The Twelfth Juror - Production & Contact Info (original) (raw)

A rich man is found dead in his library. His cash box, which was known to have been full of money, is lying empty beside him. The last person known to have been with him was his son, and the servants testified that the two had had a ...See moreA rich man is found dead in his library. His cash box, which was known to have been full of money, is lying empty beside him. The last person known to have been with him was his son, and the servants testified that the two had had a violent quarrel. The son is sought and is found at a railway station. Brought back to the house he is searched and the stolen money is found in his overcoat pocket. He admits the quarrel, and that it was over money matters, but denies the crime and says he does not know how the money got into his pockets. A strong case is made out against the prisoner when he goes on trial. When the jury take their first ballot, the vote stands eleven for conviction. The majority argue with the stubborn twelfth juror, but to no avail. Finally he bows to the will of the other. The foreman approaches the door to give the signal that will notify the court officer that a decision has been reached. His hand is raised, but the twelfth juror stays it. He tells them he has a statement to make. The twelfth juror, in private life, is an underpaid expressman. His little daughter is very ill, and the doctor tells the heartbroken father and mother that her only chance of life is to go south. They haven't the money, and realize that their poverty means the death warrant of their loved one. The expressman is sent to "a fine house" to get a trunk. While waiting in the hall, he sees the prisoner, after a quarrel with his father, run up the stairs. The old man, who is brandishing a cane and holding a cash box, works himself into a frightful fit of rage. He is suddenly stricken and falls dead. The expressman goes to his assistance, but is attracted by the packet of bills that has fallen on the carpet. He realizes that this wealth means life for his little girl, and yielding to impulse, picks it up and places it in his pocket. He closes the door, and makes his escape undetected. He finds his crime of no avail, however, for his little daughter proves to him that stolen money is accursed, and the expressman, yielding to her prayers, goes back to the house, intending to return the bills. He finds the front door open, and slips the cash into the pocket of a coat on the hat rack, believing that it is the old man's. When drawn for the jury he serves, hoping that he might be able to save the innocent man, but the circumstantial evidence was so strong that he could not win over even one of his associates, and he finally decided to confess all to them. The jurors believe him, and return a verdict of not guilty. The Twelfth Juror again confesses his fault in open court, and a new investigation establishes the truth of what he had told. He escapes punishment, under the circumstances, and the little girl is sent south to regain her health through the kindly aid of the man whose life has been put in jeopardy because of the one crime of him who later was the Twelfth Juror. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less