Today I Hang

Butler Hobbs calmly looks on as Henry Courtney brawls with his business partner, Joseph Rand, over the disappearance of a valuable necklace they were commissioned to sell. Unknown to them, Jim O'Brien, Henry's former business partner, whom Henry sent on a wild goose chase to Burma in order to cheat him of his profits, now lurks outside the window. Henry's wife Martha breaks up the fight and then leaves Henry, accusing him of becoming greedy and corrupted. Moments later, Jim, who is Martha's former lover, comes inside and demands from Henry six months back pay and a portion of the profits. That night, Martha books passage to Burma, and Jim goes to meet Henry at his office, but finally gives up after waiting over an hour without seeing him. A cleaning woman finds Henry's body inside his private office shortly after Jim leaves. After the murder weapon is discovered in his hotel room, Jim is arrested for the murder and is found guilty and sentenced to be executed, although he maintains he is innocent. Martha visits Jim four days before his scheduled execution, but he refuses to talk to her. She then consults with Jim's greedy lawyer, Roger Lanning, and convinces him that she is after the necklace and will split the profits with him. Lanning's renewed efforts to free Jim result in a second trial, but Jim escapes on the way to court with the help of his former cell mate, Slick Pheeney, and Lanning's thugs, Lefty and Trent. Martha visits Jim at his hiding place, and they reunite after he learns that she had been looking for him in Burma. Martha tells Jim about her deal with Lanning, and that she suspects either Hobbs or Rand of Henry's murder. Martha later tells Rand that she knows where Jim has hidden the necklace and asks his help in selling it for a share of the profits. Martha gives Rand Slick's address, and her suspicions about him are confirmed when the police then show up at Slick's door. Unknown to Martha, Jim leaves his hiding place and goes to the Courtney house, where he finds Rand and Hobbs conspiring. Jim tries to force them to write a confession, but the appearance of a policeman forces him to escape. When he returns to his apartment, he finds Lanning and his thugs awaiting him. Not satisfied with Jim's promise that he will deliver the necklace, Lanning then strikes a deal with Rand, whom he believes killed Henry, to give him Jim's address in exchange for $25,000. Jim is re-arrested and Rand pays off Lanning. As Jim's time runs out, Martha goes to see Rand and, displaying an imitation necklace, tells Rand that she has a buyer. Rand, who has the real necklace, panics and rushes to his warehouse to make sure the necklace is still there, unaware that Martha, Slick and the police are following him. In the warehouse, Martha and Slick tell Rand that Hobbs has confessed his part in the crime. Lanning appears unexpectedly and shoots Rand, but before he can take the necklace, the police arrest both him and Rand. As Rand lays dying, he signs a written confession, admitting that he killed Henry. Hobbs is arrested as his accomplice, and Jim is set free. Later, Slick gets a job as Martha and Jim's new butler.