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Wrongly Accused
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Robert Goodman?
Cast: Richard Stanton [Baird], Mildred Bracken [Mary], Edward Smith (‘Gunboat’ Smith) [the dope fiend], [?] Francis Ford?
G. Méliès production. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 11 October 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] Baird is loved by Mary, but disliked by her father, the sheriff. So they plan to elope, and an old sweetheart of Baird’s, now married, agress to aid them. Her husband miscontrues and becomes jealous. He quarrels with Baird, and when, later, he is found mortally shot, Baird is held for the crime. Only by the unwaivering courage of Mary he is saved from being lynched, and when the real murderer is apprehended, the bars between the lovers are shattered. Then the sheriff relents — and consents. // [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? When young Baird arrives in the west he meets and falls in love with Mary Jennings, but unfortunately Mary’s father, the sheriff, takes a dislike to the young man and orders him to keep away. Baird discovers a good friend, a former sweetheart, in Dr. James’ wife and reveals his predicament to her. She plans to help the young couple out by arranging an elopement. The doctor, however, misconstrues his wife’s friendliness toward Baird for love and becomes jealous. On one occasion the two are seen quarreling publicly. Returning home the doctor discovers a dope fiend robbing his medicine cabinet. The two men grapple, the fiend pulls his gun and the doctor is shot. Baird is the first to arrive at the house and gives the alarm. Circumstantial evidence is against Baird, for he had been seen quarreling with the doctor only a short time before. He is taken into custody by the sheriff. Jake, the doctor’s brother wants vengeance and by a forged letter decoys the sheriff to a distant ranch, in order that he and his cowboys might lynch Baird. But Mary keeps guard at the prison door, and when the mob descends on the place, she threatens to kill herself if they approach her. Her father, after learning Jake’s trick, returns in time to preserve the law. The dope fiend forced by his craze for drugs comes back to the doctor’s house and this time is caught by Jake and the sheriff. He confesses to having killed the doctor. The boys rush to the jail, free Baird, and the sheriff gives his blessings to Mary and her wrongly-accused lover.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 27 November 2022.
References: Thompson-Star p. 232 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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