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  • A Just Verdict (1912)
  • Short | Drama, Short
A Just Verdict (1912)
Short | Drama, Short
Dorothy Ellis and Frank Dean are in love, but Dorothy's father objects owing to Frank's lack of wealth. While the two sweethearts are engaged in target practice, Ellis angrily orders Dean to leave and a quarrel ensues, which same is ...See moreDorothy Ellis and Frank Dean are in love, but Dorothy's father objects owing to Frank's lack of wealth. While the two sweethearts are engaged in target practice, Ellis angrily orders Dean to leave and a quarrel ensues, which same is overheard by the servants. Dorothy tearfully pleads for Dean, but in vain and he leaves, forgetting his revolver (upon which is engraved his monogram) which Mr. Ellis finds, and places in his pocket. John Warner, a friend of Mr. Ellis, arrives for a short visit the same day that Ellis receives a telegram informing him that, through his reckless speculations, the bank will be compelled to close its doors. Ellis, after the household has retired, writes a letter to Dorothy, enclosing the telegram, which he leaves upon the library table, from the drawer of which he takes Dean's revolver and shoots himself. In the meantime. Warner, who is a somnambulist, has arisen from his bed, donned his bathrobe and descends to the library, just as Ellis has fallen dead with his head resting upon the table. As Warner, still asleep, reaches Ellis, he stumbles over the body, one hand grasps the revolver, the other the letter. Awakening with the revolver in his hand and seeing the dead body, Warner decides that he has killed Ellis while asleep, and, panic stricken, rushes back to his room. Unconsciously he has slipped the letter in his bathrobe. When he reaches his room, he discovers blood stains and, as he is called by the excited members of the household, he hurriedly removes the robe and places it in the bottom drawer of the bureau. The police are summoned and the body is found alongside of which lies the revolver with Dean's name upon it. The butler tells of the quarrel which he overheard between the two men and upon the strength of this evidence, Dean is arrested and accused of the murder. Warner is summoned to serve on the jury which will try the case and determines to save the latter, whom he knows to be innocent. The day of the trial arrives and Dorothy, ill from the shock, is confined to her home. The household maid, in cleaning up the guest chamber which had been occupied by Warner and vacant since the tragedy, finds the bathrobe from the pocket of which the note drops. She hurries to her mistress, who, amazed at the maid's discovery, is quick to realize that she can save her lover's life. Hurriedly donning a wrap and hat, she hastens to the stable, saddles and mounts her horse and starts for the courtroom, arriving just in time to prevent Warner's confession and save Dean from conviction. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
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Producer
Siegmund Lubin
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Jan 18, 1912
Release date
Jan 18, 1912 (United States)

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