作法自毙

故事发生在一个名为康涅狄格的宁静美国小镇之中，一名德高望重的传教士在街角遭到了杀害，他的死亡引起了民众极大的愤怒，他们疯狂的聚集抗议，要求警方尽快将凶手捉拿归案。经过一系列的调查，重重的线索将嫌疑人的箭头指向了一个名叫约翰（阿瑟·肯尼迪 Arthur Kennedy 饰）的男人，其实并没有确凿的证据证明约翰就是杀人凶手，但约翰是一名外乡人，只这一点就足以令他背负最大的嫌疑。 　　对于警方和民众的控诉，约翰竭力否认，无奈寡不敌众。负责此案的检察官亨利（达纳·安德鲁斯 Dana Andrews 饰）亦渐渐发现，本以为已经确凿的真相实际上疑点重重，在平息民愤和找到真相之间，他将作出怎样的选择呢？This dramatization of a factual incident opens in a quiet Connecticut town where a kindly priest is murdered while waiting at a street corner. The citizens are horrified and demand action from the police. All of the witnesses identify John Waldron, a nervous out-of-towner, as the killer. Although Waldron vehemently denies the crime, no one will believe him. District Attorney Henry Harvey is then put on the case and faces political opposition in his attempt to prove Waldron's innocence.