Deputy District Attorney Douglas “Hotseat” Goodwin, who uses circumstantial evidence to win his cases, has a 100% success rate for convictions, of which 90% result in executions. After Douglas argues with his estranged wife Muriel, who refuses to divorce him so that he can marry his secretary, Claire Patterson, Muriel attempts to fend off a jewel thief and is shot and killed. Douglas, who is still in the house, finds the gun and shoots the thief, who escapes. Due to circumstantial evidence, Douglas is convicted of Muriel’s murder and sentenced to be executed. On death row he meets Jimmy Ellis, for whom he had previously obtained a death sentence while he was still firm in his belief in capital punishment. Although all the other convicts hate Douglas, Jimmy befriends him, and Douglas is deeply moved when Jimmy dies in the electric chair. In the meantime, investigator Jerry Welch, who is also in love with Claire, searches for the missing thief. Claire, finally recognizing Jerry’s integrity, falls in love with him, but remains committed to helping Douglas. Claire travels to the capitol to help Senator Nash put a bill through Congress that would repeal capital punishment. On the eve of his execution, Douglas is allowed to speak against capital punishment to the senate. Jerry and his detectives find the thief, John “Twitchy” Burke, whose underworld doctor has the bullet from the gun that killed Muriel. With this evidence, Douglas is given a last minute reprieve just as Senator Nash’s bill is approved by the Senate. Douglas, aware that Claire is in love with Jerry, gives his blessings to their union and returns to the D. A.’s office with renewed vigor as an investigator. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Watch The Accusing Finger (1936)
