Count the Hours!

In the middle of the night, a mysterious intruder breaks in and shoots Fred Morgan and his housekeeper Sarah Watson. Fred is killed and Sarah is murdered, waking the household to a horrific scene. The intruder escapes into the darkness, beginning the case's mystery.

The next morning, Alvin Taylor discovers the two bodies and immediately alerts George Braden. The discovery triggers the official investigation and questions begin to form about the crime. Investigators start processing the scene for clues.

Police examine .32 caliber bullets linked to the crime, while Ellen disposes of their gun in a lake, attempting to hide evidence. A small box of .32 bullets is recovered, heightening suspicion around George and Ellen. The case tightens around the couple as investigators assemble leads.

George and Ellen are interrogated for sixteen hours in a jail, denying involvement. George ultimately confesses to spare his wife further grief, a truth that shapes the prosecution's initial case. The confession becomes a pivotal turning point in the investigation.

District Attorney Gillespie asks lawyer Doug Madison to take the case, but he initially declines, unsure of George's innocence. The DA's insistence foreshadows a high-stakes defense ahead. The decision sets up a major legal showdown.

Ellen attempts to retrieve the gun from the lake and is threatened by a handwritten note ordering her to leave town. The note raises the stakes for the defense and suggests organized pressure against witnesses. The threat adds urgency to Douglas Madison's potential involvement.

Moved by Ellen's determination, Doug reverses his decision and hires a professional diver to locate the gun. After three weeks, Doug falls behind on payments, straining the relationship with the diver. The diver's later actions heighten the danger surrounding the case.

George's trial proceeds; during closing arguments, the handgun is located, and ballistics are inconclusive. Despite the ambiguity, the jury convicts George of the murder. The trial pivots on disputed evidence and the weight of the confession.

Doug files for an appeal, still believing in George's innocence. Alvin inherits Fred's farm and reveals Max Verne, a fired farm hand who had threatened Morgan, had a motive to kill. Doug begins investigating Verne's past as a potential alternative suspect.

Doug travels to Verne's farm, meets Verne's girlfriend Gracie Sager, and learns Verne has a burglary record. Verne is arrested and confesses to the murder, complicating the case against George. The confession shifts the focus to Verne as a key player.

At the retrial, Verne's doctor discredits his confession. With no further evidence against Verne, the case is dismissed, yet George's conviction remains upheld. The legal battle continues to be a source of controversy and doubt.

Ellen gives birth to a son; Paula ends her engagement with Doug, frustrated by his preoccupation with the case. The governor upholds George's conviction, and he is sentenced to hang. In a local bar, a bartender reveals Verne knew of the murders before the police did, prompting Doug to seek sheriff help; Verne then arrives at his farm, but is arrested when found with Fred Morgan's wallet, and George's execution is reprieved as Paula apologizes and the two reconcile.