After innocent Eddie Phillips is executed for a crime he didn't commit, social worker Elliot Dexter (as Gordon Harrington) sets out to prove the fallacy of "Capitol Punishment" by setting up a situation where an innocent man is executed for a crime he didn't commit. Yes, this had just been proved. But, this picture seems more interested in melodrama than logic (in 1956, "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" emphasized the latter). Mr. Dexter arranges for pal Robert Ellis (as Harry Phillips) to pretend to be killed, and the men pay poor, hapless George Hackathorne (as Danny O'Connor) $10,000 to stand trial for his "murder". Right before Mr. Hackathorne's execution, Dexter plans to produce Mr. Ellis alive, revealing there was no murder.
The details about how this scheme plays out in the legal system are left to the imagination. Ellis is supposed to have drowned at sea.
Confused yet? Here's more... Hackathorne is sent to death row, but keeps his chin up. Hackathorne knows Dexter will reveal the truth. In jail, Hackathorne dreams about how he'll spend the promised $10,000 on his girlfriend, cute Clara Bow (as Delia Tate). Then, something goes wrong with the plan. Dexter has a girlfriend, too, Margaret Livingston (as Mona Caldwell). As it turns out, Ellis (the man pretending to be dead) has been lusting after Ms. Livingston. Dexter discovers Ellis attacking his woman, and in the ensuing scuffle, Ellis ends up dead (for real). Thinking the police will never believe the act was self-defense, Livingston convinces Dexter to let Hackathorne die for the crime. But, poor Hackathorne may be saved by certain a woman
**** Capitol Punishment (1/1/25) James P. Hogan ~ George Hackathorne, Elliot Dexter, Clara Bow, Margaret Livingston
The details about how this scheme plays out in the legal system are left to the imagination. Ellis is supposed to have drowned at sea.
Confused yet? Here's more... Hackathorne is sent to death row, but keeps his chin up. Hackathorne knows Dexter will reveal the truth. In jail, Hackathorne dreams about how he'll spend the promised $10,000 on his girlfriend, cute Clara Bow (as Delia Tate). Then, something goes wrong with the plan. Dexter has a girlfriend, too, Margaret Livingston (as Mona Caldwell). As it turns out, Ellis (the man pretending to be dead) has been lusting after Ms. Livingston. Dexter discovers Ellis attacking his woman, and in the ensuing scuffle, Ellis ends up dead (for real). Thinking the police will never believe the act was self-defense, Livingston convinces Dexter to let Hackathorne die for the crime. But, poor Hackathorne may be saved by certain a woman
**** Capitol Punishment (1/1/25) James P. Hogan ~ George Hackathorne, Elliot Dexter, Clara Bow, Margaret Livingston