape. He returns and asks Amanda to call in two days. He learns before she leaves that Sharp is in San Antonio. Taking from a locker a curious holster and revolver, he sits down to think. Two days later Luke is smoking in his office when the Treasurer hustles in with a newspaper, and calls attention to a paragraph which states Benton Sharp has been shot in a restaurant by Luke Standifer, who had clumsily dropped his hat on Sharp's head, Sharp at once becoming ugly and reaching for his gun. The paper says such a wonderful exhibition of quick gun play as Luke's had never been seen in the South West. Luke modestly admits the adventure and a few minutes later Amanda calls and receives the $5,000 insurance and the assurance of having obtained a noble friendship. Luke remarks, "You see, Amanda, statistics and history were so bound up in red tape that missed fire; but we came out particularly strong on insurance." Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
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Director
Martin Justice
Writers
O. Henry (story) | Harry Southwell
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Jul 31, 1917
Release date
Jul 1917 (United States)

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