The Verdict

THE VERDICT

NEWGATE PRISON. LONDON 1890

May God have mercy on his soul.

- Good morning, Supt. Grodman. - Good morning.

Leaving so soon? It no longer delays.

Would you want to see a man die knowing that you doomed him?

He has what he deserves. He was found guilty of murder.

Guilty, no doubt.

...grows and is cut like a flower...

Escape from a world of shadows...

In life we ​​are dead.

Who can we turn to but you, Lord?

It was a difficult case, but you handled it successfully.

This profession is full of contradictions.

For those who build a ship or compose a symphony,...

...success is sweet.

For us, success is the lives we take.

Success is very bitter.

- But... - It's nothing personal.

We are instruments of justice, like the court.

The black flag. Everything is over.

May his soul rest in peace.

- Good morning, Superintendent. - Good morning.

Sir, your assistant has been looking for you.

Gracias.

Good morning, sir, where have you been? If you allow me.

I followed the impulse to walk in the park...

- What is the urgency? - The Commissioner is expecting you.

- Sir William? -In his office with Buckley.

What is it about?

I think Buckley is up to his tricks.

He doesn't fit in his pants anymore... but he'll have a hard time filling mine.

Good morning, Sir William.

- Good morning, Mr. Buckley. - Good morning, Governor.

I have something that will surprise you.

He sent an innocent man to the gallows this morning.

Crap.

I suppose some madman wants to attract attention by confessing.

He made a terrible mistake.

Harris was found guilty of killing Hannah.

The evidence was only circumstantial.

I investigated the case very carefully.

Harris was an ex-convict. Hannah hired him as a gardener.

When she fired him, he threatened her.

His nephew, whom I know, heard the threat.

She called the police, and the next day they found her with her throat cut.

His defense was false. The jury did not waver.

The mistake was that he never presented the witness.

The priest who could vouch that he was with him that night.

About the priest who traveled to Wales the next day...

...obviously it was a lie.

He didn't even remember her name.

And he did not have the imagination to invent one.

However, we inquired about the priest in Wales,...

...and it didn't show up. There never was such a cure.

Such a cure exists.

- What happened Mr. Holbrock. - Yes sir.

pass

Mr. Holbrock, Superintendent Grodman.

Mr. Holbrock is in the parish of Kent.

Yes, I know him.

- Please sit down. - Thank you.

Just got back from Wales?

From New South Wales, in Australia...

...this morning.

New South Wales.

I heard about Harris from the press and came right over.

I'm sure Harris thought New South Wales was in Wales.

Were you with Harris the whole time?

That night we packed up books to send to my sister.

She is missionary.

Did you know Harris?

No. He stopped me on the street.

He wanted to know how much a dinner would cost.

I needed help and his presence was timely.

I see. How are you sure it was the night of the murder?

The night of July 21?

I left London at 8am on the 22nd of July.

I can't forget it, as I traveled to New South Wales that night.

He took my luggage to the station.

There we stopped him. At Waterloo.

We thought he was lying. He insisted that you had traveled to Wales.

There are no trains to Wales from there .

I am very shocked.

I feel like I'm guilty.

I want you to know that I imagine what you must feel.

- I can retire? - Sure, Mr. Holbrock.

If we need it, we'll let you know.

Welsh. New South Wales.

Knows? It occurred to me that Harris might be confused.

If it occurred to you, why didn't you say so?

He had no certainty, just an instinct.

But it was about saving the life of an innocent.

Don't try to blame me.

It seems to think that I want to replace it.

You have justified that idea.

- Gentlemen, please. - He makes a serious accusation.

The fact is that an innocent man was hanged.

I am obligated to hold him responsible for that mistake.

I accept responsibility.

It will be a scandal when the press finds out.

Public confidence will be shaken.

New methods are required, greater efficiency,...

...younger men perhaps.

I must take drastic measures .

I'm sorry to have to accept your resignation.

I'm sorry. I have no alternative.

For now, Buckley will be in charge.

- I'm sorry. - On the contrary. He is delighted.

Recognition for 30 years of service. From Her Majesty.

From his fist and letter.

I'll send for my stuff.

I'll go through the file on the Kendall case.

I will review what is necessary.

Your professional instincts will surely find a clue.

There is always a clue, if you look for it.

However this case ends...

... tragedies like today's will not be repeated ...

...now that I'm in charge.

Since my retirement I will watch your career with interest...

...and maybe with fun.

- Superintendent Groodman, there's... - Mr. Goodman, now.

An innocent man... Terrible mistake...

We need new methods, younger men.

Tragedies like today's will not be repeated .

There is always a clue! Always!

There's always... a clue... if you look for it.

Hanged innocent man!

- An innocent man! - What a disgrace!

Who is responsible?

- They should hang him. - What a shame!

A disgrace to hang an innocent. Flowers?

Hanged an innocent man!

Scandal at Scotland Yard.

The latest edition.

hang me!

- What a disgrace! - Hang an innocent.

- Who is responsible? - They should hang him.

Perfect.

from 1881.

Either you're with a new girl or an old bottle.

You do not get tired?

Maybe. Do you know better?

He always arrives at 6. Out of habit, I suppose.

How many medicines!

Grodman worries me.

Ever since he hung an innocent man for your aunt's death,...

...seems like a different man, as if obsessed.

You will not think that he will die.

No. But I would like to help you. Let's cheer him up.

Knowing him, it was a tragedy for him.

Good evening, Mr. G.

Victor...

...Kendall, what a surprise. Is someone's birthday?

Victor thought that with wine and good talk,...

...would be distracted.

If I were Irish I would feel at my own funeral.

Health. This will be an evening of wine, women, and song.

Victor, you flatter me. You know I can't sing.

Sr. G.

- It's good to see him relaxed. - Perfect.

He has been very depressed.

You should not accept all the blame.

My testimony supported the conviction.

It seemed simple. My aunt had no enemies...

...except that man.

Can't you forget it?

I can't forget either. Today I discovered something important.

Are you still working on the case?

Off the record, of course.

It is in the hands of my successor, Superintendent Buckley.

- Maybe a fresh mind... - Yes, fresh mind.

I decided to write a book about the famous cases I had.

I hope it becomes a support book,...

demonstrating the danger of circumstantial evidence,...

...and save another from the gallows.

Marvelous. Great idea. Let me illustrate it.

I draw the corpses exquisitely.

I take the word. Your illustrations will help.

It's a deal.

- Is there someone? - Russell, good to see you.

- Good evening, Russell. I wouldn't have missed this...

Kendall.

I didn't know you would come.

- I'm wondering the same. - The same, again.

The political differences between them...

...demonstrate a healthy situation.

If you'll excuse me, I just came by to say hello. I must go... business.

And those businesses are related to the Brockton miners.

I will force you to give them decent working conditions.

Being a parliamentarian does not give you the right to criticize my family.

Of course he doesn't criticize your family.

The Brockton miners are your constituents.

And it is my duty to improve their conditions. They are deplorable.

Go with the other crazy people in the park if they accept it.

- I won't take this. - "Gentlemen", do you understand me?

- He'll regret it. - I suggest a truce. A drink?

Let's drink to the solution of our problems.

Gentlemen, I invited you to cheer him up, not to fight.

Do you always have to talk about politics?