The Man in the Chair's primary photo
  • The Man in the Chair (1915)
  • Short | Short, Drama
Primary photo for The Man in the Chair
The Man in the Chair (1915)
Short | Short, Drama

Vincent Byron is on trail for murder. Mina Taylor, his sweetheart, and ward of his father, John Byron, is seated beside him in the crowded court room. The district attorney has just called to the witness chair the second mate of the "Blue ...See moreVincent Byron is on trail for murder. Mina Taylor, his sweetheart, and ward of his father, John Byron, is seated beside him in the crowded court room. The district attorney has just called to the witness chair the second mate of the "Blue Star," a tramp steamer. The witness tells of the night he was doing watch, the night the murder was committed. From the bridge he saw one whom he believed to be Vincent Byron drag a man out from a stateroom across the deck and choke him. This fact established, Mina is called to the witness chair by the defense. She tells of her early childhood in the west, of her father's death, and of her going to live with her father's old friend, John Byron, on Long Island, New York. She tells what happened in her cabin on the night of the murder; that the deceased, Geoffrey Storm, intruded himself into her room and grossly insulted her. She saw two hands reach through the doorway and clutch the assailant around the neck. Then she fainted. At this point in the trial the defense calls to the stand Dr. Lambert, an eminent nerve specialist. Dr. Lambert testifies that he had been called into consultation on young Byron's case several years previous, that he had found his case hopeless; that it would have been an utter impossibility for the defendant to have committed the crime, in that he was unable to stand upon his feet. Vincent Byron asks and is give permission to tell his story. He is carried to the witness stand. He begins his story from the time that the girl in question first came to live with his father. He tells of the girl's appearance, her crudeness, and illiteracy; of the interest that he took in her, and of the many hours he devoted in teaching her both books and the ways of a gentlewoman. Under his guidance she grew to beautiful womanhood. There was his father's business partner, Geoffrey Storm, who had grossly snubbed Mina when she first came from the west, but when the girl grew beautiful. Storm began to covet her. Then came the trip to Europe in the hope of a cure for the prisoner. Storm had insisted on taking his father's place, his father having been detained at home on important business. The girl accompanied him (Vincent) to help care for him. Three days out. Storm's attention to the girl became intolerable; and Vincent was forced to look on helpless. Finally, the girl absolutely refused to receive attention, from Storm, and Storm, furious at it all, sought surcease in the ship buffet. Vincent, in his testimony, comes to that point where he killed Storm. He speaks of Storm's insult to him and of his forcing his way into Mina's cabin, a short distance from where the prisoner was seated in his wheelchair. "And I stood upon my two feet and killed him," That is the prisoner's defense, and in a moment, under the stress of reviewing the story, he again stands up before the judge and jury. Vincent Byron is acquitted. Dr. Lambert, interested in the oddness of the case, again undertakes to work a cure upon young Byron. What with the faith of both the girl and the young man, himself, combined with the skill of the scientist, the case turns out successful. Byron searches out Mina and takes her in his arms. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Leon De La Mothe (as Leon D. Kent)
Writers
Harvey Gates (scenario) | Hobart Henley (story)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Oct 26, 1915

Release date
Oct 26, 1915 (United States)

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