In the Web of the Grafters - Production & Contact Info

In the Web of the Grafters (1916)
Crime, Drama

Primary photo for In the Web of the Grafters

In the Web of the Grafters (1916)

Crime, Drama

Bruce Kerrigan, a member of the traffic police, is selected to act as a graft-collecting tool for Mat McGuire, a politician. While directing traffic at his corner one morning, Kerrigan becomes acquainted with the mayor's daughter, Ethel ...See moreBruce Kerrigan, a member of the traffic police, is selected to act as a graft-collecting tool for Mat McGuire, a politician. While directing traffic at his corner one morning, Kerrigan becomes acquainted with the mayor's daughter, Ethel Drew, when her auto collides with another machine. Ethel requests her father to have "Officer 405" assigned for special duty as doorman at the Mayor's reception that night. While on duty at the reception, Kerrigan captures Whitey, the dope, who enters the mayor's study to steal evidence which the mayor has secured regarding the operation of gambling houses and other vice centers. Later Kerrigan is caught in the act of collecting graft, and when he will not divulge the name of the man higher up, he is discharged from the police force. Assuming the disguise of a crippled tramp, he gets employment as a janitor in McGuire's political club, where he is able to steal the evidence secured by Whitey from the mayor's home. Ethel is kidnapped and carried to the house of Madam Adelaide, where the mayor is lured to be enmeshed in a scandal. Kerrigan discovers the fate of Ethel, and hastens to the house, where he finds her locked in a room, and escapes with her from the house. Upon the mayor's arrival, he is lured to a room in which he is locked with a woman, to be discovered there in a few minutes later by the ring of grafters. Returning to his home, the mayor finds Kerrigan and his daughter. He wrongly accuses Kerrigan, and orders him from the house. Kerrigan meets Ethel outside and she persuades him to go to her father to explain his and her presence at the Madam's. The mayor will not listen and Kerrigan is again ordered to leave the house. A hand is seen to enter between the curtains of the mayor's study, firing a shot which kills the mayor. Ethel finds her father dead. Kerrigan climbs in through the window at the sound of the shot, and the two are in the room with the mayor's body, when police arrive at the summons of the butler. Although Ethel tries to confess the murder, Kerrigan is accused by Whitey. Kerrigan escapes from the room, and assumes a disguise to ferret out the murderer. During a secret meeting with Ethel, Kerrigan's disguise is penetrated by Whitey, who learns that Kerrigan is to deliver convicting evidence to Ethel at evening, and Whitey, awaits in ambush, and when Kerrigan arrives, they knock him out and kidnap Ethel. Later. Kerrigan follows them to an outlying house, where he rescues Ethel, who has saved the documents. Between them, Ethel arranges a plan whereby McGuire, Bellaire, and Whitey are to be gathered together at the rooms of the clairvoyant. Kerrigan arranges for Ethel to take the place of the seeress, and through arousing the superstitions of the weak-minded Whitey, she forces him to confess, and throw the blame for the origination of the act upon McGuire. As the picture fades out, the hands of Kerrigan and Ethel clasp over the crib of a baby, and the chevroned sleeves of Kerrigan show his reinstatement to position and honor. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
5 cast members

Name	Known for
Edythe Sterling Ethel Drew Ethel Drew See fewer	The Further Adventures of Stingaree (1917)
Norbert A. Myles Bruce Kerrigan Bruce Kerrigan See fewer	The Daughter of Dawn (1920)
Millard K. Wilson J. Howard Bellaire J. Howard Bellaire See fewer	The Call of the Unborn (1916)
Francis McDonald Whitey Whitey See fewer	The Ten Commandments (1956)
Louise Hutchinson Madam Adelaide Madam Adelaide See fewer	Sandy (1918)