Who Pulled the Trigger?'s primary photo
  • Who Pulled the Trigger? (1916)
  • Short | Short, Drama
Primary photo for Who Pulled the Trigger?
Who Pulled the Trigger? (1916)
Short | Short, Drama

The Kendall brothers, Luke and Walt, own a cotton plantation; they have leased their swamp pine section to a lumber company. Edgar Douglas, a northerner, is the local manager and foreman of the sawmill. Douglas objects to the way the ...See moreThe Kendall brothers, Luke and Walt, own a cotton plantation; they have leased their swamp pine section to a lumber company. Edgar Douglas, a northerner, is the local manager and foreman of the sawmill. Douglas objects to the way the Kendalls treat their colored help and offers his protection and a position to any negro who has been abused. This cause bad feelings between the northerner and the Kendalls, and when several negroes take advantage of Douglas' offer and leave the plantation during the cotton picking, the hostilities are opened. In the fight that follows, Walt Kendall is beaten. Ethel Rodney, a young southerner, a neighbor of the Kendalls, arrives in time to witness the fight. She is interested in Douglas, and knowing that serious trouble will follow this outbreak, induces him to come to her home until Walt's anger has subsided. Arriving at her home, Ethel leaves Douglas seated on the porch, while she dresses for dinner. A ring on the telephone in the hall summons her. The message is from her father in town. He wants some memoranda in the desk under the telephone. In getting it, Ethel finds her father's revolver and pushes it well back out of sight. After giving her father the information, she returns to her room. A second ring at the telephone is answered by Douglas. Ethel hears him talking excitedly; he then runs into the hall. A search of the desk drawer shows the revolver gone. She mounts her horse and rides toward the sawmill, hoping to overtake Douglas. Just before rounding a bend in the road she hears two pistol shots. A moment later she comes upon the body of Walt Kendall, her father's revolver beside the body. Douglas is arrested and Ethel is forced to become the "State's witness" against him. He is found guilty, but his lawyer seems confident that he will secure a new trial. Luke Kendall fears a new trial would be granted, so gathers together some of his friends, "fixes" the sheriff and prepares for a lynching. First they burn the sawmill. The illumination attracts the attention of Ethel and she goes to the phone to call the sheriff. But the wires have been cut. Moving the desk in an endeavor to see if the 'phone trouble was in the house wires, she is startled to find on the floor her father's revolver. A break in the back of his desk drawer had allowed it to drop on the floor when she thrust it out of sight. And there it had lain during the trial, and principal piece of evidence that convicted Douglas. With the evidence Ethel mounts a motorcycle and starts for town. Her one hope is of beating the lynchers, who have convinced the sheriff of Douglas' guilt. She passes the lynchers, is fired on, wounded, but never slackens her speed. She arrives in time to place her evidence in the hands of the sheriff, who summons his deputies. There is a brisk fight and the lynchers are beaten off. Later a negro names San Daw confesses that he obtained Walt Kendall's pistol during his fight with Douglas and after being beaten by Walt, shoots him. Ethel and Douglas go north after his acquittal for the wedding tour. Written by Moving Picture World synopsis See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Henry MacRae (as Henry McRae)
Writers
Edwin Balmer (story) | Walter Woods (scenario)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Aug 1, 1916

Release date
Aug 1, 1916 (United States)

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Cast

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5 cast members
Name Known for
Lee Shumway
Walt Kendall (as Leon C. Shumway) Walt Kendall (as Leon C. Shumway)   See fewer
Marie Walcamp
Ethel Rodney Ethel Rodney   See fewer
Lee Hill
Edgar Douglas Edgar Douglas   See fewer
Edwin Wallock
Mr. Rodney - Ethel's Father (as Edwin N. Wallock) Mr. Rodney - Ethel's Father (as Edwin N. Wallock)   See fewer
Helen Wright
Mrs. Rodney - Ethel's Mother Mrs. Rodney - Ethel's Mother   See fewer
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