Trial by Perjury (1958)

''Dan Kirby is released from prison after serving a 7 and one-half month term for vehicular homicide; a crime which he confessed to but did not commit. Kirby was paid $10,000 by agents of gubernatorial candidate Mark Leland to confess to the hit-and-run homicide, a crime actually committed by Leland himself. While in prison, Kirby's wife Lila has divorced him, expropriated the $10,000 and vanished. Upon his release, Kirby is picked up by a woman named Donna Armand who steers him to a meeting with Leland. Leland gives Kirby an additional $1,000 and tells him to leave town, suggesting that he look up his ex-wife. Returning to his apartment, Kirby meets a new neighbor, "song stylist" Anne Sorensen. Later, Leland sends private detective P.J. Dolan to tell Kirby where his ex-wife is, but Kirby warns him to drop the investigation. When Dolan leaves, Kirby receives a call from his ex-wife warning him that he will be an unpaid fall guy if he doesn't leave town. When Kirby's place is ransacked, he suspects Dolan and drives to Dolan's hideout where he discovers the body of his murdered ex-wife. Kirby is framed for the murder and finds himself in a vicious trap -- if he goes to the police, they'll send him up for perjury, but if he approaches Leland, he'll be accused of blackmail. Eager to clear his name, Kirby follows a dangerous trail that ultimately leads to the identification of the murderer.
Major Characters