owns. Harvey threatens to physically remove Harris from his home. At a preliminary hearing, Harvey presents detailed evidence that would lead to Waldron's exoneration. Meanwhile, a reporter conducts his own investigation into possible wrongdoing. In court, the reporter secretly threatens to reveal Harris' double dealing, and Harris commits suicide in the courtroom. Waldron is exonerated and the narrator explains that the murder was never solved and that the character of Henry Harvey was based upon Homer Cummings, who rose from state prosecutor to become the United States attorney general. Cast Dana Andrews as State's Attorney Henry L. Harvey Jane Wyatt as Madge Harvey Lee J. Cobb as Chief Harold F. "Robby" Robinson Cara Williams as Irene Nelson (waitress at Coney Island Cafe) Arthur Kennedy as John Waldron (murder suspect) Sam Levene as Dave Woods (reporter, Morning Record) Taylor Holmes as T. M. Wade (Morning Record publisher) Robert Keith as "Mac" McCreery Ed Begley as Paul Harris Karl Malden as Det. Lt. White William Challee as Stone, Harvey's assistant Lewis Leverett as Whitney, Harvey's assistant Arthur Miller as a suspect in the police lineup (uncredited) Wyrley Birch as Father Lambert (uncredited) Philip Coolidge as Jim Crossman (uncredited) Background Factual basis The film is based on an actual 1924 murder case that occurred in Bridgeport, Connecticut. While walking near the Lyric Theatre in downtown Bridgeport, the Rev. Hubert Dahme (Father George Lambert in the film) was fatally shot behind the left ear by a gun fired at close range. Those in the theater were so shocked that none thought to call for an ambulance until ten minutes had passed. Two hours later, the priest was pronounced dead at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport. Harold Israel, a vagrant and discharged soldier, was indicted for the murder. Israel confessed to the crime, and a .32 revolver was found in his possession that police believed had been used in the murder. Fairfield County state's attorney Homer Cummings conducted a thorough investigation and cleared Israel of the crime. Cummings (Henry Harvey in the film) later became United States attorney general under Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Morning Record was the name used in the film for the Bridgeport Post (now the Connecticut Post). Filming locations Almost all of the film was shot in Stamford, Connecticut except for the courtroom scene shot in the Westchester County Superior Court in White Plains, New York. Stamford locations: The South End