The Captive City

Jim Austin, a newspaper editor and co-owner, and his wife decide to flee Kennington because they must testify before a Senate Crime Commission. They depart in the dark, aware that the town's criminal elements are closing in. The decision sets them on a dangerous path toward the capital to reveal the truth about gambling in interstate commerce.

That night they pull off the highway in Warren and seek refuge in a local police station. Austin requests an escort to ensure they reach the committee location safely, and asks to use the station's tape recorder to chronicle the events. This move shifts the pursuit into a documented testimony.

The police grant an escort for their journey and permit Austin to use the station's tape recorder. He begins recording the events that led to this moment, providing a first-hand account. The access marks a turning point as their path to the Capitol becomes more formalized.

Austin begins investigating bookmaking after the suspicious death of private detective Clyde Nelson. Nelson had uncovered police complicity with illegal gambling during a divorce case for Mrs. Sirak, whose ex-husband Murray Sirak was the town's major bookmaker. The investigation pits Austin against entrenched local powers.

Austin questions how the police handled Nelson's death, and the Chief of Police goads him to continue digging. During this pressure, Austin discovers that Dominick Fabretti, a mafia-linked gangster, has moved into town. The pursuit of truth intensifies as harassment from Sirak's circle grows.

Sirak attempts to bribe Austin to drop the case, and Jim and his wife face ongoing harassment. The city council, police, and respectable citizens tolerate gambling, arguing exposing it would harm Kennington's reputation. Austin's crusade becomes a public contest between reform and entrenched interests.

Mrs. Sirak is murdered after she agrees to disclose that Fabretti was responsible for Nelson's death. The crime starkly demonstrates the danger surrounding Austin's inquiry. The murder further strains the newspaper's business relationships as advertisers pull back.

Austin's partner at the newspaper withdraws support as advertisers and vendors pull away due to the crusade. The financial pressure heightens the stakes for Austin and his wife. The community's power structure continues to shield gambling through economic influence.

Desperate for allies, Austin seeks help from local ministers, but they decline to intervene. With no local backing, he resolves to appeal to the Senate Crime Commission at the Capitol. The decision underscores the severity of the threat and the limits of local authority.

A grave threat from Sirak spurs Austin and his wife to flee again in the middle of the night. Fabretti's henchmen tail them as they push toward the capital. The pursuit heightens the danger and solidifies their resolve to testify.

The couple finally secures the police escort they requested and begins the journey toward the Senate Crime Commission hearing. The escort provides protection as they move through hostile territory toward the capital. This preparatory stage culminates in arrival at the Capitol.

At the Capitol, Austin and his wife testify before the Senate Crime Commission, recounting the investigation and the threats they faced. Austin uses the station tape recorder to document the testimony and the chain of events. Their account aims to expose the organized crime network operating in interstate commerce and the local institutions that enabled it.