Volume II: Filmography

A GUILTY CONSCIENCE

January 5, 1913 (Sunday)

Length: 1 reel

Character: Drama

Cast: W. Eugene Moore, Jr., Victory Bateman

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, January 4, 1913:

A defrauded widow, whom the law could not aid because the robbers weren't legally in there robbing, regains her fortune nevertheless. Non-professional assistance wins for her what the lawyers couldn't. And you will follow her shrewd attempts at recovery with a great deal of interest.

SYNOPSIS, The Moving Picture World, January 11, 1913:

A widow who believed she was well off is surprised on learning from her trustees that her property had practically vanished. She consulted eminent lawyers, but had so muddled up affairs, signing anything and everything handed her, that the legalities were compelled to report that she had no chance of recovering anything. They believed that she had been the victim of sharp practice, but regretfully feared that she could not prove it. The daughter had a sweetheart, not a lawyer, but a keen, shrewd businessman. When he heard the story of the woman's loss, he determined to recover her money. It could not be done legally, the lawyer said; the young man was too honest to commit a crime, but he figured that by properly utilizing fear he might force restitution. The young man's theory was that everyone has secrets, and he was certain that an individual who would rob a defenseless woman must have committed other crimes. He first sent the man an anonymous letter warning, and it worked like a charm. The recipient was convinced his sin had found him out, although he was not clear as to which sin it was. Later he received a telephone warning that the police were on his track and with his own eyes saw a minion of the law approach his door. Terrified he gladly accepted the offer of his unknown friends to flee, was led to a place of safety, a deserted cottage in the woods. By this time the criminal was convinced that his condition was serious and gladly accepted the suggestion of compromise made by the unknown. So the widow, whom the law would not aid, regained her fortune and the man who would have robbed her fled in terror on a freight train to seek refuge in some place where he was not known.

REVIEW, The Morning Telegraph, January 12, 1913:

Without a shadow of a doubt this is one of the most novel plots that has been presented in pictures for a very long time. A widow is bilked out of her fortune, but there appears to be no legal means of regaining her loss or of bringing the guilty man to justice. Her daughter's fiancé decides on a bold plan. He is not a lawyer, but is keen enough to feel that he can bring about the desired result. He has a theory that he can scare the man into a confession and into making restitution. So he at first sends him an anonymous letter threatening him. This begins to work on the fears of the conscience-stricken crook. Then the lover phones him and tells him the police are on his trail. He follows this up with an offer to compromise, and the guilty man accepts and takes what he thinks to be refuge from the law, as proffered by the lover, and there he makes over a large share of the stolen property and afterward takes flight. The play is acted with consistency.

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, January 5, 1913:

This photoplay has a good little plot, but it treats farcically what might have been handled more strongly as a plain drama. Pictorially it is good in the manner in which the scheming guardian was induced to give up his stolen securities and money was quite ingenious.

REVIEW, The New York Dramatic Mirror, January 15, 1913:

As a light burlesque, this picture stands in a fair way to achieve some success. It is only marred by minor faults, due principally to the director we suppose, faults that could easily have been guarded against. As an instance of this sort we may take those scenes where the old villain runs around in his night attire. We naturally conclude that it is nighttime, but the film coloring does not show it. The players seem to catch the spirit of their various roles and acted them through with zest. Only in those places where some of the characters sat down to read a paper or magazine did the business give us an impression that it was a trifle forced. The old trustee informs the girl's mother that her fortune is completely spent. Suspecting something wrong, the mother consults her daughter, and the daughter's fiancé. The young man, acting on the supposition that the old man is guilty and has a conscience, takes measures to frighten him into an admission of his guilt.

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