- An expose of the methods used by a police-department to extract a confession from a suspect, regardless of innocence or guilt, and the effect and consequences on a family when an innocent member breaks under the interrogation methods and confesses to a crime he did not commit.—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
- "The Third Degree," the hero is Howard Jeffries, Jr., son of a millionaire. Howard Jeffries, Sr., marries again, and we are told that the new Mrs. Jeffries and Robert Underwood, the rather fast roommate at college of Howard, Jr., had once been something more than friends. Howard, Jr., marries Annie Sands, a beautiful girl who had been a waitress in the college town. When the father hears who his son's wife is, there is a flare-up, and the young couple leave the house. Underwood has opened a curio store, and lost money that didn't belong to him. He writes to Mrs. Jeffries., Sr., telling her that unless she comes to him, he will shoot himself. Howard, Jr., remembers that Underwood owes him money, and goes to collect it. He is drunk, drinks more and falls asleep on the sofa. Underwood hides him. Mrs. Jeffries comes, refuses to have more to do with Underwood and leaves. Underwood shoots and kills himself. The sound wakes the young man who is trying to get out, is captured by the police. Under the hypnotic strain of third degree, he confesses to murder. It is bought out that a woman had called on Underwood, and the police try to fasten it on Annie. The girl suspects that it is the other Mrs. Jeffries, and get her to provide evidence that will show a suicide; but, to save her relative, lets it be thought that she was the woman of the visit. Old Jeffries, after the trial, determines to get his son a divorce on the sly, and Annie is bravely going on with the role she has taken. A lawyer friend of the family gets the older Mrs. Jeffries to confess, and the happy ending is near. - Moving Picture World 1919.—Pamela Short
- Howard Jeffries Jr. and Robert Underwood are college roommates. Underwood constantly borrows money from Jeffries but never pays it back. Underwood introduces Jeffries to Annie Sands, a waitress. Jeffries marries her, and thinks the pair will make a home with his father, Howard Sr. The father has just remarried, and is very stern with his son. He investigates Annie's background, and, although he finds nothing dishonest about her, his meddling sends his son and Annie out of the home. Jeffries is disinherited. When he cannot find work, he attempts to collect his money from Underwood, who is now an art dealer. But Jeffries, who is intoxicated, falls asleep at Underwood's studio. When he awakens, he finds Underwood dead from a gunshot. Jeffries is arrested for the crime, given "the third degree," and signs a confession under duress.
Annie refuses to believe her husband is guilty, and searches for a woman who had visited Underwood just before his death. She obtains help from Richard Brewster, a lawyer for the senior Jeffries. Annie learns that the woman she's trying to find is the new Mrs. Jeffries. Mrs. Jeffries shows Annie a threatening letter she had received from Underwood. The art dealer had demanded money from her, or else he would commit suicide. She explained that she went to his studio that night and rejected his demands; Underwood had then killed himself. At Jeffries trial, Annie takes the stand and claims that she was the one who visited Underwood, covering for Mrs. Jeffries. Jeffries is acquitted, and Mrs. Jeffries confesses the truth to her husband.
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