The Turning Point

John Conroy is appointed Special Prosecutor with extraordinary powers to dismantle the crime syndicate in a large midwestern town. He focuses his investigation on the mob boss Neil Eichelberger. A skeptical local press questions whether the inexperienced prosecutor can handle the task.

Jerry McKibbon, a local journalist sympathetic to the cause, worries that Conroy lacks the seasoning to handle such a dangerous case. His doubts create tension between the press and the new prosecutor. The stage is set for a collision between law and mob influence.

Matt Conroy, John's father, is assigned as his chief investigator and operates within the police force. He begins coordinating with McKibbon and the DA's office to build criminal cases against Eichelberger. His role places him at the center of the syndicate's reach.

McKibbon discovers that Matt Conroy is a crooked cop secretly serving Eichelberger. He confronts Matt and urges him to break with the mob or reveal the truth to John. The revelation deepens the conflict between the journalist and the police ally of the mob.

Matt engineers a plan to obtain a damning file from the DA's office that Eichelberger has requested, intending to keep a copy for leverage. This double-cross would allow him to bargain or expose others as needed. The scheme marks a dangerous turn in the investigation.

Before the double-cross is revealed, Eichelberger orders Matt's death to demonstrate power. Matt is killed during a staged robbery, and his killer Monty LaRue is immediately slain by others. The violent act sends shock through the investigation.

John Conroy's investigation uncovers Eichelberger's crimes as subpoenas loom. In a bid to hide his operation, Eichelberger orders the burning of the building housing his records, sacrificing tenants in the blaze. The destruction hides evidence and underscores the mob's ruthlessness.

Carmelina LaRue, widow of Monty LaRue, can prove her husband's murder; she reaches out to McKibbon for justice. Eichelberger's henchmen chase her away, and McKibbon becomes the only one who can link Carmelina to the killer. The personal dimension of the crime expands the case.

Roy Ackerman knows McKibbon's ability to identify Carmelina and demands he be killed. Eichelberger refuses to order it himself, prompting Ackerman to hire a hit man. The pressure against the journalist escalates the danger around the investigation.

Ackerman's hired gun positions McKibbon at a boxing match under false pretenses so he can be shot. The setup is designed to silence the journalist who threatens to expose the mob's reach. The scene marks a climactic act of violence in the pursuit of justice.

Carmelina manages to reach John Conroy, providing testimony that, with prior evidence, topple Eichelberger. Her account connects the murders to Eichelberger's operation and reinforces the case against the mob. The town edges closer to justice.

The hired gun Red shoots McKibbon, mortally wounding him as final evidence is assembled. While McKibbon lies dying, Eichelberger and his crew are arrested, and the criminal enterprise begins to crumble. The moment ties up the external conflict even as a hero falls.

McKibbon dies before John Conroy can arrive, and his epitaph lingers: 'Sometimes someone has to pay an exorbitant price to uphold the majesty of the law.' John honors his sacrifice as the town begins to heal. The ending underscores the cost of justice.