For the People
David Koster is an obsessive New York City assistant district attorney who gets into trouble because of his passion for justice. His boss, Anthony Celese, tries to keep him under control while New York police detective Frank Malloy helps him solve cases. Koster's wife Phyllis is a viola player in a string quartet and her own life's priorities come into conflict with David's.
- 1965-1965
- 1 season
- CBS
- Suspense, Drama
David Koster is an obsessive New York City assistant district attorney who gets into trouble because of his passion for justice. His boss, Anthony Celese, tries to keep him under control while New York police detective Frank Malloy helps him solve cases. Koster's wife Phyllis is a viola player in a string quartet and her own life's priorities come into conflict with David's.
Season 1 Episode Guide
13 Episodes 1965
Episode 1
To Prosecute All Crimes
Sun, Jan 31, 1965 60 mins
New York City assistant district attorney Dave Koster finds himself humiliated in court when he's assigned to prosecute a vagrancy charge on the city's most notorious racketeer Johnny Pack. After receiving a stern warning from the judge, Koster tenaciously pursues a potential murder charge against Pack, but finds he must allow the means to justify the end at any cost, and for Koster the cost is uncomfortably high.
Episode 2
Guilt Shall Not Escape Nor Innocence Suffer
Sun, Feb 14, 1965 60 mins
Dave Koster thinks he has a slam dunk case against drunken vagrant Samuel Chaplin who is arrested for burglary and assaulting police officer Dutka. Although Chaplin admits to hitting Dutka, he swears he didn't commit a burglary. Tenacious legal aid attorney Martin Jameson thinks that Koster's case isn't as strong as he believes and doggedly pursues proof of Chapin's innocence.
Episode 3
The Influence of Fear
Sun, Feb 21, 1965 60 mins
Koster tries to prosecute the murder of an elderly woman. The defendant alleges that his confession was the product of being beaten by a detective during interrogation, putting Koster in the position of having to decide whether to continue the prosecution or drop the case due to the accusations of police brutality.
Episode 4
Act of Violence: Part 2
Sun, Feb 28, 1965 60 mins
In the conclusion to a two-part story that began on its sister series The Doctors and the Nurses, sixteen year old student Robert Bauer has committed a senseless murder that he claims to not remember. Dave Koster moves forward with the youth's prosecution, but Koster and the defense are convinced that Bauer is suffering from mental illness and attempt to uncover the reason behind his violence.
Episode 5
Between Candor and Shame
Sun, Mar 7, 1965 60 mins
While pursuing a case against a pornography publisher David Koster's wife is blackmailed due to an alleged adulterous divorce.
Episode 6
The Killing of One Human Being
Sun, Mar 14, 1965 60 mins
Koster's attempt to prosecute a young hoodlum for homicide is complicated by the appearance of a lawyer with high political connections representing the defendant.
Episode 7
Dangerous to the Public Peace and Safety
Sun, Mar 21, 1965 60 mins
On the subway, a girl is murdered at the height of rush hour by a psycho serial killer. Koster feels guilty when he realizes that the young man named as the perpetrator was once a prosecuted by him for a beating incident the year before. Now he's menaced Mrs. Koster, and has talked a girl into running away with him, then holds her captive.
Episode 8
Secure Any Special Priviledge or Advantage
Sun, Mar 28, 1965 60 mins
While on his way to work in costume as a policeman, actor Ernie Garatella is nearly the victim of a hit and run, but the driver, believing him to be a cop, attempts to bribe him. Garatella reports the incident to Dave Koster, who dismisses him. Garatella then decides to use the costume to dispense justice at his own discretion.
Episode 9
The Right to Kill
Sun, Apr 4, 1965 60 mins
Dave Koster's office is assigned the case of prison guard Carl Whaley. Whaley, who recently beat an inmate to death, claims his excessive force was justified, but an eyewitness disputes his word. Koster must convince a grand jury to believe his only witness who also happens one of the prison's black inmates.
Episode 10
With Intent to Influence
Sun, Apr 11, 1965 60 mins
State commissioner Arthur Genessee is threatened by a scandal that could potentially cost him a valuable political appointment. To ensure his future, he promises a future judgeship to Celese in exchange for suppressing evidence, and Celese finds it remarkably difficult to ignore the enticing offer.
Episode 11
Seized, Confined and Detained
Sun, Apr 25, 1965 60 mins
Renowned concert violinist Mark Haviland panics when he learns that his five year old son Bobby has been snatched by kidnappers who are detaining him for a sizable ransom. Unknown to the kidnappers, Bobby is diabetic and must have a daily injection of insulin to survive.
Episode 12
Any Benevolent Purpose
Sun, May 2, 1965 60 mins
After minor league con-artist Fred Rice finds himself facing arrest and prosecution, he offers to expose the leader of a charitable organization that is bilking the public each for year for millions of dollars. Dave Koster decides to pursue the case.
Episode 13
A Competent Witness
Sun, May 9, 1965 60 mins
Dave Koster wants a first degree murder conviction for Lupton, a heroin addict who killed an NYPD officer. However, a guilty verdict seems like a long shot when the sole witness to the crime is revealed to be Joe Turker, an inveterate gambler who has also served time in prison and is therefore not considered to be a competent witness to the jury.