Sam Spade The Death Bed Caper June 20, 1948

Dan Starbuck hires Spade to witness the deathbed statement by his brother Gordon.

Two nights previously the brothers, who had hated each other for years, had been drinking heavily and ended up getting into a fight. Dan blacked out; when he came to it was past midnight and he was covered in blood.

That's when he found his brother in the cabin of the boat -- with his head kicked in.

Dan's hope is his brother's statement will clear him of murder.