The Famous Ferguson Case (1932)

When wealthy George M. Ferguson is murdered and his wife Marcia is discovered bound and gagged, small town reporter Bruce Foster writes a story about the crime that makes the major newspapers. Soon reporters descend on the small town of Cornwall. Tony Martin, Bruce's fiancée and co-worker, takes them to interview Marcia. She denies that she and her husband quarrelled about her friendship with married banker Judd Brooks, insisting that they are old friends, nothing more. Although the townspeople beg the reporters to be careful about what they print as it could damage innocent people, most of them, led by heavy drinker Bob Parks, are convinced that Brooks murdered Ferguson during an argument over Marcia. They force the county attorney to arrest Marcia and Judd, despite the fact that there is no evidence and Marcia insists that her husband was killed by two robbers. Meanwhile Bob turns his attentions to Tony, telling her that his wife is an invalid. Reporter Maizie Dickson tries to warn Tony that Bob is no good, but Tony accuses Maizie of jealousy and refuses to listen. On the trail of their story, the reporters besiege pregnant Mrs. Brooks, and their announcement of Brooks's arrest causes her to collapse. Bruce, however, is not swayed by the big town reporters. He tracks down his own lead, and while the other reporters are holding a big party, he gets out an extra edition announcing the capture of the murderers who actually are two jewel robbers just as Marcia said. Bruce gives the story to every paper in New York. Just after the story breaks, the reporters learn that Mrs. Brooks has died in childbirth. Brooks beats up Bob, Marcia sues the newspapers and the county attorney is impeached. Despite job offers from some of the New York papers, Bruce decides to stay in Cornwall. Tony leaves with Bob, and Maizie, who is fed up with the corruption of big town newspapers, asks Bruce for her job.