Trial by Fire

Richard Kimble schöpft Hoffnung: Der ehemalige Armeeoffizier Captain Eckhardt will zugunsten des Verurteilten aussagen. Er hatte damals den Einarmigen vom Tatort flüchten sehen. Einem Wiederaufnahmeverfahren steht nun eigentlich nichts im Wege. Doch dann stellt Kimbles Verfolger Lieutnant Gerard Ermittlungen über Eckhardts Vergangenheit an. (Text: Premiere)

Kimble's sister Donna summons him home with a possible break in the case: a letter from James Eckhardt, a former U.S. Army captain whom also saw the one-armed man fleeing from the Kimble's house on the night of Helen's murder. Kimble meets with Eckhardt who agrees to help the fugitive out. Eckhardt's story seems strong enough to clear Kimble. But unknown to either men, another witness comes forward: a convict in prison for drug dealing, who reveals that he used to sell heroin to Eckhart for a Korean War battle wound and that Eckhardt was on his way to see him that night to buy some drugs, which is more than enough for Gerard to discredit Eckhardt's testimony.